JAWS - Sound splitter does not work
Problem
The JAWS sound splitter feature does not appear to work as expected when activated.
Affected products
Detail
The sound splitter is a convenient tool available to JAWS and Fusion users to help when audio is very congested such as an online video meeting where a customer needs to listen to both call audio and chat info. It allows a user to steer the JAWS and other audio to separate sides of a stereo headst.
Resolution
Consider if any of the following are true
- Determine if the correct keystroke is being used; press JAWSKey+SPACEBAR followed by letter V, then B followed by arrow key from the direction in which to steer JAWS speech.
- Does the attached headset have both left and right earphones. The sound splitter does not work with monaural headsets.
- Check that when the JAWSKEY+SPACEBAR portion of the layered keystroke is pressed, you hear the audible signal JAWS has encountered a layered keystroke.
Using the keyboard
Press WINDOWSKEY+X tp open the special start menu.
- Then use the ARROW keys to locate Run and press ENTER.
- At the command edit enter the following and press ENTER:
MMSYS.CPL
- Use the arrows to find the sound output device being used and press ENTER to open its properties.
- Then press CONTROL+TAB until you reach the Enhancement tab if it is present.
- Then press TAB to reach the checkbox “Disable All enhancements” and use SPACEBAR to ensure this is checked.
- Navigate to Advanced tab, then locate the option ‘Allow
application to take exclusive control of this device’ then press SPACEBAR to
uncheck it.
- Navigate to and uncheck the item ‘Give
exclusive mode application priority’ also in the Advanced tab.
- Then navigate to Spatial Audio tab, then uncheck 'Enable
Audio Enhancements'.
- Then navigate to Communications tab, then adjust the
setting ‘When Windows detects communications activity’ to 'Do Nothing; using the
arrow keys.
- When done TAB to OK then press SPACEBAR, then press ENTER.
- Then press TAB to reach OK button, then press SPACEBAR to confirm this change.
Using a mouse
- Right click Start then click Run in th menu.
- At the prompt enter the following and click OK button:
MMSYS.CPL
- In the sound properties double click the affected headset or sound output device.
- Then click Enhancements tab.
- Then click to check the option “Disable All enhancements”.
- Then click Advanced tab.
- Click to then click to uncheck ‘Allow application to take exclusive control of this device’.
- Then click to uncheck 'Give exclusive mode application priority' in the Advanced tab also.
- If present click the Communications tab, then click the drop down ‘When Windows detects communications activity’ then choose the option 'Do Nothing'.
- when done click OK button to complete changes.
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