Author Topic: open Air (not headsets) used from a distance (Read 15111 times)

jitterjames · « **on:** July 10, 2010, 10:31:21 AM »

this one looks like it has potential, (again expensive)

http://www.emicrophones.com/p-1046-voice-tracker-array-microphone.aspx

jitterjames · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2010, 11:44:05 PM »

Freddo reports that the PS3eye yields decent results even at a distance of over 2 meters (6 feet) in a quiet room.

the PS3eye has a 4 microphone array¹ and is reasonably priced (<$50?). I think it may take some tricks to get it installed in windows since it is designed for use on a PS3 gaming system. It has a camera on it too. I'm assuming it's a standard usb plug.

1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone_array

jitterjames · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2010, 08:36:16 AM »

I picked up the ps3 eye from a local store for $40CAD. It does a reasonable job from about 4-5 feet away. Any further and I start to have to raise my voice. Also it doesn't really seem to filter out other sounds. So far this microphone array concept is not living up to the hype.

At first it really didn't seem to be working that well but I spent 5 minutes training a new profile in WSR and it helped a lot. IMO training WSR is more about training the engine to work with your microphone than it is about your voice or accent. But then my accent is pretty vanilla, I think.

I don't know if there will be improvements made to the drivers for this device, since it is not made for a PC, but the ones I've got now are a bit unstable. I don't seem to be able to adjust the volume level at all, and it is quite low. maybe it is supposed to adjust itself automatically but I feel it should be louder. Also, any time I restart or put my system to sleep and then wake it, the microphone needs to be unplugged and replugged into the usb port, which is a pain. The bright blue light on this thing is also kind of annoying, just because it is always on, even when the computer is asleep or when the microphone is not working because it needs to be re-plugged.

I think I will return it. But I would probably keep it if I didn't already have other equally good solutions. First I will try to do a side by side comparison with my logitech chat camera mic.

If anyone (i.e. Freddo) has any tips on the driver or volume issues please post it here.

Wanilton · « **Reply #3 on:** July 25, 2010, 10:28:55 AM »

Try for PS3EYe, This driver
http://codelaboratories.com/products/eye/driver/
its great

jitterjames · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2010, 01:21:36 PM »

thank you Wanilton. that is the one I'm using. I don't think there is any other driver that one can use is there?

It works well enough, but I have to replug every time I wake my computer, and there is no volume control.

In case it helps anyone, the ps3eye, like some hard drives, may work better if you plug it into the back (i.e. direct to motherboard) instead of using a usb port on the front of your machine. I have mine plugged in via a 10 foot usb extension cable (to the back of my machine) and it works fine. Having it on an extension also makes it easier to unplug/replug, but it's still a pain in the butt.

Unless you also want to use the video camera (which is pretty good even in low light), I'd say the ps3eye is not worth the $40.00 that I paid for the quality of the microphone especially considering the nuisance of replugging. Maybe a newer driver will come out eventually that solves this issue.

jitterjames · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2010, 10:09:08 AM »

I'm not sure what has changed but my ps3eye now seems to work when I resume from sleep. I'm not convinced that it is 100% but the last few times it seems to have maintained its connection so no replugging needed.

jitterjames · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2010, 02:58:07 PM »

these pa3 microphones are of interest to me:

http://www.spytown.com/pa3sumiprand.html

is anyone familiar with these?

Native · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2010, 06:47:13 PM »

I was looking at this kinda thing;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280566727133&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250632847623&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

'Chas reckon?

jitterjames · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2010, 07:04:53 PM »

it's a crap shoot but you might get lucky.

EDIT: in theory VHF should work, but maybe you get less interference with UHF.

EDIT@: http://www.dealextreme.com/forums/Forums.dx/Forum.3030~threadid.6583

Native · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2010, 07:20:02 AM »

WooHoo! Found this, think it will make even the crappiest microphone usable!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HQ-Megaphone-Integrated-Microphone-Adjustable/dp/B0032YNRF6/ref=sr_1_464?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1286317677&sr=1-464

jitterjames · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2010, 09:33:18 AM »

I think it might have a pretty low WAF though!

jroyale · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2010, 01:20:45 PM »

I purchased the ps3 eye but I am unable to adjust the audio level in win 7 64bit. It's at 0 and the slider won't move.

Suggestions?

jitterjames · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2010, 03:48:43 PM »

I think that's normal. It should still work fine.

jroyale · « **Reply #13 on:** October 26, 2010, 04:27:26 PM »

It works okay from a few feet but at a longer distance it's not very effective. The level when I talk is very low. When you say the little speech to set up your mic my level doesn't get higher then the start of the green section.

jitterjames · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2010, 04:33:47 PM »

I also find it quiet, but it seems to work fairly well up to about 5 or 6 feet. I have yelled at it from about 20 feet away and got it to work but that is not the intended use

Maybe you can get some answers from the creator of the drivers:

http://codelaboratories.com/

I notice that there is a new driver dated Oct 17th, but I guess that is the driver you are using?

jackhill · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2011, 03:21:50 AM »

Hi everyone. 1st post

I'm in the process of setting up my XBMC HTPC and discovered this amazing application.

