Are we all going to need voice comm?

GobyWan · July 2002

<div class="IPBDescription">It seems that way...</div>I get the impression that communication between marines is going to almost require voice comm. Should we all cough up for a microphone before release? I could really use it, personally.

f3rret · July 2002

They're really cheap, if you wanna get a crappy one. That's all I have for now. I don't usually set it up for games, but I will for this one.

I'm looking for some FAT headphones with mic attached. I'm picky about my 'phones, so these have to be BIG, and keep out all other sounds. If anyone has any recommendations, I would love to hear them.

Hida_Tsuzua · July 2002

I've been using the cheap free ones that came with my computer. They work well most of the time, but they don't work usually in command mode (I think this has to do with the game and not my mics). So you can effectly run the marines without a mic (espically if you can type fast). But a mic is quite valuable thing in this game.

Moleculor · July 2002

Voice comm is quite nearly necessary. Some playtesters don't use them, but they're a -ton- of help, especially for commanders and the marine team.

You can get a cheap $10 headset (like mine) from Radio Shack. This thing works just fine.

SmokeMasta · July 2002

most Mics are pretty good mics
the problem is how to config ur netcode for HL that it works properly... for example adjust the Rate right.

and yes you will need one...it happand allot during gaming when i was typing i got killed

Nemesis_Zero · July 2002

A headset is very usefull, but not entirely necessary.
I commanded my first (and only) successful game without voice.
In the field, mics allow for very fast communication, but basic signals like 'enemy spotted' can be given in instants via the pop-up menu; you'll survive both ways.

Diogenes_Dog · July 2002

Not really an NS question, but...

How much does using a mic slow your connection, on average? I'm sure I'll be fine on cable, but I've always been kinda curious. Is it reasonable for 56kers to use this sort of thing without a huge performance hit?

-dio

Cork2 · July 2002

go with Labtec mine has a volume and a mute butten attached and they are pretty comfy.

Moleculor · July 2002

I use voice constantly, and am on a 56K, and have -no- lag. Period. Unless I have lag without using voice.

CollateralDamage · July 2002

Ok, Voicecom is a nice idea...

But the one HL uses compresses the stream to like 2 bits and makes everyone sound like a garbled chipmunk. Combine that with the cheap mics most people use, and 90% of the players are incomprehensible.

I'll be using smart keyboard macros.

Cork2 · July 2002

man poor 56kers i had that ones but i also had dial up and ever month or so my parents looked at the bill and knew i was playing on the net at night so we switch to at&t its alot cheaper and better and faster its cable modem. my sugestion is you go with that don't try aol it sucks and it is to expensive. no offens to any aol users.

Moleculor · July 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (CollateralDamage @ July 25 2002,13:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Ok, Voicecom is a nice idea...

But the one HL uses compresses the stream to like 2 bits and makes everyone sound like a garbled chipmunk. Combine that with the cheap mics most people use, and 90% of the players are incomprehensible.

I'll be using smart keyboard macros.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Not true. That's a problem with either your computer, using a bad recording codec, or a bad network setup like a misset rate or something. 90% of the voice I hear is perfectly fine, and it's the one or two people who don't have things set up correctly that sound like chipmunks.

f3rret · July 2002

How can I SET mine to sound like a garbled chipmunk? That sounds pretty neat. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

DOOManiac · July 2002

<img src="http://www.labtec.com/lang/product_images/axis501.jpg" border="0">

$15 at wal-mart. And its great, i love my headset.

the most important thing is to get an actual HEADSET, and not a microphone. If you have a headset, your communication will always be clearer, people will understand you, and you don't have to talk loudly, just in a normal voice.

Moleculor · July 2002

I don't really know, but I remember someone posting a way of setting up a loopback so you could hear yourself speak. There are many other settings as well... Maybe they'll visit this thread and repost.

Hida_Tsuzua · July 2002

voice_loopback 1 is the command to hear yourself. I set it up before everygame, and test it for werid lag issues. It seems like I just talk too fast for it to get though correctly. For example if I say, "Bob!" it works. But if I say "Watch out for Bob in left hallway!" it's usually quite hard to understand.

mark_nec · July 2002

is there anyway to get a headset and still use the computer speakers, i just spent alot of money on these speakers and i realy dont want them to go to waste...

Kidzelda · July 2002

The only problem I have with voice comm is if you are younger (like me), people mock you, and on some servers, kick you. I have a ic, though I would really like a headset.But I don't use it a lot cause I get made fun of really bad (there was a good article on Planet Fortress about that).

