Clear and seamless communication with teammates is crucial for success in the intense 5v5 matches of Rainbow Six Siege. The tactical first-person shooter relies heavily on coordination and callouts. However, an open mic picking up background noise can hamper effective voice chat. This is where Push to Talk comes in handy.
Push to Talk allows you to control voice activation with a toggle key so your mic is only active when you want to speak. This keeps unnecessary noise out of voice comms. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about setting up and using Push to Talk in Rainbow Six Siege on PC.
Key Takeaways:
- Push to Talk mutes your mic by default, activating only when holding a hotkey
- Keeps background noise out of voice chat
- Set up in Audio menu – choose a hotkey and activation delay
- Use mouse side buttons, caps lock or other easily accessible keys
- Active only when R6 Siege window is in focus on PC
- Essential for competitive team play requiring clean comms
- Prevents open mic problems like echo, breathing, ambient sound
- Lets you quickly give callouts without perpetual mic activation
Let’s get into the specifics of configuring and utilizing Push to Talk for clearly transmitting only relevant comms in Siege.
How to Set Up Push to Talk in Rainbow Six Siege
- Open Rainbow Six Siege and go to Options > Audio.
- Under Voice Chat, toggle the Push to Talk option to On.
- Below the toggle, click the Shortcut box and then press your desired hotkey while the box is highlighted red. This sets the push to talk activation key.
- Use the slider to set the Push to Talk Delay. This adjusts how long you need to hold the key to activate your mic.
Some good Push to Talk keys to use are:
- Mouse side buttons – Easy to press while aiming
- Caps Lock
- F or G keys – Accessible without moving your left hand
The delay depends on your preference – set it to about .3 to .5 seconds to avoid accidental activation if you hit the key while typing or repositioning.
Using Push to Talk in Rainbow Six Siege
Once configured, using Push to Talk is very straightforward:
- By default your mic is muted in Siege.
- To temporarily activate voice chat, hold down your set hotkey.
- Your mic remains active only while the key is held.
- Releasing the key mutes you again.
This system gives you quick voice access to make callouts, comments and strat talk without needing an open mic continually transmitting ambient sounds.
Some key tips for the effective use of push-to-talk:
- Make callouts concise – “Sledge half healthyellow stairs”
- Don’t block pathways or hide to use Push to Talk
- Use during prep phase to coordinate with team
- Check that mic activates when testing key in Audio menu
- Keep your finger readily positioned on the hotkey
- Use Siege-specific callouts teammates will recognize
Push to Talk takes some practice to get used to, but soon becomes second nature. With a well-configured hotkey and delay, you can enjoy clear and selective voice comms that don’t distract your team.
Why Use Push to Talk Over Open Mic?
Here are some key benefits of using Push to Talk instead of an open mic in Rainbow Six Siege:
Eliminates background noise
An open mic transmits any ambient sounds like clicking, typing, fan noise, breathing etc. This can be very distracting for teammates. Push to Talk keeps these sounds muted.
Prevents echo
Open mics in the same room can cause echo issues. With select activation, Push to Talk prevents voice doubling up.
Omits breathing sounds
Heavy breathing from tense clutch moments doesn’t need to be heard through your mic with Push to Talk enabled.
No accidental activations
Coughs, sneezes and other involuntary noises won’t blast down the mic with controlled Push to Talk use.
Mic stays muted when not in R6 focus
Your open mic may transmit to teammates even when Siege isn’t the focused window. Push to Talk only activates when holding the key in R6.
Quick access for callouts
Gives you instant mic activation to relay crucial intel to teammates.
Push-to-Talk Tips and Tricks
- Test your Push to Talk key in the Audio menu to ensure it’s working before matches.
- Use mouse side buttons as your hotkey so you can easily activate while aiming down sights.
- If using keyboard keys, make sure to position your hand for quick access without affecting your movement.
- Don’t use keys you may need to frequently press for other game functions.
- Set an appropriate activation delay so you avoid accidental presses.
- Communicate only essential callouts instead of open mic chit-chat.
- Avoid noisy areas or use a mic boom for optimal voice pickup.
- Ensure Siege has mic permissions enabled in Windows settings.
- reposition your keyboard or mouse for the most comfortable access to your hotkey.
Push to Talk Issues and Solutions
Mic not activating when holding the hotkey?
- Check the activation delay isn’t set too high.
- Make sure the game has mic permissions enabled in Windows.
- Confirm the key is actually set – reopen the Audio menu.
- Ensure no other programs are blocking the mic.
Key activates mic when not pressed?
- Lower the activation delay time.
- Select a different key without conflicts.
- Try muting mic out of game and reactivating Push to Talk.
Mic cuts out mid-transmission?
- Check your finger is depressing the key fully.
- Increase the activation delay slightly.
- Disable any software limiting key presses.
Teammates can’t hear you?
- Verify your overall mic input volume in Windows settings.
- Test the mic works normally when not using Push to Talk.
- Confirm mute isn’t toggled on in the Audio menu.
FAQ
Does Rainbow Six Siege have proximity chat?
No, Siege does not have proximity voice chat. All communication goes through team and match chat channels.
What’s the best Push to Talk key for Rainbow Six Siege?
Mouse side buttons provide easy accessibility without affecting movement. F, Caps Lock and other peripheral keys located near WASD also work well.
Why is my mic not working in Rainbow Six Siege?
Check the mic input device selected in Audio settings matches your hardware. Confirm Siege has mic permissions in Windows Settings > Privacy and that your overall input volume is sufficient.
Does Rainbow Six Siege have text chat on PC?
Yes, R6 has team text chat on PC. Open chat with Enter and bring up text field with T.
How do I stop my mic echoing in Rainbow Six Siege?
Enable Push to Talk on mics in the same room. Reduce overall input volume. Avoid speakers and use headphones to stop output feeding back into the mic.
Conclusion
Upgrading from an open mic to a tight Push to Talk setup can instantly elevate the clarity of your voice comms in Rainbow Six. Choosing an intuitive hotkey with a tuned activation delay gives you crisp access to relay intel when needed without cluttering the airwaves.
With a finely configured Push to Talk button, you’ll gain a competitive edge from having reliable, distraction-free communication channels for synchronizing tactics with your Siege squad. Just be sure to practice concise callouts rather than excessive chatter over the mic!
We hope these steps help you implement seamless Push to Talk in Rainbow Six Siege to take your team play to the next level. Let us know if you have any other tips for setting up effective voice chat.
