Audio/Video Wizard

With the initial startup of the estos ProCall the user can decide if Audio and Video devices are to be used (for VideoChat and Audio applications), if Audio devices only are to be used (for AudioChat, Softphone, Bluetooth) or if no devices are to be used (Audio/Video off).
The selected configuration can be changed later anytime by pressing the AV device item at the Presence area. If an Audio or Video device is configured to be used an Audio/Video Wizard starts.

During normal operation the Audio/Video Wizard opens automatically if the device configured for Audio/VideoChat is removed and if another device could be selected. If another device is configured the new one is further on used but the old one stays known. Thus, the previous settings remain known for laptops with docking stations and will be corresponding set in the event of changes to the docking state without intervention.

  • Audio configuration
    With the Audio Wizard the microphone and the speaker devices can be configured to be used with Audio/VideoChat. Pressing the "Devices" button opens the Windows® sound devices e.g. for configuring the Windows® standard devices or just for review. While the Wizard is open devices may be plugged in or removed. The list updates accordingly.
    The use of USB headsets or Bluetooth / DECT headsets with USB dongle is recommended (see below the list of supported and tested devices). Otherwise the device control could not work or the presence (e.g. connected, on / off) of the device could not be recognized.
    When using a Bluetooth headset directly coupled with the PC, the microphone and speaker devices should be set with the name "Hands Free AG Audio" in the device name. Bluetooth headsets also offer a speaker device with the name "Stereo" in the device name. This is only intended for music playback, because it is muted by the PC when "Hands Free AG Audio" devices are activated while having calls. If the connection status of a directly coupled Bluetooth headset changes, the device names are updated accordingly on the audio wizard. In some cases the microphone speech quality is improved when the "device echo cancellation" is deactivated (see below). It is recommended not to pair more than one Bluetooth audio device.

    Device echo canceller

    Most audio devices offer hardware echo cancellation with high quality (default on). If echo cancellation on the device is deactivated or not available, software echo cancellation (based on WebRTC) is used automatically. If hardware based echo cancellation is active and strange noises or unwanted blanking effects are heard from the other party (e.g., when both are speaking), the behavior may improve if the device echo canceller is disabled.

    Device automatic gain control

    Some audio devices offer a hardware-specific automatic gain control "AGC". If AGC is deactivated or not available on the device, a software AGD (WebRTC based) is automatically used. If the hardware-specific AGC interferes, it can be disabled here (Default setting on).

    Noice cancellation

    Sometimes the microphone is near a noise source, e.g. a built-in laptop microphone, air conditioner or fan is running. The voice quality can increase if noise reduction is activated in such environments (default setting off).

    Call control via audio device buttons

    If the selected device supports call control with device buttons (Human Interface Device "HID" buttons, e.g. for accepting or dropping calls) a checkbox "Enable Hook switch support" is offered (otherwise disabled grey). If the option is checked Audio/VideoChats can be accepted or dropped per device button. The list of supported HID devices can be found below. For example incoming Audio/Video chats are accepted and ended by the corresponding press of a button on the headset. Several phone calls can also be handled simultaneously. For example, if there is already a conversation, additional callers can be accepted by pressing a button. The existing conversation will be placed on hold.
    Some devices (for example with a hands-free function) have separate buttons for accepting and ending calls. You can refuse a call with the End call button or accept a call with the Accept button.
    If the device offers a swap calls function, pressing the Answer button allows users to change between conversations. If the microphone was switched to Mute during a call, muting will be suspended when switching to another call. The list of supported audio devices with control options is at the bottom of this page.
    When using Plantronics headsets, please note that the "Plantronics Hub" software must be installed (see Plantronics devices below for details). The list of supported headsets with control capability is at the bottom of this page.

    Ringing tone

    Set the device on which incoming calls are signaled. The ringing tone can be set in the Windows® sound settings.

    The test button offers a simple way to verify that your current device configuration is working with the software. After pressing the microphone test button a LED bar lits according to your speech for some seconds. After pressing the playback test button a sound is played for some seconds to the selected speaker device. Pressing the button again while the test runs cancels the test.

  • Video settings
    With the Video Wizard the camera device can be configured to be used with VideoChat. The actually selected camera starts immediately and a test picture is shown. This helps identifying the selected camera device and the camera can be adjusted before a VideoChat starts the first time.

