Difference between revisions of "KB2/Voice chat"

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(Replaced content with '{{KB2}} == Voice chat FAQ == {{:Voice FAQ}} == How to use voice == {{:How to use voice}}')
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* http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Voice_FAQ
{{KB2}}
* http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/How_to_use_voice
* http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/How_far_does_my_voice_carry%3F
* http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Voice_Morphing
* http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Frequently_asked_questions_about_AvaLine:_Dial_an_Avatar


=Setting up voice=
== Voice chat FAQ ==
{{:Voice FAQ}}


==What do I need to use voice?==
== How to use voice ==
 
{{:How to use voice}}
To use voice chat you will need:
 
# A computer that fulfills the [http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php System Requirements].
# A broadband (e.g., DSL or cable) connection to the Internet.
# A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) headset for your computer (strongly recommended), or a microphone and speakers on your computer. Using earphones encloses the sound to avoid annoying echoes of your own voice on a call.
 
==How do I plug in my headset?==
 
VoIP headsets come in two flavors: they either have two plugs (one for the microphone and one for the earphones), or they have a single USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector. The connectors on the two-plug variety are usually color-coded:
 
* Green for the speaker connector
* Pink or orange for the microphone connector
 
If your headset connectors are color-coded, match them to the like colors of the receiving sockets on your computer.
 
If your connectors aren't color-coded, look for the microphone and speaker symbols on the connectors themselves and match them to the like symbols on your computer.
 
If your headset has a USB connector, simply connect it to any available USB socket. On some Windows systems, you'll need to have the USB headset plugged in when you start the operating system.
 
==How do I plug in an external microphone and speakers?==
 
If your connectors are color-coded as described above for a headset, match them to the like colors of the receiving sockets on your computer.
 
If your connectors aren't color-coded, look for the microphone and speaker symbols on the connectors themselves and match them to the like symbols on your computer.
 
==How do I select which microphone and speakers to use for voice?==
 
If your volume works initially, but some Residents complain they can't hear you, it may be that:
 
* You're too far from your microphone
* Your microphone isn't working properly
* Your microphone settings are incorrect or have changed for some reason
 
You can change your device settings in Second Life:
 
# From the menus at the top of the Second Life Viewer, open '''Edit''' > '''Preferences'''.
# Click the '''Voice Chat''' tab.
# Click the '''Device Settings''' button. You'll see '''Input device (microphone)''' and '''Output device (speakers)'''.
# Click each dropdown to change it from Default to another device.
 
You can see an illustration of this on page 4 of our [http://tr.im/quickstart Quickstart Guide].
 
In some cases, you may need to relog into Second Life.
 
If you prefer, you can change the default input and output devices on your operating system.
 
=== On a computer running Windows ===
 
# Open the '''Windows Control Panel'''.
# Open '''Sounds and Audio Devices'''. In Windows Vista, this is called '''Audio Devices and Sound Themes''' and it's found under '''Hardware and Sound'''.
# Look in the '''Volume''' tab to make sure that the '''Mute''' checkbox is not selected and the device volume is set where you want it.
# In the '''Audio''' tab, select the primary input and output audio devices from the dropdown list.
 
If you're using a USB audio device, make sure it's been recognized by Windows and appears in the dropdown list.
 
=== On a Mac ===
 
# Go to '''Apple''' menu > '''System Preferences''' and click '''Sound'''.
# For '''Output''', select the desired device to hear the audio through and make any changes to volume.
# For '''Input''', select the desired device to speak into and adjust the volume.
 
After setting this correctly, you should see the speaking indicator and volume waves (white dot and green and red waves) move when you talk.
 
It's always a good idea to test playing and recording sounds in other programs to verify if it's a problem with your computer system, rather than being isolated to Second Life.
 
==How do I test my voice?==
 
We have a place called [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Voice%20Echo%20Canyon/128/128/22/ Voice Echo Canyon]. Simply teleport there and start talking. If your voice is working, whatever you say there will be repeated back to you, and you can hear the quality of what you sound like. [https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/tnt/blog/2009/06/15/quicktip-test-if-your-voice-chat-is-working-at-voice-echo-canyon Learn more about Voice Echo Canyon and watch a video demo.]
 
