The What: QSC has announced Meeting Room Solutions, bundled conferencing systems that have been fully certified for use with Zoom Rooms. QSC worked with Zoom Video Communications and Q-SYS Ecosystem partner Sennheiser to create the systems.

[Biamp Debuts Zoom Rooms-Certified Bundles]

The What Else: The QSC Meeting Room Solutions for Zoom Rooms center on the Q-SYS Core 8 Flex processor, which combines audio, video, and control capabilities into a single integrated appliance. It also includes the QSC SPA Series two- and four-channel power amplifiers and the QSC AcousticDesign Series AD-C4T ceiling loudspeaker, as well as the Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) microphone, which integrates seamlessly with Q-SYS via a control plugin.

“Our new solutions, offered with Zoom and Sennheiser, make it easier than ever to integrate a Zoom Rooms system into high value spaces,” said Jason Moss, vice president alliances and ecosystem, QSC. “Our system delivers a fully networked and managed AV&C infrastructure to Zoom Rooms via a single USB connection. Furthermore, with the software-based foundation of Q-SYS, users now have the flexibility to expand and manage their AV investment well into the future.” 

“The QSC and Sennheiser partnership takes the guesswork out of integrating Q-SYS and the TCC2 into any high value Zoom Rooms space,” said Charlie Jones, global alliance and partnership manager at Sennheiser. “With the available TCC2 plugin for Q-SYS, admins can easily configure the TCC2 microphone within Q-SYS Designer Software and monitor and manage it in Q-SYS Reflect Enterprise Manager.”

[QSC Announces NS Series Gen 2 Network Switches]

“QSC has been a staple in our Zoom pro AV designs for years,” said Shane Springer, solutions architect with Zoom. “With this new certification, QSC brings complete solutions that work together by design to enable flex spaces, classrooms, boardrooms, all-hands spaces, lecture halls, and more.”

The Bottom Line: QSC Meeting Room Solutions are designed to simplify integration complexity and allow users to easily scale their Zoom Rooms deployment in high-value spaces, while providing an intuitive and consistent user experience.

The What: Nureva is adding Voice Amplification Mode to its HDL300 and Dual HDL300 audio conferencing systems. With this addition, which is currently available in public beta, the HDL300 systems solve the difficult audio problem of supporting in-room amplification of the instructor or presenter’s voice, while simultaneously providing full-room microphone pickup of in-room voices so that everyone can be heard by remote participants. This unique capability is made possible by Nureva’s patented Microphone Mist technology, which fills a room with thousands of virtual microphones.

The What Else: The public beta for Voice Amplification Mode is available to all HDL300 and Dual HDL300 customers through Nureva Console. Customers can access this no-charge feature by updating their firmware and selecting enable voice amplification in Nureva Console Cloud. Once enabled, instructors or presenters use their personal wireless headset microphone to amplify their voice through the HDL300 speakers so that in-room students or meeting participants can clearly hear. At the same time, their voice is picked up for remote participants via their UC&C client, like Microsoft Teams, for which the HDL300 system is certified. Voice Amplification Mode is designed to work in typical classrooms and meeting spaces using the HDL300 system. For larger spaces, the feature can be enabled on a Dual HDL300 system, which amplifies the instructor or presenter’s voice through both microphone and speaker bars in rooms up to 30-feet x 50-feet (9.1 x 15.2 m). There is a clear need for a multifunction solution that can deliver a combination of full-room microphone pickup and in-room voice amplification. Nureva delivers all of this in a single system that is installed in under an hour without any special technical expertise, automatically adjusts to changes in room configurations and is easily managed from anywhere using Nureva Console.

The Bottom Line: The Voice Amplification Mode works with most brands of wireless headsets (to be supplied by the customer or their reseller). To enable Voice Amplification Mode through Nureva Console Cloud, customers will need to update the firmware to version 2.4.61. General availability of Voice Amplification Mode will be in early fall 2021.

New York-based WeWork provides collaboration spaces for 500,000-plus members in more than 150 cities across six continents. Among the technology solutions in these rooms is a stockpile of roughly 10,000 wireless IP-based Konftel 300Wx conference phones.

“Globally, we have more than 16,000 conference rooms,” said Nick Nienaber, head of audiovisual at WeWork. “For those rooms where we offer members communication technology, we ended up having pretty specific needs, and Konftel has been an incredible partner in providing the right solution.”

[The Technology Manager's Guide to Collaboration in the Post-COVID World]

Locations are managed by local staff, who need to ensure the available technology is ready and operational each time a WeWork member wants to use a space. In the beginning, the company had a small team dedicated to deploying and supporting technology, which made offering communication devices a challenge.

Early attempts to offer other companies’ conference phones in WeWork’s coworking facilities hit various snags. Some members would unplug them from the wall to access power for other use, or they’d disconnect the network cable. Depending on the size of the room, others just wanted to move the phones around freely.

“The members were decommissioning the devices for the next member who might want to use that conference room,” said Ofir Hirak, director of technology for WeWork. “This presented a big IT hurdle.”

Eventually, Hirak previewed a new conferencing solution from Konftel, the 300Wx. The wireless conference phone includes a charging cradle and a SIP-compliant Konftel IP DECT base station for enabling cordless communication from the conference phone to the physical IP network. The DECT standard (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) is used widely around the world and doesn’t interfere with other wireless technologies in common use, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This was important to WeWork because it employs a global technology standard across the vast majority of its more than 800 locations.

Early on, it was clear that not every WeWork conference room required a conferencing phone. Usage data from its VoIP providers helped the technology team identify how many rooms needed to offer communication capabilities and therefore how many 300Wx solutions Konftel would deliver.

“All told, WeWork has been the biggest end user project in North America we’ve collaborated on,” said Tommy Edlund, Konftel director of global sales. “WeWork adopted the Konftel 300Wx across its conference rooms based on its design, wireless capabilities, performance, and ease of use.”

Each Konftel solution incorporates the company’s patented OmniSound technology and support for wireless HD calls, resulting in natural-sounding communication. The Konftel 300Wx can support meetings of up to 20 people, and the wireless conference phones last up to 60 hours per charge (270 hours in standby), a huge benefit for the WeWork staff who need to make sure the phones are ready each time a conference room is in use. In each WeWork conference room, the Konftel 300Wx phone and charger are set out for members’ use, while the Konftel IP DECT sits in a box behind the room’s display along with other AV equipment.

“Rooms can be serviced and managed individually, so you don't have to worry about one rack of devices or chargers, which was really good for us,” Nienaber said.

The 60-hour battery life helps, especially when members forget to put the Konftel conference phones back with their chargers. “We don’t keep the phones and chargers centralized and don’t always have somebody doing sweeps to make sure they’re charged at the end of every day, so the phones sometimes get left on the table,” Nienaber said.

WeWork continues to work with Konftel, not only in support of its existing conferencing technology, but also as it looks to the future. For example, according to Hirak, when WeWork wanted to disable a feature of the Konftel phones that could allow members to record calls, Konftel engineers quickly developed a firmware update. When WeWork explored new VoIP providers in certain markets, Konftel engineers helped with that firmware change, too. And because the Konftel 300Wx is upgradable via SD memory card, WeWork staff could easily administer the software changes.

“We were able to mail SD cards to the sites and community managers were able to pop them in, push a couple of buttons, and the phones were up and running on a new VoIP platform in a couple of minutes,” Hirak said.

Looking ahead, WeWork is exploring ways to offer more video conferencing capabilities to its members. The challenges are less technical—Konftel solutions, including cameras, already support the breadth of popular video collaboration platforms—than logistic. Not only must a WeWork conference room solution support all the video platforms members might prefer, but it must also be able to seamlessly change from Google Hangouts for one meeting to Zoom for another, for instance, as members take turns using the WeWork space.

“WeWork’s conferencing needs are pretty unique, especially when it comes to eventually implementing video,” Nienaber said. “Konftel has been proactive about showing us new things. We’re very much on the same wavelength when it comes to what is important to our members.”

The What: tvONE has announced a new partnership with global technology manufacturer Bosch. The collaboration focuses on the combination of the tvONE CORIOmatrix modular video switching router and Bosch’s range of conferencing systems.

The What Else: Using tvONE’s 4K CORIOmatrix router—which enables the mixing of AV, broadcast, IP, and legacy sources with low latency—with Bosch’s conference solutions facilitates streaming of the active speaker video to a hall display or system that records or webcasts the HD-SDI feed.

[Bosch Announces Dicentis Discussion Devices]

The Bosch conference systems connect to the tvONE video switcher via TCP/IP and control the switcher by using the protocol of tvONE to switch the video stream of the person speaking automatically to displays or video walls.

The CORIOmatrix (4RU) and CORIOmatrix mini (1RU) can accept a large number of I/O configurations allowing complex functionality to be configured to meet end user requirements. It is well suited for applications where SDI is used in conjunction with 4K HDMI, DVI, and H.264/H.265 IP feeds.

[tvONE Updates CORIOmaster2 Video Processor]

tvONE’s CORIOmatrix supports a variety of Bosch’s conference solutions: the IP-based DICENTIS Conference System, the Wi-Fi-based DICENTIS Wireless Conference System, and the compact, simple to set-up and use CCS 1000 D Digital Discussion System.

The Bottom Line: tvONE foresees a host of conference applications that will benefit from using the systems in tandem, including events in parliaments, commercial buildings, banking, convention centers, hotels, and many others.

With the aim of expanding its conferencing solutions to a wider market, Shure is repositioning its offerings into two product lines: the Microflex Ecosystem to cover high-end, custom install needs, and the Stem Ecosystem to service more basic applications for end users. The realignment represents the next step following Shure’s acquisition of Stem Audio in 2020.

“Two players in the conferencing audio market joined forces to provide a wider variety of networked audio choices for customers,” said Nuna Becic, senior global marketing manager at Shure. “Shure is going to be able to further expand and diversify solution offerings for organizations of all sizes, and Stem Audio is going to be able to leverage that robust global infrastructure and support capabilities that we provide from a global audience standpoint.”

[ Shure Acquires Stem Audio to Expand Its Portfolio of Conferencing Audio Products ]

According to Becic, the two ecosystems will cover nearly any organization’s conferencing needs. “Microflex is more for those complex, specific, niche needs, where Stem is a simpler, more cost-effective solution for IT end users to scale very quickly to rooms,” she said.

Stem Ecosystem

The Stem Ecosystem consists of the following products, which can be purchased directly by end customers:

• Stem Wall: A soundbar equipped with 15 microphones that perform beamforming, plus full-range speakers and subwoofers
• Stem Table: A tabletop speakerphone equipped with nine microphones with beamforming and a downward-facing speaker
• Stem Ceiling: A 100-microphone ceiling array with two mounting options (low profile or chandelier mode) and three-beam options
• Stem Speaker: A PoE+ powered external speaker with three mounting options
• Stem Hub: A control hub that allows multiple Stem units in a room to communicate with one another, featuring USB Type B, Ethernet, Dante, VoIP connectivity, and pluggable terminal blocks for external speakers
• Stem Control: A dedicated touch controller that connects to the network with a single Ethernet connection, and allows access to the Stem Ecosystem platform and remote management of an organization, or can be used as an in-meeting controller with video conferencing platforms.

“Stem is an ecosystem of audio components designed for conference rooms—tabletop devices, wall-mounted devices, a ceiling microphone—that can be easily mixed and matched, all connected through the network, so that any user can customize a room,” said Jonathan Boaz, director of sales and marketing at Shure. “This is something that anyone from an AV integrator to an IT professional can install and easily set up on their own.” 

[ Shure Conferencing Audio Ecosystem Review ]

Microflex Ecosystem

Microflex Ecosystem products include:

• Microphones: Microflex Advance MXA910 Ceiling Array, MXA310 Table Array, and MXA710 Linear Array Microphones, and Microflex Wireless (MXW) Systems 
• Loudspeaker: Microflex MXN5-C Networked Ceiling Loudspeaker
• DSP: IntelliMix P300 Audio Conferencing Processor and IntelliMix Room Audio Processing Software
• Software: Designer System Configuration Software and SystemOn Audio Asset Management Software
• Accessories: MXA Network Mute Button and Audio Network Interfaces

“The Shure portfolio now addresses any room that’s out there,” Boaz said. “Microflex can do really anything—anything from voice lift, to zoning of speakers. In addition to that, with the Stem Ecosystem as part of the offering, even the simple, straightforward rooms that are needed—a quick Zoom Room, for example—can be addressed with a single solution or by mixing and matching multiple devices. 

“Anything from the huddle room to the most complex, high-end room, with both offerings, Shure has a solution for any room.”

The What: Biamp has announced that Zoom Video Communications has certified two conference room audio bundles, giving customers a complete audio solution in medium and large Zoom Rooms. Each bundle includes Parlé Beamtracking microphones for the ceiling, along with all the audio equipment needed to build a professional-quality Zoom Rooms conferencing experience with zero cable termination.

