Sound Blaster Z Mic issues

a03dugga

a03dugga

a03dugga

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Joined
2 Aug 2010
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694
Location
London
Hey guys, recently got a Sound Blaster Z to be used with my roccat kaves.

Ive got it all set up, but the roccats are configured as speakers rather than using the headphone jack, and the speakers are via the headphone jack. In other words, due to my roccats being 5.1, and my speakers being only 2.1, ive reversed their jack configuration.

The question that i am here asking about is in regards to the SB Z Beam-forming Microphone, if anyone has it, how can they compare the mic capture quality? My mic seems to be low, regardless of position. e.g. on monitor on sitting on keyboard. When i use mic boost, my mate says that when he talks on teamspeak, he hears himself back a bit, even though its on a headset. Am i doing something wrong?
I dont think its sound leakage, or at-least im not sure.

Also, it happened a few days ago, but when i was twiddling with the settings in the creative control centre, i clicked something on windows and suddenly the noise was all distorted, kind of metallic and stuttery, and the volume was ridiculously high, I couldn't turn it down. Bear in mind it wasn't constant, only when a sound is outputted.

Not sure what happened then, if anyone might know, id really appreciate their help.
 
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I think the beamforming microphone is very quiet too. It's barely loud enough with mic boost and smart volume all set to maximum.

The paper specs for the beamforming microphone aren't very impressive either but it at least seems better than the stereo mic built into the C920 webcam.
 
Yeah thats what im getting from my mates at least, that it seems quiet. I used the smart volume and it has helped a bit but it just doesn't cut it to be honest.

Thinking about using the mic on the roccats instead if i cant get over the fact that its a bit quiet.
 
I haven't seen photo's of the mic, is it not possible to mount it on headphones or closer to you at all?

Oh and I'd prob use the one on the Kave's, it's more than good enough.
 
Its like a tiny version of the wii sensor bar, it has a decent mount that doesnt clamp, so its a grippy material with a ledge to go on top of monitors.

Even when i put it on my keyboard it isn't loud enough apparently, although the smart volume has helped a bit, i think it might compromise capture quality.
 
Okay just ran into a problem, randomly my sound sent totally odd, it went all metal-ish and robotic, realy loud and then i went to capture this noise and send it to creative for advice and the sound became continous, kinda like the sound you'd get i your ststem crashes adn it repeats the same noise. I had no control over the volume, im really getting p***** off with this.

Is it a dud card?

I just pulled the speaker and the headphone jack plug from the jack ports on the sound card, plugged it back in and its still doing it.

Just restarted computer, disabled on-board (didn't disable it before) and ill see what happens.
 
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Glad I'm not the only one who thinks the mic volume is very low. Creative have some new drivers released on their website (Dec 2012), have you tried those? Also I had to run the speaker setup program to get my speakers running correct, have you tried that?

The new drivers perform okay, but I've not tested the mic with them.
 
a03dugga said:
Its like a tiny version of the wii sensor bar, it has a decent mount that doesnt clamp, so its a grippy material with a ledge to go on top of monitors.

Even when i put it on my keyboard it isn't loud enough apparently, although the smart volume has helped a bit, i think it might compromise capture quality.
Click to expand...

Smart volume will impact on quality but unless you are recording your voice for voice overs etc, you will be fine.mSaying that I would go back to the Rkats mic for teamspeak and similar applications. It'll sound better and be easier to set up.
 
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