If you are looking for conference microphone systems (also known as push-to-talk mic, discussion or conferencing systems) and are not sure where to start, you've come to the right place. We know this can be a tricky subject, so we've put all the necessary information on one page.
With competitive price and timely delivery, VISSONIC sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
The most common applications for conference microphone systems are:
In plain English, conference mic systems are a type of audio equipment that enable meeting participants to hear and be heard by each other.
Imagine a 20-member city council sitting around a table, with an additional 100 audience members watching. With a group of this size, it is impractical to pass a microphone between speakers. It would slow things down to the point of chaos.
That's where the conference mic system comes in.
In a typical conferencing setup, each participant has a personal (gooseneck style) microphone unit. This lets them speak to the other attendees and listen to others through a small speaker. The chairman of the meeting has a special unit with controls for volume, mute (to recognize speakers or cut off those whose time has expired), voting features, and so on.
The ultimate goal of conference microphone systems is to bring the efficiency of a small meeting to a larger setting.
Accessibility: Makes it easy for a wider group of speakers to participate in the meeting and allows a larger audience to follow the proceedings (either as passive listeners or after the fact via recordings).
Saves Meeting Time: Eliminates the need for speakers to constantly trade microphones, as each speaker has a personal mic. This stops needless time wasted fumbling with microphones between speakers, (or awkwardly trying to get a mic back from a speaker who has gone on too long). It is always clear who is speaking because each microphone has a light that illuminates when on.
Enables Language Interpretation: With multi-lingual groups, conference microphone systems are often used with simultaneous interpretation equipment. The individual mics allow the floor feed to be sent directly to the interpreter, so that he/she has a clear audio signal to translate.
Improves Meeting Flow: The system's mute, volume and voting controls allow the Chairman to discreetly control the meeting, recognize participants, and call to order as necessary.
Aesthetics: The sleek and polished appearance of the systems signals professionalism and respect for all participants. By giving each speaker a personal microphone, it also shows a commitment to valuing each person's voice.
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Key Terms for Understanding Conference Microphone Systems
A few pieces of lingo are essential to understanding these systems:
Chairman / Chairman Unit:
This is the person running the meeting. He/she can recognize speakers,alert them when their time is up, and organize voting. For this reason, the chairman has a special mic called the Chairman Unit with additional features like muting speaker priority to direct the discussion. These push-button features are simple to use and help the speakers focus on working with the group.
Delegate / Delegate Unit: Refers to all other participants in the meeting who are not the chairman. The delegates each have their own microphone, called a Delegate Unit. These units typically have a push-to-talk button, volume control, voting buttons (optional), and a light that illuminates when the mic is live.
Central Control Unit (CCU): This is the central piece of equipment that controls (and powers, if wired) all the individual microphone units. It also mixes the mic feeds, distributes target language feeds, and powers the voting functionality. Some central units also feature built-in recording capability.
Floor Language: The main language spoken by participants at a given time.
Target Language(s): The language in which each delegate hears the speech. It can also be called the translation feed. When the audience is diverse enough to need multiple target languages, this can be provided through multiple interpreters using the same system. The rest of the interpreting process remains exactly the same.
Simultaneous Interpretation: A type of translation where the interpreter listens to the floor feed through headphones while translating orally to the target language in real time. This is a highly demanding job. The interpreter must listen, mentally translate, and speak their translation all at once, with no time to check outside resources. For more information, see our resource page on translation equipment.
Ease Of Use: These systems aim to increase the efficiency of your meeting so the equipment must be easy for participants to use. No use investing in the equipment if participants can't use it! So it is critical for the controls (volume, push to talk, on/off light) to be instantly understood by users.
Number of Participants: The number of users must be known to select the right number of delegate mic units. Most CCUs can accommodate 80-120 delegate units, so in cases of very large groups, the number of users can affect the number of central control units needed.
Sound and Signal Quality: Older model systems use an analog audio signal, but most modern systems have gone digital for increased audio quality, lighter weight, and more signal processing and recording options.