The What Else: Two bundles are available for medium and large Zoom Rooms, which each include a TesiraFORTE VT4 signal processor, TesiraCONNECT expander, Tesira EX-UBT USB extender, and the appropriate quantity of Parlé ceiling microphones and Desono C-IC6 loudspeakers for the room size. They also leverage Biamp's PoE-powered amplifiers with Burst Mode technology and include all the necessary mounting accessories and category cabling to complete the installation.

[New Biamp AV Solutions Support Hybrid Learning]

Parlé microphones use Beamtracking technology to create dynamic virtual microphones, which track and intelligently mix conversations from around the room to enable an audio experience designed to make remote participants feel just as physically present as those in the room.

"Biamp's new certified Zoom Rooms bundles let users enjoy the extraordinary audio quality Biamp is known for with full confidence that they will integrate simply and seamlessly with the Zoom platform," said Joe Andrulis, executive vice president of corporate development, Biamp. "These complete solutions make it extraordinarily simple for organizations to select, purchase, and install technology that results in crystal-clear communications—even in large and challenging meeting spaces."

"Biamp technology helps make our customers' conversations crisp and clear, even in a broad range of complex or customized spaces," said Ty Buell, PSO Solutions Architect, Zoom. "The certified Zoom Rooms bundles from Biamp offer our customers a complete audio ecosystem and a much simpler path to enjoying high-quality audio experiences, with easy installation and the full confidence that they will integrate seamlessly and reliably into their Zoom Rooms environment."

The Bottom Line: The new certified Zoom Rooms bundles offer customers the advantages of a complete Biamp solution that extend beyond audio quality. Installers benefit from streamlined deployment and configuration made possible by the integration of each component, automated EQ, as well as minimal cable requirements with zero termination, zero network setup, and more. The solutions include a room deployment tool, eliminating the need for integrators to open up the Tesira software platform, and resulting in significant time savings on Zoom Rooms projects, according to the company.

The What: Shure’s recently launched MXA710 Linear Array Microphone is now Certified for Microsoft Teams, joining the company’s portfolio of conferencing solutions already certified for the conferencing standard. 

The What Else: The MXA710’s Steerable Coverage technology captures audio anywhere in the room, featuring four lobes with the 2-foot array, and eight lobes with 4-foot array. With onboard IntelliMix DSP, the MXA710 provides Automatic Mixing, Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Noise Reduction, and Automatic Gain Control, providing all the processing to help ensure echo and noise-free audio, giving end users a high-quality, unifying AV conference experience. Autofocus Technology fine-tunes each lobe position in real-time, adjusting for meeting participant movements.

[Product Review: Shure Conferencing Audio Ecosystem]

Using Designer System Configuration software for deployment, room coverage templates enable quick and easy lobe optimization specifically for wall, ceiling, or table installations.

Available in 2-foot (60cm) or 4-foot (120cm) lengths and three colors (white, black, and aluminum), the MXA710 is compatible with both Dante and AES67 audio networking protocols. It is PoE-powered and features LED status bars at each end of the array with configurable colors and brightness. The smaller form factor is well suited for smaller meeting spaces up to seven to eight people that are being equipped with videoconferencing to provide greater virtual meeting capability. The larger form factor supports large meeting rooms that seat up to around 18 people. Multiple MXA710 units can be used to provide coverage for even larger spaces.

“Shure's solutions are built for the hybrid workplace,” said Paul Gunia, director of technology partnerships at Shure. “Your customers, clients, and students will feel like they’re in the room with you when you use our market-leading array microphones. Our entire lineup of Microflex Advance array microphones is now Microsoft Teams Certified.”

“Microsoft Teams Certification requires products to meet the most stringent audio quality standards in the AV industry,” said Albert Kooiman, senior director of Microsoft Teams Devices Partner Engineering and Certification. “Shure’s MXA710 provides customers with a high-quality audio experience for superior audio performance during conferencing sessions in an easy-to-install yet out-of-the-way form factor.”

The Bottom Line: The MXA710 is designed for high-quality audio capture in AV conferencing environments. The low-profile form factor of the MXA710 is designed to blend into any meeting room without sacrificing audio quality.

The What: Audio-Technica has introduced four new condenser boundary microphones: the ES945O/FM3 omnidirectional, ES947C/FM3 cardioid, ES945O/FM5 omnidirectional, and ES947C/FM5 cardioid condenser boundary microphone.

[The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC]

The What Else: The omnidirectional ES945O/FM3 and cardioid ES947C/FM3 feature a three-pin XLR output connector. Designed for intelligible conferencing, recording, monitoring, and other demanding sound pickup applications, the ES945O/FM3 and ES947C/FM3 mount unobtrusively in tabletops or panels, but include a highly visible two-state RGB LED ring (seven selectable colors + OFF) to indicate mute status. The microphones’ polar patterns provide 360-degree (ES945O/FM3) and 120-degree (ES947C/FM3) coverage, respectively. A rugged all-metal case with a two-layer steel mesh grille protects the microphone element, while A-T’s proprietary UniGuard RFI-shielding technology provides rejection of radio frequency interference (RFI). Both mics are equipped with a self-contained power module, eliminating the need for an external one, and come with a pair of rubber isolators for mechanical isolation from the mounting surface. 

The omnidirectional ES945O/FM5 and cardioid ES947C/FM5 have a similar feature set to the FM3 models but offer remote muting and control, as well as a five-pin XLR output connector. Additionally, with the FM5 models, not only can the switch be configured for remote muting and/or external contact closure, but it can also be set up to trigger an external device, such as a camera or the room’s lighting. 

The Bottom Line: These mics feature a capacitive-type user switch that enables muting of the microphone, making them especially well suited for conferencing applications. The FM3 models replace the existing ES945/LED and ES947/LED and feature local muting, while the FM5 models represent an entirely new product for Audio-Technica with an advanced feature set offering remote muting and control.  

University of Virginia's Biocomplexity Institute, a research organization specializing in bioinformatics, computational biology, and systems biology, is delivering higher quality lectures, meetings, and research presentations thanks to the addition of conferencing solutions from Yamaha UC. After experiencing poor audio and control system integration challenges with off-the-shelf consumer-grade conferencing equipment, integration firm Horizon AVL selected Yamaha's proven CS-700 Video Sound Bar and Yamaha YVC-1000 Microphone and Speaker System.

"Audio sets the tone for remote collaboration,” said Michael Fitch, vice president of sales and marketing at Yamaha UC. “If those on the far end can't hear you or if the product is hard to use, it's really challenging to create a high-caliber experience for anyone. The installation at the Biocomplexity Institute is a great example of how organizations can deliver better, more productive meetings and classes with easy-to-use conferencing tools built for intelligible, natural conversation."

[The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC]

For the huddle rooms, the Yamaha CS-700 not only resolved the poor audio issues that the Biocomplexity Institute experienced, but also the lack of interoperability with the Crestron control systems installed in the rooms. The all-in-one Zoom-certified Video soundbar combines an adaptive beamforming microphone array for clear conversation; four Yamaha speaker elements to provide audio intelligibility; and a wide-angle HD camera that captures participants and the room in clear detail for students and other participants on the far end. The solution eliminates the inherent inefficiencies of touching and operating disparate video and audio equipment during calls and the eye sore of cables snaked around the room.

The CS-700 features an open API for integration with Crestron and other commercial-grade room controllers. Users can control CS-700's control volume, mute, and camera's zoom, pan, tilt, and input functions directly from the control system, creating a simple conferencing experience. Staff can launch Zoom in seconds, with all the controls they need right at their fingertips.

Inside the institute's medium and large conference rooms, Horizon AVL installed Yamaha YVC-1000 Microphone and Speaker System integrated with Huddly cameras. The Zoom-certified Yamaha YVC-1000 is well suited both remote learning and high-level conference calls. It features separate intelligent microphones and a full-range speaker unit that can be placed close to a display for naturally blended audio and video to enable full far-end comprehension. Yamaha's adaptive echo cancellation and human voice activity detection (HVAD) sound processing technologies developed over the years minimize background noise and help facilitate a stress-free, fluid conversation.

The What: Crestron has announced Crestron Flex Phones, a new portfolio of Microsoft Teams-certified desk phones for organizations seeking a dedicated collaboration experience for their employees. 

[The Integration Guide to Conferencing & Collaboration]

The What Else: The Crestron Flex Phones lineup features one-touch Teams accessibility to offer quick meeting experiences so users can access any meeting, share notes, and collaborate directly from the dedicated Crestron Flex device. By handling all audio, video, and content sharing, the Crestron Flex Phones frees other devices, like a laptop or PC, to be used as productivity tools during a meeting, fostering a collaboration experience that is more fruitful and less frustrating. This minimizes inefficient task switching, streamlines ad hoc communication, and allows users to segment their schedule and workload more effectively. 

Crestron Flex Phones feature oversized touchscreen displays (8- and 10-inch HD options) and omnidirectional microphone array with 360-degree audio pickup, and come in video-enabled versions with 1080p camera or audio-only options. Built-in support for Teams allows users to simply plug the device into a PoE cable, sign in, and get started. Technology managers can scale deployment and management with integrated cloud management and monitoring with Crestron XiO Cloud Service, and embedded occupancy sensors supporting a range of 6.5 feet allow for the capture of meeting-space data and usage analytics.

“With videoconferencing cementing itself as a critical piece of the modern workplace, it’s less practical to task a laptop or a smartphone with hosting video, audio, and call-related content at the same time, especially if a user wants to use that device for note-taking or accessing files,” said Ranjan Singh, EVP, products and technology, Crestron. “In creating Crestron Flex Phones, we’re giving users their other devices back because they will now have a dedicated option to join a Teams call from or transfer a meeting to a second device. Crestron Flex Phones let users seamlessly conference from one device and share content from another—an approach adopted by many workers in today’s hybrid environments.”

The Bottom Line: Crestron Flex Phones combine high-quality audio and videoconferencing capabilities with one-touch connectivity and enterprise-grade security, as well as additional features to help users maximize productivity. They are designed to be deployed in a home or office, at a rotating “hot desk” stations popular in hybrid workplaces, or in conference rooms.

In March 2020 the global workforce picked up their laptops, went home, cleared a spot on the dining table and set up shop for what was thought would only be a couple of months. With a full year into this unwitting experiment with a global control group, most are still hunched over their laptops, moving from room to room, still trying to find a spot with the least amount of distraction. The top, very unscientific finding has emerged from the control group, and it has been coined Zoom fatigue. Few deny that too much time is spent in front of a screen in videoconferences, and it’s exhausting. 

Blame blue light, blame Zoom, blame the kitchen chair, and blame the dog; but few seem to more accurately point the finger at poor audio, video, or lighting quality as key contributing factors of WFH fatigue. 

As an industry we know that poor audio quality is the top reason a video and or audio conference would be considered a failure. It takes a lot of brain power to listen intently, and if the audio quality is compromised it becomes more taxing. Meeting participants lean into small screens to see meeting participants or presentations meant to be viewed at ten times the size, and inconsistent room lighting often renders faces too dark or washed out. We know that the tiny microphones, speakers, and webcams built into laptops are good enough for intermittent use, and that they were not designed to provide a high-quality, natural audio and visual experience. All combined, it is no wonder that the remote worker is fatigued. 

Post-pandemic, it is estimated that the number of remote knowledge workers will double from 2019, and are likely to go into the office two or three days a week. Within the next six to 10 months the hybrid workforce will emerge. 

Creating digital parity is critical. The IT Outlook for 2021 report produced by International Data Corporation (IDC) cited that supporting hybrid workforces and ensuring that remote and work-from-home employees have the same sets of connectivity and productivity tools as their in-office counterparts will be essential to long-term success.

Delivering on Parity

We asked thought leaders from AV/IT industry solution providers to share insights and advice on how remote workers can dovetail with in-office or other remote counterparts to help ensure the same experience. 

ATEN Technologies

Working from home means sharing an office space with your personal life. Due to COVID-19, a lot of us have come to experience the overloading of our desk space with two computers, two keyboards, two mice, and two to six monitors. A KVM can help separate your home and work life while keeping your workplace clean, or save a lot of time switching around cords. The convenience of the KVM will also lower the risk of work-from-home users installing personal software, storing personal information, and creating security holes in the corporate IT environment. KVMs change your desk from home to office with the push of a button.

— Aaron Johnson, Senior Product Manager  

Atlona AV Solutions

Conferencing platforms are now a daily part of business life. As remote work operations evolve into permanent scenarios, businesses have learned that enhanced end points can improve interaction and reduce participant fatigue.

Adding an HDMI and USB extender to a room with a large flat panel display allows the user to take advantage of superior video performance as compared to the laptop. The larger screen allows more detailed viewing of business presentations and greater interaction with remote participants.

Additionally, a PTZ camera with USB output and a large sensor will deliver professional-quality video that is superior to a webcam and offers a more professional angle than a laptop-based camera. The USB output will route back through the extender to the worker’s laptop.

