Read the statement by Michael Teeuw here.
Hello-Lucy
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Cool. Be sure to keep me posted. I’d also like to see some video of Hello-Lucy working on your setup when the time comes. :-)
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Can I ask a question or two about the microphone?
I’m looking at a couple of small ones, obviously not wanting the long ones that sit on a desktop as I want to be able to at least conceal this out of direct sight as much as possible, without muffling it of course.I had my eye on the “clip on type” because its small and has no long stem like desktop ones have, but here’s the thing - unless a reviewer specifically states distance from mic to mouth, there does not seem to be a way of telling how much a distance range these work at? How close do you really need to be to the MM/Mic in order for voice to be picked up?
I have, in the past, used the cheap desktop types, and the user, on average, is about 7 to 12 inches away from it so it picks up a clear voice that can be understood on recording and voip ect… but, is this the same clarity that Lucy needs for her commands?
When looking at descriptions of models, there are the Mono and Stereo types… and a whole plethora of other specs that are way over my head, and prices to match :-)
I don’t mind paying £8 - £10 for one that will only ever be used when communicating with Lucy, if it will pick up voice from at least 1M, that she will respond to, as I do not want to have to have my face pressed right up close to it before it will hear me, which is not very smart :-(
Did you do any digging/research on my points above before you settled for the one you used, or, if it is just a basic desktop one you have, are you happy enough with how far it can pick up commands?
Thanks
Long stem -
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/wired-pc-microphone-hw70m
Side mount -
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/mini-compact-wired-pc-microphone-a84cg
Double mic -
Clip on -
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07673TQCB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is the microphone that I have. I bought it because it was $7.99US at the time and I wanted it only to test my theory about USB latency. It works exceptionally well. I just tested it with Hello-Lucy from a distance of 50 inches. I did have to raise my voice a bit and I did have to repeat myself once or twice. I don’t really expect it work as well as a far field microphone, such as Amazon Echo, but I am satisfied with the results.
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Damn I need this aswell
guess I will keep it in english because I am probably to lazy to train snowboy again for German :) -
Thanks, I did get confused for a second by thinking Omnidirectional was similar to far field, so will continue my search for one that will be far field - of sorts… although I feel those will cost a bit more? But, 50 inches (Max) does seem pretty damn good, as I was more concerned that I would need to be about 12 - 20 inches max, with slight raised voice, as a lot of these type are used within that distance, so they are not really catering for distance, and for the likes of MM and Lucy, needs to be a bit farther eh?
Thanks anyway for that info, as it has gave me a great head start on what to filter my search by.
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I was looking for a good microphone and, after seeing this comparison: https://medium.com/snips-ai/benchmarking-microphone-arrays-respeaker-conexant-microsemi-acuedge-matrix-creator-minidsp-950de8876fda
I decided to buy 2 PS3 eye. 4 microphone array system.
I manage MagicMirror perfectly from 100 inch. Very interesting price 6 $ each. And the webcam 120 fps! -
@pepebc said in Hello-Lucy:
I was looking for a good microphone and, after seeing this comparison: https://medium.com/snips-ai/benchmarking-microphone-arrays-respeaker-conexant-microsemi-acuedge-matrix-creator-minidsp-950de8876fd
I decided to buy 2 PS3 eye. 4 microphone array system.
I manage MagicMirror perfectly from 100 inch. Very interesting price 6 $ each. And the webcam 120 fps!The more mics the better the accuracy …but be careful if you have lots of noise around this … Not a big deal I mean once in a while my Alexa even goes off while I’m watching TV LOL
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That link is no good. Is the PS3 eye USB?
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yes the ps3 eye is connected via USB
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@maxbachmann said in Hello-Lucy:
yes the ps3 eye is connected via USB
Then for me it’s a question of response time. Personally, I prefer the response to command to be as fast as possible. USB comes in 2nd place for that.
And the webcam 120 fps!
On a Pi?
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I remember a few posts from a while back of folks using this PS3 Eye and seem to recall mixed reviews… Problems with getting the Mic set up as there was a flaff with ALSA and PulseAudio… The latter being what the Eye seemed to like best, albeit with some flaffing about setting it up. Which I think coincides with @Mykle1 findings about the USB Mic on the Pi.
The Eye also works on a PC, but you need to source out the drivers for it, and from the brief, few reviews I have read from PC users using the Eye, for PC uses, seem good, and one Amazon reviewer even states that he used the Mic from 3M and was heard very clearly…
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-PlayStation-Eye-Camera-EyeCreate/dp/B000W3YQ1Y
but, using it for MM on a PC, to use Lucy, may still require some tweeking somewhere?
Sure it ticks all the boxes for the things we do on MM, and being small is a big bonus, as who wants a Dalek type microphone spoiling the aesthetics of the MM?
But, it is a bit pricey to buy just for Lucy, and for it not to work through MM… either through the PI usb ( as Mykle1 has already pointed out ) although @pepebc states it works perfectly? - or - On a PC, using MM… also what @Mykle1 pointed out that did not work through USB… and, would it work if used with a USB to 3,5 adapter/crossover/splitter?
