Choosing a conference microphone for a boardroom

In a meeting room, the best speaker system in the world is wasted if the microphones cannot pick up voices clearly. A good microphone choice and sensible placement make meetings easier to follow and calls clearer for the people on the other end. This guide explains the choices in plain words.

Types of microphone you will meet

Gooseneck microphones sit on a flexible neck attached to a base on a table or lectern. You can bend the neck to aim the microphone at the speaker’s mouth. They are the usual choice for boardrooms, courtrooms and lecterns.

Head-worn microphones sit on a lightweight frame over the ears, with a small microphone at the cheek. They keep a constant distance from the mouth and free the hands, which suits teachers, trainers and presenters who move.

Handheld microphones are held in the hand. They are familiar but not ideal for long meetings, because the speaker must hold them at the right distance.

Condenser or dynamic

These words describe how the microphone turns sound into an electrical signal.

A condenser microphone is more sensitive and picks up fine detail, which makes it good for speech at a distance of a few tens of centimetres. It usually needs power, either from a small battery or from the mixer, called phantom power.

A dynamic microphone is sturdier, needs no power and is less sensitive. It handles loud sounds and rough handling well, and suits presenters and trainers.

Pickup pattern

The pickup pattern describes where the microphone listens. A cardioid pattern picks up sound from the front and rejects much of what comes from the sides and back. That is what you want in a meeting room, because it favours the person speaking and reduces room noise and the sound of nearby speakers.

Audible’s two microphones

The UBU938 is a gooseneck conference condenser microphone. Its key details:

• Cardioid pickup pattern
• Frequency response of 80Hz to 12kHz
• Runs on a 3V battery or on 48V phantom power
• XLR output
• Flexible gooseneck on a desktop base

The UBU-HM99 is a head-worn dynamic microphone. Its key details:

• Unidirectional (cardioid) pattern
• Frequency response of 60Hz to 15kHz
• Adjustable, sweat-resistant head frame
• Cable of about 1.2 metres
• Compatible with PA systems, amplifiers and bodypack transmitters

What is phantom power?

Phantom power is a small voltage, usually 48V, sent down the microphone cable from the mixer or amplifier. It powers condenser microphones so they do not need a battery. Some amplifiers have a phantom power switch and some do not. The PA-260 and PA-380 have four microphone inputs with a 48V phantom power switch, so the UBU938 can run from the amplifier. With other amplifiers, the UBU938 can run from its 3V battery.

Check the connectors

Before you buy, check the connector on your amplifier’s microphone input. The UBU938 has an XLR output, while many PA amplifiers use 6.35mm jack inputs. A suitable cable or adapter solves this, but it is easier to plan for it than to find out on installation day. The UBU-HM99 is supplied with different connectors depending on the model, such as a 3.5mm jack, an XLR or a mini XLR, so tell us what your equipment needs.

Where to place the microphone

• Distance. Place a gooseneck microphone about 20 to 40 centimetres from the speaker’s mouth, aimed at it.
• Off to the side, not in front of the face. Slightly off axis reduces breath noise.
• Away from speakers. Never place the microphone directly under a ceiling speaker or in front of a wall speaker.
• One microphone for one or two people at most. The more microphones are open at once, the more room noise and feedback you pick up.

How to avoid feedback

Feedback is the loud squeal that happens when a microphone hears its own speaker. To avoid it:

1. Keep microphones well away from the speakers.
2. Aim speakers at the listeners, away from the microphones.
3. Turn down microphones that nobody is using.
4. Use the lowest volume that gives clear speech.
5. Choose a cardioid microphone and face it toward the speaker.

How many microphones do you need?

For a boardroom table, plan about one microphone for every one or two people. For a lectern, one microphone is enough. For a classroom or training room, a head-worn microphone for the teacher is often the best solution. If you plan to connect several, check how many microphone inputs your amplifier has. The USB-80A has two, the LPA-150EC and SPA-60/150W have three each, and the PA-260 and PA-380 have four.

Matching the microphone to the space

Offices and boardrooms usually need gooseneck microphones on the table, which you can read about on our offices and boardrooms page. Classrooms and event halls suit head-worn microphones for the person leading, as shown on the events, gyms and auditoriums page. For help with the rest of the system, read our guide to public address systems.

Ask for a quote

Tell us the size of your meeting room, the number of seats and how you will connect the microphones, and we will suggest a matching set. See all of our microphones on the microphones page.

Request a quote