Use Voxcommando with iPad/iPhone/iTouch

[Kalle]

Hi friends,

I've bought a iPad2, and would like to use with VoxCommando.
There is the solution, and it works very very good. (Vista-32/64 or Win7-32/64) when you have a smartphone or iPad.
This solution is not from me, here is hompage how can you find the original idea: http://badros.blogspot.com/2010/05/skype-as-whole-house-wireless.html

step 1: You must install Skypeapp on your mobile device (iPhone / iPad / iTouch / Android device etc.)
             Then install Skype on your HTPC, create a separate Skype account  for each device.

step 2: download "Virtual Audio Cable"-Software from here http://software.muzychenko.net/trials/vac410.zip  and install. (it is a trial version)

step 3: start the VAC-control panel and set numbers of cable = 2 (see pic "VAC.jpg")

step 4: start skype on the HTPC and configure the audio settings in skype (see pic "skype.jpg and skype2.jpg")

step 5: in VoxCommando go to menue "Options - open Options" to the System-tab and click on "recognition" button and set the Audio-In to "Line1-VirtualAudioCable" (see pic "Vox.jpg")

thats all    -   make a call with mobile skype to your HTPC Skypename (skype and VC must run on HTPC    ) and VC is ready to use with the mobile-mic.

Only one limitation has the VAC-trial, all 7 seconds you can hear "trial ... trial ...trial ..." but you can mute your mobile-speaker or buy a license.

Kalle

[jitterjames]

That's very cool Kalle.  If it really works well, we should create a proper wiki entry for it.

One question:

I tried something similar to this myself with my ipod, but as I remember it, VoxCommando also heard the voice saying "trial, trial, trial" and it was not good for recognition results!

Also, the quality using skype is not great because of the compression.  But still pretty good, much better than bluetooth for example.

Another possible hack is to use a spare set of wireless telephones.  You need to get crafty, but it is possible.

[jitterjames]

I am also curious to know if VAC uses much CPU processing power.

[Kalle]

I am also curious to know if VAC uses much CPU processing power.

Hi James,
haha, with my settings, the voice "trial"  I can hear only on my iPad, and I mute this, but I will make some test with it, this sofware is great, you can route everthing to everywhere, and the mic-sound from iPad2 is very clear, simliar as amulet.
A cool thing is, you can stream the audio from mediamonkey to the iPad without any settings and control it with VC, very very cool. 

Kalle

[jitterjames]

cool.  It sounds like you need to create a video demo.

I wasn't joking about CPU power though.  One of the reasons I don't like the Kinect motion tracking is that it uses 100% of one core on my AMD quad core which makes it get hot and the fan starts blowing.  Not good for HTPC!

[Kalle]

cool.  It sounds like you need to create a video demo.

I wasn't joking about CPU power though.  One of the reasons I don't like the Kinect motion tracking is that it uses 100% of one core on my AMD quad core which makes it get hot and the fan starts blowing.  Not good for HTPC!

Ok, I take a look on CPU power in the next few hours and post a snapshoot. (I'm not at home, this take a while)

Kalle

[jitterjames]

no rush

[Kalle]

no rush

Ok, here we go - In the first picture is a process capture, the red marker shows to start mediamonkey with Skype+VAC+VoxCommando, the CPU-Power is normal for this process, the VAC need not much CPU-Power and on my very old triple-core AMD run many programs at the same time, the VAC has no latency.

In second picture capture the same process but streaming the musik with Mediamonkey+VAC+Skype to the iPad, CPU-Power 7% is nothing 

I will test it on my Dual-Atom D525, so that we can say it works also with low power CPU.

Kalle

[jitterjames]

ok thanks.  good to know.

[Kalle]

ok thanks.  good to know.

I've test the VAC with my HTPC (dualcore Atom D525 with 2GB-RAM) and it works perfekt ~15-45% CPU utilization with many programms in backround.
I have test the stream to iPad, and to the Digital output in the homecinema receiver - all the same ~15-45% CPU utilization.

One point: When you hear music over the receiver, it is better you use the mic from a headset for the iPad or iTouch, otherwise he pickup the loud musik.
But all together works fine for me and I'm pampered, because I have a amuletremote 

I will pursue the subject further and write an accurate manual.

Kalle

[jitterjames]

if you make a wiki I will be happy to go over it and fix any english mistakes.

[Kalle]

if you make a wiki I will be happy to go over it and fix any english mistakes.

No problem 

[Kalle]

cool.  It sounds like you need to create a video demo.

I wasn't joking about CPU power though.  One of the reasons I don't like the Kinect motion tracking is that it uses 100% of one core on my AMD quad core which makes it get hot and the fan starts blowing.  Not good for HTPC!

The history I have to get rid of: I wanted to make my first video for VC. First in English, but my English is not fluent (äh, ah, uh ....),but ok I tried the same again in the German and my cat behind me must continuously sneeze at the same time the Camera without a tripod, mounted on a microphone stand just falls down and the HTPC hangs while Windows makes updates in backround.

If I had uploaded this video, I would be tomorrow as the biggest idiot on youtube. 

I'm not a Camera-Man, sorry!!! 

[jitterjames]

HA.  Actually that sounds just funny enough to go viral on youtube!

I gotta see it!

Please, please please?

[Kalle]

HA.  Actually that sounds just funny enough to go viral on youtube!

I gotta see it!

Please, please please?

No Chance, delete