Set up audio and video - Communicator

The Set Up Audio and Video feature does the following:

• Automatically finds and selects the preferred audio and videos device for your application - without requiring you to go through a setup process. Set Up Audio and Video automatically reconfigures audio and video devices for your application when you detach a device or attach a new device to your computer.

• Allows you to specify an alternative speakerphone device (other than your default handset or headset) for calls. It also allows you to specify separate speaker and microphone devices for your application's audio.

• Allows you to specify an alternative device (other than your default handset or headset) for playing alert sounds for your application. For example, you could specify that alert sounds play on your computer speakers when an incoming call is received.

• Allows you to test devices and adjust speaker and microphone volumes, and test and adjust Web cameras.

The Set Up Audio and Video feature is available in Office Communicator 2007 R2 and Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Attendant.

What do you want to do?

Set Up Audio and Video - Handset or Headset

Set Up Audio and Video - Speaker/Microphone or Speakerphone

Set Up Audio and Video - Sounds

Set Up Audio and Video - Webcam

Set Up Audio and Video - Handset or Headset

The Set Up Audio and Video - Handset or Headset page appears if only if Communicator 2007 detects a USB handset or headset attached to your computer. Handsets or headsets are telephony (phone) devices with a speaker, a microphone, and a button for starting and ending calls.

If you use a USB cable to connect a Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 Phone Edition desk phone to your computer, the desk phone becomes your default audio device for Communicator calls, conferences, and Live Meeting sessions. Communicator automatically pairs with the desk phone, which means that calls you initiate from Communicator are placed from your desk phone, and clicking the notification for incoming calls automatically connects the call to your desk phone. During a call, any call control actions you take are reflected both in Communicator and on your desk phone.

Select a Handset or a Headset

The Handset or Headset drop-down list is populated with the telephony devices detected by the Set Up Audio and Video feature. By default, Set Up Audio and Video autoselects handset or headset devices according to the following priority order:

Auto-selection priority of Handset or Headsets

1. Communicator 2007 R2 only: UC-certified IP desk phone, for example Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 Phone Edition

2. UC-certified handset with display

3. UC-certified handset with speakerphone

4. UC-certified headset

5. UC-certified device with none

6. Non UC-certified handset

The Handset or Headset drop-down list provides the following options:

• Default - <Device Name>   When the Default - <Device Name> option is selected, the Set Up Audio and Video feature automatically detects and selects the preferred handset or headset. When this option is selected, Communicator 2007 will automatically reconfigure your handset or headset devices when you detach or re-attach a device, or attach a new handset or headset to your computer. When an Office Communicator 2007 R2 Phone Edition desk phone is attached with a USB cable, this option displays the desk phone connection.

  Note: If you want to use an attached desk phone but you had previously selected a custom speaker or microphone device, you will need to manually select this option to use the desk phone.

• <Device Name>   Select a specific device if you want to force the use of the device, rather than let the Set Up Audio and Video feature choose one for you. When this option is selected, Communicator 2007 does not automatically reconfigure your handset or headset when you detach a device or attach a new device. If you have a desk phone attached to your computer and you select a different device, Communicator 2007 R2 will not be paired with the Office Communicator 2007 R2 desk phone.

Speaker

• Click Test to test the volume on the speaker of your handset or headset. Use the slider to adjust the volume up or down.

Microphone

• If you have a handset, pick up the receiver and speak into it to test the volume level. If you have a desk phone, pick up the desk phone handset and speak into it to test the volume level. If you have a headset, simply speak into the speaker. The green status should fill to the middle portion of the test area.

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Set Up Audio and Video - Speaker/Microphone or Speakerphone

Note: For best results, select the same device for both speaker and microphone, as choosing separate devices may cause audio echoing during a call. However, if you cannot avoid using separate devices and you experience echoing, you can minimize echoing by lowering the volume of the microphone and the speaker.

The Set Up Audio and Video - Speaker/Microphone or Speakerphone page allows you to select a speaker and microphone for the audio portion of your application. You can also choose separate devices for the speaker and microphone. In addition, if a handset or headset telephony device is detected, you can select a speakerphone (other than the default handset or headset speakerphone) for calls. By default, Set Up Audio and Video autoselects speaker and microphone devices according to the following priority order:

Auto-selection priority of speaker and microphone or speakerphone devices

1. Speakerphone on selected telephony device

2. RoundTable device

3. Default system devices

• Default - <Device Name>   When the Default - <Device Name> option is selected, Set Up Audio and Video automatically detects and selects the preferred speaker and microphone or speakerphone for you. When this option is selected, your speaker and microphone or speakerphone devices are automatically reconfigured when you detach or re-attach a device, or attach a new device.

• Custom    Select this option if you want to choose a specific device, rather than let Communicator 2007 choose it for you. Further, this option lets you choose different devices for your speakers and your microphone.

• Disable    Select this option if you want to disable the speaker or microphone or speakerphone.

Speaker

• If Custom is selected for Speaker/Microphone or Speakerphone, then you can choose from among the devices in the drop-down list.

• Click Test to test the volume on the speaker.

Microphone

• If Custom is selected for Speaker/Microphone or Speakerphone then you can choose from among the devices in the drop-down list.

• Click Test to test the volume level on the microphone. Use the slider to adjust the volume up or down.

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Set Up Audio and Video - Sounds

The Set Up Audio and Video - Sounds page allows you to select a speaker to play sounds from your application - such as call-ringing for incoming calls or audio alerts for IM invitations. By default, Set Up Audio and Video autoselects the default system speakers.

• Default - <Device Name>    This selection is the auto-selected default. When default is selected, Set Up Audio and Video automatically detects and selects the device for playing alert sounds. The benefit of choosing this option is that if you detach a device and attach a new device, Communicator 2007 automatically handles the selection for you.

• <Device Name>    Select a device if you want force alert sounds to play on an specific device. If you choose this option, Communicator 2007 does not reconfigure the device for sound when you detach a device or reattach a new device.

• Disable    Select this option if you want to disable the speaker so that no alert sounds are audible on your speaker.

Speaker

• Click Test to test the volume on the speaker for playing sounds.

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Set Up Audio and Video - Webcam

The Set Up Audio and Video - Webcam page allows you to select a webcam to use during video conversations. This page also allows you to access the settings and adjustments software provided by the webcam manufacturer. By default, Communicator 2007 autoselects video devices according to the following priority order:

Auto-selection priority of video devices

1. Active speaker stream on RoundTable device

2. Default system video device

• Default - <Device Name>    This selection is the auto-selected default. When default is selected, Communicator 2007 automatically detects and selects the webcam device for placing video calls. The benefit of choosing this option is that if you detach a device and attach a new device, Communicator 2007 will automatically handle the selection for you.

• <Device>    Select this option if you want to force the application to use a specific video device. If you choose this option, Communicator 2007 will not reconfigure the video device for your application if a video device is detached, or a new video device is added.

• Disable    Select this option if you do not want to use a webcam.

Webcam settings

• Click the Webcam Settings button to use the settings and adjustments software provided by the webcam manufacturer.

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