Microphones - What are you using?

[pp]

I would like to setup the VR, I was wondering what products you find to work the best. Do most of you use the telephone systems in your home or external Mics?

[Skibum]

I use PA-3 mikes from Supercircuits.

Your success with VR is more than just the mike. It is:

Your machine
your voice
your environment

an echo filled room will kill VR. Carpeted rooms are great.

[pp]

I looked at supercircuits couldnt find them. How much are they about and any pointers on how you mounted them in a room? I know each room is different I mean did you hide them, put them in a corner etc... DO all three just go to your same PC?

[Skibum]

Here is the link:

http://207.207.29.130/store/prodinfo...item=1&mitem=1

they are about the size of a 3/4 inch long pencil. I just place them where they are inconspicuous, and there is little discernable echo.

They could easily be mounted into drywall, with a small 1/4 inch hole.

[Rick Tinker]

PP,

I use the phone most often even though I have the right equipment for open-air microphones - I guess once you get in the habit of picking up a phone, you just keep doing it even in the areas where I have the open-air microphones.

I think you will find that one of the best microphones is the Crown PZM-11. It is a wall-mount microphone that looks a little like an old X-10 pushbutton switch. It makes use of the wall space around it to channel audio into its pickup. You can get them for $60 or less.

The mixer often used with excellent results is one made just for voice, not music, and is modified internally (according to mfgr's instructions) to enable fillibuster mode so that when one person is speaking, another microphone cannot take the channel away. It is the Shure SCM-410 or SCM-810 mixer. It also has voltage outputs to let you know which microphone is active (which is also what triggers fillibuster mode and the ability for you to turn off a mic in a room) and those outputs can be used with a digital I/O interface so that HomeSeer can know which microphone is active. With this and some creative scripting, you can enable it so that you can walk into a room and speak "Turn on the light" and it will already know which room you are in so you don't have to say "Turn on the Kitchen light.".

Keep in mind that with HomeSeer 2 comes a client program based VR and TTS, so if you have computers around the house, they can all be used now for VR and TTS which means the ability to connect the microphone to the nearest computer and eliminate the expense of the Shure mixer. This is also done through the fact that with this new speaker app, multiple concurrent conversations can be taking place at the same time.

If you want to go the microphone and mixer route, send me an email.

[Skibum]

While I would not fault the Crown mike for a second, it is a bit on the expensive side. Has anyone done a side by side comparison?

I am so happy with the pa-3's that I would be hard pressed to switch. Interestingly enough, Trojan has had miserable success with the PA-3, and other mikes as well. This makes me realize that the rooms acoustics as well as your voice play a bigger role that the mike.


Can't wait for "The 2"

[jay]

Have used PA3s (no hyphen if searching - Ski's link is good)) here for a number of years; inside and out. They're currently 9.95 $US. Get a number of them to average out shipping cost from SC.

[johnwpb]

PA3 Microphone

I just ordered a PA3 Mic from SuperCircuits. I figgured for less than $10 what the heck. I will test this mic out and see what quality I get from it. I should get it in a few days, and will post a follup with my results.

From listeing to a few people on the board (Skibum in perticular) they sound like just what I need. If all goes well, I will set about installing VR in the main rooms.

[pp]

Rick,
Yes I remember that system from the Old Hal days. So it's still the best way to go for mic usage...

I had phones setup back then and I liked it. Do I need HS Phone to use my phones?

[Skibum]

Just remember, John.... It is a pre-amp level mike, and goes in Line In.
Also the connector on the end of the mike is an RCA, so you will need an adapter.

[johnwpb]

SKibum, thanks for the tips. I will also have to dig around here and see if I can find a wallwart between 6~18 Volts DC. Will hold off on cutting one up till the mic gets here and I see how the power is connected to it.

[Skibum]

Standard power connector, like that found on cams, etc.

[jay]

center connector is +

[pp]

Skibum,
I just got 2 mics to test with, I was wondering how you are wiring the mics into your PC? Do you have multiple Line ins?

[Skibum]

Hi

I run my mikes through a serial switcher, and to the LINE input.