Headset microphone issue (not recognized)

[Gvkeitz]

Howdy. I just got a new custom built computer and decided to go with integrated sound (not being an audiophile). I have an Asus L5D2 motherboard with Realtek ALC882 integrated audio. While the headet (Plantronic) worked beautifully with my old computer, and the headset speakers work when playing, I get NOTHING when I try to use VOIP on BF2. The game just does not seem to recognize the microphone at all, though the computer DOES so I know it is working. An IT buddy of mine believes it is BF2not being entirely compatible with the integrated soundcard. So, my options seem to be: go with teamspeak instead of BF2 VOIP (I expect it should work), get a new headset (not likely to work since it is not a hardware problem), get a generic soundblaster card and use that with the headphones (should work), try and fix the BF2-motherboard sound issue with some sort of patch after I do some research.

Can anyone help me with the last choice? I just dropped 1.5k on the computer (game runs silky smooth on high settings), and I don't want to buy and install a new soundcard *just* to use the in-game VOIP, though I like to use the battlecommo when playing with friends. Thanks!!!

[Talus]

Re: Headset microphone issue (not recognized)

Ok...how many jacks does the on-board soundcard have? Is there only ONE jack labelled 'mic'?

If so, great. Otherwise, BF2 does not recognize other mics besides the primary mic.

So, what you need to do is to load the Windows Control Panel and go to the Sound and Audio Devices section.

On the 'Sound' tab, make sure the soundcard is selected from the dropdown box under 'Sound Recording'. Click the 'Advanced' button to make sure the volume is up and it is not muted.

Then, go to the 'Voice' tab. Make sure the sound card is selected under both of the drop downs and click both of the 'Advanced' buttons to make sure the volumes are up, not muted, and that mic is selected for input.

LASTLY..and likely most importantly, do the following:

-Keep the mic input mixer loaded by using the aforementioned 'Advanced' button in the 'Voice' tab under 'Voice Recording'...you want the mixer up and on your screen before you load BF2
-Load BF2
-Join a game
-Once the map is done loading and you are at the spawn screen, alt-tab back to the mixer
-Check the volumes...make SURE the mic is selected as the input, the volume is up, and the mic boost is enabled (if needed).

The reason for this? BF2 sometimes overrides mic levels on certain systems when loading a map.

Hope this helps.

[Gvkeitz]

Re: Headset microphone issue (not recognized)

Talus, thanks a ton for the ultra-rapid response and I'm emailing your advice to me and I'll try it tonight. There is only one slot for the microphone, though it is not obvious it is a microphone (but I figured out which is the correct port). Whenever I remove and add the headphone the on-board sound card saoftware recognizes it. When I go into the BF2 folders and try to do the VOIP set-up program or in-game from options it is still a big fat nothing--as in it is like I do not have a microphone plugged in. So, I'll try this and post if it works...

[Talus]

Re: Headset microphone issue (not recognized)

Ok..then make sure you try this also:

Go to the 'Sound and Audio Devices' control panel.
Click the 'Voice' tab.
Hit the 'Test Hardware' button.

You HAVE to have this section working in order to prove that your mic works overall.

I'm willing to bet the alt-tab/windows mixer trick will work. BF2 doesn't seem to like these multi-use port/autodetection systems.

[Gvkeitz]

Re: Headset microphone issue (not recognized)

YDM Talus. As in "you da man." Works fine now. Thanks. Well, I still cannot change or test the microphone using BF2 (its like it is still not there)--I have modify the volume and other settings using my computer but it seems to be working fine so I'm not going to much with it further...

[Talus]

Re: Headset microphone issue (not recognized)

Glad I could help

[MikeGo]

Re: Headset microphone issue (not recognized)

VoIP seems to be a big, BIG setup issue in a lot of games I've played. But the enhancement of the game with chatting is sWEEET!! Maybe dice, EA or whomever should write a mic/VoIP setup program that doesn't require you to load up the game, debug your settings in game, etc, etc. It should be simple, but with advanced features to alow you to use multiple sound cards ... e.g., one for VoIP and the other for in-game effects.