I should qualify the "noob" - I've been simming since the mid-80's, but I'm quite new to complex airliner sims and am contemplating my first FS2Crew purchase.My practical problem is this - I'm tempted by the voice editions, but my apartment is "open plan" and my FSX computer is in an office loft that's over the living room. My phone conversations in the office are audible throughout the apartment. I often sim late at night, after my wife had gone to bed. So... if I need to talk to the FS2Crew first officer using my phone voice (which is decently loud), that's not going to make me especially popular around here. If, on the other hand, I can "mutter" the instructions (or at least speak them in low volume), I should be OK. So - can anyone advise me how loud I'd need to be for the speech recognition software to understand me? Or is the answer more a function of the microphone and Windows speech interface than it is of FS2Crew?Obviously, the button editions would solve my problems, and I may wind up going that route, but I thought I'd raise the question first.Thanks in advance!

I should qualify the "noob" - I've been simming since the mid-80's, but I'm quite new to complex airliner sims and am contemplating my first FS2Crew purchase.My practical problem is this - I'm tempted by the voice editions, but my apartment is "open plan" and my FSX computer is in an office loft that's over the living room. My phone conversations in the office are audible throughout the apartment. I often sim late at night, after my wife had gone to bed. So... if I need to talk to the FS2Crew first officer using my phone voice (which is decently loud), that's not going to make me especially popular around here. If, on the other hand, I can "mutter" the instructions (or at least speak them in low volume), I should be OK. So - can anyone advise me how loud I'd need to be for the speech recognition software to understand me? Or is the answer more a function of the microphone and Windows speech interface than it is of FS2Crew?Obviously, the button editions would solve my problems, and I may wind up going that route, but I thought I'd raise the question first.Thanks in advance!

Hi Alan,That's pretty subjective, but for me I just speak in a normal voice. Not loud, not quiet.If you're worried, just go with the button version.If you have the iFly 737 aircraft, you can go for the FS2Crew button/voice combo pack, which is a pretty good deal, then you can try both.Cheers,

Speech recognition is built into Windows, so you can try it before deciding which version of FS2Crew to buy. You can find it under "Ease of Access", "Speech Recognition" in the control panel.Go through the speech tutorial and voice recognition training to get an idea of how loud your voice has to be for speech recognition to work. (This is something you should do before using the FS2Crew voice command software anyway).

Hi Alan,That's pretty subjective, but for me I just speak in a normal voice. Not loud, not quiet.If you're worried, just go with the button version.If you have the iFly 737 aircraft, you can go for the FS2Crew button/voice combo pack, which is a pretty good deal, then you can try both.Cheers,

I hadn't planned to buy the iFly 737, at least not yet (I'm one of the people holding out for PMDG) but the opportunity to try out both FS2Crew versions is interesting - maybe I'll give it a try. The iFly looks great, by the way, and I'm not against it on moral grounds... just trying to budget carefully. But a good flight test opportunity is a good flight test opportunity.Am I correct in understanding that Voice and Button can't be installed at the same time? I gathered from other posts here that you'd have to uninstall one before installing the other - is that still the case?

Speech recognition is built into Windows, so you can try it before deciding which version of FS2Crew to buy. You can find it under "Ease of Access", "Speech Recognition" in the control panel.Go through the speech tutorial and voice recognition training to get an idea of how loud your voice has to be for speech recognition to work. (This is something you should do before using the FS2Crew voice command software anyway).

Thanks - that seems obvious now that you describe it but it hadn't occurred to me. I'll see if Windows can cope with me at low volume. I can even run some late night tests and see if they result in thrown objects. Should be interesting... :(

I can even run some late night tests and see if they result in thrown objects. Should be interesting... :(

Hope no injuries - let us know how it goes :(

Hope no injuries - let us know how it goes :(

Well, whatever she throws will have to travel upwards, so gravity is on my side... :( I'll report back!

Am I correct in understanding that Voice and Button can't be installed at the same time? I gathered from other posts here that you'd have to uninstall one before installing the other - is that still the case?

With the iFly version, you can in fact install both the Voice and Button versions "at the same time".You can do that.You would then use the iFly Config Manager to select which version you want to use at any given time.Cheers,

With the iFly version, you can in fact install both the Voice and Button versions "as the same time".You can do that.You would then use the iFly Config Manager to select which version you want to use at any given time.Cheers,

Oh, that's interesting. Sounds like an ideal way to test drive the two different approaches. I think I'll go that route.

Hope no injuries - let us know how it goes :(

Didn't get a chance to test tonight. But I do have the Reds-Phillies game on (top of the 18th inning, tied at 4, nearly 1 a.m.) and she seems to be sleeping through it. So there's hope!

Well, I have to say that the test using Windows Speech Recognition was VERY encouraging. Using a Razer Carcharias headset, I was able to speak in near-whisper - much, much quieter than my normal speaking or telephone voice - and all commands were understood. Wife wasn't around but my volume was so much lower than the normal late-night TV that I can't imagine it'll be a problem. So no apparent risk of injury and I think I'm going to be able to use the Voice versions after all. Thanks, trisager, for steering me toward that method of trying it out. Now all I need to do is decide on s voice version to test. Am still not sure about the iFly 737 (I'm sure it's great but I don't think I want to own two 737's so I'd rather wait and see how the PMDG plays out). Might try the 747-400, which I already own, or the JS4100, which I've had my eye on for a while. Will advise. But I appreciate the help and encouragement.

Well, I have to say that the test using Windows Speech Recognition was VERY encouraging. Using a Razer Carcharias headset, I was able to speak in near-whisper - much, much quieter than my normal speaking or telephone voice - and all commands were understood. Wife wasn't around but my volume was so much lower than the normal late-night TV that I can't imagine it'll be a problem. So no apparent risk of injury and I think I'm going to be able to use the Voice versions after all. Thanks, trisager, for steering me toward that method of trying it out. Now all I need to do is decide on s voice version to test. Am still not sure about the iFly 737 (I'm sure it's great but I don't think I want to own two 737's so I'd rather wait and see how the PMDG plays out). Might try the 747-400, which I already own, or the JS4100, which I've had my eye on for a while. Will advise. But I appreciate the help and encouragement.

Hi Alan,If it's down between the PMDG 747 and Jetstream, go with the Jetstream.I had a full SDK for that plane, so the integration is extremely good in the Jetstream.Cheers,

Hi Alan,If it's down between the PMDG 747 and Jetstream, go with the Jetstream.I had a full SDK for that plane, so the integration is extremely good in the Jetstream.Cheers,

Thanks, I appreciate the guidance. I'd been leaning toward the Jetstream - I generally do better with short-haul aircraft. And I've never gotten fully into the 747 - the older design (lots of switching needed between VC and 2D) gets in the way, for me at least.I haven't totally ruled out the iFly 737 - it might not be my preferred one in the long run (or it might)... but even so, it could be good training for the other one.But I'll spare you my agonizing over it. Thanks again, and I'll look forward to bringing you tech questions as opposed to general ones once I've got one of your products up and running.Best,Alan