Teamspeak vS Ventrilo? - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Larcen

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2007

Southern Maryland

Midnight Oasis

07 Jan 2008 at 14:15 - 1

So I did some looking around, some searching etc, and they didn't seem to answer my questions. So, aside from invoking thread necromancy, I decided against my better judgment to start a new thread.

Both appear to be free, as long as you agree to Vent's private server use agreement. I have quite a bit of experience using *NIX and administrating my own boxes, thus I am not worried about degree of difficulty in setup and use.

So, what it boils down to, is there limitations to amount of users by program/per daemon?
Which has the best quality to CPU/MEM usage ratio?

Any thoughts/help is greatly appreciated.

Fried Tech

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2007

[Yeti]

E/

07 Jan 2008 at 14:26 - 2

In my experience Vent. works great. I have heard people say that they have ping and audio problems with teamspeak. I have never had my own server though so my experience is pretty limited.

Melei Hawke

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2007

SoF

R/Mo

07 Jan 2008 at 14:34 - 3

I have used both programs as a user only. I had some problems with Vent disconnecting me at will that I have not had with TS. Could have been the server...not sure. I have been using TS for a couple years now with very little problems or downtime.

When I was looking to pay for one or the other, TS was a better deal and I was told by someone that knows more about computers than I do that Vent slowed your computer down where TS did not. I can't say if that is true, just what I was told.

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

07 Jan 2008 at 14:39 - 4

It's a year since I tried them, but back then Teamspeak used extremely heavy lossy compression, so sound quality was too low and very distorted (to the point one often could not recognize who was talking), while Ventrilo used less hard compression with acceptable sound quality.
Ventrilo transfers more data and so uses more bandwidth, and that might be a problem, but we've not notice any ping/lag issues with it.

We also tried Skype. The audio quality was extremely good, and it was the easiest to set up and use, but it did cause ping/lag issues.

tasha

Auctions Mod

Join Date: Jan 2006

UK

Mystic Spiral [MYST]

07 Jan 2008 at 14:47 - 5

My alliance not only rents a Ventrilo server, we also host our own as a backup. The reason we don't solely use the backup is due to the restrictions with 2.3.0 Server only allowing 8 users at any one time. This may have changed with 3.0.2 Server, but I haven't had the opportunity to check.

I experience no noticable lag or drop in performance through using Ventrilo, but I can't use Teamspeak due to the complexity of my hardware setup. Any time I've used it (for listening, as my mic seems either too loud or too quiet at random), the sound quality of others is much poorer than on Ventrilo.

IslandHermet

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2007

07 Jan 2008 at 15:40 - 6

I have used both user and server, and hands down Vent rocks TS world in sound quality, Vent can be tricky if you do not understand how the custom options work (like the auto kick/ban/move to channel/anti spam) same for TS but the quality all depends if the other person is talking into a headset and mic or a mic and desk top speakers. Which one should never use Desk top speaker+mic=the worst echo on the planet.

I would highly recomend Vent over TS.

Vent and TS have 2 forms of the program one is a user/client and the other is a Admin/Server (Only the User/client version is Free do download and use)

Read on to learn more about the server options.

As for the player limit on these programs. Vent and TS are programs that require a server both have free versions that require them to be run on a isolated computer with only the program running but these free ones have a limited number of people vent's is 8 I think same for TS have not used the free version in ages.

As for wanting more space you will have to pay out of pocket and find a server provider or spend the money to make your own (this way will cost way to much it is easier to just find a server provider)

IslandHermet

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2007

07 Jan 2008 at 15:54 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melei Hawke

When I was looking to pay for one or the other, TS was a better deal and I was told by someone that knows more about computers than I do that Vent slowed your computer down where TS did not.

Both programs will slow your computer down if your computer is more then a year out of date. A HT cpu or dual core or quad core and at least 1 GB of ram and a decent sound card will handle them with no problems. But yes if you have a slow computer and low ram with a crapy sound card both programs will work and sound like crap.

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

07 Jan 2008 at 17:33 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandHermet

Both programs will slow your computer down if your computer is more then a year out of date.

