The quality of voice communications via the Internet has dramatically improved
in the last couple of years. Your Montego II is especially well suited for
Internet telephony uses, such as voice chat rooms and PC-to-telephone
communications ("Internet Phone").
In order to get started you will need Internet telephony software and a
microphone. The software, along with the Montego II and a good headset
microphone, allows your voice to be sent across the Internet to other
computers and also allows other people's voices to be received and heard
on your computer. For best results, Internet telephony software requires a
full-duplex, Windows compatible sound card. All Turtle Beach soundcards are
full-duplex capable in "CD Quality", 16-bit resolution.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
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As you speak into a microphone connected to the Montego II, the software
converts your voice into data. The data is then sent across the Internet
by your modem. When it is received on the other end, the receiver's software
converts the data back to your voice and they can hear you through their
soundcard and speaker(s).
The person at the other end of the line then speaks into his/her microphone,
their voice is digitized and then sent back out over the Internet.
Your computer receives the data, converts it to audio and plays the resulting
voice audio out through the Montego II.
This allows you to have a conversation over the Internet!
SETTING UP THE HARDWARE
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Most PCs have a microphone connected to their Mic Input and speakers
connected to the Line Out. This kind of setup can be used for Internet
telephony, but headsets allow for more privacy during your conversations.
Another advantage of using a headset is the elimination of "feedback".
Feedback is the runaway "howling" sound that happens when the sound of your
voice in the speakers is picked up by the microphone and then amplified once
more through the speakers, then picked up again by the microphone, and so on.
Telephony headsets will have a cable with two plugs for connecting to the
Montego II. The Microphone Output plug connects to the Montego II's red
'Mic In' jack, and the headphones connect to the Montego II's green 'Line Out'
jack. Some headsets have a 'Mute' switch on the cable, which shuts off the
microphone when engaged.
SETTING LEVELS IN THE WINDOWS MIXER
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After the headset is connected properly, you need to set up your mixer:
1. First launch the Windows Volume Control Mixer -
- In Windows 95/NT 4.0:
Start > Programs > Accessories > Multimedia > Volume Control
- In Windows 98:
Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Volume Control
Adjust the Master Volume Control and Wave Out "faders" (sliding volume
controls) to a comfortable playback level. This will adjust the volume
of the incoming caller's voice.
2. Next, look for the slider labeled "Mic" or "Microphone".
If you can't find the Mic fader, it's probably because it
hasn't been enabled as an input in the Mixer.
To add the Mic fader to your playback mixer:
- Click on Options > Properties, then select "Mic" in 'Show the following
volume controls' section. Under the Mic slider, select 'Mute'.
This will disable the microphone, and you will not hear yourself in
the headset.
3. Click on Options > Properties and look for the 'Adjust volume for' section.
Select 'Recording' then click OK. This view of the mixer is for adjusting
the levels for recording. The title of the window should now read
'Recording Control'. Look for the slider labeled Mic.
Again, if the Mic fader doesn't appear, you can add it to your
recording mixer.
- Click on Options > Properties, then select Mic in the 'Show the following
volume controls' section. In the Mic slider, click 'Select' to add a
check mark in the box. This will enable the microphone for recording.
TESTING AND TROUBLESHOOTING
----------------------------
After you configure the mixer, use Windows Sound Recorder to test your
recording and playback levels.
- If the sound is distorted, try lowering the Mic slider in the recording
control or turning off the Mic Boost (accessible from the Advanced button
in the Mic fader area of the Windows Volume Control mixer).
- If you are getting low volume levels or even no signal at all, you may
require a microphone preamplifier or desktop audio mixer, available from
your local Radio Shack (stock no. 32-1106) or from MCM Electronics
(www.mcmelectronics.com).
- Some headsets with noise cancellation circuits may require a higher
voltage than the Montego II's Mic input. (The Montego II's Mic input
was designed to provide +1.5VDC for powering condenser microphones).
Check with the manufacturer of your headset or microphone for more
information.
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