Question...when you buy Voice Attack and execute the file do you have to do anything in ED or windows to make it work?
Also do use the Rift for earphones and just use a mike for commands?
The rift itself has earphones and a built in mic.
I use voice attack (VA). VA uses the native dictation software present in Windows (I think it's called Voice Recorder) to listen to whatever device you have setup to record sounds (selected in your windows sounds settings) and when it hears a preset sound, it will execute a preset command or combination of commands.
When you first run VA and try to use it, nothing will happen because there are no commands set up. The free version allows you to program upto 20 commands (which is probably more than enough if you are using a HOTAS and using VA with only one game). The paid version has no limit on the number of programmable commands and it allows you to set up different "profiles" (say one for each game or program you want to use it with).
An example of a command would be: when I say "boost", VA activates the key bound to boost which causes my ship in ED to boost forward.
Another example of a command would be: when I say "prepare for elite", VA loads up several programs that I use when playing ED so I don't have to do it manually.
Since VA uses the dictation software in windows, you can train VA even before you try it. Run the dictation tutorial and trainer multiple times (at least 3 or 4 times is best) whenever you start using a new recording device or VA won't recognize any commands you say (worse, it may activate a different command with briefly hilarious and sometimes fatal consequence).
A voice pack is a collection of sound files and pre-programmed commands that work with VA for a specific game or program.
They usually need to be purchased separately from VA (and from a different company) and are great if you want you ship to talk back to you (again using a preset command). They are also useful if you are new to VA and don't know how to set up your own commands, but they do require the full (paid) version of VA to work.
An example command would be: I say: "start recording" and VA responds with "recording started", waits for 1.5 seconds (so it can finish speaking), and then presses a keyboard shortcut set up in my recording program to start recording.
I use the command "stop recording" to stop recording.
All in all, VA is great for VR, especially for things which you may or may not use all the time such as silent running, swapping out to the external camera, and taking screenshots.
![[VR] Mad Mike](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/27/27910.jpg?1553527108){kind=avatar}
