CHAPTER 2 |
35
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Noise Gate.
This feature will attempt to remove background caller noise by gating (turning off) the output when the audio
drops below a certain threshold. We recommend leaving this setting off because it could mistake a soft-spoken caller for noise
and will gate unexpectedly. If callers commonly call in from noisy environments, you can play with this option to see if the
quality improves.
Receive EQ Mode and Additional EQ Settings.
The mode dictates the function of the receive EQ algorithm. Setting this to
OFF
bypasses all equalization of the caller’s voice. Setting the Mode to
Fixed
will tell the VX to only apply the equalization
specified in the
Additional High
and
Low EQ
fields.
In
Adaptive
mode, the VX will automatically set the EQ levels of callers
in an attempt to make all the callers sound similar, no matter what type of call it is. (Cellular, VoIP, Legacy Connections, etc.)
High and Low EQ can be added to this automatic EQ by specifying a value in the fields. We recommend using 0dB for High and
+4dB for Low
Caller Ducking Level.
The purpose of this is to provide an effect that many DJs and talk show hosts prefer – that the caller
level is reduced when they speak. The ducking function reduces the gain in either the send or receive path depending on who
is talking at a given moment. There is a smoothing filter with time-constants tuned to make the effect as natural as possible.
The amount of ducking is a user-adjusted variable value and may be defeated entirely if you choose. 6dB or 12dB are the most
popular settings.
Assigning Sounds & Tones – The Tones page
SIP signaling is via digital message, not by tones in the
audio like it used to be. This means the VX has to make
its own sounds in response to various line status
conditions for human consumption. We provide default
sounds, which are the traditional tones generated by the
PSTN, but you can upload your own to create a unique
on-air ‘signature.’ Once in the main Tones page, you’ll
find
DTMF
and
RINGTONES
menus listed under the
Tones menu in the navigation bar.
You can also use any sound you like to signal that a new
call has been taken. This is actually a cool new feature
made possible by modern technology. Rather than a new
call appearing silently, the event can be accompanied by
a signature sound.
Years ago, we installed a fancy new Telos system
at Z-100, New York, replacing an old key phone
setup. The new system had a mute function to
remove the loud and annoying ‘clunk’ that banged
out when each call was taken to air. On the first
day, star morning DJ Scott Shannon called Frank
Foti, the Chief Engineer, to complain he was miss-
ing his “kerchunk kerchunk”. He liked the clunk,
saying it created a kind of dramatic “yer-outta-
here” punctuation when he dismissed a call and
took another. He would have loved this feature of
the VX. We’ve included a key phone button punch
sound in his memory.
For line status (sometimes ‘called ‘call progress’ tones), the
Tones
configuration page lets you choose either USA or Euro
standard for the default tones. You can upload your own sound also. Files to be uploaded must be mono, in the signed *.au file
format, linear PCM (8, 16, 24 or 32bits) or 32-bit normalized floating point. Ringtones MUST be 8kHz, 16-bit, mono, other
tones 48kHz. You can use the free Audacity audio editor to convert whatever you have to this format. Use the Export command
and choose the required values.
