TeamSpeak Info for LV-EM Forum

Adapted from David Shoemaker's TeamSpeak information

• Quickstart:
  • Get the software from http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads
  • Connect a Phoenix box or a headset (can probably be your phone headset)
  • Preferences -> Capture -> Capture Device: Phoenix (or headset); Playback -> Playback Device: Phoenix (or headset)
  • Click on Microphone Symbol with red 'X' to mute microphone (it starts 'live')
  • Connections -> Connect -> Server: zam.mit.edu password: la$er
  • Double-click on the channel (meeting) you want to join, or else drag your name to that channel.
  • ...read on for more details, tuning, etc.

• TeamSpeak provides Voice and Chat only -- no video or screen sharing.
• The software can be downloaded for free from http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads, for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Free BSD; also Apps (not quite free) for iOS and Android.
  • Mac users: If you see an error when mounting the .dmg that it is "not recognized", go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Allow applications downloaded from: Anywhere. (You can change it back to your previous setting after installing TeamSpeak).
  • Fedora 18 users: you may have to work a bit to get 32 bit parts to fit in the 64 bit OS.
• If your institution blocks some ports, you may have difficulties and may need to request exceptions from your IT staff. These are the default ports used by TeamSpeak 3:
  Default voice port (UDP in): 9987
  Default filetransfer port (TCP in): 30033
  Default serverquery port (TCP in): 10011
  Default weblist port (UDP out): 2010
  Default tsdns port (TCP in): 41144
  • Another approach is to try the alternate address/port: zam.mit.edu:80
• As usual, an anti-echo box (e.g., Phoenix) or a headset/microphone is needed to keep echoes under control (or not as convenient: use 'push to talk' under Preferences -> Capture)
  • You can change the volume of each participant separately in your channel by right-clicking on a participant and selecting Volume from the menu
  • Stereo headphones will allow you to take advantage of the ability to place the participants left-right, close or far from you in the sound-stage; right-click on the channel name (e.g., SYS), select 'Setup 3D sound', and move people on the polar plot.
• To connect, select the Connections menu --> Connect; The MIT server is at zam.mit.edu and the password is la$er
  • Please use your real name (in a recognizable form - initials, first name ok if unambiguous) to join
• Setup going to Options in Windows or Preferences on Mac; please check when starting!
  • On MacOS, press the Option key together with the 'increase speaker volume' key. This opens the selection window for input and output, and allows setting the Phoenix as the default for both microphone and playback, and the TeamSpeak's default action to select...Default as the audio selects the right interface. Or...:
  • Playback --> set Playback Device; then Apply. Play Test Sound to ensure you have the device set up and the volume adjusted
  • Capture --> set Capture Device; select Continuous Transmission (or Voice Activation, see below); select Advanced Options, and DE-select Automatic voice gain control. Begin Test to check level; adjust microphone sensitivity in the Operating System (not TeamSpeak) if needed.
    • To set the Voice Activation level if this mode is selected, while in a conference with others speaking, open the Preferences or Settings --> Capture menu, and click on 'Start Test'. This mutes your mic for others, and allows you to see the signal arriving, and when it exceeds the turn-on level indicated by the vertical bar the indicator light will turn light blue. One can slide the bar to the point where it is rarely exceeded by background. Try speaking (you are not transmitting to the meeting with the Test On) to ensure your voice is loud enough to turn the light on with even quieter syllables. Once set, click 'Stop Test', and the mic will be live again.
  • Profiles can be set for Capture and Playback (separately, unfortunately); click the green '+' at the bottom of the Profile box, make a profile named e.g., 'Phoenix', select the Phoenix in the pull-down menu. Then the top bar 'Self' menu will offer this as a Profile, and then select the Phoenix...separately for Capture and Playback. Not great.
  • Please note: the microphone is 'on' by default! Remember to click on the mute icon (top bar, red X over microphone) when you start the system up if not speaking immediately.
  • Consider Capture --> Push to Talk mode if you will be speaking rarely or do not have an anti-echo or headset.
• To join one of the standing channels or 'virtual meeting rooms', double click on it. To start a new meeting room, Right click on TeamSpeak]|[ Server, Create New Channel, and give it a name. Permanent named channels can be created by the server administrator if desired.
• If you are having difficulty, take a look at the chat at the bottom of the window, and/or ask a question there. Click on the tab (if there are several) for the meeting channel you are currently using.
• To turn off the vocal announcements you can either disable all audio notifications via Preferences --> Notifications --> Sound Pack: Sounds Deactivated,
  • or if you want to just disable the "user joined/left your channel" messages you can modify Preferences --> Notifications --> Sound Pack: Client/Connection/Connected/Current channel and similarly Client/Connection/Disconnected/Current channel.