Hi James,
is it possible in VC to add a feature that reduces the system volume when the prefixmodus is used? (Similar to the AmuletUSB.exe)
Example: prefixmodus active in VC (prefix: computer) -> When I say "computer" -> VC reduces the system volume automatically to a preset value and wait for a command -> when the command was recognized, VC set volume back to the old value.
This function would be well suited for boundary microphones or any other open mic to pick up many background noise at all the time
Kalle
Yes this is a very good idea. There are different ways to do it and I will have to think about the best way to implement this so that it will be flexible enough to work the way the user wants. I have two ideas of how it could be done and I will probably do both.
If you don't see this in the next version please remind me. I am in the middle of a lot of changes and additions right now for a major release that is coming soon (I hope)!
Quote from: jitterjames on September 25, 2011, 11:55:14 AM
Yes this is a very good idea. There are different ways to do it and I will have to think about the best way to implement this so that it will be flexible enough to work the way the user wants. I have two ideas of how it could be done and I will probably do both.
If you don't see this in the next version please remind me. I am in the middle of a lot of changes and additions right now for a major release that is coming soon (I hope)!
Cool ;D
This sounds like an awesome idea, but just wanted to note ahead of time that, if possible, it would be great to be able to choose what playback device the 'muting' is actually taking place on instead of the just the default device. This would be important to me personally because my XBMC runs off a separate display from my main PC, and uses a separate sound card, but everything else is ran through some USB speakers for my computer it's self.
Just a thought!
Quote from: abrenoch on September 26, 2011, 10:41:35 PM
This sounds like an awesome idea, but just wanted to note ahead of time that, if possible, it would be great to be able to choose what playback device the 'muting' is actually taking place on instead of the just the default device. This would be important to me personally because my XBMC runs off a separate display from my main PC, and uses a separate sound card, but everything else is ran through some USB speakers for my computer it's self.
Just a thought!
You're right, I have not thought of this possibility :bonk - very good idea - but I'm not sure if this is possible, if the media application running on another computer.
Kalle
Yes, I had the same thought. No worries. It will function the same way as the Amulet remote. That is we will be generating events and you can assign them to whatever command you want, and edit the actions in that command to do whatever works for you.
So you could adjust system volume, use xbmc.softmute, mediamonkey.softmute, send an event to eventghost, adjust the volume on your receiver etc. If you want you can dim or brighten the lights etc. For me, I would need to adjust my receiver's volume directly because when it is in full digital pass through mode the volume on XBMC or my system volume have no effect.
It won't be a problem as long as you can already do it via VC or eventGhost :)
hi guys, i recently installed voxcommando, ok yes i like it, but the whole thing with the microphone truly sucks.
i tried desktop mic, my android using skype, but oh buy it is hard to get it going.
ok when there is NOTHING playing, i get about 80% of success, but the moment a movie starts playing or a song, hell comes.
Vox is going crazy, and bye bye experience. I am trying to stand to different places, nothing. The ONLY thing that might make vox work properly is an amulet control for one good reason... it can lower the voice of the htpc.
The point is that people don't want to use another remote. I am already using my Android as a control and my harmony too. I was thinking that it would be perfect if we could have an application that could work exactly as the amulet control. which means that if i have my phone looking vertical up, music goes down, and the pc can understand me (finally). (or even if we pressed a hardware button mapped).
The problem is that if i want to listen to music or movies at high volume, i must close vox and this is annoying. Yes i am using the prefix thing, (which by the way someone mentioned that it would be nice to lower the voice when the prefix word is detected), but still....
An another problem is the xbmc with fullscreen. When vox detects commands, it displays below a black box with the command, so you know what is going on. The problem is that if i use my xbmc with fullscreen, i cannot see the black box and the whole thing is getting harder and harder. :bonk :bonk :o
I am thinking of using a bluetooth microphone, i am sure that i will have the same problems, but there might be a solution there. Bluetooth mics have a button on them, when you press that button it sends the command to the pc. Maybe vox can capture that and in that case mute music - movie, and start listening to the command? That way it would be GREAT. i will not have to carry anything with my hands, and the computer will always listen to what i say correctly.
thanks
Hi TeDeV and welcome to VoxCommando Forum and a happy new year.
Quotei tried desktop mic, my android using skype, but oh buy it is hard to get it going.
ok when there is NOTHING playing, i get about 80% of success, but the moment a movie starts playing or a song, hell comes.
A desktop mic to using from a larger distance at 1-2 meters is no solution, these devices are built only for short distances, take a look here: http://voxcommando.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Microphones (http://voxcommando.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Microphones)
QuoteVox is going crazy, and bye bye experience. I am trying to stand to different places, nothing. The ONLY thing that might make vox work properly is an amulet control for one good reason... it can lower the voice of the htpc.
