Related Posts

• 
  Some More Elaboration on Collaboration: Products

  This month, we explore some of the products that meet the communication needs of today’s businesses. This was originally part of an interview that our own Simon LeDuc did with Commercial Integrator and has been repurposed to share with you in this month’s blog.

  How are products like the C002E-RF and the C009E-RF omni directional microphones helping modern office spaces meet their communication needs?

  The C002E-RF and C009E-RF are great solutions for the huddle rooms and small meeting tables, especially when used in combination with a third-party phantom powered XLR to USB preamp adaptor to connect to a soft codec. Because it’s an omni-directional microphone, when you use it in a small huddle room or collaborative room, it is more than enough to cover a 4 feet wide table. It’s a simple tabletop solution that can be easily installed without leaving a mark on the table. These are two solutions out of many that Clockaudio offers for today and tomorrow’s conference room, whether big or small.

  Are there ways to explain to customers the value of a quality collaboration system without getting too technical? How can you get people to start thinking about collaboration systems as a good idea, and not only just to save money over traveling from office to office?

  Sure, you can ask questions such as:
  Have you noticed how much longer you can focus on a meeting when it’s quiet around you?

  Can you recall a conference call, where you had a hard time understanding the person on the other end of the line?

  After the call, did you realize that most of your brainpower during the call was used trying to understand the person’s message because the sound quality was not good?

  Like an audio engineer doing forensic work on a Police TV show, your brain needs to filter out the noise and reconstruct the conversation using pattern recognition, all while maintaining a constructive dialog with the participants in the meeting you are in.

  A noisy line, noisy HVAC, reverberant room or bad microphone can interfere with a person’s message. This is called hearing fatigue, and this is where intelligibility (or lack thereof) can play an important role between having a successful meeting and having a frustrating one.

  Now by changing the HVAC to a more silent unit, by tweaking the acoustics of the room, by changing to a better conference system or by upgrading to a better microphone you can greatly improve the sound quality in your room and provide better intelligibility for participants. This is where a good conferencing setup can make all the difference in the world, and this all starts with choosing the right microphone for the job.

  Are there certain rules of thumb that integrators can follow when choosing boundary microphones, suspended microphones and tabletop microphones to best meet the communication needs of businesses?

  First: There are no “bad types” of microphones; every microphone has a specialty it is good at.

  For Cardioid boundary microphones (C004E-RF, C012E-RF, CS1S-RF, C008E-RF, CRM102-RF, ARM102-RF, etc.) the ‘’sweet spot’’ is:

  • single person per microphone = 18 inch from the edge of the table
  • 2 participants per microphone = 24 inch from the edge of the table
  • 2 participants max per microphone capsule:

  Note: If you go with 3 or more people per cardioid capsule, the person in front of the microphone will be much louder than everybody else, creating issues with your gain structure.

  For Omni directional boundary microphones = Put on a table not larger than 4 feet (depending on the acoustics of the room).

  • You can cover 3 participants per side of a table (not larger than 4 feet) per microphone.
  • Never mix cardioid and omni microphones as their differences in polar pattern will create audio issues when mixed together.
  • Remember, omni microphones will capture more room noise than cardioid so keep your microphones close to your participants.

  For our triple element suspended C303-RF & C303D-P microphones

  • -at 7.5ft from the ground, you can cover a 15ft circle or 10ft square (I find it easier to look at it as a 10ft square when overlapping many C303 in a room).

  Are digital technologies, including formats like Dante making the specification and installation of collaboration systems easier?

  Of course! It helps cut down on installation and project costs. We calculate a savings of around 35% by leveraging Dante in your video conferencing project.

  It also makes it much easier to transport audio and logic over long distances using our CDT100 Dante transporter box.

  Our CDT100 Dante Transporter can even let you customize the RGB LED of your Clockaudio touch buttons with up to 16 million color combinations. Even if the norm is red and green for mute & unmuted, using red and blue instead would make your installation ‘’ADA accessible’’ for people with color blindness. The LEDs, buttons and motorized control can all travel through network with the Dante audio using a single Cat5 cable! This is how easy it has become.

  How does Clock Audio foresee the collaboration market evolving over the next few years?

  I think we’ll continue to see a big rise of the soft codecs (Zoom, Skype for business). Conference rooms and huddle rooms will be more and more BYOD (bring your own devices) spaces with Dante and USB.

  ‘’Wireless everything’’ is just around the corner.

