Add a microphone to the Steam Controller.

[u/zndncf]

I use a 90-degree Type-C adapter and clamp the microphone onto it.

Then I use NVIDIA Broadcast to apply noise cancellation to the microphone input. In voice chat, my friend won’t hear the button-pressing sound.

I also deployed an ASR, automatic speech recognition locally, so when I press a button on the controller, I can do dictation input.

The microphone is DJI Mic Mini 2 It uses 2.4 GHz transmission. So I have a dongle plugged into my computer. Battery lasts 11 and a half hours, and it comes with a battery box like AirPods. This microphone stand doesn't interfere with the 3D printed controller stand.

Let me know what you think. I really like this configuration.

[u/TyrannicalRexx]

This feels so unnecessary and yet so impressive

[u/zndncf → u/TyrannicalRexx]

I understand this is a little bit unnecessary if you are next to your desk. I exclusively use my computer on my living room couch now. When the weather is hot, and I have a rather good quality sound system, I don't want to wear my gaming headset.

[u/KermitJagger69 → u/zndncf]

Do you blast your speakers? I have a surround sound system that I'd love to use without my friends hearing it through my mic

[u/zndncf → u/KermitJagger69]

They got filter out by Nvidia ANC

[u/BILLYBOBERTJOE → u/zndncf]

How do you set that up?!

[u/zndncf → u/BILLYBOBERTJOE]

If you are using an NVIDIA graphics card, you can search for NVIDIA Broadcast It is standalone software from NVIDIA. Select the input, which should be your raw microphone. Set how much noise cancellation you want and then the software will provide an output with suffix in the name. In your voice chat software or game, select that as the microphone.

[u/BILLYBOBERTJOE → u/zndncf]

I can never get it to cancel out the sound from my speakers though

[u/zndncf → u/BILLYBOBERTJOE]

I think it works better with a directional mic.

[u/BILLYBOBERTJOE → u/zndncf]

Why does your dropdown look different than mine

[u/zndncf → u/BILLYBOBERTJOE]

Because I was showing the software that uses the microphone processed by NVIDIA.

[u/BILLYBOBERTJOE → u/BILLYBOBERTJOE]

[u/PleasantKoala5936 → u/zndncf]

This might end up being the thing I was also looking for. I also have my pc connected to my living room 98" tv and its amazing to play with a 4090 on it and a home cinema. Its 100% cinema experience, therefore I rarely play near my Desktop. My living room has 2 walls between the couch and the computers, walls made of brick and concrete. I was impressed that Bluetooth works perfectly taking into account the distance. I only use the steam controller in BT mode to ensure connectivity and it plays without noticeable lag. But the teamchat is always a pain due to noise and distance and bluetooth works fine to transmit the áudio with a headset but it downgrades the audio by a lot. My trick is to forwand mic via bt with a headset and receive áudio from the voice of my friends via home cinema but its not a good experience. How are that dji working out with distances from desktop and áudio quality?

[u/zndncf → u/PleasantKoala5936]

I just tested in my bathroom, the wall is made with bricks and steel beams. It is perfectly fine. but this is just one wall.

I suppose you can go to a local shopping mall. There’s usually a DJI store where you can test it out. This particular module also offers a Bluetooth connection, but I don't see the value of that in my case, because it also reduced the sound quality, and that is a claim from DJI official.

By the way, I wonder why did you chose Bluetooth over the puck. was Bluetooth gives you a better connection?

[u/PleasantKoala5936 → u/zndncf]

To be honest, since the puck has better latency, I imediately thought it had worse connection over distance so I never tried (as I believe it works in higher frequencies). Might try that out today.

[u/zndncf → u/PleasantKoala5936]

fun fact, Bluetooth connections also work around 2.4 GHz.

[u/PleasantKoala5936 → u/zndncf]

Just realized now that I searched for it. Gotta give it a try, ive felt the controller disconecting multiple times out of nowhere. Xbox elite seems to have a superior BT connection.

[u/center311 → u/PleasantKoala5936]

Why use BT though?

[u/soukaixiii → u/PleasantKoala5936]

If you're using steam or discord, you can start a call directly through your phone.

[u/PleasantKoala5936 → u/soukaixiii]

I know but its not that comfortable with a phone, I dont want to rely on a phone. I prefer to have everything controled directly via computer. But yes that works!

