Chat via the mic?

[ArothmanMusic]

Last night I was playing online and noticed that the other bandmates were saying loud and unintelligible distorted stuff during the loading screens. I wanna do that! Can I talk to my bandmates through the RB mic if I'm the singer, or do I need a headset?

[DookieMan]

I'm pretty sure you can do both.

[ArothmanMusic]

Ok, so how? If I'm the vocalist, what do I need to press on the controller to activate it so I can say something? I didn't see anything about it at all in the manual...

[PleasePleaseMeat]

Is it 360 that you're on? If so, I think you can hold down one of the shoulder buttons (LT or RT) to chat.

Actually, I know you can. I just don't chat much.

[davidshek]

Is it 360 that you're on? If so, I think you can hold down one of the shoulder buttons (LT or RT) to chat.

It's RT, and that only applies during songs. During menus and loading screens, vocalists do not need to press any buttons. Just talk into the mic. They'll hear you.

[PleasePleaseMeat]

Oh...

Maybe I shouldn't have said all that stuff in the menu about some guy online making a huge setlist of all his own choices without consulting the rest of the band...

Nah, that guy was a jackass.

[ArothmanMusic]

I'm on PS3. I'll try talking into the mic next time and see if the other people hear me I guess! I thought maybe I had to push a button or something.

[Emalythe]

On the 360, TB:RB works differently than RB and RB2. You need to chat through the headset or the third mic, if you have multiple ones hooked up. I discovered this by accident the other night.

[Samcj007]

Do you think you can do It on the Wii?

[ThePaska]

I'm pretty sure at least on the 360 as long as there is a mic plugged in you can talk during loading screens and stuff out of song. I play guitar only pretty much when playing online, but I've been able to talk on the mic to people anyways, no controller needed to be on either...I don't do much talking but it is helpful to stay organized and choose songs and stuff, go for achievements.

[davidshek]

On the 360, TB:RB works differently than RB and RB2. You need to chat through the headset or the third mic, if you have multiple ones hooked up. I discovered this by accident the other night.

That is incorrect. I was singing on TB:RB on the 360 just a few nights ago, and was able to chat with the other players just fine without holding down any buttons or plugging in a headset or 3rd mic.

1 mic plugged in, 1 controller turned on, all you have to do is talk into the mic between songs to voice chat. During songs, you have to hold down RT.

[ArchangelZero]

I love how everybody ignored the fact he said he was on PS3.

[davidshek]

I love how everybody ignored the fact he said he was on PS3.

We ignored it because it's irrelevant. It works the same way on the PS3 as it does on the 360.

[ThePaska]

That is incorrect. I was singing on TB:RB on the 360 just a few nights ago, and was able to chat with the other players just fine without holding down any buttons or plugging in a headset or 3rd mic.

1 mic plugged in, 1 controller turned on, all you have to do is talk into the mic between songs to voice chat. During songs, you have to hold down RT.

Does the controller in fact have to be on? Say I'm playing guitar, does the controller need to be on for me to talk to everyone in game?

I haven't really tested it out, or played online enough yet to know. But I think I was talking to people last night with the controller off...But I could be wrong.

[ArothmanMusic]

I tried talking into the mic during the loading screens last night and I do not believe any of the other players heard me. I think there's gotta be something else to it, if it's even possible...

[gershwin_27]

I tried talking into the mic during the loading screens last night and I do not believe any of the other players heard me. I think there's gotta be something else to it, if it's even possible...

I also think it's not quite the same for the PS3 as it is on the 360. Maybe something in the system settings needs to be configured, I don't know. I've also tried chatting, but it seemed like the others that were talking couldn't hear me. Or, maybe they just don't want to answer when I ask, "Can you hear me?"

Is there someone with a PS3 that can advise us?

[MelBoTosted]

I also think it's not quite the same for the PS3 as it is on the 360. Maybe something in the system settings needs to be configured, I don't know. I've also tried chatting, but it seemed like the others that were talking couldn't hear me. Or, maybe they just don't want to answer when I ask, "Can you hear me?"