  Download a pdf of this blog

• 
  Some More Elaboration on Collaboration: People

  Today companies are fully embracing collaborative environments and the products and technologies that we provide to them must meet the ever-changing needs of these spaces. Sure, having a quality microphone, great sound quality and the proper placement of those mics is critical to ensuring that the message you are sharing in any collaborative space is crystal clear. Particularly in video-conference applications, making sure you pay attention to how sound is captured and heard is paramount to enabling participants to “get the job done.”

  This month we turn the tables and instead of talking about the products that help you collaborate, we’ll share some tips on how to build a collaborative environment when it comes to the PEOPLE in your company.

  When you bring people together to collaborate, you expect them to produce results. But what if their performance is hindered by the lack of or use of sub-par technology.

  For a collaborative team environment to truly work, you need products and equipment that can stand up to the test of multiple users in a non-traditional set up.

  Proper microphone design and sound quality are two components that go a long way to ensure the success of any collaborative space such as a huddle or conference room. Here are some other tips for ensuring the success of your next collaborative meeting:

  - Have a Common Purpose and Goal -
  Without a goal, there is no team, so make sure everyone on the team knows what the “mission” is, and why the team is necessary to exist. Make sure that each member of the team has voiced their commitment to the group and make sure to keep your sights set on your common purpose when prioritizing the tasks and objectives for the group.

  - Trust Each Other -
  If you don’t have trust, the chances for great collaboration are sketchy at best. To build trust, make sure that you are honest with each other, that you address conflict in a positive and swift way, that you have a zero-tolerance for gossip and back stabbing, and set an example by showing that YOU trust the team members.

  - Know Your Role -
  Be crystal clear when you identify the expectations for each person in the group, make sure everyone knows what their unique and shared responsibilities are, understand what each team member is contributing and revisit the roles within the group often in case anything needs adjusting.

  - Crystal Clear Communication -
  Keep the flow of information consistent and be specific. Most problems arise from misunderstandings and miscommunications which can breakdown your collaborative unit. Over communicate if you need to without being condescending and practice empathy to make sure you understand the position of others in the group. If you have a misunderstanding, work quickly to resolve it and make sure to celebrate your victories and acknowledge your fellow team members.

  - Differences are a Good Thing -
  When working in a team you want to have members that have a difference of opinion and that represents all different perspectives. Try to learn as much as you can from another member and consider any ideas based on its merits not on how similar it is to what you were thinking.

  - Remember What Brought You to the “Dance” -
  Groups can sometimes take on a life of their own, so remember what brought you to the dance. To stay on track, make sure you filter all that you are doing by comparing it to what your original objectives and goals were. You will want to evaluate the effectiveness of how you are conducting the meetings and adjust it when it needs to be. Put someone in charge of the “health” of the group’s dynamic while you all strive to meet your collaborative goals.

  These tips will help you build a strong, collaborative team that will help you conquer any business goal you set.

• 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.

   

   

• 
  The Show Must Go On…Presenting “The Presenter”

  According to a recent study, the “Future of Workforce Pulse Report” conducted by Upwork, a popular online freelancing platform, 1 in 4 Americans will be working remotely in 2021. Given the last year and our own experiences, this seems like a lower than reality estimate.

  However, the study went on to project that by 2025, over 36 million Americans will have traded their commutation tickets for a permanent home office. This represents an 87% increase in remote work from pre-pandemic levels and sends a clear message that professional, well-equipped home offices are going to be vital to many professionals regardless of their profession.

  We all were there, when virtually overnight, remote working went from being a company perk or “luxury” to becoming a necessity. COVID-19 forced companies to conduct “business as usual” from remote offices in employee’s homes around the world.

  For many companies, upgrading the remote office’s communication tools became one of the first orders of business, as IT departments scrambled to set up secure VPN’s and login credentials and orders for webcams, laptops and desktop microphones sent manufacturers (also reeling from COVID-19) into over-drive.

  

  The Presenter
  Streamlining efficiencies and providing for an almost endless array of possible home office scenarios, Clockaudio introduced its CUI-2 USB Interface last year. This user-friendly interface enabled remote professionals from every walk of life, the chance to customize their microphone solution to suit their unique work environments.

  This month, our focus is again on the Remote Warrior and the CUI-2 applications as we consider those professionals that “present” for a living.

  The “presenters”, and the teachers that take the stage every day to instruct us and make us think.

