I've had a Zalman clip-on mic for ages, and I think it's really time for something new. I don't know if it's my type of voice or my hardware, but the voice quality I get with it is absolutely atrocious. Never knowing whether or not your teammates understand you in mumble is incredibly frustrating.
Thoughts? I'd rather have a desktop usb mic, not a clip-on mic like the modmic (especially since I don't want to deal with the apparent wait times of the modmic). I've heard good things about the Blue Snowball, but I'm not sure about spending $60 on it.
I also have a very loud keyboard (IBM Model M), so anything that can deal with that and still provide excellent voice quality would be perfect.
I've had a Zalman clip-on mic for ages, and I think it's really time for something new. I don't know if it's my type of voice or my hardware, but the voice quality I get with it is absolutely atrocious. Never knowing whether or not your teammates understand you in mumble is incredibly frustrating.
Thoughts? I'd rather have a desktop usb mic, not a clip-on mic like the modmic (especially since I don't want to deal with the apparent wait times of the modmic). I've heard good things about the Blue Snowball, but I'm not sure about spending $60 on it.
I also have a very loud keyboard (IBM Model M), so anything that can deal with that and still provide excellent voice quality would be perfect.
just do it the ghetto way like me, i've found that steel series headsets are absolutely atrocious, i cant stand the sound....but i bought them a while ago before i got into the audiophile stuff, solution??? ---->>>> buy a headset and just use it for the mic. and get yourself a nice pair of headphones. just let the headset sit on your desk, boom desk mic ez
just do it the ghetto way like me, i've found that steel series headsets are absolutely atrocious, i cant stand the sound....but i bought them a while ago before i got into the audiophile stuff, solution??? ---->>>> buy a headset and just use it for the mic. and get yourself a nice pair of headphones. just let the headset sit on your desk, boom desk mic ez
defyjust do it the ghetto way like me, i've found that steel series headsets are absolutely atrocious, i cant stand the sound....but i bought them a while ago before i got into the audiophile stuff, solution??? ---->>>> buy a headset and just use it for the mic. and get yourself a nice pair of headphones. just let the headset sit on your desk, boom desk mic ez
I put them around my neck
[quote=defy]just do it the ghetto way like me, i've found that steel series headsets are absolutely atrocious, i cant stand the sound....but i bought them a while ago before i got into the audiophile stuff, solution??? ---->>>> buy a headset and just use it for the mic. and get yourself a nice pair of headphones. just let the headset sit on your desk, boom desk mic ez[/quote]
I put them around my neck
[quote=ErenJay]
I put them around my neck[/quote] [img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BI_hQ4GCEAAJXY7.jpg[/img]
I've heard that a cheap desk mic is better than going for the headset. Depends on your preferences though.
I've heard that a cheap desk mic is better than going for the headset. Depends on your preferences though.
ZM-MIC 1 is fine for me. I've had it for 6+ months and it has aged well. I cast with it and I've watched some vods, sounds fine to me.
ZM-MIC 1 is fine for me. I've had it for 6+ months and it has aged well. I cast with it and I've watched some vods, sounds fine to me.
Are you using a sound card? Your motherboard might have a pos built in audio card.
Are you using a sound card? Your motherboard might have a pos built in audio card.
Sorry, forgot to mention I already have fine headphones. Sennheiser HD558's. Just need a mic to complement them.
#8 No, built-in audio, which is probably the reason. But I'd rather get a desktop mic than just upgrade the sound card, since I'm not really a huge fan of the clip-on mic much anymore.
Sorry, forgot to mention I already have fine headphones. Sennheiser HD558's. Just need a mic to complement them.
#8 No, built-in audio, which is probably the reason. But I'd rather get a desktop mic than just upgrade the sound card, since I'm not really a huge fan of the clip-on mic much anymore.
I have a mechanical keyboard similar to the Model M in sound level and the Blue Snowball is wonderful. You can still hear the clicking but the voice quality is phenomenal, even with the keyboard between the microphone and me. The price does put some people off but it's a very solid choice.
I have a mechanical keyboard similar to the Model M in sound level and the Blue Snowball is wonderful. You can still hear the clicking but the voice quality is phenomenal, even with the keyboard between the microphone and me. The price does put some people off but it's a very solid choice.
