Alternative Methods for Connecting to Maestro Conference

 

We use Maestro Conference for all of our teleseminars, community calls, and other virtual events. This is because the voting, small group functionality, and other features come as close as possible to a live workshop environment, allowing us to deliver the maximum training and transformation to you. (We still love in-person workshops, though!) If you’re interested in using Maestro Conference for your online programs, you can learn more and sign up here:
Learn more about Maestro Conference

Below is a list of additional access methods that can be used to access your conferences.

There are other ways to connect to Maestro Conference, besides the various US dial-in numbers that Maestro provides. These options are particularly important for people calling from outside the US, in order to avoid international phone charges. Which option works best for you can be influenced by your location, the speed and quality of your internet connection, and the computer technology available to you.

Option 1: Use International Maestro Phone Numbers

Maestro Conference does not charge for your use of these phone numbers, however, your phone service provider might! For example, if the Maestro number is located in a different province from your location, your carrier may charge you long distance fees for your call. Don’t complain to Maestro (or us) about your phone bill; you have been warned! If you don’t have flat-rate or free calling throughout your country, you could try a test call and see what shows up on your next phone bill.

Use one of these numbers instead of the assigned number you are provided:

Austria: +43 04 000 1505
Belgium: +32 7 035 4807
Canada: +1 647 931-1700
France: +33 8 21 61 05 86
Germany: +49 1803 002 073
Israel: +972 77-2230004
Poland: +48 80 100 3524
South Africa: +27 87 550 0677
Spain: +34 902 881 203
Switzerland: +41 84 820 7427
UK: +44 844 4733032
# Holland: 0870 001 980 (see the note below)
# Ireland: 0818 270 066 (see the note below)
# Italy: 848 391 844 (see the note below)
# Sweden: 0939 2066 500 (see the note below)
* Australia: +61 28 011 4954 (see the Skype note below)
* Chile: +56 2570 9889 (see the Skype note below)
* Denmark: +45 3693 4670 (see the Skype note below)
* Finland: +358 92 316 4593 (see the Skype note below)
* Hong Kong: +852 8199 0473 (see the Skype note below)
* Hungary: +36 21 252 3870 (see the Skype note below)
* Mexico: +52 558 421 4214 (see the Skype note below)
* Sweden: +46 85 016 4384 (see the Skype note below)
* UK: +44 207 1931545 (see the Skype note below)

# This number can be called only from within this country.
* These dial-in numbers are provided by Skype. The reliability is lower than the other numbers, and there is a capacity limitation of 25 callers total across all of these numbers.

If there is a local phone number in your country, this could be a superior option for you. International Skype and other VOIP (voice over IP) calls are notoriously flaky due to vagrancies in long-distance internet bandwidth and connection quality. Also, your use of an international phone line leaves limited Skype lines open for callers who live in countries without a local Maestro phone number.

Option 2: Use Skype

Although you can use Skype to dial Maestro’s US phone numbers, you will be charged a per-minute rate by Skype (unless you have a calling subscription that covers US phone numbers). Also, there have been occasional problems with Skype callers who dialed US numbers being unable to be heard on Maestro calls.

A better way to access Maestro via Skype is to add one of the two Maestro Skype contacts. Under the “Contacts” menu, choose “Add Contact” and “Search Skype Directory”. This will put your cursor in a field on the upper left part of your Skype screen where you can enter the Skype user for whom you’re searching. Enter one of these two Skype IDs:

Maestro4294 or MCDirect1

When the directory search locates the Maestro contact, click on it and press the “Add to Contacts” button that appears on the center of the screen. Hit “Send” to send the default contact request message. (No need to customize the message; only a computer will read it!)

The new Maestro Conference contact will have a shaded question mark next to it, indicating that this Skype user has not yet shared contact details with you. (Don’t worry; we’ll fix this in a minute!)

When you’re ready to call in, right-click on the Maestro Conference contact in your list of contacts and choose “Call” from the pop-up menu. This will connect you to Maestro. Alternatively, you could do the following:

  1. Click on the Maestro Conference contact on the list of contacts to select it.
  2. You will see two green buttons near the center of the Skype window: “Video Call” and “Call Phone”. Click the drop-down arrow in the right side of the “Call Phone” button.
  3. Click “Send Voice Message” on the drop-down menu that appears.

