USB mics straight into PC

[JJ4SDR]

I have been using MICs that feature XLR connectors plugged into USB/Audio interface for a long time with really good results so far.

Is there a way to "simplify" the way one routes audio from the MIC into Thetis? Could one plug a USB Mic straight into the PC that runs Thetis (and DAW and/or VST Host software), making the USB/Audio interface unnecessary? On the other hand, I tend to think that the quality of a separate USB/Audio interface is higher so I have been a little hesitant to try this, or perhaps I am mistaken in my thinking.

73,
Juha

[w-u-2-o]

You can certainly use a USB microphone, but you will have to give up ASIO and it's latency advantages because, AFAIK, there are no ASIO-capable USB mic's.

That said, there are a lot of outstanding USB mic's from the likes of Rode and others.

However, you are correct in your assertion that the fancy USB audio interfaces will provide better quality. And ASIO

If you are running Voicemeeter between your audio devices and Thetis you can mix and match to your heart's content.

[w4bf]

I've been using a usb mic since day one with a 7000.

It is one of the bid "condenser" mikes sold on Ebay for under $30, complete with boom, etc. Straight into USB port on computer. Mine is sold under the name "IKEDON".

I get constant unsolicited complements on audio quality - of course the equalizer and CFC tools in Thetis help all this.

Biggest benefit is no RF feedback via microphone like I used to have with a KW amp and old analog mics. This one is in all aluminum housing with nothing in or out but the USB cable.

[KA9UVY]

I have a USB mic coming in to try on my 7000DLE and want to keep it simple, USB mic selected as VAC input, no voicemeeter banana, or tater.
I have a few questions about setup going this way. I see the selection of (mic in) (line in) in the transmit tab but not a selection to use VAC? Do you leave one of these selected and just turn on VAC? Do you have to use VAC 1, VAC 2 or does it matter? I have already assigned VAC 1 for Digital operating and have it auto come on when DIGU is selected for FT8. I could use VAC 2 for DIGI if need be since I listen to the radio through the front panel headphone jack. So one VAC is available.

Thanks, 73 Robert
KA9UVY

[w-u-2-o]

Robert,

Read the article linked in this topic: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2655

It's a pretty old, but it covers the basics.

After reading that come back and post any remaining questions you may have.

73,

Scott

[KA9UVY]

Will do...

Thanks Scott, 73

[KA9UVY]

Well, It was pretty basic and for powerSDR so had no specific info on Thetis. I know they are very similar in VAC setup but it didn't really answer any of my questions... Anybody want to take a swing at them ?, please read my original post above. I'm certainly no guru on this subject but I am using VAC and routed Thetis and WSJT-X to some virtual cables and all works well so I have the basics and need some specifics on USB mic for TX audio and if it will be able to coexist with my FT8 setup on VAC1?
It looks more and more like I will have to use voicemeeter Potato to make everything play along but I hold out hope that I can keep it simple and just direct Thetis to use the USB mic via the VAC 2 settings and move on.
Thanks, 73

Robert
KA9UVY

[w-u-2-o]

Well, It was pretty basic and for powerSDR so had no specific info on Thetis.

Both programs work exactly the same. Both programs have the same differences from when that paper was written. The major difference since that paper was written was the addition of the resampler function to VA. This makes section 7 of the paper somewhat obsolete.

I know they are very similar in VAC setup but it didn't really answer any of my questions

Your questions were:

I see the selection of (mic in) (line in) in the transmit tab but not a selection to use VAC?

Not covered in the paper because it's a "don't care, doesn't matter", it doesn't have anything to do with VAC.

Do you have to use VAC 1, VAC 2 or does it matter? I have already assigned VAC 1 for Digital operating and have it auto come on when DIGU is selected for FT8. I could use VAC 2 for DIGI if need be since I listen to the radio through the front panel headphone jack. So one VAC is available.

The rules for this are covered in great detail in section 3 of the paper.

To switch between the mic and digi modes you will have to manually reconfigure VAC1 every time. Only VAC1 supports transmit.

This is where using an external audio mixing/routing app like Voicemeeter can make things much more convenient.

[KA9UVY]

OK Scott, Went through the paper again, this time with some understanding that you can only use Vac1... Looks like I will have to go with Voicemeeter to get everything playing,
Now 2 more questions:
Not sure which one to go with? Banana or Potato?, and Why?
And even though I see a checkbox in Thetis that says " allow ptt to ovveride/bypass VAC for Phone" am I going to loose PTT from the jack on the back of my 7000?

Thanks Again, 73
Robert
KA9UVY

[w-u-2-o]

The only difference between Banana and Potato is the number of channels. I like Potato because I can assign one virtual channel to VAC1, another to VAC2, and the third to whatever digi mode software I'm using. Then I can mix and route without limit. And, at the same time, I can have a mic on the first hardware input channel. Finally, I listen on my computer speakers, so I also assign hardware output A1 (you have to anyway, Voicemeeter requires that as the initial assignment).