The point is that people don't want to use another remote. I am already using my Android as a control and my harmony too. I was thinking that it would be perfect if we could have an application that could work exactly as the amulet control. which means that if i have my phone looking vertical up, music goes down, and the pc can understand me (finally). (or even if we pressed a hardware button mapped).
The problem is that if i want to listen to music or movies at high volume, i must close vox and this is annoying. Yes i am using the prefix thing, (which by the way someone mentioned that it would be nice to lower the voice when the prefix word is detected), but still....
There is a possible solution when you use an IR-Transceiver (eg. USB-UIRT) with eventghost or your smartphone and eventghost with a webserver plugin. With USB-UIRT and eventghost you can use any button on your IR-remote ->USB-UIRT pickup the IR-command and send it to eventghost ->eventghost trigger any command which you placed in there (mute HTPC or HTPC volume to level xyz or something else).
When you use the webserverplugin in eventghost, you can create your own remote surface via html, that send all commands from your smartphone over WLan to eventghost. By the way, all these things require additional hardware or a little more effort.
QuoteI am thinking of using a bluetooth microphone, i am sure that i will have the same problems, but there might be a solution there. Bluetooth mics have a button on them, when you press that button it sends the command to the pc. Maybe vox can capture that and in that case mute music - movie, and start listening to the command? That way it would be GREAT. i will not have to carry anything with my hands, and the computer will always listen to what i say correctly.
A good mic solution to control XBMC with VoxCommando (for me) is "RF-AudioBox" http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=595.msg4263#msg4263 (http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=595.msg4263#msg4263) or a wireless headset with 2,4 GHz Wifi. All tests with bluetooth devices that I have make, were not satisfactory for me.
I hope I do not now have confused ;)
Kalle
hey kalle, happy new year.
even with a wireless headset we will still have the same problem. when i sit to my couch, my speakers are like 2-3 meters away from me. So if i try to use any kind of mic, still i will have a lot of noise. The only solution is the amulet thing, but i don't want another control in my house.
Quote from: TeDeV on January 01, 2012, 11:14:06 AM
hey kalle, happy new year.
even with a wireless headset we will still have the same problem. when i sit to my couch, my speakers are like 2-3 meters away from me. So if i try to use any kind of mic, still i will have a lot of noise. The only solution is the amulet thing, but i don't want another control in my house.
This sound like an assumption you are making. Even with the Amulet, I don't really find it is necessary to lower the volume to use the Amulet because it is designed to pick up only sounds that are relatively close to the microphone. A good noise canceling headset should be able to perform even better than the Amulet in this regard. The problem is finding a good quality headset that is comfortable to wear, is good quality (i.e. probably not bluetooth) and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Even then some people simply won't want to wear one. The RF device that Kalle has posted about looks like a pretty good solution, other than the fact that you would have to change the batteries quite often.
It sounds like you've already made up your mind that there is no solution for you. That is fine, but it doesn't mean that others can't find a setup that works for them. I happen to use my Amulet remote almost exclusively. Between the buttons and the voice commands, I just keep my other remotes and mouse/keyboard nearby for emergencies. Unfortunately the ultimate solution with no remote, or only one remote is probably a long way off, but with the Amulet I feel that I have come about as close to it as possible, and the pursuit of that goal is part of the fun.
hi james,
i don't believe that there is no solution. this is why i am here :) to find one. the RF solution you mention, it means that i need to use an actual microphone am i wrong? if i understand correctly, i need to connect the usb to the pc, and then use the other box, connect a microphone on it and use it? am i correct?
as for the noise cancellation microphone, i will try to find something.
right now i am using my pda as a control and at the same time a microphone. i am trying to find a solution between those two :). I really don't want to pay 140-150 euros (if i remember correctly) for another remote.
i have also read the other topics, but it seems like everyone is looking for something cheap and good. i am sure that there is a cheap - protable mic out there that will work nicely
Quote from: TeDeV on January 01, 2012, 01:08:15 PM
hi james,
i don't believe that there is no solution. this is why i am here :) to find one. the RF solution you mention, it means that i need to use an actual microphone am i wrong? if i understand correctly, i need to connect the usb to the pc, and then use the other box, connect a microphone on it and use it? am i correct?
as for the noise cancellation microphone, i will try to find something.
right now i am using my pda as a control and at the same time a microphone. i am trying to find a solution between those two :). I really don't want to pay 140-150 euros (if i remember correctly) for another remote.
i have also read the other topics, but it seems like everyone is looking for something cheap and good. i am sure that there is a cheap - protable mic out there that will work nicely
Hi DaTeV, the RF-AudioBox need a seperate mic, you can use a headset or lavalier-mic or any other with a 3,5 mm jack.
