I have a lapel microphone that's cheap ($4) and much more solid (1" x 1" solid plastic with one tiny hole) than any of the <$50 headset mics I've had. The only problem is that you have to practically eat it, as I mentioned.
I found a solution to that though-- I got a strip of eleastic material and wrapped it around my chin and head, and just hooked the lapel mic over it on the left side of my chin. It's working quite well, better than the headset-as-necklace trick because it moves with my mouth rather than with my shoulders. And it's no more/less annoying to put on or take off than the headset-as-necklace thing.
And like plywood boy, I could take pictures. In fact I did take pictures, but they're far FAR too geeky to reveal in public, so the textual description will have to do.
In 6 months I have gone through 4 headsets. With 3 people using them in my family we are tough on them. So I have just resigned to buying cheap $20ish ones at WalMart. Currently using a labtec one and the mic is cutting out after only 5 weeks.
Don't forget to run voice_tweak.exe in your halflife directory too.
When i bought mine, i didnt realize HL voice comm is limited to a few kilobytes. Its a $50 Labtec USB mic (digital). It sits on my keyboard which is about a foot and a half from my mouth. And it has a cool lighted button to turn it on/off! <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo-->
That's what I use for my ownage <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Mic: El cheapo mic that came with my Dell from ancient times (moniter mount) I need to get a better one, but It needs to be a stand-alone mic because: Headphones: Sony MDR-CD380, VERY NICE. Completely covers the ears so that I dont have other sounds intruding -> "OMG H4X!!!!!!1111" -> "You walk, you make noise, you die"
plantronics something-r-other for $30US when i started playng with it my score went up, seriously the hedphones stuck to the things are great, made for viocecomm and the mic is really good for $30 - cost of good headphones
Anyone had trouble with PCI 512 (soundblaster card) and half life voice comm? Was using a pretty nice labtec analog that was brand new (before I broke it on accident hehe) and it sounded superb in windows or any other application.
In game, using the loopback, I couldn't hear it without pumping the gain and tweaking settings so static was only half as loud as my voice. Really sucked.
This happened both on win 98 and xp now... sorta upset, but I guess audigy 1 couldn't cost more then 30$ now.
I found my Audigy 2 *GASP* on sale for $50 off at Best Buy!
YES, THESE THINGS DO GO ON SALE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT! (In case you don't know, Creative is infamous for never dropping prices. Even the SB Live is still $30...)
I use the KOSS SB-40 headset. I wanted one integrated unit with a high-quality noise-cancelling mic and very comfortable, very good earpieces. It fit the bill for $40 USD.
here is my mic... <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--kavasa+Sep 21 2003, 05:56 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kavasa @ Sep 21 2003, 05:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I use the KOSS SB-40 headset. I wanted one integrated unit with a high-quality noise-cancelling mic and very comfortable, very good earpieces. It fit the bill for $40 USD. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I'm considering that one or the Koss R - 65B.
How are the SB-40's sound quality? And, are they comfortable for extended periods of time?
<!--QuoteBegin--[TB]-Rage-[Lt.Gen]+Sep 22 2003, 02:08 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([TB]-Rage-[Lt.Gen] @ Sep 22 2003, 02:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Shouldnt this be off-topic as it is not NS related in any fashion? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I don't think so, since voice comm is borderline necessary for NS.
A commander without voice comm is practially useless.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->How are the SB-40's sound quality? And, are they comfortable for extended periods of time?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I love 'em. I've worn 'em for the occasional marathon 4-6 hour stretch and I don't even notice them. Big padded leatherette earpieces block out the fratboys next door, and the wide mesh headband spreads the weight across a lot of area. Sound quality is amongst the best you'll find for a $40 headset, such that the difference between my headphones and a wallhack is sometimes not all that apparent. I recommend them without any reservations.
devicenullJoin Date: 2003-04-30Member: 15967Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
Labtec Axis-302 $20 at walmart My only complaint is that my headphone jack is on the front of my comp and the mic is on the back.. so I have the headphone wire hooked to 20ft of a radioshack extender cable to get to the front of my comp.. Gah.. stupid dell
<!--QuoteBegin--kavasa+Sep 22 2003, 03:20 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kavasa @ Sep 22 2003, 03:20 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->How are the SB-40's sound quality? And, are they comfortable for extended periods of time?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I love 'em. I've worn 'em for the occasional marathon 4-6 hour stretch and I don't even notice them. Big padded leatherette earpieces block out the fratboys next door, and the wide mesh headband spreads the weight across a lot of area. Sound quality is amongst the best you'll find for a $40 headset, such that the difference between my headphones and a wallhack is sometimes not all that apparent. I recommend them without any reservations. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Thanks for the information, I may order these tonight.
Comments
I found a solution to that though-- I got a strip of eleastic material and wrapped it around my chin and head, and just hooked the lapel mic over it on the left side of my chin. It's working quite well, better than the headset-as-necklace trick because it moves with my mouth rather than with my shoulders. And it's no more/less annoying to put on or take off than the headset-as-necklace thing.
And like plywood boy, I could take pictures. In fact I did take pictures, but they're far FAR too geeky to reveal in public, so the textual description will have to do.
Don't forget to run voice_tweak.exe in your halflife directory too.
That's what I use for my ownage <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Labtec Axis-302.
Headphones: Sony MDR-CD380, VERY NICE. Completely covers the ears so that I dont have other sounds intruding -> "OMG H4X!!!!!!1111" -> "You walk, you make noise, you die"
when i started playng with it my score went up, seriously
the hedphones stuck to the things are great, made for viocecomm and the mic is really good for $30 - cost of good headphones
In game, using the loopback, I couldn't hear it without pumping the gain and tweaking settings so static was only half as loud as my voice. Really sucked.
This happened both on win 98 and xp now... sorta upset, but I guess audigy 1 couldn't cost more then 30$ now.
YES, THESE THINGS DO GO ON SALE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT! (In case you don't know, Creative is infamous for never dropping prices. Even the SB Live is still $30...)
I'm considering that one or the Koss R - 65B.
How are the SB-40's sound quality? And, are they comfortable for extended periods of time?
I don't think so, since voice comm is borderline necessary for NS.
A commander without voice comm is practially useless.
I love 'em. I've worn 'em for the occasional marathon 4-6 hour stretch and I don't even notice them. Big padded leatherette earpieces block out the fratboys next door, and the wide mesh headband spreads the weight across a lot of area. Sound quality is amongst the best you'll find for a $40 headset, such that the difference between my headphones and a wallhack is sometimes not all that apparent. I recommend them without any reservations.
$20 at walmart
My only complaint is that my headphone jack is on the front of my comp and the mic is on the back.. so I have the headphone wire hooked to 20ft of a radioshack extender cable to get to the front of my comp..
Gah.. stupid dell
I love 'em. I've worn 'em for the occasional marathon 4-6 hour stretch and I don't even notice them. Big padded leatherette earpieces block out the fratboys next door, and the wide mesh headband spreads the weight across a lot of area. Sound quality is amongst the best you'll find for a $40 headset, such that the difference between my headphones and a wallhack is sometimes not all that apparent. I recommend them without any reservations. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for the information, I may order these tonight.