ooVoo Forums

Trying out ooVoo as a replacement for Skype which has been very unstable and causing issues on our systems.  Video quality is great, much better than Skype but the audio quality is very poor.  Everyone sounds like they are in a tin can and very low volume level.  I am using the default settings and have same results whether I use standard or high definition video.  We are on broadband cable on both ends and have had same results with numerous different callers.  Signal quality meter shows very high so it doesn't appear to be a bandwidth issue.

Are there any settings or anything that can be done to improve the audio quality?  We are planning to get the paid version to get rid of ads but if we can't improve the sound quality we won't be albe to use it.

Thanks,
ooVooDan

Hi ooVooDan,

Are you using headsets with mics? ooVoo recommends that all parties use a headset with a mic.

The reason we recommend this is because you must seperate the speaker audio from going back into your microphone. If you do not do this, you can introduce all sorts of noise and echo into the conversation.

ooVoo has some echo cancellation built into the product. This tries to prevent speaker audio from being fed back to the mic, but it can do only so much. If the speaker audio is blaring directly into the mic, you might get a choppy audio as the echo cancellation tries (in vain) to screen out all of the echo. If you are not using a headset with a mic, please do so. Also, be aware that others in your video conversation who do not use a headset (or have it improperly calibrated) may be introducing noise, echo into the system. To Calibrate the Microphone:
Once you plug the headset in, open ooVoo and go to FILE / SETTINGS / AUDIO DEVICES - go to the microphone section and select your sound card in the "select a Microphone" dropdown. Then click "Test"  and speak. When the microphone is recognized, click "Save". This should fix the problem. The audio on ooVoo should be crystal clear. Best Regards,
ooVoo Dave

 

The suggestion is interesting. Had the same bad sound quality experience. So went back to skype and quality was much, much better.

What I liked about ooVoo:
- nice interface
- seemed better video
What I did not like about ooVoo:
- did not find the iSight on the macbook pro
- horrible, horrible sound quality (unusable).

So for now back to skype. Would have loved to switch for several reasons, especially the multiple video conference option in ooVoo....

Hi Cheeseeater,

Tried any of the above suggestions?

:-)

Best Regards,
ooVoo Dave

The suggestion of using a headphone was not practical in the situation.
I'm sure the quality would have improved. But why go back in time (had this problem with skype years ago) when there is existing technology that fixes the echo issue. It sounds like ooVoo has some more work to do to get the echo cancelation part working better.

I will not try the above suggestions as they are really not useful in the way I use video chat. When having multiple people (including children) talk it is just not practical to pass a headset around.

I do would like to know when there is a new version of ooVoo then will improve on this aspect.

I agree. The sound quality is terrible compared to Skype and the headphone suggestion is reasonable but shouldn't be necessary.

I agree as well.  In most cases, the audio quality makes oovoo unusable so I have moved back to Skype.  It's audio works very very well and video is fine.  Oovoo, if you can improve your audio quality then you will have a killer app.

 

 I would like to make a comment on all the sound quality posts. Please correct me if I am wrong but didn't Skype come out originally in 2003? This means they have had over 5 years to work with the sound quality and echo cancelation compared to ooVoo's 18 months.

Yes there have been major improvements in audio quality as internet speeds increase but ooVoo definatly has much better quailty video and I personally don't have an issue with the sound quality, even in 6 person video chat. I also find ooVoo alot more stable than Skype.

Please note these are my personal opinions.

....when you download ooVoo the system requirements for a windows system listed are:

System Requirements:

Pentium 4 1Ghz with 256MB of RAM 20MB Hard disk space Webcam and Headset Broadband connection (Cable, DSL etc..) Microsoft Windows 2000, XP or Vista

These are not system "suggestions".

If you want to have multiple people at each location and do not want to share a headset, ooVoo recommends that you use an echo cancelling device like the Duet PCS by Phoenix Audio: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000BL28M6?tag=wwwoovoocom-20&linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creative=380553

It is also available at our Store (model MT-202).

Best Regards,
ooVoo Dave

I think that ooVoo is awsome except for the headset requirement.  With Skype and Gmail (video and voice) I haven't had anyproblems with sound echo using a camera with a mic on it with my computer speakers, but ooVoo starts squeeking...  It would be great if you could look into what Skype, Gmail and probably others have already fixed.

