Providing possibly the best return on investment in any AV installation, conferencing systems save travel time, cut absenteeism among key team members, and allow clearer and creative communication. System designers have met the challenge to automate many functions and make it simple to fire up the system and establish these vital communication links. For these tools, ease of use is a major selling point.
For clear voice pickup and minimal background noise, the AKG CGN521 STS professional tabletop microphone is a leading contender. The 19.5in. stem allows the mic to sit at a distance while its cardioid pickup pattern emphasizes its participant’s voice. The base is fitted with a button that can be programmed for push-to-talk, push-to-mute, push on/off, and low cut on/off. The frequency range is 70Hz to 18kHz
The AnkerWork S600 Speakerphone has AI-enabled voice recognition and a high-speed NPU chip to single out conference participants and filter out background noise. With its four high-fidelity microphones, it captures voices up to 26ft. away at a 48kHz sample rate, and its built-in 5W speaker delivers 360-degree bass-enhanced sound. There is also a 70-degree adjustable phone mount and Qi2- certified 15W wireless charging.
Conferencing is all about ease of use by high-ranking non-techies and the new Atlona AT-VTP700VL Velocity 7in. touch panel simplifies some communication tasks. Setup is facilitated through Velocity hardware or software server gateways, and installation is streamlined with PoE+, providing network and power on a single cable. The VESA-75- hole pattern makes it hardware mounting friendly over a range of solutions.
The Audix M63 logic-enabled condenser boundary microphone maintains a low profile on the table with one pushbutton. This can be configured for toggle on/off, momentary talk, and mute while the top-mounted LED indicates the status of each. When connected with 48V phantom power, the mic is capable of reducing table thumps and vibration with its internal shock-mount suspension system. Behind the grille, there are two 3-pin terminal blocks with configuration DIP switches.
Simple and flexible conference table mic mounting is possible with the Audio-Technica ES964 compact boundary microphone array and its low-profile design. Varying polar patterns are configurable through a mix among its single omnidirectional capsule and two bidirectional capsules. Three separate remote buttons on the mic touch controls can be used by various participants to mute audio or trigger a logic point. The ON/OFF/MUTE condition is LED indicated.
One of the largest conference system touch panels is the 10in. diagonal Aveo Systems Mira Connect 10, which is designed to operate the Mira Connect control system and can be mounted on a table stand, in/on-wall, and fitted with side LED bars. The bar is light red when the system is muted and green while in a call. The panel can be used to operate Zoom Rooms, Poly, and Cisco videoconferencing equipment.
Ease of operation comes to the forefront on the AVer VB370A Android-powered dual lens 4K PTZ Video Bar featuring Smart Composition, Auto Framing, and intelligent voice tracking. The system’s 18X total zoom PTZ camera and its 120-degree field of view fixed camera assure all participants are shown. The microphone has 14 beamforming elements and a pickup range of up to 32ft.
The BenQ treVolo U dialog speaker is a small desktop unit that contains a separate HF tweeter, mid-range woofer, and a passive bass radiator. Speech is picked up by an electret condenser mic mounted with a parabolic design receptor. These are integrated to the front of the device, which is angled up at 12 degrees and equipped with acoustic echo cancellation. Top buttons can control power, volume, input, Bluetooth range, output level, and charging.
Another very handy tabletop instrument is the Biamp Systems MPX 250 BYOM screen-sharing hub. Once a device is connected to any of its USB-C cables and a button is pushed, the presenter controls room AV systems for participating shared screens. The device can operate with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet, in addition to other conferencing setups
Desktop speakerphones have seen substantial performance improvements and sophistication. The Boom Collaboration GIRO Pro is a perfect example. Capable of connecting directly on USB with a computer or via Bluetooth 5.0, it has a 10ft. pickup range and provides echo cancellation along with noise suppression. The 5in. diameter housing is powered with a Lithium-Ion battery.
At the far other end of the conferencing scale for town halls and courtrooms, the Bosch Security Systems CCS 1000 D digital discussion system combines high-level functionality with ready mobility. The control unit can work with a variety of stand and flush-mounted gooseneck mics. Each system can have up to 245 devices, and there is native support for HD camera control.
