Breakroom's conference system is the foundation upon which virtual events are built. Learn how to access voice chat, screen share, emojis, and other important features.
Breakroom's conference system consists of several collaborative and interactive tools, as well as in-world seating options and breakout areas. This quick-start guide is intended for new event attendees, and explains:
Users with Moderator permissions can find more information about the moderator tools in our Running Your Event section. If you encounter any technical problems, you can also find more information on troubleshooting common audio and video issues.
World Owners and World Administrators can enable and disable parts of the UI via the Dashboard. You may not have access to every function described in this section.
Upon entering a conference Region, you'll see the conference system control panel appear at the top of your screen. For most attendees, these tools fall into two categories—communication and navigation.
The conference system communication panel allows you to access voice chat, share your screen, react with emojis, collaborate with other users on web-based applications, and more. Here's a brief overview of the UI (read left to right, top row to bottom row).
If voice chat is available in your current location, you will see the Microphone button appear at the top of your screen. To get started with voice chat, follow these steps.
Click the Microphone button. A pop-up will appear asking you to grant Breakroom permission to access your microphone. To continue, click the Enable button.
Once activated, the microphone icon will turn green and the button text will change to "Microphone On." This indicates that your microphone is live, and that other users can hear you in voice chat.
To mute your microphone, click the Microphone button again.
You can also control your microphone using the Settings toolbar located in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click the Microphone button to turn your microphone on, and you'll see a checkmark appear to indicate that your microphone is live. Click the button again to turn your microphone off.
Depending on the setup of your Breakroom World, you may have access to additional communication options, such as text chat and in-world email.
If you move your avatar into an area where you have permission to share your webcam, you'll see the Video button appear at the top of your screen. To start streaming video, follow these steps.
Click the Video button. A pop-up may appear asking you to grant Breakroom permission to access your camera. To continue, click the Accept button.
Once activated, the camera icon will turn green and the button text will change to "Video On." This indicates that your webcam is live, and that other users can see and hear you.
To turn off your webcam, click the Video button again.
If you move your avatar into an area where you have permission to share your computer screen, you'll see the Screenshare button appear in the conference controls. To get started, follow these steps.
Click the Screenshare button. A pop-up may appear asking you to grant Breakroom permission to access your computer. To continue, click the Accept button.
The screenshare control panel will appear on your screen. Here you can choose a desktop or individual screen to share. You can also choose whether or not to share your computer audio by toggling the Share system audio option.
When you are satisfied with your choices, click the Share button. If you've elected to leave voice chat off, you may be asked to confirm this decision.
Once activated, the screen icon will turn green and the button text will change to "Screenshare On." This indicates that your screen is live, and that other users can see what is happening on your computer.
To stop sharing your screen, click the Screenshare button again.
By default, when users share their webcam or computer screen the video will be displayed on an in-world screen. The Screen Appearance button allows you to "detach" streaming media from the in-world screen for better viewing. The button text will change based on the setting you select.
By toggling "See on Screen" mode, you can view streaming media in a separate window. You can expand this window by clicking the full screen toggle in the upper right corner.
If multiple presenters are streaming media at the same time, you will see multiple preview windows parked underneath the conference controls while in "See on Screen" mode. You can switch between webcam and screen share feeds by clicking on these windows.
Clicking the Raise Hand button animates your avatar, allowing them to raise their hand. A colorful hand icon will also appear over your avatar's head, and remain there until you dismiss it by clicking the Raise Hand button again. Moderators can take note of who raises their hands, and may reach out to assist or collaborate with you.
Hovering your cursor over the Emoji button reveals a menu of various emojis. When one is clicked, the emoji will be displayed in an animated burst above your avatar's head.
You can submit a question to the Moderator queue by clicking the Question button located at the top of the screen. Enter your question in the dialogue box that appears, and then click the Submit button.
When you enter an auditorium, breakout space, or any area that contains furniture designed to work with the Breakroom conference system, you will see blue tags hovering over the available seats. To sit down, click on a blue seat tag.
Once you are seated, two panels will appear on the left side of the screen. These panels allow you to emote via single-person gestures and adjust your current camera angle. The Free Look button releases your camera so that you can control it manually, using Breakroom's standard camera controls.
