Experiencing difficulty hearing other users, even with your volume maximized? Is it hard to hear environmental sounds like chirping birds or a crackling fire in specific scenes? Or perhaps the background music is distracting? Don't worry! You can adjust several audio settings to tailor your IMMERSE experience for maximum enjoyment.

Locating Your Audio Settings

From the Homeroom Dashboard

Log into the IMMERSE Homeroom.
Click > the "Setting" gear icon near your profile icon.
Click > the "Sound" tab.
Configure your audio settings.

While in a Live Scene

Open your in-scene settings menu.
1. On Computer: Click ESC on your keyboard or the 3 lined button at the top left of your screen.
2. In VR: Press the icon on your inside left wrist, or press the X button on your left controller.
Click > Settings > Sound
Configure your audio settings.

Setting Options

There are several audio settings to consider in your configuration. Below are explanations and instructions on how to configure them.

Microphone

Click "Test Microphone" to run an audible test of your incoming audio/voice.

❓How do I know if my mic is working?

When a microphone input signal is successfully detected, the slider or bar next to the microphone icon in your Microphone menu will move left and right as you speak. Additionally, a successful "test microphone" session will include a playback of the recorded audio.

Changing Your Computer Microphone Input

Voice Options

Together, the settings below help to create a clearer and more focused audio experience in VR by prioritizing your voice over other sounds.

Voice Detection Sensitivity

This setting controls how sensitive the system is to picking up your voice. A higher sensitivity means the system will detect softer sounds, so your voice will be picked up even if you speak quietly. Lower sensitivity means the system might require you to speak louder for your voice to be recognized.

Background Noise Removal

This feature helps to filter out ambient noises that are not part of your speech. It focuses on reducing consistent background sounds like fans, air conditioners, or distant traffic. The goal is to make your voice clearer by minimizing the distraction of non-essential sounds.

Noise Suppression

Noise suppression is a broader term that generally refers to the reduction of various types of unwanted sounds, including background noise and other types of interference, like static or echoes. This setting typically works in tandem with background noise removal, focusing on minimizing sounds that can detract from the clarity of your voice in the VR environment.

Environment Noise

Sound Effects (SFX)

This will lower or increase the volume of any buttons, objects, and gestures.

World (Background)

This will lower or increase the volume of any background noises including: music, chirping birds, water trickling, wind blowing, fire crackling, and more!

Spatial Voice

This setting influences the voices you hear around you by combining four spatial audio elements:

Directional Audio: The perceived location of the voice changes based on the direction you are facing relative to the speaker.
Distance Volume: The loudness of a voice is determined by the distance between you and the speaker.
Obstruction Effects: If objects are situated between you and the speaker, the audio will be muffled or diminished.
Head Tracking: As you move your head, the audio will adjust dynamically, fading in or out based on your line of sight with the person speaking.

⚙️Recommendation for Voice Volume Issues

If you are experiencing difficulty hearing people, or if voices seem too faint, we advise setting the Spatial Voice feature to Low. This will limit the diminishing effect of the feature and help ensure you can hear conversations clearly.

Here is a breakdown of the Spatial Voice levels:

Low: Provides minimal adjustment. You can hear others at full volume regardless of which direction you are facing or if there are any obstacles in the way.
Default: Offers the most natural experience. The volume of others' voices increases when you face them directly and decreases when you turn away or when obstacles are present.
High: Applies strong occlusion. You hear others at full volume only when you are looking directly at them, which significantly reduces the volume of other conversations around you.

Proximity Audio

Proximity Audio is a feature that adjusts the volume of other users' voices based on the distance between you and them, simulating natural, real-world conversations and enhancing the feeling of immersion within our virtual scenes.

How it Works: Voice volume decreases as you move away from someone and increases as you get closer, facilitating group discussions and making it easier to hold conversations.
Key Difference from Spatial Voices: Proximity Audio considers only the distance between individuals, unlike Spatial Voices, which might factor in the direction a person is facing.
Availability:
- Community Spaces: This feature is always active to support spontaneous social interaction.
- Classes: The Guide has the ability to control the activation of Proximity Audio during these scheduled activities.