This article applies to the following products:
QuickCam 10.x and RightSound supported cameras
QuickCam 11.x and RightSound supported cameras
Call Central and RightSound support audio devices
This Article applies to the following Operating Systems:
Windows® 2000 Professional
Windows® XP Professional
Windows® XP Home
Windows® Media Center Home
Windows® Vista
Things to consider when setting up AEC with my audio configuration?
When setting up AEC it is important to consider the following items:
1. Positioning of microphone and speakers
2. Setting the correct input and output volume levels
3. Knowing the difference between digital and analog gain
Positioning microphone and speakers so AEC works best:
The best physical configuration for your AEC to perform properly is one where the microphone is as close to you as practicable and the speakers are as far from the microphone as they can be. This will ensure that during audio calls, the microphone is picking up more sound from you than it is from the speakers. There are practical limitations to this that must be considered such as cable lengths, etc. When positioning your microphone and speakers, try to follow the following guidelines:
• Place your speakers three or more feet or (one or more meters) from you
• Place your microphone as close to you as possible
• Do not angle your speakers towards the microphone
• Position the microphone such that its opening is directed towards you and away from the speakers
• Do not place the microphone near any other device that generates noise, such as a PC fan or external hard drive
Setting the correct volume level for AEC to work correctly:
Your speaker volume is important because it relates to the amount of sound that your microphone may pick up. Even if your microphone is not close to your speakers, if the volume is too high, the microphone may pick up too much sound. The speaker volume should be set to a comfortable listening level for you, while not causing too much excess noise that could be picked up by the microphone.
Volume in a typical personal computer configuration can be broken down into two types: analog and digital. The Audio Tuning Wizard helps you set the right balance between these two types of volumes. It is important that the bulk of the volume coming from your speakers be from digital amplification because it will result in a clearer sound. Sound that is loud as a result of an analog amplification may lose quality. This loss of quality will appear to the AEC as distortion, which will result in less than ideal echo cancellation performance.
Difference between analog and digital gain:
Digital gain is the adjustment to sound volume that Windows® is able to perform. When you adjust your volume via the Windows® sound controls, you are adjusting the digital gain. The digital gain is the setting the Audio Tuning Wizard adjusts during configuration. Digital gain often results in better quality sound than analog gain.
Analog gain is the volume control on your speakers. This volume adjustment increases the volume of the sound after Windows® has finished processing it. Analog gain may result in the loss of sound quality; therefore it should not be used as a primary volume control.