I prefer the open mic setup so have been hunting around for a good mic. Does anyone have experience with the "Spreed USB Conference Speaker Microphone"?

Found below

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spreed-USB-Conference-Speaker-Microphone/dp/3936710910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=computers&qid=1296630236&sr=8-1

I sit about 4 metres back so need a good quality mic. I'm more than happy to press mute every time I want to issue a command.

Thanks

Kalle · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2011, 04:49:21 AM »

Quote from: jackhill on February 02, 2011, 03:21:50 AM

Hi everyone. 1st post

I'm in the process of setting up my XBMC HTPC and discovered this amazing application.

I prefer the open mic setup so have been hunting around for a good mic. Does anyone have experience with the "Spreed USB Conference Speaker Microphone"?

Found below

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spreed-USB-Conference-Speaker-Microphone/dp/3936710910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=computers&qid=1296630236&sr=8-1

I sit about 4 metres back so need a good quality mic. I'm more than happy to press mute every time I want to issue a command.

Thanks

jackhill welcome in VC-Forum

i don't know, but look on this threat http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=379.0

Kalle

jackhill · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2011, 06:04:25 AM »

Quote from: Kalle on February 02, 2011, 04:49:21 AM

Quote from: jackhill on February 02, 2011, 03:21:50 AM
Hi everyone. 1st post

I'm in the process of setting up my XBMC HTPC and discovered this amazing application.

I prefer the open mic setup so have been hunting around for a good mic. Does anyone have experience with the "Spreed USB Conference Speaker Microphone"?

Found below

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spreed-USB-Conference-Speaker-Microphone/dp/3936710910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=computers&qid=1296630236&sr=8-1

I sit about 4 metres back so need a good quality mic. I'm more than happy to press mute every time I want to issue a command.

Thanks
jackhill welcome in VC-Forum

i don't know, but look on this threat http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=379.0

Kalle

Thanks. That mic looks really good but might be out of my price range (need to ship it to the UK which doubles the price). I'll try and find a review so long.

Thanks again

jitterjames · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2011, 09:32:18 AM »

I don't have any first hand experience with those two mics, but I will say this. If you have a report telling you that one mic will do exactly what you want, it's worth considering the extra $$. If it's a question of spend 1/2 as much on something you end up never using then you are really wasting your money. Still, importing stuff can be a real pita too especially is it turns out that there is a problem with your product and you need to ship it back. If you local mic is something that you can return, then I say go for it and let us know how it works.

Otherwise I guess you'll need to keep searching. There was another boundary layer conference mic that was discussed on the forum a few months ago. I believe it was available in Europe so you might want to search for that.

jackhill · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2011, 06:12:02 AM »

Thanks for the advice.

I might have a friend going over to the states soon so will get them to pick me up a MXL AC404.

Can't wait to try this out

jitterjames · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:51:02 AM »

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836709005

It has very positive reviews at newegg.com. Just remember, you will need a VERY quiet environment, and you will need to mute your computer if you want this to work with VoxCommando. Apparently this thing picks up everything in a 180 degree pattern, but that will probably include sound from behind it that bounces off your walls.

fattybunter · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2011, 09:01:10 PM »

So after using my Kinect some more, I am finding it has a lot more trouble when the movie/tv show playing gets loud. Still great other than that though so I'm not sure if it will be worth an upgrade.

James, did you ever land on a final choice for an open air mic? Any of these?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836709005

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spreed-USB-Conference-Speaker-Microphone/dp/3936710910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=computers&qid=1296630236&sr=8-1

http://www.emicrophones.com/p-1046-voice-tracker-i-array-microphone.aspx

jitterjames · « **Reply #22 on:** June 23, 2011, 09:23:35 PM »

AFAIK the boundary layer mics pick up everything which is not good. The tracker array microphone should be good in theory, but it's expensive and you never know until you try. No one has reported on it.

The Amulet is still the clear winner. It's just nice to know that it'll never issue a command when you don't want it to. It's not nearly as cool as being able to do it hands free, but so far it's the only thing that really works for me. Hopefully I can squeeze more out of the Kinect at some point. Hopefully...

I just tried another test of the Kinect after your positive report. I am sitting about 9-10 feet from it. It's on top of my TV. I have a 5.0 sound system set up. When the music was off or very low it was working reasonably well, but not great. When I turned the music up loud, it was hopeless. I couldn't get it to turn down again, and it was issuing false commands etc. I turned the music down again, but then my wife got home and was doing dishes (open concept room) and again it was hopeless. This is with me just using the Kinect with VC as you would any other microphone. I'm not using any special code for the Kinect.

I wonder how long until Microsoft releases another driver pack and if they will make any improvements to the generic mic setup.