Classroom Ceiling Microphones for Lecture Capture

[NewPaltzAV]

Hi There Edu-Geeks

I am wondering if anyone has had or can recommend any microphones that not only look presentable but work awesome. The area that I am working in does NOT have drop ceilings and most microphones that I have used in the past that work well have some sort of above ceiling fixture that holds the microphone at an adjustable height. The no drop ceiling really limits my market for microphones. For Professors, I may have a work around with desk/instructor station equipment how ever capturing student audio may also be necessary

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Hi @NewPaltzAV have you had a look at the AKG CBL99 CBL99 - Hemispherical boundary layer microphone | AKG Acoustics AKG CBL99 Boundary Microphone 2762X00110 B&H Photo Video

[CAWJames]

Was just about to recommend Very, they put together a really good quote for us when we were shopping about for this type of kit.(PS Anthony, this is still on the cards, but authorization runs like mud!). We were looking at multiple thousands to equip each room for lecture capture, and they made that hundreds, just by finding cost effective solutions.

[NewPaltzAV]

Thank you for the recommendation. I am coming across a lot of microphones like this and this seems to be a very good surface mount solution. I will reach out to a vendor to see they do demo's units. Can either of you comment on the microphones pickup, how well it will do in a classroom as opposed to a small conference room. I am looking for something omni-directional that can cover a range of student seating area. The classrooms size i am dealing with is about 40'x17' so so they are LONG

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Can either of you comment on the microphones pickup, how well it will do in a classroom as opposed to a small conference room. I am looking for something omni-directional that can cover a range of student seating area. The classrooms size i am dealing with is about 40'x17' so so they are LONG

 

 

It all depends on how clear you want the audio. In a large room I would put 2-4 mics spaced out. If you are using these too record then you can have the gain on the mixer fairly high as you will not get feedback. Another factor is the ceiling height. If the rooms have a low ceiling you may find you need more Another thing to consider is the reverb time in the room. if the room is dead this will be unhelpful as sound will not travel and in a too reverbie room things will just echo.

[CAWJames]

Nice use of the word "reverbie"

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

If i start using terms like RT etc people will get confused reverbie is easy to understand

 

I have my own special dictionary

[gaz350b]

haha we have a very reverbie room

 

just to be really unhelpful its the Music room. teaching is horrible as you can hear your own voice.

[tompegrum]

I would suggest using a lapel mic, alot simpler to use and manged. this will result in a clearer recording and output to a pa. using a ceiling speaker or choir type of microphone will add alot of back ground noise unless you can change the type of mic (directional or pan) if you use a ceiling speaker i would suggest adding a gate to each microphone, aim to have the center microphones more sensitive and begin to limit the further you pan out.

[Andrew_C]

That thread was 4 years old...

[SamanthaD]

He's new. Not the first thread he's resurrected.