—Garth Lobban, Director of Marketing

Avocor

Organizations need to plan for a combination of in-person and remote work styles by investing in reliable collaboration technology that is agnostic and supports a seamless transition between working locations. Employees should be able to move from each style of work fluidly, and collaboration and UC technology can support this transition by replicating the in-person experience through video display technology, and vice-versa. Some organizations are even investing to provide employees with interactive displays that function in a home office in the same way a video collaboration display does in a meeting room—allowing for a more dynamic and effective meeting experience. 

—Dana Corey, GM and SVP

BenQ America 

One area of the new WFH era that is of increasing concern for AV/IT tech managers is in education. Since COVID-19, there has been an increase in student absenteeism and lower test scores. AV/IT managers tasked with equipping teachers and classrooms with technology to solve this problem now have affordable, fully featured interactive display options that enable greater collaboration and engagement. Private schools and enterprises with remote participants have leveraged these solutions for years to great success. Interactive displays with cloud-based tools that provide two-way communication from any network have come down in price—some models as low as $2,500—allowing schools to outfit every classroom, or in some cases, bring one home. 

—Bob Wudeck, Senior Director of Business Development 

beyerdynamic

One thing we’ve learned in the new work-from-home environment is that while it’s become increasingly acceptable to join conference calls on Zoom, Teams, Hangouts, et cetera with your camera turned off, poor audio quality can quickly derail an otherwise productive meeting. If you find yourself often taking video calls on multiple platforms, make it a habit to check your device settings at the beginning of every call to ensure your speakers and mic are set up properly. A device like the beyerdynamic PHONUM, which has voice-tracking and noise-cancelling microphones tuned specifically for voice calls, can be plugged in directly via USB, or wirelessly via Bluetooth. Plug it into your computer, double-check the settings of your video app, and you’ll have professional-sounding audio on every call.

—Chris Norris, Sales Manager, Communications

BlueJeans by Verizon

Video meetings have been important to the corporate world for years—bringing new levels of interconnectedness to the global workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of video at work, school, and play. 

Video snafus are bound to happen (remember cat lawyer?), but there are a few precautions you can take to minimize the likelihood they’ll happen to you:

First, log on early for an appearance check. On the BlueJeans by Verizon app, a video screen pops up pre-meeting so you see how you’ll appear live. Second, know where your “preferences” are and the settings you can adjust as needed. For example, lock your meeting so the next meeting attendees don’t crash this one. And finally, clear your settings post-meeting so you start your next meeting completely fresh.

—John Knightly, CMO

Bose

If you work from home, you should identify your personal hurdles to productivity—from your laptop and technology setup, to lighting, to surrounding noise, and even your desk and chair—and set out to address each one. We may not be able to increase the size of our environment, but we can optimize its usability. Companies are equipping remote employees with increasingly robust conferencing technology, and you can carve out a corner of a room, add lighting to a usable surface, and have a dedicated work desk. People can further increase productivity by eliminating audio distractions with sound-cancelling headphones. These enable users to determine how much of an audio barrier they need to get in the work mindset and keep themselves focused.

—Martin Bodley, Director, Global Head Bose Work, Bose Professional

ClearOne Communications

Changes have and will continue to affect all workplaces. Enterprise offices versus home offices are only the tip of the iceberg and these changes will continue to evolve, as working at the kitchen table over a long career certainly does not suffice. But all organizational workspaces will be evaluated and retooled. For each of these workspace environments, the safety and efficiency of both workers and consumers will drive changes for organizations to retain and grow their services. 

Home offices will see a huge change in the use of more professional collaboration equipment. No longer will the home office be seen as a temporary space using only laptop audio and video; it will require upgrades to provide true professional-quality collaboration. The home office is and will be a very prevalent—and permanent—option for remote and hybrid work models.

—Zee Hakimoglu, Chair and CEO

Crestron Electronics

At the onset of the pandemic, when the majority of businesses transitioned to a remote workforce, it was fully acceptable to take calls in your pajamas and not worry about the quality of technology you were using. But now, one year later, expectations have changed and “good enough” is no longer good enough. While you work from home, it’s important to have the same professional-quality audio and video that you would have at the office. 

One solution in particular that every remote employee should utilize at home are personal collaboration devices like the new Crestron Flex Phone for Microsoft Teams. This isn’t just any typical phone. This personal collaboration hub delivers superior voice calling and video calling, one-touch meeting joins, built-in calendaring, and even content-sharing from a fully certified Microsoft Teams device to create the ideal meeting experience at home. 

—Andrew Gross, Director, UC Enterprise

EPOS Audio

Choosing a certified headset will enable a superior and more intuitive working experience. For instance, headsets and speakerphones that are Microsoft Teams-certified, such as the EPOS speakerphone, EXPAND 30 T, and our next generation headsets in the ADAPT line, will have variants available with a dedicated Microsoft Teams button. This button instantly launches the Microsoft Teams app that gives direct access to scheduling a meeting, starting a call, or checking the calendar—enabling greater productivity and connectivity. EPOS Microsoft Teams variants also provide audiovisual alerts when notifications from the Microsoft Teams app occur. In addition to Microsoft Teams, EPOS headsets and speakerphones are also compatible with Zoom and other leading UC platforms.

—Anoop David, EPOS Product Manager, ADAPT Line

Epson America

As businesses plan for long-term remote work policies, new communication practices and technology tools are crucial to enhancing at-home collaboration. Projectors are an ideal solution for staying connected and productive while catering to today’s remote work environments. Sharing presentations and joining video calls on small laptop screens just doesn’t cut it; users crave life-size imagery to make meetings more collaborative and reduce squinting at small fonts on screens. Whether reviewing detailed financial documents, giving a virtual product tour, or facilitating Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings with remote teams—projectors help business professionals collaborate and share ideas more effectively with engaging, big-screen content. Plus, users can leverage projectors for casual entertainment-viewing from their favorite streaming devices—striking that perfect balance of working hard and playing hard.

—Rodrigo Catalan, Group Product Manager, Retail Projectors

Harman Professional Solutions

In the past 12 months, general consumers working from home who ordinarily never considered professional audio in their work environment are now researching, designing, and purchasing systems to deliver a studio-quality experience. These audio systems are comprised of pro-level microphones, headphones, studio monitors, and even small-format mixers. Businesses are now discovering that there are segments of their workforce that may be able to remain at home after normalcy returns, which means the investment in these systems will continue. However, those returning to an office will not want to go backward from a solutions quality standpoint, and companies will need to look at investing in audio and video to maintain that continuity. 

—Damien Curry, Global Product Manager, AKG + JBL Professional

HoverCam

Teachers in work-from-home (WFH) setups are under unprecedented pressure. Today, learning effectiveness isn’t just a student-based challenge; it’s a household issue. As many as 65 percent of homes have children joining classes remotely. Teachers are wrestling with the chaos of disparate devices—from cameras and microphones to videoconferencing platforms and cloud-based applications that make distance learning possible—and how best to boost engagement with these tools. To be successful requires more than simply adding technology; it requires a thoughtful technological approach with the goal of replicating the human one-on-one connection that makes the classroom so successful. For many WFH teachers struggling with inattentiveness, it’s not the lack of video content that’s the problem; it’s what’s being captured and how it’s captured. The best technological approach needs to bring instructors forward as they work through material—whether it’s college-level physics or beginning phonics—just as they would be in class.

—Ji Shen, CEO

Konftel

Tomorrow’s working life will be more dispersed and virtual, where some will work from home and others in the office. Even as people are able to return to the office, many are keen to cut back on their commuting time and other distractions present only in an office environment. As such, employers need to consider the following:

Leadership must come up with a good structure for keeping employee communication and management up to a sufficiently high standard; as some employees go back to the office and others remain remote, the team must continue to work as one organization.

Smart collaboration tools like business-grade webcams and conferencing devices are required, both in the office and at home, so that communications are optimized for seamless connectivity, superior quality, and maximum productivity. 

Create an organization that is technologically prepared for rapid changes in how employees want to work and external parties want to meet. Whether conducting an interview via Zoom or presenting a proposal to a potential client, premium conferencing technology is more adaptable and better suited for today’s changing work environment.

—Stefan Eriksson, CMO

Lifesize

Even before universal remote work arrived in early 2020, employees were already in need of more collaborative, engaging ways to connect with their colleagues virtually. By now, organizations realize we’re in this for the long haul and best practices from last year, such as encouraging employees to simply turn on their video during team meetings and communicate via chat, aren’t enough to keep their workforce engaged and productive anymore. To take work-from-home and hybrid workplaces to the next level, communication and collaboration tools must become more creativity-inducing, inclusive, and integrated into organizations’ cultures, workspaces, and workflows. For example, by turning any ordinary meeting room into a collaborative experience with digital whiteboarding, teams can improve presentations, content creation, idea sharing, and interpersonal connections.

—David Hsieh, General Manager of Advanced Collaboration

Listen Technologies

For me, establishing a consistent routine early-on was key to my success over the past year. I wake up at the same time every workday, hit the gym for an hour, and get ready for work (even though it is in the office next to my room). I have also developed a time management strategy that includes checking email at certain times of the day, scheduling blocks of time in my calendar for when I have major projects to complete, and using my “do not disturb” setting on internal chat. Everyone has different challenges, responsibilities, and ways of working; we need to embrace that what works for one person does not always work for everyone. Prioritizing stability and routine helps me stay focused and engaged.

—Kim Franklin, Marketing Director

Logitech

The working world is now more mobile than ever—leading to a rise in home offices and a video-first culture, and challenging employees to better improve their communication and collaboration techniques. Eliminating desk and conference phones to replace them with more collaborative technologies like video-enabled desktops and virtual conferencing tools will ensure teams are connecting effectively. Employees and their employers need to invest in products like conference camera solutions that transcend from home to business. This will help democratize collaboration and allow everyone—whether at home or in the office—to have a voice. Investing in personal video collaboration products will also go a long way in helping both remote employees and businesses feel connected and remain successful.

—Simon Dudley, Head of Analyst Relations and Sales Enablement for Logitech’s Video Collaboration

Magewell

Low-quality webcam video can be noticeable and distracting even for internal-only video conferences, but for users communicating with external stakeholders—such as executives conferencing with shareholders, salespeople presenting to customers, or educators instructing students—poor-looking video can also significantly undermine their credibility or brand image. Even compared to add-on webcams, dedicated video cameras often provide deeper options and creative flexibility in handling suboptimal lighting conditions, zoom, focus, and depth of field. Capture devices like our plug-and-play USB Capture family let users easily bring HDMI or SDI signals from cameras and other sources into software-based conferencing solutions through a standard USB interface—helping participants look their best while being easy enough for even non-technical users to set up themselves. 

—Nick Ma, CEO and CTO

Marshall Electronics

In lieu of face-to-face meetings, videoconference is now a widely accepted platform of collaboration between customers, colleagues, and strategic partners. Quality of video and audio can greatly impact perception of your organization. One of the easiest ways to upgrade your virtual presence is to look beyond your factory-installed cameras and microphones. Choose a workspace that is less-traveled, position your camera away from distractions, and ensure there is adequate light in front of your face. If there is a window, make sure to face it or add additional light sources to reduce shadows and glare. Finally, choose a good USB microphone; good video quality needs clear audio quality to complete a well-rounded video presence.

 —Tod Musgrave, Director of Cameras

MXL Microphones

Good “WFH audio” is all about maximizing direct sound over indirect sound and reducing unwanted noises or reflections. Try using a USB mic (like our AC-44) or a headset to get the microphone closer to you. If you are in a large, echo-producing room, your mic will pick up more reflections and echo than direct sound. So get creative: Put a carpet on the floor or move around some furniture—anything to dampen the sound in the space. 

Additionally, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your communication platforms. Test your mic before your video call and remember to check your audio settings. It’s also best to mute yourself when you aren’t speaking—no microphone in the world can reject unexpected sounds, such as a barking dog or your neighbor’s noisy lawnmower. 

—Trevor Fedele, MXL Director 

Nureva Audio

We need a starting premise about what working from home and in the office means. In my opinion, it is not about creating parity between the work experiences at home and in the office with the latest tech tools; it is about doing the work that is appropriate in each location. For example, a person might spend most of her time at home in heavy creation mode, while time in the office would be focused on collaborative activities with her team. There will, of course, be some creation work in the office and vice versa. More than just the tools—rethinking a group’s schedule is also important. Monday and Friday may be the WFH days, and they could be structured with a light meeting load.

 —Nancy Knowlton, CEO

Samsung Electronics

The traditional office has forever changed because of the pandemic. We will see shift to a hybrid model, with employees using the office more as a place to gather and collaborate rather than a place to work from every day—making it essential for businesses to integrate the latest technology into their offices to ensure employees can still collaborate while still accommodating those working from home. Collaboration solutions like Samsung Interactive Display Flip 75-inch allow for those who are working from home to still interact with those in the office in real time on the interactive whiteboard—making brainstorms and executive meetings seamless.

