This page aims to give a brief overview of preparing your computer (Mac, Windows or Linux) so that you will be able to access training sessions, webinars and meetings that are being hosted on Adobe Connect. The possible permutations of browser and operating sysem makes this more complicated, so we will focus on non OS specific browsers (Chrome and Firefox), but other browsers should also work fine. The first section, 'Preparation' is crucial, and it contains some extra tips and tricks to make your online meetings even more successful.
Thanks
Before we start, we would like to thank SUNET, the Swedish National Research and Education Network for providing us with access to their Adobe Connect instance, to use within the GEANT Project and for training purposes. This kind of collaborative support within the community is what makes it so great, so thank you.
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You should test your audio setup using your operating system's audio/voulme volume controls first, if its working in there, then it should work in the software. It is best to set the headset as the default audio option for online meetings.
You should not set the microphone input volume too high. Most indicators have a red/amber/green indicator to show the volume, you should aim to hit amber levels periodically, for example if you cough. If you are hitting red at any point, turn the microphone input level down. Equally, you should not have it set too quiet, so once you are setup, allow time to check and tweak you audio levels with your fellow participants. All online meetings should have a 'Can you hear me now?' section set into the agenda.
You should not have it set the microphone too close to your mouth or nose. Modern headset microphones are focused and of high quality, and will work well if they are placed just under you chin or just above your nose. Nobody wants to hear heavy breathing in a meeting.
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In some cases it will be necessary to show your video (webcam) in the meeting. This can be your built-in cam or an external device, it doesnt make any difference. However, sometimes these devices have a built-in microphone as well, which isn't useful in this context. Be sure to set that microphone to 'off' or 'mute' in your operating system's audio settings.
Think about lighting, if you have a strong source of light directly behind you, such as a window, all that will come out is a silhouette. You need some light on your face, so that it can reflect into the camera.
Think about positioning, often a built-in webcam can show a rather unflattering angle so think about raising it up a little. Also consider what is in the background, your colleagues didn't sign up to be broadcast!
Network
You should accessing online meetings using a wired ethernet connection, these applications are demanding on the network and the packet drop can be high over WiFi and you will tend to experience lag, dropped audio and other connection problems. If at all possible, you should use a wired connection, especially if you are hosting the webinar or chairing the meeting.
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