Xbox One’s audio and voice features to get an upgrade

By Will Fulton May 5, 2014

xbox one audio voice recognition improving settings — Image used with permission by copyright holder

In a recent blog post Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb, Xbox Live’s Director of Programming, announced upcoming audio features for the next Xbox One system update coming later in May.

As per fan requests for more precise control over audio levels, they will be adding two new features under Settings for sound. The new Sound Mixer will allow separate control over the volume levels of two apps when you’re using Snap. You will also now be able to tweak audio levels while using Kinect chat.

The second major new feature will be an opt-in program to allow Microsoft to collect your speech data to help improve the console’s speech recognition function. The more voice samples that they are able to analyze, the more precise their detection can be. Users will be able to go into Privacy & Online Safety Settings to allow Share Voice Data if they wish to help Microsoft out.

Users will now be able to download the new update as soon as it is available, found again under the Settings menu.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…

Gaming

All Xbox home screens are getting a PS5-style makeover starting today

An Xbox home screen shows Starfield.

The Xbox home screen is getting a face-lift. Starting today, Microsoft will begin rolling out a freshly redesigned Xbox home interface across Xbox One, Series S, and Series X consoles.

If you're an Xbox owner, you're probably used to the consoles' current design that features a row of recently used apps at the top of the screen and a list of widgets below. Microsoft says it looked at user data and feedback from the Xbox community to create a redesigned experience that's more focused on discovery.

Gaming

Your Xbox Live Gold subscription will turn into Xbox Game Pass Core this September

Microsoft finally made the decision to move on from its monthly online-access subscription service Xbox Live Gold. On September 14, Xbox Live Gold will transform into Xbox Game Pass Core, with current Gold subscribers automatically gaining a Game Pass Core subscription.

An Xbox Live subscription tied to online play has existed in some form since Xbox Live launched in 2002, but Xbox Live Gold as we now know it truly came into form in July 2013 when Microsoft started the Games with Gold program that gave subscribers free games each month in addition to that online access. Although Microsoft rolled back some online restrictions in 2021, Games with Gold continues to this day. That will all end when Game Pass Core launches.

Gaming

Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works

Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."