Related Posts

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  Sound & Communication The Virtues of Communicating Good Sound Quality

  Location, sound equipment, and environment are all factors that can greatly impact sound quality. Whether talking on a mobile phone, or in a high-end conference room, these conversations must be clear in order to ensure the best exchange between multiple parties.

  Yes, we certainly all know how irritating poor sound quality can be when communicating important information, particularly in a business setting. Just think of how much more productive you feel when walking out of a meeting where you understood every word of the conversations that took place. Now, contrast that to walking out of a meeting that was riddled with sound issues because the microphone didn’t work or the video-conferencing equipment was sub-par. It doesn’t take much to imagine how frustrating it can be when you must repeat what you’ve said over and over again because what you’re saying can’t be understood clearly.

  When communicating through a cell phone, we can’t control the surrounding environment which may be constantly changing. Many of us just accept dropped calls and poor cell phone sound quality as a tradeoff for the convenience of walking and talking with our mobile devices. Unfortunately, this often means putting up with a good deal of extraneous chatter and other unwanted noises. However, regardless of the convenience, we can all agree that this is not the ideal way to handle conversations when important work matters need discussing.

  For meetings and conversations that require a more professional approach, such as those held in boardrooms, conference rooms or other venues, careful planning and collaboration is key. Understanding the room’s dynamic and getting designers, system builders and integrators on the same page can ensure that all the relevant factors are addressed proactively and the most appropriate equipment is selected for the space, This will enable the reproduction of the source sound with the best quality possible while offering outstanding speech intelligibility.

  At Clockaudio, we believe that what you say, is important to say clearly. Sound quality is one of the keys to having a successful meeting outcome and we encourage you to challenge your team to ensure that your meeting room audio always sounds “Clearly Different” in the right way.

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• 
  When Poor Sound Quality Can Cost You … the Meeting

  In this month’s blog, we would like to talk about how sound quality can impact meeting outcomes. Sound far-fetched? Not really. Read on.

  Video and audio conference calls are supposed to be streamlined, productive, and pleasant. When the technology goes as planned, participants can easily work towards solutions and communicate new ideas effectively and virtually...effortlessly.

  However, when the sound quality in the room or the video and audio technologies are NOT working properly, meetings can run long, communication can be difficult and stress can rise. We've all been there...you know, the room where the most common remark you hear over the course of the call is “you sound so far away”, “your coming in and out", and “we can hardly hear you”.

  When participants have difficulty hearing and understanding each other, any one of these comments can attest to the level of frustration that is unfortunately now dominating the meeting.

  There are many factors that need to be considered before choosing the right equipment for a meeting room. Microphones play a significant part of a quality sound system, but the room acoustics will greatly impact the results as well.

  Attenuating noise and echo through sound processing is somewhat possible, but ideally, the “room effects” should be addressed prior to installing any equipment. For example, if there is noise or too much reverberation in the room, the microphones will pick it up and reproduce it in ‘Hi-Fi’. As we all know, a ‘clean’ signal will be easier to process, so first things first, address any noise issues up front.

  Even though today’s DSP manufacturers ship their products with default settings that can accommodate most rooms, every room is different and each installation will require some EQ tweaking in order to achieve the best sound quality. Most of the time, equipment is installed and the effects are dealt with only when they are heard through the new system. Can you imagine from the end-user's perspective how disappointing and frustrating it is to find out after the fact that they need to invest more money into a meeting room in order to make it ‘sound’ better after it has been commissioned? And what will they think of the integration team that sold them on the project in the first place?

  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, performing an acoustic evaluation of the room is the best idea whenever possible. Identify any sound issues, recommend the best equipment for the space and educate the end-user. Only when they are truly informed will they be able to make the most intelligent decision about product value, performance and price.

  Just think, in a room with poor sound quality, the word 'billion' could easily sound like the word 'million' to participants on the receiving end. Point being, poor sound quality could literally cost you millions...you get the point.

  The importance of planning what equipment to use, and how to use it, is critical to the project’s ultimate success. In every meeting room design, the goal is to make sure everyone can be heard clearly and respond accordingly, and that will always make your meetings “clearly different”.

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  From boardrooms and classrooms to primate habitats, microphones should not only sound good but be built to withstand any kind of monkey business!

  More often than not, when considering the proper microphone to be used for an installation, the focus is on the sound quality of the microphone. This month, however, we want you to also consider how the microphone might be used, or misused, so that you can also see the importance of focusing on the construction quality of the microphone.

  For one reason or another, either by accident or on purpose, some people can’t help themselves and knowingly, or unwittingly, end up damaging or destroying microphones. Here are just a few examples of what we've seen or heard happened.