Thanks,

I just received an email about upgrading for $10 a month.  I decided to check the forums to see if any improvements had been made that would warrant a  purchase.

Sound quality is the one, if not the biggest problem among all of the great features in oovoo. If this is not improved drastically it will be the downfall of the product.  Many people these days prefer the mobility of a laptop which seems to be the setup with the majority of sound issues, so the problem cannot be ignored. Offering suggestions such as using a headset is ridiculous since many other apps have acceptible audio with the built in speakers and a decent webcam.  As cheeseater said it is stepping back in time and inconvenient for multiple people to pass around a headset.

I disagree with TheBoss' comment.  Oovoo is not reinventing the wheel and should not be allowed the excuse that all the other kids have been playing the game longer.  If I decided to go into the car manufacturing business, my first product may not be a Ferrari but it better not resemble a Ford model T either.

I'm not a chat app developer but since the main focus is an internet call and not to be concerned with land line calls etc. there really is no excuse for ignoring the issue.  At least tell people that you're seriously looking into it rather than "try a headset" or "look at the system requirements". Many people I know have tried it and uninstalled it shortly after realizing audio was not a priority.

 I'm not sure if the developers are aware but a large portion of their user base is deaf. I just came from a deaf conference and was amazed that all the attendees, from different countries, use oovoo because of the video quality.  Obviously since they are deaf, audio is not an issue, but since this is a large user group it can give oovoo developers a false sense of security and acceptance.

 I'd like to see the audio improve so I am giving it a little more time, or waiting to see if something else comes along.  So for now I connect with oovoo, mute the sound and make an audio call with skype. So far its working. But what a pity.

Hi SCollins,

I would like to hear your audio problems. What is your ooVoo ID?

Best Regards,
ooVoo Dave

Im having a lot of problems as well with the sound with multiple video calls are in session.

I have found oovoo and introduced it internaly within company that I work for.  We have offices located internationally and it works great that you can create a video conference for multiple locations (2+). The GUI that you created is awesome and it is user friendly

HOWEVER.....IT is impossible to use for it more then 1-to-1 video session. If there are 2 people on the video call the sound is perfect. Note: No headset required. As soon as another video caller is introduced in a few minutes you would start hearing the whisling sound.  The longer you are in a session the louder it gets and at some point it becomes unberable.  The only way to get rid of it is to reset the call - which allows you to talk for another few minuts. This is a MAGOR SETBACK with ooVoo.  I work in a software developing company and i can not understand how something that a software is known for/specialize in can be ignored when it is clearly being brought up by MANY in the forums.

Yes, I can agree that there are various setups, and individul system requirement are important. But at the same time the wisceling noise is heard by everyone no matter what setup or system we are talking about.  Once again to point out that NO SUCH issues are seen if two video calls(two people) are in the conference only

 Make it a better world :)

Hi Yuriy_K,

Try using headsets with mics. ooVoo recommends that ALL parties use a headset with a mic.  Try the below and you should not hear the "Whistle" or feedback that you do.

The reason we recommend this is because you must seperate the speaker audio from going back into your microphone. If you do not do this, you can introduce all sorts of noise and echo into the conversation.

ooVoo has some echo cancellation built into the product. This tries to prevent speaker audio from being fed back to the mic, but it can do only so much. If the speaker audio is blaring directly into the mic, you might get a choppy audio as the echo cancellation tries (in vain) to screen out all of the echo. If you are not using a headset with a mic, please do so. Also, be aware that others in your video conversation who do not use a headset (or have it improperly calibrated) may be introducing noise, echo into the system.

To Calibrate the Microphone:
Once you plug the headset in, open ooVoo and go to FILE / SETTINGS / AUDIO DEVICES - go to the microphone section and select your sound card in the "select a Microphone" dropdown. Then click "Test"  and speak. When the microphone is recognized, click "Save". This should fix the problem. The audio on ooVoo should be crystal clear.

Best Regards,
ooVoo Dave

hello oovoo world,

i cant get any sound at all out of oovoo on my laptop. The person on the other end of the call can hear me but i cant hear them or any other sounds from oovoo.  All my levels are up and i even uninstalled and installed again. I followed all of your instructions. I wish i could say the quality isnt great but sheesh i get no sound. Only on oovoo tho..

also my windowlivemessenger isnt working anymore since i downloaded oovoo.

help please.