Do You Need Boundary Microphones?
Do you need boundary microphones? You certainly may and there are a lot of people using boundary microphones today.
There are many benefits to using boundary microphones and there are even more companies that make them. Boundary microphones are popular for several applications.
One of the most common places you will see boundary microphones used is on the boardroom conference table. Boundary microphones are used here frequently because of all the reflective surfaces. You will also see boundary microphones in use in boardrooms all over the world because they allow one that one person to talk at once without having to constantly move the people or the microphones. The people in the boardroom using boundary microphones do not have to have individual microphones, either.
You may see boundary microphones used on church altars and at places where podiums are used for speakers. Boundary microphones have the ability to pick up a voice clearly without the microphone being in close proximity. When using boundary microphones the speaker can move about freely without running into the microphone or getting out of range.
Another good choice for boundary microphones is the miking of percussion instruments. You will not need as many microphones when you are miking drums when boundary microphones are used.
The piano can be miked using boundary microphones. This is a good choice because only one or two are needed and the boundary plates can be mounted under the piano lid where they are out of sight and out of mind. Boundary microphones provide excellent sound for the piano because they can capture all the different kinds of tones produced by the instrument.
Those working in the theater have benefited from boundary microphones. Often the stage will be miked by laying several microphones on the floor of the stage and possibly hanging mics in strategic positions. Boundary microphones have the advantage here because they will eliminate the problem of having the microphones stepped on. You will not need to worry about distortion and cancellation problems that occur when laying microphones across the stage floor when you choose to use boundary microphones instead.
You may have the need for boundary microphones used for surveillance, lecterns, and for intercom systems. Recessed boundary microphones can be just what you need in these situations. Recessed boundary microphones are not attached to a plate and they usually don't have a protective screen. They are, instead, designed for fixed-install mounting in a tabletop, podium, wall or ceiling. These boundary microphones are discreet yet have the same advantages as traditional boundary microphones.
So, the answer to the question may very well be, "Yes you do need boundary microphones!"