Rant on Audio

[Inferno]

So it's just 35min into the show and already I'm being a bitch again, ranting my arse off. Obviously this is a new medium you're streaming with but the program (Skype) stayed the same, if I understood that correctly.

Here's the problem that happened during the show: People were cut off during talking and it sounded like a broken tape. (Some people suggested that Robots were taking over... :lol

Here's my suggestion: SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT PROGRAM!!!

Apparently Skype is incompatible with the whole thing or maybe some of the setup is wrong but one thing is clear: Skype isn't working. It's broken down in the middle of the show and now it started giving off strange noises so that quite a bit was just noise.

I'll say it again and I'll say it till the audio is fixed: I'd have absolutely no problems to lend you my clans channel on TeamSpeak. (This one is actually designed to be for more people and to be recorded!?!) Others have already said that they'd help you out with Vent. Etc. etc.

But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get this sorted.

 

[MRaverz]

Why must it always be rants, what's wrong with a nice suggestion? :lol:

But yes, the audio/connection issue is one which should be looked at.


All errors aside, the show is one of the few I managed to catch and it was pretty damn awesome.

 

[Inferno]

Because I've made the same suggestion three times (from memory) and IMO it's still not taken care of, even though it's probably the largest problem atm.

 

[MRaverz]

Because I've made the same suggestion three times (from memory) and IMO it's still not taken care of, even though it's probably the largest problem atm.

Directly message AW?

NICELY!

 

[Inferno]

Because I've made the same suggestion three times (from memory) and IMO it's still not taken care of, even though it's probably the largest problem atm.

Directly message AW?

NICELY!

Indeed I have. That's why I'm a bit frustrated with the whole thing, because potential fixes are lurking around the corner... But I pray to the magick sandwich that it'll be better next time.

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Indeed I have. That's why I'm a bit frustrated with the whole thing, because potential fixes are lurking around the corner... But I pray to the magick sandwich that it'll be better next time.

Why don't you list those potential fixes?

 

[Inferno]

Indeed I have. That's why I'm a bit frustrated with the whole thing, because potential fixes are lurking around the corner... But I pray to the magick sandwich that it'll be better next time.

Why don't you list those potential fixes?

I have. But I'll link you to the list:
This thread here...

The best option at the moment seems to be either Ventrilo or TeamSpeak. As I've explained already, those two are hosted externally, (on a server) so the host can experience problems but everybody still stays connected. As explained, these programs are also designed to experience little to no problems when being recorded, streamed, etc. They are also especially designed for more than two people. (Contrary to Skype, whose primary function is 1 on 1, the group talk isn't really the best.)
I have also stated that my clan TS3 would be available, so no costs would arise. The following is quoted from a PM, me to AW:

Heya TK

I know this might get annoying but the Skype problems don't seem to get better. I would just like to know if you have actually already tried TS3 or Ventrilo? I'm talking about the below quote, where you don't seem to know a lot about TS3. Now I'd suggest (once again) that you can get on TS3 on my clans channel at evening that you want (nearly same timezones) and that we can work out if TS3 is maybe a better option than Skype.
Now if you do want to try it out, just send me with a PM with the time and date (Preferably not Tuesday and not Thursday, because I have Uni courses then)
IP: XXXXXXXXX
Port: XXXXX
Download page: http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads
Depending on which system you have (Vista, XP, Mac, etc.) you need to find your version.
Also, TS3 is hosted on a server outside of your home. It is basically hosted at a company, so you get the same amount of bandwidth for every person, etc. etc. So basically if one person (ppr ) has a bad connection, it won't affect the other people. If the person who hosts Skype crashes, everyone crashes, correct? But here, the person would only drop out.

Anyway,
Clear skies
Infy/Ben

Choosing one of these problems should fix the sound problems. As far as I understand, AW hasn't even tried them, so obviously this might not work, but since the softwares are designed to suit these specific criteria, it seems to be the logical next step.

If there are programs available that are better suited for this, then let me know.

 

[AndromedasWake]

Skype does do the trick, and all of the panelists (who agree to the show at short notice) already have it.

The call quality sounded fine to me, and thus will sound fine on the recording. The robot voices/dropout occurred due to processor stress on my laptop, which has to perform 4 simultaneous tasks to make the show broadcast. It wouldn't be a problem if the stream was handled by some kind of native app, but so far the most convenient way to stream audio or video over the web to open audiences is to use a service like blogtv or ustream, all of which use flash.

Note: Flash is fucking horrible. It's runs like it's being compiled in real-time by starfish physically carrying the bits through syrup. Previously we had connection dropouts related to the host connection; now we just have artefacts caused by me having to use my laptop whilst it's working both cores at 100%. I actually clocked this after watching the processor spike whenever the sound went bad and started using my phone to check facebook for questions for PZ, instead of my laptop.

Boom. No more problems.

Any audio cutoff heard on the viewer end would be a problem with ustream, which is actually pretty good compared to blogtv (it allows me to broadcast audio only, for example)

All I need to do is limit the amount of tasks my laptop is performing when I'm broadcasting. A smart idea I had conveniently just after the show finished is to run the chat on my phone.

YouTube ran an html5 beta recently and it cut processor usage in half when playing videos. I hope someone makes an html5 streaming site. I'll be the first to use it.

 

[Inferno]

All I need to do is limit the amount of tasks my laptop is performing when I'm broadcasting.

So no more downloading porn. Poor you.