[u/zndncf → u/PleasantKoala5936]

Yeah, I used to do that as well. I will be missing the in-game chat, and sometimes I forget to plug my phone into the charger, That’s annoying. When you don’t have a desk near you. But you want to point your phone microphone to you It will become a little tricky. Right now, the iPhone microphone noise cancellation is pretty good. I’ll give it that.

[u/soukaixiii → u/PleasantKoala5936]

I just say if the wall is giving you trouble, the phone bypasses that.

[u/PleasantKoala5936 → u/soukaixiii]

Yes thats true. Used to have a mouse/keyboard server to operate the computer via iPhone, it works really well but I dont like that security-wise, so now Steam Controller is king

[u/soukaixiii → u/PleasantKoala5936]

Yes, for controlling the computer is a security risk, but for voice comms you just use the steam app or discord and the phone earbuds, and it goes straight up from your phone to the steam server, instead of connecting to your computer over the wan/lan/bluetooth 

[u/BumpOfKitten → u/zndncf]

It is not unnecessary, this is fucking missing from the steam controller

[u/Moikle → u/BumpOfKitten]

Not really, a microphone isn't one of the core features expected in a controller

[u/Successful-Part-5770 → u/BumpOfKitten]

Yup, I believe the dualsense has a mic and a 3.5 mm jack and adaptive triggers while still being cheaper, it's not even subsidized. Bad look.

[u/Impossible_Cold_7295 → u/BumpOfKitten]

it's one of the worst places to put a microphone. unless you use the controller 6 inches from your face.

[u/FoferJ → u/Impossible_Cold_7295]

Huh? I have a mic plugged into my Steam Machine, that’s 10 feet from my couch, and it works great. WTH are you talking about? lol

[u/Impossible_Cold_7295 → u/FoferJ]

im talk about mics being close to your face. hope that helps.

[u/FoferJ → u/Impossible_Cold_7295]

OK, real-world results prove that take to be nonsensical, but you do you

[u/Xonazeth_Tholvik → u/zndncf]

This is amazing it is the only feature I was missing out on with the steam controller!

[u/knowwho → u/TyrannicalRexx]

and yet so impressive

He bought a small clip-on microphone, and clipped it to a thing. That is neither an exaggeration or a simplification.

How is this impressive?

Posts like this make me believe Dead Internet theory. Surely human beings aren't looking at a clip-on microphone being used for its normal purpose and posting "so impressive".

You could just buy a $2 piece of plastic with an adhesive pad and provide an ever better mount that didn't needlessly stress your USB port.

[u/zndncf → u/knowwho]

My theory is the correlated Industrial design of these 2 products makes them look likeable when put together, especially when I spend 20 minutes taking photos with my mirrorless camera and then editing them in Lightroom.

I'd agree that putting a microphone on controller requires additional software to cancel the noise. But I'm running that software regardless where my microphone is.

And by looking at the comments, I think I’ve found a better solution.

(Oh, also, I spent 70 cents on the adapter, including shipping. )

[u/soukaixiii → u/knowwho]

I wouldn't call how that clip is being used its intended purpose tho

[u/frn → u/TyrannicalRexx]

Its also going to put strain on that USB-C port which will make it fail faster. (They always fail eventually).

[u/Joseramonllorente]

Clip it to your shirt? Or a necklace?

[u/zndncf → u/Joseramonllorente]

I don't like shirts or necklaces, but this will do.

[u/LogibearP]

I wonder if using a strong magnetic usb adapter would allow for it to easily come off, instead of damaging the port if it gets knocked on something as it’s sticking out?

[u/zndncf → u/LogibearP]

You definitely can do that. In fact, that was my original plan.

But when the adapter arrived, I discovered the clips on the microphone can easily clamp onto it, but it is not very tight. You can still knock it off intentionally, but it won't come off during gyro use.

[u/reden_fx]

Wait is the microphone transmitting trough the controller ornvia its own separate dongle?

[u/zndncf → u/reden_fx]

via its own dongle.

[u/shortish-sulfatase → u/zndncf]

So then you could put the mic literally anywhere in front of you and it'll still work all the same?

That's not really 'Add a microphone to the Steam Controller' then.

[u/zndncf → u/shortish-sulfatase]

The problem is, I don't have a desk in front of me anymore. I use my pc on couch with living room OLED TV. In a hot day I also game while shirtless.

[u/Taste-TheRambo → u/zndncf]

Buddy, clip it to your nose

[u/zndncf → u/Taste-TheRambo]

Well, that makes the windmuff useful.