To brought a amulet in europe is a problem, when you have a friend in USA, and he can ship you one, it cost ~100 EUR with a coupon from a VoxCommando license.
Kalle
Hi TeDev,
I don't mean to give you a hard time, but your first couple of posts have come across as a bit negative IMO. Also, when you say "even with a wireless headset we will still have the same problem." it sounds like you are stating a fact, but I think you are incorrect, and I think it is just a false assumption on your part. I'm wondering what your statement is based on.
Quote from: TeDeV on January 01, 2012, 01:08:15 PM
the RF solution you mention, it means that i need to use an actual microphone am i wrong? if i understand correctly, i need to connect the usb to the pc, and then use the other box, connect a microphone on it and use it? am i correct?
I'm not sure what you are asking exactly, but I think the answer is "yes". If you are asking about the "RF-AudioBox" that Kalle posted a link to, I don't know any more than you for certain but it looks like that is how it works. I can only look at what Kalle posted. If you have a specific question about it you should ask Kalle or post a question in the thread where he talks about the device.
Quote from: TeDeV on January 01, 2012, 01:08:15 PM
right now i am using my pda as a control and at the same time a microphone. i am trying to find a solution between those two :). I really don't want to pay 140-150 euros (if i remember correctly) for another remote.
i have also read the other topics, but it seems like everyone is looking for something cheap and good. i am sure that there is a cheap - protable mic out there that will work nicely
As for cheap and good solutions, I think they will come. There are some good ones. The Amulet will probably get cheaper and other solutions will surface as time goes by. There are good open air usb mics that will also work well at a reasonable range if you use a button on one of your existing remotes, or your pda to initiate a "mute and listen" sequence.
The Amulet is $150 US, but with VoxCommando you get a $40 discount coupon. $150 - $40 = 110 U.S. dollars = about 85 Euros (not including shipping / tax)
How exactly are you currently using your pda as a microphone and control? It would be great to have an app designed specifically to be used as a microphone for VoxCommando with some media type buttons as well, but I don't currently have the setup or experience to create iPhone or Android apps myself.
hey james, if i want to use my pda for voice control and remote control it is very easy.
first you place a call with skype, and then you leave it running in the background. Open xbmc and use the remote from there. That way, skype is running and xbmc remote is running too. So you have an all-in-one solution.
if i could only have my pda to lower the voice on its own when i turn the phone vertically, it would be PERFECT, exactly as the amulet control.
There is the option from skype to mute the microphone, but that would mean that you have to change focus to skype, and this makes it difficult.
I don't know james if you can talk to the people at xbmc and ask them to include a "don't listen - listen" button in their android app. This would lower the voice, say the command and go back to action :)
Most of us have an android or an iphone already. There is no need for an amulet. (My 2 cents :) )
which app do you use to control xbmc?
the official xbmc android app. it is in the market
Quote from: TeDeV on January 01, 2012, 04:48:08 PM
the official xbmc android app. it is in the market
http://code.google.com/p/android-xbmcremote/ (http://code.google.com/p/android-xbmcremote/)
hmm. I had hoped that maybe there was a way to configure a custom button and use that to signal VC, but it doesn't seem to be possible with this app.
Really, Skype should have the option of using the built in sensors to auto-mute, but good luck getting them to add that!
Hi guys!
I don't want to interrupt your conversation between TeDeV, James and Kalle, but I thought that the inicial topic was at first about the option to send a command to automute (or autolow) the system audio when the prefixmodus is used :biglaugh :biglaugh :biglaugh
What is the status of this feature request? It seems that James had it clear and knew how to make it possible, so I hope that we can see it in a near future version of VC.
Many thanks for your work and best regards,
Aitor
good point.
Yes it is pretty much sorted out in the version 0934 and later. There are two methods that we can use. It is not part of any standard configurations but we can upload some samples.
method 1: you use a single command with the prefix mode from standby. When you say the prefix an event is immediately generated that can mute your sound. When you finish saying your command another event is generated that you can use to unmute. Everything is happening here with you saying a single sentence.
method 2: you issue a command that puts vox into listen mode temporarily, and it mutes the sound. Vox will wait for you to say your new command. After vox recognizes a new command it goes back into standby and an event is generated so you can unmute.
Either one of these methods can be customized so that the mute and unmute can be perfomed the way you want. You might want to adjust system volume, or XBMC volume, or your receiver volume.
