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Hidden Feature In Firmware Update 3.00: Echo Canceller

Okay, so there are a few issues that came along with firmware update 3.00 for the PlayStation 3 - which Sony swears they are currently addressing - but there may be a very helpful feature you missed...

So you know how certain microphones don't have the best feedback in the world, and we sometimes have to deal with that annoying echo when on the Network with our headsets? Well, Sony has apparently found a very simple cure: as noted by GOONL!NE, update 3.00 has given us what is known as the super-duper "Echo Canceller." Under Settings, go to Accessory Settings and then select Audio Device Settings; from there, go to your headset, hit Triangle, and you'll see that very useful option (provided it works effectively, of course). Now, it'll be interesting to see how users respond to this; we've often heard about - and experienced - the frustrating echo problem, so to be able to erase the problem with a simple button press is a definite bonus. Furthermore, it seems there are other "hidden features" in this update and if you're wondering why Sony didn't include them in the official rundown...well, we don't know why they'd keep it secret, either. Maybe they just want us to hunt 'em down.

Oh, and we'll keep you up to date on Sony's efforts to fix a few of the issues that the latest firmware update has caused. They've already said they're on top of it, so hopefully, a fix-it patch will be forthcoming (even though there's no evidence to believe the problems are too widespread).

9/6/2009 9:40:39 PM John Shepard

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Comments (42 posts)

iGraves1
Sunday, September 06, 2009 @ 10:36:11 PM
Reply

Maybe now I will actually leave the headset on my ear instead of just turning on with the mute and just leaving it on the side.

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SILVERAMMO
Sunday, September 06, 2009 @ 10:36:16 PM
Reply

awesome cant wait to try this

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fluffer nutter
Sunday, September 06, 2009 @ 10:42:30 PM
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I only ran into this problem once but it came from a really obnoxious kid who said "snap" about every three words. He got muted right away for just being annoying. He was horrible at the game, as well.

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Scarecrow
Sunday, September 06, 2009 @ 10:53:55 PM
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Resistance 1 was infamous for these echoes XD

SUCH a gret game though...ah...

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Swim_Irr
Sunday, September 06, 2009 @ 11:34:06 PM
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So is this feature only for people not using the official playstation Bluetooth? Cause that "settings" menu after you hit triangle is greyed out for me. And I'm using the PS bluetooth.

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firehahahahaha
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 12:09:51 AM

Same.

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Charger7302
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 1:17:50 PM

You can access the "settings" from the main XMB only, not in-game.

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Swim_Irr
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:01:19 PM

Ok I figured it out. If you have the official PS Bluetooth, the only way "settings" will show up not greyed out is if you don't have "high quality mode" enabled for your headset. When "HQ mode" is turned off, that settings menu shows right up, but I think it's safe to say that leaving "HQ mode" on is probably the better deal. I've never had anyone complain of my game being too loud with my PS headset and "HQ" is probably why. If you want to take a look anyway, you must turn off "HQ" under the mange Bluetooth devices menu. Then hit triangle on your headset, and then "information".

@neostorm (way down the page) I realize now why it showed up for you right away, and that must be that you don't have your headset on "HQ" mode. As I said above, we're probably all better off with "HQ" left on.

So, ya. I think this feature is mainly for the people not using the official headset.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 12:07:22 AM
Reply

Never ran into it before.

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Swim_Irr
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 12:18:52 AM

So you're telling me you've never heard...

"Our UAV is online!"

....ten times in a single match through someone's headset before?

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 12:52:20 AM

thankfully no, but to be fair a lot of the online games have very few people with headsets.

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N a S a H
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 6:16:53 AM

You obviously haven't been on any COD games

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 1:12:17 PM

You got me there, Resistance 2 and KZ2 are the only FPS good enough for me to purchase.

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Blink182Fan99
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 1:54:43 PM

You legend :D

I've just finished playing a round of Resistance 2 XD

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Swim_Irr
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 4:00:07 PM

To be fair, COD4 is a great game, and to say it isn't worth a purchase when compared to two games that hit shelves waayyy after it did is kinda lame. I'm not trying to say that KZ2 and R2 aren't great games. I play KZ2 more than anything else, but I understand that when COD4 came out, it was the pinnacle of FPS's.

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LimitedVertigo
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 8:34:13 PM

COD4 would have been dated 5 years ago, auto aim FTL.

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a1_
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 12:08:06 AM
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Yea I got the official bluetooth by PS3 and I do not see the option either... whats going on?

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Swim_Irr
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:06:05 PM

See my reply above.

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fatelementality
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 12:35:46 AM
Reply

I'm sure that everyone knows about the multiple audio output feature, right? It's great because I can use my TV as my center speaker now :)

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incarnato
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 10:46:12 AM

thanks for that heads up. I didn't know that actually. I just tried it.