Which does open up a pandora’s box of questions regarding USB microphones… Do they work great on MM for just recording voice ect, and only ever hit a problem when using with Alexa / Lucy type modules? Or is it just the make/brand/spec of Microphones? or even just how the ALSA and PulseAudio work, and we need to simply go through trial and error?
tbh… my head hurts trying to work out the why’s and wherefores regarding why, in this senario, a USB mic is crap … when the simplest, working solution is to use a 3.5 Mic ( or USB to 3.5)… but, is the common denominator here, the Pi/Linux, or MM? seeing as @Mykle1 found the usb problem on a PC too, using Linux/MM? ---- Mykle1, can I ask if you tried the usb MIC on your PC for normal PC stuff, and found the same problem?
https://me.m01.eu/blog/2014/07/an-asoundrc-alsa-config-for-the-ps3-eye/
https://renatocunha.com/blog/2012/04/playstation-eye-audio-linux/
(Now, If there was a way of getting the Amazon Dot/Ech to IFTTT the commands over to the MM / Lucy… . ;-p )
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@Damian
Use PS3 eye without any problem, in a mini PC, clean and clear sound.
I use it now with MM (snowboy) and Kalliope independently. It is conectdo by USB and the response is immediate. In Pi I have not tried it yet, it will be next week. And the fundamental reason, apart from the quality of micro and camera, were those € 6 ($ 7.3) that cost me.
I had a mic connected by 3.5 but it produced a horrible noise. As I did not want to spend a lot of money, and with 2 PS3 eye I could also do 3D stereo camera tests.
I just wanted to contribute my experience. Everyone decides the best -
@pepebc
Thanks, So you are working it on a PC? Are you using Lucy with it?Is your one the old Flat lens or newer curved lens?
Did you find the PC drivers easily, and if so, from where? and which OS are you using with it - 7, 8, 10 ? -
@Damian said in Hello-Lucy:
Mykle1, can I ask if you tried the usb MIC on your PC for normal PC stuff, and found the same problem?
Yes, works normally under Windows. It was only when I started working on Hello-Lucy that the latency became apparent, and bothersome.
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@Damian I work with Linux, and it is not necessary to install drivers, it works OK
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Thanks, I was under the impression that you used a mini PC… with Windows OS, and that you installed MM on top of it, and that the Mic was going through the Windows Soundcard, which needed a Driver… but now realise you are using a Mini PC with only Linux loaded on, and therefore do not need drivers.
The PC I intended trying the Eye on, has Win 7 on it, with MM on top, so not the same set up as yours, and therefore unsure if results would match yours?
I would have liked to have heard that it works on a Pi, with Lucy, but, I will take @Mykle1 findings, and give the USB Mic’s a miss, as I only wanted one to use solely/reliably, with Lucy, both on my House Pi MM, and on my PC Win/linux MM, and on the basis of Mykle1’s findings, the USB does not work so good with Lucy, so will go for a similar Mic to what he has tried and tested… but thanks for mentioning the Eye.
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@Mykle1
Thanks I will just try and find a similar 3.5 Mic to your tried and tested one, here on Amazon uk. At least I know that will work since you have it working well :-) -
Well, why don’t you try the mic that you have? You may be satisfied with the result. If not, you can always pick up the other. I didn’t do any shopping. I simply chose an inexpensive mic that employs a 3.5mm jack instead of USB. In any case, let me know your results
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I bought a micro USB one last year when I tried to put alexa on the Pi, and when testing at about 1 foot away, I sounded as if I were 10 feet away with cotton wool in my mouth. Also had problems of latency using Alexa, so I abandoned both, having spent way too much time trying just about every combination of settings I read up to try, and ask about.
I always read reviews on the likes of Amazon, and have read of a few that really only work great when really close up to the Mic, and so far I have not came across any review that has mentioned a Mic that has worked from a decent distance, seeing as Mic’s are usually always used up close.
The PS3 Eye was the only one where I seen a reviewer state that he used his from about 3M away and was heard perfectly on Skype, but alas, not from a Pi, and not using it for voice control.
As you have noted, the USB mic works perfect for normal usage, and it only becomes a problem when using Lucy… Like my previous problem when using Alexa, so therein may be the problem? I was about to add the limitations of the Pi as an additional factor, but you also noted the same problem on your powerfull i7, so I am of the opinion that USB mic’s for Voice control are not a good combination? for whatever techy reason that I know nothing about.
The only sure way of sourcing a suitable Mic, for the purpose of long range use, is to read from someone that is actually using one that has worked from a decent distance, on the same project - Lucy.
@pepebc offered up the PS3 Eye, which sounds and looks great, and works for him, but he is not using it for Lucy, so there is no telling if it will work or not, with Lucy :-(
You may have been very lucky in your random choice of 3.5 Mic, as if you chose another, it may have only worked at very close quarters? but seeing as your one actualy works at a decent distance with Lucy, then that is worth a hundred reviews, imho ;-) as I would be hard pushed to find a reviewer on Amazon that is reviewing a Mic for the purposes of using Lucy from a decent distance away, from a MM. ;-)
I will find a UK supplier of the same one you have used, as that has proven to work within a decent range, that users of MM/Lucy would want.
I will see if I can remove the long stem from the Mic though, to make it easier to hide from sight.Thanks again.
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