Ceiling or Tabletop Mics That is The Question...

If you can’t be heard clearly, your message won’t get across and the secret for clean audio is your microphone…or rather where you place it. The option of tabletop mics or ceiling microphones has been a topic of debate for those planning their tele or video conferencing audio setup, so, let’s take a look at some of the trade offs for each option:

Placement

It’s seems only natural that because tabletop microphones are placed closer to the speaker, they would sound better. In fact, having a shorter distance between the speaker and the microphone does reduce that sometimes hollow sound created from mics placed farther, such as the ceiling.  There is also the added benefit that a tabletop mic can easily be moved or repositioned.

What if you just want it out of the way? Technology for ceiling mics has greatly improved, in fact they actually work to compensate the distance issue by fine tuning their sensitivity to vocal sounds as well as increase the mic gain. However, it does pick up a bit more background noise in the process and that sometimes could possibly increase the likelihood of feedback

Ambient Noise

There are numerous background sounds you might have never even noticed… until you do, and then it’s too late. Consider for example the sounds that comes from being close to the wall or ceiling, like air vents that cause vibrations or humming or perhaps the buzzing or interference of light fixtures.

While tabletop mics aren’t in the clear, they can also sometimes pick up ambient noises like air conditioners because they are normally farther away it might not be as noticeable but what about the countless things that are up close! The tapping of a pen on a desk, the clicking of a keyboard, a phone vibrating, or the sound of paper shuffling… these common sounds are amplified when they are so close to the microphone.

Design

Tabletop Mics can be a distraction, people can be playing with or moving them around, or simply clutter a Boardroom table… They might not be aesthetically pleasing to look at. While, there are wireless options, you have to consider the complications of RF interference and having to change batteries or charge the microphone, and that can have limitations… besides, you wouldn’t want to have your power fail in the middle of  your meeting.

Visually, ceiling mics are completely out of the way and out of site. You don’t have to think about them. They are hardwired, no need for charging or finding the right place to set it down, and with color options they almost blend into the room so, you won’t even know they are there.

In the end, any microphone solutions will provide decent sound as long as you have a good Digital Signal Processor. At AVPlanners, we recommend Biamp’s DSP solutions, the Tesira Forté line offer tools that can help neutralize unwanted sounds in the environment.

To learn more about microphone and audio solutions for your space, contact us at info@avplanners.com, call us at 800-409-3587, tweet us @AVPlanners.