Polycom PVX Manual

July 2006

3725-22724-003/A

Configuring Video and Audio

Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

You can select from a number of different audio and video input devices to use

with your Polycom® PVX™ application, version 8.0.1 or later.

This document lists the advantages and disadvantages of various devices so you

can choose the correct one for your environment. It also describes the factors you

should consider when selecting a video input device.

Once you have selected your audio and video devices, you need to configure

them for optimum performance. This document describes how to use the PVX

user interface to specify the audio and video device settings. If you plan on using

PVX with the Computer Calling Kit for SoundStation2™ and

SoundStation2W™, this document also describes how to configure the PVX

settings for use with this kit.

The final section of this document provides information on how to resolve audio

and video issues.

Choosing and Configuring Video Input Devices

Polycom PVX supports a wide variety of video input devices. The quality of your

PVX video largely depends on the quality and design of your video input device.

These common devices have been tested with Polycom PVX version 8.0.1 or later:

•AVerMedia AVerTV GO 007 FM Plus PCI

•Creative WebCam Live! Motion

•Creative WebCam Live! Pro

•GlobalMedia iREZ KD 1394

•GlobalMedia iREZ K2 USB 2.0

•Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000

•LogiTech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro

•Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000

•Logitech QuickCam Fusion

•Logitech QuickCam Orbit MP

•Veo Velocity Connect

•V-Stream TV2800 (V-Stream Xpert DVD Maker USB 2.0)

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Determining the CPU Load for Your System

Polycom PVX is a CPU-intensive application. It was originally designed to

accommodate the CPU requirements of third-party video capture devices, so

that the total CPU load results in acceptable performance. As modern devices

have become more capable in resolution and supported features, they have

sometimes also become more CPU intensive. Using some of these devices can

cause the total CPU load to surpass optimal levels. For these CPU-intensive

devices, you can adjust the PVX CPU requirements to accommodate the

device’s requirements.

The following table lists the CPU load levels for some of the video input

devices supported by PVX. You will need this information to configure your

device. If your input device is not listed here, refer to the information which

follows this table.

This device... Uses this CPU load

level...

AVerMedia AVerTV GO 007 FM Plus PCI Low

Creative WebCam Live! Motion High

Creative WebCam Live! Pro Medium

GlobalMedia iREZ KD 1394 Low

GlobalMedia iREZ K2 USB 2.0

Note that the GlobalMedia iREZ K2 USB 2.0 camera was

tested using quality setting B (the default setting). Higher

quality settings offer additional image processing capability,

but the increased load on the CPU may adversely affect

system performance.

Medium

LogitechQuickCamforNotebooks

Pro P/N 961398-04030

Driver version 9.5.0 High

P/N 961240-04030

Driver version 8.4.1 Medium

Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 Driver version 7.3.0 Low

Driver version 8.4.8 Low

Driver version 9.0.2 Medium

Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 Driver version 9.0.2 Low

Logitech QuickCam Fusion

Note that, as of driver version

9.0.2, the Logitech QuickCam

Fusion audio echo canceller

appears to add delay and

introduce audible artifacts into the

audio.

Driver version 9.0.2 Medium

Note: If the Logitech

Audio Echo

Canceller (AEC) is

enabled, select

High.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

If your device is not listed, you can calculate the CPU load level yourself.

To determine your video input device’s CPU load:

1. With no other applications running, start Polycom PVX. Make sure that

there is no call in progress and that you can see video.

2. Right-click an empty area in the Windows Task Bar, and choose Task

Manager.

3. Click the Performance tab, and make a note of the CPU Usage, expressed

as a percentage of the total CPU.

4. To determine the CPU usage in MHz, multiply the system’s CPU speed

by the CPU Usage.

5. Use this table to determine the level of CPU usage:

For example, suppose your 2.8 GHz computer is running at just over 25% of

the CPU with no call in progress. Determine the CPU load level as follows:

2.8 GHz x 25% = 700 MHz of CPU resources in use

Referring to the table, you see that the camera driver’s load is High.

Logitech QuickCam Orbit MP Driver version 9.0.2 Medium

Veo Velocity Connect Medium

V-Stream TV2800 (V-Stream Xpert DVD Maker USB 2.0) Low

This device... Uses this CPU load

level...

CPU Usage CPU Load

Level Description

< 200 MHz Low The device’s driver load is equivalent to the load

for devices supported in earlier versions of PVX.

For example: A webcam that captures 320 x 240

video or a PCI video capture card.

200 - 600 MHz Medium Newer devices that support VGA resolutions and

higher usually compress the video. The device

drivers must then decode the video before

sending it to PVX, which increases the CPU load.

