Astro Gaming, Recent Updates

Holiday Shipping

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:12:00 -0800

Want to get your shipment by Christmas?

As you probably already know, unforeseen weather delays, random stampedes, and acts of God(s) can delay your shipment. Please bear this in mind when you are selecting your shipping grade -- it's always better to ship via a faster method and give your shipment an extra day or two to arrive in time.

Here are some important dates to remember:

December 24th UPS delivery only - no pickup. Office Closed.
December 25th No UPS delivery or pickup. Office Closed.
December 26th Regular UPS delivery. Only UPS Air shipments will be picked up by UPS.
December 29th UPS Ground service resumes
Wednesday, Dec. 31, New Year's Eve - Air and international delivery and pickup service only (no UPS Ground delivery or pickup).
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, New Year's Day - No UPS pickup or delivery. Office closed.

ASTRO at the VGA's!

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:12:00 -0800

ASTRO Gaming will send the VIPs at the 2008 Video Game Awards packing with our new Transport Series bags

This Sunday, when Spike TV and actor/rocker Jack Black host the sixth annual “VGA” show, the attending VIP celebrities and superstar game developers will be treated to ASTRO’s specialized new game gear travel system called the Transport Series.

The Roadie guitar controller bag is the perfect ensemble to aspiring rock stars on the go -- and the actual rock stars in attendance, considering the audience of the star-studded show. Its rugged exterior and lavishly padded interior enables those who are about to rock to take their prized plastic axes on the road or to the skies in style.

The Mission complete system bag makes taking a next-gen console on the road a snap (and a strap or two) with gear-specific pockets and carry system designed for an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, power supply units and controllers. Extra pockets for games, DVDs, and room for about a weekend’s worth of personal gear make the Mission bag a must for gamers on the go.

If you don’t happen to be a world-famous celebrity, you can still get the star treatment during the month of December while the Transport Series bags are offered at an introductory sale price of $79.95 for the Roadie ($20.00 off), and $99.95 ($30.00 off) for the Mission complete system bag.

International Shipping Launch!

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:11:00 -0800

Give us your tired Euros, your Pounds Sterling, your teeming Yen

For those waiting for ASTRO Gaming products to land upon foreign shores, the wait is now over! ASTRO Gaming will now ship to any country that the United States Postal Service offers service to -- which is virtually everywhere! (Sorry, scientists on the South Pole…)

However, ASTRO Gaming will NOT be paying duties and taxes -- you will only be required to pay the actual USPS shipping costs at the time you place your order. Duties and taxes will be payable upon delivery of your package.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and PayPal. All payments will be in US Dollars, and conversion rates may apply from your bank or card issuer.

Please visit this website if you'd like to estimate the duty and VAT when importing ASTRO Gaming products: International Duty Calculator

Transport Series

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:11:00 -0800

ASTRO Gaming is giving gamers a much-needed respite from the dreaded task of transporting all their stuff with the debut of the Transport Series of gaming bags. The first entries in the Transport Series are the Roadie and Mission bags, which can now be preordered, and will be available for purchase on December 15.

“At ASTRO Gaming, we design products for the challenges of the pro gamer lifestyle, and the Roadie and Mission bags enable gamers to protect their investments and travel in style,” said Jordan Reiss, co-founder and vice president of ASTRO Gaming. “Fans of the A40 know that ASTRO Gaming is all about helping gamers achieve maximum performance, and the Transport Series continues that tradition.”

The Roadie dual guitar controller ($99.95) case cradles two of any gamers’ prized axes for Guitar Hero or Rock Band, while also comfortably fitting a PlayStation®2 Slim or extra cables. Aspiring rock stars – whether competing professionally or just having an impromptu jam session at a friend’s place – no longer have to lug their fake plastic instruments with dangling cords if they use the ruggedized Roadie bag.

The Misson complete system gear bag ($129.95) transports everything. Well, maybe not everything, but close – it securely moves a current-generation game console, power supply and controllers, leaving tons of extra room for personal effects. With three roomy pockets for stashing additional gear, the Mission is a veritable endless loot bag for gamers in motion.

The first two Transport Series products are available for preorder, and will be available for purchase on December 15. No charges will be made until the product ships.

Behind the scenes with GotFrag TV

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:11:00 -0800

Behind the scenes with ASTRO and GotFrag

The culture of competitive gaming is filled with early adopters and cutting edge hardware -- and the people behind the way we view the competition are no exception.
The guys at GotFrag have been at the forefront of covering the professional PC and console circuits, providing news and live event video coverage since 2002.

If you are a competitive gamer, no doubt you have seen the A40 Audio System deployed by pros and hopeful amateurs alike -- especially in the winner’s circle. The guys behind GotFrag TV use ASTRO gear not only for gaming, but also for a communication system that their tech crew uses at live events. The production team is lead by Scott Smith, who serves as the Vice President of Broadcasting. He kindly took a moment to explain the incredibly creative way that he has deployed the ASTRO A40 Audio System in a behind-the-scenes look at how GotFrag TV operates.

