New 'voice' Encoding Options With Steam.
WolfWings
NS_Nancy Resurrectionist Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4416Members
NS_Nancy Resurrectionist Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4416Members
<div class="IPBDescription">And information on how to enable them!</div> <a href='http://www.xiph.org/archives/speex-dev/200308/0002.html' target='_blank'>Here</a> is a mailing-list archive entry about the <a href='http://www.speex.org' target='_blank'>Speex</a> voice-compression codec, where it details how to enable and use this new and vastly improved speech compression with Half-Life. It will eventually <i>replace</i> the existing voice-compression, and become the only option. Until then, it is not the default option, but available for all Steam-powered servers. In general, reducing bandwidth usage for voice down to 6000 bits/second (quality 2) still sounds better than the current codec, while truly high levels of compression (2400 bits/second) sounds equivilantly bad, but in a different way than the current compression method.
As a quick comparison, it used anywhere from 7.5% as much bandwidth to 47.5% as much bandwidth as the current 'voice' compression, and at less than 25% the bandwidth usage sounds generally better than the current voice compression. It <b>does</b> use a higher portion of server CPU, but only 1-2% in most of my tests.
And as Yet Another Note: 56k modems generally have around 20000 bits/second of upload space available, and around 40000 bits/second of download space available, once you factor in TCP/IP and PPP headers and everything else. So these new codecs are MUCH more friendly for modem users.
Unfortunately, it's only available for Steam-compatable servers. Anyways, for those that don't want to read that mailing-list for more information, here you go:
First, switch your server to use the Speex encoder:
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicecodec voice_speex</span>
Now, you're running in Speex mode. The next choice is how much bandwidth do you want Speex to use, which is a direct trade-off with the voice quality.
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 1</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671064' target='_blank'><span style='color:gray'>//2,400 bits/sec, 7.5% of current usage</span></a>
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 2</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671068' target='_blank'><span style='color:green'>//6,000 bits/sec, 18.75% of current usage</span></a> <-- Ideal Choice
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 3</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671069' target='_blank'><span style='color:yellow'>//8,000 bits/sec, 25% of current usage</span></a>
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 4</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671071' target='_blank'><span style='color:orange'>//11,200 bits/sec, 35% of current usage</span></a>
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 5</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671072' target='_blank'><span style='color:red'>//15,200 bits/sec, 47.5% of current usage</span></a>
And for comparison, the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=679507' target='_blank'>original MILES 'codec' which is 32000 bits/second,</a> and the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=679510' target='_blank'>untouched base sample I used for this test, which is 128000 bits/second,</a> for your convenience.
<span style='color:blue'>Heavilly edited to make convenient links for the comparison values, and more information on bandwidth consumption. Removed all other messages in thread except those holding files, moving all information up to this post.</span>
As a quick comparison, it used anywhere from 7.5% as much bandwidth to 47.5% as much bandwidth as the current 'voice' compression, and at less than 25% the bandwidth usage sounds generally better than the current voice compression. It <b>does</b> use a higher portion of server CPU, but only 1-2% in most of my tests.
And as Yet Another Note: 56k modems generally have around 20000 bits/second of upload space available, and around 40000 bits/second of download space available, once you factor in TCP/IP and PPP headers and everything else. So these new codecs are MUCH more friendly for modem users.
Unfortunately, it's only available for Steam-compatable servers. Anyways, for those that don't want to read that mailing-list for more information, here you go:
First, switch your server to use the Speex encoder:
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicecodec voice_speex</span>
Now, you're running in Speex mode. The next choice is how much bandwidth do you want Speex to use, which is a direct trade-off with the voice quality.
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 1</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671064' target='_blank'><span style='color:gray'>//2,400 bits/sec, 7.5% of current usage</span></a>
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 2</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671068' target='_blank'><span style='color:green'>//6,000 bits/sec, 18.75% of current usage</span></a> <-- Ideal Choice
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 3</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671069' target='_blank'><span style='color:yellow'>//8,000 bits/sec, 25% of current usage</span></a>
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 4</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671071' target='_blank'><span style='color:orange'>//11,200 bits/sec, 35% of current usage</span></a>
<span style='color:blue'>sv_voicequality 5</span> <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=671072' target='_blank'><span style='color:red'>//15,200 bits/sec, 47.5% of current usage</span></a>
And for comparison, the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=679507' target='_blank'>original MILES 'codec' which is 32000 bits/second,</a> and the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=679510' target='_blank'>untouched base sample I used for this test, which is 128000 bits/second,</a> for your convenience.
<span style='color:blue'>Heavilly edited to make convenient links for the comparison values, and more information on bandwidth consumption. Removed all other messages in thread except those holding files, moving all information up to this post.</span>
Comments
Thanks for the tip WolfWings!
Thx very much for the tip.
The voice quality sounds like never before,
All servers should have this on!!!
i think that if your server has this put [SPEEX ENABLED] in your server name <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> or at least [SPEEX] cause that would so want to make me play there
Also, as a side-note... anyone, feel free to link to this post, use <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=48362' target='_blank'>this link</a> when posting this topic to other forums.
And problems like this are another reason why it's still considered experimental code. :-)
Also, voice_quality has <b>no</b> effect at all when you're using the Miles codec, only if you're using the Speex codec.
ROFLROFL you're talking about STEAM??? /me dies from irony
great plugin btw
That is why when you chnage to speex you notice less bass and crap coming over mic.
Overall it makes a better voice experience.
4 and 5 are fairly heavy overkill, able to transmit passable music. 2 and 3 are roughly the optimal point for voice-comm, while not being able to transmit things like music effectively, which I consider a benefit.