Header image credit: Trusted Reviews

When you decide to use an AI scribe, the technology you use alongside can be an important component in maximizing your experience. The main tools to consider are:

• A device that can run the software program, like a computer or tablet
• A tool with recording capabilities, like a microphone

You may wonder if you need a standalone microphone when most software devices — like your phone, laptop or tablet — already have built-in mics. According to Dr. Katherine Reardon (Dr. Kat), a relief veterinarian based in Phoenix, Az. and the in-house lead veterinarian at ScribbleVet, built-in mics can do the trick in many settings, but external mics offer an additional level of convenience and accuracy.

Small animal doctors, for example, may not have any issues placing their device near their patients during appointments. But equine or other large animal vets, who work in much larger spaces, may find it helpful to have a microphone clipped to their stethoscope or scrubs. This leaves their hands free and ensures that their voice is picked up clearly.

Poor sound quality can impact the accuracy of AI transcription. If you leave your phone in your pocket while recording, for example, there may be some rustling or sound interference that can obstruct parts of the recording. Some microphones also have the option of setting input levels right on the device itself, so you can adjust for loud or changing environments.

Note: Generally, you cannot stop or start recordings from standalone microphones, so you’ll need to remember to do this from the connected device when using your AI scribe.

In this piece we’ll focus on four of the best microphones to use with an AI scribe. Each has been tried and tested by Dr. Kat; we’ll provide her honest review, pros, cons, and price point for each microphone. The microphones are ordered from highest to lowest sound quality — and perhaps unsurprisingly, this also more or less correlates with highest to lowest cost. However, each mic has attributes that may make it better suited for your particular setup. Let’s get into it.

1. DJI Mic Mini

The DJI Mic Mini is an ultra-light, wireless microphone with a 10-hour battery life. It’s the leader in both price and recording quality.

Who is it good for? 

This microphone is an ideal option for equine and large animal doctors. It is small, unobtrusive, but powerful. If bought with its charging case, you can get up to 23 hours of use. 

Why the mic is great

• Sound control: This mic has the option to set your input levels, which is nice for folks who want to compensate for background noise or more closely control their recording levels.
• Battery life: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, purchasing this mic with its charging case means you won’t have to worry about it dying on you during the day.
• Fidelity: Of the microphone options listed here, this mic has the highest sound quality, even while being a small and portable option.
• Ease of use: There's no app to download and it took about 60 seconds to set up. Clip the mic to your outfit and you’re ready to go.

Disadvantages

• Adapter: If you have an older phone model that has a Lightning port, you’ll need to purchase an adapter. If you have a newer device with USB-C ports, this won’t be a problem.
• Lights: The microphone has bright green blinking lights, which may spook patients (or clients).
• No Bluetooth: This mic uses a dongle to connect to your phone, so it’s not a purely Bluetooth setup. The connector can be bulky, but the microphone itself is unobtrusive. It can't clip to a stethoscope so it has to be clipped to a jacket or elsewhere on your clothing.

Price point

The DJI mic is on the higher end of the price spectrum with the base model coming in at $159, but you can get the Mini model for $89. We highly recommend getting the charging case and Lightning adapter if needed — which will net out at $160.‍

2. Anker PowerConf S330 USB Speaker

The Anker USB Speaker more closely resembles, well, a speaker rather than a microphone. It’s a portable, standalone device that plugs into your phone or laptop via USB-C ports, but it also comes with a USB adapter. This makes it a good option for use in exam rooms where the setup is pretty static and exams are typically conducted in a small, enclosed area.

Who is it good for? 

According to Dr. Kat, this microphone option is best suited for practices with clinic computers already set up in exam rooms — and for clinics adopting the same AI scribe across multiple exam rooms so doctors and techs can just enter and start recording. It would work best for a veterinarian who has one main exam room, or if a practice is able to buy one microphone for each room if there are multiple. This ensures that the speaker is incorporated into your ongoing setup, ready when you need it.

Why the mic is great

• Sound quality: The main advantage to the Anker mic is that it can promise clearer sound quality than you might get from your phone, laptop, or tablet.
• Not a "personal" mic: The Anker is a convenient option for clinics that want to have the scribe already set up in various exam rooms and ensure higher compliance of using a scribe.

