Using a Microphone for Voice Key

‍Overview

‍Some experiments require a vocal response from participants. With software like SuperLab, you can connect a microphone to the computer to measure the reaction time of a vocal response. However, if the connection is USB-based, timing precision is about 20ms (based on internal tests conducted at Cedrus).

‍Riponda provides superior precision. You can connect any PC compatible microphone.

‍Adjusting Thresholds

‍Adjusting the sensitivity of the microphone is done using our free Xidon 2 utility software. Once adjusted, the setting is stored in flash memory and remembered. You can optionally enable or disable the blue rectangular LED that is next microphone connector.

‍Delivering TTL Event Markers

‍Your response pad is capable of delivering TTL event markers when you add an m-pod. m-pod takes the multiplexed signals that the response pad delivers and converts them into TTL output. You can obtain event markers for:

Onset of light sensor
Onset of key presses by participant
Onset of vocal response via microphone
Event markers sent via USB

‍By default, the onset of vocal responses is not produced by m-pod. You can easily edit m-pod’s output using Xidon 2.

‍Marking Onset of Tones

‍StimTracker is the tool you need for detecting and marking the onset of computer generated tones. It has both an “Audio In” input and a Microphone input. Riponda has only a microphone input.

‍The voltage levels for a line input are substantially higher than for a microphone input.

Generally, it’s not a good idea to plug a line signal into a microphone input, but Riponda is capable of accepting the higher levels without harm.

‍Additionally, the microphone input on Riponda is heavily filtered for human speech. If you still want to mark the onset of tones using the Microphone input on Riponda, make sure to follow these guidelines: