Camera & Mic Setup Help

Grant browser permissions, troubleshoot webcam or microphone disconnections, and calibrate your video rooms media feeds.

Overview & Media Setup Guidelines

Virtual evaluation spaces (Interviews, Group Discussions, and Presentations) require webcam video and microphone streams. This guide helps you configure browser permissions, calibrate devices, and resolve audio/video connection issues.

Browser Permissions: Chrome, Firefox, Safari

How to Unblock Camera and Mic Access

If your browser displays a "Permission Denied" alert, follow these steps to unlock hardware:

Google Chrome: Click the Lock Icon (🔒) directly next to the URL address bar. Toggle the **Camera** and **Microphone** options to "Allow". Reload the tab.
Apple Safari: Open Safari Preferences $\rightarrow$ Websites. Select **Camera** and **Microphone** in the sidebar, and set permission values for app.highrr.com to "Allow".
Mozilla Firefox: Click the camera/microphone icons adjacent to the URL address input. Clear the blocked permission state and refresh the tab.

Audio & Video Self-Healing

1. Auto Stream Recovery

How Highrr handles media dropouts:

Device Recovery: If a webcam or mic connection is lost, the system automatically attempts to restart the stream and re-acquire permissions.
Audio Autoplay Bypass: Browser security policies occasionally block automatic sound playback. Click anywhere on the workspace screen to manually resume audio output if silenced.

2. Peer Streaming Fixes

Resolving missing interviewer video feeds:

P2P Connection Lag: A delayed feed indicates network latency. Allow 15 seconds for WebRTC coordinates to sync.
Browser Reload: If video screens remain black, reload the browser tab to trigger a fresh connection handshake.

Calibrating Devices & Entering Rooms Workflow

Follow these steps to check and calibrate your video devices before entering rooms:

1 Connect your external webcam or headset mic before launching your browser.

2 Click "Join Room" and wait for the Device Calibration Lobby to load.

3 Check the live camera window and select your target device from the source dropdowns.

4 Speak aloud and ensure the volume bar pulses green to confirm microphone activity.

5 Click **Enter Room** to open the active session with calibrated hardware streams.

FAQs & Troubleshooting

Q: The lobby screen says "Hardware Device Missing". What should I do?

A: Confirm your webcam or mic is plugged in securely. Close other applications (like Zoom, MS Teams, Skype) that may be using your camera in the background. Reload your browser tab.

Q: Why is my sound echoing in the room?

A: Echoing happens when your microphone picks up sound output from your speakers. We highly recommend using headphones during live interviews and group discussions to prevent audio loops.

Q: Can I share my screen from Safari?

A: Safari supports basic screen-sharing, but Chrome or Firefox provide better compatibility for sharing specific application windows or browser tabs in Presentation rooms.

Q: How do I change my camera or microphone source during an active session?

A: In the top right corner of the video preview widget, click the **Settings Cog** (⚙️) to open the device selection menu. Select your alternative device from the dropdown and click Save.

Q: What happens if my browser freezes when screen sharing?

A: Highrr uses low-latency WebRTC streams. If your browser freezes, close the tab, open a fresh window, and rejoin the room. The session states are preserved.

Q: How does the system handle poor network latency in video calls?

A: Highrr dynamically scales video resolution down (e.g. from 720p to 360p) when network bandwidth drops, prioritizing audio stream clarity to keep the conversation running smoothly.