Configure voice quality and codec
Tune the codec (Opus/Voice), bitrate and per-channel quality on TeamSpeak and Mumble.
Configure voice quality and codec
A voice server’s quality depends on the codec (Opus on Mumble, Opus/Voice on TeamSpeak 6), the bitrate and latency. These settings are per-channel, which lets you tune quality based on usage (music vs pure voice).
Cause / The problem
A codec set too low makes the voice metallic and unintelligible. A bitrate too high eats bandwidth and increases latency, especially for players on Wi-Fi. And without per-channel settings, a music channel inherits the voice settings (too compressed).
Solution
TeamSpeak 6
- Codec per channel: right-click the channel → Edit Channel. TeamSpeak 6 uses Opus (inherited from the Mono/Stereo codec) with a quality setting.
- Quality (target bitrate): value between 1 (8 kbps) and 10 (96 kbps stereo). For voice, 6 to 8 is enough. For a music channel, go up to 10.
<!-- Example: high-quality music channel --> channel_codec_quality = 10 - Mono vs Stereo: voice runs in mono (1 channel), music in stereo (2 channels). The music channel must be configured as stereo.
- Latency: TeamSpeak adjusts latency automatically based on quality. A lower bitrate = lower latency, useful in competitive play.
Mumble
- Opus codec: Mumble uses Opus by default. Tune quality in Configure → Settings → Audio Output.
- Bitrate: Quality setting (10 to 96 kbps). 40 kbps is a good voice/gaming compromise; 96 kbps for music.
# Murmur.ini (server) bandwidth = 72000 # in bits/s, per-client ceiling - Per-channel quality: each channel can have its own quality. Right-click the channel → Custom and set the target bitrate.
- Latency: lower Audio per packet (20 ms default) to reduce latency. Caution: too low = dropouts on unstable connections.
Quality / bandwidth trade-off
| Usage | Codec | Bitrate | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive voice | Opus mono | 16-24 kbps | Minimal |
| Casual voice | Opus mono | 32-48 kbps | Normal |
| Music channel | Opus stereo | 64-96 kbps | Acceptable |
Set the default quality at the server level first (voice compromise), then raise the bitrate on the music channel specifically. Check your players’ bandwidth before forcing 96 kbps on everyone.