Improve Music on Hold quality

[DuperDave]

I have a Mitel 3000 and have been tasked with improving the quality of the music on hold. Has anyone been able to improve the quality and flexibility of their hold music with a Mitel 3000??

I have purchased the MoH external source adapter and an mp3 player and hooked them up. My first attempt left the music inaudible. To test the concept of an in-line amplifier, I plugged the mp3 payer into a set of powered speakers and then the MoH adapter into the speakers. Testing this configuration I was able to get the necessary volume but the quality was the over amplified horrid quality of the built in music.

 

[Supernova99]

Not sure why you are not using the embedded MoH as this is easy, flexible and can give a good quality output.

The input on the MoH port is listed below

Input impedance 600 ohms nominal
Maximum input voltage SELV limits
Maximum input audio level without
clipping
0.4 Vrms (mono input)/0.2 Vrms (each stereo input),
THD @ -40 dB
Maximum PCM level -15 dBm

If you can be sure that the MP3 player meets the above criteria then it should work correctly.

One thing with regards embedded MoH quality do not try to convert a high quality MP3 file down to 8bit 8k mono WAV file
it is best to drop the quality of the MP3 in stages before finally taking it to 8k mono
If you do the quality will be very poor.

Share what you know - Learn what you don't

 

[DuperDave]

I guess I was naive to think I could plug in a mp3 player and be able to have a larger music library for the on hold music. I am taking care to meet licensing requirements.

So if I read your post correctly. I would have to load the player with 8 bit, 8k mono wave files?

Do you have a recomended step down order?

 

[dryaquaman]

The 8 bit, 8k mono only applies to the embedded.

Since you mentioned licensing, here's a related article regarding:

http://www.connectionsmagazine.com/articles/2/212.html

Always take care to be sure you license what you use.

Dry Aquaman

http://www.university-music-on-hold.com

 

[DuperDave]

Thanks Dry,
That leaves me to believe that the player itself is just under powered.

 

[Supernova99]

For a step down I have found that not trying to covert for than 4 times the original until you get to around 32k

So if your MP3 is 128k convert to 32k MP3 then you can convert yo 8k WAV

It is worth spending a few minutes doing this to produce a good quality audio for your callers.

As for PRS most classical music is PRS free and there are numerous sites providing PRS free music, so just be careful as the fines are preety steep if caught playing music without a licence.

Share what you know - Learn what you don't

 

[dryaquaman]

Supernova99,
What software do you use to convert/step down your MP3s?

Dry Aquaman

http://www.university-music-on-hold.com

 

[DuperDave]

I usually use Audacity. I have downloaded the trial to GoldWave for a few more options. I also use MP3 gain to normalize files.

If I am not imbedding the files then the step down process is kind of irrelevant.

 

[dryaquaman]

DuperDave,
I haven't been able to figure out how to use Audacity to save in the Mitel format. Have you figured it out?

Dry Aquaman

http://www.university-music-on-hold.com

 

[Supernova99]

I have used audacity in the past but I found a much better converter
called Switch

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

It will convert the mp3 down and also convert to various other formats
the best part is batch converting and the ability to play vox files

I used to have various programs to do converting and playback but Switch does it all

Share what you know - Learn what you don't

 

[DuperDave]

DryAquaman,
I have not been able to get the files to the correct format with Audacity. I had to used the trial of GoldWave to get the correct file formatting.

SuperNova,
thanks for the link. I will have to check it out.

This thread seems to be neglecting the question of using an external source however.

 

[Supernova99]

Like I said in my earlier post you will need to provide a music source with the following capabilities maybe even using a transformer

Input impedance - 600 ohms nominal

Maximum input voltage - SELV limits

Maximum input audio level without clipping 0.4 Vrm (monoinput)/0.2 Vrms (each stereo input),THD @ -40 dB

Maximum PCM level -15 dBm

I have never had much luck with MP3 players however there are a few MoH systems out there that have a 600ohm input impedance


Share what you know - Learn what you don't

 

[DuperDave]

I was afraid of that. I guess I needed it repeated.

My phone vendor has had luck with out the external MoH cable and splicing an RJ11 modular end with a 3.5mm wire. Occasionaly needing a mono - mono cable to improve some quality issues.

 

[JimHilton]

I think the MP3 player is the problem. I use a crappy old computer with winamp as the player and Sound Blaster as tge card with LINE outs (not to be confused with speaker outs). The speaker port (headphone on the mp3 player could be 4-8 ohms, thats almost a dead short.) The line out is much higher and will better match you MOH box.

This system works perfectly and you can produce some in house "we value your call HAHAHHA, please stay on the line etc voice overs. Load up with royalty free classical music and i've even used the MOH key on my phone to listen for quality and cuz its not too bad.

You can "rip" your mp3s to 8K Mono, but i use 96K mono for a bit nice monofonic fidelity err something like that