I just bought a N1 recently, and am loving it. However, this one issue bugs me to no end.
During calls with my girlfriend, she always complains of my voice being too soft, as if I'm talking from far away. The only solution I've found so far is to cup my hands in front of the mic, or to just speak louder. This is annoying, as I never had this problem with my ancient Sony Ericsson K750i.
I've been looking for an app/way to increase my microphone gain, to no avail.
So..
1. Does anyone else have this problem?
2. Is there a way to increase microphone gain on the nexus one?
Some help would be much appreciated here. Thank you you. =)
I bet this may be a hardware problem, maybe one of your two Mics is not working. I don't have any issues, and I've even left myself messages to hear the phone's sound quality, and its very clear.
The only time I experienced what you describe is when I use the wired head set and the wire is not plugged in all the way which makes the Mic fail. Then it sounds exactly like you said, which makes me very much think its a broken Mic hardware.
Thanks for the reply roger.
Thing is, it's not that i'm VERY soft, just a little too soft for good hearing. If i make it a point to put the mic as close to my mouth as i can it's alright.
The wishful side of me is adamant that it's a normal problem, and just a little extra mic gain would solve it prettily. Now all I need to do is find that app.
RMA-ing the thing isn't the nicest of solutions, because i live in Malaysia, and HTC Malaysia doesn't support the phone. I'll have to get it sent to HTC Singapore, and do the necessary there. No joy.
If you guys have a lead on what to look for I'll be most thankful. =)
There is no thing you're looking for, and it's not a "normal problem", this problem shouldn't exist. The problem is most likely in dual-mic noise-canceling setup, as RogerPodacter wrote above. The only thing you could try is cancel the noise cancellation:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=700958
Yeah I don't know then. Like I said, I've plugged in my wired headset so it was not all the way inserted, which disables one or both of the Mics or something. And people say I sound like I'm in a tin can or like really far away and faint. When I push the plug all the way in it returns to normal.
So the first thing I thought of was a problem with the Mic. However only you can tell if you think its your low voice. Maybe you can try leaving yourself a few voice messages at various distances from your mouth then listen to them yourself and judge the quality to see what's going on.
Yea, good ideas roger, jack. I'll follow your suggestions, hopefully they'll solve my problem.
Meanwhile, thanks much for your help. =) you've been awesome.
It may be a microphone issue - my first N1 had problems with the microphone where the other party on the line would only hear digital noise or it would be inaudible what I was saying.
BUT I am now on my 4th replacement and something that everybody, who I talk to on that phone, agrees with is the bad sound quality / microphone quality on the phone. They all say that I am really far away as or it sounds like I am speaking into a tin can. This is across all 4 replacements.
If I use a different phone, they will say "ugh what happened, I can suddenly hear you as if you are standing next to me"
Funny, just about any Nexus review on the net, and just about any of my colleagues using it, are saying the opposite - the call clarity and sound on the other side is excellent, especially in noisy areas, where noise cancellation kicks in. I guess they're all blinded by some kind of group mind control...
Interesting, you actually bring up old threads just to bash N1, whether on real points or with bullcrap. I don't know a real person that would tolerate a bad phone, no matter how much it cost - and definitely don't know any person that would keep constantly complaining about it.
Jack_R1 said:
Funny, just about any Nexus review on the net, and just about any of my colleagues using it, are saying the opposite - the call clarity and sound on the other side is excellent, especially in noisy areas, where noise cancellation kicks in. I guess they're all blinded by some kind of group mind control...
Interesting, you actually bring up old threads just to bash N1, whether on real points or with bullcrap. I don't know a real person that would tolerate a bad phone, no matter how much it cost - and definitely don't know any person that would keep constantly complaining about it.
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Troll? Did you contribute anything to this thread?
When you're on the phone, make sure that you're not covering up the hole for the mic near the camera.
