Forum Discussion
Surface Hub External Mic
We have had Surface Hubs since they were first on the market and love them!
We have been pushing back on requests to put any external mics or cameras on them, for multiple reasons, but we still have some people who insist on it.
Has anyone had good succss putting any external mics (ex: Biamp) on their Surface Hub and having it work (We had a mute sync issue with a Biamp we origionally put on a demo unit) as well as improve the audio quality?
Thanks
Skylar Freeman
17 Replies
Hi
I've tested a range of external microphones and there's lot of good suggestions in the thread.
The easiest solution of us .... as in cheapest, provided a good solution and allowed the end user to manage themselves was to use 2 x Jabra 710's. http://www.jabra.com.au/business/speakerphones/jabra-speak-series/jabra-speak-710
One Jabra 710 would be connected to the S.Hub and then the 2nd Jabra linked to the first one. It allowed the units to be moved around quite freely if the stand up was in an open environment or lots of people interacting.
At times if the Bluetooth acted up a little (due to so many mobile phones in the area) we would simply connect the 1st Jabra via it's USB cable to the S.Hub and then still link the 2nd Jabra to the first again.
I hope this helps. :-)
It would be nice, but I'm not sure if it would be possible to get perfect audio sync with the video on the Surface Hub that way.
Sennheiser has the TeamConnect Wireless - 2 or 4 wireless satellites where the Surface Hub connects via either BlueTooth or USB to the master satellite. The master satellite wirelessly transmits audio to/from the other satellites. Please note that each wireless satellite has both microphones and an individually controlled speaker and could be used for up to 24 participants. We've got a number of universities in California currrently using TeamConnect Wireless with 70" Surface Hubs this way.
The TeamConnect Wireless also has built-in Echo Cancellation too.
Daryl,
I saw you use the Sennheise TeamConnect with Surface Hubs, can you share your experience?
Is it easy to use and good quality / stable connection?
Thanks in advance
Maarten Van Wesenbeeck
We are looking at Biamp and Vaddio solutions. I have successfully tested with a Polycom Trio in USB mode and a Polycom CX5100. Both worked great. I don't see why a Biamp Devio or Vaddio solution wouldn't work equally well.
FYI, I think I read somewhere that Biamp fixed that mute sync issue with Surface Hub and Devio.
Hi David,
We're in a similar situation with multiple Surface Hubs and continuous complaints about sound and mic pickup. I've tested the Team Connect solution from Sennheiser but whilst its not too bad there is an issue with the bluetooth not connecting automatically, that is to say once paired, everytime you wish to use it you have to go into the admin settings and connect the paired device (not ideal for the end users).
Keen to hear if anyone has tried the Vaddio (or other solutions) to improve audio and mic.
Cheers !
We have our BTD 800 Dongle that we can send out to you. With the dongle, you shouldn't have to go into admin anymore once it's initially set up. Also, you can set up the TeamConnect to automatically pair with the dongle when the main unit has turned on.
Hi David,
I'm in the same bag. I have a long conference room, and will be installing a Surface Hub on one end, and I anticipate the need for extra microphones. I have a Polycom CX5500 currently in that room, basically the same as a CX5100 which you said you succesfully tested. Is there a reason you are looking into other options, since you said that worked great? Perhaps, you are investigating additional equipment such as speakers, etc., as I am also. You are a step ahead of me, so appreciate the discussion.
Hey Brian,
It comes down to personal preference for me. The Polycom CX series has a 360 degree camera that I feel is better suited for a smaller space. When participants are looking at the screen and speaking, the camera on the CX will be showing the side of their face or back of their head, depending on where it is located in the room.
If there's no existing room audio, I would personally go for a Biamp Devio and either use the existing cameras or install a Logitech PTZ Pro 2. If there is room audio, you could use a Vaddio USB A/V bridge to link room audio with your Surface Hub.
- I've only ever used an external mic for a Hub in a long meeting room, which is not the ideal space for a Hub in the first place. It worked well enough - not issues that I know of.
