Here’s a problem that many Skype and FaceTime users run into upon occasion. Background noise. When you’re listening on a call, and not talking, background noise can quickly become irritating to your caller. If the noise is disruptive, you can always mute the microphone on your Mac, but there’s an easier way that takes a cue from two-way communication devices.
It’s called Push To Talk. This unobtrusive Menubar app ensures that what you say gets heard by your caller, but background noise stays muted.
When you’re ready to talk or respond to your caller, simply press to talk in Press To Talk. Your Mac’s microphone stays muted until you press to talk (like old style two-way radios). Background sounds cannot be heard while you’re listening to your caller.
When you push to talk Push To Talk, your caller hears you. How do you push to talk? The muted microphone stays muted until you press a user created hot key on the keyboard. Then you can talk.
Preferences are nominal. There’s an option to Start at Login, and to disable Auto Muting (if background noise isn’t a problem), and the custom hot key.
The hot key means you have full control over when you speak in Skype or FaceTime or other voice chat apps. Press the hot key to speak. Release the key to listen to your caller (while sound from your Mac is muted).