| 1. | How to create a conference? |
| | Go to http://AcuManagerIP/login Enter 'Company', 'user id' and 'password'. Select
'New Conference'. Enter the 'Title' of the conference session, Email (to which
the URL of the conference session will be sent to), 'Password' (If you wish to
protect access to the conference session) and 'Description' (If any). Click
'Create'. A few seconds later, 'New conference successful!' will be displayed.
Click 'Start Conference' to start the conference session. |
| 2. | How to schedule a conference and inform attendees about the conference? |
| | First, Create a conference (See 'How to create a conference'). Instead of
starting the conference, select 'Invite'. Choose the date and time of the
conference and enter the email addresses of the attendees. Click 'Send', an
email will be sent to the attendees informing them of the upcoming conference.
You can also forward the email (containing the URL to the conference session)
that was sent to you by the system to the intended attendees. Or immediately
send the URL via any messaging software.
The conference host should start the conference session at the scheduled
time by entering the system, select 'Conference List' and click on the required
conference session. |
| 3. | How to set security to a conference session? |
| | When the host creates a conference, he can allow access to all users or set
a password to the session |
| 4. | How to join a conference session? |
| | After the conference session is started by the host, participants can click
on the URL that is sent to them via email or other means. Participants will be
prompted to download and install client software if they are joining a
conference for the first time. When prompted, enter name and password (if
required) to enter the conference session. |
| 5. | What are the minimum requirements of computer? |
| | Hardware:
Pentium 4 Duo Core, 1GB RAM, sound card, microphone, web camera, broadband
connection
Software:
Windows XP and above, DirectX 8 and above |
| 6. | Can I use aero themes for desktop background in Windows 7? |
| | Aero themes with desktop background slide show interferes with 'Share PPT' and 'Share Others'. Please use themes without desktop background slide show. |
| 7. | Can I use the display card for hardware encode/decode? |
| | Hardware:
Hardware accelerator: Video/ Audio require quite heavy processing from the CPU especially when the video is large and it is displayed with high frame rate. Some hardware display cards have the capability of processing video (GPU). This function is known as hardware accelerator. When the hardware accelerator is turned on, the processing of video encoding and/or decoding will be assigned to the GPU instead of CPU. This will result in low CPU usage and allow the user to use High Definition video quality. However, some hardware drivers are faulty which may cause blue screen (BSOD). As a result of this potential problem, AcuConference by default does not use Hardware Encode and Decode function. If you want to use High Definition video in conference and have a supported GPU card, you may turn on this function using Settings->Conference->Check Hardware Encode/ Decode. Make sure that you have updated your display driver to the latest driver version from your display card vendor. AcuConference has blacklisted some driver versions which will cause BSOD. |
| 8. | How much bandwidth is needed? |
| | The amount of bandwidth required is directly
related to the quality of the conference session that is created. A conference session can be created with the following qualities: 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 960 x 720 and 1280 x 720. The corresponding bandwidth that is required are 384 kbps, 512 kbps, 768 kbps and 1 Mbps respectively. |
| 9. | Unable to join conference after clicking on URL |
| | If host has not started the session, a message 'Sorry, the conference
session that you are attending is not in progress yet. Please wait for the
session to start.' will be displayed. No need to close the browser as when the
conference session starts, you will be brought to the login page. |
| 10. | The connection to the conference server fails |
| | The conference software will try various methods to connect to the conference
server. When all methods fail, a message 'Connection failed' will be displayed.
Check if you need a proxy server to connect to the internet. If required, enter
the required information in the pop up dialogue box. The software will make use
of the proxy setting in Internet Explorer, if configured. In this case, only the
username and password is required. If you still cannot connect, please check if
UDP 7350 – 7353, or TCP 443 or TCP 80 ports are opened. We recommend that UDP
connection be used for better video/audio experience. |
| 11. | I hear my own voice coming back when I talk |
| | In Windows XP, under Control Panel – Sound and Audio devices – Audio, in 'Sound Playback' ensure that the 'microphone' is mute. In 'Sound Recording' ensure that 'microphone' is selected. In Windows 7, 'Control Panel' - 'Sound' - 'Recording' Select the microphone - 'Properties' - 'Listen' and ensure that "Listen to this device' is not selected. |
| 12. | Other participants cannot hear me |
| | Before entering the conference session, in the 'AV Setting' dialogue box, select
the desired audio device. Click on the 'Test' button and speak into the microphone. If the test fails, please check if the microphone is properly connected and the audio
device is correctly configured. |
| 13. | I cannot see my own video |
| | Before entering the conference session, in the 'AV Setting' dialogue box, select
the desired video device. You should see yourself in the video window. If not, check that no other applications are using the video device (e.g. MSN). Or check that the driver is correctly installed. |
| 14. | I cannot hear other participants |
| | If you can see the audio meter below the video window of the said participant,
please check that the audio playback setting on your computer is correct, for
example whether it is 'Mute'. The software uses the audio playback device that
is defined in your computer. If you cannot see the audio meter when the other
participant is speaking, please ask him/her to check whether his/her audio input
device is properly configured. |
| 15. | I cannot see the video of other participants |
| | Check that his status is 'Speaking'.
Also check the video status of the participant in the 'Participant List'. If it
is 'Off', he might have chosen not to send his video or he does not have a video
device. |
| 16. | I can see my own video, but others cannot see me. |
| | Check that you have 'Speaking' rights in the conference. Only participants who
have been granted 'Speaking' rights can be seen or heard by others. Also check
that you have not disabled sending of your video. When you are doing 'Screen
Share', your video will be disabled. |
| 17. | How do I get 'Speaking' rights? |
| | If you wish to speak in the conference session, you have to click the 'raise hand' icon.
