Resource/Misc

Windows ML-Noise Suppression and Background Music

Coming soon to a Windows based computer! The rollout is slated for February through March 2022; ML-Noise Suppression.

What is ML-based noise suppression?

When researching this new Windows feature the phrase “ML-based noise suppression” was used a lot. So I had to identify what it was. It is “Machine Learning based noise suppression”, or AI (Artificial Intelligence). This feature is not entirely new. ML-based noise suppression was released earlier in Windows as an option users could turn on, but with this rollout it is now enabled by default.

How does it work?

The simple description is “ML-based noise suppression considers any non-speech signal picked up by the microphone as noise which should be suppressed.” Microsoft says “[our] noise suppression feature works by analyzing an individual’s audio feed and uses specially trained deep neural networks to filter out noise and only retain speech. While traditional noise suppression algorithms can only address simple stationary noise sources such as a consistent fan noise, our AI-based approach learns the difference between speech and unnecessary noise and is able to suppress various non-stationary noises, such as keyboard typing or food wrapper crunching.” The newest feature to this system is that “non-speech” also now means background music.

Where do we see it?

I am not entirely sure where this new background music suppression will show up. It is currently integrated into Microsoft Teams Desktop App for video and audio calls. I can see this being leveraged within PowerPoint’s record feature, and potentially by other applications (e.g. Zoom or other live microphone apps).

This is the notification seen in a Microsoft Teams meeting or call if the ML-based noise suppression is activated:

How do we turn it off?

If there is an option to turn on or enable, High Fidelity (music) Mode, that tells the machine learning system to allow music to be included.

The Microsoft Office Blog has a nice article written by one of the PM’s here.

 

Troy @ TLC

By |2022-01-26T08:00:09-08:00January 26th, 2022|Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|

Format Shape and Format Text on the QAT

At TLC we use the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) in PowerPoint on every computer in our fleet so our design team members can work seamlessly.

Two features added to our master QAT minimize the number of clicks needed to get to the Action Pane needed at the time:

1. Format Shape with focus on the Shape Options.

2. Format Shape with focus on the Text Options.

The top icon is technically the MORE OPTIONS > MORE ALIGNMENT OPTIONS > TEXT ALIGN MORE OPTIONS DIALOG.

This amazing QAT button opens the FORMAT SHAPE action pane on the right to the TEXT OPTIONS tab, when any text box is selected.

The bottom icon in the above image opens the FORMAT SHAPE action pane on the right to the SHAPE OPTIONS tab. When searching for the icon to add in the Customize QAT dialog, look for FORMAT OBJECT > FORMAT SHAPE > OBJECT FORMAT DIALOG.

Troy @ TLC

By |2022-01-12T21:47:08-08:00January 20th, 2022|Resource/Misc|

The Presentation Podcast Talks About Internal and Independent Presentation Designers

New episode of The Presentation Podcast available today! This episode is a conversation about Internal vs. Independent Designers about the mindset of how each designer approaches the task of visual design for presentations. How each reacts to client requests for the presentation, the design, or the template. And with special guest Lori Chollar of TLC Creative Services!

Listen here.

By |2022-01-16T10:00:31-08:00January 18th, 2022|Resource/Misc|

“Microsoft 365” on the Splash Screen

So, this new – well not really that new. I just noticed the “Microsoft 365” badging on the splash screen (seen when PowerPoint loads). First, it is no longer “Office 365” – which changes my now often used acronym “O365” when referring to Microsoft Office. And second, after doing a bit of online research, the “Microsoft 365” badging has been there for many months (guess I am multitasking while apps load and not looking at the startup splash screen).

Troy @ TLC

By |2022-01-02T11:18:04-08:00January 12th, 2022|Resource/Misc|

Keyboard Shortcut – Reset Graphic Driver

Have you ever been working on something important and all of a sudden, the screen or app window freezes up?

 

 

Before losing any of your work by restarting the app or full computer, try this keyboard shortcut. We are going to restart the graphics drivers – which I found is something most people did not know was an option! Click the Windows logo + CTRL + SHIFT + B keys to restart your graphic drivers.