I am attaching a group for each method, which you can import into your command tree. In both cases I am using system volume softmuting for the sake of illustration, but you can change it to suit your needs.
hey james can you explain this a little better?
if i use the first method, then how do i make it work? do i need to have a prefix? i can see that the phrase is "just one thing" is that correct? i am kinda confused.
and something else for this addon. is it possible to have the xbmc make the sound louder in steps to the point it was? for example if i listen music loud enough, then suddenly sound goes off, and then sound goes HIGH again all the way, it will destroy my ears :). so an example of what i am saying..
1) Music is playing at 80%
2) i say ... "commando" (store current XBMC Sound level), (sound mute), "go home"
3) vox sends commands to make the sound go back to the previous level like (sound 10%, sound 20%, sound 30%..... sound 80%)
this way, the experience will be smoother, and we will not have to go from no sound to CRAZY sound in a sec.
another thing is that my stupid cheap microphone must not have noise cancellation. If i speak to it with no sound coming out of my speakers, it understands me 80-90% of the time. if music is coming out (just music no words), it doesn't matter what i do, it will not do what i say. even if the microphone is 10 cm from me, and the speakers are 2 meters from me.
Quote from: TeDeV on January 02, 2012, 08:35:27 AM
hey james can you explain this a little better?
if i use the first method, then how do i make it work? do i need to have a prefix? i can see that the phrase is "just one thing" is that correct? i am kinda confused.
and something else for this addon. is it possible to have the xbmc make the sound louder in steps to the point it was? for example if i listen music loud enough, then suddenly sound goes off, and then sound goes HIGH again all the way, it will destroy my ears :). so an example of what i am saying..
1) Music is playing at 80%
2) i say ... "commando" (store current XBMC Sound level), (sound mute), "go home"
3) vox sends commands to make the sound go back to the previous level like (sound 10%, sound 20%, sound 30%..... sound 80%)
this way, the experience will be smoother, and we will not have to go from no sound to CRAZY sound in a sec.
another thing is that my stupid cheap microphone must not have noise cancellation. If i speak to it with no sound coming out of my speakers, it understands me 80-90% of the time. if music is coming out (just music no words), it doesn't matter what i do, it will not do what i say. even if the microphone is 10 cm from me, and the speakers are 2 meters from me.
If you use the first method, you need to enable prefix mode. There does need to be a slight pause after the prefix for it to work.
The "just one thing" command is method 2. (my use of the words "single command" is misleading, sorry)
There is currently no way to change XBMC volume gradually. You should ask the devs at XBMC for such a feature. To simulate this in VoxCommando you would need to issue a series of volume down and volume up commands, but it would most likely be problematic.
I can't help you with your stupid cheap microphone, but maybe you can try to lower the input level if that is an option. Bear in mind that Skype is compressing the hell out of your audio stream, so it is a wonder that it works at all.
It seems that you are listening to all your music and video at "CRAZY" volume levels. I bet your neighbors love you. If you are listening at such high levels then maybe there is just no solution for your situation.
ok about the prefix thing, i will try it asap.
as for the sound , can we read current sound level from xbmc? if that is the case i would do it with a series of volume up commands as you said. Why would it be problematic? Have you anything in mind?
As for the microphone, i was talking about my desktop mic. I am using both desktop mic and the skype from my pda. (not in the same time of course). My phone doesn't understand me either when the music is playing higher than a point. If there is no noise, skype understands me just fine.
As for my music, sometimes it is crazy. i am one of those people who loves spending time with his Home Theatre. When you watch The Pirates for example, you want to be in the movie :)
(This is why i said in my previous posts that talking to a microphone away from you, will never work, i was talking about my setup, and this is why i am looking for a solution similar to amulet (mute-unmute on conditions)).
it can be problematic for a few reasons. First, there is the time it takes to do the mute if you are doing it in steps. In this case it will never work with prefix mode, but it should still work with the "just one thing" command. But you still need to find a reliable way to execute the "just one thing" command. If you can do it with a remote then it's no problem, but if your music is loud then you will probably still have problems getting it to listen to the "just one thing" command.
the other problem is that when you send commands to xbmc for volume up and volume down, it pops up a display window.
yes it is possible to read the volume from xbmc
XBMC.Send GetVolume
Quote from: TeDeV on January 02, 2012, 10:11:01 AM
ok about the prefix thing, i will try it asap.
as for the sound , can we read current sound level from xbmc? if that is the case i would do it with a series of volume up commands as you said. Why would it be problematic? Have you anything in mind?
As for the microphone, i was talking about my desktop mic. I am using both desktop mic and the skype from my pda. (not in the same time of course). My phone doesn't understand me either when the music is playing higher than a point. If there is no noise, skype understands me just fine.
