Latin America. Customers like ceiling microphones for a variety of reasons – there are no visible wires on the table, no holes to drill holes in the tables, they feature a more aesthetic design and give freedom to move around the room.
Many technological advances and improvements in microphone design have made it possible for the quality of ceiling microphones to be as good, if not better, than that of tabletop microphones in many environments.
The ceiling surrounds the ceiling microphone improves the low-frequency response, making voices sound more natural than in tabletop microphones.
That is why the company AVITech Plus gives some best practices for the installation of ceiling microphones, published by CTG Audio:
Develop an acoustic model
The acoustic model is based on the dimensions of the room, the materials, the acoustics and the use that will be given to this room. This information helps determine if the ceiling microphones are appropriate for that room, the number of microphones needed, and where they should be placed to provide the desired coverage.
Minimize ceiling noise
The movement of HVAC air coming out of the ceiling creates noise that is extremely difficult to remove from the route where the audio goes. Typically, only mixers with sophisticated algorithms — with individual processors per channel — can reduce noise without generating audible artifacts. Because air vents push air into the floor, recessed ceiling microphones have a natural advantage over hanging microphones, as they are mounted outside the air path and are not affected by this type of noise.
Configure the microphone for the best performance
Microphones must be configured according to the mixer to which they are connected so that they work as expected. It is important to note that, for most ceiling-mounted microphones, the mixer input sensitivity tends to be higher than for tabletop microphones. All professional mixers, in which different types of microphones can be connected, allow to establish the appropriate sensitivity according to the microphone.
Create zones for voice elevation
Voice lift is the concept of allowing participants in large rooms to hear each other inside the room without having to pass wireless microphones. One technique used to accomplish this is to divide a large room into two or more zones for speakers and microphones. Microphones in each zone feed the speakers in the other zones, thus minimizing the occurrence of feedback. Voice elevation is often used in rooms where participants may be separated by more than 30 feet.
Test the system to ensure quality
Once the installation of the equipment is finished, it is necessary to evaluate the operation of the system.
What about hanging microphones?
The hanging microphones were designed to bring the speaker closer to the microphone. This causes the area they cover to be reduced, so more microphones are required for a specific room, adding complexity and noise to the system. In addition, hanging microphones are more sensitive to air movement, creating background hums.
