ClearOne announces the new second generation Beamforming Microphone Array 2 for voice conferencing, utilizing audio beamforming, adaptive steering, acoustic echo cancellation, and noise cancellation technologies.
“This second generation, highly selective and directional Beamforming Microphone Array is optimized to operate with ClearOne’s next generation CONVERGE Pro 2 audio conferencing platform,” said Durai Ramachandiran, ClearOne’s senior director of Product Line Management for Pro Voice and AV Distribution. “Twenty-four microphone elements in the array adaptively guide audio pickup patterns towards conferencing participants, rejecting unwanted noise and reflections, and delivering unmatched conference room performance.”
ClearOne’s Beamforming Microphone Array automatically senses its own mounting position – on a ceiling, wall, or table – to optimize audio signal processing.
The Beamforming Microphone Array 2 features:
—Enhanced echo canceling for demanding acoustic environments
—Faster convergence and better adaptation to changes in room acoustics, such as ambient noise from chairs moving, doors closing, chatter in the background, or any spikes in sound that alter the path of the audio
—Better mic pickup, sharpening the capability to detect softer voices
—Intelligible audio, even when two people speak at once
—Zero consumption of analog mic inputs in the CONVERGE Pro 2 DSP mixer
The Beamforming Microphone Array 2 operates on a new peripheral bus architecture that allows it to connect with ClearOne CONVERGE Pro 2 DSP mixers through a single cable that carries power, audio, and control. A common software application does everything, from configuration to management and monitoring of the arrays and mixers. Up to three Beamforming Microphone Array 2 units can be connected per CONVERGE Pro 2, and multiple mixers can interconnect with additional arrays to cover large areas. In this way, a large number of beamforming arrays can be daisy-chained together, and they can work in tandem with other ClearOne peripherals, such as the new DIALOG 20 Wireless Microphone System.
“ClearOne’s patented beamforming technology includes forming fixed beams and applies acoustic echo cancellation to each beam,” Ramachandiran explains.
The Beamforming Microphone Array 2 is ideal for a wide range of audio environments, including boardrooms, large- and medium-size conference rooms, large lecture halls, courtrooms, and telemedicine facilities.
The Beamforming Microphone Array 2 and other new ClearOne products will be on display at InfoComm 2016, June 8 to 10, in booth N1837.