Ubuntu

Skype: Unable to talk WITHOUT the use of a headset

Asked by slfr

Hi. I've downloaded Skype (Beta) version 2.1.0.81 in Ubuntu 9.10 and I can chat / write to people - no problem. I also use Skype in Vista which I run along side Ubuntu on my PC (Dell Inspiron 1545). When I talk to people via Skype in Vista I have NO need for a headset - I just talk to the PC and people can hear me fine and vice versa. But, in Ubuntu I can't talk to people. When I do the sound test in Skype I can't hear my own voice. I have checked the sound settings over and over again in Skype, tried different settings in Alsamixer and in Sound Preferences but, I can't get it to work. I have also looked on the internet for advice and followed the advice given by different people on audio settings but, I still cannot get it to work. Does anyone know if it is only possible to speak to people (via Skype in Ubuntu) with the use of a headset? Or would it be possible to change / adjust / download / install anything so I could talk to people without using a headset?

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Christian Loos
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Arnaudus (a-lerouzic) said : 		#1

Hi,

There is nothing magical about using Skype without a heaset: you have an internal microphone somewhere in your laptop -- you probably have a tino hole somewhere.

Here is a forum thread with someone who had the same problem as you and managed to fix it: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1361006

Just a piece of advice: the sound from such an internal microphone is in general very bad, it's too close from the computer and you can hear the fan, hard drive etc., as well as all the noise in the room. If you plan to phone a lot, including important phone calls, consider buying a good headset, as a matter of respect for the people you talk to.

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slfr (solskin) said : 		#2

Thanks for the feedback.

I have followed all the steps provided in the Ubuntu forum (link), however, I still cannot get it to work... I cannot hear my own voice when I do a test call in Skype. I have double checked all mute boxes in 'sound preferences'. Nothing is muted.

Please advise.

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Best Christian Loos (cloos) said : 		#3

In Sound Preferences goto Input. If you speak in your mic you should see the Input Level changing. If not, select a different mic in Connector.

My personal experience shows that the sound quality of the skype linux version is very poor compared to the skype windows version.

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slfr (solskin) said : 		#4

Fantastic!!!!!! It's working now :-) I changed the Connector from microphone 1 to microphone 2 in sound preferences. Thank you so much Arnaudus and Christian for your help and advice :-)

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slfr (solskin) said : 		#5

Thanks Christian Loos, that solved my question.