 —Harry Patz, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Display Division

Shure

Unlike laptop microphones that pick up every sound in the room, the new Shure MV5C Home Office Microphone is a directional microphone that prioritizes the user’s voice, not the environment.

Setup is intentionally simplified, so anyone can unbox the MV5C, plug it into their computer, and that’s it. Featuring Shure’s Speech Enhancement Mode, the microphone enhances the user’s voice for even clearer sound. Presenters can speak with assurance—knowing that their voice will be heard clearly during virtual pitches, presentations, and lessons without having to repeat themselves or be asked to talk louder. The setup also provides different audio modes for “set it and forget it” applications and is compatible with software videoconferencing applications like Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

—Peter Herr, Associate Director, Global Marketing, Systems Group

SnapAV

It's no secret that the workplace now stretches beyond the walls of an office, and that this shift represents a long-term change. So if a web conference that spans two physical workspaces needs to be as seamless as talking over a cubicle wall, then the communication quality needs to improve.

There's nothing more frustrating than when somebody is in the middle of making a point and their audio cuts out or the signal gets choppy! CEOs and managers will need to budget for the solutions that create that communication—otherwise they’ll realize it’s crippling their efficiency.

Many will start to support solutions that upgrade remote workers’ capabilities, such as proper equipment and professional installation. And they may realize they’ll have to do the same in the office as well, with more professional systems available to individual workers—in their safe office spaces—that allow them to work better with colleagues across the country, the corporate campus, or down the hall.

—Scott Normand, Senior Director of Commercial

Sony Professional

Working from home can be just as effective and collaborative—and in some cases even more so—than working in an office, provided you have the right tools and technology to support you. Having multiple displays enables efficient multitasking and increases productivity. We’re seeing manufacturers come to market with smaller-sized, high-quality 4K displays, which are ideal for this purpose, while being budget conscious. The importance of having the right camera and microphone solutions is critical to create a clear and clean video/audio experience. We’ve all been on enough conference and video calls to know how important having a stable internet connection is, as well as a reliable audio and video source. On a personal level, it is critical to set boundaries between your home and work life, since so many people’s homes are now their workplace. Working from home gives you freedom and flexibility, and should offer a more balanced and integrated approach.

 —Rich Ventura, Vice President of B2B, Imaging Products and Solutions Professional Division 

Utelogy

With many people not having a dedicated office space, having to share a small area, or even having children and pets running around—working from home can be chaotic, overwhelming, and lonely at times. As a person who has worked from home before the pandemic, I have a list of “best practices” I like to follow:

Get dressed and ready in the morning like you are going into the office—doing this helps me get into “work mode”; have a dedicated desk or table for your workstation; keep your area clean and organized—especially for videoconferences; make sure you have good quality audio and video; use headphones if you are in a shared space; and get up from your desk to stretch and take breaks.

—Nicole Corbin, Director of Product and User Experience

ViewSonic Americas

Ideally, everyone would have a dedicated office space in the house, but that is not always an option. Even within your own home, you might have to relocate to a different part of the house—with kids’ classes, spouse’s video meetings, et cetera. 

Plus, if you’re used to a dual-monitor setup at the office, what does one do at home? As you’re the one to move around, a desktop monitor isn’t convenient. This is where a portable monitor comes in. 

Portable monitors are perfect for users that need the additional screen space for work efficiency. Channel partners have shared that these monitors have become an ideal device in today’s WFH environment due to their transportability and size. Portable monitors allow users to add a second screen—helping them work smarter.

 —Jeff Muto, Business Line Director

Wolfvision

My top tips for staying productive at home: Be strict with your time. I work the same schedule in my home office as I do in a corporate office. I start on time, schedule 30 minutes for lunch, and avoid doing non-work-related things during the workday. Dress for success. I save my t-shirts and sweatpants for when I want to be comfortable and lazy. Reinvest. Instead of spending 5-10 hours commuting each week, I reinvest the work time. If I can be 25 percent more productive each week, I can double my productivity for the month. Avoid mental burnout. I take a break and walk away from my computer every few hours to fully relax the brain. This helps me stay in the game all day.

—Michael Lisi, Sales Manager

The What: Nureva has announced that its HDL200 audio conferencing system is now certified for the Barco ClickShare Conference wireless presentation and conferencing solution. The HDL200 joins the HDL300 and Dual HDL300 systems, which also received certification in December 2020.

The What Else: Users wirelessly connect to the AV equipment in the room using a Barco ClickShare Conferencing Button plugged in to their laptop or running the ClickShare Desktop App. This automatically connects the user’s device to the Nureva audio system to deliver clear, reliable audio coverage throughout the space.

[The Technology Manager's Guide to Collaboration in the Post-COVID World]

The requirement for more hybrid working and learning environments, along with a growing trend toward the use of personal versus shared devices, has amplified the demand for integrated solutions. According to a global study conducted by Barco, 85 percent of employees prefer a hybrid way of working and ask for the freedom, flexibility, and facilities to adopt a better blend of home and office working.

The combination of Nureva and Barco systems aims to make it quicker and easier for teams to connect to all meeting room devices with a low-touch experience that is not tied to a particular UC&C platform. 

“We are happy to continue our partnership with Nureva, thanks to the new certification of their HDL200,” said David Fitzgerald, vice president, Global Alliances at Barco. “Together we aim for the best hybrid meeting experience possible for customers.”

“We are thrilled to have our full line of audio conferencing systems certified for Barco ClickShare Conference,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “The combination of Nureva and Barco provides users a platform-agnostic wireless conferencing system that delivers clear, reliable audio for hybrid meeting and learning spaces of all sizes.”

The Bottom Line: Together, Nureva and Barco now bring intuitive, platform-agnostic collaboration to more sizes and configurations of hybrid meeting or classroom environments through Barco’s BYOM (Bring Your Own Meeting) platform.

Athens State University in Alabama recently outfitted nearly 30 classrooms with Nureva HDL300 audio conferencing systems, along with four Dual HDL300 systems for larger conference spaces. Like most colleges and universities across North America and around the world, Athens State needed to work quickly to retrofit classrooms and meeting spaces for a hybrid environment that allowed in-room and remote participants to easily be seen and heard, and to share content. Work began to add technology, such as webcams, large screen interactive displays, document cameras, and audio-conferencing systems—with audio being the biggest challenge. Decision makers at the university tested several systems, from inexpensive ceiling-mounted security microphones to expensive network-based systems.

The HDL300 system was tested in the university’s collaboration classroom alongside competing products, and the team was pleased by its microphone pickup and background noise reduction. Even with a loud projector fan just 12 inches from where the system was installed, it produced clean, hiss-free output at the remote end. Having adopted the HDL300 system, Athens State is now providing the full-room microphone coverage needed to meet the university’s in-class physical distancing requirements while enabling remote students to consistently hear every word and feel engaged in every class. 

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC

The HDL300 is powered by Microphone Mist technology, which fills a room with thousands of virtual microphones that represent individual audio pickup points. Advanced processing power listens to each virtual microphone simultaneously and zeros in on the desirable sounds, optimizing them for clear conversations. For professors and lecturers, lapel and podium mics are never needed, giving them freedom from the constraints and potential complications of conventional audio-conferencing solutions. For IT and AV support staff, the system’s continuous autocalibration provides optimal performance no matter how the classroom is configured or how many times the configuration changes.

“Nureva’s noise elimination algorithm is vastly superior to all the other products we tested; it doesn’t pick up unwanted noise and voices are very clear from anywhere in the room,” said David Walker, Athens State University’s director, teaching and learning innovation services. “The HDL300 is the only system we’ve found that virtually eliminates processing and background fan noise. Other systems we tested also took all day to set up and required the purchase of additional equipment. But Nureva’s HDL300 system came with everything we needed, and the set up was just 20 minutes.”  

The What: Sennheiser has announced a free firmware update for its TeamConnect Ceiling 2 conferencing mics that adds TruVoicelift, a voice amplification system that improves audio intelligibility. 

The What Else: TruVoicelift is powered by an advanced frequency shift algorithm that delivers a few crucial extra dB of gain, as well as a “feedback prevention mute” function—if levels should get too loud, TCC 2 briefly mutes to prevent any feedback. Speakers can therefore relax and focus on their presentation, knowing that TeamConnect Ceiling 2 will provide optimum audio for their audience.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC

During pauses in speaking, if a pre-defined audio threshold is not reached, a noise gate will be activated that mutes TeamConnect Ceiling 2 to prevent any background noise from being amplified.

Depending on the size and configuration of the room, additional TeamConnect Ceiling 2 microphones can be installed as audience mics, thus creating a completely touchless microphone solution that reduces potential hygiene risks.

All TruVoicelift settings can be controlled via the Sennheiser Control Cockpit app. The app also allows users to create “priority zones,” i.e. areas where audio is predominantly picked up. This is helpful for any setups where audio usually comes from a defined place, such as the front of a lecture hall. Also, you can define “advanced exclusion zones,” enabling you to target and exclude noise sources with pinpoint accuracy, such as air conditioning or ventilation equipment.

“We have many happy TeamConnect Ceiling 2 users across the globe, and we asked ourselves: What if they could use their existing tech for even more?” said Jens Werner, portfolio manager in Sennheiser’s Business Communication Division. “This was the starting point for designing the latest software update, which adds the TruVoicelift functionality to TeamConnect Ceiling 2. It endows the mic array with many innovative features for perfect audio all the way to the back row.”

The Bottom Line: TruVoicelift enables clearly audible in-room audio for classrooms, lecture halls, and boardrooms, with many controllable features that make for a pleasant and clear listening experience. For existing TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) implementations, users can now add the TruVoicelift functionality simply by installing the free firmware update (1.6.4) via the new version of the Sennheiser Control Cockpit app (4.3.0).

Nureva has announced that its HDL300 audio conferencing system is now certified as a Microsoft Teams Room device, making it the first microphone and speaker bar to be certified for large meeting spaces, according to the company. 

After undergoing Microsoft’s rigorous testing process, the HDL300 was certified for large meeting spaces up to 15 feet by 28 feet (4.5 by 8.5 meters). Powered by the company’s Microphone Mist technology, the HDL300 system fills a room with 8,192 virtual microphones so in-room participants can move around, maintain physical distance, and still be heard clearly by remote participants. Unlike traditional systems for large spaces, there isn’t a need for a DSP, complex installation, and calibration of multiple components such as table-top pods and ceiling mics.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC

IT teams can quickly install and set up the HDL300 system in under an hour. The system hangs on a wall with two screws and connects via USB to a computer with Teams software. It calibrates automatically and continuously so the Teams Room is always ready to go—even if it has been reconfigured to accommodate changing uses or distancing protocols.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Teams has become indispensable to a growing number of organizations and education institutions around the globe that have shifted to a hybrid model, where a combination of workers or learners are physically in the same space, alongside those who are remote. Recent data show that daily active Teams users climbed to over 115 million at the end of October, and more than 230,000 education institutions are using Teams for remote and hybrid learning. As those numbers continue to grow, reliable audio conferencing that is easy to implement and manage will continue to be an essential aspect of any IT strategy to support collaboration. The HDL300 provides Teams customers with a new certified device option that is well suited to meet this need.

“As the global adoption of Teams continues to grow, so will the need for reliable audio conferencing solutions that deliver performance without complexity,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “We are thrilled that the HDL300 is the first microphone and speaker bar to be certified for Microsoft Teams in large meeting rooms, demonstrating its unique ability to provide full-room microphone coverage from a single device.”

“The rapid shift to hybrid models of working and learning has created an urgent need for solutions that make it easy to fully support the needs of dispersed teams without compromise,” said Albert Kooiman, Microsoft’s senior director of Microsoft Teams Devices Partner Engineering and Certification. “We were excited to see how Nureva’s HDL300 system delivers the audio performance we demand for certification with a product that is so simple to install and use.”

The What: ClearOne has introduced Aura, a range of enterprise-quality audio, video, and audio-video solutions designed specifically for remote workers. The good-better-best packages include a lifetime subscription to COLLABORATE Space, the company’s video collaboration app.

The What Else: Available direct to remote working professionals or from qualified ClearOne resellers, Aura solutions deliver high-quality audio and video technology through a variety of professional microphone, audio conferencing, videoconferencing, camera, and collaboration component choices that optimize home office acoustic and aesthetic aspirations.

“COVID will not be with us forever but the changes it has brought to the workplace will be,” said ClearOne chair and CEO Zee Hakimoglu. “Home has become the new office for tens of millions of professionals who now need a work environment every bit as productive as their corporate office. Aura was developed to deliver that much-needed enterprise quality experience in the home. For homeowners, prospective homebuyers, builders, architects, and designers, the purpose-built home office is rapidly replacing the home theater in importance.”

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC

According to Hakimoglu, an estimated 75 percent of employers now planning to make remote work permanent for some percentage of their employees. 

