Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone ships this fall for $49.99

Remember that microphone that we peeked just before Lips hit and (subsequently fell off) the scene? Microsoft has just announced that a standalone version will soon be available sans a tether, giving owners of the aforesaid title, Guitar Hero Metallica, Rock Band 2, Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year and The Beatles: Rock Band the ability to carry a tune in a bucket right in the comfort of their living room. Too bad it'll run you $49.99 when it ships in the fall, but who knows, maybe there's some sweet Sennheiser diaphragm in there that we're not aware of.

[Via Joystiq]

[skyblaze @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:09PM]

little does the world know.. that skyblaze can sing :)

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:34PM]

....so can Quantumphysics.

But I'm too busy on MK vs. DC Universe.

[Fernando Rocker @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:10PM]

How does this mic communicate with the 360?

Does it need an USB dongle? Can I use it with other devices?

[wrs589 @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:12PM]

I'd assume it uses the same wireless as the 360 uses for controllers and the wireless headset, so it's probably possible to use it with a PC if you have the Wireless Gaming Adaptor thing that lets you use the controllers.

[Junemas @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:14PM]

It's wireless, the same microphones that come with the game lips, they both are wireless and motion activated, you just shake them to activate certain sequences in the game lips, they use the same proprietary 2.4ghz frequency Microsoft uses for the xbox 360 wireless controllers.

[ash chapman @ Jun 24th 2009 1:27AM]

It works like this: you swear at Call of Duty and now both the headset and the microphone can pick it up. Swearing in stereo rules.

[Matt @ Jun 24th 2009 9:17PM]

You can't use these with a PC. Recording only yields static. :(

[wrs589 @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:10PM]

Why won't it work with Rock Band 1 or Guitar Hero World Tour?

Little point buying it if I've got to get a wired mic back out for these...

[Mike @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:52PM]

Support for the mic needs to be patched in. Harmonix is patching it into Rock Band 2 only.

[Junemas @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:14PM]

You can buy the game Lips which comes with Two wireless microphones for the exact same $49.99 price of buying a stand alone wireless mic.

[KenC @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:26PM]

It's the same microphone that LIPS comes with. Most of the sites out there are touting this and acting like its some new peripheral including your friends at Joystiq IT'S NOT Just an excuse for MS to have another accessory SKU and make some extra dough since LIPS kinda bombed and can be found for as little as $20 new with said microphones (which IMHO is WAY cheaper than going this route plus you get two!)

[Jay Voorhees @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:14PM]

Pete and Repete were in a boat, Pete made lots of fake plastic instruments and moved to the Hamptons. Whose left?


until the end of time....

[Joshua Ochs @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:24PM]

Argh... "Whose left". I don't know - who does own the left?

Christ, the internet scares me sometimes. Homophones aren't hard - you learned them in 3rd grade (or earlier!).

[Jay Voorhees @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:37PM]

It only scares you sometimes? It scares me all the timess.

[Doug @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:53PM]

Whose = who does it belong to?
Who's = who is?

He got it wrong and had to do more typing to do so. We can't blame laziness.

[mailbox01 @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:15PM]

My family likes the Lips game. Microphone is easy to use my 4 yr can use it. The only I have is the game doesn't recognize all the songs from my Zune. And its a pain to re-sync to the xbox everytime they play it.

[kastonie @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:28PM]

i accidentally the whole thing

[Joshua Ochs @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:22PM]

What is this, bad grammar day on Engadget? First we had "cease" an opportunity. Now we have this:
"...Lips hit and (subsequently fell off) the scene"

Take out the parenthetical expression and you get:
"...Lips hit and the scene"

Yup - bloggers are definitely not journalists. Their standards certainly aren't up to it.

[Xenoterranos @ Jun 24th 2009 9:53AM]

I was cracking up at this one:

Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year

I know it's not engadget's fault, but I can't fathom the committee that figured _two colons are better than one!_.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:49PM]

"Too bad it'll run you $49.99 when it ships in the fall" No what really bad are those games you just mentioned, not only for the 360 but for every console. Nothing beats real instruments and those games suck imo.

[FNG @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:54PM]

you are so much cooler than everyone else...

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 23rd 2009 6:39PM]

@fng

Never said I was cooler than anyone, and that was my opinion not fact, but i guess since you like 'em I should love 'em too right?

[FNG @ Jun 23rd 2009 7:05PM]

the games suck and nothing is better than real instruments.... why are you posting on this article? You don't like the games so just leave it at that and move on. you are just another "holier than thou" person bashing these games that millions of people are enjoying.

[Hurricane @ Jun 23rd 2009 7:56PM]

Real instruments are fun, but sometimes you just wanna enjoy something without putting man hours into it.

Also, it's much easier to have fun with friends playing Panic Attack on Rock Band instead of teaching your friends how to play it on drums and guitar and bass. Especially if they have no real musical experience.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:16PM]

@hurricane
I understand your point

@fng
So you speak for the millions now, mister no one is allowed to voice there opinion on a gadget. And what about the millions who don't like playing that crap? And same goes for you, don't reply if you don't like the comment and move on.

[Ritivhed @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:55PM]

This is the same Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone that is in Lips. I contacted a Microsoft PR rep and received the following response:

"We listened to our customers who were looking for more ways to enjoy the superior performance and versatility of the wireless microphone experience they enjoyed with “Lips.” The Xbox 360 Wireless Microphone is a new offering that allows players to sing along to their favorite music games and lets additional singers join the fun with select games including “Lips” and “Lips: Number One Hits,” “Rock Band 2” and “The Beatles: Rock Band,” “Guitar Hero Metallica” and “Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

More details on it here: http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/6055

[evilspoons @ Jun 23rd 2009 6:57PM]

$50 US?? That's $57 Canadian... I can buy Lips at its original, non-discounted price (and it's sure to be discounted because no one seems to want it) for $59 CAD. And it has two mics.

Hmmmmm.

I'll pass, even though a wireless mic sounds appealing.

[peepeepants @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:14PM]

When I look at the mic but imagine it as the actual console, it blows my mind! The future...

[acme @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:33PM]

But can it autotune?

[Excelsium @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:51PM]

Too bad it probably won't do the tricks that pop stars use else there'd be too many popstars.

[tekdroid @ Jun 24th 2009 8:17AM]

Hallo Engadget Sirs
The microphone comes with a superior Chenheiser diaphragm. We make identical quality for enjoyment for all.

When first contacted by Microsoft, we were amazed a company with MIC in its name did not develop own microphone technology.

Nevertheless, we are glad to partake in this fruitful but challenging contract, especially after market expectation was lowered and our workers could enjoy far more enjoyable 18 hour workdays.

Regards,
Henry Chen
Director of Operations
Microsoft contractor, China.

[Ranger Rick @ Jun 24th 2009 8:40AM]

Hello... Newman.

[Magallanes @ Jun 24th 2009 9:13AM]

Wow, a wireless microphone. my dream come true... nah!

[Brent212 @ Jun 24th 2009 2:42PM]

No controls on the mic? Sigh. Next...