Push to Talk Conference Microphones – An Edge over Conventional Microphones
The key differences between Push to Talk Conference Microphones and Conventional Microphones are; push to talk microphones are controlled by the delegate or user, who can select by pressing a button, when to speak or not. A conventional microphone is operated by a technician at the back of the room. Therefore when there are highly interactive discussions a push to talk conference microphone in front of each delegate allows them to participate immediately and more fully.
For Technical Readers there are a number of technical aspects of push to talk Conference Microphones that give them an edge over the Conventional microphones
You can have an unlimited number of conference microphones in the room. All ready to go. If you do this with conventional microphones you will get feedback.
Conference Microphones are daisy chained together. Therefore you have a single cable connecting one microphone to the next, rather than a dedicated cable back to the mixing desk for each microphone as in conventional microphones. This means that for the operator there is now one channel on the mixing desk that is microphones.
Anything above 6 conventional microphones managed by an operator with a Mixing desk starts to become unwieldy, with delays in the operator bringing up the gain on a particular microphone. With Push to talk there is no delay at all.
Each Conference microphone has its own built in speaker, this means that you can run a meeting without a mixer and PA if you choose. However most companies will provide a PA to fill the room with sound.
Conference microphones are a basic need of business conferences. Every business delegate participating in a conference is equally authorized to share his views and analysis. Conference microphones give everyone in the conference room a chance to speak up, from the loudest to the quietest person, they are all heard equally.
Conferences are usually interactive sessions which may include a large number of delegates; there is a chance that the conference may get out of control. Push to talk conference microphones allow a chairman to take control in such situations, using the chairman override function.
Modern conference microphones can also have software queuing and video dome systems.
As already stated above, conferences are usually used in interactive sessions, which may include several delegates at a time. In such sessions, it maybe unclear, who wishes to speak first, a clear or who is in the queue ready to speak etc. The meeting is managed orderly and calmly, when the chairman has this information. Software queuing provides the chairman with a screen that shows all these details and lets the chairman direct the meeting in a planned way. An automatic video tracking of the delegate speaking at the moment is provided by the video dome system if required.
Analogue Vs Digital Systems
All Push to talk conference microphone systems has the following characteristics better than conventional microphones.
Simple and fast to install
Guaranteed better acoustics
Easier to control
No delay waiting for operator
No limit to the number of microphones in a room
Allows everyone to participate in the discussion
Chairman can take control at any time.
Push to talk conference microphones can be incorporated into videoconferencing and audio conferencing systems to provide massively improved audio quality.
But having been convinced of the need for a conference microphone system which one do you choose? The following table helps you choose between the 3 main options that manufacturers offer.
Analogue Conference Microphone System
Pro’s
Low Price
Simple to use.
Con’s
Limited in functionality
Cannot integrate with SW or Video
Not Immune to Mobile Phone interference
Wired Digital Conference Microphone System
Pro’s
Immune to mobile Phone interference
Simple to use, adding complexity easy
Allows SW integration and PC Control
Integration with Dome Video Camera
Secure (Cannot be eaves dropped)
Integrates with Simultaneous Interpretation systems
Con’s
Higher Price than Analogue systems
Wireless Digital Conference Microphone System
Pro’s
No cables easiest to install
Ideal in Heritage buildings
Immune to mobile Phone interference
Complete flexibility in location.
Allows SW integration and PC Control
Integration with Dome Video Camera
Integrates with Simultaneous Interpretation systems
Con’s
High Price
Requires knowledge of existing Wifi systems in building
If you are buying or renting a Push to talk conference Microphone system you need to know a few things and ask questions of your supplier
Is it analogue or digital?
Is it immune to mobile phone noise?
Is there a Chairman’s unit, how does it work?
Who will install the system?
Will it integrate with the AV set-up that I have planned?
Do I want and is Software control of the push to talk conference microphones available?
Does this have cost extra?
How many microphones are required? 1 per person? 1 between 2? 1 between 3 or more?
What will happen to the system if a cable is pulled out by a delegate? Will it completely fail or will it start working as soon as the cable is plugged back in?
Push to talk microphones, offers every facility that is needed at a ideal business conference. People, who have experienced them have found them more advanced in comparison to standard table microphones. Push to talk microphones are a proved medium to achieve faultless communication in business conferences.
About the Author
Rental & Sales of Simultaneous Interpretation Equipment, Translation Equipment, Audience Response & Voting Systems, Message Management, Silent Auction and Conference Microphones with Queuing SW & Cameras. Operating throughout Asia & Australia. For More Information Visit : http://www.congressrental.asia
Perhaps the most preferred and definitely the best microphone for sound and music reproduction is the dynamic microphone. It is really dynamic. It works like a loudspeaker but reversed. For managing high volume levels from musical instrument or amplifiers these microphones are the perfect choice, that do not even need batteries or any kind of external power and does not have internal amplifier too. Moreover, they are best suited for guitar amplifier, drums and back up for vocal sound. Infact these are even ideal for general use.
Switching over to the functioning of the dynamic microphones, as mentioned earlier that its workings are almost like loudspeakers but in a reverse form. Rather we can say that they are the loudspeakers in reverse. Generally, loudspeakers converts electric signal into sound waves. Whereas, microphones do just the opposite. Although any all microphones follow the same principle but dynamic ones demonstrates it just perfectly.
We are familiar with a common process that moving a magnet near a coil of wire can generate electric current. Dynamic microphones, follows this electromagnet principle to create audio signal using wire coil and magnet. A diaphragm is attached to a coil of fine wire, which is mounted in the gap of the magnet so that it can move backward and forward. The diaphragm vibrates with the movement in the sound waves making the coil to move backward and forward in the field of magnet. And as this movement occurs, an electric current is induced in the wire. However, it should be noted that the current produced depends on the motion of the coil and this current is the electrical form of the sound wave.
However, there is a vital and technical point that the frequency level is not uniform in case of the dynamic microphones. Rather, they have customized frequency response for specific applications and moreover the response is very limited too. But in case of the neodymium magnets that are basically powerful and flexible and so can be made smaller which will result into high output level with linear frequency response.
Next come the features and the advantages of the dynamic microphones. First of all, these microphones do not require any external power like battery or phantom power which is essential in other type of microphones. They have the ability to stand high sound pressure and thus good for live vocals, drums and loud guitar amplifiers. Moreover, they are pretty rough and tough and well built. They are even resistant to moisture and can face any kind of accidental misuse. And this is the reason that they are extensively used for stage performances by singers and musicians.
Shure microphones like Shure SM57 and Shure SM58 are much in use and are quite popular models of dynamic microphones because of their sound quality and also because they can survive any mistreatment. Infact, these microphones are the first choice of the rock performers. Although other types of microphones are also there, that function mostly like the dynamic ones but their features differ. Even though they have wide range of frequency response and good transient response too (like the condenser microphones), but lacks other qualities like toughness and sound. And moreover, they just cannot go without power source.
![Shure PG42 USB Condenser Microphone [INCLUDES shock mount & carry case]](http://www.etroyal.com/images/e/251065674244_0.jpg)