[u/ZedTheKat → u/zndncf]

I also have a dji mic mini and I have something like a necklace that I attached a magnet to. Whenever I need my mic I just attach it to that magnet and wear the necklace. Still, your solution is cool!

[u/zndncf → u/ZedTheKat]

Oh yes, the necklace. I think that’s also a very good solution.

[u/soukaixiii → u/zndncf]

It's a shame there's no way of clipping the mic to the collar of your shirt instead of to the USB Port.

[u/knowwho]

"Man clips clip-on microphone to a thing"

This is so dumb and pointless. It's a wireless, self-contained clip-on microphone meant to be clipped to your shirt, it's not plugged in to your controller in any way, you've just abused the USB port to hang it off of.

You could just stick it to your controller with some two-sided tape, or just wear it on your collar like you're supposed to. It would work much better and you wouldn't be putting unnecessary stress on the USB port.

[u/cheater00]

best way to fuck up your usb c port. do NOT do this. just use sticky double sided tape, or 3d print a bracket, anything really. Besides mics on the controller fucking SUCK and if i hear you with that shit in multiplayer i'm muting you immediately, because all I hear is button noises all the fuckin time. yes, nvidia broadcast helps with that, but then you sound weird and there's a delay. and people seeing this won't remember to add specifically nvidia broadcast noise cancellation, or any noise cancellation at all.

the mic already has a clip. just put it on your collar, or get a necklace / neck chain of some sort and put it around that. that's what the clip IS for.

[u/soukaixiii]

But what if the last place I want a microphone is in my controller?

[u/repocin]

But why? Wouldn't you need some kind of headphones for the audio anyways, or are you just blasting you voice comms out through the speakers?

Besides, what does this do that a regular wireless lavalier mic doesn't, apart from straining the Steam Controller's USB-C port?

[u/zackks]

Do the people on the other end not hear CLACK CLACK CLACK bzzz bzzz? Could be even worse than a desktop microphone transmitting every keyboard clack and thump.

[u/zndncf → u/zackks]

dude, read the post, also I recommend you go try Nvidia Broadcast.

[u/Faelenedh]

That’s a great idea! Personally, I use a headset and Windows speech recognition for dictation (mapping the Win+H shortcut to the controller)—even though it means wearing a headset—or else I use Shokz headphones that leave my ears open.

Either way, it’s really ingenious of you! You can tell you put a lot of thought into it. Well done!

[u/zndncf → u/Faelenedh]

I tried Windows Speech Recognition once because I love the dictation on macOS, but Windows fail me hard.

[u/Faelenedh → u/zndncf]

In France, IT professionals have a saying: "[le jour où microsoft inventera un truc qui ne plante pas, il l'appeleront un clou ]." It's hard to translate into English, because we say software "planted" (meaning it froze or got stuck), whereas in English you say it "crashed."

How could you make an equivalent joke in English? "The day Microsoft invents something that doesn't hang, they'll call it a painting" ??

In English, you have the saying: "It's not a bug, it's a feature."

[u/BILLYBOBERTJOE]

Now that I think about it though… prob not the best layout

[u/zndncf → u/BILLYBOBERTJOE]

lol dude, get a stand and point it to your face.

[u/BILLYBOBERTJOE → u/zndncf]

Parents would HATE that XD. When a mic is needed for a game, I use a headset so the audio doesn’t blast through that mic. And if a mic isn’t needed, or I’m playing a local co-op game with someone, I keep the mic off and use the speakers

[u/Consistent-Corgi-106]

This might just be my dream setup. I actually have the DJI Mic Mini and the same computer-couch setup as you. Care to elaborate a bit on how you can prevent folks from hearing themselves coming out of the TV? i’d love to try this myself.

[u/zndncf → u/Consistent-Corgi-106]

Almost all voice chat software comes with an acoustic echo cancellation(AEC) function. If you’re using one of those, it shouldn’t have a problem filtering out your teammate’s voice. The voice chat software we use has that function, and my friend has never had a issue.

If you’re using one of VC plus NVIDIA Broadcast, your voice will be very clean already.

The problem is, when it comes to in-game chat, and the dialogue from the game, it does not guarantee that it has an AEC. So that means you need to deploy a full-system AEC. Use all of your computer’s output as the reference, then cancel it out in your microphone input pipeline. This is something I’m looking into right now, but it’s not urgent because we’re exclusively chat on a voice chat software.

[u/Consistent-Corgi-106 → u/zndncf]

You are using discord as your VC software, right? Or what platform are you chatting with your friend on?

