So my current setup for mumble is a fucking disaster. I use this shitty USB headset that is falling apart, and only has one speaker ear, so I have to do some weird shit passing mumble output through the crappy headset, and in game audio through speakers (but in my room situation I can't bring speakers to a volume I'm happy with). I'm surprised I've tolerated it so long.
I'm looking to find a new mic to use, but there are several problems:
I play on a Macbook, which uses that single 3.5mm jack that I assume is a combined input/output (I don't know much of anything about audio, if anyone can clarify). I have a pair of 3.5mm headphones that I'd be fine using, but that obviously creates a predicament if the mic is also 3.5mm...
Another important point is that I use autotransmit, so that means a mute button is a must, and also I assume that means desk mics are out of the question.
Now my ideal setup would be to have a usable mic while also having over ear headphones. I'm happy with my current pair of over ear headphones if I could find a usable setup that used them. Likewise I'm fine if I have to buy a new USB headset or something and not even use the headphones, as long as it's decent.
My budget is <$50, but I would prefer to spend much less than that. I really don't have a preference analog or USB and I'm not an audiophile or anything. I just want a setup so I can play comfortably with a microphone. If anyone has any advice it would be appreciated, thanks.
So my current setup for mumble is a fucking disaster. I use this shitty USB headset that is falling apart, and only has one speaker ear, so I have to do some weird shit passing mumble output through the crappy headset, and in game audio through speakers (but in my room situation I can't bring speakers to a volume I'm happy with). I'm surprised I've tolerated it so long.
I'm looking to find a new mic to use, but there are several problems:
I play on a Macbook, which uses that single 3.5mm jack that I assume is a combined input/output (I don't know much of anything about audio, if anyone can clarify). I have a pair of 3.5mm headphones that I'd be fine using, but that obviously creates a predicament if the mic is also 3.5mm...
Another important point is that I use autotransmit, so that means a mute button is a must, and also I assume that means desk mics are out of the question.
Now my ideal setup would be to have a usable mic while also having over ear headphones. I'm happy with my current pair of over ear headphones if I could find a usable setup that used them. Likewise I'm fine if I have to buy a new USB headset or something and not even use the headphones, as long as it's decent.
My budget is <$50, but I would prefer to spend much less than that. I really don't have a preference analog or USB and I'm not an audiophile or anything. I just want a setup so I can play comfortably with a microphone. If anyone has any advice it would be appreciated, thanks.
You might want to research this a bit more than I did, but it looks like the GameCom 780 is Mac compatible. In the top review the guy says it works fine for him on OSX.
http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-GameCom-780-Surround-Headset/dp/B006ZS5ATM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1354985695&sr=8-16&keywords=usb+headset+mac
You might want to research this a bit more than I did, but it looks like the GameCom 780 is Mac compatible. In the top review the guy says it works fine for him on OSX.
http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-GameCom-780-Surround-Headset/dp/B006ZS5ATM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1354985695&sr=8-16&keywords=usb+headset+mac&tag=teamfortresst-20
toothYou might want to research this a bit more than I did, but it looks like the GameCom 780 is Mac compatible. In the top review the guy says it works fine for him on OSX.
http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-GameCom-780-Surround-Headset/dp/B006ZS5ATM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1354985695&sr=8-16&keywords=usb+headset+mac
I saw that a couple days ago as well. It looks good, but it's a bit more expensive than I was hoping for, but if that's my best option in the end I will buy it.
Also Mac compatible shouldn't be an issue, I just play all my games on Windows at the moment
[quote=tooth]You might want to research this a bit more than I did, but it looks like the GameCom 780 is Mac compatible. In the top review the guy says it works fine for him on OSX.
http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-GameCom-780-Surround-Headset/dp/B006ZS5ATM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1354985695&sr=8-16&keywords=usb+headset+mac&tag=teamfortresst-20[/quote]
I saw that a couple days ago as well. It looks good, but it's a bit more expensive than I was hoping for, but if that's my best option in the end I will buy it.
Also Mac compatible shouldn't be an issue, I just play all my games on Windows at the moment
Assuming you have headphones that you enjoy, then I would recommend just getting a mic and an adapter so that you can plug in both mic and headphones.
The standard cheap but good microphone is the Zalman clip-on:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
To plug in your mic you will need an adapter which I would recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS
Assuming you have headphones that you enjoy, then I would recommend just getting a mic and an adapter so that you can plug in both mic and headphones.
The standard cheap but good microphone is the Zalman clip-on:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ?tag=teamfortresst-20
To plug in your mic you will need an adapter which I would recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS?tag=teamfortresst-20
I use my macbook pro when I want to stream (its way faster than my desktop) and I used this:
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=pd_sim_e_1
with a zalman mic and sennheiser headphones. my mbp has an input for a mic but it doesn't work since it needs some inline amp or some crap, which is lame, so had to get this soundcard.
I use my macbook pro when I want to stream (its way faster than my desktop) and I used this:
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=pd_sim_e_1?tag=teamfortresst-20
with a zalman mic and sennheiser headphones. my mbp has an input for a mic but it doesn't work since it needs some inline amp or some crap, which is lame, so had to get this soundcard.