=I don't have voice=
 
==I don't have voice. What should I do?==
 
There are a few key things you should check:
 
* Make sure you've downloaded and are using a Second Life Viewer that has voice chat. Voice is part of the [http://secondlife.com/download standard Second Life Viewer], but some unsupported [[alternate viewers]] exclude it.
* Make sure [http://skype.com/ Skype] isn't running. Even if you're not engaged in a Skype call, having Skype open can affect your audio settings.
* Check your Second Life volume settings:
*# From the menus at the top of the Second Life Viewer, select '''Edit''' > '''Preferences'''.
*# Click the '''Audio & Video''' tab.
*# Check that the '''Voice''' slider is at a good level (it's halfway full by default) and ''not'' muted.
* Make sure voice chat, which is enabled by default, is actually turned on:
*# Go to '''Edit''' > '''Preferences'''.
*# Click the '''Voice Chat''' tab.
*# Click '''Enable voice chat'''.
* If voice is turned on, make sure the land you're standing on is also voice-enabled. An icon on the menu bar at the top of the Viewer window will show you if voice is ''not'' enabled. It looks like this:
 
<blockquote>[[Image:kbext_3739131923_60c19e5e11_o.png]]</blockquote>
 
* To check voice status on a parcel, you can also:
*# From the menus at the top of the Second Life Viewer, select '''World''' &gt; '''About Land'''.
*# Click the '''Media''' tab.
 
If you've followed all these steps and voice still doesn't work, make sure your headset and/or microphone are set up properly as detailed above. Also check if your headset or mic have a mute switch â€" if so, it obviously needs to be turned off. The same goes for mute settings on your computer.
 
==I know voice is enabled (because I went through all of the above steps) and/or no one can hear me. What should I do?==
 
If you have "Push to Talk" mode enabled, ensure you're holding the "trigger" key when speaking. This only transmits your voice when the key is held. To check if Push to Talk is on:
 
# Go to '''Edit''' &gt; '''Preferences'''.
# Click the '''Voice Chat''' tab.
# See whether the '''Use Push-to-Talk in toggle mode''' is checked, and if so, which key is used to trigger it.
 
When Push to Talk is on and voice is enabled, you'll see a white dot above your head on voice-enabled land, but only see green waves when your trigger key is held and you're speaking.
 
==I have voice and don't want it right now. What should I do?==
 
You can turn voice off by going to the '''Voice Chat''' tab of the Preferences window and unchecking '''Enable voice chat'''. Voice should be turned off (disabled) immediately and all the settings below will be grayed out.
 
=Voice and land=
 
==Is voice available on my land?==
 
Voice is available across all of Second Life, including [http://teen.secondlife.com/ Teen Second Life]. Voice is turned on by default.
 
If you own a parcel of land or more, you can choose to enable or disable voice per-parcel:
 
# Stand on the parcel you want to enable/disable voice for.
# Go to '''World''' &gt; '''About Land'''.
# Click the '''Media''' tab.
# Check or uncheck '''Enable Voice'''.
 
If you own a Private Region or more, you can disable voice per-Estate, which includes all Regions in that Estate.
 
# Teleport to a Region within the Estate you want to enable/disable voice for.
# Go to '''World''' &gt; '''Region/Estate'''.
# Click the '''Estate''' tab.
# Check or uncheck '''Allow Voice Chat'''.
 
Disabling voice per-Estate overrides parcel settings. For example, if someone has voice turned on at their parcel but you have it set off for the Estate, they won't be able to use voice. However, if you allow voice on the Estate, individual parcel owners can disable it per-parcel.
 
==How do Region maturity settings affect voice?==
 
First, familiarize yourself with "[[Linden_Lab_Official:Maturity_ratings:_an_overview|Maturity ratings: an overview]]" to understand what maturity settings mean. You may also find the [[Adult content|compiled "Adult content" information]] useful.
 
Maturity settings apply per-Region, and include the entire {{mra}} continent (Zindra by name) introduced by Linden Lab, as well as Private Regions owned by Residents who appropriately set an {{mra}} rating via the '''Region''' tab of the Region/Estate window. This includes the possibility of an {{mra}} Private Region being adjacent to a {{mrm}} or {{mrg}} Private Region. [[Linden Lab Official:Maturity ratings and media access|See "Maturity ratings and media access"]] for how this affects voice for adjacent and neighboring Regions.
 
=Using voice=
 
==Can all Second Life Residents use voice?==
 
Yes. If you have the hardware described above and have correctly setup voice, you can use it.
 
==Can I use voice from behind a firewall?==
 
[[Can I use voice from behind a firewall?|See this article]] for information on using voice from behind a firewall.
 
==Does it cost anything to use voice?==
 
Basic voice chat is available at no cost to all Residents.
 
As explained in "[http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/05/20/over-15-billion-voice-minutes-served Over 15 Billion Voice Minutes Served]", we're exploring new products and exciting ways to connect into Second Life with your voice. Details and pricing will be announced accordingly, [http://blogs.secondlife.com/ watch our blog for updates].
 
==What exactly is that thing above everybody's heads?==
 
It's the voice status and intensity indicator:
 
* The white dot tells you that another avatar has voice enabled and that you can talk to them, and they can hear you.
* Green, and sometimes, red waves radiate from the white dot. These indicate that someone is actively speaking. Green waves let you know the speaker is within normal volume range, and red waves indicate the person is speaking too loudly (this distortion is called "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(audio) clipping]").
 
