Transcript
Technical Note “Installation and use of the VT200 IP audio” Revision Date
Application
September 2005
VT200 version 4.0 and later
1. What do you need before installing the IP audio? This note assumes that you have a VT200-NT v4.0 and later, connected by TCP/IP to a reception computer which has the Supervisor 3.61 or latter software installed. This note describes only the installation and use of the bi-directional IP audio functionality. Please consult the VT200 manual for more information about the installation of the video and communications.
1.1 We supply: You will find the audio software "TCPIPaudio.exe" in the Supervisor CD, in the folder /Toolbox as well as in the site www.videosafe.net, in the Supervisor upgrades page.
1.2 You provide: A) In the VT200: • A non-amplified, PC compatible microphone: PC compatible microphones are connected to the computer with a 3.5mm (1/8") stereo jack connector, and are powered from the computer sound card (the VT200 in this case). You must choose an appropriate model for your application (i.e omnidirectional, unidirectional..). We recommend the use of high quality microphones in general, and for unidirectional applications you will also need high sensibility models. The PC compatible microphone cable is typically 2m. long, and it is not convenient to extend it because the quality loss. If you use the proper extension cable you may achieve up to 10 meters provided that the cable is far away from other power and communication cables.
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If the distance between the microphone and the VT200 is longer, the PC compatible microphone may be substituted by any other pre-amplified audio device. In that case you will have to connect it to the VT200 by the Line-in input instead of the Mic-in one. This preamplified signal is called "line level" signal, and it may come from any audio device such as an amplified microphone, an audio player... In any way you will need a 3.5mm (1/8") stereo jack connector at the VT200 side. • An auto-amplified, PC compatible, stereo speakers. Connected to the unit with a 3.5mm (1/8") stereo jack connector
B) In the Supervisor: •
A sound card installed in the Supervisor computer.
Properly installed under Windows. Depending on the operating system (98, Me, XP..) the mere installation of the sound card makes the Volume Control Icon appear in the Windows taskbar. Otherwise you should make it appear: - Start / Configuration / Control Panel / Multimedia / Sound: √ "Show the Volume Control in the taskbar"
• A PC compatible stereo headphone: It must have two 3.5mm (1/8") stereo jack connectors, one for the microphone and one for the earphones. We suggest for the Supervisor side the use of a headset with a microphone incorporated due to de quality and confidentiality provided in both directions. Nevertheless you can substitute it with speakers and a separate microphone.
C) In the TCP/IP network: When the connection between the VT200 and the Supervisor is made trough routers, it is needed to configure them to open the appropriate audio ports. When the connection is made inside a local network (LAN) no extra configuration is needed. If you have any doubt you should consult the network(s) administrator(s).
2. Installation 2.1 Installation in the VT200 Î Install and connect the speakers and the microphone to the AUDIO OUT and MICIN respectively. Plug in and power-up the speakers. If you are using something different than a PC compatible microphone, connect it to the LINE-IN input instead of the MIC-IN and power it up. Warning: you have to configure the sound controls in the VT200 to enable the LINE-IN input, as described in the chapter "testing and troubleshooting"
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2.2 Installation in the Supervisor Î Install and connect the earphones and the microphone to the computer soundcard, inputs AUDIO OUT and MIC-IN respectively. The icons in the PC sound card may vary. They are usually similar to the next ones:
Normally the Line-in input in the Supervisor won't be used: a PC compatible microphone, independent or integrated in a headphone is the most common application. Î Install the audio software in the Supervisor. Although it can be executed directly from the CD, in \ToolBox\TCPIPAudio\tcpipaudio.exe, it will be handy to copy this program to the computer hard disk, and if you wish, create a shortcut in the desktop beside the Supervisor one.
2.3 Router(s) configuration When the Supervisor and the VT200 are in the same local network (LAN) you can skip this title. When routers are used to interconnect networks (i.e. when connecting to Internet by ADSL) you need to open the communication ports used, which are normally disabled.
