Re: OT ? audio feedback & echo on games site

On Sat, 12 Feb 2022 15:04:14 -0500, Paul <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On 2/12/2022 1:15 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>> I've started to play a little Bridge  on the  BridgeBase site
>> and it has an option  that allows   voice-chat  at the table.
>> The original attempt was awful  -  echo & feedback & cricket noises.
>> The second attempt was a little better as  2 players used headsets
>> but  we still suffered some audio problems  -  echo & cricket noises
>> ..    I'm looking for any suggestions to try to resolve this.
>>   All 4 players have good connections  and  connection speed.
>> As a casual member  < not a paid member >  I'm not entitled to
>> direct support from the web admin.
>>     John T.
>
>"How deep is the ocean?"
>
>It depends.
>
>Obviously, there could be some layers involved. Perhaps the
>BridgeBase web page uses WebRTC ? This is used for video conferencing,
>and they could set the video stream to zero, and just use audio WebRTC.
>Perhaps a browser of the HTML5 generation, supports WebRTC.
>
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebRTC
>
>To practice your audio, you would go about finding a "test channel"
>that uses webrtc, one that has a "quality check". Since bandwidth
>costs money, test channel lashups only last for 30 seconds or so.
>Then you have to start a new test.
>
>There are multiple versions of Windows.
>
>The difference between them, is how they abuse the hardware manufacturer
>driver. For example, the RealTek driver has a control panel, and it
>allows special effects settings to be checked. Microsoft may have finally
>stuck a fork in that, because I was unable to find the file in the
>RealTek folder and run the old control panel. Some older versions
>of Windows, allow its usage. And the panel you want, is in the install
>folder and isn't the same as the one in the lower right corner as a
>"speaker" icon.
>
>The Microsoft-provided driver, is just raw hardware wiring.
>
>In the Microsoft interface, there may be four functions in
>the lower right corner. On your Record interface, Mic-In or
>Line-In have a "Monitor" function with a tick box. This
>causes leakage from Input to Output and that's a feedback
>path. That should be disabled. Untick it.
>
>That should help remove some of the "residual" noises. It might
>howl if you get the microphone close enough to the speakers.
>
>There might also be a StereoMix or WhatYouHear path, which is
>again, a loop function, but it's a loop straight through the
>hardware, without attenuation. It is hidden in the Microsoft
>interface, and requires enabling hidden items, so you can see
>it and check the setting for it.
>
>How many echo suppressors are present ?
>
>    WebRTC could have one, at the application layer.
>
>    The RealTek optional driver package has one, but we
>    never know when any of the RealTek files are engaged.
>
>    Microsoft could have one.
>
>    Games can install their own "permanent" echo suppressors.
>
>"Is there a patch panel diagram showing how my audio is processed?"
>
>Nope. That's what makes this ocean so damn deep.
>
>Even if you wear padded earphones, there is room for improving
>the audio, via fine tuning.
>
>I think tuning this is quite do-able. Not every audio is RealTek,
>so for most people, tuning the "monitor" function or StereoMix
>might be their only controls.
>
>At least one audio driver, was permanently in "concert hall"
>mode. This turns rock music into mush. And will also foul
>your attempts to fix conferencing. As one participant coined
>a term for this one day, it's "digital mutilation".
>
>You can use a USB2 port "headphones,microphone" dongle, if
>all else fails. But that doesn't guarantee anything, and is only
>for desperate situations (broken jacks or dead HDAudio chip).
>And then you have to "select" that device as the input device
>in the Microsoft interface.
>
>    Paul


Thanks Paul   -   that   IS  a deep ocean  - appreciate your input.
The headset that I use is a usb set    over-2-ears + mic  combo.
The sound quality is fine  -  except for the  echo+noise issues on
this one web site.
I drilled into the laptop sounds settings and hit a few ticky boxes  -
 ...   my main method of trouble shooting  -  trial & error ..
  John T.