#1 2008-12-10 13:23:54

**_bpaleg_**

Still experiencing problems with built-in audio in ver 7 SP1

It's been about five months since my team began a soft rollout of Adobe Connect Pro (on-premise, initially version 7.0, now 7 SP1). While Connect is really a wonderful web conferencing system, I am very much underwhelmed by Connect's built-in audio "capabilities". In fact, Connect's audio problems, have been my implementation's Achilles' Heel, causing delays and quite frankly are enabling a few naysayers to question my decision to go with Connect. It has also given me a reason to more fully appreciate phone-based audio.

Currently, with the SP1 "fix" of the unchecked enhanced audio feature, I feel the only acceptable environments for Connect's built-in audio are:

    - where every attendee who may wish to talk has a headset, or
    - if only one microphone is active at a time (requires lots of disciplined microphone users)

If not, you have some fairly challenging feedback, who hinders effective communication.

Let me restate my newly found appreciation for phone-based audio.

I am curious if I am describing something that is not being experienced by the Connect User Community. So, any suggestions would be appreciated.  Meanwhile, can anyone can point me to a resource or weigh in on these two questions that I've asked to Adobe support and am waiting a response:

1) If we use the new default of leaving the "Use Enhanced Audio" unchecked (as I understand to be the current band aid response to the audio problems) then what is the value of running the "Audio Setup Wizard"?

2) And what parameters, if any, are controlled by this wizard?

Thanks,

Brad Paleg
Distance Learning Specialist
University of Maryland
bpaleg@umd.edu

**_Jorma_at_RealEyes_**

Re: Still experiencing problems with built-in audio in ver 7 SP1

First off there needs to be the understanding that using the VoIP technology in Connect is like having a conversation over a two-way radio. There is a single audio thread for the room, so yes, if more than one person talks then you begin to get garbled noise.

Headsets are going to work best as the mic on the headset cannot hear the sound coming out of the speakers. If you are using the VoIP to have a conversation between many people then your correct in assuming that you need a group of disciplined or "well behaved" users. This has always been a limitation of VoIP.

As to your questions about the audio set up wizard, it still ensures that the correct audio input device is selected and that the silence level is sett appropriately. Just because you have a mic plugged into your computer doesn't mean that it will be selected. Take for example having a web cam and a headset. Many times the web cam's mic will be selected instead of the headset, leading to the audio from that participant being less than ideal quality.

Hope that helps.

**_bpaleg_**

Re: Still experiencing problems with built-in audio in ver 7 SP1

Thanks Jorma. My early tests of Connect with multi-way audio with the Enhanced Audio had good results. And I don't remember the Adobe sales rep using the same two-way radio analogy, but I do understand what you are saying. And I appreciate you pointing out the opportunity for the correct input device selection.

However, based on the Help resources while in Advanced Audio Settings, I didn't think that the silence level is affected:

"Make sure Use Enhanced Audio is selected. This option (Use Enhanced Audio) turns on automatic audio control, including echo cancellation, microphone volume control, silence detection, and noise suppression. Select this option to use the other Advanced Settings."

Have you experienced otherwise?

**_Jorma_at_RealEyes_**

Re: Still experiencing problems with built-in audio in ver 7 SP1

The silence level is not affected by the enhanced audio. The default setting is 10 but can be manually adjusted through the advanced audio options or automatically through the wizard.