Overview #
This article explains Push to Talk (PTT) setup, functionality, and troubleshooting.
Push to Talk is a geoDVR feature that allows a user to only record audio when a button is pressed. Without enabling Push to Talk, if audio is being recorded during the mission, all audio will be recorded. This includes chatter from the mission crew, which may not be desired.
Setup #
Plug in the Microphone #
First, look at the back of the geoDVR. The below picture is of a geoDVR Gen4. The mic location may vary in other models.
There is an Audio In for a microphone on the far right, labeled “Mic”. Plug your microphone in.
Check the Audio Options #
Next look at the geoDVR monitor interface. Go to Options > Audio Options > Audio Input > Sound Card Mic In and be sure that is checked.
Enable Push to Talk #
Finally, enable the Push to Talk functionality by going to Options > Enable Push to Talk and ensuring that option is checked.
In the image below, note that when Enable Push to Talk is checked under the Options menu, the Push to Talk button appears in the geoDVR interface.
Using Push to Talk (PTT) #
Start your mission recording. PTT will only work while the geoDVR is recording.
When you are ready to record audio, press either the green button on the feature trigger or the “Push to Talk” button on the geoDVR monitor interface. These two buttons are linked, so the user can push either to record audio.
Push either button again to stop recording audio. This will not stop or interfere with the geoDVR video recording.
To record audio again, push either the green button on the feature trigger or the “Push to Talk” interface button.
Troubleshooting #
Issue: No Push to Talk Button #
If you don’t see the Push to Talk button at the bottom of the geoDVR monitor interface, check the Options menu and be sure that Push to Talk is checked. (Options > Enable Push to Talk)
IMPORTANT: If you have disabled Push to Talk under Options, and you have a microphone plugged in to the geoDVR, you will always be recording audio. Push to Talk just gives the user a “silence mode” if they do not want to be recording audio the entire time the video is being recorded.
Issue: Audio is Not Being Recorded #
If Push to Talk is enabled under Options, and a microphone is plugged in, but audio is not being recorded, check the Windows audio settings:
In the geoDVR interface, go to Window > Allow Window Resizing to show the Windows interface.
Right click on the audio button on the Microsoft Windows task bar, not within the geoDVR interface.
Select “Sounds”.
NOTE: If the “Sounds” button above does not appear when the audio button on the task bar is right-clicked, you may also be able to find the following screen by clicking on the Windows icon and opening the Start menu and going to System > Sound > More Sound Settings.
Under the “Recording” tab, the microphone should be enabled and be the default device, as indicated by the green check box.
Double click the microphone to open the Microphone Properties settings.
Under the General tab, look for the microphone icon. Be sure it is named “Microphone”. This is important because this is the name that the geoDVR firmware is looking for.
Next click the Listen tab. Ensure the “Continue running when on battery power” radio button is selected and the “Listen to this device” box is unchecked. These are the default settings, but if at some point the settings were changed, they need to be reset to this default.
Next click over to the Levels tab. This screen is very important because it gives the microphone a boost. Keep the levels on the high end, close to 100.
Next click on the Enhancements tab, if it is present. Enhancements settings are not always present on modern Windows devices (including geoDVRs). If you do have Enhancements, click on it and be sure that the “Immediate mode” box is checked.
Finally, on the Advanced tab, be sure the Default Format is set to “2 channel, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality)” and both boxes under Exclusive Mode are checked.
After these audio settings are adjusted, return to the geoDVR interface and uncheck Window > Allow Window Resizing to return the geoDVR interface to the full size.
NOTE: These audio settings will be configured by Remote GeoSystems at the factory before the geoDVR is shipped out, but if there are audio issues, these are the settings to double check.