One conferencing approach is to get mics completely off the table, and the ClearOne BMA CT is designed exclusively for that idea. Blending in with a drop ceiling, the beamforming microphone array offers acoustic echo cancellation, noise cancellation, and beam selection built in rather than relying on a separate mixer for these functions. Via P-Link, three of the units can be daisy-chained for larger rooms.
The Clockaudio C3 Slimline Gooseneck mic line is intended to allow close and directional mic placement without table clutter, and there are a variety of stem lengths. These are available in either Satin Black or white finish to blend with room décor, but Nextel Suede Coating finishes can be custom ordered. The cardioid condenser mics have flexible stems and mini XLR termination.
Among the conference bar solutions is the Crestron UCB70-A-T Flex tabletop conferencing system. Consisting of the Video Bar 70, a PoE injector, 10in. tabletop touch screen, and cabling, this system handles medium to large facilities with Microsoft Teams Rooms. The Video Bar 70 is a quad 4K camera, 24-mic device that features auto tracking/framing and is equipped with dual 10W speakers.
The DPA 4098 line of gooseneck microphones has so many variants that there has to be one in a perfect stem length for any conference facility. Fitted with MicroDot or XLR-3M connectors, these ideally run on 48VDC phantom power and deliver 20Hz-20kHz frequency response with a supercardioid pickup pattern. The XLR-3M version offers stem lengths from 8in. to 48in., and the mics are available in black or white
As many as 16 local conference participants can be clearly heard above any background room noise on the Epos Expand 80 premium, scalable Bluetooth speakerphone and its six adaptive beamforming mics. For larger groups, a pair of expansion mics can be added. The BTD 800 USB dongle Bluetooth connects any device, while the main unit extends only 1.81 inches above the table level. Full-bodied voice sound exits the speakers with a 50Hz-20kHz frequency response.
An all-in-one conferencing solution that fits right on the table is the Hall Technologies HT-ODYSSEY featuring audio, video, and straightforward connection functionality. At ten and a half inches across, the housing is very compact for its range of connections. Included are USB and HDMI inputs, LAN terminal, and outputs for HDMI and HDBT. BYOD enables content sharing via Miracast, AirPlay, and HT-Voyager. Sound is enhanced through automatic echo cancellation and noise reduction.
A smaller group conference can appear as though it is being broadcast by a TV camera crew with the Jabra PanaCast 40 VBS. The system is capable of showing a 180-degree wide shot even in a small booth space. It tracks the person speaking and automatically adjusts video and sound. The hardware is packaged for easy installation and zero cable clutter. The device is designed for Microsoft Teams and operates through the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP).
Combining a speakerphone with a customizable touchscreen, such as those used in large room-sized systems, the Lifesize Phone HD has the screen on the edge of the tabletop unit. It is used for distance conferences and local in-room presentations by providing control of all AV devices and using space-saving context-driven screen displays. 90Hz-22kHz sound accompanies 360-degree voice pickup, which is extendable with the optional Lifesize Digital MicPod for larger rooms.
The Lumens MS-10S 4K video soundbar enables voice pickup, sound control, and Ethernet over USB with video auto framing on the 4K camera. Its four directional mics use auto tracking to pick up the speaking participant. There are three presets for IR control and 128 for USB commands as the 8.29MP CMOS imaging sensor shows the 4K video. The RJ-45 port connects the internet to the presenter’s device.
Another versatile conferencing unit is the Magewell USB Fusion, which facilitates file and screen sharing, camera viewing, and picture-in-picture display of AV resources. There are two 1080p/60 HDMI inputs and one USB input for a webcam. All this control is done through icon hardware buttons on the top of the housing, as LED indicators show source selection. USB Fusion is compatible with many current conferencing systems.
