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Active: 718 users

Horrible mic quality

Forum Index > Tech Support
Post a Reply
Minigun
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
619 Posts
June 17 2012 01:23 GMT
#1
So, I have really really bad mic quality when I stream. I have tried a variety of headsets, ranging from usb/audio port plugins, to a varity of brands. The quality is unacceptable to stream in.

There is a decent amount of background noise, and the mic is really really quiet, even with it turned all the way up. Increasing boost just creates unbearable background noise.

I'm assuming it's a problem with the on board sound chip.

Will getting a sound card fix this problem?

Which is the best kind to get?

I'm assuming a cheap one will work just fine since I am using it solely for the mic. Expensive ones are for surround sound etc?
“Quiet people have the loudest minds.” ― Stephen Hawking
Kluey
Profile Joined April 2011
Canada1197 Posts
June 17 2012 01:42 GMT
#2
Destiny has a really nice stand mic thingy. You could ask him? :o
exousia_7
Profile Joined December 2011
Taiwan215 Posts
June 17 2012 01:44 GMT
#3
Have you tried tweaking with the sound card options? For ex. on my sound card software I can enable "Noise Suppression" and "Acoustic Echo Cancellation" which I assume helps with reducing background noises. If the problem persists then it most likely is your sound card.

Have you tried using purely USB port headsets? If you have, and the problem still occurs, then it's either the hardware or software config aspect.....because a USB ported headset would not have anything to do with the sound card.
Minigun
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
619 Posts
June 17 2012 01:45 GMT
#4
On June 17 2012 10:42 Kluey wrote:
Destiny has a really nice stand mic thingy. You could ask him? :o


I'd rather have my headsets just working

On June 17 2012 10:44 exousia_7 wrote:
Have you tried tweaking with the sound card options? For ex. on my sound card software I can enable "Noise Suppression" and "Acoustic Echo Cancellation" which I assume helps with reducing background noises. If the problem persists then it most likely is your sound card.

Have you tried using purely USB port headsets? If you have, and the problem still occurs, then it's either the hardware or software config aspect.....because a USB ported headset would not have anything to do with the sound card.


yeah i've tried both USB and audio ports

Any ideas on a cheap mic sound card?

I have no idea what to look for.
“Quiet people have the loudest minds.” ― Stephen Hawking
Nabutso
Profile Joined April 2011
351 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-06-17 02:03:01
June 17 2012 01:58 GMT
#5
On June 17 2012 10:45 coL.Minigun wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 17 2012 10:42 Kluey wrote:
Destiny has a really nice stand mic thingy. You could ask him? :o


I'd rather have my headsets just working

Show nested quote +
On June 17 2012 10:44 exousia_7 wrote:
Have you tried tweaking with the sound card options? For ex. on my sound card software I can enable "Noise Suppression" and "Acoustic Echo Cancellation" which I assume helps with reducing background noises. If the problem persists then it most likely is your sound card.

Have you tried using purely USB port headsets? If you have, and the problem still occurs, then it's either the hardware or software config aspect.....because a USB ported headset would not have anything to do with the sound card.


yeah i've tried both USB and audio ports

Any ideas on a cheap mic sound card?

I have no idea what to look for.


If you're using a USB headset then the headset has it's own USB soundcard at the plugin point.

If you have the typical Audio and Mic cable, you can try buying something like http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339898236&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=usb soundcrad to see if it's your headset's mic or your soundcard's. I know when I plugged my Siberia V2s into a USB soundcard like that, the quality (both audio and mic) improved over integrated mobo soundcard. It's a cheap and simple solution and you don't lose much if it doesn't work, but you DO then know the issue is your headset/microphone and not your soundcard.
Minigun
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
619 Posts
June 17 2012 03:44 GMT
#6
On June 17 2012 10:58 Nabutso wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 17 2012 10:45 coL.Minigun wrote:
On June 17 2012 10:42 Kluey wrote:
Destiny has a really nice stand mic thingy. You could ask him? :o


I'd rather have my headsets just working

On June 17 2012 10:44 exousia_7 wrote:
Have you tried tweaking with the sound card options? For ex. on my sound card software I can enable "Noise Suppression" and "Acoustic Echo Cancellation" which I assume helps with reducing background noises. If the problem persists then it most likely is your sound card.

Have you tried using purely USB port headsets? If you have, and the problem still occurs, then it's either the hardware or software config aspect.....because a USB ported headset would not have anything to do with the sound card.


yeah i've tried both USB and audio ports

Any ideas on a cheap mic sound card?