To stand up again, click the Stand Up button that appears at the bottom of your screen.
If the camera control buttons become unresponsive while you're seated in a chair, press the Esc key to exit fly camera mode.
If you have been invited to make a presentation or participate in a roundtable discussion, you may be asked to stand or sit on a presenter seat. By using a presenter seat, you'll gain access to voice chat and media sharing functions within a particular voice zone, even if these functions are restricted for most visitors.
To take up a presenter seat, click on the blue seat tag indicated to you. Presenter seats are normally located in an obvious place, like on a stage or at the front of a breakout area. To leave the presenter seat, click the Stand Up button that appears at the bottom of your screen.
Most Breakroom Regions contain multiple voice zones. Only users with avatars located inside a particular voice zone can use voice chat, webcam streaming, and screen share to communicate with other users in that zone. This design makes it possible for different meetings or events to be held concurrently in the same Region without technical interference or audio competition.
When you approach the edge of a voice zone, a transparent blue boundary indicator will appear. This serves as a reminder that you are leaving your current voice zone and entering a new one.
Keep in mind that you may not be able to hear or speak with avatars located on the other side of a boundary indictor, even if you can see them. To use a breakout area, you will need to move your avatar inside.
In addition to Breakroom's Region navigation tools, the conference system includes several panels designed to help you travel between important event spaces.
The General Navigation panel contains quick teleport links to key areas in the event Region. If seats are available, you will be seated automatically upon arrival.
The General Navigation panel's appearance can vary. Based on the contents of a particular Region, you may not see all of the teleport links pictured above. You may also see different icons for each area type (e.g., a cocktail glass instead of a coffee cup).
The Breakout Rooms panel allows you to teleport your avatar directly to a numbered breakout area.
This panel is visible on the right side of the screen when activated, and can be set up to offer direct teleport links to any voice zone that is not listed in either the General Navigation panel or Breakout Rooms panel.
Button | Function |
---|---|
Microphone Off / On
Toggles your microphone within voice-enabled zones.
Video Off / On
Toggles your webcam within video-enabled zones.
Screenshare Off / On
Toggles screen sharing within video-enabled zones.
Device Options
Allows you to change your device settings and troubleshoot common audio and video issues.
Screen Appearance ("See in World / See on Screen")
Allows you to control where video streamed by other users appears on your screen.
Raise Hand
Causes a hand icon to appear over your head until dismissed. Useful for impromptu polls, audience questions, and more.
Emoji
Opens the emoji menu, where you can choose from several animated emojis (such as clapping hands). These emojis will float over your avatar's head.
Web Collab
Launches Breakroom Web Collab.
Question
Allows you to submit a question for Moderator review.
Button
Target location
Auditorium
Teleports your avatar to the auditorium.
Entrance
Teleports your avatar to the Region entrance or to a designated information booth.
Networking
Teleports your avatar to the designated lounge or networking area.
Floor
Teleports your avatar to the main "floor" of the event (e.g. vendor booths, game area).
Running into audio or video issues? Learn how to test your connection, troubleshoot minor problems, and change your input and output devices.
To access Breakroom's audio and video troubleshooting tools, click the Device Options button in the conference system controls. This will reveal a drop-down menu containing two buttons—Mic & Cam Test, and Change Devices.
In the sections that follow, we'll explore these tools and explain how they can be used to resolve issues and customize your media setup.
Clicking the Mic & Cam Test button will open a dedicated AV testing panel. The test panel UI will vary depending on whether you are accessing Breakroom through the desktop viewer or World Stream.
To access the Audio Test panel through the Breakroom desktop viewer, follow these steps.
Click the Device Options button in the conference controls.
Click the Mic & Cam Test button.
You will then see the panel pictured above. Here's an overview of the key UI components.
Once the Audio Test panel is open, you can open the Video Test panel by clicking the Next button. Here's an overview of the key UI components.
To access the AV testing panel through World Stream, follow these steps. The testing panel will open as a new tab in your browser.
Click the Device Options button in the conference controls.
Click the Mic & Cam Test button.
Functionally, the web-based testing panel contains all of the same UI elements described above.
If you're experiencing an issue related to voice chat or streaming media, please access the relevant AV testing panel as described above. You can then do a basic troubleshooting rundown.