{{KBvideo|4168838}}
 
==How do I start a conversation with a group of avatars near me?==
 
If your avatar is standing on voice-enabled land and other avatars also have voice enabled in their Viewers, you should be able to strike up conversation with them. Just walk up and start talking.
 
Why you might be unable to hear avatars near you:
 
* They don't have voice enabled.
* They're currently in a private or group voice call, which disconnects them from the public channel.
* They may be standing on a different parcel or Region that does not share the same voice channel as the land you're standing on. Parcels can choose to use their own private voice channels and Regions of differing maturities may not share the same voice channel. For more information, [[Linden Lab Official:Maturity ratings and media access|see "Maturity settings and media access"]].
 
==How do I start a group voice chat for a group I belong to?==
 
# Click the '''Communicate''' button at the bottom-left of the Viewer window to open the Communicate window.
# In the '''Contacts''' tab, click '''Groups''' tab.
# Click one of the groups in your list, then click the '''IM/Call''' button.
 
==How do I start a group voice chat with a few friends (from my Friends list)?==
 
To start a voice conversation with an ad-hoc group on your Friends list:
 
# Click the '''Communicate''' button.
# If it isn't already selected, click the '''Friends''' tab.
# Select the friends you'd like to call by holding Ctrl key and clicking each person's name.
# When you've selected everyone you want to call, click the '''IM/Call''' button.
# A new tab, '''Friends Conference''', opens.
# Click the '''Call''' button at the top of the window to begin the conference call with your friends.
 
==How do I start a direct call with just one other person?==
 
To start a voice conversation with one other person:
 
# Click the '''Communicate''' button at the bottom of the viewer window.
# The Communicate window opens with the '''Friends''' tab open.
# Click on the person's name in your Friends list and click the '''IM/Call''' button.
# A new tab opens.
# Click the '''Call''' button at the top of the window to begin the call with your friend.
 
When your conversation is finished, click '''End Call''' to... well, end the call.
 
==Can other Residents hear my one-to-one voice calls?==
 
No. One-to-one voice calls are private and created via peer-to-peer channels. Since other Residents can't be part of them, they can't hear your one-to-one voice calls.
 
==How do I mute someone I don't want to hear?==
 
There are several ways to mute someone you don't wish to hear. One way is to right-click the avatar you want to mute and select '''Mute'''.
 
If you have a hard time finding them but they're nearby, use the Active Speakers window:
 
# Click the '''Active Speakers''' button in the lower-right of your Viewer window. (It's to the left of '''Talk''', and has an icon that looks like two dialog bubbles with voice waves.)
# Click the name of an avatar you wish to mute, then click the speaker icon next to the slider below.
# You'll see a red slashed "no" circle next to their name, indicating they've been muted.
 
Finally, you can use the Communicate window:
 
# Click the '''Communicate''' button.
# Click '''Local Chat''' tab.
# Click the '''&lt; &lt;''' button to expand a list of nearby chatters, including text-only chatters.
# Click the name of an avatar you wish to mute, then click the speaker icon next to the slider below.
# You'll see a red slashed "no" circle next to their name, indicating they've been muted.
 
==How do I control the volume of another avatar?==
 
This is useful if someone is too soft or too loud. This is similar to the muting steps above, except you'll be adjusting their volume slider instead of muting them entirely.
 
# Click the '''Active Speakers''' button in the lower-right of your Viewer window. (It's to the left of Talk and has an icon that looks like two dialog bubbles with voice waves.)
# Click the name of an avatar you wish to adjust volume for, then drag the slider to an optimum level.
 
Once more, you can alternatively use the Communicate window:
 
# Click the '''Communicate''' button.
# Click the '''Local Chat''' tab.
# Click the '''&lt; &lt;''' button to expand a list of nearby chatters, including text-only chatters.
# Click the name of an avatar you wish to adjust volume for, then drag the slider to an optimum level.
 
{{KBnote| If someone sounds soft on their side and they have a terrible signal-to-noise ratio, they may sound very hissy when you turn them up. Whenever possible, voice input should be optimized at the source, meaning they should test their mic input volume â€" or failing that, get a better one altogether.}}
 
==There are a lot of people talking at the same time. How do I know who's talking?==
 
Voice is spatialized, similar to the real world. When others speak, you see their speaking indicators and hear their voices as they hear yours. Walk around someone who's speaking to hear their voice move around in 3D based on where you are relative to their avatar. If someone talks while moving closer to you, their voice gets louder. And if you speak while walking around someone else, they'll hear your voice go around them from your avatar's position.
 
Open the Active Speakers window by clicking the button to the left of the '''Talk''' button near the bottom-right of your Viewer window. The Active Speakers window shows a list of the Residents with voice enabled on the same channel. Usually, this is a public, open channel, but if you enter a private one-to-one or group voice chat, you'll see those participants in Active Speakers instead.
 
