For those of you who own the next-gen Xbox One entertainment console, you likely calibrated your Kinect sensor during installation. If you are experieicng issues with voice commands or body tracking, it’s probably time to re-calibrate your Kinect sensor so you can have the best experience possible.
“The microphone on your Kinect sensor needs to be calibrated so that it can hear you above the ambient background noise in your play space. The sensor does most of the work, making this an easy process,” Microsoft explains.
In order to re-calibrate the microphone, turn up your TV’s volume and make sure there isn’t any noise in the room. Then, go to the Xbox Home screen and select Menu on your controller (this button is located on the left of the X button). Once you are in the Menu, select Settings then select Kinect. Under Troubleshooting, select Kinect doesn’t hear me.
The calibration will conduct two tests. The first test checks for background noises. “Kinect monitors the ambient noise level in your play space. If the level is too high, the sensor displays a message asking you to check for noises in the room, and then to restart the calibration after you’ve muted the background noise,” Microsoft explains.
The second test checks the speaker volumes. “Xbox One plays a series of tones for the Kinect to hear in order to calibrate the audio playback level. If the audio tones are too low, a message asks you to turn up the volume of the speakers. If the sound levels are loud enough, you’ll see a message telling you the audio check was successful,” Microsoft adds.
Once these tests are successful, the Kinect sensor will auto-calibrate the microphone so it can hear you.
Re-calibrate the body tracking
The Kinect sensor also uses your body as a controller. This works by tracking how your body moves. If you are experiencing issues with this feature, here is how you can re-calibrate the Kinect sensor.
Hit the menu button on the controller, select Settings and then Kinect to open up the Kinect Settings screen. Finally, select the option that says: ‘I moved my Kinect sensor or I’m having trouble with Kinect.’ Follow the steps on-screen to adjust your Kinect sensor, including the audio calibration mentioned above. Remember to do this in a well-lit room.
Here are some tips on proper positioning of the Kienct Sensor:
- Place the sensor near the edge of a flat, stable surface.
- Position the sensor between 2 feet (0.6 m) and 6 feet (1.8 m) from the floor. Ideally, the sensor should be within 6 inches (15 cm) above or below your TV.
- Avoid positioning the sensor in direct sunlight or within 1 foot (0.3 m) of audio speakers.
- Place your Kinect as close to the edge of the surface it is sitting on as you are comfortable with, and make sure no other nearby objects are obstructing the field of view.
- Do not place your sensor directly on top of the console.
- Be careful not to drop the sensor.
Do you have any Xbox One tips? Share them in the comments below!