Sorry, but that's not my experience at all. Both TeamSpeak and Vent performed flawlessly on my 1.6GHz, , AMD XP 1800 (non dualcore), 512MB, machine. They used only a few percent of the available CPU.
Teamspeak did have atrocious sound quality, but that's because it compresses the data so hard, like JPEG compressing an image too hard lowers image quality. The sound quality of Ventrilo was about the same as that of a telephone, and the the sound quality of Skype was flawless, as if recorded & played back on stereo equipment. Skype did cause ping/lag issues, but due to its bandwidth requirements, not its CPU requirements.

The Way Out

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2007

In my peanut brain

Zomg Zombies [OMG]

Mo/E

07 Jan 2008 at 17:50 - 9

Are you going to be running the vent or teamspeak server on the same connection that you play guild wars on? If so, I am asking you if you enjoy lag and disconnecting. You will disconnect a lot with either. You will also experience lag spikes a lot.

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

07 Jan 2008 at 18:00 - 10

TS has lower sound quality, but it takes up less bandwidth. TS is better if you are using a game/setup that requires you to have... say 30 people in one channel (like I have with the game FreeWorlds).

kel77

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

The Deep South

The Arctic Marauders[TAM] Former Leader and Officer | [SMS] Alliance

W/E

07 Jan 2008 at 18:01 - 11

I've used both in the past and both work well for me. However I would lean slightly toward vent as being better.

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

07 Jan 2008 at 18:26 - 12

Ventrilo is the ideal combination between TS and Skype.

TS is lowest resource/lowerping/lowest voice quality
Ventrilo is medium
Skype is higher.

Larcen

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2007

Southern Maryland

Midnight Oasis

07 Jan 2008 at 18:40 - 13

Thanks for all of the feedback. To answer a few questions, yes the same internet connection would be used, however I have upwards of 6mb down 512k up cable connections. However, on the weekends there are 4 accounts playing GW at the same time, would that be cause for interruptions if the Ventrillo or Teamspeak were running as well?

It would also appear that after further investigation, free Vent. allows 8 connections and Team Speak 1000. I suppose I'll have to run TS first, and see just how bad the sound is, and then migrate to Vent. and test it as well. Thanks again for the advice, and if anyone has anymore to add, please, feel free to.

Commander Ryker

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jun 2005

R/

07 Jan 2008 at 18:42 - 14

I've been using TS for 3 years and have had no problems with it at all. The quality is good too.

EmptySkull

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2006

KaoS League

E/

07 Jan 2008 at 18:45 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandHermet

I have used both user and server, and hands down Vent rocks TS world in sound quality, Vent can be tricky if you do not understand how the custom options work (like the auto kick/ban/move to channel/anti spam) same for TS but the quality all depends if the other person is talking into a headset and mic or a mic and desk top speakers. Which one should never use Desk top speaker+mic=the worst echo on the planet.

I would highly recomend Vent over TS.

Vent and TS have 2 forms of the program one is a user/client and the other is a Admin/Server (Only the User/client version is Free do download and use)

Read on to learn more about the server options.

As for the player limit on these programs. Vent and TS are programs that require a server both have free versions that require them to be run on a isolated computer with only the program running but these free ones have a limited number of people vent's is 8 I think same for TS have not used the free version in ages.

As for wanting more space you will have to pay out of pocket and find a server provider or spend the money to make your own (this way will cost way to much it is easier to just find a server provider)

OFT I agree totally. As a user of both over the years Vent just seems better quality and more reliable. I would definately rent a host service too. Centralized server much better. Only like 6 dollars a month for a 25 slot server.

Kook~NBK~

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2005

A little chalet outside Drok's

Natural Born Killaz

07 Jan 2008 at 19:05 - 16

I've been using TS for 2-3 years and never had a problem. The sound quality is fine and it doesn't add any perceptable lag. We've had 15 - 20 people on our server on a couple of occasions and TS handled it with ease.

I've tried vent, but I couldn't get the damn thing to work (atter many talk-throughs, re-insalls, etc.)

blood4blood

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

07 Jan 2008 at 20:08 - 17

I've used both for 5 years or so, have been on dozens of different hosts, and used to rent a commercial Ventrilo host for my guild. I'd recommend trying both programs (free versions) and experiment with different audio codec & compression settings until you find what works best for you & your group. With both set up properly and a decent comp & connection on your end, neither one is noticeably superior in audio quality or bandwidth usage - the only noticeable difference then will be the user interface.

Coloneh

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

D/W

07 Jan 2008 at 20:13 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yanman.be

Ventrilo is the ideal combination between TS and Skype.