I've noticed that when I have to use my shoulder to temporarily hold the phone up against my ear, the mic will rub up against my shirt, totally screwing up the noise cancellation. I've been told that when I hold the phone that way that it sounds like I'm talking through a towel.
Maybe you hold your phone weird?
erikikaz said:
When you're on the phone, make sure that you're not covering up the hole for the mic near the camera.
I've noticed that when I have to use my shoulder to temporarily hold the phone up against my ear, the mic will rub up against my shirt, totally screwing up the noise cancellation. I've been told that when I hold the phone that way that it sounds like I'm talking through a towel.
Maybe you hold your phone weird?
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No that's not it for me.
Am definitely avoiding the second mic hole.
erikikaz said:
Maybe you hold your phone weird?
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That explains why I can't seem to cradle the phone on my right shoulder. If what you said is true, then cradling the phone on my left shoulder should work fine. I'll try it out. Thanks Erikakaz!
On the microphone issue, I think it's because the way I held the phone when it happened might have placed the mic too far from my mouth. Perhaps the ANC thought my voice is background. I'm now holding the phone tilted during calls, so that the mic's closer to my mouth. (The mic is off center right?)
Seems to work so far.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Related
Hi,
While calling people there have been several complaints that my voice is very low while on the phone has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks
Yes, a little bit, then I carry on talking and the other party manages to cope. I was assuming my case may play a little part in the problem, even though there is a small pin hole where the mic is.
My case is the official HTC One flip case... You?
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
wyase9 said:
Yes, a little bit, then I carry on talking and the other party manages to cope. I was assuming my case may play a little part in the problem, even though there is a small pin hole where the mic is.
My case is the official HTC One flip case... You?
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it's the same flip case. hmmm. I wonder if there is a way of improving it.
funny I dont get this even though the case covers the mic at the bottom of the phone.
I mentioned on another thread that there is a fault with every double dip flip case. The mic hole doesn't line up with the mic properly!
r89HTC said:
funny I dont get this even though the case covers the mic at the bottom of the phone.
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A little off topic... Thought I would ask Are you the same guy with the name R89SONY? lol
jonstatt said:
I mentioned on another thread that there is a fault with every double dip flip case. The mic hole doesn't line up with the mic properly!
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Dam. Might have to buy a new case.
The thing is I can see that the hole perfectly lines up with the hole from what I can see.
r89HTC said:
funny I dont get this even though the case covers the mic at the bottom of the phone.
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Which case you guys are talking about? The plastic cover which have 3 parts? Or the black flip case wich can let the phone stand up in landscape mode?
cobbcobbdavid said:
Which case you guys are talking about? The plastic cover which have 3 parts? Or the black flip case wich can let the phone stand up in landscape mode?
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The case I am referring to with the issues is the flip case and NOT the one with three parts.
But im not even using a case right now, but im also getting people saying they can't hear me that good, sounds great on my end though.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
Try to record your own voice with inbuilt recorder app than play and see. Check if you have case which covering Mic? Try to see if any residuel trap inside the mic hole try to use vaccume cleaner to suck from both Mic. Or try to talk with customer service number and talk very softly and ask if operator can hear your voice properly?, restart the phone and do the same and check if anything improved? Try to record your voice using camera and check. Hope this all step help
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
I'm having the same problem, I have narrowed it down to being the bottom mic, When in a call, using speaker phone the back mic is on and people can hear me. When headphones are in again, people can hear me, again though the back mic. But when I take out the headphones, and turn speaker off, people can't hear me, unless I'm talking directly into the bottom mic, but words get cut short. Hearing what it sounds like I'm thinking it's noise canalization going on..
tyrant1790 said:
I'm having the same problem, I have narrowed it down to being the bottom mic, When in a call, using speaker phone the back mic is on and people can hear me. When headphones are in again, people can hear me, again though the back mic. But when I take out the headphones, and turn speaker off, people can't hear me, unless I'm talking directly into the bottom mic, but words get cut short. Hearing what it sounds like I'm thinking it's noise canalization going on..
