Jump to content

Nagging FRUSTRATING problems with audio and Helmet


Recommended Posts

I wasn't sure which sub section this belongs in because it has to do with both helmet configuration AND audio.     

Man I continue to struggle with my helmet and electronics.    I mean it bothers me enough to take away the enjoyment of trooping to some degree.

1.  I have zero control over my helmet.   in order to see out of the eyes at least a little the helmet gets jammed up against the pauldron and my shoulders which renders it immobile completely.    I've noticed other troopers being able to at least turn their helmet a little -- it just doesn't happen for me.   I have to turn my shoulders to look to the side.  I pulled the pads out and installed a helmet harness which does keep the helmet fixed to my head, but again there is no clearance between helmet and pauldron for me to be able to swivel it.    I'm not sure this is a problem I can remedy.  

2.  I have my radio chatter working fine with TKTalkie.    My voice audio?   I still haven't been able to get this working.    It's usually WAY too low for anyone to hear it.    If I turn it up so that people can hear it, I get a terrible feedback loop that requires me to shut it down completely.   The last two troops I've just completely ditched the voice, which is a massive bummer and I think pretty lame.   

3.  Even for my weak audio -- it's proving next to impossible to get my head into my bucket without dislodging my wireless headset.   Every single time it gets knocked around to where the mic isn't in the right position and you all know too well how it's impossible to get your hands in there to readjust your mic positioning with armor on and helmet on.   

I'm pulling my hair out here!!!!    I have a couple weeks until my next troop and I *have* to figure something out so that these things aren't making me miserable!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know a few people that have trouble with not being able to move their helmet. Unfortunately, we're not all born with long necks. With all of the stuff jammed on your shoulders, you need a neck like a giraffe to still have clearance to move your helmet. If you pad the top of the helmet to lift it up, then you're looking through the bottom of the lenses. Perhaps neck stretching exercises? Wasn't there an African tribe that uses plates to stretch out their necks?

Where do you have the speakers for your audio? The aerator mounted speakers seem like a great idea, and would put your voice where your mouth is, but since that's right next to the microphone, it usually doesn't work out well. I've got my speaker behind my chest plate. It's a little muffled, but that's a nice effect for our communication. It's certainly not as bad as the Death Troopers! You might try putting the speaker in one of the leather pouches.

My microphone is on a wrap around headband (Aker amp system) and frequently gets out of position. I'll do a shoulder shrug to lift the helmet and mic, then grab the foam windscreen with my mouth to get it back into place. Are you wearing it headset style, or is your mic mounted in the helmet? Can you post a picture of the inside of your helmet?

Visibility and comms have always been a weakness for the Imperial issued equipment. Even that Rebel terrorist complained "I can't see a thing in this helmet!"

Charlie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was wondering if anyone has figured out a way to mount the wireless headset INSIDE the helmet in such a way that you can remove it to charge and place it back into position when trooping?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott, check out this video and focus on the app portion of the video. He does walk through some of the adjustments. If I had to choose, I'd pick voice over chatter. BUT, I also run chatter through a mp3 board and Pyle amp in my radio.

I have a wireless headset. I removed the little metal over the head bracket and applied velcro on the back of the transmitter. It velcros in place and I bend the mic arm and position the mic dead center around the frown. I've done an all day  long con with no issues. I use the Aker 1506 with the mic receiver in the line in spot behind my chest plate.

As far as mobility goes, I have a short neck. My whole body is short though lol. I'm short and round. Sometimes I take the wood block out of my shoulder pouch closest to my head and that helps a little. My helmet basically sits on top of my pauldron. I have my wife make sure everything is pushed down and tucked in like it should be after I put on my helmet. Some people have the perfect body types and mobility is not an issue. But for the 95% of the rest of us, we all have some issue where mobility is a hindrance at least at one spot.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven’t gotten back to working on this yet.   I’m going try to do some work tonight.   I think I’ve found a spot to move both the mic and the lipstick charger.   Into the area below the teeth on he inside — right in front of the chin.    If it works that could resolve the helmet on/off issues and the dislodging of the headset.

one thing at a time!    After I finish the above I’ll work on the audio issues.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok so I'm playing around with the concept of getting that battery and headset out of my way when putting on the helmet.   This is what I've come up with tentatively:

 

x13Ahg3.jpg

I put some velcro on the back side of the chin area.   I then wrapped a piece of foam in velcro to form a flat square with enough of a surface to then stick the headset and battery to.     This moves them from the side of the helmet (in the case of the battery) and from my head (in the case of the headset) to the area below the inside of the frown.

Below is a shot looking down into the helmet showing how clear of an area I have to move my head in now:

CBJ4XVF.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love looking inside trooper buckets - that's where the real innovation happens!

Does your microphone tip line up with your mouth?