The idea behind the "override" options comes from waaaay back in the days of the Flex version of PowerSDR. The Flex engineers, and later the openHPSDR designers, felt that mic's and speakers had to be attached to the hardware box (which by itself is not a radio, don't forget). In the case of early openHPSDR development I understand there was some fear factor about requiring audio to be in the same clock domain as the RF. Anyhow, the idea was that you used VAC1 for voice keying (e.g. with N1MM logger) during contests, but then you used a PTT control and the mic plugged into the hardware unit (Flex or Apache) would be used in lieu of VAC audio. The three options allow you to choose which of the various PTT controls will cause that behavior. If you are planning to fully virtualize your audio (exclusively use VAC) then you want none of them checked as there is no mic plugged into your ANAN. When you hit your foot switch or whatever it will send VAC audio as long as none of those options are checked.

Note you can also virtualize your PTT switch. There are directions for that in the paper. I am fully virtualized here. All RF hardware is in the basement, my computer and where I operate from is a second floor studio/office. My qrz page has more info.

[SM3PZG]

I wanted to try a USB mic just for fun but having problem getting the mic audio into Thetis. The USB mic installed correctly and works fine when checking in Windows. Also shows up in Voicemeeter Banana so selecting the new USB mic in Hardware Input 1 I can then feed audio to hardware output and for example to the speakers. But how do I feed the USB mic audio into Thetis? The USB mic shows up in VAC setup but selecting that wont work. In Voicemeeter A1 A2 A3 I can only select Voicemeeter inputs but Input in Thetis is Voicemeeter Outputs.

So could someone please tell me how to route the USB mic audio to Thetis using Voicemeeter Banana? Or direct me to a topic on the subject. Maybe I need different audio software?

73/Sam

[w-u-2-o]

But how do I feed the USB mic audio into Thetis? The USB mic shows up in VAC setup but selecting that wont work.

It will work fine either way. Either direct into Thetis or through Voicemeeter. It is almost certainly just a problem you are having with your setup.

I suggest starting with a direct connection to Thetis first, as it is simpler.

Step 1: go to the Windows Sound Control Panel, find your USB microphone on the Recording tab, open its Advanced Properties tab, and set the sample rate to 48000 Hz (48KHz). Bit depth doesn't matter. Then close those windows. Here's an example of a mic setting on my system:

Capture.JPG (199.31 KiB) Viewed 20131 times

Step 2: go to the VAC 1 settings and select the MME driver, then that USB device for TX. You also need to select a valid device for RX even if you are not going to use it. Make sure sample rate is 48KHz. Use a large buffer size to start. Leave everything else at the default settings for now.

Don't forget to activate VAC 1. Use the MOX button initially for testing. Let us know if that works.

If it still doesn't work then please post a screen shot of your VAC settings.

[SM3PZG]

Guess I was too much trigger happy. Downloaded a pair of VAC and now I can feed the audio via Voicemeeter Banana to Thetis.

73/Sam

[SM3PZG]

Thanks for the reply Scott. Yes I started following that instruction but USB mic would not work when selecting it in Thetis VAC1. Installed a pair of VAC:s and could then feed Voicemeeter Banana A1 to Line 1 and then select Line 1 in Thetis VAC input.

The audio delay is pretty long, guess I will have to look into cmASIO when I have some spare time.

73/Sam

[w-u-2-o]

The reason the delay is long is because you are using VAC and Voicemeeter. That is totally unnecessary and completely redundant!

Take a look at this thread: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5046&p=29266

[SM3PZG]

Ok Scott here are my settings using the USB mic on VM Hardware Input 1. Audio TX is fine besides the short delay. So if I activate ASIO in Thetis VAC 1 setup then what should the settings be in VM Banana?

73/Sam

[w-u-2-o]

Ok Scott here are my settings using the USB mic on VM Hardware Input 1.

You may have misunderstood. Please show the VAC settings for the USB microphone directly into Thetis that are not working for you.

So if I activate ASIO in Thetis VAC 1 setup then what should the settings be in VM Banana?

Again, take a look at this thread: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5046&p=29266

[SM3PZG]

Ok so I uninstalled VAC and VM Banana and installed VM Potato. So now selecting ASIO in Thetis VAC 1 setup I get RX audio to VM Potato. I can then feed that RX audio for example to my PC speakers. The USB mic is on VM Stereo input 1 and I can also direct audio from USB mic to PC speakers. But how do I get USB mic audio to input in Thetis VAC1? Thetis also shows up in VM VAIO3

Just cant wrap my head around the audio path from USB mic to Thetis VAC.

UPDATE: In VM Hardware output A1 ASIO (Steinberg) is empty.

73/Sam

[SM3PZG]

So I selected Voicemeeter Virtual ASIO on both input and output in Thetis VAC 1 setup and now USB mic audio is coming ok with much less latency.

Thanks Scott.

73/Sam

[w-u-2-o]

Ok so I uninstalled VAC and VM Banana and installed VM Potato. So now selecting ASIO in Thetis VAC 1 setup I get RX audio to VM Potato. I can then feed that RX audio for example to my PC speakers. The USB mic is on VM Stereo input 1 and I can also direct audio from USB mic to PC speakers. But how do I get USB mic audio to input in Thetis VAC1? Thetis also shows up in VM VAIO3

Just cant wrap my head around the audio path from USB mic to Thetis VAC.

