The microphone you use affects transcription accuracy more than the app, the AI model, or your speaking style.
I tested this for two weeks. Recorded the same paragraphs with different mics in different environments. Counted errors.
The results were clear: environment matters more than I thought.
The short answer
Walking outside or in noisy places: Wired EarPods
Sitting at a quiet desk: AirPods or phone mic
Consistent long recordings: Wired EarPods or a lavalier mic
That's it. Don't overthink it.
Why wired beats wireless outdoors
AirPods use Bluetooth. Bluetooth is smart — it adapts to noise by changing how it processes audio. When background noise increases, AirPods shift into a different mode to preserve call quality.
That mode works great for phone calls. It's not ideal for transcription.
The adaptive processing can blur consonants, especially S, T, and P sounds. In quiet rooms, you won't notice. Walking past traffic, you will.
Wired EarPods don't negotiate. The signal is direct. The mic stays in one mode. What goes in is what comes out.
I tested this walking the same route for five days:
- AirPods Pro: 6-8 transcription errors per 100 words
- Wired EarPods: 1-2 errors per 100 words
Same voice, same words, same route. Different mic.
See the detailed comparison for full test results.
When wireless is fine
If you're sitting at your desk in a quiet room, AirPods work perfectly. I use them all the time for:
- Morning journaling at my desk
- Meeting notes in a conference room
- Voice notes while working from home
The difference only shows up in noise. If your environment is quiet, use whatever's comfortable.
The phone's built-in mic (underrated)
The iPhone's bottom microphone is surprisingly good.
Hold it 15-25cm from your mouth, point the bottom edge toward you, and you'll get clean transcripts in most situations.
I use the phone mic when:
- I don't have headphones handy
- I'm recording something quick (under 60 seconds)
- I'm indoors in a controlled environment
Where it struggles:
- Wind (no protection)
- Loud background noise (no directional filtering)
- Moving around (hand position changes)
For quick captures at home, it's fine. For walking outside, grab headphones.
Lavalier mics (for serious use)
If you record long voice notes regularly — 10+ minutes, multiple times a day, often outdoors — consider a lavalier (lapel) mic.
Clip it to your collar. Consistent mic position, good wind protection, stable signal.
I use a $30 lav mic when I'm doing:
- Walking meetings (30-60 minutes)
- Long project brainstorms
- Beach walks where wind is constant
It plugs into the Lightning port (or USB-C on newer iPhones). Brain Dump works with it automatically.
Downside: one more thing to carry. I don't use it daily, just when I know I'll be recording for a while in challenging conditions.
What about AirPods Max or other over-ear headphones?
I tested AirPods Max. Great for listening. Not better than regular AirPods or wired EarPods for transcription.
The mic position (on the earcup) is farther from your mouth than earbuds. More background noise gets picked up.
Stick with earbuds for voice capture.
The test you should run
Don't trust my results. Test with your own voice in your own environment.
One-time test (takes 5 minutes):
- Pick a paragraph (100-150 words). A paragraph from a book works fine.
- Record it three times:
- Once with AirPods, sitting at your desk
- Once with wired EarPods, sitting at your desk
- Once with wired EarPods, walking outside
- Count errors in each transcript
Whatever gives you the fewest errors in your typical environment — use that.
My results:
- Desk + AirPods: 0-1 errors
- Desk + Wired: 0 errors
- Walking + AirPods: 6-8 errors
- Walking + Wired: 1-2 errors
Your results might differ based on your voice, accent, and environment.
Position matters more than gear
Even with the best mic, bad positioning ruins transcripts.
Too close (under 10cm): Muffled sound, popping on P/B/T sounds
Too far (over 30cm): Background noise competes with your voice
Sweet spot (15-25cm): Clear signal, natural tone
This applies to all mics — phone, wired, wireless, lav. Get the distance right.
See the mic positioning guide for detailed tips on dealing with wind and noise.
What I keep in my bag
Daily carry: Wired EarPods
They're cheap ($19), durable, and work better than AirPods when I'm outside. I keep a pair in my jacket pocket and one in my work bag.
At my desk: AirPods Pro
Already wearing them for calls and music. No reason to switch for voice notes when I'm in a quiet room.
For long outdoor sessions: Lavalier mic
Clipped to my collar, consistent positioning, handles wind well. But I only bring it when I know I'll need it.
The bottom line
If you mostly capture notes indoors: use whatever you have.
If you capture notes while walking, commuting, or in noisy places: get wired EarPods.
The $19 investment will save you hours of editing garbled transcripts.
Related guides:
- Wired vs AirPods detailed test for full test methodology and results
- Mic positioning for handling wind and noise
- Voice dictation tips for general accuracy improvements