My Aker mic is very picky - if it's not right in front of my mouth, then the sound drops off significantly. It looks like you should have plenty of room when putting on or taking off your helmet without banging up the fancy electronics. Do you have enough cable to mount the battery in the back of the helmet, in the "tumblehome?"

Charlie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mounting the battery on the sides or in the back has presented two obstacles for me:

1.   The helmet is curved so getting it attached in a place that is flat enough to keep it in place is difficult

2.   The battery gets in the way of putting the helmet on.   

The position I have it in the photos above addresses the 2nd issue.   To overcome the first issue I made a little Velcro block to create a flat surface.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd put some velcro on the battery and mount it behind the fan bracket so it's out the way. I have that same microphone, What I do is take it out the helmet and do a test to check my levels. Most the time I have to hit the + on the mic itself to up it a few notches as well as get the volume right on the Aker speaker too. To make it more sensitive, check your settings on the TKTalkie app for your profile. You can make it very sensitive if  you dial it in right. Don't breathe out your mouth or you'll make a static burst. I have mine where as soon as I say something at normal volume it activates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok... I think I have my audio issues sorted out.    I'm going to do further testing this afternoon but I think I finally have it licked.   HUGE test coming this Friday as it's Star Wars Night at the local minor league baseball team game.    

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Ok...so I did Birmingham Barons Star Wars night with my new configuration inside my helmet.    Worked GREAT!   I had no trouble putting on and removing my bucket and the mic worked.   Now I just have to overcome some feedback in order to get it loud enough for a busy event like that.     I think I've done that in the settings over the past 24 hours.   I can (at least in an ideal environment of one of the quiet rooms of my house) talk very loudly right near the speaker without feedback.    So I think I've found the magic mix.

Also worthy of note --  I ditched the RS Propmasters neck seal that has the leather-like material for a cloth neck seal that some here said they used.    This did wonders for my neck not being stiff.    The hard hat strap inside my helmet also gives me control of the bucket while it's on my head.    Trooping is becoming MUCH more enjoyable.  :) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ugh.   Audio problems persist.   If I have the amp loud enough for people to hear me it causes feedback.   Nothing I do seems to help this situation.    It's literally ruining the enjoyment of trooping activities for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok....TOMORROW I'm going to rethink the entire audio setup.    The Aker amp audio is clearly traveling up my chest into my helmet.    I'm going to need to either move it, or prevent that audio from coming up my chest and into my helmet to my mic.    

Dampening foam, moving it down, etc.     The guys in the Georgia Garrison were wearing them on their belts but I'm resisting that at all costs since it totally goes against the authentic canon look.   I want it to be invisible.   I'm determined to get this right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I moved the entire setup to my back plate.    In my sterile home environment it now appears that I can turn the volume way up on the Anker and it doesn't get feedback.   I'm still playing around with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the helmet movement I use the supplied chin strap that came with my RS helmet.

It's elasticated so if it slips when removing or putting on the bucket it stings a little - added bonus is the subsequent eye watering stops my eyes drying out from the fans :D

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Everything is going well with my configurations except feedback.   I still have a situation where either 1) people can't hear me because it's not loud enough or 2) I turn it up so that people can hear me and I get horrible feedback.  

I'm really at a loss as to what to do about it having tried a lot of things to try to sort it out.

I thought about going with the Hovi tips from ukswrath but I got mixed reviews from my garrison mates about those. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What speaker/amp do you have? I have the Aker 1506 mounted in my chest and it's not even a foot away from my mic and I've never had any feedback issues. I use a wireless mic so not sure if that contributes to the no feedback but my setup works great. 

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, Airborne Trooper said:

What speaker/amp do you have? I have the Aker 1506 mounted in my chest and it's not even a foot away from my mic and I've never had any feedback issues. I use a wireless mic so not sure if that contributes to the no feedback but my setup works great. 

I also have the same amp with a wireless mic. It’s mounted in my chest armor as well.   Either people can’t hear me and have to lean in, or they can hear but terrible feedback cranks up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I repositioned my amp into my ab plate and I no longer have any feedback issues at all.  I can crank it up and be heard very well even in crowds now.  I don't hear myself as well as when it was in my chest, so from time to time I verify that I can be heard  from other troopers. I don't know if you have room or not for the amp in your ab, but I can confirm that it solves the feedback issue. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wondering how it’s going with this. I have some feedback issues when I tilt my head down. Seems the mic gets closer to the speaker that way. Gonna try the ab method as suggested. Also how is the mic placement working? I have a similar wireless amp and was trying to figure it out. I tried putting the mic in my helmet around where you have yours but kept knocking t around when putting the helmet on. Now I just throw it against my cheek under the balaclava so it stays tight. Even there I tend to love it out of position. Seems the thing has to be real close to my mouth for it to pick anything up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...