As a first step, make sure that Breakroom can detect the input devices you want to use. All of the devices you've given Breakroom permission to access are listed in the relevant drop-down menus. If a device is working and detectable, its name will be listed under the Audio or Video Device Check section when you select it, and a green check mark will be displayed.
If your devices aren't working despite being selected, or you do not see them listed at all, you may need to troubleshoot your computer or AV equipment to learn more about the problem.
Next, make sure that the Audio and Video Networking checks are successful. If you do not see a green check mark confirming this, it means that your equipment is not currently connected to the Internet. This may indicate a device or networking problem.
You can also test your speaker by clicking on the test button at the bottom of the Audio Test panel. This will play a tone, allowing you to test your speaker volume or identify which audio output device is currently active.
If everything looks good, but you're still having issues, please verify that Breakroom is set up to use your preferred equipment by changing your device input and output settings.
One common issue users encounter is audio feedback, or hearing themselves echo when they talk. This can happen if you're using a microphone to speak, but listening to audio through your computer speakers.
To solve this problem, you will need to use earbuds or a headset. Plug a headset into your computer, and then switch your audio output to the headset.
Voice capabilities are currently restricted by login method. This means that if one user is logged in via the desktop viewer and another is logged in via World Stream, they will not be able to hear each other, even if they are standing in the same Region.
Users who log in via the same method can communicate freely over voice chat. Therefore, we strongly suggest that World Owners take this into consideration when planning events, and require all guests to use the same login method.
We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope to provide a solution soon.
Clicking on the Change Devices button allows you to select which audio and video devices you want Breakroom to access. The UI you see will vary depending on whether you are using the Breakroom desktop viewer or World Stream.
Clicking the Change Devices button will open the Audio Settings panel. There you can use the drop-down menus to select the audio and video devices you want to use. You can also independently adjust the volume for different audio types.
World Stream users can also access these audio settings by clicking the Settings button in the settings toolbar and then clicking the Audio tab on the left-hand side.
Clicking the Change Devices button will launch the Device Management panel. There you can use the drop-down menus to select the audio and video devices you want to use. You can also refresh your connection and settings, or submit a report about your issue.
UI component | Function |
---|---|
UI component | Function |
---|---|
Audio Test Feed drop-down menu
Allows you to select the audio input device (e.g. microphone) to be tested.
Audio Device check
Provides information on the selected audio input device.
Audio Networking check
Provides information on the audio network connection.
Audio Volume check
Provides information on audio volume.
Speaker drop-down menu
Allows you to select the audio output device (e.g. speaker or headset) to be tested.
"Click to test speaker" button
Plays a tone that allows you to test your speaker.
Next button
Launches the Video Test panel.
Skip All link
Closes the AV testing panel.
Video Test Feed drop-down menu
Allows you to select the video input device (e.g. camera) to be tested.
Live video feed
Allows you to visually confirm that your camera is working.
Video Device check
Provides information on the selected video input device.
Video Networking check
Provides information on the video network connection.
UI component
Function
Reset to Default button
Resets all volume and device settings to the default configuration.
Audio Test button
Launches the Audio Test panel.
Video Test button
Launches the Video Test panel.
Master Volume slider
Adjusts the overall volume of the Breakroom application.
Music Volume slider
Adjusts the volume of any music streamed on the Breakroom platform.
UI Volume slider
Adjusts the volume of the UI interactivity sounds.
SFX Volume slider
Adjusts the volume of any special effects sounds.
Voice Volume slider
Adjusts the voice streaming volume.
Mic Sensitivity slider
Adjusts your own microphone's sensitivity, impacting your voice volume.
Microphone Device menu
Allows you to select which microphone you want to use on Breakroom.
Playback Device menu
Allows you to select which speakers you want to use.
Webcam Device menu
Allows you to select which camera you want to use.
UI component
Function
Audio input source menu
Allows you to select which microphone you want to use on Breakroom.
Audio output source menu
Allows you to select which speakers you want to use.
Video input source menu
Allows you to select which camera you want to use.
Refresh button
Refreshes your media connection and pushes any changes forward.
Report button
Allows you to log a report indicating that you're having issues with media.