Is there someone with a PS3 that can advise us?

It's exactly the same as RB2, except that it seems as though only the first mic works...was playing online, two mics on our end, and he could only hear mic #1, in or out of the song. Otherwise, you don't need to hit anything outside of a song to chat, and need to hit R2 for them to hear you during a song.

[ArothmanMusic]

Someone over the PS3 forums tells me that I need to hold R2 to be heard at any time, not just during a song. I'll have to try that.

[gershwin_27]

It's exactly the same as RB2, except that it seems as though only the first mic works...was playing online, two mics on our end, and he could only hear mic #1, in or out of the song. Otherwise, you don't need to hit anything outside of a song to chat, and need to hit R2 for them to hear you during a song.

Forgive me, since I've never played online with RB2, so I don't have any experience there. And, I haven't tried voice chatting, expect on a couple of occasions.

I'd just like to clear up some questions first to avoid annoying everybody.

Regarding your comment about holding R2, is this only true for vocalists, or is it the same for Drums and Guitar players?

Use this hypothetical situation for the next three questions...


I have one mic plugged in, but I want to play guitar (not voxtar), so I start an online session with me playing guitar. (Or drums I suppose).

First, on the song selection screen, should others be able hear me through the RB mic without hitting any buttons to active it?

Second, during a song, is the RB mic still active, or do I still have to hold R2 on a controller to talk?

Third, and most importantly, if the mic stays on all the time (as in question two), is there a quick way to turn off the mic (other than unplugging it)? I would hate to have my game audio being looped back to the other players. I've experienced that from one or two online players, and it was QUITE annoying, and making the song nearly impossible to play.


Also, I believe I know why my mic didn't work in the first place. You must choose the RB mic as an input under the Audio Devices in the PS3 System settings. I think it came up as Logitech USB Microphone.

Though, I probably won't test it out until someone can verify that question three won't be a problem.

[davidshek]

Regarding your comment about holding R2, is this only true for vocalists, or is it the same for Drums and Guitar players?

Only for vocalists. There is no R2 button on the drums or guitars. :) A headset plugged into the drums or guitar will be transmitting at all times (unless the person wearing it mutes it, of course). No button pressing necessary.

[gershwin_27]

Only for vocalists. There is no R2 button on the drums or guitars. :) A headset plugged into the drums or guitar will be transmitting at all times (unless the person wearing it mutes it, of course). No button pressing necessary.

Thanks. True, there is no R2 on the other devices, I was just wondering if you still needed access to the controller while playing guitar/drums.

So, since I presume there is no easy way to mute the Rock Band Microphone (other than unplugging it), perhaps a bluetooth or USB headset is a better choice for chatting, rather than using the RB mic?

Would you concur?

[RampantFrenzy]

as a guy who wants to be able to communicate in game (on PS3) I find this whole thread totally confusing...

I play strictly Guitar/Bass.... never sing at all and I rarely hook up a drum kit but I have in the past.

What is going to be the easiest way for me to be able to talk to people between songs???

I should also add that until TB:RB came out I did not own a PS3 so "its just like RB2" is an answer that Ive seen others give that is kind of no help to me

TIA to whoever can spell it out for me in a way my addled brain can comprehend

[gershwin_27]

as a guy who wants to be able to communicate in game (on PS3) I find this whole thread totally confusing...

I play strictly Guitar/Bass.... never sing at all and I rarely hook up a drum kit but I have in the past.

What is going to be the easiest way for me to be able to talk to people between songs???

I should also add that until TB:RB came out I did not own a PS3 so "its just like RB2" is an answer that Ive seen others give that is kind of no help to me

TIA to whoever can spell it out for me in a way my addled brain can comprehend

I'm trying to do the same thing, so I'm no expert. But this is what I have put together so far.

First, you must have a microphone. You can use the RB mic, or another microphone if you have one (a bluetooth headset or USB headset for example).