The MAXHUB UC BM45 is a speakerphone that can be used in a wide range of room sizes using its 8-beam mic array for 360-degree voice pickup, echo suppression, and 100-10kHz mic frequency range. Up to three units can be combined on RJ-45 ports for larger spaces. Full duplex audio keeps conversation sounding natural, and automatic gain control allows fast, hands-off volume regulation between those with varying presentation styles
For small and medium-sized meeting spaces that need the big room features, the Muxlab MuxMeet Videobar brings in an 8MP camera with a 120-degree wide field of view, a four-mic beamforming array, and full-bodied sound. Voices are clear from over 18ft. away using Acoustic Echo Cancellation. The device can be either wall or table-stand-mounted, and it works with many conferencing platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, BlueJeans, and GoToMeeting.
A very low-profile tabletop device, the MXL AC-370-U is a USB mic with a 360-degree pickup pattern clear for voices up to 25ft. away. USB-C cables are included to allow daisy-chaining multiple units for larger conference tables. It is housed in a durable metal case so that if it is knocked off the table, it can be put right back and keep going. The locking DC power supply cable prevents accidental disconnection.
In as little as an hour, the Nureva HDL410 mic system can be wall-mounted to serve an extra-large conference room. It has pickup zones to zero in on the speaking member and provide automated camera switching signals. For this, it integrates with cameras from AVer, Lumens, PTZOptics, and Laia, along with control systems from Extron, Crestron, and QSC. Additionally, it can be controlled from the Aveo Systems MiraConnect 10
The Shure MXA310 table array microphone is designed to be unobtrusive and produce clearly intelligible voice reproduction using its Steerable Coverage technology. Working seamlessly with Dante Domain Manager, it is automatically discovered on the Dante network. The LED light ring that encircles the housing has configurable colors and intensity. The mic can be muted/unmuted locally or through Zoom Rooms or Microsoft Teams systems. Available in white, black, or aluminum, the mic can be tabletop or flush-mounted.
Boundary microphones are favorites in the conferencing realm, and the Sennheiser SL Boundary 114-S DW-3 B is one of the most proven. A member of the SpeechLine Digital Wireless product family, it needs no cables. The internal battery is rechargeable inductively or by USB, and battery life is LED-indicated. There is a programmable button that can be configured as PTT, PTM, Toggle on/off, or Permanent on. This status is displayed on a two-color LED ring.
Large conferences frequently use the Taiden HCS-5390 series digital IR wireless conference units. Through the 160×80 OLED display panel, channel numbers and language information are clearly displayed. Only the chairman unit has a priority button, but all have an on/off button in addition to voting and simultaneous interpretation features. When used with the HCS-5300BAT rechargeable battery, the device can function continuously for up to 14.4 hours.
Another system for large meetings and big-room conferencing is the Televic D-Cerno digital discussion system built around the D-Cerno AE central unit. Featuring recording capability and integrated audio routing, it also has a USB interface for Teams and Zoom integration. Additional functionality includes AES67 encryption and further setup through an advanced audio configurator. It is connected to the D-Cerno SL tabletop discussion unit and various flush-mount stations.
The TOA TS-910 central unit can be connected to a combination of up to 192 wired and wireless discussion units for a hybrid design suited to the facility. This would be a lot to handle, but the TS-910 also features a feedback suppressor (FBS) function along with external control, voting result confirmation, and equipment installation confirmation through a connected computer. It is tabletop or rack-mounted and provides two-channel audio for base language and translation.
A simple tabletop mic solution for small to medium-sized Dante networked rooms is the Vaddio EasyIP TableMIC D with its capacitive touch mute control. The acoustic fabric wrap isolates the case from table noise, and the top surface presents an LED stepped VU meter. For larger rooms, up to four units can be used together. Working with digital signal processing and automatic gain control, its three unidirectional mics provide 360-degree coverage
The Yamaha YVC-1000 consists of separate mic and speaker components so that they can be placed for best acoustical performance. As many as five mic housings and two speaker units can be configured for a system. An adaptive echo canceller and Human Voice Activity Detection (HVAD) filter noise out of the call. Acoustics are analyzed by an Autotuning function that adjusts audio parameters to produce the most natural sound.