The Bottom Line: With ClearOne Aura, remote working professionals can conduct more meetings and increase collaboration, improve quality of communication to bolster efficiency, and create long-term value for an alternative business workspace at home. 

To equip its campus for the new hybrid education reality, Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA recently outfitted more than 40 classrooms with Nureva HDL300 audio conferencing systems, and an additional 32 systems have been ordered. 

SMARTSolution Technologies, an authorized Nureva dealer, supported the university in its search for an audio conferencing system to help students learn in a hybrid environment, where some students are in the classroom and others are participating in remote learning. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Duquesne was using several Nureva systems it purchased in late 2019 and early 2020. Once the need to shift to a hybrid learning model became apparent, the university installed another 37 units specifically for those classrooms. Most recently, Duquesne installed a Dual HDL300 system in a mock courtroom at the School of Law. An additional 32 units have been ordered, with plans for a campus-wide implementation of Nureva audio systems. According to the company, the wall-mounted systems can be installed in less than an hour, making the upgrades quick and easy.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC

Duquesne’s COVID-19 Master Plan reflects safety measures and protocols that the university has taken to create a structured campus environment that allows for face-to-face and hybrid classes, adapted living conditions, and other necessary changes, while making it possible for students to be on Duquesne’s campus and earn a high-quality education. Since August 2019, prior to COVID-19, academic affairs—which includes faculty and technology teams—has been working to create HyFlex, an educational experience that provides students with both in-class and remote instruction during the fall semester. 

The HDL300 systems are powered by Nureva’s breakthrough Microphone Mist technology, which provides the full-room microphone coverage needed to accommodate the Master Plan’s physical distancing requirements and enable remote students to hear every word and feel engaged in the class. For professors and lecturers, lapel and podium mics are never needed, giving them freedom from the constraints and potential complications of conventional audio-conferencing solutions. And for IT and AV support staff, the system’s continuous autocalibration provides optimal performance no matter how the classroom is configured or how many times the configuration changes. 

“Nureva systems are the perfect solution to accommodate the classroom audio requirements brought on by COVID-19,” said Mitchell Schwartz, SMARTSolution’s CEO. “We were happy to help Duquesne University fulfill that component of their Master Plan.”

“We are thrilled that our audio systems are helping remote students at Duquesne receive the same quality of education as the in-classroom students receive,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “This is a new way of teaching and learning for most universities, and we are delighted that Duquesne continues to deploy our systems across the university.” 

Duquesne University is one of a growing number of postsecondary institutions globally that are broadly deploying Nureva audio systems to meet the needs of hybrid learning models. Nureva audio systems enable these institutions to continue providing a high-quality education to students by delivering advanced full-room audio coverage in classrooms and lecture halls. In-room participants can make full use of their space, and remote students can fully engage and feel like they are in the room with classmates. 

Five new Nureva HDL300 audio conferencing systems are helping Massachusetts’ Bristol Community College improve engagement for students in remote classrooms that are conducted via audio and videoconferencing.

Students had been frustrated with the poor quality of the audio from the college’s legacy conferencing systems, which included all-in-one microphone, speaker, camera bars, tabletop mics, and a lapel mic for the instructor. These traditional solutions inhibited interaction and collaboration because the students in satellite campuses could not hear or be heard adequately during class discussions. With the adoption of the HDL300 system, which is powered by Nureva’s Microphone Mist technology and features true full-room pickup, every student can hear and be heard and feel engaged in the class.

[Nureva Unveils Active Zone Control for HDL300 Systems]

The response from faculty to the HDL300 systems has been overwhelmingly positive, and complaints from remote students about bad audio have stopped. The simplicity and ease of use of the HDL300 systems have also been game changers for IT staff at the college. The wall-mounted systems can be installed in 30 minutes or less, according to the company, and feature continuous auto-calibration that provides optimal performance no matter how a room is configured. Since instructors and students find it easy to start and use the systems, IT staff are saving many hours each week that they previously spent attending to issues with the traditional systems, time they can now devote to higher-value tasks.

“We’ve heard nothing but praise from instructors, and there’s no comparison between the audio conferencing systems we had before and what we have now,” said Bristol’s technical assistant Dennis Baldwin. “I used to spend significant time in classrooms troubleshooting our old systems, but ever since we installed the HDL300 systems, I’ve never been back to those classrooms.”

“Solving audio frustrations like the ones experienced by Bristol Community College is what inspired us to develop Microphone Mist technology and the HDL300 systems,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “Hearing that students are able to be more engaged in their classes because of our solution is very gratifying.” 

The What: Bose Professional is expanding its ControlSpace EX range with two new processors optimized for conferencing rooms (EX-440C and EX-12AEC) and a high-powered, general-purpose digital signal processor (EX-1280).

The What Else: With an open-architecture, all-in-one design, the ControlSpace EX-440C conferencing signal processor facilitates high-quality microphone integration and audio processing for small-to-medium standalone meeting rooms. Various inputs and outputs allow for flexible configuration: four mic/line analog inputs, four analog outputs, onboard VoIP and PSTN, USB, Bose AmpLink output, eight-channel acoustic echo cancelling (AEC), and 16x16 Dante connectivity.

With an open-architecture design, 12 acoustic echo cancellers (AEC), 16x16 Dante connectivity, and flexible signal processing, the ControlSpace EX-12AEC conferencing signal processor provides a robust expansion of control options and capabilities tailored for conference rooms using the ControlSpace EX-1280C processor—well suited for larger conference rooms, boardrooms, and any space where Dante microphones are employed for conferencing.

With an open-architecture, single-rack-unit design, the ControlSpace EX-1280 is a robust digital signal processor equipped for general-purpose audio processing applications. Twelve mic/line analog inputs, eight analog outputs, Bose AmpLink out, and 64x64 Dante connectivity allow for flexible configuration and high-quality sound system control. The EX-1280 digital signal processor is designed for performance venues, places of worship, hospitality and resorts, and other spaces requiring intensive processing and scalability, offering increased functionality beyond the existing ControlSpace ESP engineered sound processor line.

The Bottom Line: ControlSpace Designer software simplifies the setup process for all three processors with intuitive drag-and-drop programming and conference-specific software tools that help reduce installation time and on-site errors.These new models are compatible with Bose Professional’s line of Dante endpoints and end-user controllers—including wall-mount and mobile device control using ControlSpace Remote.

Yamaha Unified Communications (Stands 11-F120 and 11-G120) will showcase its meeting space product portfolio at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2019, February 5–8. Attendees can experience Yamaha UC's lineup of purpose-built UC solutions that address the full range of collaboration use cases.

"Clear, natural audio is fundamental to a satisfying and productive meeting, but as customers demand the flexibility to collaborate anywhere, integrators and technology managers are challenged with UC solutions that fit these environments," said Philip Stanley, director of EMEA, Yamaha UC. "At ISE 2019, we're showing how Yamaha UC solutions enhance the user experience. Visitors will see vignettes reflective of today's meeting spaces, from the home office, an open office, and huddle room, all the way up to a large conference or multipurpose room and boardroom."

Home Office or Open Workspace

More and more people are meeting remotely or working wherever is most convenient, redefining users' expectations and conferencing requirements. At ISE 2019, Yamaha UC will showcase the YVC-200 Portable USB + Bluetooth Speakerphone, designed to provide high-performance audio that goes everywhere with the user. The compact device leverages Yamaha's audio technology to boost productivity when meeting remotely or in an open workspace. It is integrated with Yamaha's sound processing technologies, including adaptive echo cancellation (AEC) and human voice activity detection, which focuses on speech rather than background noise. The unit features an intelligent microphone and delivers full-duplex conversation without sound dropouts, even when multiple people are speaking at once.

Huddle Room

At ISE 2019, Yamaha UC will showcase the Yamaha CS-700 Video Sound Collaboration System for huddle rooms. Designed for the highest quality user experience, it optimizes audio, video, and collaboration capabilities in a smart wall-mounted unit. It features an adaptive beamforming microphone array, four Yamaha speaker elements, and a wide-angle HD camera for the far-end participants to see everyone in clear detail. Users can connect to an organization's chosen UC platform using a single USB, eliminating the frustrations and inefficiencies of operating disparate video, audio, and collaboration components. In addition, the CS-700's integrated network management system allows IT staff to deploy and remotely manage each unit from one location, increasing service response and efficiency.

Large Conference Room or Multipurpose Room

When team members are located all over the world, high-quality audio is the first priority. Going beyond the traditional speakerphone, the Yamaha YVC-1000 conference phone enhances audio for medium to large conference spaces and multipurpose meeting rooms. It features a separate microphone and full-range speaker unit that can be placed close to the video display, so audio and video from the remote location blend more naturally for faster comprehension. It can support two external speakers and up to five daisy-chained microphones and is capable of being paired with other microphone systems via an input jack for increased scalability in larger meeting rooms. Its auto-tune setup also allows participants to get started quickly with audio optimized to the room conditions. Yamaha's AEC and other sound processing technologies facilitate stress-free conversation.

Boardroom

The use of UC applications is reaching into boardrooms, requiring equipment that can support these platforms while delivering reliable, high-quality audio that ensures effective communication. At ISE 2019, visitors can see Yamaha’s ready-to-install professional audio system that is designed to enable participants to use their preferred UC application and collaborate with clarity while streamlining systems and installation efficiencies. The system comprises an eight-channel Revolabs Executive Elite wireless microphone package, two VXL1-16P Power over Ethernet (PoE), Dante-enabled speaker arrays with wall volume controller, a digital signal processor, a five-port PoE switch, Dante AVIO USB adapter, and cabling. Connected to an organization's chosen UC platform through a single USB cable, it utilizes Yamaha's AEC algorithms and dynamic microphone mixing technology to deliver high-quality audio throughout the room.

The What: Shure has launched the newest 3.1 software release of its Designer System Configuration Software application, designed to help ensure professionals are equipped with the latest solutions to help design remotely and collaborate effectively. 

The What Else: This new version of Designer supports an expanded portfolio of Shure products, including Microflex Advance MXA910 Ceiling Array and MXA310 Table Array Microphones, P300 IntelliMix Audio Conferencing Processor, and ANIUSB-Matrix USB Audio Network Interface.

With Designer, AV professionals can better determine the suitable device type and count remotely when creating configurations. Additionally, users can import floor plans to design audio coverage, create Dante routes, and reuse room templates.

Designer was developed to better visualize and implement installations. As one single tool, the software enables smooth synchronization in real-time with audio routing between Shure networked products. It empowers AV professionals to better determine the suitable device type and accurate microphone count without physically being in the space. Before beginning a project or installation, users have better control over the design process with the ability to import floor plans and configure audio coverage and routing while also being able to create and reuse room templates across multiple locations. This lets project design cycles to be expedited while also delivering superior quality.

The Bottom Line: Designer provides users with one tool to design and commission system installations, enhancing the performance and usability of Shure products, while reducing onsite configuration time.

 Designer System Configuration Software version 3.1 is available now. To download the free software, visit www.shure.com/designer. Designer can be installed on any computer running Windows 7, 8.1, or 10.

The What: ClearOne has begun shipping COLLABORATE Live, a series of four video collaboration solutions designed to provide a complete video collaboration experience for any size room. 

The What Else: For large boardrooms, auditoriums, conference rooms, lecture halls, courtrooms, training centers, and telemedicine facilities, COLLABORATE Live 900 delivers a complete, professional-quality collaboration system solution featuring a combination of video components integrated with advanced audio DSP technology.

COLLABORATE 900 features a suite of built-in videoconferencing capabilities including a Skype for Business client, SIP/H.323 videoconferencing, wireless presentation, interactive whiteboard, and recording and streaming. It also includes a CONVERGE Pro 2 DSP mixer, advanced audio processor, and ClearOne’s Beamforming Microphone Array 2, which features adaptive steering technology to provide audio pickup coverage of an entire room. For high-quality video capture of all participants in the room, the COLLABORATE Live 900 comes with the UNITE 200 PTZ 1080p60 camera with 12x optical zoom. The system also includes a 90-day free trial of the ClearOne COLLABORATE Space cloud-based videoconferencing application.

COLLABORATE Live 600 is a video collaboration system that delivers clear, full-duplex audio for medium-sized conference room environments. It offers the same suite of built-in videoconferencing capabilities, the UNITE 200 PTZ camera, an ultra-friendly user interface, and a 90-day free COLLABORATE Space trial subscription. For audio, the system features two ClearOne CHAT 150 speakerphones that daisy chain with CHATAttach.

The COLLABORATE Live 300 system is engineered for users looking for a complete small-room and executive office video collaboration solution. Featuring the same user interface found in the larger room systems, COLLABORATE Live 300 includes a free 90-day COLLABORATE Space web conferencing subscription, a Skype for Business client, SIP/H.323 videoconferencing, wireless presentation, and interactive whiteboard capabilities—along with one CHAT 150 speakerphone and one UNITE 150 PTZ camera with 1080p30, 12x optical zoom.