Smith’s team includes people in charge of video, like in-game camera operators and real-life camera operators, and the producers who direct what the viewers are seeing. His entire crew can talk to each other in real time with no lag using the A40 Audio System. That’s correct -- every person on the team has an A40 MixAmp somewhere nearby with an A40 Headset plugged into it!

Smith explains: “We use a big headphone amp in the production area that sends exactly the audio feed that needs to be sent out to each crew member’s MixAmp (and feed this into the ‘Game’ audio). This feed is called our ‘program out’ and is a mix of the audio that the viewers will hear, like the game sound, effects, and commentary -- but in real-time as it’s happening. Everyone gets this feed through the A40 MixAmp, so for example, if we are showing a World of Warcraft Arena match with Fnatic ORZ and the commentators are talking about Hafu, the cameramen naturally know to pan to her.

“Of course, we also take advantage of the great voice communication capabilities of the A40 MixAmp”, Smith continued. Voice communication is done through the standard voice comm function of the Daisy Chain connector. Of course, the production team has to use longer cables than what comes standard in the box, but it works the same way. For really long runs, a converter that enables the audio signal to travel on standard CAT 5 cable is used. The voice communication channel rides on CAT 5 to all of the camera people so that the tech table guys (Mark ‘jESUIT’ Cheben, Jason ‘Alchemist’ Baker, and Smith himself) can be in constant communication with the camera people. Scott can even split the voice channel output and speak to just the live commentators by toggling the channel with a special switch. This way, the entire production team is always on the daisy chain in real time voice communication -- just like when players are in a game.

“The great thing about the MixAmp that not many people know about is that it also acts as a condenser”, Smith explains. “This means that you can't scream and blow the next guy out when you scream into it -- the MixAmp compresses the signal volume automatically.”

“We couldn't have put anything together remotely as efficient and high quality as what ASTRO offers -- and we definitely couldn't have achieved this for less than $5,000. More importantly, I'm wearing these headsets for 12 hours at a time during an on-location GotFrag TV production. I wear glasses, and this is the most comfortable headset I've ever worn. It just works.”

We’d like to thank Scott and the entire production crew for stoking our competitive fires and giving us an eagle-eyed view of the MLG Pro Circuit!

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GotFrag and GotFrag TV are subsidiaries of the Major League Gaming Pro Circuit. Visit them at: GotFrag.com and www.mlgpro.com

Perfect Pair: The 3G iPhone and the A40 Headset

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:09:00 -0700

Double team: the A40 Headset and the Apple 3G iPhone

While the time-honored question of Will it Blend? has already been answered in regard to the iPhone itself, a lot of people don't know that the iPhone and the A40 Headset provide a seamless blend of audio player, mobile phone and all-in-one headset combination.

Due to the A40 Headset's adoption of the iPhone friendly 4-pole connector jack, the A40 simply plugs into the 3G iPhone and works great -- right out of the box. You'll no longer need to compromise with poor quality audio headphones or an inferior microphone -- the A40 Headset provides class-leading audiophile sound and voice quality, while providing hours of comfortable wear.

Plugging the A40 Headset into your iPhone will enable you to swap effortlessly between music, movies, and phone calls. Treat yourself to a simplified setup when you are traveling and the perfect desk solution at work or home.

So, if you have an iPhone, go ahead and give the A40 Headset a try -- you'll understand why we think the A40 is truly the world's most versatile headset!

The A40 and the PS3

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:09:00 -0700

Setting up the ASTRO A40 Audio System with the Playstation 3

If you were wondering if the A40 MixAmp and A40 Headset are compatible with the voice features of the PS3 - the answer is YES!

To get all of the features of the A40 MixAmp going full speed -- like fully adjustable GAME/VOICE balance control, we recommend the ASTRO USB Mic Adapter for the Playstation 3. This driverless USB adapter enables you to run voice communication as a dedicated voice channel -- vital if you want to use the balancing features of the A40 MixAmp.

First, a little primer on what a USB microphone adapter does -- and which ones will work best in this configuration. USB devices can be used to input microphones (standalone or headsets) or “line-level” audio devices (devices that are already amplified) into the PS3’s USB input. The A40 MixAmp acts as a “line-level” device because it already powers the A40 Headset’s microphone and sends out a full-power signal. USB adapters that ASTRO Gaming sells are designed for this kind of line-level signal.

