NOTAM (3 December 2024) for Windows 11 24H2 Users:

Windows 11 version 24H2 made some significant changes to the way speech recognition works. Notably the old Speech Recognition bar has been replaced by a new app called “VOICE ACCESS” and some Windows menus have changed.

You must run Window’s “VOICE ACCESS” and setup your mic via “VOICE ACCESS” otherwise FS2Crew will not be able to detect your voice.

To learn more about “VOICE ACCESS”, please refer to the many YouTube or articles available on the internet.

Please use the FS2Crew Product Specific Voice Training tools to train your voice.

“VOICE ACCESS” must NOT be running while using FS2Crew or your voice commands may start triggering Window’s functions.

Click the Gear Icon as shown below to shut it off.

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If using an FS2CREW AIRLINE CREW SIMULATION, ensure your WINDOWS SPEECH RECOGNIZER is set to ENGLISH -US, UK, AU, IN, or CA on the “exact” same panel shown below.

Panel location:

WINDOWS CONTROL PANEL -> SPEECH RECOGNITION -> ADVANCED SPEECH OPTIONS 

Locate this same screen. It is available in Windows 11 and 10.

You must use THIS EXACT SAME PANEL!

(Note: This panel does not seem to be available in Windows 11 24H2)

Note: If you are using an FS2CREW GROUND SERVICES program like PUSHBACK EXPRESS, non-English languages are also supported. You may also select German, French, and Spanish.

However, only English is supported if you use an FS2CREW FLIGHT CREW PROGRAM (either by itself or side by side with Pushback Express).

If your version of Windows is not English, try installing the ENGLISH-US language pack, then run the voice training:

• Go to Language Settings in Windows
• Select Add a language to this device
• Download English (United States)
• Restart Windows
• When finished, select ENGLISH-US as your Windows speech recognizer language
  
• Run the voice training (Windows full training and ideally the custom FS2Crew voice training)
• When done, you should be able to set your Window’s display language back to your native language, and FS2Crew voice control should still work.

If you are unable to get Voice Control working, you can still use FS2Crew using a BUTTON / MENU-based control mode.

Select TRAIN PROFILE and run the full voice training.  If your voice recognition results deteriorate, delete and train your profile again.

Note: For enhanced voice training, you can also run the FS2CREW CUSTOM SPEECH TRAINING TOOL that allows you to train every word in the FS2Crew grammar list directly from the Settings Panel for your MSFS FS2Crew product. 

See the Troubleshooting section at the bottom of this page for more information.

Ensure WINDOWS SPEECH RECOGNITION is OFF (that is no typo). Otherwise, your voice commands may start controlling Windows functions.

Also, ensure that RUN SPEECH RECOGNITION AT STARTUP is unchecked to prevent Windows Speech Recognition from running so your voice commands do not start triggering Windows functions.

COMMON SOLUTIONS FOR VOICE CONTROL ISSUES:

1. Uninstall / fully disable NAHMIC and ASUS SOUND STUDIO if installed on your computer. Your motherboard software may have installed these programs without you knowing it.

MSFS versions of FS2Crew, however, should display an automatic warning if either of these programs is detected.

To learn how to uninstall NAHMIC, please click here or do a Google search.

2. Uninstall your current AUDIO DRIVER and do not use “VIRTUAL DESKTOP MICROPHONES.” Some 3rd party audio drivers can cause problems with 3rd party programs that use speech recognition. The solution is:

• Uninstall your current audio driver
• Restart Windows
• Windows will automatically re-install the generic Windows audio driver

3. On the FS2Crew Config / Setting Panel, disable “OPEN MIC MODE.” Push-to-Talk mode is generally much better, as an open mic can always pick up background sounds.

4. For MSFS versions of FS2Crew, ensure you are holding down the PUSH TO TALK KEY. When PTT is active, the PTT button will change color.

