Biggest wins — audio & setup

For live events, input quality usually matters more than any software setting. A clean, consistent audio signal in the correct language is the single biggest driver of accurate captions.

• Microphone source: use a dedicated pulpit, lapel, or line/USB microphone rather than the laptop's built-in mic, which picks up room noise and reverb.
• Levels: aim for a clear, consistent signal — too quiet causes missed words, too loud causes distortion.
• Speaker pace: a natural pace with slight pauses between thoughts is recognized more reliably than fast, run-on speech.
• Correct source language: make sure the session's spoken language matches what is actually being said.
• Fewer target languages: translate only the languages you need.
• Network: use a stable connection and avoid guest networks that block real-time connections.