Just getting by: Using the A40 MixAmp with the Singstar USB adapter

Other USB microphone adapters will work better, but if you’ve already got the Singstar adapter and would like to give it a try, it’ll get you by for a while. Because the Singstar adapter is designed for non-powered devices that need more amplification, you’ll need to turn the volume down in the software as much as possible in the software settings (more on that later). In other words, if you use a Singstar adapter with the A40 MixAmp, your microphone will be loud and accompanied by a constant whine or hum. Additionally, the adapter isn’t recognized by the PS3 as an output device, so the Singstar is incompatible with incoming chat (you can only send outgoing voice signals). The incoming game sounds carry the incoming voice chat, which sounds ok -- but unfortunately disables the Voice/Game balance control feature of the A40.

The affordable solution: Using the Music Fairy with the A40

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a switchable adapter. The Music Fairy that ASTRO sells for $9.95 is fully compatible with the PS3 out of the box. However, pay special attention to wiring the Music Fairy -- it’s a bit different than most other adapters we’ve tried. The best way that we’ve found to wire the outgoing voice chat is to connect one of the included 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cables from the A40’s PC MIC output to the RED connector on the Music Fairy. Connect the second 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable to the GREEN jack on the Music Fairy, and then attach it to either one of the Daisy chain ports (after the red Daisy chain connector is removed).

Welcome to high-end audio: Using the A40 MixAmp with the Griffin iMic

There are USB adapters that are compatible with BOTH mic- and line-level inputs, like the Griffin iMic. We love this little adapter because it enables you to use the A40 Headset without the MixAmp (just switch it to “Mic”) -- or in conjunction with the MixAmp (switch to “Line” on the side of the iMic). The Griffin iMic is also the best sounding USB microphone adapter we’ve ever tested.

The iMic is also very compatible with the A40 MixAmp since the incoming and outgoing voice channels can both be connected through the Daisy-chain ports on the front of the MixAmp, as opposed to using the PC MIC port on the top of the MixAmp when you are using the Music Fairy. It’s easy to connect the iMic since it’s impossible to mix up, and again -- it sounds great.

Devil in the details: the PS3 software settings

This is where we walk you through the PS3 software setup. Don’t forget to flip through the above pictures as well -- we’ve got screenshots of the harder to find menu items that you might otherwise miss.

Go to Settings > Accessory Settings > Audio Device Settings, and make sure that your USB adapter is recognized and selected for the input/output options you want (once you find an appropriate USB adaptor). Typically you’ll want the incoming and outgoing mic set to the USB adapter (unless you have a Singstar).

You’ll also be able to set your voice level in this menu screen. The level will vary greatly depending on the adapter you use, but set it so that the bar graph on the top just hits the red when you speak loudly. You can hear how you’ll sound to others if you go back to the Accessory Settings menu and enter the Voice Changer.

If something sounds funny, go back and read the appropriate section on the type of USB adapter you have and make sure that you are connected properly. Remember to hook up the right way and get your incoming mic to the optimal level.

Any questions? Give us a shout at info@astrogaming.com!

Happy gaming!

--The ASTRO Crew

Shipping to Canada

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

Good news for our friends north of the border. Not only have we resumed direct shipping to Canada, but we're now offering more shipping options for you. UPS pre-paid is the most expensive as we are covering, in advance, all the duties, GST, PST, border agent bribes and what have you. So no further cost or hassles on your end. The kicker with UPS, however, is that they also charge a $40 "prep" fee for all their value-added work along the way...so the total cost can get up there.

The alternative to UPS is the good ol' fashioned US Postal Service. With the USPS we're offering Priority Service (6-10 days) and Express Service (3-5 days) - although we cannot pre-pay duties. So whether you select USPS Priority or USPS Express, please note that you will be responsible for paying for duties and import fees upon receipt of the shipment!

As always, if you have any questions, keep 'em to yourself. Just kidding. Drop us a line any time!

Happy Gaming!!

New Orders Now Shipping Live!

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

Good news: we've worked through the bulk of our A40 Audio System pre-orders and are now shipping new orders placed on the website live and in real time. So, no need to pre-order any longer. Simply place your new order on the website and your new gear will be on its way to you.

--The ASTRO Team

The A40's Have Landed -- a note from our Supreme Commander

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
ASTRO GAMING EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. A40 Audio System inventory is at the warehouse ready to ship. We will be emailing out instructions on how to complete your order over the next 48 hours. You will be asked to visit the website, enter in your pre-order Customer Code, and complete payment. The eyes of the world are upon you.

Your order will be fulfilled as received, although please note that any NEW orders placed on the website will only be fulfilled after we have worked through the pre-order queue. Estimated delivery time for any NEW orders is the first week in May. Pre-order conversions will be shipped out immediately.

Once you have received your new A40 Audio Systems, in company with our brave Allies, Space Marines, and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the Covenant war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves on Xbox Live.

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Star Power upon this great and noble undertaking.

Jordan D. "Reisenhower"

-end-