Tips to Improve Skype Call Quality (and Zoom too!)

Tired of bad audio quality in your calls? We’ve compiled the best tips on how to improve Skype call quality and on other videoconferencing apps like Zoom in this article.

It’s no secret that Zoom and Skype are two of the most popular video conferencing tools on the market. But what many people don’t know is that there are ways to improve call quality in both apps. This article will talk about what causes poor quality and offer solutions. But before that, let’s talk about Zoom and Skype and why more people are using them than ever.

What is Skype?

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls over the Internet. In 2003, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis created it. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion. They also founded the file-sharing website Kazaa.

Since its inception, Skype has been one of the most popular video conferencing tools on the market, thanks to its low cost (calls to other Skype users are free) and high-quality audio and video. In fact, according to a study conducted by CNET in 2013, Skype was found to have the best call quality of any videoconferencing app tested. And while there are many other videoconferencing apps on the market, Skype continues to be one of the most popular, with over 300 million monthly users as of 2018.

However, during the pandemic, Skype has since taken a back seat to new videoconferencing tools such as Zoom.

What is Zoom?

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing app that offers high-quality video and audio conferencing, online meetings, and webinars. It was founded in 2011 by Eric S. Yuan, who is also its current CEO.

Zoom offers free primary and paid plans that provide more features, such as unlimited meeting duration and recording. As of April 2019, Zoom had over 30 million monthly active users.

Ever since the start of the pandemic, Zoom has slowly crept up the popularity ladder and is currently on the top of the pile kicking out Skype from the top spot.

What Causes Bad Call Quality in Zoom and Skype?

If you are experiencing bad call quality in your videoconferencing app, may it be Zoom or Skype, several factors can cause poor call quality. Let’s list them all down.

1. Poor Internet Connection – There are several reasons why poor internet connection can lead to bad call quality in Zoom and Skype. One of the most common causes is interference from other devices, such as wireless routers or nearby cordless phones. Another common cause is rapid fluctuations in broadband connection speed, which can easily disrupt audio and video feeds. In addition, background noise and high levels of network congestion can also contribute to problems with call quality. Regardless of the specific factors involved, poor internet connection is one of the most common factors affecting the quality of calls in Zoom and Skype. If you are experiencing issues with your call quality, it’s essential to do everything you can to troubleshoot and address these underlying factors. With a bit of diligence and some tech-savvy, you can help ensure that your calls run smoothly every time.
2. Background Noise – There are plenty of reasons why your Zoom or Skype calls sound terrible. One common culprit is background noise. If you’re making a call from a crowded room or busy street, your mic will pick up all that sound and transmit it to someone you’re speaking to. That can make it hard for them to hear you. Another potential problem is an echo. If the person you’re talking to is in a room with hard surfaces (like bare walls or tile floors), their voice can echo and create an unpleasant listening experience for you.
3. Distant Participants – Having distant participants is one of the most prevalent causes of bad call quality in both Zoom and Skype. The further away the participants are, the more likely there will be a reduction in call quality. This is because the sound waves have to travel a longer distance, and they are more likely to be interrupted or absorbed by objects in the room. In addition, distant participants are more likely to experience echo, making it difficult to hear what others are saying. As a result, it is vital to ensure that all participants are within a reasonable distance from each other when using Zoom or Skype. Otherwise, the call quality will suffer.
4. Low Bandwidth – Low bandwidth is one of the most common causes of bad call quality in Zoom and Skype. When you make a call, your voice is converted into a digital signal and transmitted over the internet. If there is not enough bandwidth available, the signal will be compressed, and this can cause problems with call quality. In addition, low bandwidth can also lead to audio lag, making it difficult to have a conversation in real-time. There are many ways to improve call quality, but if you are consistently experiencing problems, it is worth checking your bandwidth to see if that is the issue.
5. Hardware Issues – One of the most prevalent causes of bad call quality in both Zoom and Skype is hardware issues. Your computer’s microphone, webcam, and an internet connection can all affect the quality of your video call. If you’re using a desktop or laptop, try plugging your microphone and webcam into different USB ports. Try moving closer to your router if you’re using a wireless connection. And if you’re using a Bluetooth connection, try restarting your device or connecting to a different one. You may also want to check for updates for your operating system, web browser, and any other software you’re using. By troubleshooting your hardware and software, you can help improve the quality of your video calls.