TS is lowest resource/lowerping/lowest voice quality
Ventrilo is medium
Skype is higher.

yan's got it.

plus TS lags the sound alot and has terrible hardware support.

rubina1

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2007

07 Jan 2008 at 20:14 - 19

I use both and couldn't care less which I use.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

08 Jan 2008 at 05:10 - 20

I use Teamspeak atm its working fine so see no need to change.

Tried most of the voice programs over the years, the one I liked best was teamsound, mainly because I could understand the setup instructions and creating servers and channels was easy.
Keystrokes to change channels again was simple to understand, and the general feel of the program was good.

Teamspeak is a little geeky to me its obviously written by someone who didnt realise idiots like me would have to use it.

Ventrillo well that was written by a programmer somewhere who hasn't spoken to a real person for 20 years and has lost all concept of user friendlyness.

imho 2 things are clear
1 the ideal voice program has yet to be written

2 everyone will push for the one they use in the hope it becomes the only one available and we can all think of using voice more in games confident we use the same software.

Haskell

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2007

08 Jan 2008 at 13:43 - 21

Mumble > TS + Vent

Kissable Krissy

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2007

Chicago, Illinois USA

Its Rainning Fame Hallelujah[伞回伞]

Mo/Me

08 Jan 2008 at 13:45 - 22

I have both a TS and a vent server. Both work wonderful. I actually prefer the quality on TS because I can literally hear a pin drop while talking to my boyfriend on it. Vent has great sound quality but not that great. The reason why TS usually sounds hideous because it is harder to set up than Vent.

Vent is by far more user friendly, imho.

Washi

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2007

08 Jan 2008 at 14:18 - 23

I've been using TS for about 2 years while playing CS and was satisfied... untill I started playing L2 and my guild introduced me to ventrillo. Sound quality is much better in Vent thats all I have to say, didn't really have any problems with both applications.

RhanoctJocosa

Legendary Korean

Join Date: Aug 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

W/

08 Jan 2008 at 14:25 - 24

When I play with Koreans I have to use TS because they do. Otherwise, Vent.

leejw00t

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2008

Lost-Soldier

E/Me

15 Jul 2008 at 00:58 - 25

I own a company that hosts free teamspeak servers. We have a fully automated sign up. If your instrested vist us at: http://ts.lostsoldierhost.com/

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

15 Jul 2008 at 20:00 - 26

No one seems to have mentioned a very important aspect of this. The bandwidth and CPU requirements for either of these depend greatly on the type of compression and the amount of compression used by the server. (The settings are determined by the server you are connected to.) You get a lot of people with varying opinions on the amount of lag/ping issues, speech quality, etc., but they are not taking into account the server settings.

It's been a while since I've setup a TS server, but I have a Ventrilo server running. I'm not sure about TS, but Ventrilo has several types of compression and many levels within those types. Speex is the compression most often used with Ventrilo. The sample rate and number of bits can be varied over a broad range. Most rentable servers default to a rather low compression (high quality) setting, but a support ticket can usually get them to crank it down a notch.
(My Vent server (version 3) is currently running Speex at 16kHz, 16bit, 5 Qlty which seems to be a good compromise between voice quality and bandwidth usage.)

That being said, after using both, I generally find the voice quality of TS to be inferior to Ventrilo. (But you can set Ventrilo to some awful quality if you want

)

Risus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2007

56min UW HM post-2/25 I win

FDR

A/

15 Jul 2008 at 21:07 - 27

TS has different codecs then Vent. Teamspeak glitches sometimes with games running and you get interference. Vent works much better in my experience.

dilan155

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2007

living room

N/

15 Jul 2008 at 21:18 - 28

i have only used vent due to most of my guilds using vent. I have heard that TS has bad sound quality as well bad ping, since i have not used it i cannot tell for sure, but most guilds do use vent

Bowstring Badass

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Character selection screen figuring what I want to play...

Purple Lingerie - :D

15 Jul 2008 at 21:48 - 29

Vent>ts

Better quality, being able to turn individual people up/down, and being able to turn off every kind of bind you hear is awesome.

[email protected] beginning of '08.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

15 Jul 2008 at 21:59 - 30

I retract my earlier post as I have now used the latest version of Ventrillo and find it far easier to set up than the other voice programs.

I cannot imagine using anything else at the moment.