Noise in your audio monitors

One of the most common issues I get asked about is clicking and other noise in audio monitors that you cannot hear in playback. With the proliferation of editing systems in places that don't have in-house technical support, there are many possible sources for noise. These include unbalanced inputs and outputs, unshielded wiring, unshielded speakers, among many.

But when the noise is only in the speakers and isn't repeatable when you play the audio back, It's almost always from a cell phone. In my experience it has always been from a cell phone. The interaction of speakers and phones can differ a lot, so just because you used a phone many times without hearing noise doesn't mean that's not where it's coming from. So, if you don't like hearing intermittent pops and clicks, turn the phones off. All the way off. And you should probably turn off those mobile tablets too.

Use Skype for remote depositions, save time and money

It is not always feasible to travel to a remote location to do a deposition. A telephone deposition is not fulfilling because you can't see the deponent's facial expressions and other non-verbal cues, which can be crucial to a true understanding of what they are saying. There are plenty of options for doing a remote video deposition, but they can be expensive. More and more small firms, and some larger, are using Skype, a free video calling service. It is relatively easy to use, but there are a few things to consider that will make Skype a more reliable and powerful tool.

First, make sure your computer is powerful enough do a good job of maintaining the connection and displaying the video well. For various compatibility reasons, I recommend using a PC running Windows XP, Vista, or 7. Macs will work, but some Skype features and many associated programs will not run on them. Minimum specifications for a PC that will work with the setup I will describe here are a 2.4 GHz Intel® Core™2 Duo, 2 GB of RAM, FireWire connections, and a monitor with a minimum resolution of 1280 x 720. Sooner or later you will probably want to record a call, so I recommend a large amount of storage - at least a terabyte. External FireWire storage is becoming more and more inexpensive and it is not unusual to find 2 TB drives for under $300.

The next crucial parts of the circuit are your internal network and your internet connection. Your internal connection should be high speed. I recommend a broadband internet connection with minimum 4Mbps download and 512Kbps upload speeds.

For a webcam, I think the Logitech C910 is an excellent choice. Many people skimp on the webcam, but, for something important, spending $100 rather than $35 isn't a big difference. The C910 has excellent video and audio quality, good automatic color, and an optical zoom. The zoom and other adjustment features can be very helpful if you want to show more than one person.

When your system is set up, be sure to do extensive testing in advance. Depositions can last a long time, so make a few test calls that last at least three hours. During these test calls, use Skype's "check settings" tool to make sure everything is working correctly. If you have performance issues, there is a free utility, Game Booster, that can help your computer run faster while using Skype.

When you begin using Skype for depositions, a few simple steps will help ensure the fewest problems. First, contact the right person to make sure Skype will be set up on the other end. This is frequently a court reporter, but could be a law office or even the deponent. Be sure to add a contact to your Skype list. Test the connection at least a day before the deposition and then again the day of the deposition. Finally, be sure to make your deposition call 15 minutes before you are due to start so you can have full confidence in the connection.

Coming soon: recording, editing, and synchronizing Skype depositions.