Tips On How To Improve Skype Call Quality

Now that we have a much better understanding of what are the leading causes of bad call quality on Skype and Zoom let us now talk about the solutions. Here are a couple of tips you can follow that might help make your calls and conferences look much better.

1. Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi – When it comes to online conference calls, the quality of your connection plays a critical role in how well you communicate with others. This is especially true when using systems like Skype and Zoom, which rely heavily on quality audio and video streaming. To ensure that you have the clearest, most stable connection possible when making calls on these platforms, it is recommended that you use a wired connection rather than Wi-Fi. There are several reasons why using a wired connection can help improve call quality and stability on Skype and Zoom. For one thing, Wi-Fi signals are known to be more prone to interference and packet loss, which can result in choppy or dropped audio during your call. Wired connections also tend to be faster and more consistent than wireless networks, making them ideal for tasks that require a high level of bandwidth – such as streaming video or conducting multiple simultaneous interactions. In addition, since wired connections are less prone to disruption from a nearby activity like movement or other digital devices on your network, you can be sure that your call will always run smoothly even if someone else in the room turns on their coffee maker! Ultimately, if you want to get the most out of your conference calls on Skype or Zoom, choosing a wired connection over Wi-Fi is always best.
2. Make sure audio and video drivers are up to date – If you want to improve the quality of your calls on Skype and Zoom, you can do a few simple things to enhance your experience. One crucial step is ensuring that your audio and video drivers are up to date. These drivers control how information is processed and presented so that an out-of-date driver can lead to issues such as sound glitches or out-of-sync video. Additionally, by having up-to-date drivers, you will be better prepared to deal with increased demands on bandwidth from other users in the future. Overall, ensuring that your drivers are up to date is a simple but essential step for getting the most out of Skype or Zoom calls.
3. Check app settings and make sure they’re optimized for the best quality – Have a good connection and great tools for your call, but they still seem to be issued? Check your app settings and make sure they’re correctly optimized for high-quality audio and video transmission. Note that you may have to tweak the settings a little bit to get the best possible quality in your calls. There are many guides out there for both Skype and Zoom.
4. Use an external microphone and speaker for better sound quality – If you’re looking to improve the quality of your calls on Skype and Zoom, one of the best things you can do is to invest in an external microphone and speaker. An external microphone will pick up your voice more clearly than the built-in microphone on your laptop or desktop, and an external speaker will provide better sound quality than your computer’s built-in speakers.
5. Don’t use a congested network – To improve the quality of your audio on Skype or Zoom calls, it’s important to avoid using a congested network. An overloaded network can cause increased latency, jitter, and packet loss, all of which can affect voice quality and make it challenging to communicate clearly with your colleagues or clients. Additionally, using a congested network can result in choppy audio or distorted sounds, which can be frustrating for everyone involved in the call and make it difficult to understand what is being said. To prevent this from happening, it’s crucial to ensure that you use a high-quality internet connection when making calls on Skype or Zoom. This means avoiding overly crowded networks and only connecting via Wi-Fi if your internet connection is sufficiently strong.
6. Close any programs or tabs that you’re not using during your call – To improve the quality of your calls on Skype and Zoom, you should close any programs or tabs that you’re not using. This is because running other applications and having multiple open windows can cause a significant drop in performance, which can negatively impact both audio and video quality. In addition to reducing potential distractions, closing all unnecessary programs helps free up system resources for the tasks at hand. Your calls will run smoothly, with clear audio and high-resolution video that fully captures all the nuance of your conversations.

Enjoy Good Quality Calls on Zoom and Skype All The Time

By following the steps we’ve outlined, you can improve the quality of your calls on Skype and Zoom and ensure that everyone involved has a positive experience. So why wait? Start following these tips today and start enjoying good quality calls on Zoom and Skype!