Disadvantages

• Mobility: The speaker is larger than the other mics mentioned here, so it is hard to move around. It also must be connected to your device during use, so it needs to stay in one place. This may not be ideal for doctors who often conduct dynamic exams.
• Echo: Because the Anker is more of an area microphone, it may be more likely to pick up echo or extraneous sounds in comparison to a mic that can be clipped closer to your mouth.

Price point

The Anker mic is more affordable at $69.99 and is available on Amazon — convenient if you’re looking to test it out quickly and compare the sound quality to your other devices.

3. JBL Quantum Stream Wireless USB-C Microphone

The JBL Quantum Stream is a lightweight clip-on microphone that picks up high quality, omnidirectional sound from every direction. It operates with a USB-C dongle that connects to Android and the latest Apple devices.

Who is it good for? 

The JBL microphone is a great option for small animal practices with multiple veterinarians using an AI scribe. It is compatible with any device that has a USB-C port and can be easily installed in an exam room’s existing set up. Just make sure the connected device is nearby as recording is not available when the device is asleep. 

This mic may be too small for large animal doctors to conveniently clip to their equipment, which tends to run larger. And while it is not the most expensive option, it is in the mid-price range. So it can be a good investment for a practice where multiple doctors use an AI scribe and can benefit from having the microphone available.

The mic can also be a good fit for relief or associate veterinarians who are using an AI scribe independent from the rest of the clinic. These vets can record directly to their personal devices anywhere they go.

Why the mic is great

• Placement: The JBL mic has a clip that can be attached to a stethoscope, your scrub pocket, and so on.
• Connectivity: It can connect to your clinic computer, an iPad, or anything with a USB-C port. Adapters are available if you have older devices that have USB or Lightning ports.
• Quality: While it may not be as powerful as the DJI or Anker, the JBL’s recordings are still high fidelity so you can ensure your conversations are recorded accurately. 
• Mute button: The microphone has a button that toggles sound receiving on and off. This can be helpful to ensure that you are recording the most relevant portions of the exam or conversation. Note that the button will not stop the recording, though.

Disadvantages

• No Bluetooth: The JBL uses a dongle with USB-C connection. It cannot connect over Bluetooth, which may be a problem for iPhone users. A $10 USB-C-Lightning adapter can help solve for this, though.
• Sleep mode: The device the microphone is connected to has to be awake in order for the mic to record.
• Clip size: While the mic does have a clip, it may run small. For example, Dr. Kat found that the clip did not fit over the stem of her pediatric stethoscope, so she ended up clipping to the eartube instead. The clip may not suit the needs of large animal doctors who use much bigger stethoscopes.

Price point

The JBL mic is a bit of an investment at $99.95. However, you can often find it significantly discounted; as of our publish date, it is currently available for $49.95.

4. TKGOU Conference USB Microphone, Computer Desktop Mic with LED Indicator

The TKGOU Conference Mic is an option similar to the Anker Speaker. It’s a static, on-desk device that can boost the sound quality of your recordings. Its main benefit? It’ll only set you back $20.

Who is it good for? 

Like the Anker mic, the TKGOU is ideal in an exam room set up. If you go the route of purchasing a mic for each exam room, we recommend this one because it will be more cost-effective than the Anker.

Why the mic is great

• Affordable: The TKGOU is a solid option for a desktop external microphone that’s compatible with most devices. It would be an easy addition to your existing exam room set up.
• Mute button: Like the JBL, this mic has a mute-unmute button on the device itself, which can help you control which parts of your conversation make it into the final recording. (Note: ScribbleVet already filters out irrelevant parts of your conversation, so this isn’t entirely necessary, but nice to have.)

Any disadvantages

• Portability: The TKGOU is slightly smaller and potentially more portable than the Anker Speaker, but it can’t travel with you. That’s not ideal for appointments where 100% of the discussion won’t be happening in the exam room.

Price point

The TKGOU Conference mic is also available on Amazon and is practically a steal at $19.99. Need we say more?

Incompatible devices

Finally, compatibility is important when it comes to choosing a microphone. There are some great options out there that may not be able to sync with the scribe software you’re using. 

For example, ScribbleVet supports iOS devices running iOS 14.5+ and any recent Android devices. On the web, we've regularly tested on Chrome, Safari, and Edge. Each of the microphones above have been tested and are compatible with ScribbleVet, but other devices may not work with our software.

If you ever have questions about whether a device is compatible with ScribbleVet, reach out to our team. We’re happy to help.

‍Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult your attorney for advice on specific legal issues.