PLA Forums

Other Stuff That Has Little To Do With PLA => Techinical Shit => Technical Support => Topic started by: computerwiz_222 on September 10, 2006, 03:47:39 AM

Title: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: computerwiz_222 on September 10, 2006, 03:47:39 AM: I know that you can set the computer to record from the stereo mix but that gives an echo. How can I record skype calls with no echo and only one computer?
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: frog on September 10, 2006, 06:03:00 AM: Quote from: computerwiz_222 on September 10, 2006, 03:47:39 AM
I know that you can set the computer to record from the stereo mix but that gives an echo. How can I record skype calls with no echo and only one computer?

I think the echo is a byproduct of lag and your mic picking up your speakers. You can't eliminate that with software, only through a better arrangement of your equipment and a faster connection.
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: computerwiz_222 on September 10, 2006, 06:12:55 AM: I use headphones and a mic... I only get an echo when I select stereo mix to record the calls
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: Raptor on September 10, 2006, 09:27:38 AM: I need to find a recording app that will be compatiable with skype, AND a voice changer I use sometimes for calls.

Just dont know what to do.. :-\
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: rbcp on September 10, 2006, 09:46:13 AM: Recording Skype calls is a common issue for podcasters. I've never looked into it too much myself since I never use Skype. But a Google search (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-23,GGGL:en&q=recording+skype+calls) turns up lots. Also, search these 2 podcasting forums and I'm sure there will be many discussions on the subject:

http://www.podcastalley.com (http://www.podcastalley.com)
http://www.podcastpickle.com (http://www.podcastpickle.com)

There are podcasts that cover the subject too. One I remember is the PK Audio Show. Look for that show on Podcast Alley.Here's another (http://www.portlandpodcasting.org/2006/05/doug-kayes-recording-phone-calls.html) but I'm not sure if he talks about Skype or just regular phones.
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: Devilz212 on September 10, 2006, 01:04:02 PM: Options -> Properties -> (check) Recording -> (check) "Wave Out Mix" -> (click) "OK". Select "Wave Out Mix" and put the volume to 0%.

And to eliminate the issue of your mic picking up your speaker output, select "mute" on the microphone volume control.
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: Raptor on September 10, 2006, 01:12:11 PM: thanks void :)
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: gangals on September 10, 2006, 01:59:31 PM: I always use stereo mix in the Nvidia sound options...
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: Dr P4nyk on September 10, 2006, 04:26:41 PM: I use a program called Audio record Wizard 3. But it wont stifle the echo. It pretty much records from the soundcard so everything that is on the computer comes through the recording. But it records well.

P4nyk
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: Dr P4nyk on September 12, 2006, 10:27:31 AM: What voice changers/Vocoders do you guys use?

P4nyk
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: DJ Nu2U on September 20, 2006, 11:28:56 PM: I use Sony ACID or Sound Forge to do my recordings.
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: ghostman on September 22, 2006, 06:21:34 AM: My echo sucks bad with Skype... is Sound Forge really any good? I need to try something....
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: p99 on October 11, 2006, 02:10:03 AM: I use powergramo.
Just google it. It actually works with skype sorta like a plugin. It's great and will catch both sides
of a conversation without any echo.
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: onetwofive on October 11, 2006, 09:27:33 AM: A stellar pair of headphones is a real good idea. Right now I'm using a pair of vic firth headphones. You can find them at guitar center or any such place that sells drums, since they are made for good isolation in high db. You can't hear anything outside with them on, and in turn, they aren't letting any sound out. That alone should kill most echo issues.

I also highly recommend the use of a condenser mic with a pop filter; for nothing more than clarity. Skype can sound real grainy, and my calls lost about 80% of "what did you say" and "your cell phone must be cutting out," when I started using some of my recording equipment, as opposed to the mic that was thrown in the box with my pc.

As far as voice modulation goes, there's plenty of cheap guitar pedals and stuff that can help with the right adapters and cords. I still swear by this ineko thing, it seems like it was built for nothing more than phone calls, since I can't really imagine any other practical application in a music environment. I picked up mine after haggling the salesman with doctored html files from other places that sold them. I'm fairly certain that the larger guitar chains, like samash and guitar center have a bottom price of somewhere around 60 or 70 dollars. It's been years since I picked it up, so I don't remember, but regardless the effects are pretty clean and very functional.
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: . on October 12, 2006, 08:03:04 AM: We use headsets plus mute the mic from the sound card options as Devilz212 said at work and believe me the records are pretty decent, Countykid can back up me on this...
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: . on October 12, 2006, 08:04:16 AM: Try to perform a MOS test with one of your friends that will help you out to find the weakest link.
Title: Re: Recording Skype Calls - No Echo?
Post by: GenRik_pHreaK on October 12, 2006, 08:01:59 PM: does anyone have a link to a program that works?
I tried power gramo but it cuts out, and is all fuzzy even after I converted it to MP3 and upped the frequency and quality.