  In one case we’ve seen, a manufacturer’s field technician literally walked across the client’s boardroom table to perform maintenance on a projector. While he might have thought he was doing a good job, he accidentally stepped on (and flattened) the grill of a through table boundary microphone. Ouch!

  Then there’s the case of the misused and abused microphones. We had a call from a teacher a few years back who said he was missing all of the grills from his classroom's through table boundary microphones. After some investigation, it turned out that the students were getting creative and making filters out of the grills, and using them as part of, let’s just say, an inventive smoking apparatus for select legal/illegal herbs…

  Then there’s the story of the misplaced pen. Here, people decided to convert the grills of a through table boundary microphone into their own "inkwells". Yes, people actually took a pen and stabbed it into the grill of the microphone and made it a very expensive pen holder. On the brightside, we took this information (and since necessity is the mother of invention), we created a new model, the C012E-RF, or better knows to our internal teams as the “Assault Version” of our through table boundary microphone. This mic was built to be vandal proof. Even the microphone capsule is strategically placed, making it inaccessible if someone tries to destroy it.

  Perhaps one of our favorite stories that talks about the robust manufacturing of our mics, was about the time we provided microphones for the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary (click here for that case study).

  At the Learning Sanctuary we were challenged to build a microphone that the primates would not or could not easily find in their environment and that would be difficult to dismantle or destroy. This project was truly monkey business, but Clockaudio’s omnicondenser microphone, a water-resistant product that was chosen for the project held up well. In fact, our C007-WR microphones were made of Delrin, a very sturdy plastic, so the build quality was excellent for the habitat’s purposes. In addition, because this product was originally designed for surveillance and recording in sensitive areas, it had an extremely low profile, keeping them out of the monkey’s curious eye.

  These are just a few of the many stories we’ve heard over the years. We hope that it helps you to see the value in understanding the “climate” you are working in and the “inhabitants” that will be interfacing with your equipment.

  In understanding both of these variables, you will be able to better identify and choose the right microphone for any given application. Since vandalism of your equipment can occur almost anywhere, even in the most prestigious companies, classrooms, courtrooms and habitats, it is wise to make the investment into better built microphones.

  As for Clockaudio, you will not find sturdier, more rugged microphones than ours. So, if you’re thinking of saving money by installing less-quality microphones with the idea that your visitors, students or boardroom users are angels, think again! We suggest you go for the more durable, robust Clockaudio option and save money in the long-run! Your results will most definitely be...Clearly Different!

  That’s a wrap for the month of May!
  #ClockaudioOut

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• 
  Maintaining Audio Quality in a Hybrid Work Model

  Around the world, the pandemic created an entirely new way to conduct business that allowed for remote work and flexible schedules. But before the pandemic, working from home was not as common. In fact, before the pandemic only about 6% of the working population worked primarily from home and about 75% of workers had never worked from home.

  When the pandemic occurred in 2020 businesses were forced to get creative and implement work from home and hybrid work strategies to keep everyone safe and ensure business continuity.

  By May 2020, over a third of employed workers (approximately 48.7 million people) worked from home; the majority working in office-based business and professional occupations. Within the management and professional occupations, 57% of workers worked from home.

  Interestingly, remote work was more common for women (40%) versus men (30%) (but this was not attributed to childcare responsibilities). Regardless, both men and women suddenly became aware of the need to set up a home office. With this new workforce operating from virtually everywhere BUT the office, companies had to find a way to ensure that remote workers could communicate effectively and clearly with management and collaborate with coworkers despite being dispersed over a larger geographic area.

  Maintaining professional communication relied heavily on collaboration tools such as video conferencing, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, and these platforms relied even more on sound and audio quality to keep conversations clearly understood.

  This created a tremendous need for professional, flexible, and customizable audio tools that could deliver – such as Clockaudio’s remote USB microphone solutions – the CUI-2 and the CUB-33.

  Hybrid Work is Here to Stay

  Post pandemic companies continue to embrace ideas like the partial work week, flex schedules, hoteling, and remote working. For most, the concerns over productivity that were initially raised, have been put to rest, and many businesses now enjoy operating equally effectively from home or the office.

  About 29% of work in the US has been able to be done remotely with zero productivity loss.

  When polled, employees who experienced the mandated “work from home period” during the pandemic actually favored a hybrid schedule over full-time remote work.
  Studies show that 83% of employees are in favor of a hybrid work schedule where they can work from home at least one day a week. Only about 32% favor a full-time remote schedule.

  Lessons Learned

  Lessons learned from the pandemic were that a hybrid work schedule could offer employees flexibility in scheduling and assist with prioritizing the ever-elusive work/life balance. As most companies know, a healthy and productive workforce leads to a better bottom line. Armed with this knowledge, many businesses have continued to allow employees the flexibility of working in and out of the office.