Second, before starting the game, you have to tell your PS3 to use this microphone as an audio input. This is in the system settings on the main PS3 menus. I'm not at home right now, so I can't give you the exact location, but I think it's called Audio Settings, and the Inputs. What you do is select the Rock Band microphone as the input... I believe it comes up as, "Logitech USB Microphone."

Once you have done that, apparently, it just works. When you are online, and in the song selection screen, you should be able to talk into the microphone for everyone to hear you. You're not required to have chosen vocals in order for it to work. The mic just needs to be plugged in.

The only problem I foresee with using the Rock Band microphone is having the game audio being rebroadcast when you are playing a song. This is because the Rock Band microphone does not have a mute button. This would be highly annoying to other players.

I'm considering getting a headset that has a mute button before I attempt chatting online.

If I have misunderstood anything, I'd appreciate being corrected.

[MelBoTosted]

You're right, sorry about the RB2 comment. :o

Using the mic: During song selection and loading screens, you can talk normally, or should be able to (I looked at my audio settings, and it was already set to USBmic). During a song, the only way that it will transmit is if you hold down the R2 button on the controller. However, doing so means that there is a "lag" - the other person will hear your voice about a beat behind what's playing on their system. They shouldn't hear the sound from your tv or the clicking of the instrument though, as the mics are pretty good for noise cancellation.

Using a Bluetooth is also an option, although it will stay on during a song. If you don't mute it, the other person might be able to hear you hitting the drums or clicking the guitar, depending where it is. I hope that makes a little more sense. :)

[ArothmanMusic]

Hmmm... maybe that's it. I don't know that I've checked the audio settings. I guess I figured that if the mic was working in the game, then it would work for chat also. Maybe my audio input isn't set to use that mic 'cause I did use a bluetooth headset with it a while ago.

[gershwin_27]

Hmmm... maybe that's it. I don't know that I've checked the audio settings. I guess I figured that if the mic was working in the game, then it would work for chat also. Maybe my audio input isn't set to use that mic 'cause I did use a bluetooth headset with it a while ago.

I'll try to remember to add you (CaptainGillette) to my PSN list when I get home from work tonight. Perhaps we can test each others setup. My PSN name is the same as my forum name.

[RampantFrenzy]

I just got home.. gonna try to get it going in a few minutes

I also bought RB2 and hope to import the RB1 songs onto my PS3 tonight (which may require a whole other thread on the RB board)

**fingers crossed**

[RampantFrenzy]

I'm trying to do the same thing, so I'm no expert. But this is what I have put together so far.

First, you must have a microphone. You can use the RB mic, or another microphone if you have one (a bluetooth headset or USB headset for example).

Second, before starting the game, you have to tell your PS3 to use this microphone as an audio input. This is in the system settings on the main PS3 menus. I'm not at home right now, so I can't give you the exact location, but I think it's called Audio Settings, and the Inputs. What you do is select the Rock Band microphone as the input... I believe it comes up as, "Logitech USB Microphone."

Once you have done that, apparently, it just works. When you are online, and in the song selection screen, you should be able to talk into the microphone for everyone to hear you. You're not required to have chosen vocals in order for it to work. The mic just needs to be plugged in.

The only problem I foresee with using the Rock Band microphone is having the game audio being rebroadcast when you are playing a song. This is because the Rock Band microphone does not have a mute button. This would be highly annoying to other players.

I'm considering getting a headset that has a mute button before I attempt chatting online.

If I have misunderstood anything, I'd appreciate being corrected.

I thought the sound cut out when the songs started.. but now that you mention it I have been hearing more and more noise from peoples mics in song...

I plugged in the mic with no dualshock turned on.. and I dont think anyone heard me... or they didnt answer..

after I turned on the controller I got responses... so at least I know its working..

I just hope Im not transmitting noises like the ones I hear from time to time during songs..

I was hoping it was just a bug or something.... its odd that they would take such care to preserve the music.. no whammy, no effect switch, no BRE... and then have people blabbing away during the song..