Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve media communications. In one embodiment, a media server receives a media communication with a first quality from a personal computer with VoIP telephone capabilities. The media server translates the media (e.g., audio, visual, etc.) communication into a second quality, and forwards the media communication to a communication gateway. The translation to improve communications can also be done when receiving the media communication from the communication gateway for forwarding to the personal computer having VoIP telephone capability. In some embodiments, a media server sits in the communication channel between a personal computer with VoIP telephone capabilities and a communication gateway and is able to translate communications into codec protocols they each understand.