  In the Brady Bunch of Hollywood Squares, and in Zoom rooms around the world, people show up in boxes as talking heads to share information. When it is your job to lead these rooms, having top-notch audio quality will go a long way to keep the attention of your audience. For great audio quality pick up, while staying out of view of your webcam, the Clockaudio Presenter Kit can really make an impression.

  This kit is a stellar choice if you have a mechanical keyboard as you can direct the microphone’s pick-up pattern away from the sound of the keyboard key presses. You can also adjust the position of the microphone shaft so that it is off camera, and doesn’t get in the way of your lesson. In the Clockaudio “Presenter” kit you will find the following:

  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.
  C 1000H	Our rugged wideband super-cardioid microphone
  CA 30-RF	Semi-rigid 300mm shafts fitted with knuckle joint and phantom power adaptor
  SM10	Very low profile through table microphone shockmount
  TS005	Capacitive Touch Switch with RGB ring to identify status (includes the TS-C1)

  

  
  

  As we look to the future, including investing in our home office experience will be a key element to keeping our communication lines open and business flowing.

  For more information about this kit, or for additional ideas on how you can customize microphone solutions for your remote work environment, contact our team at Clockaudio at info@clockaudio.com.

  Download a pdf of this blog

• 
  Ceiling Solutions are Looking Up with TIM 1000

  When it comes to AV functionality and microphone design, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For some, a well-dressed conference table with a microphone neatly installed at each seat complete with its own mute button and status LED is nirvana. For others, seeing anything on the table presents an eyesore and impacts the room’s design.

  For those looking for a more minimalistic aesthetic and a fully usable table surface, an ideal solution is putting the microphones overhead in the ceiling. But note, we are not talking about hanging microphones. More and more, today’s high-end designs call for microphones that are virtually “invisible” with capabilities to fully retract in order to maintain an unobstructed ceiling plane.

  Now, it is one thing for a ceiling microphone to “disappear” into the ceiling. It is quite another for it to really perform when it does so. To do this properly, the microphone needs to capture sound from the person speaking at relatively the same level at different distances within the room.

  Some microphone companies do this by setting up different pattern lobes and tweaking them in order to provide an acceptable level of performance and intelligibility. However, this process can be time-consuming and restricts participants to speaking from one location…their seats.

  At Clockaudio, we do things a bit differently or rather TIM does things differently. Our Tracking Intelligent Microphone (TIM-1000) comes as one unit and installs in minutes. It can be either flush mounted on the ceiling or hang on a pole mount. TIM is all about simplicity, so either way you do it, installation is streamlined, quick and easy.

  What’s more, unlike most ceiling microphones, TIM will set itself up upon connecting to a PoE enabled network cable without any additional commands given to it. Set it and TIM knows what to do, so there is less chance for user error. As another benefit, with TIM’s ease of installation, you can expect to see labor savings in both time and money across the board.

  As your most important meeting “participant”, TIM will scan the room to find any steady state noise and will attenuate it, making the room quieter. As soon as someone speaks, TIM zeroes in on the person speaking and effortlessly tracks them wherever they move within the space to maintain a consistent volume level. Even when someone else starts speaking, TIM can ‘follow’ any other source of speech anywhere in the room as they move around, constantly adjusting their output level for a more even level at the far end.

  At the core of TIM, is Clockaudio’s exclusive APT (Adaptive Proximity Tracking) that continuously adjusts the level of the different participants at different distances from the array, and outputs the same level for each talker.

  Speaking of output, TIM has one single output, so no need for multiple AEC channels, TIM only needs one. Imagine, one microphone for the whole room, no set-up or adjustments needed. With TIM you can enjoy the convenience of standing or sitting anywhere you want without the need to lean into a microphone to speak, and still have the confidence that you will be heard as loud and as clear as anyone else in the room.

  This flexibility makes TIM the perfect solution for huddle rooms where the room layout may be unpredictable or may need to change to accommodate attendees. Working seamlessly whether you’ve got a traditional table and chair set up, a room with a low coffee table and four lounge chairs or a few bean bags on the floor, TIM adapts to today’s changing and evolving environment.

  Clockaudio’s TIM is “clearly different” and an entirely new breed of ceiling microphone that be installed “out of sight” while holding performance and flexibility in as high regard as “invisible” design. Truly, microphone ceiling solutions are looking up with TIM!

  Download a pdf of this blog

• 
  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.