Just a note: you can get the zalman clip on, the modmic(which is much more expensive, but also very good), or you can get this other clip on mic:
http://dx.com/p/mini-clip-on-microphone-7080
I remember reading very good things about it on head-fi.
Just a note: you can get the zalman clip on, the modmic(which is much more expensive, but also very good), or you can get this other clip on mic:
http://dx.com/p/mini-clip-on-microphone-7080
I remember reading very good things about it on head-fi.
Stochast1cAssuming you have headphones that you enjoy, then I would recommend just getting a mic and an adapter so that you can plug in both mic and headphones.
The standard cheap but good microphone is the Zalman clip-on:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
To plug in your mic you will need an adapter which I would recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS
I just got that mic and some sennheiser earbuds for when I go to lans. Its a really nice mic for the price, sounds good.
[quote=Stochast1c]Assuming you have headphones that you enjoy, then I would recommend just getting a mic and an adapter so that you can plug in both mic and headphones.
The standard cheap but good microphone is the Zalman clip-on:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ?tag=teamfortresst-20
To plug in your mic you will need an adapter which I would recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS?tag=teamfortresst-20[/quote]
I just got that mic and some sennheiser earbuds for when I go to lans. Its a really nice mic for the price, sounds good.
Stochast1cAssuming you have headphones that you enjoy, then I would recommend just getting a mic and an adapter so that you can plug in both mic and headphones.
The standard cheap but good microphone is the Zalman clip-on:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
To plug in your mic you will need an adapter which I would recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS
Yeah I have heard people tell me that mic was good a while back. But since I use auto transmit with mumble and have an MX blue mechanical keyboard, I feel like having a mic with no mute button and clipped lower might be problematic.
Will that adapter have negative effects on the sound quality vs the internal sound card? Or would it be negligible?
[quote=Stochast1c]Assuming you have headphones that you enjoy, then I would recommend just getting a mic and an adapter so that you can plug in both mic and headphones.
The standard cheap but good microphone is the Zalman clip-on:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ?tag=teamfortresst-20
To plug in your mic you will need an adapter which I would recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS?tag=teamfortresst-20[/quote]
Yeah I have heard people tell me that mic was good a while back. But since I use auto transmit with mumble and have an MX blue mechanical keyboard, I feel like having a mic with no mute button and clipped lower might be problematic.
Will that adapter have negative effects on the sound quality vs the internal sound card? Or would it be negligible?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plantronics-GameCom-377-Open-Ear-Gaming-Analog-USB-Headset-for-PC-MAC-/370650205497?pt=US_Computer_Headsets&hash=item564c794d39
Not sure why they are discontinued but they're a pretty solid headset, has a mute switch, and that specific one I linked is bundled with an adapter. Used to use these headphones for a while and my only real complaint is that at random the wire gets super tangled, but that's an easy fix to unravel.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plantronics-GameCom-377-Open-Ear-Gaming-Analog-USB-Headset-for-PC-MAC-/370650205497?pt=US_Computer_Headsets&hash=item564c794d39
Not sure why they are discontinued but they're a pretty solid headset, has a mute switch, and that specific one I linked is bundled with an adapter. Used to use these headphones for a while and my only real complaint is that at random the wire gets super tangled, but that's an easy fix to unravel.
If you're interested in SteelSeries headphones, they have the Siberia V2's in iDevice format (one 3.5mm jack with headphones and mic)
http://steelseries.com/products/audio/steelseries-siberia-v2-for-ipod-iphone-and-ipad
If you're interested in SteelSeries headphones, they have the Siberia V2's in iDevice format (one 3.5mm jack with headphones and mic)
http://steelseries.com/products/audio/steelseries-siberia-v2-for-ipod-iphone-and-ipad
RiddleYeah I have heard people tell me that mic was good a while back. But since I use auto transmit with mumble and have an MX blue mechanical keyboard, I feel like having a mic with no mute button and clipped lower might be problematic.
Will that adapter have negative effects on the sound quality vs the internal sound card? Or would it be negligible?
By auto transmit I assume you mean voice activated, which if that is the case you can always find a setting so that it doesn't activate when you are pressing keys. You could also bind a button on your mouse or a key on your keyboard to mute yourself in mumble which is probably more convenient than having a hard to reach button on your mic anyway.
The adapter will "technically" have worse quality compared to your motherboard sound, but I doubt that it will actually be noticeable. The adapter only does mono sound, but that is never a problem with a microphone any way. Just make sure you plug in your headphones into the existing jack and not the adapter and you will be fine.
[quote=Riddle]Yeah I have heard people tell me that mic was good a while back. But since I use auto transmit with mumble and have an MX blue mechanical keyboard, I feel like having a mic with no mute button and clipped lower might be problematic.
Will that adapter have negative effects on the sound quality vs the internal sound card? Or would it be negligible?[/quote]
By auto transmit I assume you mean voice activated, which if that is the case you can always find a setting so that it doesn't activate when you are pressing keys. You could also bind a button on your mouse or a key on your keyboard to mute yourself in mumble which is probably more convenient than having a hard to reach button on your mic anyway.
The adapter will "technically" have worse quality compared to your motherboard sound, but I doubt that it will actually be noticeable. The adapter only does mono sound, but that is never a problem with a microphone any way. Just make sure you plug in your headphones into the existing jack and not the adapter and you will be fine.