Ventrilo Client for Windows 32bit 3.0.8

Overview

Simply put, Ventrilo Client for Windows is one of the most highly regarded versions of this standard-setting group communication utility in the VoIP industry. If you have ever needed teleconferencing software, team communications during online gaming, or you simply had to find a program that can connect you with a group of friends, then it is highly unlikely that Ventrilo did not come up as one of the first solutions.

This utility is able to provide users with surround sound capabilities, it is highly customizable, utilizes minimal computer resources and has an incredibly comprehensible and simple to use interface.

Installation

This version was primarily designed for the 32-bit versions of the Windows operating system (2003, XP, Vista, Win7) but it can also function on 64-bit operating systems. The kit size for Ventrilo requires 3MB of space on your hard drive and the installation process is as easy as it gets. However, even though the program is free, you will need to configure a server or rent a server from the developers in order to utilize Ventrilo. The server files as well as the dedicated 64-bit Windows client and the Mac OSX client can be downloaded from the author's site.

Interface

Basically, the installation process is simple and the intuitive interface of the Ventrilo Client is designed to help first time users get a grasp of how it all works. Once the installation process of the software utility has been completed and you run Ventrilo for the first time, you have the ability to check out the help page that details the most important features of the program and thoroughly explains its role.

The name of the user, the name of the server that he is connected to and the presence or absence of bindings is listed in the upper section of the main window. The lower sub-window provides details regarding the server, the channels, sub-channels and current users. The side buttons in the upper section permit users to change the server, username or binding scheme. The lower side set of buttons have various functionalities, such as disconnecting from the server, commenting, chatting with another user, setting up the application, accessing the help menu or closing Ventrilo.

Pros

As mentioned, the feature that defines Ventrilo best is versatility and more precisely, the ability to set individual permissions for the global server, a certain channel or sub-channel and even for a specific user. The text to speech feature is also quite advanced and it includes specific phonetic spelling sequences that allow an ideal pronunciation. In addition, Ventrilo allows creating recordings of a conversation (perfect for creating gaming demonstrations). At the same time, most of the functions can be bound to specific keys and key combinations for higher accessibility purposes.

Cons

Nothing major and upsetting have been found so far.

Alternatives

The major competitor of Ventrilo is Teamspeak (Client, Server).

Conclusion

A trendsetter in the group VoIP industry, Ventrilo Client for Windows is definitely a program that cannot be omitted from the computer of an online gamer or the workstations of a company that frequently conducts teleconferences.