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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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• 
  Can Microphones Actually Disappear?

  This month, we would like to show you how microphones can be hidden…in plain sight.

  Many businesses nowadays are stressing the need to keep their boardroom tables clean, free and clear of obstacles, and while boundary microphones are small, in some cases they still may ‘get in the way’.

  A simple solution to help make microphones less obtrusive is to blend them in with the environment. Many mics can be designed in custom colors which can divert them from the human eye by camouflaging them with décor of the room. Previously, gooseneck microphones were the go-to solution as they could be removed at the end of a meeting, leaving the table free of everything, but the very low-profile shock mounts. While goosenecks seem to work, some end users simply do not have the time or resources to prep the room before a meeting, especially when an emergency meeting is called for and the room must be ready to use at a moment’s notice.

  When this issue was brought to our attention, clearly, Clockaudio listened.

  The question arose: ‘What if microphones could suddenly appear, as if out of nowhere’? While the idea was unheard of, Clockaudio was up for the challenge. That is when the CRM Retracta line of microphones "popped up" or rather...were designed.

  Initially Clockaudio designed a small, single element microphone that literally rose up out of the table when needed, and then pushed back down after use. Soon thereafter, the idea of two elements embodied in the same housing was suggested. These dual element, retracting microphones would be recessed in the middle of the table, leaving extra space for the participants and also reducing labor time by speeding up the installation. Once again, Clockaudio was up for the challenge, and the CRM202/203-RF was the ideal solution for this particular type of application.

  The evolution of the CRM series was inevitable. Shortly after the launch of the CRM202 and CRM203-RF someone asked, “Can I activate them all by the touch of a button?” Clockaudio delivered, and it was then that the CRM become automated, and the birth of the motorized CRM microphones, the ARM100 series, took place. With this new automation, the microphones automatically rose out of the table as the system was turned on, and soon thereafter, the dual element model received the same upgrade and became the ARM202-RF.

  Although these specific microphone models have the ability to “disappear” into the table, some end users might still find that any microphones on their table would be in the way. In response to the “no microphones on the table” requirement, suspended microphones became the solution.

  However, for certain applications such as a multi-usage rooms, microphones hanging from the ceiling were simply in the way. That’s when the question arose: “What if the microphones could retract up into the ceiling?” The answer was clearly within Clockaudio’s expertise, and the CCRM-4000 ceiling retractable microphone was launched. This model microphone could hide completely out of sight after use by retracting back up into the ceiling, and with the launch of the CCRM-4000 came suggestions for it’s use in different applications.

  With the growing popularity of the Clockaudio C303, tri-element hanging mic, some users thought it would be a good upgrade for the CCRM, and so Clockaudio went to work. The model now comes with either a single element microphone or tri-element array, in both Black or White, on a regular tile bridge or plenum rated enclosure (for North America)

  The Retracta series microphones have proven to be a popular solution for their appearance, (or lack thereof), as they have the ability to ‘disappear’, leaving the room ready for other functions, and that will always make your meetings “clearly different”.

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• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  Have It Your Way: Customization Never Scares Us

  When most manufacturers shy away from customization, Clockaudio embraces it, and this month we thought we would share why and how this ability contributes to our long-time success. Every now and then an application will call for a specification of a microphone that is non-existent. This might be a particular place where any standard microphone cannot be mounted to perform adequately, or a specific demand that meets the need for a seemingly extreme solution.

  Clockaudio is always receptive to end-users, consultants, designers, or project managers, that come to us with unusual requests and suggestions. Whether it’s a specific color to match the company colors in a boardroom, a specific length of a gooseneck mic, or even redesigning the physical build of a microphone to fit a tight space or requirement, Clockaudio is ready to step up to the challenge.

  Our ability to answer specific needs with custom products enables us to address our customer’s requirements at a truly granular level. It also lets us add to and extend our line of microphone solutions.

  In essence, every new customized model that we create can become another viable, available solution. Although not always advertised, we are then able to recommend the custom solutions to others when they are faced with a similar need on another project.

  Necessity is truly the mother of invention and some designs that started as custom products, became so much in demand that they are now part of our standard inventory.

  For example, we received a request from one client that needed a table microphone with a robust, durable construction that could withstand the wear and tear of high traffic areas. So, our designers and product development specialists went to work and created the C012E-RF, affectionately known as our “assault version” of the ever-popular C004E-RF.

  Another example where customization for a client evolved into a new line for us, is our distinctive CRM series. From suggestions by end-users, consultants, and designers for a motorized version, we created a dual and tri-element model and a flush-mount that recesses completely into the surface.

  Microphones are being integrated into more environments and applications than ever before. In addition, the evolution of microphone technology and design, along with the changing way in which we interact, has pushed us to create products that are even more versatile and adaptable to different environments.

  At Clockaudio, we believe there is a solution for every application, and we are ready to collaborate to help design the products that meet and exceed the needs for our clients’ and partners’ projects.

  So, if the available 27-inch gooseneck is a little short for your application, we can make them the exact length you need.

  If the ceiling is high and requires more than the available 25’ drop on a C3S suspended microphone, we’ve got you covered and we’ll make the cable longer to fit your application.

  It is important to add that in addition to modifying its physical attributes, the customization of a microphone can also be at an aesthetic level. Here, we can customize finishes and make the microphones either color match the surroundings or blend into the décor.

  Thinking you need a custom color? No problem. Clockaudio uses the unique Nextel finish in Black as a standard finish for many products, but did you know that the Nextel finish palette extends to 31 different colors and shades? What’s more, other finishes such as satin or flat, are available in any of the 1,625 colors on the RAL chart and can be done with a small minimum requirement.

  When it comes to custom finishes, just remember that whatever the purpose, we can color your world. Remember, our attention to your details is just another way that makes Clockaudio, Clearly Different!

  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