Monday, May 24, 2010

Echo Cancellation

If you are hearing echo of yourself, it means the other end is using a speaker/microphone set that doesn't have echo cancellation built-in the hardware or software driver.  There are a couple of ways to avoid this:

1)  Use a headset instead of speakers
2)  Use a microphone that has Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC)

The following devices support AEC, and had been confirmed to work with ReelPortal:

- Asus EEE 1000HE netbook (using RealTek HD Audio driver).  Fortunately, many netbooks have this driver as well, or something else that's equivalent.

- LG MSB-100 Bluetooth Speakerphone (~$20 on ebay).  Other bluetooth speakerphones should also work (check Amazon.com for Motorola EQ5, EQ7).

- Logitech EasyCall desktop speakerphone (must use with Logitech driver).

- Logitech QuickCam Deluxe for Notebook, using Logitech QuickCam 10.xx software (for Windows 2000).  Do NOT use the latest Logitech driver/software (for XP, Win 7), as they crippled it so that AEC only works with their Vid software.  UpdateAcoustic echo cancellation ("AEC") is no longer available with versions 11.7 and higher of the Logitech® QuickCam® software. AEC is available from most leading video-calling applications (link).  In other words, new Logitech webcams do not have AEC in the drivers!

- Logitech QuickCall Speakerphone (available on ebay for ~15 USD) is another great product with AEC.

NOTE: Logitech AEC may introduce some delay in the audio playback on slow systems.

Please report other devices with AEC confirmed working with ReelPortal.  Thank you.