The right audio setup can transform muddled meetings into engines of crystal-clear discourse, boosting productivity and decision-making across your institution or organisation
Effective communication is the lifeblood of success in the corporate world. Yet, all too often, brilliant ideas and crucial decisions are scrambled by poor audio quality in conference rooms. The culprit? Suboptimal microphone placement. As seasoned technology integrators, we understand how transformative a proper mic setup can be. It’s not just about being heard, it’s about fostering an environment where ideas flow freely, collaboration thrives and every voice carries equal weight.
So let’s explore the art and science of conference room audio, and see how strategic mic placement can turn your meeting spaces into powerhouses of clear communication. Whether you’re a C-suite executive looking to optimise boardroom discussions or an IT manager tasked with upgrading your company’s AV setup, we’ll equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions that will resonate throughout your organisation.
Mic placement: acoustics concepts, specs and patterns
Perhaps the most common-sense trick to achieve good audibility is to get the mic as close to the speaker as possible. While almost everyone inherently understands this, what’s not well understood is that even small changes in the distance between the speaker and the mic can lead to significantly diminished sound in sensitive places. Therefore, optimal mic placement becomes extremely important to obtain intelligible audio from all sources (in a many-to-many space) or the primary speaker (in a one-to-many space).
Typical attenuation for a ceiling, pendant and traditional mic – Image credit: Biamp
Audio intelligibility is influenced by two critical ratios:
- Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): Compares signal level to background noise. Higher SNR yields clearer speech. It can be improved by close miking and noise reduction algorithms.
- Direct-to-reverberant ratio: Compares direct sound to reflected sound. A higher ratio enhances intelligibility. It can be improved by close miking and acoustic treatment.
When placing mics in enclosed spaces, a principle that is generall follow by audio engineers is the 3-1 rule. This states that the distance between adjacent microphones should be thrice the source-to-mic distance, minimising destructive comb filtering. Automixers mitigate this issue when spatial constraints exist.
Two very important mic characteristics often dictate mic placement.
- Sensitivity: Describes output voltage in response to sound. Gain adjusts input sensitivity at the DSP.
- Coverage pattern: Defines usable area around the microphone. Common patterns include cardioid (individual speakers), figure-eight (two-way conversations), and omnidirectional (group discussions).
Common coverage patterns – Image credit: Shure
In our next section, we’ll take a look at the fundamentals of mic arrangement and highlight some do’s and don’ts when setting them up.
The basics of good mic placement
Proper microphone and speaker setup in corporate meeting rooms is a complex task that often challenges even experienced professionals. The intricacies of acoustics, room dynamics and technology integration can be overwhelming. It’s not uncommon for professional AV teams to spend weeks fine-tuning a fully integrated conference room, ensuring optimal audio quality, coverage and seamless functionality for effective communication. Let’s take a brief look at how this is achieved and why it goes a long way in setting up a state-of-the-art conference room
- Recording high-traffic areas in the room: Putting mics directly in areas where people talk the most is generally avoided to prevent unwanted noise. Instead, they are positioned nearby to capture clear audio without obstructing movement. However, with the advent of newer technologies, this has started to become redundant. This includes auto-beamforming mics that dynamically adjust microphone direction to focus on the active speaker.
- Using an integrated solution: Implementing a cohesive audio setup that includes compatible microphones, processors and speakers is imperative. This integrated approach ensures seamless device communication and better audio management and quality control. An audio ecosystem can offer features like automatic echo cancellation and noise reduction, enhancing overall sound quality and ease of setup and use. A good example of this is products that combine a mic, loudspeaker and DSP in the same unit. This allows for a cleaner setup that provides a pristine audio mix with the help of automatic mixing, noise reduction and gain control.
- Testing for dead zones and overall audio quality: Integrators will often conduct thorough audio checks throughout the room to identify areas with poor pickup or sound quality. Using a person speaking at normal volume at different locations is a common test to check for clarity, volume levels and distortions. They may even use specialised tools (such as SPL meters) to create a heatmap, that helps to adjust microphone placement or add additional mics to ensure consistent coverage across the entire space.
- Performing simple room treatment: Since every room is different, it is important to address basic acoustic issues to improve audio quality. Pro AV teams will often add soft materials like curtains, carpets, or acoustic panels to reduce echo and reverberation. Along with sound-absorbing materials on walls or ceilings, upholstered furniture is strategically placed to diffuse sound. Sound masking technology is also used to cover ambient noise and create a consistent audio environment. These simple treatments significantly enhance microphone performance and overall audio clarity.
Here are some rules of thumb for good mic placement in enclosed spaces.
- Place the mic as close to the speaker as possible
- Maximise the SNR and direct-to-reverberant ratios for intelligible speech
- Pre-amp gain increases the farther away the speaker is from the mic
- Two or more mics close to speakers generally sound better than one room mic
- Ensure HVAC units and projector fans are not in direct competition with speakers
- PAG > NAG* so that the system can operate without feedback
*Potential Acoustic Gain (PAG) is the maximum sound level that can be achieved before feedback occurs in a sound system while Needed Acoustic Gain (NAG) is the required amplification level to ensure all listeners can hear clearly in a given space
Location, location, location: why does it all even matter?
Mastering microphone placement in corporate meeting rooms is an art that combines technical knowledge, experience and a keen ear for audio quality. While the basics outlined above provide a solid foundation, it’s important to remember that each room presents unique challenges and opportunities. The key to success lies in testing, adjustment and refinement.
As technology evolves, so do the possibilities for creating immersive and effective communication spaces. From advanced beamforming and steerable table array mics with multiple polar patterns to AI-powered audio processing, new tools are constantly emerging to enhance the meeting experience. However, these innovations are most effective when built upon a strong foundation of proper mic placement and room acoustics.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a seamless audio environment where technology fades into the background, allowing participants to focus on the content of their discussions rather than technical issues. The effort invested in proper microphone placement pays dividends in improved collaboration, productivity, and overall meeting satisfaction.
Revolutionise your organisation’s communication with tailored expertise. We offer free consultations and comprehensive site surveys, allowing us to craft a bespoke strategy that will elevate your meetings from good to exceptional. Join the numerous corporations that have trusted Actis Technologies for their AV technology needs and get in touch with us at 022-30808000 today.