Moleculor · July 2002

Yes, you can usually use a headset with normal speakers. The headset comes with two plugs (typically), one for the mic, and one for the speakers. Simply don't unplug your speakers, and don't plug the headphones in, and you're fine.

mark_nec · July 2002

ok thanks for the info, ive been holding off on buying one cause i wasnt sure...thanks

real_Escobar · July 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'm looking for some FAT headphones with mic attached. I'm picky about my 'phones, so these have to be BIG, and keep out all other sounds. If anyone has any recommendations, I would love to hear them.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

If I remember it right, you're a swede. Inet-data (www.inetdata.se) has a headset (Trust Headset 410 Bass) for about 35$, GET THEM!

joesoap · July 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Kidzelda @ July 25 2002,16:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The only problem I have with voice comm is if you are younger (like me), people mock you, and on some servers, kick you. I have a ic, though I would really like a headset.But I don't use it a lot cause I get made fun of really bad (there was a good article on Planet Fortress about that).</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Don't worry about the people who say anything about your voice. Keep it up. We have a guy who's 10 and a great player at cs and now uses it constatly. My suggestion is use it with people who you get to know and don't worry about the rest.

alius42 · July 2002

You can just ignore the jerks. Thats what the button is there for.

TiCK · July 2002

I have huge, expensive headphones. They are great, but they make my ears sweat. I guess I should cough up some change for a headset with mic.

Also, I seriously can't stop laughing when I hear a little boy's voice come over the voice comm. Usually I just mute them because it REALLY distracts me. And almost all the time they are just chatting over the voice comm to another 11 year old on our team..

"Hey, why was the phone busy?"
"I don't know... maybe my mom was on."
"Oh, ok. How do you like this game?"
"It is nothing like CS (pronounced See-Ess)."
"Yeah, but it is fun."

This goes on for the whole map, I mute them pretty quickly. I usually bind say_team messages to keystrokes anyway.

BedwettingType · July 2002

I had an idea that might make voice communication easier in commander mode. When the commander has one or more players selected and uses voice comm, there would be an indicator showing that the speech is being directed at them. Perhaps the name box that pops up would be flashing red. This might help prevent the wrong marines from following the wrong orders, and at the same time, un-selected marines would still hear the speech, in case the commander was directing it at everyone. Is this a good or bad idea?

Sgt_X · July 2002

Maybe version 2 thing, though i don't think it's that hard to say, "Person one, Person 2 go to the base, rest of u ignore this." or, "Everyone to that hive in the corner!"

Scythe · July 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Moleculor @ July 26 2002,02:53)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yes, you can usually use a headset with normal speakers. The headset comes with two plugs (typically), one for the mic, and one for the speakers. Simply don't unplug your speakers, and don't plug the headphones in, and you're fine.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Uhh, not really. Unless you want your teammates to think you're Jimi Hendrix or something. I've got a pretty cheap mic headset and its pretty damn sensitive, if I unplug the headphones I get some pretty bad feedback unless I turn the speakers right down. The bad part of a cheap mic is the fact that I have to use a bit of packaging tape to hold the top together. I also have a good pair of Koss headphones. I usually wear the mic over the top of the headphones as the sound quality from the headset could be likened to a tin can - string - tin can arrangement.

--Scythe--
the_only_scythe@subdimension.com

mark_nec · July 2002

"I had an idea that might make voice communication easier in commander mode. When the commander has one or more players selected and uses voice comm, there would be an indicator showing that the speech is being directed at them. Perhaps the name box that pops up would be flashing red. This might help prevent the wrong marines from following the wrong orders, and at the same time, un-selected marines would still hear the speech, in case the commander was directing it at everyone. Is this a good or bad idea?"

its a good idea, at first i didnt follow what you were sayin but nowi follow...

i think it would be neat if they did like what sc did and had it were you could assign a group a number. then just push the number and give them orders, or do they already have that?

MariNe · July 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Kidzelda @ July 25 2002,16:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The only problem I have with voice comm is if you are younger (like me), people mock you, and on some servers, kick you. I have a ic, though I would really like a headset.But I don't use it a lot cause I get made fun of really bad (there was a good article on Planet Fortress about that).</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Well you could pick up some of them handy voice comm sets that allow you to change your voice from like a kid voice to a hard tough voice but they are pretty expensive <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Sono · July 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (mark_nec @ July 26 2002,09:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">"I had an idea that might make voice communication easier in commander mode. When the commander has one or more players selected and uses voice comm, there would be an indicator showing that the speech is being directed at them. Perhaps the name box that pops up would be flashing red. <b>This might help prevent the wrong marines from following the wrong orders, </b> and at the same time, un-selected marines would still hear the speech, in case the commander was directing it at everyone. Is this a good or bad idea?"</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Do you think like a normal grunt marine giving orders to you instead of commander? If so, don't worry, you see the Commander's Name in the Hud, so you know if the commander is speaking.
I just think it will get a little difficult with ppl with strange names like <;;;;;;;|==) or something like that.

GobyWan · July 2002

Last time I had a working headset with a mic, I used my regular headphones for sound, put the headset around my neck and moved the mic in front of my mouth. Worked like a charm, and there was no feedback at all. Then it broke and I was sad.

Are we all going to need voice comm?

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