This won’t send you to voicemail; it will connect you to Maestro Conference. Once you’ve completed a call to Maestro Conference, the contact’s status icon will change from a gray question mark to a green check mark, indicating that you are now “friends.” You can just hit the “Call” button for future calls. Do NOT make a video call; this will needlessly tie up bandwidth sending your video over the internet. No one will be able to see you, anyway.

When you hear the “Welcome to Maestro Conference” greeting, you’ll notice that you have no dial pad in which to enter your PIN. Don’t despair! Select the “Call” menu from the list of menus along the very top of the Maestro window and click on “Show Dial Pad”. Now you can enter your PIN on the dial pad.

When you’re connected, you can mute and unmute yourself one of two ways:

  1. If you leave the dial pad open, you can mute and unmute yourself using the “6” button. This is Maestro’s mute function.
  2. At the bottom of the Skype window, there is a microphone icon that allows you to mute and unmute yourself. This is Skype’s mute function. (The icons don’t appear until you move your mouse to the bottom of the window during a call.)

Remember which mute function you used when you want to unmute yourself! If you’re not careful, you may wind up doubly muted and have trouble being heard. (No, we’re not being rude and ignoring you…)

There are 25 Skype lines available to connect to Maestro Conference, so you may be unable to call in this way. If you can’t get in, try the other Skype contact. If neither works, you’ll need to use a different connection method.

Note that the exact appearance and functionality of Skype changes from version to version, sometimes significantly. The descriptions of menus and buttons and their locations in these directions may not match your version of Skype exactly. They should be close enough for you to figure it out.

There are Skype apps for most tablets, so if you have a tablet and a good internet connection, this option can work well for you. Skype apps run on some smart phones, too. Check your phone’s or tablet’s app store and search for Skype; it’s free!

Option 3: Use MC Dialer

MC Dialer is a dedicated telephony application you run on your computer. It connects directly to Maestro Conference over the internet, so you will need a reasonably fast broadband connection in order for it to work. International “hiccups” in internet speed can interfere with call quality. You will need speakers and a microphone (standard with most modern computers) or a headset connected to your computer. A headset will work better, since it will prevent echo caused by your microphone picking up sounds from your speakers. (We hear this echo, not you, and it’s really annoying!) This option will not work on most tablets (e.g. iPad, Nexus, Kindle Fire).

For Windows, please click this link:
http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/MC_Dialer_v2.exe

You can download it via Dropbox using this link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ggljk17iq8mht6c/mc_dialer_v2.exe

For MAC, please click this link:
http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/MC_Dialer_v2.dmg

You can download it via Dropbox using this link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x57sl34gd90yxzc/mc_dialer_v2.dmg

MC Dialer is extremely easy to install and use. When you run it, there is a “Call Maestro Conference” button. When you click that, you are automatically connected and a second window will appear. When it does, enter your PIN. If you don’t see the keypad, click the black keypad button (not the red phone handset!) and it will appear.

Once you’re connected, you can mute and unmute yourself in one of two ways:

  1. You can mute and unmute yourself on the MC Dialer keypad using the “6” button. This is Maestro’s mute function.
  2. In the same window as the keypad, there is a microphone icon that allows you to mute and unmute yourself. This is MC Dialer’s mute function.

Be sure to remember which mute function you used when you want to unmute yourself.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Some users have reported that MCDialer for Windows does not work if you have installed Java version 8 or later.  If it doesn’t work immediately the first time you use it, we recommend uninstalling it and trying another method.

Option 4: Use Webphone

This new Google Chrome browser-based web phone is an option if you want to connect via your computer. Simply connect by entering your conferece PIN into your browser — nothing to install. See details on this page:
http://maestroconference.com/webphone

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Many users have reported trouble using the Webphone when calling from outside North America.  It appears that the Webphone is sensitive to long latency times and may not work properly for intercontinental purposes.  (“Latency” is the time it takes a packet of information to travel through the internet to its destination.)

Below are some additional U.S. numbers that can be used to access your conference:

(530) 216-4294
(530) 216-4363
(916) 469-4760
(408) 520-2444
(310) 409-2027
(949) 202-1057
(323) 393-4046
(619) 309-1058
(805) 747-4187
(916) 235-1003
(408) 740-6030
(510) 281-1106
(510) 281-1108
(510) 281-1109
(510) 281-1110
(510) 281-1111
(510) 281-1112
(510) 281-1113
(510) 281-1114
(530) 216-4293
(916) 469-4750
(916) 469-4790

We look forward to hearing you on our next call!