Mohawk Voice
Encyclopedia
Mohawk Voice is a low resource VoIP program originally released in November 2009 which is free to download and use. The program is supported on Windows XP
, Windows Vista
, and Windows 7 in 32-bit
and 64-bit
platforms. Mohawk is primarily used with MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) and FPS
(First-Person Shooter) online games, targeting PC
gamers who have a need for in-game voice communication. Mohawk Voice can also be used as a business application, specifically for conference calls or teleconferences, serving as a replacement for programs like Cisco VoIP and Skype
.
language (known as Delphi) with the intention of targeting online gamers who require low resource, high quality voice transmission over the public Internet
. Commonly, the client
is used for mass communication in public channels with other gamers, often within a gaming clan or guild
. Most frequently, games like World of Warcraft
, Guild Wars, and Counter Strike 1.6
are popular amongst users of VoIP software. Mohawk uses what's known as client–server communication to connect the end user to the server.
. It features a channel tree structure where users interact with one another, private message
option, various input and output settings, extensive key-bind features, and a user comment space. Mohawk's overall design is clean and easy to understand for first time users and it supports both voice-activiation and push-to-talk. The client offers four different user levels:
platform. Server development for the Linux
platform is underway and is expected to be included in future releases. The current server supports up to 500 concurrent user connections, and an unlimited amount of server instances per system (limited only by the systems available resources). The server can easily be integrated to a hosting control panel, allowing for simplified configuration changes and server modifications.
128-bit Encryption
techniques. This feature can be applied on either a per server or per user basis. Mohawk also enables users to use the Microsoft
text-to-speech engine, which gives them the ability to have what they type in chat, and what is typed to them, spoken out loud in the voice of Microsoft Sam
. Mohawk Voice utilizes the Speex
codec to provide low latency, high quality voice transmission at a user defined frequency of 11 kHz, 22 kHz or 44 kHz. Speex is designed specifically for the effective transmission of voice or voice-like sound and is cross-platform compatible (Windows, Linux
, Mac OS
).
fixed. The development team is actively working on the next version of the product, which is currently slated for released in October 2010. Version 1.2 will include Speex
codec improvements, automatic-away-from-keyboard notifications, additional bug fixes and other fine tuning.
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, and Windows 7 in 32-bit
32-bit
The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory....
and 64-bit
64-bit
64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s...
platforms. Mohawk is primarily used with MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) and FPS
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
(First-Person Shooter) online games, targeting PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
gamers who have a need for in-game voice communication. Mohawk Voice can also be used as a business application, specifically for conference calls or teleconferences, serving as a replacement for programs like Cisco VoIP and Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
.
Application
Mohawk was developed in the Object PascalObject Pascal
Object Pascal refers to a branch of object-oriented derivatives of Pascal, mostly known as the primary programming language of Embarcadero Delphi.-Early history at Apple:...
language (known as Delphi) with the intention of targeting online gamers who require low resource, high quality voice transmission over the public Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Commonly, the client
Client (computing)
A client is an application or system that accesses a service made available by a server. The server is often on another computer system, in which case the client accesses the service by way of a network....
is used for mass communication in public channels with other gamers, often within a gaming clan or guild
Clan (computer gaming)
In computer and video gaming, a clan or guild is an organised group of players that regularly play together in a particular multiplayer games. These games range from groups of a few friends to 1000-person organizations, with a broad range of structures, goals and members. The lifespan of a clan...
. Most frequently, games like World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
, Guild Wars, and Counter Strike 1.6
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation which originated from a Half-Life modification by Minh "Gooseman" Le and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe...
are popular amongst users of VoIP software. Mohawk uses what's known as client–server communication to connect the end user to the server.
Client side
The program features a low profile, easy to navigate GUI (Graphical User Interface)Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
. It features a channel tree structure where users interact with one another, private message
Personal message
A personal message or private message, often shortened to PM, is like an e-mail sent from one user to another user on an Internet forum, bulletin board system, social networking site , or chat room ....
option, various input and output settings, extensive key-bind features, and a user comment space. Mohawk's overall design is clean and easy to understand for first time users and it supports both voice-activiation and push-to-talk. The client offers four different user levels:
Server side
The Mohawk server is currently only developed for the WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
platform. Server development for the Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
platform is underway and is expected to be included in future releases. The current server supports up to 500 concurrent user connections, and an unlimited amount of server instances per system (limited only by the systems available resources). The server can easily be integrated to a hosting control panel, allowing for simplified configuration changes and server modifications.
Additional features and sound codec
Mohawk offers the ability to encrypt all transmissions, both voice and text, utilizing BlowfishBlowfish (cipher)
Blowfish is a keyed, symmetric block cipher, designed in 1993 by Bruce Schneier and included in a large number of cipher suites and encryption products. Blowfish provides a good encryption rate in software and no effective cryptanalysis of it has been found to date...
128-bit Encryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
techniques. This feature can be applied on either a per server or per user basis. Mohawk also enables users to use the Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
text-to-speech engine, which gives them the ability to have what they type in chat, and what is typed to them, spoken out loud in the voice of Microsoft Sam
Microsoft text-to-speech voices
The Microsoft text-to-speech voices are speech synthesizers provided for use with applications that use the Microsoft Speech API .Microsoft Sam is the default text-to-speech male voice in Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP...
. Mohawk Voice utilizes the Speex
Speex
Speex is a patent-free audio compression format designed for speech and also a free software speech codec that may be used on VoIP applications and podcasts. It is based on the CELP speech coding algorithm. Speex claims to be free of any patent restrictions and is licensed under the revised BSD...
codec to provide low latency, high quality voice transmission at a user defined frequency of 11 kHz, 22 kHz or 44 kHz. Speex is designed specifically for the effective transmission of voice or voice-like sound and is cross-platform compatible (Windows, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
).
Version 1.1 and future development
Version 1.1 of Mohawk Voice was released on February 27, 2010. Compared to version 1.0, version 1.1 includes multiple user profiles, audio recording, better Windows 7 support, and over 30 bugsSoftware bug
A software bug is the common term used to describe an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to behave in unintended ways. Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program's...
fixed. The development team is actively working on the next version of the product, which is currently slated for released in October 2010. Version 1.2 will include Speex
Speex
Speex is a patent-free audio compression format designed for speech and also a free software speech codec that may be used on VoIP applications and podcasts. It is based on the CELP speech coding algorithm. Speex claims to be free of any patent restrictions and is licensed under the revised BSD...
codec improvements, automatic-away-from-keyboard notifications, additional bug fixes and other fine tuning.
See also
- TeamSpeakTeamSpeakTeamSpeak is a proprietary Voice over IP software that allows users to speak on a chat channel with other users, much like a telephone conference call. A TeamSpeak user will often wear a headset with an integrated microphone...
- VentriloVentriloVentrilo is a proprietary VoIP software which includes text chat.The Ventrilo client and server are both available as freeware for use with fewer than 8 people on the same server . The server software is available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, or Unix variants such as Linux, Kopi, Solaris,...
- Mumble
- SkypeSkypeSkype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
- Comparison of VoIP softwareComparison of VoIP softwareVoIP software is used to conduct telephone-like voice conversations across Internet Protocol based networks. VoIP stands for "Voice over IP". For residential markets, VoIP phone service is often cheaper than traditional public switched telephone network service and can remove geographic...