Hardware Requirements
Before you get started, please make sure you have the following hardware items:
- USB Audio Device with separate Mic and Headphone jacks. We have a recommended list here.
- 3.5mm Male-to-Male Audio Cable
- Audio Splitter Cable
- Thinklabs Ear Bud Headphones
NOTE: We show the SoundBlaster Play!3 USB Audio Adapter in the instructions below. We no longer recommend the SoundBlaster Play!3 due to recent changes in the Windows audio drivers that have resulted in unreliable operation of this specific device.
However, the instructions apply to any of the recommended USB Audio Adapters.
STEP 1: Connect Thinklabs Hardware to your PC
STEP 1A: Insert the USB audio adapter into the USB port on your computer.
STEP 1B: Insert the male-to-male audio plug into the Microphone jack on the USB audio adapter.
NOTE: The Microphone jack on the USB audio adapter appears as shown below.
STEP 1C: Insert the other end of the male-to-male audio plug into either of the female jacks of the audio splitter.
STEP 1D: Insert the headphone plug into the other female jack of the audio splitter.
NOTE: Connecting the Thinklabs ear buds to the audio splitter enables the clinician to listen during auscultation, which ensures strong and accurate sounds over the Zoom call.
STEP 1E: Insert the audio splitter plug all the way into the recessed jack on the Thinklabs One.
STEP 2: Configure Audio Sensitivity Levels in Zoom
STEP 2A: Log in to Zoom.
STEP 2B: Click Settings.
If you are already logged into a Zoom call, you can also access the Zoom settings by clicking the up arrow to the right of Mute and then selecting Audio Settings, as shown below.
STEP 2C: Click the Audio tab if it is not already selected.
STEP 2D: In the Music and Professional Audio section, select Show in-meeting option to "Turn On Original Sound."
STEP 2E: In the Music and Professional Audio section, select Echo Cancellation.
NOTE: The Echo Cancellation setting appears in the interface only after you select Show in-meeting option to "Turn On Original Sound."
STEP 2F: Click the drop-down in the Microphone section and select (Microphone - Sound Blaster Play! 3).
STEP 2G: Press any of the four control buttons for two seconds to power on the device. When the LEDs come on, release the button.
STEP 2H: Adjust the volume on the Thinklabs One to a level of three.
For more information on volume settings, see How do I adjust the volume on the Thinklabs One?
STEP 2I: Test the Input Level on the Zoom Audio Settings.
Place the Thinklabs One on your chest, and the Input Level will pulse in synchronization with your heart beat.
NOTE: In the example above, the Input Level bar appears blue though it may be different colors in non-Windows operating systems.
STEP 2J: Deselect Automatically adjust microphone volume.
STEP 2K: Manually adjust the setting on the Volume slider such that the bar in the Input Level indicator reaches approximately 70% of maximum during a heart beat.
STEP 2L: When the volume is set to the appropriate level, select Automatically adjust microphone volume.
STEP 2M: Close the Settings window in Zoom.
STEP 3: Set up Video Conferencing in Zoom
STEP 3A: Log in to your Zoom Conference.
STEP 3B: Click the down-arrow to the right of Turn on Original Sound and then select Microphone (Sound Blaster Play! 3).
STEP 3C: During a video call, when the remote provider requests to listen to the stethoscope, click the arrow to the right of Mute and then select Microphone (Sound Blaster Play! 3).
NOTE: If the auto-shutoff feature on the Thinklabs One has powered down the device, press a control button for two seconds to power it on again. For more information on this feature, click here.
At this point, the provider on the far end will be able to hear the auscultation sounds transmitted by the Thinklabs One.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
- When you switch over to the stethoscope as the active microphone, the provider will only be able to hear the stethoscope rather than your voice microphone. For this reason, you must switch back to the voice microphone in order to communicate with the provider again. Refer to Step 3C above but select the default microphone instead of the SoundBlaster Play! 3.
- Computer loudspeakers do not produce the low-pitch sounds of the heart and lungs, so the provider on the far end must use headphones to listen to the auscultation sounds picked up by the Thinklabs One.
- Volume settings on the One and in the Zoom Audio settings should not be modified once they are set. If the provider on the far end of the call needs to change the volume, they should do so on their headphones or on their computer.
- If the sound is "scratchy" or "full of static," the combination of the Volume and Input Level settings may be set too high and should be reduced. Refer to Step 21 - 2L above.
- For information on Zoom firewall and proxy settings, click here.