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• 
  An Audinate Featured Blog: The Benefits of Dante

  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Dante has become a widely accepted, industry standard protocol that enables digital audio distribution via standard Ethernet networks allowing for audio, control and other data to share the same network.

  So, as part of our “back to school” basics this month, we wanted to highlight the benefits of Dante and a few of the reasons we choose to include it in a number of our AV solutions such as our CDT-100, C303D, C303d-P and TIM-1000. Here are some of the compelling benefits this protocol offers our AV solutions.

  Ease of Use. Signal routing and system configuration with Dante is fast, simple, and incredibly flexible. Dante Controller software automatically discovers each device on the network, enabling you to instantly route audio, label devices, and configure the network, all with a few mouse clicks. Dante Controller is a free downloadable application.

  The De Facto Standard. With Dante, the dream of interoperability is here today. Dante is adopted by more AV manufacturers than any other networking technology, giving you the choice to install any of hundreds of Dante-enabled products available from the world’s leading manufacturers. All Dante-enabled products are compatible, enabling you to mix devices from multiple manufacturers in a single network.

  Economical. With one cable, Dante does One cable does it all. Dante does away with bundles of heavy, expensive analog or multicore cabling, replacing it with low-cost, easily available CAT5e, CAT6, or fiber optic cable –- just one cable per device — for a simple, lightweight, and economical solution. Dante integrates media and control for your entire system over a single, standard IP network.

  Versatility. Dante systems are highly scalable, from a simple pairing of a console to a computer, to complex networks running thousands of audio channels. Networks can be expanded and reconfigured any time, with just a few mouse clicks, using logical routes instead of physical point-to-point connections.

  Outstanding Quality. Because audio is transmitted digitally, you don’t have to worry about interference from other electrical equipment, crosstalk between cables, or signal degradation over long cable runs. Many Dante-enabled devices support “glitch–free” redundancy, enabling an identical secondary network to run concurrently and take over immediately if needed, with no interruption in the audio data flow.

  Full Integration with Windows and Mac. Digital Audio Workstations, software-based media players, Skype, and other applications are easily integrated into the network via Dante Virtual Soundcard or Dante PCIe cards, with full support of ASIO and WDM on Windows and Core Audio on Mac OS X.

  Dante in action
  In a Dante-enabled device, the hardware takes digital audio and ‘packetizes’ it. Basically, it segments the audio and wraps it in IP (Internet Protocol) packets suitable for transmission across an Ethernet network. The packets contain timing information and source and destination network addresses, allowing them to be efficiently routed through the network to the correct destination.

  When a device receives Dante audio packets, it reconstructs them back into a continuous digital audio stream, which is then played out, recorded, or digitally processed, depending on that device’s role in the audio system.

  Hardware Dante devices support exceptionally low latency (on the order of microseconds, rather than milliseconds), and common low-latency applications (for example, real-time monitoring during recording) are easily supported.

  Dante Controller is a free audio routing and device management software application that automatically discovers devices on the network. Setting up a Dante network is typically just a matter of plugging devices into an Ethernet switch and connecting a computer to the same switch. All devices appear quickly in Dante Controller, for immediate audio routing. Dante Controller also handles network monitoring functions, including latency, clock health, packet errors, and bandwidth usage.

  Basically, what you need to know is that Dante is all IP-based and makes use of common IT standards. Each Dante device behaves much like any other network device you would already find on your network.

  For more about Dante, we encourage you to check out the Audinate website at www.audinate.com.

  Download a pdf of this blog

• 
  The Beauty of Collaboration: Unleashing the Power of Partnerships

  In a world driven by innovation and interconnectedness, collaboration has emerged as the key catalyst for progress. When power partners come together, whether it be brands, companies, or individuals, the results can be transformative. In this blog, we explore the beauty of collaboration in various contexts and highlight how it drives innovation, fosters creativity, and shapes the world we live in.

  From combining products and technologies to igniting the potential of great minds, and leveraging communication tools for seamless collaboration, we certainly believe in the power of collaboration.

  I. Power Partnerships: Bringing Brands and Products Together
  Collaboration between brands has the potential to create something truly remarkable. When two or more products are brought together to leverage their unique strengths, the innovative solutions that result can surpass individual capabilities, revolutionize industries, and leave a lasting impact.

