JAWS - Sound splitter does not work

JAWS - Sound splitter does not work

Problem

The JAWS sound splitter feature does not appear to work as expected when activated.


Affected products

  • JAWS
  • Fusion

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.
  1. Then use the ARROW keys to locate Run and press ENTER.
  2. At the command edit enter the following and press ENTER:

    MMSYS.CPL

  3. Use the arrows to find the sound output device being used and press ENTER to open its properties.
  4. Then press CONTROL+TAB until you reach the Enhancement tab if it is present.
  5. Then press TAB to reach the checkbox “Disable All enhancements” and use SPACEBAR to ensure this is checked.
  6. Navigate to Advanced tab, then locate the option ‘Allow application to take exclusive control of this device’ then press SPACEBAR to uncheck it.
  7. Navigate to and uncheck the item ‘Give exclusive mode application priority’ also in the Advanced tab.
  8. Then navigate to Spatial Audio tab, then uncheck 'Enable Audio Enhancements'.
  9. Then navigate to Communications tab, then adjust the setting ‘When Windows detects communications activity’ to 'Do Nothing; using the arrow keys.
  10. When done TAB to OK then press SPACEBAR, then press ENTER.
 

  1. Then press TAB to reach OK button, then press SPACEBAR to confirm this change.

Using a mouse

  1. Right click Start then click Run in th menu.
  2. At the prompt enter the following and click OK button:

    MMSYS.CPL

  3. In the sound properties double click the affected headset or sound output device.
  4. Then click Enhancements tab.
  5. Then click to check the option “Disable All enhancements”.
  6. Then click Advanced tab.
  7. Click to then click to uncheck ‘Allow application to take exclusive control of this device’.
  8. Then click to uncheck 'Give exclusive mode application priority' in the Advanced tab also.
  9. If present click the Communications tab, then click the drop down ‘When Windows detects communications activity’ then choose the option 'Do Nothing'.
  10. when done click OK button to complete changes.