best mic to get?

mrcgibb · 04-25-2008, 02:06 PM

guys i want to get a mic for the comp , whats the best one to get ? dont want to spend a fortune and i live in UK ?

danielkh · 04-26-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mrcgibb

guys i want to get a mic for the comp , whats the best one to get ? dont want to spend a fortune and i live in UK ?

It really depends on what you want to do. Voice commands at a stop light, a radio shack special $10 mic is perfect. 70 miles an hour with feathered tires on a gravel road with the windows down, that $350 andrea mic.

Personally, I haven't found the perfect mic for both of the above scenario's at a reasonable price.

customaudioman · 04-28-2008, 10:17 AM

this is the andrea mic I got, it was 95.00 shipped to the door direct from them. It has a mic and a usb adapter that the mic plugs into then the adapter then plugs in your computer by usb instead of the mic port. They sell it without the usb adapter for $59.99, but you wont have noise -canceling. you have to have the adapter and voice- canceling software to work well in noise environments. http://www.andreaelectronics.com/Buy...mic_bundle.htm

danielkh · 04-28-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by customaudioman

this is the andrea mic I got, it was 95.00 shipped to the door direct from them. It has a mic and a usb adapter that the mic plugs into then the adapter then plugs in your computer by usb instead of the mic port. They sell it without the usb adapter for $59.99, but you wont have noise -canceling. you have to have the adapter and voice- canceling software to work well in noise environments. http://www.andreaelectronics.com/Buy...mic_bundle.htm

That mic has been covered. The noise cancelling works only if you use the headphone out to drive your audio system, and that is not a real option. Otherwise, it's just a mic. Really ticked me off after I spent $100 and then found that out. It's a good mic though, don't get me wrong. Just the noise cancelling doesn't really work.

rxh81 · 04-29-2008, 01:23 AM

I contacted the Andrea support some time ago.

My questions:

>Hello,<

>wanted to ask 3 quick questions concerning the USBD-2A adapter.<
>1) Is it possible to to use this usb adapter with a superbeam mic, only<
>connect the mic and still use the audio out of my soundcard? Or do I have to<
>use also the audio out of this adapter to get full noise and echo<
>cancellation?<
>2) When I would connect my amps to this usb adapter, will there be a "plop"<
>sound when I switch the pc on or of, like on most other soundcards?<
>3.) How is soundquality for music?<

>Thank you very much!<
>Roland Heschl<

Answer:

Hello Roland,

Your message was forwarded to theamp.net, as we handle any music related issues.

1. You can use the USBD-2A without the audio output, but you will not be able to use echo cancellation. All of the other filters will work. The USBD-2A was specifically built to support the SuperBeam, for computers that do not have a stereo microphone input.

2. You should not hear a pop when powering on or off your computer, although it is common for even a high quality pro audio mixing board with powered monitors to create a pop when powered off.

3. The USBD-2A is designed for speech, so it uses the highest quality components. It can be used as a high quality digital audio interface for use with music sequencing programs.

4. If you are a music composer, check out our website, the Andrea Music Portal (www.theAMP.net). You can upload your original music compositions to the site for consumer download sale.

Regards,

Information at theAMP.net
Andrea Music Portal

From this answer, I don't see a reason not to use the audio out of this usb adapter... at least it's worth to try!

danielkh · 04-29-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rxh81

I contacted the Andrea support some time ago.

From this answer, I don't see a reason not to use the audio out of this usb adapter... at least it's worth to try!

Excellent info! I use the mic/usb adapter religiously. I just don't get echo cancellation and the noise cancelation, I find, doesn't work that great when things get really noisy (high speed voice command). But with this response, I might try some of the other filters.

Thanks!!

rxh81 · 04-29-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

Excellent info! I use the mic/usb adapter religiously. I just don't get echo cancellation and the noise cancelation, I find, doesn't work that great when things get really noisy (high speed voice command). But with this response, I might try some of the other filters.

Thanks!!

Sorry, I don't understand.

What will you try now? Which filters?

customaudioman · 04-29-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

Excellent info! I use the mic/usb adapter religiously. I just don't get echo cancellation and the noise cancelation, I find, doesn't work that great when things get really noisy (high speed voice command). But with this response, I might try some of the other filters.

Thanks!!

mine works fine for me with the window down at 50mph. When I hit the steering wheel button for voice activation for streetdeck, the music mutes and then I speak the command. And it works every time. I have it hooked up by the usb adapter. the mic is near my speedo, my seat is lean all the way back also.

danielkh · 04-29-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rxh81

Sorry, I don't understand.

What will you try now? Which filters?

Under the noise filter window (in andrea audiocommander software), you have 4 choices. First being none, then voice "something or other", then directional beam, and finally speakerphone. It seems that the best is speakerphone even without echo cancelation.

rxh81 · 04-30-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by customaudioman

mine works fine for me with the window down at 50mph. When I hit the steering wheel button for voice activation for streetdeck, the music mutes and then I speak the command. And it works every time. I have it hooked up by the usb adapter. the mic is near my speedo, my seat is lean all the way back also.

Thanks for the info!
And you use an other soundcard for audio out? (Not the one from the usb adapter)
So you don't get echo cancellation...

Do you also have experience with handsfree calls over this mic, without echo cancellation??

customaudioman · 04-30-2008, 07:29 AM

I don' t use the one from the adapter. I use my soundblaster audigy external sound card. I dont have the hands free call until they come out with some sort of bluetooth option fro streetdeck. Pretty much will never be!

pjsallday · 05-19-2008, 10:02 PM

So just to get this straight if I plug in the andrea through the usb. I can't use the software with noise canceling but if I plug this into the mic in and use the line out for my audio I can use some other echo canceling software. Is this right or am I mistaken? thanks in advance.

polo6979 · 05-19-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by customaudioman

this is the andrea mic I got, it was 95.00 shipped to the door direct from them. It has a mic and a usb adapter that the mic plugs into then the adapter then plugs in your computer by usb instead of the mic port. They sell it without the usb adapter for $59.99, but you wont have noise -canceling. you have to have the adapter and voice- canceling software to work well in noise environments. http://www.andreaelectronics.com/Buy...mic_bundle.htm

Isnt this the same one sold in the mp3car store for 59.99 with the usb??

customaudioman · 05-19-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by pjsallday

So just to get this straight if I plug in the andrea through the usb. I can't use the software with noise canceling but if I plug this into the mic in and use the line out for my audio I can use some other echo canceling software. Is this right or am I mistaken? thanks in advance.

you can use the andrea software for noise canceling and echo when using the usb not the when using mic input. You have to have the usb adapter part for the microphone.

danielkh · 05-19-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by pjsallday

So just to get this straight if I plug in the andrea through the usb. I can't use the software with noise canceling but if I plug this into the mic in and use the line out for my audio I can use some other echo canceling software. Is this right or am I mistaken? thanks in advance.

When plugged straight into the line in, it becomes just like any other decent mic and yes, should work with 3rd party software just as well as any other mic would.