VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

georgethetech

Interesting discovery about Skype or Zoom on my Macbook Air: When I am doing a call and using my Sennheiser headphones with in-line mic plugged into the headset jack, folks on the call can hear my playback automagically. I have no idea how this is possible. It's as though there is a mix-minus loop-back built right in. I don't know if it's a new feature in Yosemite or what, but it's very odd. At the same time, it's very useful. If anyone else can recreate this behavior, chime in!
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George Whittam
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Matto · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:17 pm Post subject:

Wow, awesome!
This topic's ears must have been burning because I was meaning to ask yesterday how to engineer playback with a service like Skype or others.

I'll have to give it a test to see if it works for me for sessions.

Cheers George!
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Bruce · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:20 pm Post subject:

It works great for me, and I'm still on OS 10.8.5 on a 2 year old Mini. I'm using a MOTU input device (828 Mark II) and the Audio Desk software they provide for recording. I go into Skype Preferences and set the microphone to the MOTU unit and set the "Speakers" to the MOTU. (I've run my headphone line out of the MAC into the MOTU.) Their phone audio goes just to my headphones so they're not interfering with the recording in any way.

We hear each other fine... no loss anywhere. And with Skype I can have multiple people call in and we still hear each other fine.

B
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georgethetech · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:15 pm Post subject:

Bruce, you're missing one key thing that I was extolling the virtues of... the ability to play audio from your computer and the Skype caller hear it directly (not through a mic picking up speakers). I've come up with every solution possible to this issue, but to see my Macbook doing this automatically is a very interesting development.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I have a Macbook Air, but I don't use it for Skype sessions....I would think that it would have to do with:

A. The version of Skype
B. The version of Mac (which is in my case Yosemite, on both my desktop and on the MacBook Air)

Jason Huggins · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:06 am Post subject:

So, what is plugged into what? I don't quite get it. Do your headphones have a built-in mic (like iPhone headphones) with an additional ring on the plug?

Bruce · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:24 am Post subject:

Small corrections:

A) My MOTU has a headphone out which I use

B) Skype offers me the option of audio outputs (which it calls "Speakers") and in my case those options are:

"Same as System"
"Built-in Output (Headphones)"
"Air Play" which would go to my Apple TV
"MOTU 828mk2"

When I select MOTU the audio from the caller(s) goes to my headphones and nowhere else.

C) The inputs Skype offers are:

"Same as System"
"Built-in Input (Line in)"
"Logitech Camera" which is what I use for regular phone calls
"MOTU 828mk2" this option feeds my first audio channel, my main mic, into Skype and it's what callers hear

So basically, when I chose MOTU for both, the unit becomes my telephone "handset". Very slick.

For regular phone calls the camera is my mic and I run their audio through the Mac's headphone jack which feeds my BX5 speakers. There's enough delay or due to mic positioning I can go hands free without feedback if I keep the speaker volume reasonable. Also nice.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:01 pm Post subject:

Hey George, I wonder if it had to do with the type of jack the Senn 'phones have. TRS, or perhaps that quadriplex jack the Mac earbuds have?

My Skype setup currently requires 2 machines and my Mackie board to keep things clean and quiet.
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DBCooperVO.com

georgethetech · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 11:04 pm Post subject:

So Bruce, I don't suppose clients ask you to playback a take on Skype, do they? Do you just turn up the monitors and let them hear on your mic? How do you avoid feedback, if so? Or do you just tell them "I don't do that".

Deirdre: It must be something peculiar about the way Mac routes audio when using a headset with mic and headphones plugged in to that jack. Have yet to find a clear explanation of this phenomenon anyplace.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Bruce · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:33 am Post subject:

georgethetech · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:05 am Post subject:

Someone, somewhere along the line, told a client "may I play that take back for you" and ruined it for everyone else... so expect the request to come across your cans one of these days.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Bruce · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:42 pm Post subject:

Years ago I was able to voice a pretty good "tape rewind" effect. Maybe I'll do that and then just re-read the part they want.... see if that flies.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Matto · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:01 am Post subject:

So does anyone have a software based solution for this on Mac? My searches of the VO-BB yielded nothing.

I have a Mac Mini OSX 10.10.4 with an Apogee One, preamp is a Focusrite ISA One.

I have a phone patch session (Skype) today that I'd love to be able to do playback for.

Any help is greatly appreciated!
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www.mattcowlrick.com

georgethetech · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:31 pm Post subject:

A combo of Ladiocast and SoundFlower worked for this at one time, but I haven't tried it in a long time.
It looked something like this:
https://app.box.com/s/h5v9o238j9zmzl34y8sprahn2s6vbm32

[/img]
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

georgethetech · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:12 am Post subject:

There is also this method, but it seems too kludgy to me...
All these software solutions aren't smooth operators...
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder