Using Voice Chat
From BitWise DocuWiki
Voice chat allows you to speak to other users using your voice, like a telephone. This document describes voice chat preferences, real-time voice chat adjustments, and some common voice chat problems.
You may also want to read Tips: Using Voice Chat.
| Table of contents |
Voice chat preferences
First, open the preferences. The preferences are accessible under the File menu of the contact list, and from a few other places as well. In the list of preferences on the left, expand the Conversation item and click on Voice.
- Input / Output Device: In most cases, the audio devices should be left set to the default setting (Built-In, Primary, etc). Change this setting if you want to use a non-default secondary device.
- Connection Type: BitWise allows you to optimize your voice chats for three different bandwidth categories: dial-up, broadband and LAN. Do not select a setting that is higher than your actual bandwith or your voice chats will become laggy, choppy and have unacceptable quality.
- Audio Buffer Length: This specifies the amount of time that audio is held between when it is processed and when it is actually sent or played. Slower computers or slower connections will benefit from a longer buffer length which will help reduce sound interruptions and lag.
- Show Information / Settings: If checked, the voice chat settings window will be automatically displayed when a voice chat starts.
- Auto-accept: If checked, incoming voice chats will be automatically accepted (as long as you are not already on a voice chat).
Starting a voice chat
In order to voice chat, you must either be asked to a voice chat or request a voice chat with another user. The most direct way is to right-click on someone in your contact list and select Voice Chat. You may also use the Actions menu on a conversation window.
Being invited to a voice chat
As indicated in the previous section, one of the ways that you can have a voice chat is to be "called" by another user. Pictured here is what Kevin would see when Screenshot requested a voice chat.
Waiting for voice chat to start
If you started the voice chat, you will see the status as Calling while waiting for your contact to accept or reject the voice chat.
Once your connection is confirmed and your sound hardware is initialized, the voice chat will begin. If there is an error, with either initializing sound hardware or the voice connection, an error message will be displayed. See Common Voice Chat Errors below for descriptions of the possible error messages.
Voice chat real-time settings
The voice chat window is divided into two parts: settings and information. The information is mostly self-explanatory and is only of interest to those wanting to carefully examine their network usage.
The settings are:
- Variable Bitrate: Allows sending a non-constant stream of data that dynamically adjusts how much data is sent based on how much data is needed at each particular moment. For example, less data will be sent during periods of silence.
- Force Average Bitrate: Only available when using a variable bitrate, this forces the bitrate over time to stay averaged around what the constant bitrate would be if variable bitrate were not enabled.
- Requested Bitrate: The Speex encoder has 10 preset bitrates for each connection type. The slider represents the lowest and highest bitrates available (almost 40 settings). Therefore, it is necessary to move the slider several positions to actually achieve a new bitrate.
- Encoding Complexity: Indicates how intensely the processor is used to compress your voice data. Increasing the complexity gives you better sound quality, but can significantly tax slower processors.
- Frames per Packet: Voice data is captured in frames, and the frames are bundled up and sent in groups. The total bandwidth used will be the same regardless of your frames per packet setting, but certain networks may be optimized for smaller or larger packet sizes.
Common voice chat problems
The most common problem when first using voice chat is the "No UDP Reception" that shows the dialog pictured at right. BitWise voice chat requires that you be able to receive data on port 4137 UDP, although in most cases BitWise can configure this for you. More information about configuring your firewall and/or router for voice chat is available in Tips: Using Voice Chat.
Other possible error messages:
- Remote UDP Error: The person you trying to voice chat with is not set up to receive BitWise voice data.
- Local Audio Error: BitWise was unable to open your microphone and speakers for use. Close any other programs using your audio hardware and try the voice chat again.
- Remote Audio Error: The person on the other end of the voice chat experienced a problem with their microphone or speakers.
- Contact has Old Client: The person you "called" does not have at least BitWise 1.0.3.
- Version Incompatibility: Voice chat was updated in version 1.7, and your contact has an older version.
- No Direct Connection: You were not able to establish a direct connection to the other user. See our direct connection information.
- Hung Up: The other person hung up before the voice chat started.
