Krisp handles the heavy audio processing for you, including Noise Cancellation and Voice Isolation. To get the cleanest result, your hardware and any other audio processing should be set up to let Krisp do that work without interference. The headset you use and the audio processing running around it have a direct impact on how clearly you are heard and how well Krisp can separate your voice from background voices.
This article explains what to look for in a headset and which audio processing to disable for the best experience with Krisp.
What to look for in a headset
For the best results with Krisp, use a headset with these characteristics:
- Dedicated boom microphone: a half-length to full-length boom mic keeps the microphone close to your mouth, so your voice stays loud and consistent. This helps Voice Isolation clearly distinguish your voice as the primary speaker and cancel secondary voices around you
- USB connectivity (Type-A or Type-C): a wired USB connection gives Krisp a stable, low-latency audio signal. It avoids the added delay and compression that come with Bluetooth
- No additional onboard processing: choose a headset that does not apply its own noise cancellation, voice enhancement, or other audio effects. Krisp already handles this, and a second processor working on the same audio can degrade quality.
Hint
A headset does not need to be expensive. Krisp handles advanced features like Noise Cancellation and Voice Isolation, so a straightforward wired USB headset with a boom mic is usually the best fit.
Disable additional audio processing
Any audio processing applied before Krisp, or on top of it, can work against Krisp and reduce the quality of your audio. Krisp is designed to be the only processor on your microphone signal, so we recommend turning off all other processing.
Operating system
In your operating system's sound settings, disable features such as:
- Audio enhancements or microphone effects
- Built-in noise suppression or noise reduction
- Automatic gain control or automatic volume adjustment.
Softphone or calling app
In your softphone or calling app, disable any built-in audio processing, such as:
- Noise cancellation or noise suppression
- Echo cancellation
- Audio enhancements or voice clarity features.
Important
If your headset has its own noise cancellation or audio enhancement, turn it off as well, either in the manufacturer's companion app or on the device itself. Hardware processing happens before Krisp and cannot be corrected afterward.
Automatic gain control deserves particular attention, since volume normalization can fluctuate your input level in ways that interfere with Krisp. For details, see How automatic gain control affects Krisp audio performance.
Approved and recommended devices
Our Research and QA teams have tested a range of headsets and approved the ones that work best with Krisp's Voice Isolation. For the full list of approved models and the detailed device requirements, see Voice Isolation-compatible devices.
You can still use other headsets, including Bluetooth models or headsets with a shorter on-device microphone, but a wired USB headset with a boom mic and no onboard processing gives the most reliable results.
For Admins: managing devices across your team
As an Admin, you can control the Voice Isolation state for the audio devices your team uses, and set it in bulk. This lets you enable Voice Isolation for everyone on USB-connected headsets while leaving other devices to the User's choice. The steps are covered in Voice Isolation-compatible devices.