Audio controls can make life easier if you're hosting a conference call. With them, you can adjust sound levels for participants, mute and unmute individuals, and make other adjustments, such as locking the conference to keep out uninvited participants. As you explore conference call options and explore the role of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling, the audio controls available with each option are well worth considering. Conference calls, or teleconferences, can be a real time saver or a real headache. But audio controls can help make the experience more positive. The soft-spoken participant who makes good points -- but leaves everyone straining to hear. The participant with the booming voice who talks over others. People with similar voices talking during the discussion -- and no way to tell them apart. Background traffic, airport or office noise from one participant's location. Participants entering and leaving the call without anyone knowing. An unexpected coughing fit that you have as moderator. Several participants' need to break into a private "mini-conference" during the actual conference.

Fortunately, with user-friendly audio controls, you can handle all of these situations and keep your conference running smoothly without outside distractions. And depending on the software or hosting service you're using, you can do that from your office desktop, your laptop on the road, any telephone or even mobile devices like a BlackBerry, iPhone, other personal digital assistant (PDAs) or smartphone. In this article, we'll look at your conference call options and specifically at audio control options. We'll also offer suggestions for what to do when audio controls are limited. Let's start by exploring conference call options. You may be wondering how Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling fits in, so we'll take a quick look at that, too. Conference call participants connect via a conference bridge, which is a server that allows multiple people to talk to each other. A company may own its own bridge or subscribe to an outside company to host conference calls on its bridge.

Traditional phones use circuit switching to route each call through a series of switches until it reaches the bridge. The network works differently, too. Instead of sending analog audio signals through circuits, VoIP converts those signals into digital data sent over the Internet in small chunks via packet switching. Because VoIP calls are considerably cheaper than traditional phone calls, many companies and individuals have started using VoIP as their main communication method. Companies with a VoIP service provider can usually upgrade to get teleconferencing. For conference call purposes, VoIP resembles traditional phone service. Both types of calls can usually connect on the same conference bridge, allowing your participants to join in from either system. However, if participants will be joining conferences via VoIP or smartphones, make sure your choice of software or hosting company can accommodate them. Three-Way Call -- The simplest option is a three-way call made from your office or cell phone with no added conference calling software or services.

Your audio controls will definitely be limited. You can, for example, use your phone to adjust how loudly you speak and how loudly sound is received, and you may be able to add up to five participants to your conference. But that may be the limit of your control. Audio Conferencing Software -- You, or your company, could choose to buy software that will give you conference-calling capabilities, including audio controls. Voice-only conferences came first, but with increased interest in multimedia Web conferences, audio and multimedia capabilities are often bundled now in the same software. Three of these are Microsoft Office Live Meeting, Adobe Acrobat Connect and IBM's Lotus Sametime Unite. Hosted Conferencing Services -- You can contract with a company that hosts teleconferences. These hosts offer proprietary or shared conferencing software as well as a conference bridge, phone or Web tools such as audio controls, operator assistance and other support services.

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