Audio Tuning

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Audio Tuning

• Jason Bell (jason.bell_at_arcs.org.au)
• Lev Lafayette (lev.lafayette_at_arcs.org.au)
• Padric McGee (padric.mcgee_at_arcs.org.au)
• Ashley Wright (ashley.wright_at_arcs.org.au)

Supported by
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Topics Covered

• Keeping it simple
• Audio Codecs
• Tuning Echo Cancelling Devices
• Echo Cancelling
• Noise Cancellation
• Audio Filtering
• Configuring Telco Device

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Keep it Simple

• Some Software, such as the AG Media Tools allow
  audio techniques to be enabled (Disable them!)
• Turn off Silence Suppression
• Turn off Automatic Gain Control
• Turn off Echo Suppression

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Keep it Simple

• Keep the device channels, both inputs and output,
  to a minimum
• If it isnt needed, set it to zero
• Disable any 3D or surround sound, as it
  interferes with echo cancelling
• Devices such as the Clearone Chat50 and 150
  devices, only have a single input and output
• This makes it simpler to use and adjust

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Audio Codecs

• Some software allows the use of multiple audio
  codecs
• Can significantly reduce bandwidth, with better
  audio quality
• May be incompatible with older systems or with
  other software (eg IOCOM)

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Tuning Echo Cancelling Devices
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Mapping Inputs to Outputs
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Mapping Inputs to Outputs
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Configuring Clearone Devices

• Configuration examples can be found at
  http//www.accessgrid.org/node/867
• Can be used as a starting point or alternatively,
  used to compare your current configuration

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Clearone Converge
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Clearone Converge
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Echo Cancelling

• Echo Cancelling is one of the most critical
  functions for the Audio Device
• Link input device to output
• Too aggressive NLP can cause issues
• Best to try various settings to find which best
  suits your environment

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Noise Cancellation

• Great for removing background noise, such as
• Air conditioning
• Computer noise
• Greatly improves audio quality!

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Audio Filtering

• Great for removing sounds outside the normal
  speaking levels. Suggested levels include
• High Pass 125.00
• Low Pass 7000
• Personally, I had to use filtering to remove an
  electrical humming noise when using better
  quality microphones.

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Telco Input

• Can be very difficult to configure correctly
• Having the gain set correctly to both local AG
  room and external connections is quite difficult
• When someone is connected through the Telco
  device, if you mute rat, audio is still
  transmitted over the telephone!

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Tips and Tricks

• A web-page dedicated to general clearone echo
  canceller information and tips and tricks can be
  found at http//www.accessgrid.org/clearonetips
• Very in depth information and explains many of
  the topics in more detail!
• Thanks to Dean Gray (AV Technical Services
  Deakin) who provided the information

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Acknowledgements

• Special thanks to Dean Gray (Deakin) for clearone
  tips information
• Doug Kosovic and Chris Willing (UQ) for previous
  work on presentation material
• Special thanks to Mike Miller (NCSA) for Audio
  Tuning Video

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• Questions???