No Sound From Classroom Speakers — Troubleshooting Guide

Common Causes of “No Sound”

  1. Volume is muted or too low on the touch panel or your laptop.
  2. The wrong audio output device is selected on your laptop.
  3. Input options on the touch panel are mismatched or have errors.
  4. Loose cables or connections at the Teaching Station cubby or projector.
  5. App-specific issues, such as muted audio in Zoom, YouTube, or PowerPoint.

Troubleshooting Steps

Step 1: Check volume settings on the touch panel

  • Locate the volume controls on the right side of the touch panel.
  • Ensure the volume is raised using the Up arrow.
  • Verify that the Mute button is toggled off.

Step 2: Test laptop volume

  • Increase your laptop’s master volume by clicking the speaker icon in the taskbar/System Settings.
  • Test your app-specific volume (Zoom, YouTube, PowerPoint presentations).
  • Check for content that may be muted within the app itself.

Step 3: Select the correct audio output device on your laptop

  • Windows:

    • Click the speaker icon in the taskbar.
    • Select the projector or HDMI/USB-C output device from the list (e.g., "Digital Audio (HDMI)" or "Epson [model]").

  • Mac:

    • Go to System Settings > Sound > Output.
    • Choose the HDMI or USB-C device (typically displays the room’s projector name).

Step 4: Check cable connections

  • Inspect cables in the Extron cubby:
    • Ensure USB-C or HDMI is firmly plugged in at both your laptop and the cubby.
    • If you suspect a connection issue, reseat the cable.
  • If using adapters or docks, ensure they support audio passthrough (not all dongles do).

Step 5: Re-select input on the touch panel

  • Tap the hamburger menu on the touch panel to open input options.
  • Confirm that the input matches your laptop connection (Auto, USB-C, or HDMI).
  • If no sound still plays, select Auto to allow the system to resolve input matching.

Step 6: Restart the app or playback software

  • Close and reopen apps like Zoom or browser tabs for YouTube.
  • Re-starting playback can sometimes force a resync between your laptop and the AV system.

Quick Fix Checklist

If none of the steps above resolve the issue, try these quick fixes:

  1. Disconnect cables and reconnect them to your laptop and the cubby.
  2. On the touch panel, reselect the input and ensure volume and Mute settings are correct.
  3. Restart your laptop and reconnect it to the Teaching Station.
  4. Switch from USB-C to HDMI (or vice versa) if one connection type appears faulty.

What To Do if the Problem Persists

If you still don’t hear sound, contact the AV Helpdesk immediately.

  • Fastest Option: Submit a request online via the QR code on the projector splash screen or at av.as.cornell.edu.
  • Phone: Call (607) 882-1646 for assistance.
  • Email: Send a message to as-avhelp@cornell.edu.
  • Support Hours: Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Technicians can often begin remote troubleshooting right away and dispatch a tech to your classroom within approximately 10 minutes.

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