17 replies to this topic

[nimrodusmaximus]

Any recommendations?

I saw on amazon that there are throat mics, but they don't seem to get very good ratings...

[Greyrook]

my recommendation would be to play with headphones to avoid the problem altogether, or get a headset with a mic included for the same reason.

[Shisno]

Speakers?

[Shivus]

Greyrook, on 10 August 2012 - 06:45 PM, said:

my recommendation would be to play with headphones to avoid the problem altogether, or get a headset with a mic included for the same reason.

This. A headset is probably ideal. I'm running an audio technica desktop mic and while it works very well for its price it still picks up the speakers, takes desktop space and I find myself leaning forward whenever I talk into it because of the distance. Even though it works fine when I sit back, it's just natural reflex to lean forward to talk into a mic.

Edited by Shivus, 11 August 2012 - 01:24 AM.

[Gremlich Johns]

Greyrook, on 10 August 2012 - 06:45 PM, said:

my recommendation would be to play with headphones to avoid the problem altogether, or get a headset with a mic included for the same reason.

This^

avoid feedback and just use a good set of Plantronics with a mic.

[Larzous]

Get a headset? Regular mic for use with speakers are genearlly pointless...

Mostly Anything Razer is good.. and super high quality and also doesn't pick up background noises

[Mantra]

I use a BlueYeti...it's around $100 but you can change the settings on the mic to pick up sound from specific directions. The quality is really good too. You can plug headphones right in to it too

http://www.bluemic.com/yeti/

[Cache]

There's a thread about this in the Beta forum.

I've used a throat mic hunting (cheaper Fire Fox) and I liked it quite a bit. The size adjustment was maxed out on my 18-1/2" neck and I definitely had to get it in a sweet spot for anyone to hear me. It lasted one season and was dead the next year when I pulled it out of the box. Likely a wire broken internally.

Throat mics are very good if you can get past their limitations. They don't work worth a darn with neck beards. They have to be in a sweet spot over your vocal cords. And if you are overweight (excess neck fat/skin) you're probably going to have trouble with it.

I use a covered mic like this at work (military) and it is outstanding if I have a tight seal on it. It could be modified for mic only but it's not exactly practical:



Most of they guys use newer, aviation style headsets with a noise cancelling boom mic. They suck because the transmitted voice is way too quiet.

Edited by cache, 11 August 2012 - 07:43 AM.

[nimrodusmaximus]

I have G930, but I find the sound quality to be... lacking But it's clear that the general consensus is headset is the way to go - makes sense, I couldn't really figure out a good mic solution.

Thanks!

[Odins Fist]

Just get a headset... A "full" over the ear will be less painless to break in for long sessions...

[ODonovan]

A headset/microphone combo is definitely the way to go. That way everyone on your block doesn't have to hear your battles. I've tried expensive setups and I've tried cheap ones. The main thing to look for is COMFORT. After a few hours, you won't notice minor differences in sound quality if you have a terrific headache from an uncomfortable headset. I've got a couple pretty nice ones as backups, but I can't find one I like better than my main one, a Sentry HMM10 I got from my local Big Lots (biglots.com) discount store...for $5! Lo and behold, I look these up online and they have some great reviews on Amazon.com, so it's not just me.



The moral of the story is...headset/microphone combo is the way to go and you can sometimes find great sets for very little money.

And now back to your regularly scheduled 'meching.

[xxx WreckinBallRaj xxx]

I'm looking at getting:
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16836121018
It says it has noise cancellation so I am hoping that stops or reduces unwanted background noise from carrying over into Vent/Skype/etc.(I prefer speakers not headphones. I don't feel the need to wear crap on my head just to play a game.)

[BatHunter]

I use Turtle Beach Ear Force X11 wired headset. The only issue that I have with this headset is that it has wires connecting the headset and the jacks. My wife got it for me for my Xbox 360. I use it for my computer, but the wire keeps getting caught under my chair or my daughter keeps hooking it when she comes into my corner. I would go with a wireless headset if I was getting a new one (which I soon will do).

[silentD11]

I use this, works fine

http://www.mxlmics.c...phones/usb/006/

[Ouster]

This is what I use. Its a head worn mic so there a little weird to get used to but it works grate for me. There not perfect at cutting out speaker or tv noise but it helps. it has a unidirectinal mic so it won't pick up to much extra noise. But it work perfectly with headphone as well just don’t move the head phones around to much or the headphone moving against the wire frame will transmit directly to the microphone. So you can fit it under any par of headphones of your choosing. If you get tired of using normal speakers.

http://www.musicians...dset-microphone

silentD11, on 13 August 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

I use this, works fine

http://www.mxlmics.c...phones/usb/006/

Looks like a good mic but it Omndirectinal right? it should pick up everything in the room?

Edited by Ouster, 13 August 2012 - 11:30 AM.

[silentD11]

Ouster, on 13 August 2012 - 11:29 AM, said:

This is what I use. Its a head worn mic so there a little weird to get used to but it works grate for me. There not perfect at cutting out speaker or tv noise but it helps. it has a unidirectinal mic so it won't pick up to much extra noise. But it work perfectly with headphone as well just don’t move the head phones around to much or the headphone moving against the wire frame will transmit directly to the microphone. So you can fit it under any par of headphones of your choosing. If you get tired of using normal speakers.

http://www.musicians...dset-microphone




Looks like a good mic but it Omndirectinal right? it should pick up everything in the room?

I live in a small apartment (go go go high rent prices in Washington DC, studio appartments start at 1400 a month in my building) which is really one big *** room. I've got a 7.2 sound Klipsch system (blue ray) and 5.1 swans (main computer) in there that is frankly far to powerful even if I had an entire basement to turn into a theater from my old digs, if I blast it, it won't pick it up but it will pick up my voice. It's remarkably good for picking up what it needs to.

Most professional grade mics are actually made to pick up just what they need to despite all sorts of noise flying around in the background. Normal consumer junk has problems, but broadcasting or studio grade stuff is usually fine.

[Lord Baldric]

Yes Omni-directrional Mics pick up from all around but sensitivity is the most overlooked factor in a mic. The lower the overall sensitivity the less likely things beyond the voices range are to trigger it.

As to the OP i suggest turning down the speakers first and foremost. Unless they are across the room any mic that can hear you will hear the speakers. A lower sensitivity mic will have to be closer to your mouth to be effective. I mention this because I have seen many a gamer ask a similar question and after seeing their set up they are using a desk mic that's rather close to the speakers.

Never hurts to use PTT as well. I find most people can deal with speaker noise from a sender so long as their mic isn't set to VOX and having their speakers constantly (in one infamous case from an old guild the guys mouse clicks) trigger it.

Second, If feedback is an issue mute the mic in the speakers. So far as i remember windows is capable of this and as such the mic cant "hear itself' and fixes the feedback issue.

Unfortunately there is no magic to this. Microphones pick up sound regardless of source.

[silentD11]

Any mic, even on a headset is going to pick up sound from all over the place, the key is how sensitive it is. It's really a silly thing to worry about. What should matter is... is your mic made to pick up the entire band, is your mic made to just pick up the singer... buy according to that.

I'd also splurge, a good mic will last you a few computers.