I have no idea what to look for.


If you're using a USB headset then the headset has it's own USB soundcard at the plugin point.

If you have the typical Audio and Mic cable, you can try buying something like http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339898236&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=usb soundcrad to see if it's your headset's mic or your soundcard's. I know when I plugged my Siberia V2s into a USB soundcard like that, the quality (both audio and mic) improved over integrated mobo soundcard. It's a cheap and simple solution and you don't lose much if it doesn't work, but you DO then know the issue is your headset/microphone and not your soundcard.



Ah okay, the headset I want to use has both USB soundcard in it and audio ports.

Both do not work very well.

is it a safer bet to just buy a sound card?

or do the usb things actually work somewhat well
“Quiet people have the loudest minds.” ― Stephen Hawking
Nabutso
Profile Joined April 2011
351 Posts
June 17 2012 03:54 GMT
#7
On June 17 2012 12:44 coL.Minigun wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 17 2012 10:58 Nabutso wrote:
On June 17 2012 10:45 coL.Minigun wrote:
On June 17 2012 10:42 Kluey wrote:
Destiny has a really nice stand mic thingy. You could ask him? :o


I'd rather have my headsets just working

On June 17 2012 10:44 exousia_7 wrote:
Have you tried tweaking with the sound card options? For ex. on my sound card software I can enable "Noise Suppression" and "Acoustic Echo Cancellation" which I assume helps with reducing background noises. If the problem persists then it most likely is your sound card.

Have you tried using purely USB port headsets? If you have, and the problem still occurs, then it's either the hardware or software config aspect.....because a USB ported headset would not have anything to do with the sound card.


yeah i've tried both USB and audio ports

Any ideas on a cheap mic sound card?

I have no idea what to look for.


If you're using a USB headset then the headset has it's own USB soundcard at the plugin point.

If you have the typical Audio and Mic cable, you can try buying something like http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339898236&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=usb soundcrad to see if it's your headset's mic or your soundcard's. I know when I plugged my Siberia V2s into a USB soundcard like that, the quality (both audio and mic) improved over integrated mobo soundcard. It's a cheap and simple solution and you don't lose much if it doesn't work, but you DO then know the issue is your headset/microphone and not your soundcard.



Ah okay, the headset I want to use has both USB soundcard in it and audio ports.

Both do not work very well.

is it a safer bet to just buy a sound card?

or do the usb things actually work somewhat well


Try the cheap USB sound card as it'll cost you $5 and might fix everything, if it doesnt then the issue is probably your headset, and not your computer.
Minigun
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
619 Posts
June 17 2012 03:59 GMT
#8
On June 17 2012 12:54 Nabutso wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 17 2012 12:44 coL.Minigun wrote:
On June 17 2012 10:58 Nabutso wrote:
On June 17 2012 10:45 coL.Minigun wrote:
On June 17 2012 10:42 Kluey wrote:
Destiny has a really nice stand mic thingy. You could ask him? :o


I'd rather have my headsets just working

On June 17 2012 10:44 exousia_7 wrote:
Have you tried tweaking with the sound card options? For ex. on my sound card software I can enable "Noise Suppression" and "Acoustic Echo Cancellation" which I assume helps with reducing background noises. If the problem persists then it most likely is your sound card.

Have you tried using purely USB port headsets? If you have, and the problem still occurs, then it's either the hardware or software config aspect.....because a USB ported headset would not have anything to do with the sound card.


yeah i've tried both USB and audio ports

Any ideas on a cheap mic sound card?

I have no idea what to look for.


If you're using a USB headset then the headset has it's own USB soundcard at the plugin point.

If you have the typical Audio and Mic cable, you can try buying something like http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339898236&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=usb soundcrad to see if it's your headset's mic or your soundcard's. I know when I plugged my Siberia V2s into a USB soundcard like that, the quality (both audio and mic) improved over integrated mobo soundcard. It's a cheap and simple solution and you don't lose much if it doesn't work, but you DO then know the issue is your headset/microphone and not your soundcard.



Ah okay, the headset I want to use has both USB soundcard in it and audio ports.

Both do not work very well.

is it a safer bet to just buy a sound card?

or do the usb things actually work somewhat well


Try the cheap USB sound card as it'll cost you $5 and might fix everything, if it doesnt then the issue is probably your headset, and not your computer.


