Top issues that make sound quality worse and how to solve them

After the global pandemic, many conferences, meetings, and events have moved to remote or hybrid settings. And we know one thing for sure – the online format is here to stay! According to Global Market Insights, in 2021-2027, analysts expect the video conferencing market to grow by 23%. 

With the rise in popularity of remote conferencing platforms, sound quality has become the top priority. How come? Let’s just say that there still are many audio-related issues that can significantly impact the overall event experience. 

However, at Interactio, we’ve learned that we can always find a fix if there's a problem. So, what are the solutions to the top issues that make sound quality worse? Bear with us as we give you some valuable tips!

Top sound quality issues in video conferencing

From our experience as a remote simultaneous interpretation platform, there are two main categories of sound problems. The first is participant side issues, while the second is platform side issues. Let’s take a closer look at each one of them!

Participant side issues

Participant side issues are usually related to problems caused by factors unrelated to the video conferencing platform itself. The most common problems are caused by improper hardware, poor internet connection, and participants’ environmental or behavioral issues. 

For example, imagine a participant who connects to a video conference without headphones while sitting in a loud spot and forgets to mute their microphone. Surely, this will create sound disturbance! And let’s not forget that if you have interpreters in the meeting, unanticipated noise can cause acoustic shock. 

Platform side issues

The other set of top sound quality issues in video conferencing are related to the platform itself. Simply put, these problems occur due to incorrect sound processing algorithms. 

A typical example is when platforms don’t have proper digital sound processing (DSP). If you’re in a meeting where everyone experiences low sound quality and hears jittering and other sound distortions, the chances are that you’re witnessing DSP mismanagement.

Solutions to top sound quality problems

After learning about the most common sound problems and their cause, let’s look at ways to solve them!

Solutions to participant side issues

Encourage the use of equipment. If you hear echoes during an event, it might be because one of the participants is sitting in an open space without having earphones plugged in. This can disrupt the flow of the event and interpretation. That’s why it’s essential to ensure that everyone in the event has the proper equipment, such as headphones.

For interpreters, it’s crucial to use proper equipment to avoid common sound quality issues. You can see our guide on the equipment pieces required for interpreters to find which equipment can fix audio problems. That’s right – proper devices can do wonders to the overall event experience!

Use cable internet. Another common problem is an unstable internet connection that causes jittering and unstable sound flow. To fix it, try using cable internet. It will ensure stability as it’s built for one device specifically. And if you’re an interpreter, this solution can definitely help with unstable sound!

Have a meeting moderator. It’s important to mention that another widespread issue with sound is when a participant forgets to mute their microphone. That can surely disrupt the meeting!

Sometimes, simply asking the person to mute themselves doesn’t do the trick. For this reason, ensure that you have a meeting moderator who will mute the participant.

Solutions to platform side issues

Perform soundchecks before the meeting. This solution is crucial for any event. Soundchecks can be a great way to find and fix a possible problem before the event begins. Having soundchecks will save you from unnecessary stress and let you focus on the event instead! 

Try hardware with sound processing. Another way to avoid unstable sound levels is to use built-in sound processing equipment. Currently, headphones with noise reduction technology are top-rated, which is recommended by WHO.

However, before using any sound processing technology, always check if it’s the right fit for your needs. While it might make you sound better for some people, it’s still unknown if sound perception is universal.

What does this mean for you?

There are many sound quality issues related to remote conferencing platforms. They can disturb the sound quality and the event experience for both the interpreters and participants. That’s why it’s crucial to be aware of the existing problems and find proper solutions.

The issues we mentioned here are only the top ones. However, we’re aware that more of them exist from researching the current sound quality problems. 

That’s why we’ve prepared a research report on customer sound complaints. We take a closer look at it and present solutions to existing problems. Why not check it out?