  Clockaudio has had the opportunity and continues to power with incredible brands that are known for their commitment to excellence such as Audinate and their de facto standard for digital media networking solutions, Dante.

  With unparalleled audio quality, Dante distributes uncompressed, multi-channel digital media via standard Ethernet networks, with near-zero latency and perfect synchronization. Its intuitive user interface and network management features make system integration easy and allows even the most challenging networks to be configured quickly and easily.

  

  The benefits of the Clockaudio and Audinate’s Dante collaboration include ease of use, interoperability, economic efficiency, sound quality, integration compatibility and features audio solutions such as the CDT-100, C303 and TIM-1000.

  For more on these solutions, read on:

  

  CDT-100- The Clockaudio Dante Transporter - an advanced professional Dante communication product which combines audio and control transport using network-based Dante protocol.

  C 303-D / C 303-D-P- PoE Dante & AES67 Tri element array hanging microphone designed for unobtrusive all-round high-quality pickup necessary in places such as boardrooms, conference rooms, court rooms and other venues.

  

  

  TIM-1000Clockaudio’s low-profile ceiling microphone with the unique ability to track sound within a room.

  For more on the manufacturer partnership, Clockaudio and Audinate / Dante, click here.

  II. Companies Unite: Unleashing the Potential of Collaborative Technology
  The collaboration between companies holds immense power to drive technological advancements. Together, companies can bridge expertise, resources, and visions to create groundbreaking solutions.

  Clockaudio’s collaboration with Sound Control Technologies enables both companies to provide high quality solutions to create a more streamlined system and method of audio control and removes the need for 3rd party controls.

  By sharing knowledge and leveraging collective strengths, companies can overcome challenges and achieve what was once thought impossible, all while streamlining integration and companies such as Sound Control Technologies, truly make a difference in system design for integrators.

  

  Other past collaboration efforts include a three-part power team between Q-SYS, Control Concepts and Clockaudio in creating a new plugin for the TIM-1000, Trackable Intelligent Microphone.

  Concepts and Clockaudio in creatin a new plugin for the TIM-1000, our Trackable Intelligent Microphone.

  The Q-SYS plugin enables the dynamic features of TIM-1000 to be simply and easily controlled through the Q-SYS™ software-based audio, video & control Ecosystem from QSC.

  This plugin is available through the Asset Manager portal within the Q-SYS Designer Software. Facilitation of the control programming and interface for the new plugin was done by control programming and software development experts, Control Concepts. For more on this three-part collaboration, click here.

  

  III. The Magic of Collaborative Minds: From Ideas to Reality
  Collaboration among individuals, fuels creativity and propels great ideas to life. This type of brainstorming explores diverse perspectives, interdisciplinary collaborations, and allows for the cross-pollination of ideas.

  Companies like Clockaudio, that are willing to “listen” foster an environment of shared knowledge, which can further drive progress and innovation, while bringing out the best in people and solutions.

  Clockaudio is always grateful for the input and feedback it receives from consultants, integrators, distributors, representatives, industry colleagues, other audio professionals, and team members inside and outside of the organization.

  Great ideas often come from challenges, and these challenges create the opportunity to build new products. Such was the case with Clockaudio’s Consultant Series of professional audio microphones.

  For example, Clockaudio’s Consultant Boundary Series with inbuilt electronic touch sensitive switch was developed to minimize the number of microphones on the conference table while maintaining high performance and ease of installation. Check out the CS-S-Series RGBfor more on this product innovation that was inspired by one of our industry colleagues.

  

  IV. Communication Tools for Seamless Collaboration
  Effective collaboration requires robust communication tools that bridge geographical distances and enable real-time interaction. Tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, video and teleconferencing all require a microphone interface.

  Particularly during the pandemic, but on-going in our post-Covid corporate culture shift, high standards for audio quality whether in a remote, in-office or hybrid work arrangement are paramount.

  Our collaboration with Zoom enabled our line of USB and “remote warrior” solutions to really shine and ensure that audio, when muted, never leaves the microphone. For more on this collaboration, click here.

  

  With our Zoom partnership, the integration enables products like our Clockaudio CUB-33 tabletop microphone to mute the mic from the touch screen on the microphone base or from the Zoom platform itself.

