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- VoiceChatting
- How do I set up my microphone for real-time Voice Chat?
1. VoiceChatting
You can only VoiceChat in a Room. If you are using VoiceChat for the first time, it is
best to find a Chat Room with a name such as "Mic Check", "Singing",
or "Tech Chat", so you can test out your VoiceChat features with others who are
set up for sound.
Once in the Room, you may hear others talking. If they are, you will notice that the
'TALK' button in the bottom of the screen has changed to 'ONAIR' and the Portrait and name
of the person speaking appears in the upper left. If you wish to speak, wait till the
'0NAIR' button changes to 'TALK' and press and hold it down while speaking into the
microphone.
If you are the Moderator you will see an indicator of volume level, and you may speak
for as long as you wish. If you are not the moderator, you will see a purple bar start to
move from right to left behind the volume indicator. This indicates how much of the 60
seconds you have to speak remains. Once you finish speaking, your mic will 'recharge'
giving others the chance to talk.
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2. How do I set up my microphone for real-time Voice Chat?
The following procedure sets the input levels for AGC (automatic gain control) and sets
the outputs to mid-level.
a) Double-click on the speaker graphic on the lower right corner of your PC's task bar.
b) This should bring up a Volume Control panel.
c) There will be a number of volume sliders available, depending on the features of
your PC.
The control panel has two or more modes, depending on your version of Windows 95 or 98.
You will only be concerned with two modes, Playback and Recording. The control panel
defaults to the Playback mode (where you can set output levels) when it is labeled 'Volume
Control' and in the Recording mode (when you can set input levels) when it reads
'Recording Control.'
To switch between Playback and Recording modes, choose 'Properties' under the Options
menu. You can switch between modes and when you close the dialog box, the mode will change
to the selected one.
ADJUSTING PLAYBACK VOLUME
a) Check that the control panel reads 'Volume Control.' If not, switch it.
b) Make sure 'Mute' is checked on the volume control panel at the bottom of the
Microphone volume control. This does not prevent others from hearing you--it prevents your
speakers from feeding back into your microphone.
c) Under the 'Options' menu, make sure that the 'Advanced Controls' option is checked.
If it is not checked, select it.
d) Move the Microphone Volume bar to its highest setting. Click on 'Advanced.'
e) At the bottom of 'Advanced' make sure that 'AGC for WaveIn' or 'Microphone Boost' is
checked. Select 'Close.'
ADJUSTING INPUT / RECORDING LEVELS
a) Switch to 'Recording Control' using the 'Properties' control under the 'Options'
menu.
b) Make sure that 'Microphone' is checked under 'Show the following volume controls'.
c) Close this panel.
d) From the 'Recording' Control panel move the Microphone volume temporarily to the
middle and make sure the box underneath it is checked.
TESTING YOUR NEW SETTINGS
a) Inside Mplayer.com's software, enter a Chat Lobby and create a test Chat Room such
as 'Mic Test'.
b) Position the microphone where you will normally use it, hold your cursor down on the
'Talk' button, and speak at a normal distance from the mic.
c) Observe the simulated VU meter under the 'Talk' button. The VU meter should peak in
the yellow area, but never reach the red zone, or your speech will sound distorted or even
unintelligible. To make adjustments, open the 'Recording Control' panel and adjust the
Volume slider while you are speaking to keep the VU from reaching the red zone.
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