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Having the same exact problem. Using the voice recording app - the volume of a recording using the bottom mic is woefully low compared to using a headset to record.
When using the speaker to answer calls - doesn't exibit this behavior as bad due to the other external mic.
Everyone that is calling me is complaining that they can barely hear me and I think it has nothing to do with the carrier, but all to do with the phone.
My partner's phone is also doing this. Every time she answers a call the other person can't hear her and she almost has to yell. She does have the HTC Genuine case but I've tested calls without this on and still the same thing.
It is the Silver 32GB HTC One ordered through Handtec.
I guess you're talking about the official case which can hold up the phone like the case comes with GSIII ?
I saw two thread complaining the same issue in another forum. However, I have a similar case (but not THIS case) and don't have this problem.
why put on case on HTC One? geez
(Don't mean to troll)
bad mic issue
mr_sock said:
why put on case on HTC One? geez
(Don't mean to troll)
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e: it was a noise cancellation + hole blockage deal for me. seems alright now
I just tested mine and I can hear myself loud and clear.
people I call tell me it's like I am sitting next to them when I call
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
I have had other people tell me they can hear me, and I would move the phone and then they would say I'm perfectly clear.
I'm talking moving it a couple inches farther from my mouth. But then speakerphone works fine. I happen to believe it's cancellation taking us out as well.
How is the voice quality on your Gear?
I carry my phone (Note 3) in my front watch pocket, on my stand next to me, or in my mobile mount. This keeps the phone within 3 feet of the watch. Sometimes I can hear perfectly, but sometimes the audio breaks up so bad I need to quickly grab my phone and press the Headset button to disable the Gear's audio so I can use the phone.
It's random, almost 50/50. Is this a common or uncommon issue?
delete
Brendo said:
delete
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I've not had any issues with the phone on the Gear. When I ask most folks say I sound good.
I have had some choppy audio from SVoice, figured it was bluetooth interference.
mhoepfin said:
I've not had any issues with the phone on the Gear. When I ask most folks say I sound good.
I have had some choppy audio from SVoice, figured it was bluetooth interference.
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People I talk to say it sounds fine when I talk to them, but when they talk to me, half the time it's broken up. I am assuming bluetooth issues.
Same here. Especially walking in downtown when it's noisy and windy outside, I have a hard time hearing the person talking on my watch so I have to hold my wrist to my ear, it's awkward and silly.
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
Starlightzz said:
Same here. Especially walking in downtown when it's noisy and windy outside, I have a hard time hearing the person talking on my watch so I have to hold my wrist to my ear, it's awkward and silly.
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
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With respect, I think your expectations are very unrealistic and that's an understatement. Professional TV broadcasting outside microphones can cost tens of thousands of euros. Sound recorders are professional people who specialise in just sound yet even then there is no guarantee that the weather will behave. See the news on TV with an outside broadcast in poor weather and what do you hear?
Of course you will look silly when holding your watch up to your face to speak in to it, further more if the volume was higher are you sure you desire to share your conversation with the general public while walking down the high street?
I am hard to please yet even I realise the limitations of the device. What exactly where you expecting?
The volume on my gear is superb as is the quality of the speaker and microphone.
I have concerns about the gear but this is certainly not one of them.
Regards.
Ryland Johnson said:
Of course you will look silly when holding your watch up to your face to speak in to it.
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When I first got my Note (1) all the reviewers made comments about how stupid someone would look taking on such a big device. I never got that... phones were big before they were small, it's just an issue of what people become accustomed to. It immediately became very normal to me, and when I see people with much smaller phones they seem like toys. Holding your wrist up to your ear isn't that much different than holding a phone up to your ear. The only difference is, if someone pays attention they will see there is no phone in your hand. As wearable devices become more common, people will get used to it. I think putting the speaker on the clasp was a good idea, it does allow you to hold it up next to your ear in noisy environments in a much more natural way than if you were trying to hold the face of the watch up to your ear. I personally couldn't care less how silly someone thinks it might look, that's really more their issue of not being able to quickly adapt as technology changes.
