A good microphone is the most important factor in Lyrebird's note quality. If the audio is unclear, the transcript will be unclear and the note will reflect that. This guide covers how to choose, connect, and troubleshoot your microphone across all common setups.
Recommended microphone
We recommend the Audio-Technica ATR4697-USB.
Why this microphone?
Omnidirectional - picks up sound from all directions, including a patient on an examination bed
Long range - effective across a standard consultation room
USB plug-and-play - no drivers required, works immediately on Mac and Windows
If you cannot source this model, any long-range omnidirectional USB microphone will work well.
How to connect your microphone
In Google Chrome 
(standard web app)
Plug your microphone into your device via USB
Open Google Chrome and go to the Lyrebird app
When the microphone permission prompt appears, click Allow
In the Lyrebird app, confirm your microphone is selected - you'll see the audio level indicator move when you speak
⚠️ TIP: If you have multiple microphones connected (e.g. a built-in mic and a USB mic), make sure Lyrebird is using the correct one. You can check this in your browser's site settings.
In Bp Premier (embedded integration)
Open Best Practice and navigate to a patient record
Click the Lyrebird Health icon on the toolbar
When the Lyrebird browser prompts for microphone access, click Allow
If no prompt appears, follow the steps under Reset microphone permissions in Bp Premier below
Fix problems with your microphone
Step 1: Check the physical connection
Make sure the microphone is firmly plugged in. Try a different USB port if available.
Step 2: Check Chrome microphone permissions
Open Google Chrome
Click the three-dot menu
→ Settings
Go to Privacy and security → Site settings → Microphone
Find app.lyrebirdhealth.com and confirm the permission is set to "Allow"
Step 3: Check your system microphone settings
On Mac:
Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
Ensure Google Chrome is toggled on
Also check System Settings → Sound → Input and confirm the correct microphone is selected
On Windows:
Go to Settings → Privacy → Microphone
Ensure Allow apps to access your microphone is turned on
Scroll down and confirm Google Chrome is set to On
Also check Settings → System → Sound → Input and confirm the correct microphone is selected
Step 4: Test your microphone independently
It is a good idea to test your microphone on another application. There are lots of options out there, if you simply search "Microphone Test" on Google Chrome, you'll find websites which can help you diagnose whether the microphone is working as expected.
Step 5: Restart your computer
A simple restart resolves most persistent microphone permission issues.
Reset microphone permissions in Bp Premier
If Lyrebird cannot detect your microphone inside Best Practice, This is usually caused by microphone permissions not being granted.
The first time you open Lyrebird, you should see a microphone access prompt. Please ensure you click “Allow.”
If you previously blocked access - or no prompt appears - follow the reset steps below.
Close Lyrebird and Best Practice completely
Click the Windows icon
(bottom left) → search for and open RunOpen and type:
%APPDATA%then click OKIn the file path at the top, click AppData
Open the Local folder, then the Best Practice folder
Delete the EBWebView folder inside the Best Practice folder
Reopen Best Practice
Open a test patient file and launch Lyrebird
When the microphone permission prompt appears, click Allow
Using Lyrebird with Remote Desktop (RDP)
If Lyrebird is open but cannot detect your microphone and you are using Remote Desktop, the issue may be related to audio redirection settings :
First, test whether the microphone works outside Bp Premier (e.g. in Zoom or Windows Voice Recorder). If it doesn't work there, the issue is likely device-related rather then Lyrebird.
Next, check Microphone Redirection in Remote Desktop
Open Remote Desktop Connection → click Show Options → go to Local Resources
Click Remote Audio → Settings
Ensure "Record from this computer" is selected
Reconnect your session
If multiple users in your clinic are affected, ask your IT team to check:
Group Policy → Allow audio recording redirection is enabled
Terminal server permissions allow audio redirection
Need help?
If you've worked through the steps above and your microphone still isn't working, contact our support team:
Live chat - click the blue icon in the bottom right corner of the Lyrebird app
Email - [email protected]
Phone - +61 483 964 067
When contacting support, please include:
A screenshot of any error message
The steps you have already attempted
Whether you are using Remote Desktop or a standard setup.