Since iOS 15 you can significantly boost the audio quality of FaceTime, but Apple has hidden the function well. Where do you find the option and how do you notice it? You can improve your FaceTime audio by following these steps.
The function is called voice isolation and was announced at the launch of iOS 15, but remained underexposed for a long time. Only in recent weeks are more and more users discovering the feature.
Voice Isolation filters out background noise using machine learning, making it easier to hear the person on the other end of the line. Handy if you want to call during a concert or if you are standing next to a busy road. Strangely enough, the function is not on by default, so you have to enable it before you notice anything of the improved audio quality.
That is how it works
Only when you’re on a video call, whether it’s one-on-one or in a group, can you turn on Voice Isolation by swiping down from the top right corner of your phone or tablet. On iPhones with a home button, swipe up from the bottom. In the Control Panel that appears at the top right is the option Mode Standard†Tap this and you will find here voice isolation†The phone will remember the choice: every time you start a new call with FaceTime, Voice Isolation is on by default. Incidentally, the function also works with other apps that allow you to make video calls, including WhatsApp, Signal and even Zoom. TikTok does not support the feature yet. You can’t turn on Voice Isolation for audio calls either.
In the same menu you will also find the option Broad spectrum†This is the exact opposite of Voice Isolation, where background noise is pushed to the foreground. This can be useful if you want to let your conversation partner enjoy music that you have on in the background, for example, but in practice you probably prefer Voice Isolation over Broad spectrum.
Not on every iPhone
The function to improve the audio quality of video calls should in principle work on all phones running the latest version of iOS, but in practice this is not always the case. For example, we searched for Voice Isolation on an iPhone 8, but the function was nowhere to be seen in the Control Panel. We did find the option on the iPhone 11.
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