The participants list in the Communicate window â€"- expanded by clicking '''&lt; &lt;''' â€"- functions in the same way (for your active voice conversation, in an active tab). A dot appears beside each speaker's name in the Participants list, indicating who's speaking. The dot mimics the speaker's voice intensity indicator:
 
* A green dot shows active speakers within normal volume range
* A red dot shows an active speaker who's spoken too loudly.
 
In addition, the name of the Resident who spoke most recently appears at the top of the Active Speakers and participant lists. As the time since a speaker's last utterance passes, the speaker's name moves down the list and the dot next to the speaker's name fades to increasingly lighter shades of gray.
 
Resident names can also be sorted alphabetically in the Active Speakers and participants lists. Remember, to control the volume and mute settings for a particular speaker, just click the speaker's name in the list, then use the volume slider or speaker icon to make adjustments.
 
{{KBvideo|4243075}}
 
==Are there any gestures to use with voice, to make my speaking look more natural?==
 
In real life, people tend to use body language while they talk. In Second Life, you can wear an initial set of "speech gestures" which make your avatar emote.
 
These speech gestures are randomly selected from nine different animations based on the intensity of your voice. These gestures are located in your '''Library''''s '''Gestures''' &gt; '''Speech Gestures''' folder in your Inventory. There are three gesture sets containing three gestures each for low, medium, and high-intensity volumes.
 
* To enable speech gestures, simply drag the '''Speech Gestures''' folder onto your avatar. This will copy them into a new location in your Inventory's '''My Inventory''' &gt; '''Gestures''' folder.
* To disable them, right-click the '''Speech Gestures''' folder in My Inventory (not Library) and select '''Take Off Items'''.
 
{{KBvideo|4243627}}
 
==I think I found a voice bug or problem. How do I file a bug report?==
 
Please file a bug report on our [http://jira.secondlife.com/ Issue Tracker] under:
 
* Project: '''1. Second Life Viewer - VWR'''
* Issue Type: '''Bug'''
 
Proceed to the next screen, then make sure '''Component''' is '''Voice'''. Further instructions are there.
 
=Getting Technical=
 
==What ports need to be open?==
Ports 5060 or 5062 need to be open for UDP. See [[Can I use voice from behind a firewall?|See this article]] for information on using voice from behind a firewall.
 
==How does voice affect network bandwidth?==
32kbps upload (32khz signal) and 64kbps download [http://www.networkperformancedaily.com/2007/03/joe_miller_of_linden_labs_spea_1.html]
 
==Will bandwidth increase as more people speak?==
No. Everyone who speaks nearby sends an individual stream to a server, where it is mixed into one stream that is sent back to you.
 
==What is the codec used for voice?==
[http://www.polycom.com/company/about_us/technology/siren14_g7221c/faq.html Siren 14/G.722.1 Annex C] [http://www.networkperformancedaily.com/2007/03/joe_miller_of_linden_labs_spea_1.html]
 
==Is this Peer-to-peer VOIP?==
It is
* Peer-to-Peer (P2P) for one-on-one conversations.
* Client/Server for in-world and group conversations.
 
= How to use voice =
If you're reading this, chances are pretty good that you're using voice in Second Life®, or are simply curious about what it does. This article discusses the voice-related features of Second Life, and how to use them.
 
==Voice-Enabled Parcels and Residents==
 
You'll find that you're only able to use voice on land that's marked as voice-enabled, and then only with Residents who have voice enabled.
 
* When you're on a voice-enabled parcel, you'll see an icon at the top of the Second Life window:[[Image:kbsd_image030.jpg]] If this icon has a line through it, voice has not been enabled for that parcel.
* When you're looking at a voice-enabled Resident, you'll see a white dot floating above his head. We call this the '''voice intensity indicator''', and it'll let you know when someone is talking and how loud they are.
 
==Spatial Voice Chat==
 
Spatial voice chat is what we call talking to someone you can see near you. Here's how it works:
 
If you're on voice-enabled land, walk up to another voice-enabled Resident and talk to them.
 
If your headset is correctly configured, the voice intensity indicator above your head will change color slightly, and will grow and shrink along with the natural volume patterns and fluctuations of your voice.
 
{{KBcaution| If the indicator turns red, you're either speaking too loudly, the microphone is too close to your mouth, or the volume control on your microphone is turned up a little too far. Please make adjustments until the voice indicator stays in the bright green range and only seldom flickers to red.
}}
 
When others speak, you'll see their intensity indicators and hear their voices as they hear yours. Walk around someone who's speaking to you to hear the voice move around in 3D based on where you are relative to their avatar. If you turn toward someone and move closer, for example, their voice will be louder. If you speak while walking around someone else, they'll hear your voice tracking your position.
 
===Volume and Camera Position===
 
By default, each speaker's volume can be determined by their distance from your camera's position. For example, if you're in mouselook mode and walk up to someone who's speaking, you'll hear their voice become louder the closer you are. As you move away, their voices will become softer until you won't be able to hear them at all.
 