For example: A webcam that captures 640 x 480

at 30 fps or a DV input device, such as a digital

camcorder or webcam that supports Firewire/

IEEE-1394.

> 600 MHz High The device is using CPU-intensive features, such

as face tracking, video special effects, wide-angle

lens distortion correction, or audio echo

cancellation.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Specifying Advanced Video Properties

To optimize the video from your PVX, you need to correctly specify the PVX

video settings. Before you start, you need to know the CPU load level of your

video input device. Refer to Determining the CPU Load for Your System for

more information.

To specify the advanced video properties:

1. From the PVX Main page, select Setup > Video > Advanced.

2. Configure these settings:

Setting Description

Enable VGA People

Encoding Select if your computer uses less than 15% of the

CPU when PVX is running and no call is in progress.

Clear if your computer uses more than 15% of the

CPU while not in a call.

Video Quality Select Smoother Motion to make video motion

appear smooth, even though the picture may lose

detail. Select this option when the call includes

participants moving around the room and no shared

documents.

Select Sharper Image for a sharp, clear picture, even

though the motion may not be as smooth. Select this

option when all participants are seated and you need

to show slides or another type of document during the

call.

Enable VGA 30 frames

per second Clear this setting in most cases.

Select if your device can support VGA at 30 frames

per second while maintaining a low CPU load. Most

cameras are not capable of doing this. Supported

video input devices with this capability include:

•PCI video capture cards

•AVerMedia AVerTV GO 007 FM Plus PCI

•GlobalMedia iREZ K2 USB 2.0

•V-Stream TV2800 (V-Stream Xpert DVD Maker

USB 2.0)

For the camera you

have selected, specify

the camera driver’s

load on the system

Select Low if the device’s driver has little impact on

the total CPU load.

Select Medium if the device’s driver moderately

increases the CPU load.

Select High if the device’s driver significantly

increases the CPU load.

Refer to Determining the CPU Load for Your System

for more information.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Choosing and Configuring Audio Input Devices

Note that some special versions of Polycom PVX provide only the video

portion of calls, while other devices handle audio. This section does not apply

to these special video-only versions of Polycom PVX.

Choosing an Audio Input Device

Polycom PVX offers you the flexibility of choosing from a number of different

audio input devices. You can use the webcam’s built-in microphone (if your

webcam includes one), your computer’s built-in microphone, an external

analog microphone, or a headset.

The advantages and disadvantages of each of these audio input devices are

listed in the following table:

Audio Input Device Advantages Disadvantages

Webcam’s built-in

microphone •Does not require an external

microphone

•Does not occupy additional desk space

•Distance between microphone and

speakers is usually sufficient to avoid

interference with audio quality

Some webcams may experience the following:

•Limited audio quality

Audio is comparable to traditional

telephone quality.

•Slower computer function

The camera’s built-in audio echo canceller

may cause additional CPU load.

•Extended audio delay

This is caused by the camera’s built-in

audio echo canceller. It results in a loss of

synchronization between the video and

audio, also known as a “lip sync” problem.

•Problems with the Windows® XP echo

canceller

This can be caused by routing audio input

and output through different devices.

•Louder than expected far site sound

•Ineffective audio echo cancellation

This occurs in calls using cameras with

sensitive microphones (such as the

Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000).

Laptop computer’s

built-in microphone •Does not require an external

microphone

•Does not occupy additional desk space

•Limited audio quality

Audio is comparable to traditional

telephone quality.

•Possible feedback or echo

The structure of the laptop and low quality

of most laptop speakers can cause

problems that the Windows XP echo

canceller cannot correct.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Supported Headsets

These common headsets have been tested with Polycom PVX version 8.0.1 or

later:

•GlobalMedia AMH-300V headset

•GN Netcom 2110-ST 01 USB headset

•Plantronics DSP-400 USB headset

External analog

microphone •Provides excellent synchronization

when plugged into the same device as

the speakers

Connecting both the audio and video

to the computer provides the best echo

cancellation from the Windows XP

echo canceller

•Provides maximum flexibility in the

distancebetweenthespeakers andthe

microphone

•Offers a range of choices when

selecting a high-quality microphone

with good directionality and frequency

response

•Occupies additional desk space

•Limited audio quality

The Windows XP echo canceller limits

audio to 7 kHz. This is comparable to

traditional telephone quality.

Headset with

microphone •Full 14 kHz audio experience in some

headsets,since no echocancellation is

required

•Provides a range of choices when

selecting a high-quality microphone

with good directionality and frequency

response

•Provides maximum privacy

•Limited audio quality in some headsets

Cellphone and Bluetooth® headsets

provide quality that is lower than wideband

PVX audio and is comparable to traditional

telephone quality.