Rounding out ClearOne’s new COLLABORATE Live product line is COLLABORATE Live 200, a new video collaboration system with ultra-wide angle video capture, critical for viewing all conference participants in huddle spaces and smaller room environments. Designed specifically to meet huddle space budgets, COLLABORATE Live 200 features the UNITE 50 EPTZ 1080p30 camera with 3x digital zoom and a 120-degree, wide-angle field of view. Other features are similar to those found in the COLLABORATE Live 300 system, including the free 90-day COLLABORATE Space subscription.

“Video is central to the 21st century collaboration experience,” said ClearOne CEO and chair Zee Hakimoglu. “Users should be able to have the video collaboration system that is right for them in their own unique environment. Also, COLLABORATE Live enables users to enjoy a user interface that is as intuitive and simple as using their familiar mobile or tablet devices.

“From the smallest huddle spaces to the largest auditoriums and training facilities, ClearOne now makes it possible, practical, and affordable to leverage all the audio and video benefits of collaboration in cloud-based solutions that are custom designed for every size of room. ClearOne’s mission is to enable the video generation with all of the tools needed to achieve new levels of collaborative productivity.”

The new COLLABORATE Live Series will be showcased at ISE 2019 at Stand D-130 in Hall 11 at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam, and is available for immediate delivery.

The Bottom Line: COLLABORATE LIVE is designed to empower users to collaborate in any size room environment, with high-quality audio and video, interactive whiteboard, presentation, recording, streaming, and cloud connectivity.

MSRP for the systems is as follows: COLLABORATE Live 900, $9,999; COLLABORATE Live 600, $6,999; COLLABORATE Live 300, $3,499; COLLABORATE Live 200, $2,799.

Nureva has announced that its HDL300 audio conferencing system has been designated by Zoom Video Communications as a recommended audio solution for medium to large Zoom Rooms. The addition of the HDL300 system gives Zoom customers an advanced, cost-effective microphone-speaker with thousands of virtual microphones for full-room pickup. Auto calibration and plug-and-play connectivity make the system an easy add-on to other recommended components and technologies in the room.

The addition of the HDL300 system to Zoom’s recommended hardware list is part of Nureva’s ongoing initiative to deliver a premium collaboration experience to its customers through third-party integrations, plugins, certifications, APIs, and more. Visitors to ISE 2019 in Amsterdam this February can receive a live demo of the HDL300 audio conferencing system on Nureva’s stand 11-B180.

“The Nureva HDL300 system has a remarkable ability to pick up the voices of meeting participants wherever they are in the room,” said Chris DeNovellis, Zoom’s partnerships development manager. “Combined with ease of integration with other room components and technologies, we see it as an exciting addition to our lineup of recommended hardware for Zoom customers.”

“After one of our Zoom Rooms clients installed the HDL300 system enterprise wide, trouble tickets for poor audio pickup went down by 99 percent,” said Ryan Pinke, founder of Video Conference Gear, an authorized Nureva and Zoom Rooms reseller. “The HDL300 system is an excellent alternative to costly and complex audio systems, and clients are becoming a believer after the first call.”

“We are delighted that Zoom has added the HDL300 system as a recommended product for one of their Zoom Rooms,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “We’re excited to see the response from Zoom customers to a new and innovative audio conferencing option for their spaces.”

The What: ClearOne has expanded its audio conferencing product line with the introduction of its Ceiling Microphone Array Dante, a tri-element ceiling microphone array with built-in Dante audio networking for conferencing and sound reinforcement applications. 

The What Else: Up to four ClearOne Ceiling Microphone Array Dantes (12 channels) can be daisy-chained to cover one to four rooms, and the microphone elements in each array are numbered for easy identification. ClearOne will offer package pricing for one to four arrays to maximize cost effectiveness and offer integrators improved margins.

The array is compatible with Dante DSP mixers from ClearOne and third parties, and features shielding against RF interference to provide consistently clear, static-free audio with wide bandwidth and high signal-to-noise ratio. Integrators can use multiple interfaces to add as many microphones arrays as needed, up to the capacity of the Ethernet switch or DSP mixer.

Installation made easier due to the expandable nature of the room solution, and each array is adjustable to hang anywhere from zero to seven feet from the ceiling. Power is supplied through Power Over Ethernet (PoE), and onboard LEDs indicate power status and mute status of each array. It is available in black or white to match a variety of decors and ceiling types.

“As businesses increasingly rely on remote collaboration, it is more important than ever that they have access to sleek, easy-to-use microphone arrays that deliver crystal-clear sound,” said John Nygren, ClearOne's director of business development for microphone solutions. “The Ceiling Microphone Array Dante offers businesses and integrators a superior solution that provides full 360-degree coverage through hardware and software optimized for speech intelligibility, ensuring smooth meetings and simple operation for superior performance in a wide variety of rooms. Our package pricing for one to four microphone arrays makes Dante systems cost-effective, and the simple Ethernet-based installation saves time for integrators by reducing the amount of cabling needed compared to single-element analog ceiling microphones.”

The Bottom Line: Each Ceiling Microphone Array Dante utilizes three premium-quality microphone elements to deliver 360-degree room coverage for boardrooms, conference rooms, telemedicine facilities, and more. Dante networking technology offers simple installation with Cat-5 or Cat-6 cabling, and delivers uncompressed, multi-channel audio with near-zero latency and sample accurate time synchronization throughout the network. The microphone array measures 1.5 inches by 3 inches, making it one of the smallest and most unobtrusive multi-element microphone arrays available today.

ClearOne’s Ceiling Microphone Array will be showcased at ISE 2019 from February 5-8 at Stand #D-130 in Hall 11 at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam.

The What: Nureva has released an integration of its HDL300 audio conferencing system with the Intel Unite solution for content sharing and collaboration. 

The What Else: The V4 plugin for the HDL300 system gives Intel Unite users easy access to the audio system controls, allowing them to quickly change volume or mute a call directly from their laptop. Intel Unite has added the Nureva HDL300 system plugin to its App Showcase, which highlights a collection of plugins that deliver digital transformation to any collaboration space.

“We are excited to be working with Intel and its Intel Unite platform to deliver a more seamless collaboration experience to our collective customers,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “Our HDL300 audio conferencing system is a perfect complement to the Intel Unite platform.”

Nureva is an exhibitor at ISE 2019 in Amsterdam this February and will be showcasing its solutions, including the HDL300 audio conferencing system. Visitors to stand 11-B180 can receive live demonstrations.

The Bottom Line: This integration is part of the ongoing expansion of Nureva’s ecosystem, designed to deliver an integrated collaboration experience. The simplicity of the HDL300 system as a plug-and-play USB device makes it well suited for integration with a wide range of products and technologies.

The What: Yamaha Unified Communications has begun shipping the Yamaha YAI-1 Wireless Microphone Conference Ensemble for installation out of the box into boardrooms and large conference rooms utilizing UC applications. 

The What Else: The professional audio system comprises an eight-channel Executive Elite wireless microphone package, two VXL1-16P Power over Ethernet (PoE), Dante-enabled speaker arrays with wall volume controller, a preconfigured digital signal processor, a five-port PoE switch, Dante AVIO USB adapter, and cabling. Once set up, the Yamaha YAI-1 Conference Ensemble is ready to connect to an organization's chosen UC platform through a single USB cable. Utilizing Yamaha's audio engineering expertise, the system features advanced acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) algorithms and dynamic microphone mixing technology that drives the audio experience and meets the requirement of enterprise IT departments for fast and simple installation, setup, and ongoing management. Two 16-element PoE powered line array speakers deliver high-quality audio throughout the room, and a wireless microphone system enables flexible audio capture and stress-free conversation.

"The utilization of UC applications is no longer limited to personal offices, huddle spaces, and mobile environments,” said Phil Marechal, VP of business development and product management, Yamaha Unified Communications. “More and more organizations are turning to UC platforms in larger conferencing spaces and boardrooms, which requires equipment that can deliver the reliable, high-quality audio that ensures effective communication. The YAI-1 solves the real-world audio challenges of these applications while also streamlining systems and installation efficiencies for IT managers, a true testament to the breadth of Yamaha's product portfolio."

The Bottom Line: Available in North America, the conferencing solution is a preconfigured USB audio system designed to provide a premium audio experience for an organization's chosen UC platform. The system is available in two microphone options: an eight-gooseneck microphone package for boardrooms, or seven tabletop microphones and one wearable microphone for presentation flexibility in conference rooms.

When you're designing and installing a new AV system for the executive boardroom of Hawaii's leading healthcare provider, everything has to be top quality, totally reliable, and easy to use. So when project and sales manager Jeff Kang of systems integrators Custom Audio Video designed this new system, he based it on Symetrix Radius AEC DSPs.

"Symetrix is my go-to processor for all of my installs," Kang said. "Symetrix DSPs sound good, they work well with other gear, and they're reliable. I chose the Radius AEC because I needed a DSP processor that did automatic echo cancellation for conferencing, was small and relatively modular, and was easy to control from a third-party system without writing a lot of code. The Symetrix controller number architecture makes it really easy to assign a specific function in a module and toggle it on and off or run a value up and down. As a result, I can deploy it quickly: I plug in the DSP, set up the communications, assign the controller number, and it just works."

The Custom Audio Video team removed the old, outdated processor and installed two Symetrix Radius AECs. "For conferencing, we installed 11 Beyerdynamic MPR 210 W horizontal ceiling microphones and a Shure GLXD wireless lavalier mic for the presenter," Kang said. "The Radius AEC has eight inputs with echo cancellation for conferencing, so I needed two units to accommodate 12 mics. I used Dante to get audio between the two DSPs: I brought mics from the second unit to the first unit and AEC reference from the first unit to the second unit, then did some time alignment to account for transmit and receive latency between the units."

The Radius AECs feed three different conferencing avenues: An analog telephone card to allow speakerphone functionality; a feed to a Vaddio AV Bridge that allows the client to do Skype, Cisco Webex, Microsoft Lync, and other computer-based conferencing; and feeds to a Polycom RealPresence for dedicated videoconferencing.

Custom Audio Video installed eight JBL Control LCT 81C/T ceiling tile speakers, and Kang programmed the Radius AEC so that the lavalier mic is only routed to the speakers at the back of the room. "The room is about 35 feet long, and without absorbing material it's a little hard to hear in the back," he said. "So I zoned the speakers in stereo pairs, front to back, and the microphones at the front only come out the back speakers so people don't have to raise their voice. It's just loud enough to carry your voice to the back of the room. You can stand with the wireless lavalier directly underneath the back speakers, and it doesn't feed back. If someone joins a conference from off site, that goes through all eight speakers."

Kang used the Radius channel direct outputs, which do not carry AEC processing, for the sound-reinforcement system. He used the AEC outputs for conferencing. "Automatic echo cancellation prevents echoes or weird delays when they're doing conferencing site to site," he said. "It especially comes into play when the client bridges two difference conferencing types. For example, this client likes to do a video call, with microphones going to the Polycom RealPresence, then dial a phone number and tie a voice-only party in through the analog phone card. With the Radius, they can dial a phone number and connect the two calls so the person on the phone can simultaneously talk with the person on Skype and to everybody in the room. Automatic echo cancellation takes care of all the noise, the echo, and automatic gain, so only the talker's microphone gets turned up, and everybody else gets pulled down a little bit. I use a bit of ducking, a bit of EQ, and some bandpassing."

All audio routing is automated. "We gave them Extron wall mount and table pocket touchpanels to turn the speakers up and down, turn the return from the phone call up and down, and turn their microphones up and down," Kang said. "If they turn up the volume on the phone, it brings up the phone in the speakers and the echo cancellation handles anything that happens. But the basic control is one button. You hit the Start button, and it turns itself on, reroutes everything, fixes all issues from the previous conference, and you're ready. You hit the red button to turn it off. Clients should not have to concern themselves with more than that. The company executives were very pleased."

Conferences and presentations can be recorded through a non-AEC (dry) output on the Radius AEC to a USB flash drive, using a Denon DN-700R network SD/USB audio recorder in the AV rack. A networked desktop computer in the AV rack is assigned to the room but presentations can be done with just about any sort of Mac, Windows, iOS, or Android device, with virtually any standard connector. "I tried to come up with every use case they could have in the next 10 years and throw it in this room," Kang said. "They're very happy with this system and with the functionality we've provided."

When you make the client's executives happy, good things happen. "We're working on other projects for the group later this year, bringing some of their hospital AV systems up to speed," Kang said. "We'll use Symetrix for those systems too. I use so much Symetrix that I have a Symetrix Prism at home for testing different programming combinations. I even have a Symetrix ARC volume control on my desk. They're great DSPs."

The dispersal continues: the trend of companies permitting more employees to work remotely shows no signs of slowing. According to a report by Futuresource Consulting, 11 percent of surveyed employees work from home three or more days a week. So how are they staying productive? Thirty-two percent of those respondents reported an increase in the average amount of time spent meeting remotely via conferencing technology on a weekly basis.