You can use the camera controls ('''Alt-mouse''' zooming, for example) to create a momentary "audio focus" on a given speaker. This makes it easy to pick a voice out of a crowd of talking avatars while remaining in one location.
 
In the '''Voice Chat''' tab of the [[Preferences Window Guide|Preferences window]], you can choose what determines voice volume intensity:
 
* Camera position and camera direction
* Avatar position and avatar direction
* Avatar position and camera direction
 
===Push-to-Talk Mode===
 
Have you ever used a walkie-talkie or an apartment building intercom? Remember how you have to hold a button down in order to talk? Voice chat can be configured to work this way too; it's called Push-to-Talk mode. Push-to-Talk mode can be used to give you varying degrees of control over when your speech is actually heard:
 
* You have to hold down whatever button you specify (or the '''Talk''' button at the bottom of the Second Life window) in order for your microphone to be active. OR
* You press whatever button you specify (or the '''Talk''' button) to turn your microphone on and off. This is controlled by the '''Push-to-Talk acts as a toggle''' checkbox.
 
{{KBcaution| If you turn Push-to-Talk mode off, your microphone is always on.
}}
 
You can turn Push-to-Talk mode on or off using either of the following methods:
 
* In the Preferences window, use the '''Use Push-to-Talk''' mode checkbox.
* At the bottom of the Second Life window, click the lock icon in the '''Talk''' button.
 
Push-to-Talk mode is on by default.
 
===Controlling Volume===
 
You can get a pretty good idea of how loud you sound by watching your voice intensity indicator. If it turns red, you're too loud. The '''Talk''' button also contains a personal volume indicator that will turn red if you're too loud.
 
You can control your perceived volume of other Residents in the Active Speakers window.
 
# Click the '''Speakers''' button at the bottom of the Second Life window. The Active Speakers window opens.
# Click the name of the person speaking whose volume you want to adjust.
# Adjust the slider at the bottom of the window.
 
===The Active Speakers Window===
 
The Active Speakers window, pictured above, shows you a list of the Residents around you with voice enabled who are speaking in a particular channel (the speakers near you is the default one). Open it by clicking the '''Speakers''' button at the bottom of the Second Life window, left of the '''Talk''' button.
 
A dot appears beside each speaker's name in the list, indicating who's speaking. The dot mimics the speaker's voice intensity indicator: A green dot shows active speakers within normal volume range, while a red dot shows an active speaker who's speaking a little too loudly.
 
In addition, the name of the Resident who spoke most recently appears at the top of the Active Speakers list. As the time since a speaker's last utterance increases, the speaker's name moves down the list and the dot next to the speaker's name fades to increasingly lighter shades of gray.
 
Resident names can also be sorted alphabetically in the Active Speakers window.  This can be useful in large groups, when the list would otherwise be shifting constantly.
 
To control the volume and mute settings for a particular speaker, just click on the speaker's name in the list and then use the volume control at the bottom of the window to make adjustments.
 
===The Communicate Window===
 
The Communicate window opens when you click the '''Communicate''' button at the bottom of the Second Life window. It can be used for the group and individual voice calls discussed below, but it's also useful for spatial chat:
 
* The Communicate window lists the active speakers just like the Active Speakers window as well as showing the text chat history. People who are typing move to the top of the active speakers list in the Communicate window, but the dot next to their names won't change color. Click the '''<<''' button to open the active speakers list in the '''Local Chat''' tab of the Communicate window.
* You can control the volume of individuals with the Communicate window just as you can in the Active Speakers window.
* You can also selectively mute the voice or text chat of individual Residents near you.
 
Click the '''<<''' button in the '''Local Chat''' tab of the Communicate window to see who's talking and chatting around you.
 
===Muting People===
 
Somebody talking too loud? Don't really feel like hearing anything they have to say, for that matter? Right-click them and select '''Mute'''. This will silence not only their speech, but also their Instant Message (IM) and text chatter.
 
Alternatively, you can selectively mute either voice or text chat from within the Communicate window.
 
===Speech Gestures===
 
In real life, very few people stand still while they talk. Second Life gives you the ability to wear an initial set of "speech gestures". These speech gestures are randomly selected from nine different animations based on the intensity of your voice. These gestures are located in your Library's Gesture folder (under "Speech Gestures"). There are three gesture sets containing three gestures each for low, medium, and high-intensity volumes.
 
* To enable speech gestures, simply drag the folder labeled "Speech Gestures" from your Library on to your avatar.
* To disable them, right-click the Speech Gestures folder and select '''Take Off Items'''.
 
==Individual and Group Voice Calls==
 
You're not limited to spatial voice chat in Second Life: You can talk to another person or a group directly, no matter where you are on the grid.
 