  For employers maintaining a hybrid schedule means they can still have face to face time with employees for important meetings but can trust that productivity and workflow will still be accomplished on remote workdays. Currently a hybrid work model is used by 63% of high growth companies with no sign of reverting back.

  The Importance of Technology for A Hybrid Work Force

  One concern business owners still have about hybrid work is the consistency of the technology their employees are using to work remotely.

  Integrated audio tools on platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, desktops, and cell phones have their limitations when used to speak with co-workers, clients, and vendors.

  This is one reason why the C-Suite sees the importance of creating standards for audio quality for employees in and out of their offices. Creating a technology standard for home office set ups is one way employers can ensure that no matter who you talk to in their organization, and no matter where they are working from, you will have a quality audio experience.

  Commercial-grade microphones, such as the aforementioned CUI-2 and CUB-33 provide the convenience of a USB microphone with stellar performance and sound while reducing any chance of brain fatigue or miscommunication.

  Clockaudio’s USB Tabletop Mic, the CUB-33 is an excellent choice for companies in need of remote videoconferencing.

  The CUB-33 microphone is designed for professionals working from home or at the office, as well as for streamers, gamers, and podcasters.

  

  This tabletop microphone comes with the popular C3 series Gooseneck and a capacitive touch screen with an integrated VU meter. This distinctive feature will display the microphone levels to indicate if the mic is clipping or if the microphone levels are too low. The mute button can also be configured as push to mute or latch.

  Bottom heavy for added stability, the CUB-33 is robust, and easy to set up. Forward thinking, it was built to have ‘’mute-sync’’ compatibility with the Zoom meeting app. Using technology that is both easy to install and operate is key for work from office setups.

  Embracing the new reality and normalcy of working hybrid or remotely, companies and employees also understand that their technology needs to evolve and stay flexible.

  With Clockaudio’s CUI-2, you can now maintain the highest degree of sound integrity while configuring your own microphone solution, customized to specifically suit your needs and your work environment, wherever that may be.

  Choose your microphone, choose your application, and plug and play into the CUI-2 for sound quality that is guaranteed to be "clearly different". With the CUI-2 USB Stereo Mic Preamp Interface, there is nearly endless microphone configurability, perfect for any home office setup.

  

  In Closing

  When planned properly and used as part of an overall strategy, the hybrid work model can contribute to more positive corporate culture, organizational improvements, and an increase in company productivity. Worker benefits include greater satisfaction, collaboration and improved mental health.

  To be successful, companies must ensure their workflow and work process remains consistent despite where an employee works from. Implementing standards for home offices and for technical equipment, including audio equipment such as microphones, can go a long way in providing reliable communication and business continuity.

  Today, professionals everywhere trust Clockaudio for quality audio microphone solutions for video conferencing and other hybrid work demands.

  
  
• 
  Yes, two mics can be better than one.

  Considered Netflix for your ears, podcasts are an extremely convenient way to consume information on mobile and other devices. Started primarily as an independent way for people to freely share their expertise and experiences, podcasts are a unique media platform for launching ideas, opinions, messages and other content in an alternative approach to traditional “talk radio”.

  With downloadable radio on nearly any subject imaginable, podcasts provide audio entertainment and education, virtually anywhere and anytime that is convenient for you. In defining podcast, the dictionary focuses more on what it is technically, and offers up this definition. Podcasts are: “digital audio files made available on the internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.”

  However, perhaps a better explanation can be found in the roots of this portmanteau, where the term “podcast” grew out of the words iPod and Broadcast. Unlike radio broadcasts, podcasts are typically subscriber based, on-demand, self-published audio shows that focus on niche topics, timely commentary, guest interviews and other engaging content.

  Podcasts are typically accessed by interested audience members that tune in while working, driving, jogging or just looking to pass the time learning something new.

  When it comes to capturing content for today’s podcaster, particularly those that focus on in person studio interviews, Clockaudio has an innovative solution with an easy plug and play twist. So, this month, we’re featuring the “Duo” kit for podcasters that are looking to capture great conversation and high-quality audio. Great for one, and even better for two, this solution provides an excellent set up for today’s interviewer & interviewee.

  
  

  When paired with our CUI-2 USB interface, the “Duo Kit” can be customized to suit the unique needs of today’s podcaster by adding on our Semi-Rigid Cardioid Gooseneck Microphone (C34E-SR-RF), through table microphone shockmount (SM 80) and capacitive touch switch (TS 003).

  This type of set up gives the microphone tremendous flexibility and minimizes vibrational noise from keyboards and other desktop activity.

  
  

  When style meets function the “Duo Kit” offers a microphone with an unobtrusive and slim design that has been optimized for consistent sound quality while being immune to RF artifacts.

