Is the purpose built, standalone microphone dead?
At ISE 2020, InAVate Magazine posed the question to 5 industry figures including our own Yuval Kramer. Their contention was that "Microphones and speakers in huddle and meeting rooms are redundant. Displays and smart devices have these built in."
Naturally, the answer came back that the Microphone was not dead. As soon as a space has more than one person, it becomes difficult to use a mic in a display, and as more people are added, it becomes more and more of an issue. Levels fluctuate and intelligibility is compromised. Separate microphones enhance the experience of the user.
The brain child of Yuval Kramer, Director of Audio at Kramer Electronics, the Omnivore KM-2B is a revolutionary microphone, designed to be the go-to microphone for meeting and conferencing spaces. It is a multi-purpose, dual boundary microphone that eliminates comb filtering and maximizes acoustic energy, providing unmatched clarity and flexibility. Omnivore KM-2B has three selectable polar patterns, allowing versatility for any type of installation:
? Omnidirectional – For use in small/medium meeting spaces
? Sub-cardioid – Under the display in a huddle space
? Cardioid – On the podium for a lecturer
Yuval Kramer wanted the ultimate, flexible corporate microphone which is simple to master. The KM-2B can be installed and configured by an individual with minimal audio expertise. The switchable pickup polar patterns will help the user get excellent results in minimum time, allowing simple trial and error and providing a totally flexible installation
In addition to this flexibility, sound quality is paramount. A selectable high-pass filter (HPF) at 120Hz helps to avoid any ‘boominess’ and table noises. The two microphones in the KM-2B can be summed into a single channel or output two separate signals for redundancy in critical installations or recordings of a conversation between two people, each with his/her microphone. Furthermore, a boost mode of an extra 12dB of microphone sensitivity allows an important gain stage – if the microphone is far from the speaker, or in case the volume is too high, boost can be cancelled to avoid clipping at the microphone
Here’s a brief video overview of the Kramer Omnivore from ISE 2020 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQisbz0G8L4