MSN Messenger Silence Detection

[Michael]

Both a me and a friend use MSN Messenger v6.1. We chat with webcam and
audio and are using Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000. We do not use the
videoconference feature, because the video is not as sharp as in
webcam mode, and for some reason, the bandwidth usage is much greater
in the video conference mode. So we do separate cam and audio
conversation.

Both of us experience the annoying silence detection, which I am not
sure if it is a Logitech thing or an MSN thing. Neither seems to have
an option to turn it off.

If either of us have, say for example, our stereo playing and the
volumeis loud, the audio stream stays continuous. But if the signal is
low, either music or voice, an obnoxious pffffffffffffffff sound goes
on and off as it detects silence. It really is bothersome. Is there
any way to turn this off?

One more thing I noticed. If my friend plays a song from his computer,
in Windows Media, MSN audio seems to have a difficult time squeezing
all the data through, and the music sounds like it is being played
under water. If he stops this and plays an external sound soorce, the
quality (other than the silence pfffffff's) is very good.

Any ideas?
Thanks.

Michael

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Michael,

It is actually a Messenger function and no, there is no way to turn it off. Assuming the
stereo is in the "background", this is why Messenger is cutting it off. The only real
solution is to use something else (Skype comes to mind) or even use the Windows Media Encoder
to stream music.

Assuming all that's happening in the scenario that you've described is him playing music from
Windows Media Player (WMP), playing it on the computer speakers and then having the mic pick
it up, it's all where the speakers are. Instead, temporarily during the conversation, he
might switch his audio input from "Microphone" to "Wave", "What U Hear", "Master", "Stereo
Mix" or similar (depending on sound card/chip) which will then take the music directly from
WMP and send it to you. To make this change, he just needs to click Start, then Run, type
"sndvol32" and click OK. Then within the Volume Control, click the Options menu, then
Properties, click the Recording option, make sure all the volume controls are enabled and
click OK. Then within the new panel(s) that have appeared, select the Wave/What U
Hear/Master/etc. option.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com