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Î In our case, we need to open the 2074-UDP port in the VT200 side and in the Supervisor side when it is also connected using a router. Besides this port for the audio transmission, you still need the 9603-TCP open for the video transmission. Get in contact with your network administrator or your Internet provider to make these changes. Note: Please consult the technical note about connecting the VT units to Internet "DOCVSFTN06EN_InternetConnection.PDF"
3. Use of the bi-directional audio functionality
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Start the program TCP/IP audio together with the Supervisor program. A window like the shown below will be opened:
Idle
Leave this window open permanently. Î When the Supervisor connect to a VT200 v4.0 or latter it will start automatically an audio connection:
Receiving audio
At this time you will start hearing the audio coming from the VT200. You can also execute the audio program whenever you want, even when the Supervisor is already running and connected to a remote unit. If you move the mouse cursor over the audio connection window, the cursor will change its aspect, taking the appearance of a phone:
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Receiving audio
Î If you want to transmit audio to the VT200 unit, keep the mouse button pressed over this window, or double-click in it to enable the transmission permanently. In this state you can send and receive audio simultaneously. The cursor will take the appearance of an ear. The text "Transmitting" is then shown in the audio connection window indicating that you are transmitting audio toward the VT200:
Transmitting and receiving audio
Î When the Supervisor interrupts its connection to the VT200, the audio will stop transmitting in both directions. However the audio connection window will be open until you close it manually leaving the audio program ready for a new connection (Take care to close only the connection window, not the audio program).
Ready for a new connection
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4. Testing and troubleshooting
4.1 Enabling the LINE-IN instead of the microphone input in the VT200. Î Connect a VGA monitor, a keyboard and a mouse to the VT200. Î Double-click on the Volume control icon of the windows taskbar.
The next window will be shown:
These are the volume controls for the speakers: Make sure that the "Line" device is "Mute" to avoid the playback of the audio input into the local speakers. Î In the menu Options/Properties you will get a window like the one shown below. Click on "Recording" and accept, so that the volume control window is shown with the audio inputs.
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Mark "Select" in the "Line-in" device. This enables the line-in input and disables the microphone input. Make sure that the volume level is enough for the selected input (50%-100%). Î Then close the Volume Control window. The unit is now ready to transmit audio using the line-in input.
4.2 Adjusting the transmission and reception volumes. You can adjust in the Supervisor PC the transmission volume (adjusting the microphone volume) as well as the reception one (adjusting the speakers volume). It is recommended to leave the VT200 volume controls as they come by default unless you need to modify them. To perform the steps below, connect to the VT200 unit from the Supervisor with the TCP IP audio program started. Î Adjusting the reception volume Double-click into the volume control icon of the task bar.
A window similar to the one below will come up:
These are the volume controls of your computer speakers. Make sure that the "Line-in" and "Mic"(*) are in "Mute" in order to avoid the playback of the local sounds into the local speakers/headphones. (*) By default the "Mic" volume control is not included in this window, and it is "Mute". You will have to check its configuration only if you have modified it before.
Adjust the "Wave" volume or the general volume "Volume Control" so that you hear properly the audio coming from the VT200. Both volume controls are necessary and must be enabled. Î Adjusting the transmission volume In the menu Options/Properties you will get a window like the one shown below. Click on "Recording" and accept, so that the volume control window is shown with the audio inputs.
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Adjust the "Microphone" volume so that the voice of the Supervisor user can be heard properly into the VT200 speakers. Then close the volume control window. The Supervisor is ready for transmitting audio.
4.3 Troubleshooting If you are experimenting problems with the audio transmission it might be due to a bad installation of the audio in the Supervisor computer. Make sure that your installation is working under Windows following the next steps: Î Close the TCP IP audio application. Î Try to record with the Windows Sound Recorder using your microphone, and next try to play back what you have recorded using your headphones or speakers. Î
If you pass this test successfully, check next that the communication with the VT200 is properly configured: • You can communicate to the VT200 by TCP/IP, and receive video. • Your Supervisor is version 3.61 or latter and the VT200 is 4.0 or latter. • You are using a local area network (LAN) or .. • If you are using routers (i.e. for Internet connection), make sure that the UDP port 2074-UDP for the audio is open in both ends.
DOC200TN11EN_050905_AudioIP
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