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yak4life85
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 12:44:18 AM
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I have a just a regular Jabra headset and i just checked and I did have that option. It sounds better right now. I'll see how it works with the games later.

Maybe the official ps3 headset settings changed automatic with the update 3.0.

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johnld
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 1:09:51 AM
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I have the official ps3 headset so i guess its built in to it already like how it can has noise canceling and a speaker when docked. Best headset i used so far.

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hobgoblin
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:28:25 AM
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I'll never understand why Sony never release a full list of "what's new" with every firmware update, instead leaving it up to the user to find out.

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a1_
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:32:57 AM

wtf are u talking about? i hope that was just a tasteless joke

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___________
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:37:23 AM

tasteless joke?
i was going to ask the exact question.
they should say what things have been changed in each firmeware update.
i dont understand why the industry is so secretive and hush hush, they treat the consumers like idiots and is a insult to our intelligence.
what harm could it do in sony saying look we have included a echo canceler in FW 3.0 let us know what you think of it.
there was that hard?

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fundando
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 5:53:26 AM

Finding what's in the FW update is a game in itself.
Last edited by fundando on 9/7/2009 5:53:34 AM

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N a S a H
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 6:18:19 AM

I really wish they'd release a full list. A FW update is not a game or whatever. It's an update, and I want to know what's being included in the update. Really not that hard :S

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___________
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:35:06 AM
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is there a background noise filter?
the amount of times ive tried to play KZ2 online only to have to listen to some leb blaring his shitty RMB through the speakers.
wait i think i just heard his window shatter :D
than you get the indians with their indian music, O god some nights they make me want to go hunting

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neostorm
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 3:44:41 AM
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ok guys just to comfirm the setting is there for all headsets including the official one.im using the official headset and found the option straight away.....Accessory settings/Audio device settings/then highlight your headset on the input part and press triangle/then settings/then set echo canceller/then follow onscreen instructions....if you highlight the headset on output then the settings dont show up....hope this helps

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CrazyIrishBoy
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 8:10:22 AM
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When you give us new features in an update sony, we want to know about them! Wtf... i was expectin to hear there would be hidden features, but its just plain annoying.

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tridon
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 9:10:57 AM
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Does anyone with a backwards-compatible PS3 have problems playing their PS2 games now after 3.0? I few of my games have totally froze while playing ever since updating to the new Firmware.

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Charger7302
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 1:21:04 PM

I have the BC ps3 and have ran into the same issue, but after hitting "restore default settings" the issue kinda fixed itself.

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Blink182Fan99
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:00:30 PM

I havn't found a problem with mine mate. Played Need For Speed Underground 2 for about an hour earlier and it was fine :D

Is yours a launch date model?
Last edited by Blink182Fan99 on 9/7/2009 2:01:02 PM

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furbiesmustdie
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 9:39:37 AM
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"The latest firmware update has caused a few issues for some users"
ie- me! uncharted is still having all kinds of problems.

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Jiggy
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 10:04:19 AM
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Good deal! Now when I play rock band, I won't hear the freakin' drummer play his notes 5 seconds later through my headset...

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dveisalive
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 1:45:28 PM
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i wish they just add a mute for in game play, cause sometimes you just dont want to hear no one speak at all!

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Blink182Fan99
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 2:01:36 PM

So why have a mic?

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mackid1993
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 9:25:09 PM

it still comes through the speakers on your tv.

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Blink182Fan99
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 @ 5:03:08 PM

Yeah I know, I just don't see the point in people getting mics, put them one, and then just mute everyone and not talk. It just confuses me to be honest. I only ever use my mic when I'm with friends. If I'm not, I don't use it and mute the people who do cos I generally don't want to hear people chatting to each other while I'm playing. Personal opinion.

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LimitedVertigo
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 8:34:36 PM
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Fix my uncharted bug Sony, please.

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Nynja
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 @ 11:33:41 AM
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Yeah, I mentioned this in a post on a previous topic here on PSXE...

http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/5737.html#leavecomment

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whooka
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 @ 12:16:24 PM
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I love the new option for multi source sound output. This means you no longer have to Quit a game to switch output from your HDMI to TV (or whatever) to an optical connection to your receiver (or whatever). You just use that multi output and it automatically puts audio through any listed, available output device and then turn one or the other down. Since I generally like my own music over what's included in games there were alot of times I'd have the audio coming out through my TV (via HDMI as my audio receiver has no HDMI input) and my music on my stereo/receiver but then would want to switch to optical/digital audio out for whatever reason but had to Quit the game to do this. Now just turn one source down and the other up!

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