CloudShare Viewer enables you to play and record audio on the remote VM when you're connected to a Windows VM via RDP.

• To play audio from a Windows VM on your remote client, you only need to configure Viewer, which will automatically update the setting of the Windows VM. 
• To record audio (or redirect audio from your remote microphone) into the Windows Server VM, you’ll need to add the Windows Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) feature. This is a licensable option from Microsoft, so you’ll need your own Client Access Licences (CALs) to enable this feature. Windows Desktop VMs do not require this feature.

1 Enabling sound within the Viewer

1.1 Setting default sound configuration for all users of a blueprint

Within the Customise Viewer settings, ensure that you choose "Customize Settings", and then select the tab of the VM  you want to enable sound for. 

In the "Default RDP Sound Configuration" option, select the desired sound option for the VM:

• Disabled  (default). No sound is played.
• Enabled. When software on the VM uses the sound card, audio is played in the Viewer.
• Enabled with High Quality. When available, the popup will also show a High-Quality option to provide audio sampling frequency and/or bit depth that is greater than 44.1 kHz/16 bit.

1.2 Enabling sound within the view for a single VM in an environment

If the default sound option for a VM has not been configured (see above), the end user can enable sound to be played back through the Viewer. 

In the Display menu for that VM, click Sound Configuration, and the Sound Configuration popup is displayed. The options available are the same as those above.

Whenever you change this setting, the RDP session will automatically reconnect to initialize this change.

2 (Optional) Manually updating the Windows Audio Service VM setting

If the Windows VM setting does not automatically update, you can update this setting manually. The simplest method is to right-click the speaker icon in the system tray, select Sounds, then on the prompt that appears (if one should appear), click Yes to enable the "Windows Audio Service, after which the Windows Sound Settings dialogue box should appear.

Alternatively, open the Windows "Services" snapin, then find and start the "Windows Audio Service", and ensure that the service is set to start automatically. 

3 Enable a Windows Server VM to record audio (or remote client microphone redirection).

To set up the Window Remote Session Host (RDSH) feature on a standalone Windows Server, we will need to install it, then configure the licensing manager, and finally, configure the VM to connect to the licensing manager. For Active Directory joined servers, please consult additional Micorosft documentation (although the general idea is similar). These instructions were written for Windows Server 2022, although other Windows Server versions are also similar.

3.1 Installing Remote Desktop Services (RDS) on a Windows Server 2022 VM.

To install the RDS role with the Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) and Remote Desktop Licencing feature:

1. In the Server Manager, select Manage- Add Roles and Features.
2. In the Add Roles and Features wizard, in the Before You Begin section, click Next.
3. In the Installation Type section, select Role-based or feature-based installation, and click Next.
4. In the Server Selection section, ensure the server is selected and click Next. 
5. In the Server Roles section, select the Remote Desk Services role, and click Next. 
6. In the Features section, click Next. 
7. In the Remote Desktop Services section, click Next.
8. In the Role Services section, 
   1. Select Remote Desktop Licencing, then click Add Features. 
   2. Select Remote Desktop Session Host, then click Add Features.
   3. Click Next.
9. In the Confirmation section, click Install.
10. Once the installation is complete, click Close.
11. Reboot the Windows Server VM.

3.2 Configure the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager

When the VM has rebooted, reconnect the RDP session and re-open the Server Manager. You will require your RDSH CAL license agreement details before completing this step.

NOTE: you may see a warning that the Remote Desktop licensing mode has not been configured. We will resolve this issue in the next couple of steps.

NOTE: You will need Remote Desktop Services User CALs with Software Assurance for each user with access.  There is also a License Mobility Verification Form that Microsoft requests customers fill out and submit to them whenever bringing licenses with License Mobility (such as RDS User CALs with Software Assurance) to the cloud.

1. In the Server Manager, select Remote Desktop Services in the task pane. 
2. Select Servers, then right-click on the server you wish to configure, and then select RD Licensing Manager.
3. Right-click on the server, then select Activate Server.
4. In the Activate Server Wizard, click Next.
5. On the Connection Method screen, click Next.
6. On the Company Information page, fill in your company details that align with your license, then click Next. 
7. On the optional Company Information page, fill in your company details that align with your license, then click Next. 
8. Ensure the Start Install Licenses Wizard now option is selected, then click Next.
9. On the Welcome to the Install Licenses Wizard page, click Next.
10. On the Licensing Program page, select the correct Licensing program type and click Next.
11. Input the Agreement number (or other License details) and click Next.
12. On the Product Version and License Type page, 
    1. select the correct Product Version (usually the same as the server version you are configuring),
    2. the License Type (for a standalone server, this MUST be Per Device CAL), 
    3. the quantity of CALs you wish to use (1 or 2 would usually be sufficient),
    4. then click Next. 
13. On the Completing the Install Licenses Wizard page, click Finish. 

3.3 Configure the VM to use the Licensing Manager

Again, these steps describe how to configure a Windows Server 2022 in standalone mode, for which you need to edit some registry settings or update the local policy on the VM. 

1. Open the Edit Group Policy snapin (you can search for gpedit.msc).
2. Navigate to Computer Settings  Administrative Templates  Windows Components  Remote Desktop Services  Remote Desktop Session Host  Licensing.
3. Edit the Use the specified Remote Desktop Licensing servers:
   1. Click Enable,
   2. Enter the server to use (as this is a standalone server, you can use either the name of the host, localhost, the loopback adapter address (127.0.0.1), or another IP address configured for the host's vNIC).
   3. Click OK.
4. Edit the Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode:
   1. Click Enable,
   2. Specify the licensing mode for the RD Session Host server to be Per Device (for a standalone server).
   3. Click OK.
5. Check there are no issues with licensing by opening up the Server Manager as before and navigating to the RDS server, then right-click on the server and select RD Licensing Diagnostics. You should see no errors. 

3.4 Test your remote microphone works as expected

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Open Sound Settings.
2. If you see an Audio privacy warning, click the message to adjust these settings.
3. In the Settings - Microphone dialogue, toggle the option to Allow apps to access your microphone to On. 
4. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Open Sound Settings.
5. In the Settings - Sound dialogue, scroll to the Test your microphone VU meter, then make some noise. You should see the VU meter move.