Okay, thanks for the help.
“Quiet people have the loudest minds.” ― Stephen Hawking
deathr0w
Profile Joined January 2011
United States114 Posts
June 17 2012 04:07 GMT
#9
Link me to what you get Mini as I have the same issue TT
What do you do if your opponent does something weird? Go fucking kill him - Day[9]
Minigun
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
619 Posts
June 24 2012 18:51 GMT
#10
bought a usb adapter

still having same issues



What are other streamers using to have such good quality audio? It's like I have to yell to be heard resonably, while others can whisper and be heard.

“Quiet people have the loudest minds.” ― Stephen Hawking
Eisregen
Profile Joined September 2011
Germany967 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-06-24 19:26:58
June 24 2012 19:26 GMT
#11
iIt is all about noise cancellation, mic boost and overall mic quality.

Noise cancellation cancels out buzzing and humming and such (even your PSU can cause buzzing in a mic), mostly onboard chips dont have this one, so if the mic itself has no decent noise cancellation you require softwarebased noise cancellation (like in skype/teamspeak3) or you have to live with background noise in Xsplit (as it has none)

Mic boost - boosts the recorded sounds. Me for example, I cant use my siberia v2 without mic boost and I have to be careful as the mic of the siberia is aweful..., so too low wont do and to high will cause horrible background noises
Photo-Noob@ http://www.flickr.com/photos/eisregen1983/
Minigun
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
619 Posts
June 24 2012 19:41 GMT
#12
On June 25 2012 04:26 Eisregen wrote:
iIt is all about noise cancellation, mic boost and overall mic quality.

Noise cancellation cancels out buzzing and humming and such (even your PSU can cause buzzing in a mic), mostly onboard chips dont have this one, so if the mic itself has no decent noise cancellation you require softwarebased noise cancellation (like in skype/teamspeak3) or you have to live with background noise in Xsplit (as it has none)

Mic boost - boosts the recorded sounds. Me for example, I cant use my siberia v2 without mic boost and I have to be careful as the mic of the siberia is aweful..., so too low wont do and to high will cause horrible background noises


Yeah, my mic does come with noise cancel but when I turn it on, the mic volume is incredibly low. I currently am not using mic boost though, although is it really needed? seems to amp up the background noise quite a bit. (broke a headset jack into the hole, stuck ><)
“Quiet people have the loudest minds.” ― Stephen Hawking
Eisregen
Profile Joined September 2011
Germany967 Posts
June 24 2012 19:50 GMT
#13
yep, you have to play around with those 2.
You also can buy a really good table mic which has an amazing background noise cancellation, but if you do that, get a decent soundcard first.

If you wanna avoid that, play around with mic boost (+10 should already do)
Photo-Noob@ http://www.flickr.com/photos/eisregen1983/
proofy
Profile Joined May 2011
Canada283 Posts
June 24 2012 20:15 GMT
#14
Do you not get equipment from your sponsor Creative - Sound Blaster?
Ventil
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Sweden414 Posts
June 24 2012 20:56 GMT
#15
Have you tried different USB ports (if using a USB microphone)?

I made this recording just now to demonstrate how very differnent the audio volume/quality might be depending on what port you're connecting the microphone to.

[image loading]
Audio sample: http://soundcloud.com/benny-johansson-1/mic-demo


The first layer is recorded using USB port 1 and the other layer is recorded using port 2.
Twitter: @VeNtiLSC
CatNzHat
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1599 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-06-24 21:09:04
June 24 2012 21:07 GMT
#16
if you're plugging your mic directly into your front panel mic input jack, then it could simply be an issue of poor sheilding on the cable housing, and plugging the mic into the rear input would solve the problem (or at least alleviate a lot of the noise).

There are combined microphone and ADC combos such as the Blue Snowball, which might be what you're looking for if both your mic and soundcard are crap, then you'd need to replace both to have good quality sound, and buying a combo unit might be worth it, but only you can decide that.
Mongoose
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom190 Posts
June 24 2012 21:21 GMT
#17
Mic boost is usually needed to get a mic up to a decent volume.
Of course, when you boost the mic gain, background noise will also go up, but a good quality mic and sound card should have a low enough signal:noise ratio that background noise should be almost inaudible even when boosted.

Most mics I have used need to be boosted in the region of 10-30dB (which is a very large amount).
My Steelseries Siberia V2 is set to +30dB boost (which is the most you can boost it by), and this gives it a very good volume with little background noise.
Master league EU Terran
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