I bought the LVA7330, broke off the headband, made a velcro tape cutout, and attached it to my headphones. Works great and mic sounds superb.
http://i.imgur.com/Jr0jrof.jpg
I bought the [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000JBRV/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00000JBRV&linkCode=as2&tag=teamfortresst-20]LVA7330[/url], broke off the headband, made a velcro tape cutout, and attached it to my headphones. Works great and mic sounds superb.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/Jr0jrof.jpg[/img]
zm-1 works fine for me with a sound card. I bought 2 spares for $3 each. It's either your settings, or onboard sound.
zm-1 works fine for me with a sound card. I bought 2 spares for $3 each. It's either your settings, or onboard sound.
Just an FYI, if you have a loud keyboard it doesn't matter how good the desktop mic is, it's still going to pick up the keyboard loud and clear if it's closer to the mic than you are. I know you said you don't want to use the Modmic(or a mod similar to what hooli posted), but it really is the best option if you have a loud keyboard(IMO).
Also, people are right about the Zalman mic behaving 100% different if you have a sound card. It honestly sounds really good with my 5 year old Creative X-Fi, and I've heard some people who have the same mic who sound like they're in a fishbowl because they use some awful built in motherboard audio. To add to that, you'll likely enjoy your headphones a lot more if you get a sound card. Do what you want, but I would recommend either the Modmic, or a new sound card, or both. What I do not recommend is using a desktop mic with a loud keyboard because your teammates will not enjoy that one bit.
Just an FYI, if you have a loud keyboard it doesn't matter how good the desktop mic is, it's still going to pick up the keyboard loud and clear if it's closer to the mic than you are. I know you said you don't want to use the Modmic(or a mod similar to what hooli posted), but it really is the best option if you have a loud keyboard(IMO).
Also, people are right about the Zalman mic behaving 100% different if you have a sound card. It honestly sounds really good with my 5 year old Creative X-Fi, and I've heard some people who have the same mic who sound like they're in a fishbowl because they use some awful built in motherboard audio. To add to that, you'll likely enjoy your headphones a lot more if you get a sound card. Do what you want, but I would recommend either the Modmic, or a new sound card, or both. What I do not recommend is using a desktop mic with a loud keyboard because your teammates will not enjoy that one bit.
toothI've heard some people who have the same mic who sound like they're in a fishbowl because they use some awful built in motherboard audio.
To clarify, this happens because of noise reduction. The gain provided by integrated audio is not very clean so the signal becomes noisy. The noise reduction removes certain frequencies but also colours the sound somewhat. You can alter this by disabling sound processing in the recording devices control panel.
http://i1.minus.com/isdgtB7LhAY0M.PNG
The mic audio may end up sounding less "bowl"-like but will probably have some hiss instead.
I would also not recommend using the front panel as the line from your mobo through your case to the front will pick up further interference and degrade audio quality. It was just easiest for me to reach for this example.
[quote=tooth]I've heard some people who have the same mic who sound like they're in a fishbowl because they use some awful built in motherboard audio.[/quote]
To clarify, this happens because of noise reduction. The gain provided by integrated audio is not very clean so the signal becomes noisy. The noise reduction removes certain frequencies but also colours the sound somewhat. You can alter this by disabling sound processing in the recording devices control panel.
[img]http://i1.minus.com/isdgtB7LhAY0M.PNG[/img]
The mic audio may end up sounding less "bowl"-like but will probably have some hiss instead.
I would also not recommend using the front panel as the line from your mobo through your case to the front will pick up further interference and degrade audio quality. It was just easiest for me to reach for this example.
I have a Blue Snowball and I regret buying it. Just use a second headset like a true baller. Also what tooth said: mechanical keyboard and desk mic is the worst with voice activation.
I have a Blue Snowball and I regret buying it. Just use a second headset like a true baller. Also what tooth said: mechanical keyboard and desk mic is the worst with voice activation.
atmosnip
Nuoh my god I did this and everyone on mumble says my mic is heaps better now. :D
[quote=atmo]snip[/quote]
Nuoh my god I did this and everyone on mumble says my mic is heaps better now. :D