My audio issues are not weather or distance related. It just seems like the audio I hear from the Gear is often choppy or has lag or stutter.
Hi everyone! So I've been having this problem with my One from the beginning, where the top speaker sounds softer than the bottom speaker. It actually feels that it is increasing over time. I've tried a few others at the service center, and all had the same problem. So the real smartass guys there said that it's meant to be like that if most pieces have it. Thing is, it isn't supposed to be like this, and I'm pulling my hair out now. I saw two of my friends phones, which sound perfectly balanced.. I read somewhere that it could be because of dirt accumulated in the speakers, so I took a thin paintbrush and brushed over the top speaker, but that doesn't seem to have made any difference. I'm on ParanoidAndroid now, but even on sense, the problem was prominent. Even after turning on beats audio, it was still very audible. Also, it sounds like the top speaker is trying very hard to be loud, and you can feel it vibrate as hard as the bottom speaker, but it just sounds like it's being blocked/restrained. Any ideas/solutions? Except giving it back to HTC and waiting for a week while praying for the best?
n1234d said:
Hi everyone! So I've been having this problem with my One from the beginning, where the top speaker sounds softer than the bottom speaker. It actually feels that it is increasing over time. I've tried a few others at the service center, and all had the same problem. So the real smartass guys there said that it's meant to be like that if most pieces have it. Thing is, it isn't supposed to be like this, and I'm pulling my hair out now. I saw two of my friends phones, which sound perfectly balanced.. I read somewhere that it could be because of dirt accumulated in the speakers, so I took a thin paintbrush and brushed over the top speaker, but that doesn't seem to have made any difference. I'm on ParanoidAndroid now, but even on sense, the problem was prominent. Even after turning on beats audio, it was still very audible. Also, it sounds like the top speaker is trying very hard to be loud, and you can feel it vibrate as hard as the bottom speaker, but it just sounds like it's being blocked/restrained. Any ideas/solutions? Except giving it back to HTC and waiting for a week while praying for the best?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
considering that its a hardware defect, theres really nothing much u can do except for giving it to htc. I don't have the same problem as you though
n1234d said:
Hi everyone! So I've been having this problem with my One from the beginning, where the top speaker sounds softer than the bottom speaker. It actually feels that it is increasing over time. I've tried a few others at the service center, and all had the same problem. So the real smartass guys there said that it's meant to be like that if most pieces have it. Thing is, it isn't supposed to be like this, and I'm pulling my hair out now. I saw two of my friends phones, which sound perfectly balanced.. I read somewhere that it could be because of dirt accumulated in the speakers, so I took a thin paintbrush and brushed over the top speaker, but that doesn't seem to have made any difference. I'm on ParanoidAndroid now, but even on sense, the problem was prominent. Even after turning on beats audio, it was still very audible. Also, it sounds like the top speaker is trying very hard to be loud, and you can feel it vibrate as hard as the bottom speaker, but it just sounds like it's being blocked/restrained. Any ideas/solutions? Except giving it back to HTC and waiting for a week while praying for the best?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not alone I have exect same problem but except giving it back to HTC there is nothing we can do unfortunatly..
adakaya1994 said:
You are not alone I have exect same problem but except giving it back to HTC there is nothing we can do unfortunatly..
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Hmm. Do you hear the top speaker sort of "washed out" compared to the bottom one? And when you get the phone closer, the difference gets less noticeable? Describe your problem a little..
