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• Captivating Presentations: Elevating Your Content with Professional Microphones

  In the dynamic world of content creation and remote communication, the quality of your audio can make or break your message. Whether you're a YouTuber, a Twitch streamer, a Discord community leader, or a professional navigating the virtual realm through platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, the right microphone can be your secret weapon. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits of desktop-based professional microphones, particularly gooseneck and low-profile options, and why they're essential for creators who demand top-notch audio quality.

  The Power of Desktop Professional Microphones

  1. Maximum Mobility and Flexibility: Desktop microphones offer a level of mobility and flexibility that headset microphones simply can't match. They allow you to position the microphone precisely where you need it without being tethered to your computer. This freedom is invaluable for content creators who need to move around or show visual elements on their screen while speaking or presenting a subject.

  

  2. Voice-Centric Focus: Professional desktop microphones are designed with one primary goal – capturing your voice with unmatched clarity. This specialization ensures that your message is front and center, free from background noise and distractions. With the clarity of your message, the value you provide as an educator or instructor increases exponentially.

  3. Gooseneck Microphones: Gooseneck microphones, which can be bent or modified to your preferred angle, offer the ultimate flexibility. You can position them to capture your voice while staying out of the way of your screen or camera. Clockaudio's gooseneck microphones are a prime example of this versatile design and a popular favorite for environments where multiple speakers will be using the microphone set up. Shown here is Clockaudio’s D-33, dynamic cardioid gooseneck microphone designed for speech purposes in a variety of commercial audio applications. With its rugged all-metal construction, the mic is available fully flexible or with a semi-rigid shaft in satin black (custom colors available).

  

  4. Low-Profile Microphones: Low-profile microphones, like Clockaudio's options, allow you to maintain a comfortable distance of 12" to 18" from the microphone while still achieving exceptional audio pick-up. This not only ensures consistent audio quality but also enhances your on-screen presence.

  Shown at right is the popular C012E-RF, Clockaudio’s Through Table Cardioid Boundary Layer Microphone, also available in nickel.

  Deciding Between the Mics: Condenser vs. Dynamic
  When it comes to desktop microphones, you'll often encounter two main types: condenser and dynamic microphones. Let's break down their pros and cons to help you make an informed choice:

  Condenser Microphone Benefits include:
  - Outstanding Sensitivity: Condenser microphones are highly sensitive and excel at capturing the nuances of your voice.
  
  - Wide Frequency Range: They offer a broad frequency response, resulting in crisp, clear, and detailed audio.
  
  - Ideal for Office and Remote Settings: Condenser mics are perfect for both office environments and remote setups, ensuring consistent, high-quality audio.

  Considerations: Some things to consider when using a condenser microphone include its sensitivity to background noise. Understand that these mics can pick up ambient sounds, so a quiet environment is essential. Another consideration is external power as some condenser mics require phantom power, which might necessitate additional equipment.

  

  Our series of C3 Slimline Condenser Gooseneck, such as the C 3100 shown here are great for use in boardrooms, conferencing and a wide variety of applications requiring unobtrusive and easily detachable gooseneck microphones with consistent sound quality.

  Dynamic Microphones Benefits:
  - Excellent Noise Isolation: Dynamic microphones are less sensitive to background noise, making them ideal for noisy environments.
  
  - Durability: They are robust and can withstand regular use without degradation in performance.
  
  - Low Maintenance: Dynamic mics don't require phantom power or complex setups.

  Considerations: Dynamic mics have limited sensitivity and may not be able to capture the subtleties of your voice as well as condenser microphones. These mics often require you to “eat the mic” in order for the microphone to catch your content clearly. They also have a narrower frequency range and may lack the extended frequency response of condenser mics.

  Elevating Your Communication
  

  Your content and your message deserve the utmost professionalism and reliability. Whether you're delivering sales pitches, conducting webinars, hosting meetings, or creating content for your audience, don't compromise on audio quality.

  Investing in a desktop professional microphone, be it a versatile gooseneck or a low-profile option like those from Clockaudio, can be a game-changer. It's not just about sounding better; it's about commanding attention, fostering trust, and enhancing the impact of your communication.

