Im using the latest version of skype, 1.3.0.53 and I am having problems when I make calls. Whenever I place a call, even to the echo123 number, my voice recording is very garbled and choppy. I am using alsa, and my card is configured properly, because when I playback the microphone input, it sounds perfect, no choppiness or delays.
When I downgraded Skype to 1.2.0.21 everything works perfect.

Is it possible to use 1.3.0.53 skype without microphone problems?

I have experienced this with previous version (Skype for FC4 RPM) where skype utilized CPU so much (98% CPU time) that it had problems with sound recording/playing.

Watch for CPU time consumption by skype. If it is high at the time when sound is "choppy" then it is bug in Skype.

try this

artsdsp -m skype

and someone from the forum admins needs to post a sticky about using

artsdsp -m skype

to fix the choppy problem that im sure alot of us are having
if you still have chop after this the rest is most likly connection related

I'm having an issue with this too. At first after launching skype, it works fine for a while, with low CPU usage, but after a while when I got to make a call, it pegs out my computer and the audio is extremely choppy. If I shut down skype and restart, it works perfectly fine again.

I do not use aRts, so "artsdsp -m skype" will not work for me.

Which version exaclty? Compiled in QT (static) or Dynamic? In slackware 11 the static is using 100% the cpu. Dynamic solved the problem.

I used the only debian build made available on skype's website, and the latest release of it.

This is weird... about 1 month ago I experienced the choppy outgoing (mic) sound issue too: I found that it was related with artsd, which had been started at 48kHz instead of 44.1kHz. As soon as I reverted it's settings to 44.1kHz Skype began working properly again. Notice that I have two sound cards, one of which is used only by Skype: artsd always runned on the other sound card, I really can't understand how can interfere with Skype in my case, but actually it did. Therefore this is worth a try.

Right in these days I'm experiencing the same problems anew with 1 out of 2 pcs (curiously enough, it works on my laptop running exactly the same OS), and this time artsd seems not involved: the problem persists also with artsd at 44.1kHz, with both sound cards and even with artsd not running at all. I still have to try the artsdsp -m solution; I really hope it will solve, or I'll look for another VOIP solution. There are many issues bothering me, above all the need for at least 3-4 attempts before getting a working SkypeOut communication (since jan. 18 I also have to pay a connection fee for these failures!!!). Releasing an update per year it's not a great idea for a software running on the top of a constantly evolving OS.

Bye

Mau

P.S.: Debian Sid + Skype 1.3.0.53_API (from Skype's repository)

A little update: artsdsp -m skype ends in a spectacular "*** glibc detected *** double free or corruption (out): 0x08cd8420 ***" as soon as the skype application tries to access the sound card.

Fantastic.

Thank you, Skype, for supporting Linux

Mau

I too have had to downgrade to 1.2.0.21 from 1.3.0.53 to get Skype to work for me. The "new and improved" (supposedly) version has sound problems - choppiness so bad as to be useless - or hangs the machine for long periods (especially on Ubuntu versions) with kernel problems logged in /var/log/messages. Yes, maybe the kernel is handling something wrong, but no other app is causing this problem.

See http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=78157 re downgrading and using skype_dsp_hijacker to get around the device open/close problems of the 1.2.0.21 version.

I for one would be happy to forgo video and the other nice Windoze version features if only the Skype client could be made USABLE for (dare I suggest it?) making phone calls!!! The 1.2.0.21 version almost got it right, but in going to 1.3.0.53 the wheels just came off. Back to basics, Skype developers for Linux! Or just wrap up the proprietary stuff in a binary package (if you must) and release enough source so that the community can fix the Linux sound system code so that the proprietary code can do new and interesting things - like talk reliably to the microphone and the speakers!!!