  

  Conclusion: Collaborate to Transform the World
  The power of collaboration is truly awe-inspiring. When power partners unite, remarkable things happen. By bringing brands together, combining technology, unleashing the potential of great minds, and leveraging innovative communication tools, collaboration streamlines progress and paves the way for transformative change.

  As we embrace collaboration in all its forms, we have the opportunity to shape a world
  that is more interconnected, innovative, and harmonious. Together, let us empower others to harness the power of collaboration and make a lasting impact in all our respective fields.

• 
  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

• 
  The Name of the Game - Adaptability

  As a manufacturer in the AV and technology industries if you are not adaptable, you will not survive. It is as plain and simple as that. Adaptability is the name of the game and the greater your ability to accommodate change, the greater your chances of thriving in the marketplace.

  In our opinion, we think that adaptability may very well be the most indicative quality of success. To this end, we found an article by Jeff Boss that was published by Forbes a few years ago. In it, he lists the top 14 qualities that adaptable people share and for this month’s blog, we’ve chimed in on 6 of these qualities to show you how Clockaudio embraces adaptability.

  1. Adaptable people experiment and are open to change. For over 25 years Clockaudio has embraced the changes in the industry and technology and finding new ways to provide the market with products that maintain a high level of sound quality. Whether building a bridge to take us from analog to digital or embracing a changing marketplace that predicted AV/IT integration, we remain “audio scientists” that are eager to experiment and challenge the status quo. Read more about our quarter of a century of excellence here.

  2. Adaptable people see opportunity where others see failure. When an integrator called us to help with the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary which was experiencing an excessive degree of mic vandalization within the habitat, we took a lesson from the failure of some other manufacturer’s mics, to create a product that was virtually “vandal-proof”. Check out the monkey we got off this client’s back in this case study.

  3. Adaptable people are resourceful. Finding new solutions by collaborating with other great companies like Audinate, has enabled us to streamline our products for easy integration. Consider the resourcefulness we demonstrated in designing the Clockaudio Dante Transporter. This transporter takes advantage of the advanced Dante technology and based on a high performance and pre-configurable hardware platform, transfers audio and control signals via widely used Ethernet to guarantee perfect sound quality. You can read more about that here and here.

  4. Adaptable people don’t claim fame or the limelight, they keep on moving to the next challenge. We don’t normally like to brag, but to sing our own praises for a moment, did you know that we were the first manufacturer to bring to market a microphone that directly addressed a growing concern in boardrooms and conference rooms around the world? This challenge led us to come up with a design for microphones with RF immunity and we’ve never looked back! If you want to read more about that you can check out this blog!

  5. Adaptable people (and companies) believe that curiosity leads to growth, and they constantly ask, “How can this be better?” To tackle this point, we’ve got one question for you... Have you met TIM?

  In designing TIM-1000 our Trackable Intelligent Microphone, we knew that picking up sound from the ceiling was a long- time challenge for clients, consultants and integrators. So, in Clockaudio fashion, we wanted to improve the ceiling microphone array experience and make it, not only sound better, but also make it easier and more streamlined to set-up. You can see how adaptable our “friend” TIM is, in this product feature, 40-Seconds To Go!

  6. Adaptable people know what they stand for and are rooted in their personal value, brand and what is important. For Clockaudio, THAT would be all about sound quality. Since the company started, we have always been fiercely protective of the integrity of our products and the sound quality that they deliver. To learn more about what else we have held in the highest regard for the last 25 years check out this press release.

  * * *

  Since we can agree that adaptability is a common trait among great people and great companies, let’s all strive to stay this way to face future challenges and opportunities in the best ways we can!

  #ClockaudioClearlyDifferent

  Download a pdf of this blog

• 
  The Quarter Century Mark of Excellence and a 25th Anniversary for Clockaudio

  This year marks Clockaudio’s 25th anniversary since its founding by Jim Hallington, Managing Director for Clockaudio Ltd. in 1994.

  Clockaudio’s dedication to the industry has been clear from the start, when Jim Hallington first opened the company with his wife Tina. Jim states, “When Tina and I started Clockaudio 25 years ago, we never envisioned it becoming such a success. Manufacturing always comes with challenges, but we have a great team that always comes up with a solution. It is an exciting and interesting business, and every day we look forward to facing the challenges and enjoying the successes!”

