German Expert on Interpreter Injuries: Remote Platforms are the Weak Link

Good microphones and an ethernet cabled internet connection help. However, the fundamental problem is that sound quality is degraded by platforms, all platforms, according to  Dr. Christoph Stoll, conference interpreter (AIIC), researcher, Heidelberg University MA KD program, speaking to the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages during a hearing at 15:30 EST February 4, 2021 (use button to right to view recording).

Even with the best home setup, the sound delivered by platforms is damaged. Nothing can restore the frequencies lost. Algorithms are used to attempt a repair but in fact actually can make the sound worse. The bad sound delivered by platforms such as Zoom, Kudo and others may explain some interpreter injuries. Desperate to provide good service with degraded sound, they may raise the volume and this, and just prolonged exposure to poor sound, may be at the root of injuries.

Neither the basic nor the "advanced" versions of Zoom are ISO compliant. You cannot currently get from any platform the quality you need to listen and speak at the same time without damaging your hearing, according to Dr. Stoll. Adequate setups to replace platforms and work remote can be achieved. They are expensive. They require the presence of a sound engineer, a "fixed bandwidth" on a "dedicated system" and the manual adjustment of settings.

Some headsets commonly used actually cut off the frequency at about half the level needed for simultaneous interpreting. Headsets and platforms attempt to control and repair sound using algorithms, which is a bit like "translation done by machine."

Regular interpretation audio equipment (not remote) provides quality far superior to ISO standards, which are actually a minimum. All manner of interference occurs when listening through a PC sound card. The algorithms do a good job at managing many connection issues but not at providing the sound intact.