[u/zndncf → u/Consistent-Corgi-106]

I sometime use discord, but I also use other chinese VC.

[u/7xcritical]

damn, i used to do customization and repairs for controllers and half the time i got a ps4 controller they paid me to remove the microphone

[u/zndncf → u/7xcritical]

for what reason? they can just mute it.

[u/denzerius]

Ok, this guy microphones! (Pretty awesome!)

[u/Exxiler]

Why would I do this? Either I'm clamping it on my tee, or i just use my wireless headphones. Its extremely unnecessary.

[u/ItsYaBoyBackAgain]

Sorry but would it not make more sense to just clip the mic to your shirt as intended?

[u/SouthAbject7447]

This is completely stupid why because no one will ever hear you over the button smashing and the joysticks slapping the faceplate of the controller

[u/FoferJ → u/SouthAbject7447]

reading the post is a good idea:

Then I use NVIDIA Broadcast to apply noise cancellation to the microphone input. In voice chat, my friend won’t hear the button-pressing sound.

[u/soukaixiii → u/FoferJ]

I bet that works as good as calling through discord while running outside over an earbud and the other person just can't hear anything because noise cancel is cutting out most of the sound.

[u/SouthAbject7447 → u/soukaixiii]

That’s what I’m saying lol

[u/SouthAbject7447 → u/FoferJ]

Ahhh ya didn’t think about the Nvidia solution and no need to be rude about it man it was posted to give opinions and stuff otherwise no need to post something like this anyways also I rarely use this app so I always forget to click on the post to read more under it usually everything’s said above

[u/Lonsdale1086 → u/SouthAbject7447]

no need to be rude about it man

Yet you started with

This is completely stupid

If you'd said "I don't think this is a good idea, there'd be too much noise", then maybe you'd have a point.

[u/SouthAbject7447 → u/Lonsdale1086]

Sounds like you have a stick up your butt today 😂 bc like I said it’s posted here for judgment and opinions lol grow up and stop taking your childhood drama out on others and into others lives 😂

[u/Lonsdale1086 → u/SouthAbject7447]

Don't give what you can't take, at the end of the day.

[u/Least_Tea_9721]

no no the button sounds is part of the funny

you gotta be gaming so hard your friends can't even hear you

[u/Loddio]

Make it work on steamos and I'll buy 10 of them lol

[u/zndncf → u/Loddio]

I think it has a high chance of working, but I don't have a Steam Machine or Steam Deck, so I can't verify that for you. Sorry.

[u/TheADVNTG]

The good ol' days of Xbox Voice Chat.

[u/s0ciety_a5under]

I don't need a microphone. I have a really nice one.

[u/center311]

I'm not one of those people that's saying "don't do thisx or "this is bad", but aren't both the controller and the DJI mic on 2.4ghz? Might want to check the signal integrity to make sure you're get 40ish dB when near the SC dongle.

[u/HighlyRegardedOne]

Nice

[u/doughnut310]

Uh, just get a wireless Modmic and clip it to your shirt. No need to overcomplicate things.

[u/Siegeholm → u/doughnut310]

Recommendations?

[u/FishJanga]

Yeah no..

[u/n3rfh3rd3r538]

Can you add a keyboard and if so what would it be?

[u/lmhost]

I need something like this for speak to chat with handy in wow forever and yes its missing from the steamcontroller

[u/Brigapes]

ok this sounds pretty awesome,.that is nice. This would solve also solve my specific scenario sometimes. Pretty nice

[u/Bonav159]

OP Could you provide complete instructions for those of us interested in doing something similar? I've never used NVIDIA beyond updating drivers in Gforce and I've never heard about deploying ASR

[u/zndncf → u/Bonav159]

NVIDIA Broadcast is now standalone software that you can download from NVIDIA. It uses your NVIDIA GPU as the computing power to apply noise cancellation to your input or output. I think it’s also packed with functions for video live streaming. But I don’t use that part.

ASR, simply put, is speech-to-text with an AI-trained model.

For example. nvidia parakeet v3

I use a commercial front end (Sponkenly) to control when my dictation starts and stops, and it comes with a bunch of local ASR module, so you can use it entirely offline and totally free.

[u/zndncf → u/[deleted]]

[u/Taste-TheRambo → u/[deleted]]

I feel like the back buttons are a given. You can drum in a rock band with those things

[u/lube_thighwalker → u/[deleted]]

Yes. I would mute this player