Tuning the Audio

In the Hardware row of the System Preferences page is an icon for sound. Clicking this icon opens a screen with three tabs, which include Sound Effects, Output, and Input. Sound effects are used by various notifications within the Communicator client and their relative volume can be managed here.

Clicking the Output tab enables you to control overall volume of the output and gives you control over basic audio features such as left/right balance.

Clicking Input enables you to modify the sensitivity of the microphone. This is probably the most critical step in optimizing the experience in audio calls. If the microphone is too sensitive, it can clip or send a distorted signal. If sensitivity is too low, other users will have a difficult time hearing the person speaking into the microphone. One excellent feature offered on the Macintosh is native noise reduction. If the box labeled Use Ambient Noise Reduction is used, less distracting background noise will be sent over the microphone and this will benefit anyone in the audio conference.