{{KBcaution| You can only participate in one voice channel at a time. For example: If you're talking to a group of avatars around you and then decide to talk to someone else one-on-one, you won't be able to hear the Residents around you anymore in spatial chat, nor will they hear you. This is also true for direct calls: Talking to someone one-on-one means you won't be a participant in group voice chats.
}}
 
===Talking to an Individual===
 
In general, if you're using IM to talk to someone and they have voice enabled, you can click '''Call''' to initiate a direct voice chat session.
 
To start a voice chat session with a friend:
 
# Click the '''Communicate''' button at the bottom of the Second Life window. The Communicate window opens.
# Click the '''Contacts''' tab.
# Click the name of a friend and click '''IM/Call'''. A separate tab opens in the Communicate window.
# At the top of the new tab, click '''Call'''.
 
===Talking to a Group===
 
In general, when you're talking to a group, the Communicate window works exactly like it does for speakers near you:
 
* It displays a list of everyone in the group who's talking or typing
* It tracks the volume of individual speakers
* It displays the group text chat history
* It offers individual volume and mute controls
 
To start a voice chat session with a group:
 
# Click the '''Communicate''' button at the bottom of the Second Life window. The Communicate window opens.
# Click the '''Groups''' tab.
# Click the name of a group and click '''IM/Call'''. A separate tab opens in the Communicate window.
# At the top of the new tab, click '''Call'''.
 
= How far does my voice carry? =
Your listening distance for voice chat is a little trickier to figure out than with text chat:
 
* In your Voice Chat preferences ('''Edit &gt; Preferences &gt; Voice Chat tab''') you may choose to either '''Hear Voice Chat from camera position''', or '''Hear Voice Chat from avatar position'''.  Because this choice determines the location of your "ears" for listening to Voice Chat, it will affect the distance from which you can hear someone speaking.
* You are able to hear Voice Chat up to 60 meters from your listening position.  If you have '''Hear Voice Chat from camera position''' selected, this means you can hear Voice Chat from up to 110 meters away (50 meters camera tether + 60 meters from your camera).  Under special circumstances, Linden Lab may choose to alter these distance settings on a Region-by-Region basis.
* In ''all cases'', if you are able to hear another Resident, his name will appear in the '''Active Speakers''' window, which you can activate by pressing the button to the left of '''Talk''' on the toolbar at the bottom of your screen.  This holds true even if the other Resident is hiding or otherwise invisible.
* Group voice chat and direct calls have no distance limitations.  Group voice chat and direct peer-to-peer voice chat will always work, regardless of distance.
 
For more detailed information on voice chat, see [[How to use voice]].
{{KBtrivia|1= Voice chat distance limits are enforced by our system in such a way that they cannot be overridden by changes to an open source Viewer.  In other words: It's impossible to use a modified Second Life Viewer to remove the hearing range limits described in this article.
}}
 
= Voice Morphing =
{{KBnote|To use the Voice Morphing feature, you must use Second Life Viewer 2.1.0 or later and you must have a working microphone or headset for voice communication.  Other Residents are able to hear Voice Morphing effects, regardless of which viewer they are running.}}
 
Voice Morphing uses your natural voice and morphs it into something bigger, smaller, bolder, or completely different. As you speak, the technology seamlessly modifies the pitch, speed, tone, and other key attributes of your voice. Depending upon which morph you choose, the effect can be subtle or quite dramatic. Since the system isn't a stiff speech synthesizer but builds upon your own voice, you can continue to speak naturally into your microphone and the new, morphed voice is heard inworld.
 
Watch a quick demo and a guided tutorial:
 
{{KBvideo|sz53Dk37m-0|640|385|type=youtube}}<br /><br />
 
{{KBvideo|qyIvLzDHEWA|640|505|type=youtube}}
 
== How to preview a Voice Morph ==
You can preview what your own voice will sound like with any of the available Voice Morphs before you decide to subscribe to a Morph Pack:
# Choose '''Me > My Voice'''
# In the {{Win|Preview Voice Morphing}} window, click '''Record Sample'''
# Speak a sample phrase into your microphone
# In the {{Win|Preview Voice Morphing}} window, click '''Stop'''
# Click the name of a Voice Morph in the list to hear your sample phrase under the influence of that morph.
 