The key to these meetings success, of course, is audio intelligibility. If everyone can’t hear what’s being discussed, little will get done—and it won’t matter how much money you’ve spent on the best video technology. 

Here are some solutions that will help ensure your collaborative efforts go as smoothly as possible.

The metric for measuring the success of a meeting and collaboration space is changing. In the past, when a technology manager had 10 rooms to outfit, the mission was straightforward: stay on budget and on schedule. Now, with the ability to glean device usage and room activity information from the connected systems in place, success runs deeper. Technology managers now need to ensure AV solutions produce ROI that shows users are consistently benefitting from the installed technology within the space every day, week, and quarter.

Despite the growing requirement for content sharing and video in collaboration, audio is still the top priority and every meeting space needs to be well equipped to provide clear, intelligible audio. This means all rooms must perform well, especially on behalf of remote participants. Engineering users may need to get up and write on a whiteboard, or in the case of business managers and creative teams, participants may join the meeting for specific topics, sharing and collaborating on documents. By taking steps to understand these different users’ collaboration needs and expectations, technology managers can equip the room with the right technology and increase the value of the meeting space.

In many UC applications, beamforming microphones are emerging as a preferred technology for capturing the conversation in the room for delivery to the far end. Beamforming microphones contain multiple microphone elements that work together to form a single, spatially distributed microphone that can be steered to cover the areas where meeting participants are most likely to be located, providing the best coverage of the space.

However, traditional beamforming microphones are limited in their coverage. The person speaking must be within the predetermined beam area to reap the full benefits, and it’s possible that not every location can be covered. Ensuring that each location within a meeting room is covered is a lofty expectation, especially for more robust collaboration spaces where people are moving around and holding a more dynamic meeting.

Beamtracking microphones take it one step further. With the advent of more intelligent DSP, it’s now possible to have microphone technology with beams that are flexible and adaptable to the movement in the room. The “beams,” or polar pattern, of the mics can be controlled and shaped through the DSP, allowing them to be aimed at the people speaking in the room, even as they move around while talking. Essentially, the participant talking determines where the beam should be, rather than the beam determining where the participant should be located within the room. Potential dead spaces from the initial setup are effectively eliminated. Other advantages include the microphone not needing recalibration in multipurpose rooms or where furniture moves around, depending on the meeting requirements. What’s more, if the microphone can generate multiple beams, it can cover multiple people simultaneously.

These attributes make beamtracking microphones an excellent option for spaces with UC, as they accurately capture people talking and deliver the conversation naturally. In larger spaces where more than one beamtracking mic is used, it’s critical that the DSP intelligently utilizes the microphones to provide continuous clear audio pickup as people move around the room and among the microphones.

With installation success measured on the room’s frequency of use, participants can’t be expected to work around the shortcomings of the AV solutions that are essential to their productivity. Beamtracking technology represents a shift in more intelligent, and intelligible, conversations. It customizes the collaboration experience, where the technology is transparent and gives the people what they need to work more efficiently and most productively.

Rob Houston is the unified communications product manager at Biamp Systems.

Hotdesking. Open floor plans. Food truck Fridays. Gen Z is pushing workplace design and culture in exciting directions, but C-level leaders and power players still need compelling spaces in which to gather. And they must be heard clearly. Today’s executive suites have more glass walls and less wiring than in the past, but they are still the rooms that must provide reliable audio quality for the most influential members of an organization.

According to Justin O’Connor, education specialist, Bose Professional Global Training, to plan for excellent audio performance in executive suites, there are two functional components to consider: meeting the needs of leaders in the room, and meeting the needs of remote participants. These functional needs are similar to other conference rooms or boardrooms, but there is a perception of a greater importance for audio reliability and privacy on the executive level. “These are real concerns in the executive suite,” O’Connor said, “but that doesn’t mean there are lesser needs in the other spaces. It’s just that the consequences can be greater for stakeholders and decision makers who have had a role in deploying those audio systems.”

BALANCING AESTHETIC NEEDS AND ACOUSTICS

O’Connor explained that where audio requirements are unique to executive suites are in architectural and interior design concerns. Certain design and architectural features, such as an abundance of glass or highly reflective surfaces, can limit the audio placement options for an executive suite.

To that end, O’Connor pointed to solutions that offer installation flexibility, such as the Bose Professional portfolio and the EdgeMax Loudspeakers. In addition to an advanced compression driver, the Bose PhaseGuide means that these speakers are “optimized for installation along the outside edges or corners of the room,” he said. The loudspeakers can be located in ways that do not interfere with lighting or ceiling design features.

Chad Wiggins, senior director of networked audio systems at Shure Incorporated, agreed that balancing aesthetics and performance is a key consideration in the C-level suite.

“While it might not be the most earthshattering trend of 2018, the quest to achieve a high level of capability and performance, while delivering ease of use and the right design aesthetic, is a key one to watch in executive suite audio,” Wiggins said. “These facilities demand flawless audio output at all times, and systems equipped with flexible connectivity and intuitive user interface for easy control and operation.”

PLAN EARLY FOR AUDIO EXCELLENCE

Wiggins explained that it is Shure’s driving mission to “get every decibel of performance out of bad-sounding rooms.”

To accomplish that goal, however, AV planning needs to start as early in the process as possible to strike the right balance of form and function. Audio equipment alone will not be able to solve poor acoustical problems, which is why it’s important to design and build a good executive space with quality materials that respond well to acoustics.

Bryan Pass, senior sales engineer with the integration firm VCA, concurred. “Take care of the environment,” he said. “Ensure that there’s proper sound absorption, and then focus on placement.”

“At the bare minimum,” Wiggins said, “make sure the executive boardroom is the best acoustically treated meeting space in your entire office. Then invest in high quality audio equipment that accurately represents how good that room sounds.”

He shared that the Shure Microflex solution, an integrated audio system for conferences and meetings, is available in wired and wireless configurations for more placement options. The line also offers meeting productivity tools for natural audio for both in-room participants and remote attendees.

Pass added that proper AV planning includes a deep understanding of end-user needs. “Make sure you understand the goal of the specific space,” he said. “What’s the primary objective?”

NETWORKED AUDIO

Across the commercial spectrum, there has been an evolution toward network-capable solutions, and the executive suite is no exception. Bryan Pass has seen AV-over-IP awareness increase among customers in the past three years, as demand for transport methods such as Dante, AVB, and AES67 grows. “Customers are paying attention and savvy customers have opinions on it,” Pass said.

“[Clients] are not necessarily closed off to recommendations,” he added, “but they know and have experienced one or another of these transport methods. Or, they might want a global view of all of their systems, so they have a preference prior to that discovery discussion.”

On the question of Dante, AES67, or AVB, Pass appreciates and regularly recommends those three. “Those are our trusted protocols that meet quality standards and have been proven.” But, he added, it “depends on the specific project which one ends up getting [specified]. Sometimes two are used together, such as Dante and AES67, for example.

From the design standpoint, Pass explained that redundancy is helpful. “If you can have a completely redundant system in place, from multiple microphones to redundant DSPs and network switches, that is ideal. And you can have a fail-over.”

AUDIO PRIVACY AND SECURITY

Chad Wiggins said that safeguarding confidential data is a top priority for executive suite audio as more audio equipment becomes network capable, wireless, or both.

“Technology managers need to employ secure design techniques that take advantage of capabilities in the audio devices, such as password protection and encryption of wireless and network audio,” Wiggins said.

Again, it’s important to work on a case-by-case basis, getting granular on specific customer needs including security requirements. The goal should be crafting solutions that protect content without sacrificing ease of use or audio quality. Wiggins cited the example of Shure’s Network Audio Encryption technology that “safeguards confidential content without compromising audio quality.”

USE YOUR VOICE

Bryan Pass believes that in-house IT and AV directors are uniquely positioned to champion audio excellence. “You have the ability and voice to say, ‘I understand you have aesthetic requirements. However, you’re going to have less than an optimal experience if you don’t have microphones in these locations, or speakers in these locations.”

Advocating for quality early in the process will empower AV/IT managers to deliver on the promise of reliable audio while still making the C-suite shine.

Margot Douaihy is the editor-at-large of AV Technology magazine.

Info

AUDIX
audixusa.com

BOSE PROFESSIONAL
pro.bose.com

CLOCK AUDIO
clockaudio.com

LISTEN TECH
listentech.com

TANNOY
tannoy.com

SHURE
shure.com

VCA
vcaglobal.com

Futuresource Loudspeaker Report

51 million loudspeaker units shipped worldwide last year to generate a trade value of $3 billion. Futuresource Consulting has released its 2018 report providing an outlook to 2022. The research covers a variety of speaker categories. Download the report here: www.futuresource-consulting.com

Cvent has chosen the Yamaha YVC-1000 as its conference phone of choice to support the audio for more than 225 video conference rooms the company has worldwide. The Yamaha YVC-1000 met Cvent's requirements for audio quality, ease of installation and operation, Zoom interoperability, and global scalability.

"When you communicate with team members all over the world like we do at Cvent, sound is the first priority. Out of all the brands we tested, Yamaha UC was the only company that made a product that went beyond a traditional speakerphone and felt natural in terms of the sound output into the room," said Pradeep Mannakkara, chief information officer at Cvent.

Worldwide, Cvent has 17 offices, more than 3,500 employees, and hundreds of conference rooms around the world, many of which previously featured an AV system that was challenging to install, riddled with poor audio fidelity, and complex to troubleshoot. Rather than continue to build out its conference rooms with that system, the company invested in Zoom rooms.

"We demoed just about every audio product out there, and when we ran our tests on the Yamaha YVC-1000, our team unanimously agreed that it sounded the best. It was hands-down the clear winner," said JayJay Kim, senior AV systems engineer at Cvent.

Designed for medium to large conference spaces that call for flexible audio, web, or video conferencing, the YVC-1000 conference phone features a separate microphone and full-range speaker unit that can be placed close to the video display so audio and video from the remote location blend naturally. The flexible yet robust solution allowed Cvent to standardize on the YVC-1000 in all its medium and large meeting rooms and training rooms, as well as in executive offices. In the larger conference rooms, extension mics are daisy-chained together for clear communication by all meeting participants.

The YVC-1000's plug-and-play simplicity also allowed participants to get started quickly. Users only had to connect the unit into a computer's USB port and press the auto-tune button the first time it was used to optimize the audio to the room conditions, and the conference phone was ready to go. Because the unit learns from the environment, there was no additional programming required, eliminating the need for a specialist to set it up. Since deployment of the Yamaha YVC-1000, Cvent audio-related help desk tickets have almost been eliminated.

The What: Bose Professional is now globally distributing its ControlSpace EX audio conferencing system.

The What Else: At the heart of the system is the ControlSpace EX-1280C conferencing processor. The EX-1280C includes integrated support for VoIP, PSTN, analog, and USB audio. Twelve advanced, routable AECs with adaptable noise cancellation, non-linear processing, and comfort noise enhance the clarity and intelligibility of meetings.

The entire ControlSpace EX system leverages Dante audio networking for simplified routing and connectivity. The EX-1280C processor has 64x64 Dante I/O and native support for all Dante conferencing microphones. Additional onboard connectivity includes 12 mic/line inputs, eight analog outputs, an eight-channel Bose AmpLink digital output, stereo in/out USB audio, dual-line VoIP, and PSTN. To help with installation and monitoring, a convenient front panel OLED display and rotary knob allow for metering and control of basic parameters such as IP settings.

A key highlight of the ControlSpace EX system is its “one-cable-to-the-table” connectivity via three Dante-based, PoE+ under-table endpoint models. With daisy-chainable power and networking, these slim, high-density boxes are designed to mount underneath conference tables.

The two microphone endpoints, the EX-4ML and EX-8ML (four and eight channels respectively), feature 48V phantom power as well as +12V LED power and three logic I/O per channel (one in, two out) to interface with most types of analog conferencing microphones. Up to 24 microphones with LEDs and push-button muting can be connected over a single CAT 5 or 6 cable.

The Bottom Line: The EX line offers a comprehensive, scalable solution that is easy to specify, design with, and deploy. The suite includes an all-in-one DSP, three under-table Dante endpoints, and ControlSpace Designer software with features specific to streamlined build-outs of audio conferencing systems.

To succeed in today’s fast-paced environments, organizations must harness the synergy of people working together across a global workforce—regardless of the physical location of those workers. To do that, AV professionals and end users must select the best new-generation audio conferencing technology solutions that bring superb quality in more adaptable—and affordable—configurations.

This new ebook offers case studies and insights into these engaging technologies, including:

• How University of Missouri’s new collaborative space improved engagement for off-campus students
• AV monitoring that gets real in realtime
• How HDL300 audio conferencing solves a geotechnical–and architectural–challenge
• Advantages of IP remote codec technology, which combines the best quality audio fidelity with the ability to serve participants who are mobile—in the room or across the globe.

Click here to read the full ebook.