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
raghav kapur said:
considering that its a hardware defect, theres really nothing much u can do except for giving it to htc. I don't have the same problem as you though
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The problem is the service center technicians don't accept the problem of imbalance. They say that all the other phones have it, so this will have it too.. And I really have no energy left to argue with those noobs after getting my phone repaired there numerous times.. Well I guess I'll just sell my phone, it's just been full of problems ever since I got it. At the risk of going off-topic, you're from India, what would you see as a good price for this perfect (except for speakers) 2 month old, November batch (HT3B) device?
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
n1234d said:
The problem is the service center technicians don't accept the problem of imbalance. They say that all the other phones have it, so this will have it too.. And I really have no energy left to argue with those noobs after getting my phone repaired there numerous times.. Well I guess I'll just sell my phone, it's just been full of problems ever since I got it. At the risk of going off-topic, you're from India, what would you see as a good price for this perfect (except for speakers) 2 month old, November batch (HT3B) device?
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
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Why dont u try gng 2 another repair centre. Non-HTC. Those repair centres that treat all kinds of electronics. The manufacturer csn b an ass at times. I dont live in India though. But try fr 35K INR
Hmm alright. I'd rather not spend any longer with the phone, it works perfect now, very new (it is a replacement for my previous One which I sent for repair I think five times) Price will keep reducing if I use it for longer. Thanks anyways
Sent from my One using Tapatalk
I've had several people complain about the quality of my calls since getting the Note 4. I mainly use the speaker phone and it seems that it's very picky on positioning to work perfectly. Sometimes people say they can't hear me, sometimes they say there's a lot of echoing, it's pretty frustrating. I'm coming from a Moto X where I also used the speaker phone extensively and never got a single complaint. Anybody else notice this? Any tips?
No issues here I came from an s5 so call quality still the same for so far
Are you using any case? Are you certain all Mic holes and whatnot are absolutely uncovered?
Good point about the case my wife had a case that affected both call quality and signal
It's not the case, I have the one where the top and bottom mic holes aren't covered at all. The issue is specifically with the speaker phone, normal calls are fine.
Moved thread to Q&A where it belongs. Please post in correct sections, thanks.
So when activating the phone, I foolishly followed the Verizon tech's advice to poke the sim tool in both holes in the top. Doing my research post-activation, I see that I poked the tool into the mic.
Likely damage? There are two mics, but the one on top surely has a slightly different purpose. How can I verify if I did any damage?
LOL - I see a ton of posts on this site and reddit with people that have done the same thing. Still would love to know what the top mic is for and ideas for testing for damage.
Likely candidates for damage are "waterproofing", the mic itself, fabric, etc.
If my eyesight and the light were better I'd have noticed the outline of the tray, but couldn't see it. I should know better than to listen to a phone tech for advice like that.
mseifert said:
LOL - I see a ton of posts on this site and reddit with people that have done the same thing. Still would love to know what the top mic is for and ideas for testing for damage.
Likely candidates for damage are "waterproofing", the mic itself, fabric, etc.
If my eyesight and the light were better I'd have noticed the outline of the tray, but couldn't see it. I should know better than to listen to a phone tech for advice like that.
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Click to collapse
Noise cancelation, most likely. As to testing for damage, that may prove difficult.
Mostly, those mics aren't directly behind the hole in the frame. They're mounted on top of the PCB and a 90° plastic tube is glued on them to prevent dust, sand and poking derps to damage the microphones. I don't know how Samsung did this in the S10 series.
Testing noise reduction microphones isn't possible directly, just when in use. They're not used by Android, they're used by the actual sound driver and can't be controlled directly via the OS.
Jerryrigeverything did a video on this (in a video he talked about it not a full video on it) the phone is designed for people who do this and it doesn't have any effect. The top mic is probably used for both noise canceling and when you are in a loud environment and have your hand covering the bottom of your phone (like a concert)
If it was my phone and I had done this specifically at the direction of a Verizon representative and it could be verified phone was damaged as a result, I would be trying to get them to replace phone. A tech uninformed enough to suggest a stupid move like this will probably lie and say they never instructed you to do this. Maybe poking tech in wrong hole would be fitting revenge.
