Skype Ubuntu 10.04 & 10.10 ,Troubleshooting Skype

Troubleshooting Skype Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) , 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat)
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SkypeTroubleshooting


Audio Problems

Selecting Microphone (input device)
Most netbooks/laptops have two input devices, one built into the casing and another one for plugging in an external microphone. In Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) , 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) and Skype 2.0+ you might have problems selecting the right input device. The following instructions should solve this issue:

1. Install pavucontrol, a program with with you can select audio devices

Click here to install the pavucontrol package

Synaptic

Go to Applications → Add/Remove...
Set Show: to All available applications
Search for pavucontrol and install it.
Or open the Terminal, and execute the following command:

sudo apt-get install pavucontrol
2. Start Skype and initiate a test call (you can use echo123 Skype testing service).

3. Start pavucontrol while the test call is running: Press Alt-F2 and type pavucontrol, hit return

4. In pavucontrol there is a tab called Recording where you can select the input device for the application Skype

Note: Skype has to be running and Skype needs to use (i.e. make a call) Pulseaudio while you change settings with pavucontrol.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SkypeTroubleshooting