Are Conference Room Microphones Necessary?

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Are Conference Room Microphones Necessary?

When speaking, it’s difficult to know just how far your voice is going. That may be why people frequently overestimate their ability to speak and be heard in conference rooms. Conference room microphones solve this common problem, to the point where companies should consider them necessary. After all, you don’t want bad audio derailing business. Why? According to a study published by the University of South California and the Australian National University, poor audio quality sabotages a meeting. That’s because poor audio quality makes the speaker appear less likable and less intelligent. It also reduces engagement with what the speaker is saying. Strong audio quality matters, and the best way to get excellent audio is with a proper microphone setup.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

What Microphones Are Best For The Conference Room?

Microphones are one of the easiest pieces of hardware for AV integrators to set up, and there are plenty of microphone models to choose from. Each microphone will differ in how they pick up sound, where they are installed and how much space they take up. In most cases, though, the right conference room microphone will be one of the following:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Gooseneck microphones

Gooseneck microphones are called such because they’re mounted on top of a flexible support. From a distance, it looks a bit like a goose’s neck. Gooseneck microphones can be wired or wireless. In both cases, they sit on the table, so your conference table will need a little more space to accommodate. These are most popular in board rooms and court rooms, with a single user for each. However, no other microphone matches the audio quality goosenecks provide. Because they rise off of the table, they’re positioned close to the speaker, and they don’t pick up ambient noises like shuffling paper. There are a few solid gooseneck microphones on the market and among them, Shure’s CVG18 stands out. Shure microphones are sturdy, which is a good trait to have in a tabletop microphone. The CVG18 also rejects ambient sounds and RF interference from smartphones and other devices.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Boundary microphones

Boundary microphones are much smaller and sleeker than gooseneck microphones, but they can still be mounted in front of the speaker. Their slim profile means they remain unobtrusive even when mounted on a table, and some boundary mics can even be integrated with the table. You might also find boundary microphones in auditoriums, where the mics can be positioned at the edge of a lectern or on the stage itself. In addition to its excellent gooseneck microphones, Shure also creates some popular boundary microphones. Shure’s MXA310, for example, is a tabletop array mic that’s perfect for huddle rooms and conference spaces of any size. It’s designed with a “toroid” capture pattern, so it only picks up sound from table-level, and not from noisy overhead HVAC components.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Conference phones

Modern conferencing phones are built with sophisticated microphones and microphone arrays. They provide plenty of additional functionality, too, and are usually part of a larger AV conferencing solution. Most conference phones are tabletop models that are placed in the middle of the table. From this position, the phone stays out of the way while still picking up audio from a significant distance. In most conference rooms, the phone’s microphone is perfectly capable of capturing the room’s audio. Poly’s Trio line of conference phones remains an industry leader and a popular choice for conferencing rooms. The Trio has a 20-foot capture distance and works well with large groups (8+ people). It’s also built with a 5-inch color touchscreen display, and this display gives users complete control over the call. One button press is all it takes to get a conference started. The Trio also comes with NoiseBlockAI, another award-winning Poly audio feature. NoiseBlockAI recognizes when sound is being produced, but no one is speaking. In response, NoiseBlockAI automatically mutes the microphone that the sound is coming from before it interferes with the meeting. Once the speaker begins talking, NoiseBlockAI automatically unmutes the microphone without any interruption.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Every conference room needs a set of reliable microphones, and an AV integrator can help their clients find the best setup for their space. Whether it’s a gooseneck microphone, boundary microphone or conference phone, there’s a perfect match for every conferencing solution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]