Whether you will be able to speak after 'raise hand' will depend on whether you are
a co-host or a participant. The host needs to grant permission to a participant to speak.
A co-host automatically becomes a speaker after he 'raise hand' The host can also invite
anyone to speak. That person just has to accept the invitation and he immediately becomes
a speaker. After you finish speaking and wants stop sending your video/audio, click on
'raise hand' again. |
| 18. | There is a big delay in audio transmission |
| | Normally, audio delay is due to network conditions, participants are connected
to the system via different networks with different conditions. UDP transmission
for video/audio is more efficient than TCP. The response time from some networks
to the server may be long. The conference server receives video/audio data from
all speakers and sends them to all other participants. |
| 19. | There are audio jitters |
| | Audio jitters are cause by network instability of either the speaker or
receiver. Audio transmission requires a bandwidth of 50 kbps. If the network is
not able to sustain a constant bandwidth of 50 kbps, then jitters will occur. |
| 20. | Ways of improving audio quality |
| | The system uses audio buffer to minimize jitters. Big audio buffer greatly
reduces jitters but delay becomes longer.
When bandwidth is not enough, audio jitters
may be encountered. The host can control the number of people speaking at
the same time or disable video to correct the situation. Participants can also
help by disabling 'raise hand' when they have finished speaking. If bandwidth is
not sufficient, you can also disable receiving the video of the speakers. |
| 21. | What is the maximum number of participants? |
| | There is no limit to the number of people that can join a conference session.
However due to limitation of hardware and bandwidth, it is limited to 300
participants per server. |
| 22. | Difference between host, co-host, participant and presenter |
| | Host: The one who creates and start the conference session. He has complete
control over the conference. He can also transfer the host control to
anybody.
Co-host and participant: Both are people who participate in the conference.
The only difference is that the co-host will have speaking rights
immediately when he 'raise hand'. Participants need the host to grant them
permission to speak when they 'raise hand'.
Presenter: When a presenter opens documents, screen share or change layout
, everybody will follow suit.
Everybody will see the same data/document on their screen as the presenter. |
| 23. | What can a host do when the conference is chaos? |
| | When there too many speakers and all of them are speaking and not giving way to
anybody, the host can click on the 'Attention' icon. When he does that,
all speaking rights of the speakers are revoked temporarily. Only the host and Presenter
are able to speak, after he has restored order, he can click on the 'Attention'
icon again, and all video/audio channels of speakers will be restored. The
host can also selectively revoke the speaking rights of anyone or 'kick
out' undesirable participants by right clicking on the participant's name and
select the appropriate action. |
| 24. | What controls does a host have? |
| | As a host, you can
- enable video/audio of the conference session (Attention mode)
- Be the sole speaker in the conference, revoking the speaking rights of all
others.
- Record the conference session
- By right clicking on the participant's name, he can promote participants to
co-host or demote co-host to participant, set/revoke presenter rights,
give permission/revoke speaking rights, kick participants out of the conference
session and transfer the host to others. |
| 25. | What happens if the host gets disconnected? |
| | When the host gets disconnected, the host status will be transferred
according to this order: the first speaking co-host, the first speaking
participant, the first co-host and the first person to join the conference.
The host will automatically try to reconnect. He will rejoin the session
again as the host. |
| 26. | How many video windows can be opened? |
| | There is no limit to the number of video windows (speakers) as long as the host
allows it. Whenever someone becomes a speaker, his video window will pop up on the screen
of everybody. When the number of video windows exceeds that of the layout view. The Presenter and active speaker will always occupy a video window, the rest of the participants' videos will be rotated |
| 27. | Can the videos be enlarged? |
| | Double click on any video window to view in full screen. Double click again or
press 'ESC' to return to the console view. |
| 28. | Where are received files stored? |
| | When somebody sends you a file, you can choose to 'accept' (stored in My
Documents\AcuStudio\publish), 'Save as' (choose your own location) or
'Decline' the file. |
| 29. | Which type of files can be shared? |
| | Presenters can share the PowerPoint files by using 'Share PPT'. To share all other documents or applications, use 'Share Others' |
| 30. | When I share my screen, it does not appear sharp to some participants |
| | When performing a screen share, the software will capture your screen at the current resolution. If the participant's screen resolution does not support it, your screen will not size down when it reaches the participant's screen. This will cause some reduction in sharpness. In this case, you may want to share your
screen at lower resolutions. (eg 1024 x 768). |
| 31. | How to let others control my screen? |
| | First you have to be a presenter, then perform 'screen share'. The other
participant will see your screen, you can click on the drop down list and select the participant that you want to pass control of your screen to
Participants can 'raise hand' to ask for control of your screen by moving his mouse to the extreme right of his screen to bring out the options menu and click 'CTRL' to request for control. You will be able to see a 'hand' icon next to his name in the
participant list at the top. To allow him to control your
screen, click on his name. He will be able to
control your screen. |
| 32. | In recording, what is recorded? |
| | During recording, the screen and the audio of all speakers are recorded. |
| 33. | Where is the recorded file stored? |
| | When you stop the recording, it will be saved in 'My Documents\AcuStudio\conf_record folder. |
| 34. | How to open the recorded file? |
| | Double click on the acmx file or right click on AcuConfernce 7/AcuConsole 7 icon on the taskbar and select 'Open' and browse to the required acmx file. Here You can also trim the
portions of the video that you do not want. |
| 35. | How to distribute the recorded conference? |
| | Click on 'Publish' – 'Network' and choose whether to publish to local drive or upload to the server (User account required). The published files are in Flash and MP4 format
Thus viewers only need any browser with flash installed. It can also be viewed on IOS and Android devices (with flash installed) |
