Problem with Voice/Video Conversation in MSN

Willymuncher

Okay heres my problem, might seem simple, but I can't figure it out, my girlfriend and I have been trying to talk to each other on MSN, since she is in America right now. I have a headset, and she has to make do with some headphones and an ordinary microphone, the problem is this....everytime i speak, i can hear myself speak directly after, its not like a normal echo, its relaying what she is hearing back to me.

It seems that i can hear every single thing on her computer eg. if she plays a music file, i can hear it, or if windows makes a sound, it comes through my speakers, i suspect this is the reason why i hear an echo of myself speaking...but i can't figure out why its doing it. I've looked it up on the net, but the only solution they provide for it is that the speaker volume is too high on one end...but this is not the case. Even when she has no microphone plugged into her computer, i get sounds from her side....it seems strange to me, has anyone else had this problem? or found a solution to it? Unfortunately she hasn't a clue about the pc on her side and isn't able to tell me much, all i know is, that its running Windows 98.

Wandering Dazed

It doesn't have a built in mic does it? Like a laptop etc.

Willymuncher

I don't think so, because even when she has the volume switched off on her speakers, total silence.....i can still hear all sound like music, and when shes wearing headphones, and the sound of my voice isn't being played over a loud speaker, my voice is still echoed back to me, its like its taking all the sound on her pc and transmitting it back to me...not just her voice, but mine aswell

EL_Loco

try a test on your computer in isolation first.

maybe record yourself and see if it's your own sound card making the echo.

programs, accessories, entertainment, sound recorder.

usually better to turn off the output of your own mic, double click on the speaker icon on the bottom right of the screen (unless you've moved your taskbar). and mute your microphone. this is only muting it in your headphones/speakers. you're not actually turning off the mic this way, just stops you hearing yourself while you talk into it.

Willymuncher

Just tried that now, don't hear any echo, and the the mic was already muted when i went into it, thanks for any help guys, much appreciated....I'm at a total loss as to what could be causing this, either on my side or hers...

EL_Loco

ok... next test

voice chat with someone else (maybe in Ireland) and see does it happen. OR

use a different chat program. I was never a huge fan of the MSN messenger. yahoo used to have pretty good voice chat, or skype is now the biggest chat thing going at the moment.

EDIT: f3ck it, PM me if ya like and we can have a quick test over MSN.

aidan_dunne

Okay, I've seen this kind of thing before both with MSN Messenger and some other chat programs. Tell her to try giving this a go:

1: Open volume control > Options > Properties

2: Make sure the "Playback" option is selected. Then tick all the boxes so all the slider bars for her soundcard will be displayed.

3: Check to see if there's a slider called "Mixer" or "Wave Out Mix" or something similar (she may have to scroll across or move the volume control to see all of the sliders if her soundcard has a lot of options). See if the box to enable it below the slider is ticked. If it is, untick it. However, usually it isn't in the "Playback" options but in the "Recording" options (I suggested checking it in "Playback" first just in case it was but it usually isn't) so then try this........

4: Repeat step 1 above.

6: Repeat step 2 above only this time select the "Recording" option. Repeat the same steps above thereafter.

As far as I know, and this is from my own experience as well, if "Mixer / Wave Out Mix" (or whatever the similar option on her soundcard) is selected, it will play any sound on your computer through to the other person. I've often used it in the past for playing music to other people to let them hear it. I think this might be what's happening here, that the Mixer option is selected and that's why all the sounds on her computer (Windows sounds, music and your voice echoing back at you) are coming through on your end.

Anyway, give that a go and see if it helps.

Willymuncher

Thanks a million, that worked a charm, you saved me a lot of hassle and a lot of money on phone bills....thanks to all the other guys who helped too, much appreciated.

aidan_dunne

No problem, happy to help!

Funny how it always seems to be a simple thing like that which causes so much trouble and frustration and pulling of hair, isn't it?