Meeting Microphones: A Teleconferencing Must
In business, meetings are all about face to face contact. The main downfall of traditional meetings however, is the difficulties in getting people together. Business today is not done across the block; it is done across the world. This highlights the need for companies to get good people together without spending a fortune on travel, boarding and such. Teleconferencing is the perfect solution allowing people to share ideas while being hundreds of miles away.
A good teleconferencing system has two main components. The first is a system to record and transmit video and the second is a system to gather and transmit sound. Thus a good series of meeting microphones is a must. Depending on the layout of the room, there are many different choices one has to choose from. The easiest and simplest solution is the table top mic. These meeting microphones are large flat units that are designed to gather sound from all directions. They vary in size and shape but all are designed to sit in the center of the table and generally plus directly into a teleconferencing suite's audio input.
The downside of tabletop meeting microphones is depending on the size and shape of the table, they may receive too little or too much sound from different people. These meeting microphones and their omni directional nature are also very susceptible to background noise. If someone enters the meeting room and shut a door loudly, the people on the side of the teleconference will most likely hear it.
Table top meeting microphones are an inexpensive and easy solution whereas the primary alternative, wireless microphones can be both costly and difficult to use. Wireless meeting microphones are generally lapel type microphones which clip directly onto an individual's tie or lapel. These units generally have a small wire than connects directly to a wireless transmitter which broadcasts a signal to a receiver connected to the teleconferencing suite's input. Lapel microphones are an attractive choice because they work with many different table configurations and sizes. They also give each individual their own microphone which not only makes sure that everyone can be heard, but it allows the meeting microphones to be less sensitive which can cut down on background noise.
Wireless lapel microphones are also ideal when the meeting takes place somewhere other than a boardroom. Depending on the industry, a laboratory, design studio or workshop might be a viable alternative for hosting a teleconference. These room types are less then ideal for tabletop microphones but would be perfect for wireless lapel microphones.