Users install the Ventrilo client and connect to a Ventrilo server. The Ventrilo client is released as freeware and is available for Microsoft Windows. A full version is available for Mac OS X, and future support is planned for operating systems based on the Linux kernel, however, the client has been under development since 2005 with no new updates, causing users to suspect that a Linux client will not be released. The server is available under a restrictive license and is available for all of these systems as well as Solaris, NetBSD and FreeBSD. As of this date though, the Mac OS X client is still unable to properly utilize most servers due to a lack of support for the widely used GSM codec.
The default sound quality is comparable to a telephone but it can be changed to a higher quality by changing to a different codec. Ventrilo currently supports GSM, and Speex as their main codecs.
The Ventrilo developers have attempted to keep its bandwidth to a minimum but users with a low-bandwidth dial-up connection may still find themselves restricted to using low quality settings.
Ventrilo is often used by multiplayer computer game players. Gamers can use the software to communicate with other players on the same team of a multiplayer game. Communicating by voice gives a competitive advantage by allowing players to keep their hands on the mouse and action keys while playing a fast paced game such as a first-person shooter, particularly in team-based, tactical games. This kind of quick and easy communication can be crucial for those who participate in electronic sports. Most gamers refer to Ventrilo simply as "vent. Ventrilo is also popular among players of other genres of online games, especially MMORPG games and real-time strategy games
The gaming instant messaging utility Xfire displays the Ventrilo server address to which the user is connected.
Ventrilo is also used at a call-in method on radio shows, and for general voice-chat. The picture above is a server that is used for a LPFM, Internet_radio and mpeg 2 free to air radio network
The quality can vary but depending on your sound card, codec selected by the administrator, and microphone, it can sound good or just like a telephone call