LMAO.. i did that to my wife and she liked it.
bsam55 said:
If it was my phone and I had done this specifically at the direction of a Verizon representative and it could be verified phone was damaged as a result, I would be trying to get them to replace phone. A tech uninformed enough to suggest a stupid move like this will probably lie and say they never instructed you to do this. Maybe poking tech in wrong hole would be fitting revenge.
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Click to collapse
If Verizon had actually sold me the phone, I'd consider it. But since I bought it directly from Samsung (it was a $300 off deal!) I don't believe I'd end up with a replacement. The first thing I have to get over is feeling so stupid. I had read something somewhere about dual sim slots - probably on some future phone - and because of the symmetry thought that there were two of them.
Zmantech said:
Jerryrigeverything did a video on this (in a video he talked about it not a full video on it) the phone is designed for people who do this and it doesn't have any effect. The top mic is probably used for both noise canceling and when you are in a loud environment and have your hand covering the bottom of your phone (like a concert)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It makes sense they would design the phone to prevent such a common mistake. Why design two identical holes in the top where one opens the tray and one destroys a mic? Reminds me of a Dilbert strip. Thanks for the assurance. It helps ease that worried feel.
Player04 said:
LMAO.. i did that to my wife and she liked it.
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hilarious
Simple, just use the built in voice recorder in interview mode.
Did the same thing the very next second I unboxed it...it seems to me there is no damage...but I cant verify it....thinking of it, I probably haven't shot a single video from this phone since the time I got it (its launch)
Player04 said:
LMAO.. i did that to my wife and she liked it.
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I have never seen a better reply on XDA ever. That's funny.
Wrong hole compilation
Uhh
Wow, this is why there are 2 mics, one on bottom, one on top...It is simply for STEREO sound during video recording.
I did this on the bottom hole ?
But seriously I worry now about waterproof. I tested the mic by recording a video in landscape talking in stereo in both mics and playback sounded fine.
Nope. The top microphone is for noise cancellation during a phone conversation on speaker. Your other party will hear a lot of uncancelled background noise.
Ejector tool cannot damage the mic
mseifert said:
So when activating the phone, I foolishly followed the Verizon tech's advice to poke the sim tool in both holes in the top. Doing my research post-activation, I see that I poked the tool into the mic.
Likely damage? There are two mics, but the one on top surely has a slightly different purpose. How can I verify if I did any damage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YouTube at about 3:52 into the video
Huawei P30 Pro Teardown! - How does a 'Periscope Camera' work?
This answers the age old question, "I mistakenly poked the mic hole with the ejector tool, did I damage the mic?"... The answer is no... I'm sure all phone manufacturers thought of this... on pretty much every phone, the actual mic is off to the side internally...
N M 156 said:
YouTube at about 3:52 into the video
Huawei P30 Pro Teardown! - How does a 'Periscope Camera' work?
This answers the age old question, "I mistakenly poked the mic hole with the ejector tool, did I damage the mic?"... The answer is no... I'm sure all phone manufacturers thought of this... on pretty much every phone, the actual mic is off to the side internally...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably toasted the water protection though.
redoregon said:
Probably toasted the water protection though.
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Click to collapse
Nope... Watch the video... No waterproofing damage either...
So I did the same thing too!
While distracted, I used a sewing needle to try to open the sim card port and accidentally jammed it in the hole by the charging port!
Whoops!
So checking out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHzmFPoZbCA&feature=youtu.be&t=293
It looks like I ran into a metal box looking thing on the mother board (I think that is what I was pressing depressingly firmly into trying to get the sim tray to open.) . IO think that is the mic chip, but not the opening? So did I bump that, but not damage waterproofing and not damage the mic?
I just do not know what I was stressing and if I should worry. I was using a sharp needle, but I do not think i punctured anything!