It is well described in the other thread...

Good job. I had noticed that discrepancy in your screen shots, i.e. the mismatched Thetis VAC input and output settings.

Some other guidance for you:

1. In Thetis VAC setup, disable "Auto Enable" and set RX and TX gains to 0dB. You shouldn't need the extra gain.

2. You only need two send buttons (the A1 through B3 buttons) to be selected on:

- the B1 send button on channel 1 to send the mic audio to the Thetis virtual channel

- the A1 send button on the Thetis virtual channel (channel B1) to send receive audio to your PC speakers.

3. Save a TX profile in Thetis with these settings. All VAC settings are saved in the TX profile. Also, Voicemeeter will remember your last used settings so unless you change something it should be ready to go whenever you start Voicemeeter.

One last thought: you don't need Voicemeeter. You can go directly to the USB mic from Thetis if you wish. But Voicemeeter does have some nice features.

[SM3PZG]

Roger that Scott. So how do I go directly from USB mic to Thetis? The USB mic shows up under all drivers except ASIO but it does not matter witch driver I try USB mic wont work directly selected in Thetis Input.

73/Sam

[w-u-2-o]

Roger that Scott. So how do I go directly from USB mic to Thetis? The USB mic shows up under all drivers except ASIO but it does not matter witch driver I try USB mic wont work directly selected in Thetis Input.

Use the MME driver. Select the mic for input. Make sure you also select your PC speakers as the output. If that doesn't work, then please post a screen shot of the Thetis VAC settings your are trying but are having problems with for a direct connection.

[SM3PZG]

Ok Scott it finally worked. Choosing the USB mic would not work but setting both input and output to Microsoft Sound Mapper worked. Thanks for the support.

BTW I set TX gain to 10dB for Pure Signal to work ok.

73/Sam

[gi4fue]

Hi Guys

I am experiencing exactly the same issue, I have a USB mic plugged in to my pc, but now audio being passed through to thetis using either MME or windows direct sound. I have JTDX working fine Via Voicemeeter potato, but I sorta stumbled on to making it work! I find Voicemeeter extremely confusing, jus cant seem to get my head around it at all. Could not get the mic to work using the voicemeeter virtual ASIO drivers. I tried 2 different USB mics, both of which work fine on my Hermes Lite, but refuses to cooperate on the Anan 8000. Screenshot attached

thetis_mic.jpg (123.13 KiB) Viewed 17636 times

Any help would be appreciated

Charlie GI4FUE

[w-u-2-o]

This has nothing to do with which USB mic you are using. You could use 10 of them and the results would be the same. The problem is with your Voicemeeter and Thetis setup.

You say it all works with Hermes. Are you using the same copy of Thetis to run both the Hermes and the 8000? If not, then perhaps you might copy all of your Voicemeeter and Thetis settings from the Hermes setup to the 8000.

In your screen shot, there is no evidence you are using either a direct connection to the USB mic or that you are using Voicemeeter. The input setting of "Line 6 (Virtual Audio Cable)" is evidence that you are using Muzychenko VAC.

For a USB mic you don't need to use either Voicemeeter or Muzy VAC. Simply select the USB mic as the input in the Thetis VAC setup window. Start with this. Once you get that working then you can think about routing the mic and digi mode app's through Voicemeeter for convenience. But one thing at a time.

There are a million YouTube videos on how to use Voicemeeter (although not necessarily with Thetis).

[gi4fue]

Hi Scott

Sorry, that was the wrong screenshot. I have it set up like this screenshot.

thetis_mic.jpg (121.55 KiB) Viewed 17620 times

I am using PTT from mic socket on front of the Anan, thetis version is different from the hermes...the hermes version is using MI0BOT's software. When I enable PTT, thetis goes to tx i get this

thetis_tx.jpg (555.27 KiB) Viewed 17620 times

I am using Thetis 2.10.3.6 rc1, firmware is 2.1.18

Charlie

[gi4fue]

Just an update. I have now got audio out by using MOX instead of Mic PTT. I presume that is to do with the way Anan handles PTT. Is there a way to enable PTT without having to hit the MOX button every time?

Charlie

[Tony EI7BMB]

Hi Charlie, try unchecking the mic over riding vac on PTT checkbox

[gi4fue]

Hey Cowboy

That did the trick!...now i need a tutorial on getting Voicemeeter potato to control everything, including the studio mic on a UMC202. I tried it with cmASIO, it worked but it would be handy for voicemeeter to handle all the audio routing, including the headset plugged into the mic/headphones socket

73, Charlie

[Tony EI7BMB]

Hi Charlie, Scott did a nice tutorial which I used http://wu2o.dyndns.org/wu2o_vac_tutorial_2.html I could maybe do a teamviewer session with you sometime if you get stuck ?

Untitled.png (170.55 KiB) Viewed 17610 times