  Always ready to meet your project requirements, Clockaudio has a number of “kits” that include all of the components you will need to step up your game with a high-quality desktop microphone. One such kit is “The Presenter” shown below.

  

  With audio equipment upgrades your audience will thank you, and your message will shine like never before.

  The right microphone is your bridge to reliable, confidence-inspiring and “clearly different” communication – seize it.

   

   

• 
  Hut, Hut, Hike: How Huddle Rooms Have Changed the Field of Play for Conference Rooms

  Just a few decades ago, organizing a meeting meant you had to try and schedule all participants to be present in the same room at the same time. A task that was often easier said than done. For a national or global company and people in various locations around the world, meetings used to require travel and time spent out of the office, adding significant costs.

  Fortunately, technology has since evolved, creating new ways to set up and participate in meetings. Enter the world of Audio/Video Conferencing, which has become the standard medium for exchanging thoughts and ideas in today’s fast-paced world.

  Following the creation of Audio/Video Conferencing came the birth of webinars and on-line classes, and distance learning class sessions via webcams installed in schools, universities, hospitals and other institutions. The need and demand for sharing knowledge instantly with the rest of the world beckoned, and technology answered and changed the way we conduct meetings.

  With a plethora of communication devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets, communication is possible virtually anywhere. Now, wherever you go and wherever you are, you can instantaneously join a meeting regardless of its time and location. This approach to meetings has led an industry and our workplaces to embrace a new kind of meeting room – the Huddle Room.

  Extremely user friendly, the Huddle Room has become a widely-used platform for less formal and more impromptu meetings. Providing a space to “jump in” and brainstorm ideas, or solve small issues and business challenges, the room is always “at the ready” so that you can conference at a moment’s notice.

  Today’s ‘ready-to-use’ Huddle Rooms are at our fingertips. The host sends a simple email invitation to all participants, reserves the room and participants meet to ‘huddle up’ and discuss what they need to. The field of play is a room that typically hosts three, four or six participants. The meetings are brief and designed to get everyone on the same page or “back in the game” and working on tasks and initiatives once the huddle (meeting) breaks.

  There are several benefits that go far beyond the reduced cost of construction for Huddle Rooms. Fostering culture change is one such benefit and that contributes to more effective communication and greater teamwork and collaboration. This in turn can increase productivity and efficiency while providing the right atmosphere for creative problem solving. The new smaller and more intimate design of these spaces allow larger spaces, like boardrooms and main conference rooms, to be left available for their own appropriate uses.

  For huddle rooms and the results that meetings in these spaces can deliver, their smaller size is not an issue. In fact, they can be as effective, or more effective, as larger boardrooms but at a fraction of the square footage, furniture and design cost.

  With the increasing quality of audio and video technologies, either with soft codecs or more sophisticated equipment, these rooms are often a much less-expensive solution and are rapidly becoming the standard. It is common for companies to incorporate multiple Huddle Rooms to foster an on-going sense of collaboration and to make spaces accessible and available to everyone on staff.

  Now people can simply make a phone call, send an instant message or email to the parties involved just minutes before walking into a huddle room, and instantly connect to share documents and ideas. Participants can see each other in real-time, as if they were in the same room, with the added benefit of visual cues that are not available on a traditional conference call.

  However, as cost effective as huddle rooms can be, sound quality and intelligibility are areas that should never be value engineered. Whether using an omni-directional microphone, such as the CRM200S-RF, the C002E-RF or the C009E-RF for smaller spaces, or a multiple cardioid-element mic for larger, less-quiet spaces, Clockaudio provides a variety of solutions for Huddle Rooms that are reliable, flexible and that provide great sound quality so that your meeting’s message is heard loud and clear.

  One multi-element microphone that will perform remarkably well in a huddle room is Clockaudio’s suspended C303-RF. It has three elements that cover a full 360°, using three cardioid polar patterns with an acceptance angle of 120 degrees each.

  A boundary-table microphone would also be a great addition in a huddle room and would ensure superb intelligibility. The CS3(S)-RF is another perfect solution as it can cover three quarters of the conference table with three half-cardioid patterns.