    If the selected camera device supports to be remote controlled per software the option "Enable remote control of the local camera" checkbox becomes enabled (otherwise disabled grey). If checked the local user can move the remote camera. The camera can be turned to the left (arrow key left), to the right (arrow key right), upwards (arrow key up) and downwards (arrow key down). Further it is possible to zoom-in (key "-") and to zoom-out (key "+"). The controlling user may also move the remote camera by using the mouse in the main Video picture with the related overlay buttons (see also Conversation window). The list of supported devices can be found below.


Audio/video hardware with control option

Logitech®:

Logitech® Hardware Call control Mute LED Camera control
USB Headset H570e Mono yes yes yes n/a
USB Headset H570e Stereo yes yes yes n/a
USB Headset H650e Mono yes yes yes n/a
USB Headset H650e Stereo yes yes yes n/a
USB DECT Headset H820e Mono yes yes yes n/a
USB DECT Headset H820e Stereo yes yes yes n/a
USB B530 yes yes no n/a
USB Speakerphone P710e yes, including swap calls yes yes n/a
USB Camera BCC950 yes yes yes yes
ConferenceCam CC3000e yes, including swap calls yes yes yes

Plantronics:

Calls can be controlled by Plantronics devices if the "Plantronics Hub" headset software was installed on the computer. This software comes provided on CD or can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s web site. If an old version of "Plantronics Spokes" is installed, the current "Plantronics Hub" software must be installed.
Use the Plantronics Hub software to adjust the behavior of Plantronics headsets. For example, the smart sensor can be set (if available), which accepts calls when the headset is donned and end calls when removed. Moreover, the automatic muting of the smart sensor can be adjusted there, which can be helpful in some situations, but also undesirable. The software can be opened via a Headset icon in the Windows® System-Tray (use the mouse on the icons of the taskbar). If a Bluetooth USB dongle was supplied with the headset, it should be used on the PC as otherwise the device controller may not function, for example.

Plantronics Hardware Call control Mute LED Sensor Ringer
Blackwire C320 yes yes yes no no
Blackwire C325 yes yes yes no no
Blackwire C720 (USB) yes yes yes yes no
Blackwire C720-M (USB) yes yes yes yes no
Savi W440A (D100) yes yes yes no yes
Savi 7xx yes yes yes no yes
Voyager 5200 UC (BT600) yes yes yes yes yes
Voyager Focus UC (BT600) yes yes yes yes yes
Voyager Legend UC (BT300) yes yes yes yes yes
Calisto 620 (BT300C) yes yes yes no no
Encore Pro HW301N/A-DA45/A yes yes only mute LED no no

Smart Sensor is a name of Plantronic for call control functionality (while putting on = accept call; while putting down = end call)
Intrusion Ringer describes a headset's own ringing sound for incoming calls.

Sennheiser:

The following headsets from the manufacturer have been successfully tested and are suitable for Call Control, other models from the manufacturer are available with Call Control.

Hardware Call control
Circle SC 260 USB CTRL yes
Century SC 630 USB CTRL yes
DW Office yes
DW Pro 1 yes
Presence UC yes

Jabra™:

The following headsets from the manufacturer have been successfully tested and are suitable for Call Control, other models from the manufacturer are available with Call Control.

Hardware Call control
Jabra™ Engage 75 yes
Jabra™ Evolve2 65 yes
Jabra Pro™ 9460 EMEA yes
Jabra Evolve™ 65 UC Stereo yes
Jabra™ BIZ 2400 II Mono USB yes
Jabra™ SPEAK 510 UC yes
Jabra™ SPEAK 710 yes
Jabra™ SPEAK 810 yes

Gigaset:

Hardware Call control Mute LED
Gigaset ION yes, including hold, swap calls and refuse calls yesyes

Yealink:

The following headsets from the manufacturer have been successfully tested and are suitable for Call Control, other models from the manufacturer are available with Call Control.

Hardware Call control Mute LED
Yealink UH36 yes yes yes

Polycom®:

Other hardware Call control Mute LED
Polycom® CX100 yes, including swap calls yes yes

Technical requirements for audio devices

The audio devices for softphones and audio / video chat are supported with sampling rates of 8 kHz ... 96 kHz, mono / stereo, in 16/24 bit PCM format. All devices in the system should be set in this ranges.


See also:
Conversation window for Audio/Videochat

Version 8