As for my music, sometimes it is crazy. i am one of those people who loves spending time with his Home Theatre. When you watch The Pirates for example, you want to be in the movie :)
(This is why i said in my previous posts that talking to a microphone away from you, will never work, i was talking about my setup, and this is why i am looking for a solution similar to amulet (mute-unmute on conditions)).
You can test the attach xml, this work with Mediamonkey perfect, I hope with XBMC to. You must set in "VC-Options" a idle-timeout for 5000ms - When you say your prefix, you have 5 seconds to say your command, otherwise VC go to standby. You can play a little with setting.
Quote from: jitterjames on January 01, 2012, 09:30:56 PM
good point.
Yes it is pretty much sorted out in the version 0934 and later. There are two methods that we can use. It is not part of any standard configurations but we can upload some samples.
method 1: you use a single command with the prefix mode from standby. When you say the prefix an event is immediately generated that can mute your sound. When you finish saying your command another event is generated that you can use to unmute. Everything is happening here with you saying a single sentence.
method 2: you issue a command that puts vox into listen mode temporarily, and it mutes the sound. Vox will wait for you to say your new command. After vox recognizes a new command it goes back into standby and an event is generated so you can unmute.
Either one of these methods can be customized so that the mute and unmute can be perfomed the way you want. You might want to adjust system volume, or XBMC volume, or your receiver volume.
I am attaching a group for each method, which you can import into your command tree. In both cases I am using system volume softmuting for the sake of illustration, but you can change it to suit your needs.
Hi James!
Many thanks for your work as always ;) However, I'm having some problems making work and understanding how the examples you have given work. First, let me tell you that I'm using the latest beta 0.934c version that it's posted in the forum.
In your examples I can see that you are two four different events for each case: VC.OnSingle and VC.Single.End for "Single command ducking" and VC.Prefix.Start and VC.Prefix.End for "Prefix Ducking", but this events don't exist in my VC version ??? ??? The events are not shown in the "History" and the command VC.OnSingle doesn't work at all.
Do I need any non-released version of VC to make it work?
Are you sure that this commands work with 0.934c version?
Perhaps I have done something wrong with my configuration, so if you are sure that it must work tell me and I will start from scratch making a backup of the voicecommands.xml file.
Best regards,
Aitor
Quote from: bodiroga on January 04, 2012, 11:44:49 AM
Hi James!
Many thanks for your work as always ;) However, I'm having some problems making work and understanding how the examples you have given work. First, let me tell you that I'm using the latest beta 0.934c version that it's posted in the forum.
In your examples I can see that you are two four different events for each case: VC.OnSingle and VC.Single.End for "Single command ducking" and VC.Prefix.Start and VC.Prefix.End for "Prefix Ducking", but this events don't exist in my VC version ??? ??? The events are not shown in the "History" and the command VC.OnSingle doesn't work at all.
Do I need any non-released version of VC to make it work?
Are you sure that this commands work with 0.934c version?
Perhaps I have done something wrong with my configuration, so if you are sure that it must work tell me and I will start from scratch making a backup of the voicecommands.xml file.
Best regards,
Aitor
You've right, in the downloaded 0.934c don't work all of the
prefix intercom, I think James fixed that ;)
Quote from: Kalle on January 04, 2012, 12:16:14 PM
You've right, in the downloaded 0.934c don't work all of the prefix intercom, I think James fixed that ;)
Many thanks for your quick replay Kalle, you guys are amazingly fast helping people ;)
There is no option then to test the new commands and events until a new version of VX comes out , right?
I just downloaed 0934c from the forum and both methods work.
Quote from: jitterjames on January 04, 2012, 01:30:22 PM
I just downloaed 0934c from the forum and both methods work.
Sorry for Confusion of me, everthing works - I've only tested sloppy ::club
@bodiroga: look at the picture as evidence
Quote from: jitterjames on January 04, 2012, 01:30:22 PM
I just downloaed 0934c from the forum and both methods work.
Oh, sorry again. I've deleted my installation folder (backing up the voicecommands.xml file) and made a clean installation of the 0.934c version and now it's working fine. Thanks for the help James!
Also I have purchased the $35 license as I told you, I'm having lot of fun playing with VC and you deserve the money for this flexible and powerful program. Congratulations!
Keep up with the awesome work James and looking forward to the next release of VC with the cool new features for MediaPortal (if you need any previous-beta tester just send me a PM) ;-)
Best regards,
Aitor
Thanks Aitor. If you have any problems with activation please contact me.
Stay tuned. I'll have something new for you folks to try soon. I'm sure there will be some bugs but it's coming along pretty well.