  
  

  Industry analysts estimate that for every group-video room, there are 20 – 25 huddle rooms. With approximately 1.5 - 2 million group-video rooms worldwide, the number of huddle rooms is projected to be 30-50 million. *1 The growth for these rooms may be rooted in our up-and-coming majority business-stake holder – the Millennial. Collaboration-minded and with a desire for peer-to-peer feedback, Huddle Rooms provide the high-tech experience and team-based environment Millennials value. With this group expected to dominate the workforce by 2025 (75%)*2 , there is no doubt the Huddle Room will be here for the long-foreseen future.

  For Clockaudio and for our industry, that translates to a tremendous opportunity to create rooms that support this changing workforce and that have the technology and sound quality that will deliver improved and Clearly Different results for years and years to come.

  *1 – Wainhouse Research - Understanding the Huddle Room: Maximizing the Value of these Underutilized Spaces (2015)
  *2 – Hartford Business - http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20140818/PRINTEDITION/140819969/millennials-totake-over-by-2025

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• 
  Nothing Cookie Cutter About This

  In a world that has been as unpredictable as we have seen in the last four months, we all realize the importance of flexibility. Whether that means flexibility in how we live our lives, how we educate our children, how we interact in public, or how we conduct business on-site and remotely.

  What has become very obvious, is the need for solutions that can fit our lives in and out of quarantine. The suggestion that perhaps there will be a need to shelter in place again in the future, should Covid-19 have a second wave in the Fall, makes every business owner realize that a robust “Plan B” has to be in place and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

  
  

  
  

  As part of your business strategy and “Plan B”, ensuring that your home is set up, ready to go and functioning as professionally as it can be is key to putting your best foot forward, even in difficult times. As a “remote warrior” your home office set up should minimize distractions and include proper lighting and quality audio / video equipment.

  As more and more companies embrace working remotely as part of their post-Coronavirus corporate culture, the phenomenon of “listener fatigue” (usually reserved for avid music listeners and construction workers) may just be on the rise. However, in considering the unique circumstances our fellow-professionals are facing around the world, we feel it may be fair to redefine this as “Zoombie fatigue”.

  
  

  Just think of the sheer number of video-conferencers and “Zoombies” around the world as they participate in a variety of daily meetings with participants that have an even wider array of audio and sound equipment and you’ll soon realize that the individual participant’s video and sound quality can certainly contribute to an effective or a plain awful meeting.

  Having the right tools, let me rephrase that, having the right prosumer tools, that are easy to customize and integrate into your home office will go a long way in making sure that even when your meeting has to be conducted remotely, the message and the content are clear.

  
  

  
  

  “Zoombie fatigue” Also known as remote-working-audio-video-itus is a phenomenon that occurs after prolonged exposure to too many “zoom-like” meetings with inferior or poor quality equipment such as microphones.

  
  

  Symptoms include tiredness, irritability, distractedness and rushing-to-end-the-meeting-sooner-than-it-should-end-ness.

  Common groups at risk of becoming victim to this phenomenon include professionals directed to shelter in place and work remotely for a long period of time unexpectedly.

  
  

  When it comes to audio, these tools should include a microphone that offers you elevated audio quality for an improved user and listener experience. This happens when you have professional commercial grade equipment, and when you can control the distance between you and your microphone. This enables you to minimize “room” noise, echo and reverb. For ease of integration, having the ability to connect any microphone of your choice via USB makes the elevation of your audio experience that much easier and incredibly customized to fit your unique needs.

  At Clockaudio, we never believe in “cookie-cutter” solutions. We see the value in building products that can be an essential part of your technology eco-system and that can be individually suited for your purposes. Whether that be for your corner office or your remote office, we’ve got you covered in a “clearly different” way.

  
  

  For more on Clockaudio’s USB integrated microphone options, contact us today.

• 
  Clockaudio & Commercial Integrator on Democratizing Access to High-Quality Audio

  This blog is a transcript and throwback chat with Commercial Integrator’s Editor in Chief, Dan Ferrisi, and Clockaudio’s North American Managing Director, Bob
  Moreau on the importance of enabling remote workers to enjoy simple, versatile audio solutions.

