&activespeakerdelay

This option can be used in conjunction with &activespeaker

To understand the effect of setting &activespeakerdelay (activeSpeakerTimeout) to 2000 in the activeSpeaker=1 mode, let's analyze the relevant parts of the code:

When activeSpeaker is 1 (or 3), the code aims to show only one speaker at a time - the loudest or last-loud speaker. The activeSpeakerTimeout affects how quickly the system switches from one active speaker to another. Here's what happens:

1. Without activeSpeakerTimeout (or when it's set to 0):

   • The system immediately switches to the new loudest speaker.

   • As soon as a speaker is no longer the loudest, their defaultSpeaker status is set to false immediately.

2. With activeSpeakerTimeout set to 2000 (2 seconds):

   • When a speaker is no longer the loudest, instead of immediately setting their defaultSpeaker status to false, the system sets a timeout.

   • If the speaker doesn't become the loudest again within 2 seconds, their defaultSpeaker status is then set to false.

The key difference is in these lines:

if (!session.activeSpeakerTimeout) {
    session.rpcs[loudestActive].defaultSpeaker = false;
    changed = true;
} else {
    session.rpcs[loudestActive].defaultSpeaker = setTimeout(
        function (uuid) {
            session.rpcs[uuid].defaultSpeaker = false;
            updateMixer();
        },
        session.activeSpeakerTimeout,
        loudestActive
    );
}

This creates a "grace period" of 2 seconds, which has several effects:

1. It prevents rapid switching between speakers if multiple people are speaking with similar volume levels.

2. It allows for brief pauses in speech without immediately switching to another speaker.

3. It creates a smoother transition between speakers, especially in scenarios with multiple active participants.

In essence, setting activeSpeakerTimeout to 2000 makes the system more "patient" before switching speakers, which can lead to a more stable and less distracting visual experience for participants in the call, especially in active discussions where speaker dominance might fluctuate rapidly.