5 ms·

I think there is still a lack of things like white boarding tools. I haven’t seen anything that could replace a big whiteboard. Also webcam images generally l

I think there is still a lack of things like white boarding tools. I haven’t seen anything that could replace a big whiteboard. Also webcam images generally look horrible. I am sure something could be done about that. Better microphones and speakers in laptops would help. Better suppression of background noises like kids would help. I think there are a lot of little things that could improve tools a lot.

callalex 6y ago
It seems silly, but I think one of the biggest reasons to have an all-MacBook shop is the microphones built into the laptops. Their far-field noise cancelling just beats the pants off of any alternative I’ve tried.
- rubber_duck 6y ago
  Still doesn't come close to a dedicated microphone
- sneak 6y ago
  You can also just issue $200 AirPods to each user that doesn't already have them (which will pair to anything that speaks Bluetooth), which may be a simpler/cheaper solution to this problem. A $20 USB gaming headset with a mouth mic arm might work, too.
IngoBlechschmid 6y ago
I love this online free self-hostable open source collaborative whiteboard: https://wbo.ophir.dev/ https://wbo.ophir.dev/ Unlike many others, this one is nice and lean and hence works smoothly even on old hardware.
rubber_duck 6y ago
If you plan on working from home full time then invest in a decent camera/microphone. I already had focusrite audio interface for guitar, an XLR mic gives amazing sound, decent interface and will probably get a usb camera (is there an action cam like GoPro that can double as a webcam ?)
- JCharante 6y ago
  You can buy a video capture device that lets you plug a GoPro or DSLR 's esque HDMI output to your computer. How are you using the xlr mic? I have one but am using the USB output because I don't have a xlr port on my laptop.
  - ghaff 6y ago
    Depending upon your needs you plug the XLR mic into a converter with USB out or into a mixer.
  - echelon 6y ago
    My setup is a Shure SM7B, Cloudlifter (necessary for SM7B), and Focusrite Scarlett. It sounds really good.
    - vetinari 6y ago
      Do you also commute by Ferrari? :) USB mics like Rode NT-USB (or NT-USB mini) or Blue Yeti are fine, too. They are the equivalent of a very nice sedan.
      - walshemj 6y ago
        The scarlet focusrites entry level are pretty cheap you can get the solo for £100 less than a nice mechanical keyboard and a decent mouse. I went for the next level up the Clarret 2pre but I do use that for my dnd streams and want to process my voice and to mix in audio. Main problem with entry level class compliant usb is your at the mercy of Apple and Microsoft making your interface obsolete and you cant change your microphone to suit.
        vetinari 6y ago
        It is not just the soundcard; but the entire solution. When I looked it, it was for the microphone (400 EUR) + focusrite 2i2 (150, yeah, I looked at dual) + cloudlifter (150) + boom arm (75) + cables (let's say 25) => 800 EUR. I tried not to think about GoXLR... Compared to that, NT-USB + boom arm (PSA1) was only 200. Plus the space saved on the desk. I don't really understand, what you mean with being at mercy of Apple and Microsoft. The only problem with USB mics that I'm aware of might be timing/lag, if you need it to be precise. That could be problem for singers singing to instruments, but not for spoken word.
HeWhoLurksLate 6y ago
If you have an nVidia GPU, look into RTX voice- you can install it on any CUDA-enabled GPU with a simple tweak, and it's good enough to kill dryer noise and keep your screaming children from being heard.
dogman144 6y ago
Dialing in a iPad to the zoom w/ the notes/whiteboard app is a good substitute I think a lot about for this.

callalex 6y ago

It seems silly, but I think one of the biggest reasons to have an all-MacBook shop is the microphones built into the laptops. Their far-field noise cancelling just beats the pants off of any alternative I’ve tried.

rubber_duck 6y ago
Still doesn't come close to a dedicated microphone
sneak 6y ago
You can also just issue $200 AirPods to each user that doesn't already have them (which will pair to anything that speaks Bluetooth), which may be a simpler/cheaper solution to this problem. A $20 USB gaming headset with a mouth mic arm might work, too.

IngoBlechschmid 6y ago

I love this online free self-hostable open source collaborative whiteboard: https://wbo.ophir.dev/ https://wbo.ophir.dev/ Unlike many others, this one is nice and lean and hence works smoothly even on old hardware.

rubber_duck 6y ago

If you plan on working from home full time then invest in a decent camera/microphone. I already had focusrite audio interface for guitar, an XLR mic gives amazing sound, decent interface and will probably get a usb camera (is there an action cam like GoPro that can double as a webcam ?)

JCharante 6y ago
You can buy a video capture device that lets you plug a GoPro or DSLR 's esque HDMI output to your computer. How are you using the xlr mic? I have one but am using the USB output because I don't have a xlr port on my laptop.
- ghaff 6y ago
  Depending upon your needs you plug the XLR mic into a converter with USB out or into a mixer.
- echelon 6y ago
  My setup is a Shure SM7B, Cloudlifter (necessary for SM7B), and Focusrite Scarlett. It sounds really good.
  - vetinari 6y ago
    Do you also commute by Ferrari? :) USB mics like Rode NT-USB (or NT-USB mini) or Blue Yeti are fine, too. They are the equivalent of a very nice sedan.
    - walshemj 6y ago
      The scarlet focusrites entry level are pretty cheap you can get the solo for £100 less than a nice mechanical keyboard and a decent mouse. I went for the next level up the Clarret 2pre but I do use that for my dnd streams and want to process my voice and to mix in audio. Main problem with entry level class compliant usb is your at the mercy of Apple and Microsoft making your interface obsolete and you cant change your microphone to suit.
      - vetinari 6y ago
        It is not just the soundcard; but the entire solution. When I looked it, it was for the microphone (400 EUR) + focusrite 2i2 (150, yeah, I looked at dual) + cloudlifter (150) + boom arm (75) + cables (let's say 25) => 800 EUR. I tried not to think about GoXLR... Compared to that, NT-USB + boom arm (PSA1) was only 200. Plus the space saved on the desk. I don't really understand, what you mean with being at mercy of Apple and Microsoft. The only problem with USB mics that I'm aware of might be timing/lag, if you need it to be precise. That could be problem for singers singing to instruments, but not for spoken word.

HeWhoLurksLate 6y ago

If you have an nVidia GPU, look into RTX voice- you can install it on any CUDA-enabled GPU with a simple tweak, and it's good enough to kill dryer noise and keep your screaming children from being heard.

dogman144 6y ago

Dialing in a iPad to the zoom w/ the notes/whiteboard app is a good substitute I think a lot about for this.