OK,I just ordered my TrackIR Pro clip and am getting rid of the hat.Now I need a headset because the cheapie I have been using I don't think will work with the clip.I have 2 external speakers and a subwoofer.Now I plug my headset into the speakers.Is there an advatage to USB headset or can I just get a regular one like I have now that the clip will mount to?If I go USB will it negate my exteral speakers?Thanks,Ron

I have mine clipped to a pair of playstation2 headphones that I found in the basement. The clip is fairly well designed and should clip on to any pair of fairly well built headphones.

Thanks for that.I'll wait till I get them before buying a set.Still have the question of advatage of USB over regular plug into speaker jack.Ron

One thing to consider is if you have a sound card, or an integral sound board on your Mother Board. I installed a Soundblaster X-Fi, so run my headset/headphones vis the Soundblaster card with the 1/8" jacks directly. I've never understood if I plugged a pair of headphones via the USB that the sound device would revert to the Mother Board by default and over-ride my sound card.If you only use a Mother Board sound board, the USB would work fine.

Not strictly correct.A USB headset is a standalone sound device in its own right requiring its own drivers. If you have a good sound card in your machine or onboard sound then these are not being used at all if you are using a USB sound device - it is its own soundcard and output device together.Stick with your soundcard (which is probably far better and is already installed anyway, a USB sound device means more drivers being loaded) - get a good 5.1 surround headeset instead.

The advantage of using a USB headset is that, since it is a separate sound device, you can send the voice to the headset, and keep the engine sound coming out of your speakers.This can be a big help in multiplayer or with products like VOX-ATC.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

Thomas,can you please explain to me how i get the engine sounds through the computer speakers and the ATC through the headset? thanks

Ron,Most USB headsets are directly supported by Windows XP or Windows Vista and do not require the addition of drivers.I would defintely go for a USB headset so that you can have the added benefit of only having voice (air traffic control) piped into the headset. It makes a huge difference in immersion to have sounds sent to the speakers and voice sent to the headset and it has no noticeable effect on the performance of FSX.

Agree, I just did this with a Plantronics USB Headset/Mic for the first time the other night, and the immersion factor goes way up when all you hear is voice when ATC speaks and then the rumble of 5.1 surround speakers when ATC is not active.The question becomes, does anyone have any experience setting this with the external ATC add-on, Radar Contact? Since RC is made up of wav files, I can't imagine that its sound would be considered voice, would it?

id love to get ATC through my headphones, can you explain to me step by step how you do this as i am currently flying online now and speak to atc through my speakers but when they return the message i get it through my speakers and not the headset.thanks

Simple. Plug in the USB Headset and let the USB bus properly detect it. Go to the Hardware Device Manager -> Sound devices and dedicate your mainboard or PCI soundcard as waves and most every thing else. Set your USB headset device for voice and mic. Then in FSX, do the same under sound-settings. Set the USB headset device for voice and the soundcard for all other sounds.Good luck...

ok thanks, i will have to try this later as i am in the middle of the pond right now in a 747 :)

ok i go to Sound and Audio devices in Windows XPthere is 5 tabs which come upVolume Sounds Audio Voice HardwareI go to Audio TabDefault devices is set to SBLiveSound Recording is set to Logitech USB HeadsetI go to Voice TabDefault device is set to SB LiveVoice recording is set to Logitech USB Headsetwhich one do i need to set?also doesnt the FSX Sound configuration bring up the same menu?

I set all the Audio-tab options to my SB-card and in the Voice-tab options, I set both to my USB Headset. Then in FSX sound settings, you'll see where the "sounds" and "Voice" pull-downs are and set them accordingly as well.

I just got Logitech USB 350 (Wal-mart $35)but only do FS9, are the settings you state going to work in FS9??........(package is sealed so well I not sure I can return if opened, in case it won't work for FS9) Thanks for the advice!! B42L8