  Robert Moreau, Clockaudio’s North American Managing Director shares some thoughts about the company’s vision. “Since we started, we have always been fiercely protective of the integrity of our products and the sound quality that they deliver. As we begin the next chapter of growth, we plan to stay true to these philosophies while embracing evolving technologies and a changing workforce.”

  In speaking about the change in the industry over the last two and a half decades, Moreau cites a few catalysts. “Since the company started in the early 90’s, we’ve seen a tremendous change in the location and positioning of the microphones from being a central focus on the tables, to being able to retract into the ceiling and virtually disappear.” He notes that these changes came about from the need to provide adaptability for multi-purpose rooms, as well as out of a desire to enhance the design aesthetic and provide cleaner sight lines that did not require cutting holes in expensive conference tables.

  For many manufacturers, product changes have directly been impacted by the consultants, architects and designers of corporate meeting spaces. The evolution of the conference room from the traditional boardroom to videoconference rooms and huddle spaces, have changed the office footprint, its functionality, and how people collaborate and work. Regarding product changes, Moreau explains, “We were first best known for our gooseneck microphones, and then we revolutionized the industry by designing our microphones to be RF-immune to cell phones. We were the first manufacturer to do this world-wide and to this day, I believe we’re still the best at it.”

  Next came the Clockaudio CS Series also known as the Consultant Series. Here, the company worked with leading consultants to design products that specifically met the sound quality, performance and design criteria that clients were demanding. Some of Clockaudio’s other most popular products include its Retracta Series (low profile microphones that can virtually disappear below a table surface), the C303W-RF (a tri-element microphone that offers excellent intelligibility and great front to back rejection), the CDT100MKII (Clockaudio’s Dante Transporter), and the RGB Series products (control switches with unlimited color combinations for room status identification).

  Moreau goes on to also speak about other factors that have changed the industry, such as the convergence of AV with IT. “This convergence has made us look at our entire family of products and how we can continue to evolve. For example, when we came out with the CDT-100 we thought how could we take this product into the future and fulfill the needs of our clients for years to come? That is when we came out with the CDT-100-MKII, which is completely compatible with Dante, AES67, and is also RGB ready. We have always been great advocates of using platforms that keep our products current and relevant. The CDT100-MKII is certainly a great example, which makes all our microphones Dante and AES67 compatible, not just a few models.”

  Clockaudio understands that today there is a need to identify the tools and devices that will continue to mainstream collaboration. Says Moreau, “We belong to a high-tech industry that brings together old school and new school - the Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers, the Millennials and within a few years, Gen Z. We need to challenge ourselves to meet their divergent needs so that the products we make today will continue to be of value going forward.”

  For anyone, 25 years is a significant accomplishment, but in a day and age where companies go into and out of business so frequently, there has to be a key to “staying power” and market relevance. When asked about this, Moreau shared, “We always try to listen to the end users and adapt to their needs. From day one they have always driven the company and that remains true now and for the future.”

  Clockaudio often works with their dealers and end users to further their education on microphone technologies and to get feedback and insight into the products that they need. Says Moreau, “We don’t sell direct, but we do partner with our dealers, integrators and representatives to help end users best understand their options.” One of the ways that the company does this is by conducting live demonstrations so that clients can hear firsthand how Clockaudio microphones sound on the far end, and better understand the differences between polar patterns.

  Moreau adds, “The entire sales cycle has been supported by an incredible team of representatives, dealers and distributors. All of which have seen how the company embraces new technologies, creates new products, enhances existing ones, and provides a customer service and technical support team that is always available.” When asked about one of the greatest highlights of the last 25 years Moreau says it is hard to pick just one. “I guess all the great people and companies we have worked with over the last 25 years would be one of the greatest highlights. From Space Agencies, Fortune 500, International Banks, Energy, Governments, and trend setting companies like Apple, to name a few.”

  Clockaudio’s longevity is not about any one thing, as Moreau concludes, “I think it has been based on innovation, being good listeners, being able to adapt to an ever-changing market and world, and in our ability to create custom products. On top of all of that, we have a desire to stay true to ourselves and to continue to surround ourselves with great people. These are a few of the elements that have contributed to our success and will continue to pave the way to the future.”

  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.