Aces High Microphone Settings

[MachFly]

I'm trying to get my new microphone work well in AH2. In windows it works perfectly, but when I talk in AH it varies between really good and no sound at all (most of the time it's really bad).
I'm not really sure how to fix this.

Any help would be appreciated.


MachFly

[Dragon]

Sounds like how it's positioned mostly.  Try tuning to yourself and adjust it. 



Also, check the wires and the connection to the audio port.  The wires in the plug always seem to go bad due to bending this way and that.  Try wiggling the wires while talking, the plug might need to be replaced.

[Blagard]

Machfly,

Do you connect with a 3.5 jack or is the Mic part of some USB setup?
Only reason I ask is because I read somewhere in here that in AH, a direct 3.5 jack connection is the best choice. USB can give problems.

If you already have a jack connection then I can't help. Any Hard Wiring problems I would expect to find in Windows as well as AH.
I assume you have been into the AH settings to make sure your voice sound volumes are turned up ?

[Chalenge]

Which OS are you using?
Which microphone are you using?
Is your mic hooked up to the mic line? or line-in? or is it all USB (please say no)?

[DaCoon]

I use a headset w/ mic I picked up at Walmart for $35 that works great. It's a Logitech 350 series w/ USB connection.... everyone says I sound 5 by 5. Just a suggestion for ya               

[MachFly]

I recently switched to using a laptop so the microphone is in the body.
As Dragon said I would think that it's my head positioning but I tested a lot of different positions in windows and everything worked great, but in AH2 most of the time I am very quiet. However sometimes my mic in AH2 works great as well (~20% of the time), I am still trying to figure out if this is a coincident or if it depends on something.

[MachFly]

I use a headset w/ mic I picked up at Walmart for $35 that works great. It's a Logitech 350 series w/ USB connection.... everyone says I sound 5 by 5. Just a suggestion for ya               

I am considering that option, but want to avoid spending money if not necessary as I am unemployed right now. 

[Chalenge]

Okay can you report your operating system (Windows version) and the make and model of your laptop?

[MachFly]

Okay can you report your operating system (Windows version) and the make and model of your laptop?

Windows 7 (64 bit)
IBM (Lenovo) ThinkPad T510

[Chalenge]

Are you sure you have "mic boost" activated in the audio applet?

If so:

Im not absolutely sure but I think thats about the best you can expect with what you have. Probably you get fair results when you are online and things are not so busy but once you get into crowded areas latency starts to build up and you get terrible mic performance (or audio altogether).

If not:

Unfortunately your system is one of the worst of the worst for audio latency. Thats the broken static-laden quality issue you are faced with. The problem is you have onboard audio which on its own is pretty bad but its worse because your CPU is fairly low on the scale of things also (although its an i5 which isnt as bad as it could be... at least I think its an i5). You can try to move to a USB headset which might make things better but its going to be a toss up.

Audio latency is usually improved by moving up the ladder which starts out (from bottom to top):

onboard/USB
USB interface
PCI / PCIe
firewire interface

Unfortunately most devices in the "interface" category are not designed for games and do not include 3D surround environments (for one). As your onboard audio system is as bad as it is you may find it easy to improve things with an affordable USB headset. The down side is that there is a lot of junk out there and your "space available" due to your CPU is limited. You certainly do not want a USB headset that is going to use 10% of your cpu and most of them will. Dont bother wasting your time with a headset that has the dual wires with a usb adaptor. Your system has a line_out/mic combo plug and without the USB it wont work at all.

Test before you buy anything! Ask around. Maybe one of your friends has a headset you can test online and see what results you get. Times are tough and the last thing you want to do is waste money.

I dont think I would try anything more difficult (like PCMCIA to firewire) because the latency would be about the same as USB.

[MachFly]

Thanks a lot for the info Chalenge!

I'll test it with a USB headset (might have to wait until the weekend).

My mic boost was set to +30.0 dB, I just increased it to +40.0 dB and and changed the default format to 24bit and 96000 Hz. Tested it in AH2 and seems to work better, however it might just be one of thous rare times when the mic actually does work well in AH2.


I know that there are also microphone settings in AH2, could to tell me what they should be set to?


Thanks

[Chalenge]

Probably the best setting would be something that matches AHII which I think is 44100 Hz. As far as voice settings go I think you want to use Wave In in your case. Its not hard to test though. Probably what you are going to discover is that in situations where its just you and one or two guys you can use vox without a problem but as soon as things start to get busy your vox will degrade. Of course that sucks because the only time you really need vox is when things get busy.

[Tigger29]

EXACTLY what challenge said.  When you are testing it with windows, the computer isn't being taxed... but talking vox through aces high.. you've got a computer that's already being pushed to its limit, and then it's got so push through an onboard sound microphone on top of all that.  No wonder it only works well 20% of the time!

The best you can do is run AH with the lowest settings bearable, use gamebooster (or the like) to shut down everything you can on the computer INCLUDING A/V, and hope for the best.

[MachFly]

Thanks a lot
I still did not get a chance to test in online (did not have time), but make a post saying how it vent as soon as I do.



P.S. The computer is not being pushed to the limit and is only working about at 60% "power".

[Ghosth]

Also the problem with USB headsets is they are going to rob CPU cycles from you just when you need them the most.