  The Duo Kit Broken Down:

  CUI-2 Clockaudio’s USB Interface	For mono or stereo microphone installations, the plug & play CUI-2 is powered by the USB, with no special drivers needed. There is an optional 12V power input provided. Mount it using the supplied screws & attach to a flat surface, like the underside of a desk or a conference table.
  C34E-SR-RF	Semi-Rigid Cardioid Gooseneck Microphone. Terminated with 3 Pin Male XLR.
  SM80	Through table microphone shockmount
  TS003	Capacitive Touch Switch

  
  
  
  

  No matter what content you are sharing, podcasts allow you a level of creativity that isn’t a pre-determined length, format, style, production level, or anything else. With this medium you can break your podcasts up into “seasons” just like a TV show, or by episode, or topic. For many, a weekly or daily podcast helps build a following. In ProAv, we’ve got some great podcasts to listen to, so check out AV Nation’s Podcasts Overviews and Gary Kayye’s and rAVe’s & rants podcasts when you get a chance.

  Podcasts certainly provide a relatively inexpensive way for individuals to product their own shows. Having high quality audio gear is one of the most important factors that will help create a positive experience and learning environment to share new ideas, build audience and engage subscribers.

  If you’re ready to find out more, we can help.

  
  

  Download a pdf of this blog

• 
  When it comes to capturing quality audio… we prove that flexibility counts.

  If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is we need to be prepared for the unexpected and being able to embrace a changing work and living environment is just one of the ways we adapt.

  When that dining room table turns into your conference room, and the corner of your living room becomes your office, having the right tools to communicate professionally is key. This includes paying attention to the audio quality of the equipment you use as you conduct business with team members across town or around the world.

  As companies and business owners continue to invest in building better remote workspaces, the microphones they choose should be considered one of their prime investments. Afterall, you can conduct a conference call without video, but could you do it without proper audio?

  Regardless of whether you are a corporate professional trying to crunch numbers to present on-line at the next virtual staff meeting or you are a fitness professional conducting personal training sessions from your home gym, being able to speak and be heard clearly is critical to getting your message across.

  With so many different types of remote working environments, having a full line of microphones to choose from is important to meet the needs of these unique spaces. Having a USB interface that can turn any of these microphones into a robust, plug and play solution is exactly what remote warriors everywhere need.

  
  

  Clockaudio’s new CUI-2, USB Interface offers this kind of flexibility. With the CUI-2, customization is virtually limitless. This USB Interface enables Clockaudio microphone solutions to be custom designed and accessible to the remote work force regardless of the work type, work style and professional needs. Easy to install and even easier to use, the CUI-2 allows you to choose any microphone, any RGB touch switch, and with a simple USB connection, create a flexible solution that works for you.

  With the CUI-2, you can now maintain the highest degree of audio quality which enables crystal clear communication and sound integrity while combatting the dreaded audio fatigue that comes with poor sound quality.

  So choose the Clockaudio microphone that suits your needs – a gooseneck, a boundary mic, a hanging microphone - or whatever meets your needs, and add on the CUI-2 to enable a simple and quick interface and superior functionality.

  

  FEATURED APPLICATION:
  THE REMOTE CLASS INSTRUCTOR

  
  

  This month we would like to showcase an application for people who need to have a quality microphone while they demonstrate or teach several feet away from their monitor screens.

  For example, imagine you own a yoga studio and are trying to teach remotely. You need to freely move but also need your instructions clearly communicated and understood while working through poses with your students.

  
  
  

  You can achieve this by choosing a hanging microphone such as the C3S-RF-CP and then adding on the CUI-2, USB Interface. Install this near your computer, (under the desk surface is a great place) and connect to the C3S-RF-CP and you are set to deliver a class that keeps every student on their toes.

  The C3S-RF-CP is a suspended gooseneck Cardioid Condenser Microphone with short flexible shaft and knuckle joint.

  Additional features include:

  • Response optimized for consistent sound quality.
  • Unobtrusive slimline design.
  • Superior grade components.
  • Engineered in high quality brass.
  • Fully flexible gooseneck shaft with knuckle joint.
  • Supplied with Single Gang Plate and CPPW01-RF.
  • Finish: Satin Black or White.

  

  You can find more on the C3S-RF-CP (Hanging microphone) here:
  https://clockaudio.com/products/suspended/c-3s-rf-cp

  Just remember that when that kitchen counter turns into your science classroom or your spare bedroom turns into your yoga studio, the Clockaudio CUI-2 is ready to meet your needs whenever you need it and where ever you are.

  Yes, indeed, at Clockaudio we are happy to say that we are clearly different not to mention clearly quite flexible.

  Download a pdf of this blog