[[Image:How to preview a voice morph.png]]
 
== How to get Voice Morphs ==
Voice morphs are available exclusively in themed Morph Packs.  You can subscribe to a Morph Pack in 30-day increments by paying a scripted vendor object inworld:
# Choose '''Me > My Voice'''
# In the {{Win|Preview Voice Morphing}} window, click '''Get Voice Morphing''' to open your web browser to: [http://secondlife.com/landing/voicemorphing http://secondlife.com/landing/voicemorphing].
# From your web browser, click '''Teleport to Voice Island''' to open the Place profile of an instance of Voice Island in the Second Life Viewer.
# In the Sidebar of the Second Life Viewer, make sure you are viewing the Place profile for Voice Island and click '''Teleport'''.
# Find a Voice Morph vendor that contains a Voice Morph you like.  We strongly recommend that you preview each Voice Morph before purchasing.
# Click the vendor, then in the Pay Resident window, click the L$ amount to confirm the 30 day subscription
 
[[Image:Morph Pack vendor.png]]
 
== How to use a Voice Morph ==
# Click the up arrow next to the '''Speak''' button to open the {{Win|Nearby Chat}} window
# Choose a Voice Morph from the dropdown list below your name
# When transmitting, your voice is now altered by the selected Voice Morph
 
[[Image:Choose a voice morph.png]]
 
== Notes ==
* Each time you subscribe to a particular Morph Pack, you gain 30 days of access to the Voice Morphs in that pack.  Subscriptions are cumulative; if you subscribe to the same pack again before the expiration date, you do not lose any remaining days in your old subscription.  This allows you to "stack" subscriptions for longer periods of use before you need to return to Voice Island to re-subscribe.
* The Second Life Viewer notifies you 3 days before one of your Voice Packs expires, and offers you a link to a web page that can return you to Voice Island quickly.
* When you open the {{Win|Preview Voice Morphing}} window, you are disconnected from local voice chat until the window is closed.  Make sure you're not in the middle of a conversation when you start previewing Voice Morphs!
* For privacy reasons, there is no visual indicator to let other Residents know you are using a Voice Morph.  Similarly, there is no visual indicator to let ''you'' know that you're using a Voice Morph, so it's a good idea to make sure to double-check that your voice is situation-appropriate.
* When you subscribe to a new Morph Pack, the Voice Morphs it contains should become available immediately.  However, if you have Parcel Media disabled in your viewer, or if the vendor system is under heavy load, you may need to manually refresh your list of Voice Morphs by clicking [secondlife:///app/voice/effects/refresh secondlife:///app/voice/effects/refresh].  This link is also provided to you by the vendor object at the time of subscription for your convenience.
* Voice Morphing is a service, so morph subscriptions won't appear as inventory items. To see which morphs are currently in a Resident's account, check the Preview window or Speak button's pulldown menu.
* You need to run Second Life Viewer 2.1.0 or later to transmit voice with Voice Morphing effects, but other Residents will be able to hear your Voice Morphs regardless of which viewer they are using.
* You should always access Voice Island by clicking the '''Teleport to Voice Island''' button on the Second Life website at [http://secondlife.com/landing/voicemorphing http://secondlife.com/landing/voicemorphing].  The website evenly distributes traffic among various landing points to avoid overcrowding of Voice Island.
 
= AvaLine: Dial an avatar =
==What are the AvaLine local access numbers?==
 
'''Australia'''
* Adelaide: +61 8 7123 3055
* Brisbane: +61 7 3123 5912
* Melbourne: +61 3 9001 5512
* Perth: +61 8 6365 4423
* Sydney: +61 2 8014 4920
 
'''Brazil'''
* Brasilia: +55-61-37175134
* Rio de Janeiro: +55-21-39580758
* Salvador: +55-71-37176316
* Sao Paulo: +55-11-37119361
 
'''Canada'''
* Calgary: +1-403-7751898
* Montreal: +1-514-6678807
* Ottawa: +1-613-6863843
* Toronto: +1-647-7245095
* Vancouver: +1-778-7830756
 
'''France'''
* National: +33 9 75 18 10 80
* Paris: +33 1 82 88 05 02
 
'''Germany'''
* Munich: +49 89 22061175
 
'''Italy'''
* National: +39 199 442021 (calls to this number must originate from within Italy)
* Milan: +39 02 4792 1250
* Naples: +39 081 1930 2671
* Palermo: +39 091 619 3300
* Rome: +39 06 9936 9860
* Turin: +39 011 198 23846
 
'''Japan'''
* Tokyo: +81 3-4520-9712
* Osaka: +81 6-4560-4024
 
'''Singapore'''
* +65 3158-1201
 
'''Spain'''
* National: +34 901 667 582 (calls to this number must originate from a landline phone)
* Barcelona: +34 931 816 658
* Madrid: +34 911 829 805
* Sevilla: +34 955 329 915
* Valencia: +34 961 135 589
* Zaragoza: +34 976 361 991
 
'''UK'''
* National: +44 33 0088 3672
* Birmingham: +44 121 314 7199
* Brighton: +44 127 325 7057
* Glasgow: +44 141 530 7199
* London: +44 20 7100 5624
* Manchester: +44 161 660 7199
* Reading: +44 118 321 7109
 
