Best practices for using Lync Audio
The following best practices help you have a smooth and enjoyable experience with Lync audio.
Configure and test your audio device
The Audio Device Settings feature is a great tool that guides you through setting up your device and testing, to ensure high quality audio performance. Click the Audio Device button at the bottom of Lync main window, then click Audio Device Settings and follow the instructions provided.
Use quality audio devices
The built-in PC microphones and speakers may not provide the best audio quality. If possible, use high quality headsets recommended by your company’s IT department. For a list of devices that are optimized for Lync, see the list on Microsoft TechNet at Phones and Devices for Microsoft Lync 2010.
Use the Mute button
If you are not speaking, mute yourself by clicking the Microphone button in the conversation window. This will eliminate noise interruption, such as typing sounds, desktop alerts or other background noise.
Have a plan B
Keep your mobile or home phone nearby, so you can switch to a difference device if you need to; for example, in case you lose network connectivity, or if you decide to transfer the call to your cellphone.
Know your options
Lync offers different audio options to choose from. Select the one that is most appropriate, depending on the situation:
- One-click call: Hover over a contact and click the Call button for a computer to computer call.
- Call an alternative phone number: Hover over a contact and click the arrow to the right of the Call button, then click the number you want to call. If you want, you can also click New Number, and type a number.
- Search to call: In the Search box, type a number and then click the Call button next to the number, when it appears in the Search Results box.
- Leave a voicemail only: You can just leave a voicemail for a contact without ringing their phone. Hover over a contact, click the arrow to the right of the Call button, and then click Voicemail.
Use a wired connection
Wireless connections can affect the audio quality, especially if there are other devices using the network.
Corporate Network
Lync does not require you to be on your company’s internal network if you are working remotely. As long as you are connected to the Internet, you can use Lync. For better audio quality, we recommend that you don’t connect to your company’s internal network via VPN (Virtual Private Network), if you don’t have to.
Set up your Dial-in Conferencing PIN
You don’t need to use your PIN if you are signing in to your meeting using the Lync client. But if you need to open the call by phone as a presenter, you need both your dial-in PIN and the conference ID of the meeting. Set up and take a note of your PIN, in case you need to use it.
Note: Please be aware that some of the features introduced in this course, may not be available to you depending on your company’s configuration. For example, some of the tools are only supported if your company is federated with another company or is configured with Lync Enterprise Voice. Please see below for more information.
Lync Server 2010 Enterprise Voice
A voice option to enhance or replace traditional phone systems, and includes calling features, such as: call a contact, hold, forward, transfer, divert, park, retrieve, voice mail, conferencing, and calls to and from the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
For more details, please see: Microsoft Lync 2010 Enterprise Voice.
Federated Communications
Your organization’s support team may decide to create a federated relationship with other companies, which is a virtual alliance that allows you to add users from other organization to your contact lists, send them instant messages, invite them to audio calls, video calls, or conferences, exchange presence information, or easily escalate person-to-person sessions to multi-person conferences. Please contact your support team with any questions regarding the tools and availability.
For more details, please see: Lync 2010 Federated Communications and Public Networks.
