If you’re considering an advanced audio conferencing solution, you’ve probably heard about or considered a system that employs beamforming microphone technology. ClearOne, Phoenix, Sennheiser, Biamp and Logitech all offer systems that employ beamforming microphones.
As it’s the technology most often featured in complex, higher-priced, in-ceiling installed systems (as well as some simpler on-the-wall or hung-from-the-ceiling mic arrays), beamforming is sometimes thought of as the leading conference call microphone solution.
However, several factors might make you rethink a beamforming system. Let’s jump in.
Beamforming pros and cons
The following diagram gives you an idea of how a beamforming system works (in this case, an in-ceiling system). Beams from the mics in the mic array are aimed at specific zones in the room. In this example, it’s where the meeting participants are expected to be: in their chairs in predetermined locations. When nobody moves and everyone speaks within range of a beam, performance is fine.
In a beamforming system, a central microphone array picks up sounds within defined beams (pink areas).
But, notice the gray space outside the pink beams. Pickup in those areas can be unpredictable and performance will likely be suboptimal (after all, the system isn’t designed for that kind of pickup). This could mean that a beamforming system will not be up to the challenges of the modern dynamic meeting where people move away from their seats, to use whiteboards, displays or other media, or talk away from the microphones.
People want to meet and communicate in the style that suits them, but not all microphone systems allow that. Also, if you want to reconfigure your room (add chairs, move the table, etc.), you will likely need a technician to calibrate the beams to get proper pickup. That can be an inconvenience, possibly an expensive one.
Adopting an in-ceiling beamforming system entails the additional costs and inconvenience of installation, initial aiming and calibration. And accounting for the noise from in-ceiling HVAC may mean your installer will have to position and/or adjust your system in a way that is less than optimal for voice pickup.
A full-room-pickup alternative
Add it up and there are some significant reasons to consider alternatives to beamforming. Probably the best reason is the availability of an alternative technology: Nureva® audio.
The blue bubbles represent the full-room coverage provided by the HDL300 system’s 8,192 virtual microphones.
Remember the gray areas in the beamforming installation where pickup coverage could be limited? This diagram shows the coverage (blue bubbles) provided by Nureva audio conferencing systems. Their patented Microphone Mist™ technology fills the room with thousands of virtual microphones. That means Nureva audio systems deliver true full-room coverage, so on-site team members can move and meet how they want to. And remote team members can hear presenters without podium or lapel mics. It’s a game-changing approach to meeting room microphones.
And, thanks to its advanced system processing capability, Nureva audio focuses on people’s voices but leaves some ambient sounds, so remote participants feel like they’re right there in the room with the team. That cuts frustrations and enables better collaboration and more productive meetings.
Installation? Easy. You can hang the system on the wall in 30 minutes or less.
Calibration and updates? They’re automatic. No hassles. No technician required.
HVAC? The system hangs on the wall away from HVAC, and its processor focuses on the sounds you want to hear.
If you’re in charge of sourcing new conference call audio system equipment for your organization, by all means investigate beamforming systems. But be sure to also look at, and listen to, Nureva audio. We think you’ll like what you see – and hear.
(BTW, be sure to compare beamforming with Nureva audio on price. We think you’ll really like what you hear.)
Editor’s note: This post was originally published February 2018 and has been updated.
Topics: Microphone Mist technology
Posted on Feb 21, 2018 5:45:00 AM