  Delving into trends seen for remote offices since the pandemic, we highlight two of Clockaudio’s USB Solutions – the CUI2 and the CUB-33.

  

  CI: What topline trends are you seeing regarding the drive to bring high-quality audio from boardroom and enterprise environments into the home for remote workers?

  Bob Moreau: Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen a lot of people complain about the lack of good sound and intelligibility. And, as we know, if you have a meeting for 20 minutes or half an hour, if the sound is not up to par, you can get a lot of brain fatigue trying to understand the people at the far side.

  This has been a big focus for us, and that is what we have been trying to address. We have been working on a new platform - a USB platform - to bring some of the solutions that have been proven over the years, which we use in boardrooms, huddle rooms and similar environments, and apply them into smaller office settings and in home applications.

  The genuinely exciting part is, you now have the same flexibility as our Dante platform in terms of microphone options, but in a USB format that can connect directly to your computer.

  CI: Tell me a little bit about the value proposition of the CUI2, which is well suited for workers looking for simplicity and versatility.

  Moreau: The CUI2 is a little bit of a hybrid. Instead of coming out with one USB-type microphone for home, we wanted to give the user more flexibility. Because every home / remote office environment is different, just like every office is different.

  

  

  Our motto has always been that we do not want to limit the possibilities. With the CUI2, you can use any type of condenser microphone from Clockaudio.

  You can use any type of control device from Clockaudio with the RGB rings and the switch. And you can really customize, to your environment and your needs.

  That is the beauty of it. It is integrator-centric and for people working remotely who want something a little bit more sophisticated, they can do that with a lot of options.

  CI: Now, the CUB-33 is even simpler, suiting people who do not want an install that is going to be more involved. Tell us about that.

  Moreau: Not everybody is going to want to drill a hole in their new table or want to do modifications to an existing table they have purchased. Some people are looking for more of a plug-and-play type of a product.

  The CUB-33 is using the same type of interface as the CUI2.

  The only difference is that it has a permanent microphone on it, with a semi-rigid gooseneck and a C3 cardioid capsule, which is one of our signature capsules. And the beauty of this package is that it also can give you a lot of visual cues.

  For instance, you have a view-meter that can be activated on the screen that allows you to see if you are overloading. Obviously, you do not hear yourself when you are communicating with somebody on the far side, but they hear if you are distorting, so, you now have visual cues to help you.

  The other thing is the display is rather large, enabling you to see if your mic is on or if you are muted.

  It also gives you flexibility if you want to have your microphone, for example, to function as a push-to-mute. You are in control. Just push to mute the microphone if you must cough or something like that, or, you can have it latching.

  The cool thing is that it mutes locally within the unit. So, you are sure that if the display shows you are muted, the mic is off. You have full privacy. The other remarkable thing about this unit is that it is one USB cable. You connect it to your laptop or computer of choice, and you are up and running. It is as simple as that.

  

  

  CI: What is the timeline of availability for these products?

  Moreau: The CUI2 is presently in stock and available. The CUB-33 launched at ISE in Barcelona in 2021 and became available about two weeks after that.

• 
  Be heard from the boardroom to the home office and everywhere in between.

  When business shifts to a remote format, ensuring that your communications are clear will go a long way in keeping your business up and running. Whether you are a day-trader, yoga instructor, podcaster, gamer, or a business professional trying to conduct business as usual, in unusual times, having proper audio quality when working remotely is critical.

  We all know that poor audio quality can cause brain fatigue, and the “zoombies” that have emerged since COVID-19 can attest to the negative impact inferior microphones can have on the ability to communicate effectively. Perhaps even more important than video quality, the audio during a conference call or videoconference session is a deal breaker as most people may not need to “see” you when you’re speaking, but they certainly need to “hear” you.

  From the corner office to the home office, microphone needs and applications can vary greatly and will depend upon a few factors such as the environment (the room’s acoustics need to be considered for echo, reverb, inconsistent sound levels, etc.), the way the meeting is being conducted, and the way that the room is being used (is it singular focused or a multi-use, multi-purpose space?).

