Question about microphone and question about lag

[Ari]

Microphone:

What is the best microphone for about $70?

Aiming to get VA's hit rate up to around 95%, have done all of the recommended stuff other than having a better microphone.

Lag:

Is there a way to minimize lag between the command and its in game execution?  I play GW2 and, with the lag, I can't do finicky things like jump puzzles.

Thank you

[Exergist]

I love my ModMic 4.0 (uni-directional) as I can use it with whatever headphones I want. Though you have to use a USB sound card to get rid of white noise issues that are well discussed in user reviews. There's also a ModMic 5.0 available now.

[Ari]

For a USB sound card, are you talking about something like this http://tinyurl.com/y8dr57lu

[Gary]

That looks like it's output only (speakers) and does not have a mic in jack.   ?

[Ari]

Yup its for speakers.

http://shop.knowbrainer.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=461&idcategory=19 ?

I am so lost with this lot.  I didn't know these things existed until... today.  I might go with this:

http://shop.knowbrainer.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=233&idcategory=19

[iceblast]

I'm using this mic, it works really well. I have it about 18" to the right of me, and it picks up everything just fine. I also use it for Skype all the time, with no problems. I also use it with Dragon Naturally  Speaking. I use this mic, with a loud box fan on at all times, with no issues.

It's a USB desktop Mic, and it's only $35.

https://www.amazon.com/Buddy-Products-Desktop-Microphone-Technology/dp/B005Z2AEMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507164319&sr=8-1&keywords=amiga%2Bmic&th=1

You talked about lag, I've never had that issue. It could be something to do with GW2, or if you're using pauses in your command, and you have the pause to long. With most games I play, the response is so fast, I sometimes miss that the action had already happened. VA is just that fast, if you blink you miss it.

The only other thing would be if your computer can't process it all fast enough.

[Ari]

I think I'm going with ModMic4.

It could be Guild Wars 2.  If you say "1 2" at a normal speed, with "1" being the command, "2" is when it fires.  I have been careful to remove spaces.  Then written my lists of what VA hears them as.  I use the best of these as commands.

This would be no biggie, other than jump puzzles, if I could use macros, but GW2 bans hard and fast if they find you are using macros.  So, what I'm trying today is a command that holds down my autoattack for 10 seconds, combined with target change commands I control.  Being able to have them continue to run as I use others will be helpful.

I'm hoping that, when I get the white noise problem taken care of, I can do non-timed JPs after I've adjusted to the lag.

[TheThingIs]

with regards to lag...I find increasing VA's priority level to high can increase it's responsiveness immensley

[Exergist]

I think I'm going with ModMic4.

Just be aware that there are 2 different versions of MM4 - the Unidirectional and Omnidirectional. Right now the MM4 Omnidirectional version is not available on Amazon, and Antlion doesn't even show the Omnidirectional on the website anymore. So if you really want an omnidirectional mic then you're probably looking at an ebay or 3rd part purchase or going with the MM5.

[Ari]

with regards to lag...I find increasing VA's priority level to high can increase it's responsiveness immensley

I'm trying to figure out how to do this.  All I can find is about priority levels of profiles, of which I have one, at this stage.  I am a noob so am probably missing something.

Hopefully by the time you read this I've figured it out.

Just be aware that there are 2 different versions of MM4 - the Unidirectional and Omnidirectional.

I live with a lot of ambient noise... should I go with uni or omni? 

I use this MPOW headset It is far superior to the other $20 mics I have.  It sometimes hears my wife, who games with me (sits @ 3' to my left) despite being unidirectional, which is why I'm hesitant about omni.

What's the best USB sound card for poor people. I found this external sound card and, if its ok, its much easier on the budget.

[iceblast]

If you get the Buddy Microphones Amigo Cobra USB Desktop Microphone with FilteredAudio Technology, you wouldn't need a sound card. It's USB, you just plug and play.

[Ari]

If you get the Buddy Microphones Amigo Cobra USB Desktop Microphone with FilteredAudio Technology, you wouldn't need a sound card. It's USB, you just plug and play.

I play kicked back in a recliner with my gaming mouse on the arm and split keyboard in my lap (often around a cat), nowhere near a table, so it wouldn't work.  It was a really functional setup until my arthritis gave me the big FU.  Enter VA.

I've been thinking about it but can't find a way, even attaching it to the wall wouldn't work... I am too far away. 

[Gangrel]

I have used 2 wired (Logitech G633 for USB/headset that came with my laptop for 3.5mm) and the corsair wireless headset (2100) with decent success. And also a Yeti Blue Snowball mounted mic (unidirectional setting) (with shock ring)

Oh and also my laptop webcam mic a few times (not quite as successful, I need to ensure that I have headphones plugged in). I find that generally speaking out of all of them, the thing that affected recognition the most was ambient noise (typically speakers vs headphones). And this is with my tower PC being about 2ft away from my head.

I tend to currently use the logitech on the laptop, the corsair/snowball on the desktop (depends how uncomfortable the headphones want to be that day), and the 3.5mm set are hooked up to my mobile phone (although sometimes I just plug in a splitter and let go with that on both phone/laptop at the same time)

[Ari]

Ambient noise is a problem, though less so in the winter... I still have to run a few fans to stay cool.  Also random noise from my cats, refrigerator, etc.  Luckily I am rural enough to qualify as "in the woods" so its better than a lot of people.  My wife often gestures to me when we play because if she says something VA interprets as a trigger word, well, you can guess.

I am slowly changing my triggers to things not as often said between us but, without work on my mic situation, the program hears the most amazing things.

I am pretty much set on this USB sound card combined with ModMic4.  I think it'll have to be unidirectional.

[Exergist]

I purchased this sound card (less than $6) and it works great.

I originally went with the MM4-Uni because my environment is occasionally noisy. I've been eyeing the MM5, but at this point unless I can sell my MM4 I'm probably not going to upgrade.

[Ari]

I purchased this sound card (less than $6) and it works great.

I originally went with the MM4-Uni because my environment is occasionally noisy. I've been eyeing the MM5, but at this point unless I can sell my MM4 I'm probably not going to upgrade.

  I have a this motherboard.  I really am a noob to this.  How do these USB sound cards improve performance?

Would it be worth the extra $$ to go straight to MM5?

[iceblast]

A lot of cards may have a hiss to them, and usb cards usually don't have that. That's why usb headphones are so good usually.

[Exergist]

How do these USB sound cards improve performance?

Check out the Amazon MM4 reviews that contain reference to "USB."

Also bear in mind that the MM5 will also need a USB sound card based on what I've seen in reviews.