If you do not see the PTT button change color when holding down the assigned PTT key, it means:

• The MSFS window is not in focus (the Keyboard icon on the FS2Crew panel shows a red cross-out).
• You are in Button Control or Auto Respond mode, not Voice Control mode.
• Something is conflicting with your key assignment. Try reassigning the PTT function on the Settings Panel to a new key.  
• Use the mouse-controlled PTT button: Press and hold the mouse-controlled PTT button on the Main Panel with your mouse or use a keyboard/joystick assignment.

5. Ensure your microphone is working, plugged in, and not muted. Try using a different microphone to ensure your current microphone is not faulty.

6. Ensure you are using the expected phrases. Expected phrases are listed in the ASSIST panels and via the INFO CENTER.

7. Speak in a clear voice. Be mindful of background noise interference.

8. Use a good-quality headset. We recommend the USB MICROSOFT LIFE CHAT LX-3000. It is inexpensive and works well. You do not need a fancy headset with noise cancellation. We generally do not recommend Bluetooth headsets, as the connection can be prone to dropping, and they sometimes have poor microphone quality. Battery issues are another factor.

9. If you use a laptop, you may need to disable the built-in microphone to detect your headset microphone.

10. If using a USB headset, ensure that USB SELECTIVE SUSPEND is disabled in your ADVANCED POWER OPTIONS MENU. If your USB port goes to sleep, your headset connection will drop.

Be careful of USB docks for the same reason.

The Advanced Power Options setting is available via CONTROL PANEL -> HARDWARE AND SOUND -> EDIT POWER PLAN -> CHANGE ADVANCED POWER SETTINGS.

11. Try using a USB port on the back of your machine, not the front.

12. If you hear no audio when speaking, ensure your audio device is not muted. Each audio device in Windows has its own separate sound slider. For example, the audio on your speakers can be unmuted, but the audio on your headset can be muted, thus creating the impression that something is wrong with your headset.

13. USB hubs are not recommended. Plug your headset directly into a USB port on your computer. If you change USB ports, delete your Voice Profile and re-train your profile.

14. If you have multiple audio input devices, ensure the Windows speech recognition system is linked to the correct one. Click Advanced on the Speech Recognition tab to double-check.

15. Check your Microphone’s “OUTPUT LEVEL.” Ensure it’s not too low and hasn’t reset to a lower level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbOh9u4IzDc

16. Check this page from Microsoft on how to troubleshoot your microphone:

MICROSOFT MICROPHONE TROUBLESHOOTING HELP

17. Ensure you run, at minimum, the Microsoft voice training for your profile. It takes about 5 minutes.

For most users, this should be sufficient.

However, if you encounter a speech recognition issue, we advise you to go further and run the comprehensive FS2Crew voice training associated with your FS2Crew product.

This training addresses specific problems that may not be covered in the general Microsoft voice training.

The link to the voice training tool should be on your desktop, but you can also run it from where your FS2Crew product is installed in C: Program Files (x86).

You can edit the training file script using Notepad to expedite the training process. 

Editing allows you to manually adjust the list of words or phrases the system recognizes, placing any troublesome ones at the top for more focused training.

The speech training script is called Speech Training Script.txt.

That script file is in the main folder associated with your FS2Crew product in C: Program Files (x86).

Find that the speech recognition system is detecting sound incorrectly (for example, it hears the FO speak “THRUST SET,” and it wrongly interprets that audio as “STOP STOP”). You can manually add “THRUST SET” to the speech training script text file and then train that specific phrase.

That should help prevent “STOP STOP,” for example, from being incorrectly detected from any background noise or speech not coming from you.

Note: Run Notepad with administrator rights to ensure no problems when saving the Speech Training Script file.

18. Software that comes with your headset (for example, Logi Hub) may turn down the microphone input volume without you knowing it.

In that case, run your headset software and boost the mic input volume.

NEW!

It is now possible to train specific words via the FS2Crew in game panel!

Click the icon shown in the screen shot below (you must be in Voice Control mode for this icon to appear).

Then enter the keywords into the text box at the bottom to quickly identify the word or phrase you would like to train.