•Possible discomfort of wearing a headset

Audio Input Device Advantages Disadvantages

When a headset is connected, the ring tone for incoming calls is played through the

default Windows speakers.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Configuring Audio Input Devices

After you connect your hardware, you need to specify the audio input and

output devices in the Polycom PVX application.

To specify the audio devices:

1. From the PVX Main page, select Setup > Audio.

2. Configure these settings:

Setting Description

Audio Output Device Select Auto to use the sound playback device specified in

the Windows Sounds and Audio Devices control panel.

Select None to use no audio output device.

Audio Input Device Select Auto to use the sound recording device specified in

the Windows Sounds and Audio Devices control panel.

Select None to use no audio input device.

Echo Cancellation Select Internal (when using Windows XP) to use the

Windows XP echo canceller.

Select External (when provided by external device) to use

echo cancellation provided by another device.

Select None to disable echo cancellation if you are using a

headset.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Using PVX with the Computer Calling Kit for SoundStation2 or

SoundStation2W

The Computer Calling Kit allows you to make calls with PVX using a Polycom

SoundStation2 or SoundStation2W phone. The minimum software

requirements to use this kit are:

•SoundStation2 conference phone version SS2.CON.01.115 or later

•SoundStation2W conference phone version S2W.CON.01.2xx or later

To use PVX with the Computer Calling Kit:

1. Install the Computer Calling Kit as described in the Instructions for

Computer Calling Kit document, which you received with the kit.

2. From the PVX Main page, select Setup > Audio.

3. Configure these settings:

Setting Description

Audio Output Device Select your computer’s sound card from the list.

Audio Input Device Select your computer’s sound card from the list.

Echo Cancellation Select External.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Troubleshooting

Video

Symptom Cause Solution

The CPU usage is at or above 95%

when PVX is sending video to the

far site.

This is normal operation.

The desktop capture and encoder are busy running to provide the best

desktop video quality.

Slow or freezing video. The total CPU Load is too high. Adjust PVX to accommodate the video

input device’s high CPU usage. To do

this:

1. Go to Setup > Video > Advanced.

2. Configure the setting correctly for

your system and camera.

For complete information about how to

set these settings for your particular

system and camera, refer to the

Specifying Advanced Video Properties

section on page 4.

The system is less than a 2.0

GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent, and

it is using most of its resources for

media processing, leaving few

resources for other applications.

Adjust PVX to allocate fewer system

resources to video processing. To do

this:

1. Go to Setup > General >

Performance.

2. To reduce the system resources

allocated to video, select Other

Applications.

The device driver for the video

capture device is using a high

percentage of the CPU when the

system is idle.

Note: This problem can occur

with some USB 2.0 cameras.

Adjust PVX to allocate fewer system

resources to video processing. To do

this:

1. Go to Setup > General >

Performance.

2. To reduce the system resources

allocated to video, select Other

Applications.

Verify that you have the latest video

capture drivers for your device.

Multiple USB cameras are

connected to the computer. Connect only one USB camera at a time

to your computer.

Selecting Audio and Video Devices for Use with Polycom PVX

Audio

Symptom Problem Solution

Unable to access audio adjustment

settings, such as the Microphone

Volume slidebar on the Setup >

Audio page.

Theseadjustmentsarenot available

when the system is in a call. Make audio adjustments when the

system is not in a call and not

muted.

The audio from a system using the

computer’s built-in microphone and

a webcam is loud and distorted.

The microphone’s audio gain is set

too high. Enablethe Automatic Gain Control

setting on the Setup > Audio page.

If this does not work, clear the

Automatic Gain Control checkbox.

Then click the Calibrate

Microphone button and manually

adjust the gain control using the

Microphone Volume slidebar.

Far-site participants hear an echo. The volume is too loud. Reduce the volume.

The microphone and speakers are

too close together. Separate the microphone and

speakers as far as possible.

The microphone’s audio gain is set

too high. Go to Setup > Audio and enable

Automatic Gain Control.

If you use a laptop’s integrated

speakers with the laptop’s

integrated microphone or with a

webcam’s microphone, the

structure of the laptop computer and

the quality of the laptop speakers

may cause problems that the

Windows XP echo canceller cannot

correct.

Connect external speakers and use

them instead of the integrated

speakers.

In a multipoint call, the audio from a

Polycom PVX with a webcam

sounds either too loud or too soft

compared to the other sites in the

call.

The microphone’s audio gain is set

too high. Go to Setup > Audio and enable

Automatic Gain Control.

Adjust the microphone manually. To

do this:

1. Clear the Automatic Gain

Control check box.

2. Click Calibrate Microphone.

3. Use the Microphone Volume

slidebar to adjust the

microphone.

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