  So, when it comes to microphone design, how can one manufacturer meet the specific requirements for so many different types of occupations and professional applications at one time? Easy. They think clearly differently.

  Meet the CUI-2, Clockaudio’s USB Interface and the conduit to making all Clockaudio microphone solutions (and great audio quality) accessible to the remote work force regardless of their work style and professional needs. With the CUI-2, you can now maintain the highest degree of sound integrity while configuring a customized microphone solution, uniquely designed to suit you and your work environment.

  So whether you are a gamer killing it in your live stream from your bedroom, a training professional conducting courses on-line with your team from your home office, or a teacher getting students excited about history from your kitchen table, we’ve got just the microphone solution for you.

  Easy to install with LED Brightness Control and RBG Color Selection for mute and unmute, this compact, plug and play, tamper resistant device can be mounted under a desk or table with two simple screws.

  
  
  

  We know for certain that COVID-19 has changed the way that we live and work. As part of your “remote office” plan make sure you are considering the sound quality of your conference and videoconference calls, podcasts, and streams. Having the right prosumer tools will help keep you, your meeting and your business on track.

  For more on the product, visit https://clockaudio.com/products/pre-amps/cui-2 and as always, if you have any questions, contact our customer service and technical support team.

  Download a pdf of this blog

• 
  Taking Stock. The Importance of Inventory Management.

  The last two years have shown us the importance of planning for the unimaginable and for focusing on the future. When it comes to having a manufacturing business, we all know that inventory management is critical, but, do you know all the reasons why?

  Two years ago, among the initial reports of Covid-19 making headlines in China, it was not clear how severely this virus would impact our world, or how it would cause global-wide shut downs that froze production and caused inventories to drain. In addition, the demand that quarantine created for electronics also caught much of the world by surprise and swiftly created a dwindling number of computer chips as tech companies and automakers scrambled for available inventories.

  At Clockaudio, we are proud that we strive to be clearly different from the rest. As part of our commitment to maintaining the highest level of standards for our products, we are equally passionate about our commitment to our processes, which includes how we stock and inventory our shelves to be ready to fulfill your project needs.

  As a manufacturer, it is imperative that we have all of the necessary equipment parts and pieces to build the products that we stand behind. Proper inventory management can truly enhance a business’ operations by providing for an even and effective flow of goods and services. Controlling the movement of products through your facility and out to the market can sometimes mean the difference between failure and success by enabling companies to be responsive and nimble in a highly competitive market.

  Smart budget allocations for inventory and the ability to carry the cost of maintaining a proper inventory are all part of a business’ strategy for asset management and fulfillment. In the long run, good inventory management can have a tremendous impact on cash flow and can often result in savings when equipment and parts can be purchased in advance before supply and demand adversely effects pricing.

  So why is proactive inventory management one of the most important things you can do as a business owner? For starters, having inventory when other manufacturers do not, is a sure-fire competitive advantage. As for your service level, you will suffer no service interruptions if you can consistently fulfill your clients’ orders. By meeting demand, your reputation as a trusted supplier will continue to grow and clients will know they can depend upon you to deliver.

  What’s more, when you plan for and maintain your inventory, your storage costs are consistent, and you can organize and utilize your warehouse space in the most effective manner.

  Not all businesses are lucky enough to be able to stay on top of healthy product inventories. It takes discipline and a keen eye on what the market needs to stay on target when considering what to stock up on and what to keep at minimum levels.

  At Clockaudio, we have always focused on keeping the lines of communication open with our representatives and the clients that they serve. Knowing what is coming down the pike with regard to projects and future work goes a long way in helping manufacturers like us predict and prepare for how, when and where to spend financial resources on inventory.

  Remember, when meeting with clients, it is a great practice to discuss future needs and to speak to your Clockaudio team about potential future projects on the horizon. In this way, you too can play an important part in a successful inventory management strategy.

  As we near the end of 2021 and look into the year ahead, Clockaudio is pleased to say that we are in great shape to fulfill your microphone needs. With several new products available to make remote and hybrid working easier, we have worked hard to ensure that when you need us, we can be there for you.

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