Recommendation for ~£30 desktop mic for Voice Attack

VR andysonofbob

VR andysonofbob
Hi

I am looking for a reasonably priced desktop mic for Voice Attack.

My current one is rubbish.
It is a standard desktop mic connected via a jack to my motherboard. The audio codec is Realtek ALC892. The MSI motherboard's software has the standard settings: Noise suppression, Acoustic echo cancellation, +/- dBs.
Also Nahimic 3, whatever that is but VA grumbles about it. I can't see how to remove it, it certainly isn't on in the MSI audio app. It might be a BIOS switch.

The desktop mic will need to be placed somewhere between 0.5m and 1.5 from me, ideally around 1.2m. And be able to cope with background noise e.g. Elite from 5.1 speakers - but I guess the software can deal with that?

Any advice for microphone? I wouldn't like to spend more than £30, but will go higher if needed, especially if it is a self contained USB one.

Thanks!
 

Terekhov

Terekhov
I wouldn't know about desktop mics, but when I'm playing in pancake mode I use a simple USB headset with mic (a Jabra one that cost more than £30, but there are Logitech headsets in your range). I use the mic built into my Rift S when in VR.
 

VR andysonofbob

VR andysonofbob
Thanks!

I would prefer not to use a headset mic. My partner and I play ED together (only one VA account though) and there is too much echo if we both wear headphones so we prefer to use a desktop mic for VA. And when I play single player I might want to use my headphones, hense desktop.
 

Stabby_Dave

Stabby_Dave
i just bought a cheap one from Amazon for £6. It's got earphones, but I just wear it round my neck and use the mic. Works like a dream.
 

SMcA

SMcA
I use a "Logitech hd webcam c270" @ £25 just for the mic. I have a bit of card over the lens. 🙈
 

STRONTIUM DOG

STRONTIUM DOG
I use an old throat mic that's great for getting over booming surround
that still doesn't stop voice attack mistaking some ambient noise as a command on a rare occasion what is that all about ?
 

Templar01

Templar01
Forget about spending less tan £30 unless you like throwing money away. How do I know that? Because I have a desk full of mics that I have used for VA. I Probably spent over $300 in mics that although they technically worked, they were dog sh*t as far as VA is concerned. The good news is, you don't have to spend that much more to get a good mic.

The cheapest mic setup I found that works the best is this combination of a 48V condenser mic and amp. I tested the condenser mic first and it worked quite well, I got on average between 85-93% recognition, so try that first. Then I bought the amp and my recognition percentage now hovers between 90-99%.

Note, these are also available in bundles that often go on sale. Also note that the 48V phantom power amp is NOT made by NEEWER but rather is a product made by probably a dozen or more Chinese companies. They all perform identically. Only the silk screen name is different, so buy on price not name.

Neewer Condenser NW-700 Professional Cardioid Studio Mic

Neewer 1-Channel 48V Phantom Power Supply

Neewer 1-channel 48 V phantom power supply set USB-Ladegerät : Amazon.co.uk: Musical Instruments & DJ

Buy Neewer 1-channel 48 V phantom power supply set USB-Ladegerät. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk

Neewer NW-800 Condenser Microphone Kit - Gold Mic Black 48V Phantom Power Supply NW-35 Boom Scissor Arm Stand with Shock Mount and Pop Filter XLR Male to Female Cable: Amazon.co.uk: Musical Instruments

Buy Neewer NW-800 Condenser Microphone Kit - Gold Mic Black 48V Phantom Power Supply NW-35 Boom Scissor Arm Stand with Shock Mount and Pop Filter XLR Male to Female Cable. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk

Remember this one item though. If you aren't training your voice recognition to recognize specific words that VA often misunderstands, then it's your accent that is the culprit and no microphone will fix that. Remember, even if you're a clear speaker, when we get excited we sometimes do not speak as clearly as we might believe.

If folks are interested, I can post a brief tutorial on how to train the system in order to improve recognition as well as a few VA shortcuts I created to aid in "tuning" voice attack while in-game.
 

STRONTIUM DOG

STRONTIUM DOG
you can teach va to even understand bocce or even ancient Sumerian
e ne ne me na ah
me en de en ki ultim
igi kar a. e sa
eg look for what va thinks it heard "beer up"
use that also for "gear up"
 
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Para Handy

Para Handy
[VR] andysonofbob said:
I am looking for a reasonably priced desktop mic for Voice Attack.
.............
Any advice for microphone? I wouldn't like to spend more than £30, but will go higher if needed, especially if it is a self contained USB one.
...........
Click to expand...


I prefer to use dynamic microphones as condensers are too sensitive, even my expensive Røde shotgun mics picked up too much game audio. You could use for example a Behringer XM8500 connected to your PC's mic input using an XLR to mini-jack lead (adjusting microphone levels and boost in windows as required) e.g:



So that is just under £25 for good quality gear.

.. then sort out either a cantilever desk mount (or something convenient but isolating mechanical noise) for example e.g:


(I use a Røde studio boom arm and I feed the mic via a Behringer usb-audio interface but that is because I have loads of gear for other uses, you need not spend that amount of dosh.)
 
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