 

Reset graphic drivers keyboard shortcut

The common solution is first to open the TASK MANAGER and attempt to close the application (if the Task Manager will open). The next action is generally to FORCE SHUTDOWN the computer – argh! which means losing all work since the last save!! Try this trick before shutting down the entire computer! Often the issue is the graphics driver has crashed and this handy keyboard shortcut restarts the graphics driver and hopefully restores access to your computer and the slide deck you were working on (hopeful!). Note, this is a Windows OS hack (sorry Mac people, I do not know if there is a graphic driver reset option there). And this works on Windows 8, 10 and 11.

Troy @ TLC

 

By |2021-12-31T01:26:29-08:00January 6th, 2022|Resource/Misc, Tutorial|

Start 2022 with a podcast on Presentation Design Predictions!

2022 has just begun, and the very first week of the new year, Troy, Nolan and Sandy are sharing 5 predictions (each) of what they see as trends in the presentation industry for 2022. All based on their client requests, what’s happening in the presentation world, and hunch’s (eg. this is not scientific, survey results or anything measurable!). Listen in for a fun conversation about (possible) trends in the presentation industry for 2022. Listen here!

By |2022-01-02T10:25:20-08:00January 4th, 2022|Resource/Misc|

Teams – Presenter View Grid View

While presenting in Teams via PowerPoint Live, there is a grid view of your presentation so you can see an overview of slides. To show Grid View, you can click the icon in the toolbar under the slides or use the short key G to bring up.

The important thing to know if the audience continues to see the current slide full screen. They do not see the slide sort, or Grid View. In grid view the active slide that the audience is seeing is highlighted with an orange outline.

As the presenter, you can click any slide to make that the active presentation slide (eg. go out of order). Or click the X in the upper right hand corner to close Grid View and continue presenting the current active slide.

Troy @ TLC

By |2021-12-18T11:22:07-08:00December 23rd, 2021|PowerPoint, Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|

Podcast Release! “2021’s Top 10’s”

Today releases the final Presentation Podcast episode of 2021! Troy, Nolan and Sandy are saying goodbye to 2021 and each compiled their own Top 10 of 2021 lists. What made the list? PowerPoint features, a client, a specific project, an add-in, a trip – book – or presentation? Listen to it HERE.

By |2021-12-21T10:56:15-08:00December 21st, 2021|Resource/Misc|

Teams – Customize the Teams Presenter View Layout

The Teams version of Presenter View is based on the PowerPoint desktop Presenter View (which needs improvement). Fortunately the Teams dev team is able to pick some of the best part of Presenter View, ignore some of the areas that are not well executed, and add some new features (that are needed in the desktop Presenter View!). At this time, in the Teams Presenter View, if you do not need the presenter notes, the film strip thumbnails along the bottom or Presenter View tools – a presenter can easily hide them.

The default view when presenting a PowerPoint presentation in Teams, is presenter view. Notes are displayed to the right and the film strip thumbnails along the bottom.

If you don’t have any notes or do not need to see the slide thumbnails, there is an option to show slides only. Do this by clicking the 3 dot menu under the active slide (1) and click “Hide Presenter View” (2).

Now the slides are larger, front, and center. You still have access to the tools if needed.

By |2021-12-18T11:17:12-08:00December 20th, 2021|PowerPoint, Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|

Teams – What is “Standout” Mode?

A new feature in Teams, is the Standout mode while presenting. This is a very cool feature, and I am certain just the start of a technology shift that will become a trend in presenting. Standout Model allows your webcam to be superimposed OVER the slides while you’re presenting. AND, it uses a digital green screen to only show you, the presenter on top of your presentation slides.

Here is how to do it.

  1. With your webcam turned on, click the Standout button (second icon in the Presenter Mode section at the top of the screen).
  2. Now your video feed is super imposed over your slides (1) and your regular teams camera view (2) is turned off. Teams will automatically remove your background.

Note: the digital green screen is not going to produce perfect results. Green screen technology itself relies on profession, even lighting – something most office and desk setups do not have. And the digital part of the digital green screen technology is still new and the code will get better and detecting edges and separating the presenter from the background.

Troy @ TLC

By |2021-12-18T11:09:52-08:00December 18th, 2021|PowerPoint, Resource/Misc, Software/Add-Ins|
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