daradib/ projects/ berkeley/ mumble

mumble@ocf.berkeley

Do you want to talk to other students or groups of students through your computer? Collaborate? Try out Mumble.

Mumble is a low-latency and high-quality VoIP client resembling an audio version of IRC. It's an alternative to Skype, TeamSpeak, Ventrillo, and the like.

Thanks to the resources of the Open Computing Facility (which among other things, hosts this site), there's an experimental Mumble server on campus, intended for use by students.

See instructions for use below. Questions, comments, critique?
Contact me (daradib AT ocf.berkeley .. edu).

advantages

(over Skype, TeamSpeak, Ventrillo, and the like)

  • better quality (uses Speex and CELT codecs)
  • shorter delay between speaking and hearing (lower latency)
  • user-creatable channels and sub(sub)channels for multiple users
  • uses less computing resources
  • encryption built-in, without a backdoor
  • free software

Since the Mumble server is running on the campus network, there are some additional advantages.

  • even lower latency (we're talking a couple thousandths of a second delay between speaking and hearing)
  • even better quality (more bandwidth available)
  • does not contribute to ResComp bandwidth allotment
  • supported by fellow students

disadvantages of mumble

(over Skype, TeamSpeak, Ventrillo, and the like)

  • requires initial setup (no complaining, follow instructions below!)
  • smaller user base (Mumble might not be used by your friends -- you can fix this problem!)

instructions

  1. Download and install Mumble.
    Binaries available for Windows (download), Mac OS X (download), and GNU/Linux (refer to distribution).

  2. Set up your microphone and audio output settings. The soundcard delay slider should be set to the least value that results in no interruptions or jittering.

  3. Connect to the server. If not prompted, click Server > Connect. Add a new server.

    Servername: whatever name you want to refer to the server as, e.g. ocf
    Address: mumble.ocf.berkeley.edu
    Port: 64738 (default)
    Username: username for the server, preferably the user part of your berkeley.edu email address (user@berkeley.edu) or your OCF account username, if you have one