The What: Nureva has added intelligent sound targeting (IST) to the Microphone Mist technology platform that powers its HDL300 and Dual HDL300 audio conferencing systems, which it will showcase at InfoComm 2018 in Booth N1276.

The What Else: This technology adds new intelligence to the thousands of virtual microphones that fill the meeting space and provide full-room audio coverage. Using IST, the system identifies and ignores persistent undesirable sound sources that can disrupt the efficiency and flow of audio conference sessions. Typically, several noise suppression techniques are required via post-processing methods to reduce undesirable sounds. IST preemptively identifies and ignores these sounds in real time through the virtual microphones that are always listening throughout the room.

The Bottom Line: The introduction of intelligent sound targeting brings a fresh approach to addressing the issues caused by undesired sounds during audio conference sessions.

Professional audio vendors are poised to profit from movements in the corporate meeting room sector, as budget share creeps away from display technologies. That’s the message from 2,500 interviews carried out by Futuresource Consulting during a recent corporate end user research project.

Covering the U.K., U.S.A., Germany, and France, the Futuresource study reveals the rising importance of audio products such as commercial speakers and high-quality microphones in the meeting room ecosystem.

“Alongside collaboration devices and room control products, audio continues to make its presence felt,” says Chris McIntyre-Brown, associate director, Futuresource Consulting, “And with almost 11 million meeting rooms across Western Europe and North America, there’s a handsome reward for audio vendors who act on the opportunity. There’s a particular sweet spot in the U.S.A., where 28-percent of AV hardware budgets for large meeting rooms are being invested in audio.”

Drilling into the sub-segments, speakers have seen strong growth over recent years, as multi-location conferencing from huddle spaces and meeting rooms has increased. Although a significant proportion of speakers are consumer grade, there is a growing demand for professional grade ceiling and column speakers as meeting room sizes and budgets continue to increase.

“Our research shows that corporate speakers tend to be installed as complete systems, generally as part of a new office build, refurb, or systems overhaul,” added McIntyre-Brown. “Moreover, a key take-home for vendors is that the corporate vertical typically demands higher quality products when compared with other installed commercial verticals, such as retail and education.”

As professional speakers begin to gain a foothold in the corporate space, the same is true for microphones.

“Corporations are becoming more attuned to the importance of high quality audio when making conference calls, which is helping to grow demand for dedicated microphones.” McIntyre-Brown said. “We’re seeing a range of form factors gradually sliding into the mix, particularly in medium and large sized meeting rooms, where extender mics are being used in tandem with conferencing phones."

“Professional microphones are subject to some key regional differences, far more than any other product segment covered in our report," she continued. "The strongly contrasting European and North American meeting room environments are creating two different markets, with their own form factor preferences. Either way, there’s still plenty of growth left in the market, with respondents telling us penetration rates are still down in the single figures.”

As corporations continue to demand integrated conferencing facilities in their meeting rooms, global audio solutions provider, Plantronics, announced in March that it will acquire Polycom in a deal valued at $2 billion USD. This acquisition offers major opportunities for both companies and signals even greater competition in the voice and video collaboration sector.

Watch this space for a range of new challenges and opportunities for many vendors and integrators operating across the breadth of the corporate audio and video landscape.

At InfoComm 2018 in Las Vegas, Shure will feature the new Microflex Complete integrated audio system for conferences and meetings. Available in wireless and wired configurations, and with advanced meeting productivity tools, the systems deliver natural, intelligible audio for both in-room participants and remote attendees. According to the company, it boasts "xceptionally easy set-up, configuration, and rock solid audio capabilities, Microflex Complete Wireless supports productive, engaging meetings even in the most challenging wireless communications environments."

The Microflex Complete Wireless system combines a fully-featured discussion system with wireless convenience for government, corporate, and educational facilities, and speeds setup in dynamic meeting spaces or at temporary meeting locations, such as hotels and conference centers. With no cable limitations, Microflex Complete Wireless is ideal for use in historic buildings or rooms with flexible seating. Automatic Interference Detection and Avoidance technology delivers reliable RF transmission in even the most congested RF environments and robust AES-128 audio encryption provides enhanced privacy. Each wireless conferencing unit is powered by a smart Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery for up to 11 hours, and a single access point can control up to 125 wireless units without additional software or licenses.

“In a world where conferences of all sizes require efficient, easy set-up and coordination, Microflex Complete Wireless empowers the most productive of meetings – from start to finish,” said Bill Oakley, Senior Product Manager at Shure. “The added convenience of wireless greatly reduces setup time in your facility or at a special off-site event, and even in the most crowded and hostile RF environments, it delivers the sort of performance that Shure wireless systems are famous for. At InfoComm this year, we’re thrilled to be offering show-goers demos of the system at our booth, and they’re encouraged to register for one of the scheduled sessions to experience its impressive capabilities firsthand. For larger meetings that require productivity tools like agenda management, speaker identification, and extensive language interpretation, we will also be demonstrating our Microflex Complete Wired system.”

In addition to showcasing Microflex Complete Wireless, Shure will also feature the wired system, Microflex Complete, which includes a range of portable and flush-mount conferencing units that can be integrated into boardrooms, parliament or council chambers, and formal meeting spaces. Contemporary styling matches any environment, and the intuitive user interface allows users to easily view the agenda and control interpretation, according to Shure. A choice of automatic or managed microphone activation modes lets the system be tailored to match informal meetings or agenda-driven conferences and debates.

Microflex Complete availability will be announced soon.

To demo Microflex Complete at InfoComm 2018, individuals are welcome to register for one of Shure’s in-booth, scheduled demonstrations here. Registration prior to the show is highly encouraged.

Get your free copy of The Integration Guide to Microphones & Conference Systems!

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Talking the Talk

• If it’s not broke, should you fix it anyway? If it’s a conference system, yes—consider using new technologies to improve it and make a big impact, especially if you’re designing a new room.

Product Showcase

We check out the hottest mics and conference systems from companies like Audix, DPA, Huddly, TOA, Vaddio, and Yamaha.

At Issue

SCN asks industry experts about streamlining conference systems and audio for repetition and scale.

For more resources or to read the first post in this series, visit the channel page, Audio Collaboration Resources.

In the AV world, we’ve all seen a back-and-forth between the importance of the “A” (audio) versus the “V” (video) over the years. It’s easy to say that in “AV” both sides are equally important. And they are. But not only has the video side seen a greater surge of new technology in recent years—audio and video have always been, and will continue to be, very different animals.

We’ll look at new audio world developments like innovative new microphone technologies that are rebalancing the equation. But first, let’s step back from specs and marketing language laden with layers of complexity and get back to the basics of physics for a moment.

Light (that comprises any video image) travels at, well, the speed of light. Technically, that’s called fast. It’s so fast—299,792,458 meters per second (670,616,629.3844 miles per second), to be exact—that the dynamics of any particular room or space don’t wreak havoc with how the video image gets from a display or a screen to your eyes. Video images don’t bounce or reverberate around a room in odd and unpredictable ways. It’s a clean path from the display to you—and it’s so fast that, aside from line of sight, the room architecture does not come into play.

Nureva Audio Manager Delivers New Functionality to the HDL300 System (Jan. 24, 2018)

Audio could not be more different. Sound travels, in most conditions through air, at 343 meters per second. That’s why designing audio systems for everything from an outdoor concert to conference rooms is really more complex than providing video signal or video display for the “V” in AV. And that’s why, historically, it’s taken much more craft, and experience, to set up audio systems. It’s really not rocket science to provide video images for an audience or conference attendees. To do that well is by no means easy, but it’s getting easier and easier all the time. Doing audio well has perplexed many an AV pro, IT manager, and end user, and it has traditionally required much more hands-on system configuration, ongoing tweaking, and maintenance.

Even as audio has moved to digital platforms for transmission from location to location (inside a stadium, or across the country), that “last mile” or, better said, last few feet, of the audio path is the part that is still tricky. Because nothing changes the basic laws of physics that define the painfully slow speed of sound and what different architectural spaces do to sound’s path.

Nureva Announces Dual HDL300 Audio Conferencing System for Larger Spaces (Feb. 5, 2018)

So let’s turn back to audio conferencing, and some really interesting new microphone technologies. If you’re looking at different audio conferencing solutions, you’ve probably heard of beamforming microphone technology—the technology featured in some in-ceiling installed systems. In the beamforming system, beams from the mics in the mic array are aimed at specific zones in the room where the meeting participants are expected to be—that is, in their chairs in predetermined locations. When nobody moves and everyone speaks within range of a beam, performance is OK. But an audio conferencing system based on beamforming still carries the inherent disadvantages of traditional ceiling mics or tabletop mics. The “mics” are still oriented towards rooms and meetings in which everyone sits around a single table and faces in the same direction—usually towards the display. It’s still not enough craft, art, or science to produce the best solution for the highest level of audio conferencing.

Thanks to efforts to achieve better audio conferencing, there are now alternatives to using beamforming. Nureva has taken a bold step and has developed its new Microphone Mist™ technology in their HDL300 audio conferencing system with 8,192 virtual microphones that tame some the challenges of, well, physics. Dedicated processing harnesses the capabilities of those mics, and additional critical processing handles acoustic echo cancellation and noise reduction, while integrating with codecs, and particularly soft codecs.

Here is some interesting information about the new alternative to beamforming, in the links below.

For more resources or to read the first post in this series, visit the channel page, Audio Collaboration Resources.

Beyond Beamforming—Some Reasons to Consider Other Options

AV Network article: “A New Breakthrough in Audio Conferencing Solutions”

A new e-guide: “A Brief Guide to Audio Conferencing Technologies: How to Get the System that Enables More Dynamic, Collaborative Meeting”

How Advanced Audio Conferencing Solutions Meet Today's Demanding Applications

For more resources or to read the next post in this series, visit the channel page, Audio Collaboration Resources.

The business case for designing better collaboration spaces and systems begins not in the traditional AV gear world per se—with focus only on the specs of screens and video and audio tools. It begins, rather, with forces that are causing significant change in the AV world and beyond—all surrounding the huge increase in demand for interactivity and collaboration among end users.

A lot of attention is given to the video side of the collaboration equation. The volume of video on the world’s IP networks today exceeds all other forms of traffic combined, and trends like video over IP are strong. And in fact, much of the increase in demand for larger display sizes is attributed to the increase in demand for interactivity and collaboration among end users. That’s why display companies are focusing on offering touch displays that can be used in both corporate and education sectors. Bandwidth requirements in the enterprise, of course, increase proportionately. And so the video side of the story evolves—and garners most of the press and product attention.

But smart AV integrators and end users are starting to understand that the audio side of the conferencing equation is not only just as important as the video side, but it’s also the side where advances in technology have ushered in new business models and new efficiencies in system design and maintenance.

Before you look at the technical specs of these new solutions for audio conferencing, start by trying to cut through the noise to get back to the business goals of your customers. Your customers’—or your company’s—need for better audio conferencing is all about engaging a more mobile workforce. It’s about the increasing demand for workforce innovation. Are all the “intrapreneurs” in the organization tuned into the work and the workflow? The audio conference is probably the number-one tool for connecting remote and in-office workers. If people in the organization don’t feel connected, they’re not going to be effective.

You’ve read about, and probably installed, huddle spaces, flex spaces, and other new-form meeting spaces. The industry is seeing an increased demand for more flexible spaces. Video is now more comfortable for people. But if you can ask “what is a video conference without video?” then the question of how audio defines and shapes conferencing becomes more urgent than ever, as we create interactive collaborative spaces that involve not only in-room participants but also remote participants. And one key to understanding the dynamics of audio conferencing is this: the in-room participants now, more often than not, move about the room as they use video and other collaboration tools. If remote participants can’t really participate through hearing everything that goes on in the room, they won’t really be connected.

How do you create a room that meets all of those needs? What if you could install an audio conferencing system for the space and more easily? A system that did not require ongoing maintenance? What if a single device—that would be far more efficient for integrators and end clients alike—could handle all the audio needs for the room?

There’s an intriguing new self-contained system for natural audio collaboration that is pointing to new business models—and new business efficiencies: Nureva’s new HDL300 audio conferencing system with Nureva’s Microphone Mist™ technology. It’s a pretty significant jump forward in audio conferencing technology. Readers can see it, and learn more, using the links below.

Related Resources

AVNetwork, October 2017: “A new breakthrough in Audio Conferencing Solutions”

How Advanced Audio Conferencing Solutions Meet Today's Demanding Applications

Meeting the Needs of the Dynamic Meeting Room: A No Jitter/Enterprise Connect Webinar (starring David Martin and Phil Edholm)

The 4 Challenges an IT Leader Faces in Selecting Audio Conferencing Equipment for Meeting Spaces: A 15-Slide PowerPoint Presentation

From the AV-IT Summit in Denver: The Dynamic Meeting Room

Advanced Audio Conferencing Solutions for Today’s Demanding Applications: An ebook published by New Bay Media on Advanced Audio Conferencing Solutions for Today’s Demanding Applications