'''US'''
* Boston: +1 617-861-0749
* Chicago: +1 312-348-3694
* Dallas: +1 972-813-0067
* Houston: +1 713-300-0425
* Los Angeles: +1 213-271-2575
* New York: +1 212-660-9951
* Philadelphia: +1 215-475-5291
* Phoenix: +1 480-270-8099
* San Antonio: +1 210-839-9917
* San Diego: +1 619-684-6705 
* San Francisco: +1 415-490-9443
* San Jose: +1 408-513-3625
* Seattle: +1 206-494-9648
* Washington DC: +1 202-629-9859
 
{{KBcaution| The full phone number of all callers to any avatar inworld will be displayed. Whether a call arrives with caller ID information depends on a number of factors beyond Linden Lab's control, including a caller's local telephone company policies and the transmission of a call across international phone networks.}}
 
==How can I listen to my voicemail?==
 
If you have enabled voicemail, you'll receive a recording via email attachment when someone calls you and leaves a message. The recording is in mp3 format, which on most computers can be played simply by double-clicking on the file. If for some reason your computer does not have an mp3 player already installed, you can find a number of good ones at C|Net at http://download.cnet.com/
 
==Can I call people outside of Second Life while inworld?==
 
Not yet. Right now, AvaLine only allows calls from outside the world to your avatar in Second Life.
 
==Can I call other avatars from inworld?==
 
As usual, you can call Second Life friends who are online by opening an IM window and clicking the '''Call''' button.
 
==Do I need to be a voice user to use AvaLine?==
 
Yes. You cannot speak to people who call you from outside Second Life without using voice.
 
{{KBcaution| If you have checked the '''Only accept voice calls from people on My Friends list''' checkbox in the '''Voice Chat''' tab of the Preferences window, calls made to your avatar from outside Second Life will not go through.}}
 
==Which Viewer do I need for AvaLine?==
 
You need to use Viewer version 1.22 or newer. Anyone using that Viewer can use AvaLine to receive calls from outworld.
 
==Can I use AvaLine if I've never used voice in Second Life?==
 
AvaLine is very easy to use, even for beginners, but in order to fully prepare your account for use with AvaLine, you must first have at least one avatar-to-avatar voice chat. To do so, simply go to a voice-enabled region (much of the world is voice-enabled) and talk with another avatar, even for a few seconds. That's it. From then on, your account will be "voice-enabled," and you'll be ready to accept AvaLine calls.
 
 
 
 
 
==How do I get an AvaLine?==
 
To get an AvaLine:
 
# Visit [http://secondlife.com/avaline secondlife.com/avaline] and make sure you're logged in to your Second Life account.
# Click the '''Manage Your AvaLine''' button.
# Select the service you desire, and click the '''Submit''' button.
 
==I've forgotten my AvaLine connection code. Where can I find it?==
 
Your AvaLine code is displayed on your AvaLine account web page. To find it, simply log in to [http://secondlife.com/avaline secondlife.com/avaline] and click '''Manage Your AvaLine'''. Your connection code is in the '''Cancel Existing Services''' section.
 
==I already have one AvaLine connection code and love it. Can I add more to my account?==
 
Yes. There is no limit to the number of AvaLine connection codes you may purchase. To add a connection code, follow the procedure you used to get your first one:
 
# Visit [http://secondlife.com/avaline secondlife.com/avaline] and make sure you're logged in to your Second Life account.
# Click the '''Manage Your AvaLine''' button.
# Select the service you desire, and click the '''Submit''' button. Your new connection code will appear below your current one(s).
 
==What happens to my connection code if I cancel my AvaLine subscription?==
 
If you cancel your AvaLine subscription, your connection code will be cancelled, and it will not be possible to get it back. If you sign up for AvaLine again, you will be assigned a new connection code.
 
==What happens to my connection code if my Linden Dollar (L$) account balance is lower than the renewal price?==
 
If your L$ balance is too low on your AvaLine renewal date, we will retry the transaction over the next 7 days. If after that period funds in your account are still insufficient, your connection code will be cancelled, and it will not be possible to get it back. If you sign up for AvaLine again, you will be assigned a new connection code.
 
==Where do I go to get support for my AvaLine?==
 
Support for AvaLine can be obtained in the following areas:
 
===Billing issues===
 
Residents that are having billing issues with AvaLine may [[Linden Lab Official:Contacting Linden Lab Billing|call the regular billing phone number]] or submit a ticket as decribed above. When submitting the ticket, select '''AvaLine''' from the '''Ticket Type''' dropdown and choose '''Billing Issue''' from the '''AvaLine Questions''' field.
 
===Technical issues===
 
Residents that are having technical issues with AvaLine may [[Linden Lab Official:Contacting Linden Lab Billing| submit a ticket]] as decribed above. When submitting the ticket, select '''AvaLine''' from the '''Ticket Type''' dropdown and choose '''Technical Issue''' from the '''AvaLine Questions''' field.
 
[[Category:Knowledge_Base_2]]

Revision as of 09:23, 7 December 2010


Voice chat FAQ

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How to use voice

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