Venue: Your event location will determine if you need a wired or wireless system. If you are using infrared interpretation gear, it's also important to maintain a line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver, as IR signals cannot penetrate walls. Other audio equipment (eg recording equipment) that you are using on site can also play a role in this decision.
Advanced Features: Conference Microphone systems are becoming more advanced with special features, so consider whether you will need:
We partner with Listen Technologies to offer the highest quality systems on the market. The systems we offer come in two flavors: wireless and wired. Here's an overview of the two systems:
Wired Conference Mic Systems
Key Points
Setup, Operation and Maintenance
The system is extremely easy to set up and use. A digital CAT5 cable carries signals between the CCU and the mic units. Delegates press a button to begin speaking, and a light appears for the chairman and the delegate to show the delegate's desired to talk. Chairman Unit includes a button to allow discussion, granting permission for a delegate to speak to the group. Ongoing maintenance of devices is minimal; and they are simple to clean.
Technical Notes
Wireless Conference Mic Systems
Key Points
Setup, Operation and Maintenance
The wireless conference mic system eliminates the need for complex mixers, sound systems, and cables. Simply ensure that the delegate and chairman units are charged (approx. 90 minutes) and power up the CCU to begin operation. Devices have feedback reduction technology that simplifies on-site operation.
Technical Notes
Li-Ion batteries operate over 28 hours continuous use on a full battery charge.Monitor charge and battery life with LED status indicator. Battery charging time is approx. 90 minutes.
Listen Technologies: TEHQ is an authorized dealer for this leading global supplier of professional audio equipment. Visit their website for full details on their product line, technical specs, and service offerings.
Want more information on Discussion System? Feel free to contact us.
Meeting Professionals International: A top international organization for meeting and conference planning pros. Visit their website for info on local chapters, professional development opportunities, and other events.
Audio Technica's Mic Selection Guide: A useful guide to the different types of microphone (eg condenser, unidirectional, etc) and the pros and cons of each.
Questions? Need A System Quote?
If any other questions arise that are not addressed here, or want to discuss a custom package to meet your organization's needs please call me toll free at:
(877) 817-
or :
Hi ' I'm Will and I started this company to help you find the best simultaneous translation / interpretation equipment for your organization.
If you need a sales quote, are looking for an audio product you don't see on the site, or have any other questions just drop me a line.
I usually respond within 30 minutes during business hours (EST).
Call: (877) 817
Or :
Note: All equipment we sell is for interpretation using a LIVE human interpreter/translator. There is nothing that I know of that exists now that is able to produce a good quality audio translation without a human interpreter.
How PayPal Works
The consumer decision-making process can seem mysterious, but all consumers go through basic steps when making a purchase to determine what products and services will best fit their needs.
Think about your own thought process when buying something'especially when it's something big, like a car. You consider what you need, research, and compare your options before making the decision to buy. Afterward, you often wonder if you made the right call.
If you work in sales or marketing, make more of an impact by putting yourself in the customer's shoes and reviewing the steps in the consumer decision-making process.
Generally speaking, the consumer decision-making process involves five basic steps.
The first step of the consumer decision-making process is recognizing the need for a service or product. Need recognition, whether prompted internally or externally, results in the same response: a want. Once consumers recognize a want, they need to gather information to understand how they can fulfill that want, which leads to step two.
But how can you influence consumers at this stage? Since internal stimulus comes from within and includes basic impulses like hunger or a change in lifestyle, focus your sales and marketing efforts on external stimulus.
Develop a comprehensive brand campaign to build brand awareness and recognition''you want consumers to know you and trust you. Most importantly, you want them to feel like they have a problem only you can solve.
Example: Winter is coming. This particular customer has several light jackets, but she'll need a heavy-duty winter coat if she's going to survive the snow and lower temperatures.
When researching their options, consumers again rely on internal and external factors, as well as past interactions with a product or brand, both positive and negative. In the information stage, they may browse through options at a physical location or consult online resources, such as Google or customer reviews.
Your job as a brand is to give the potential customer access to the information they want, with the hopes that they decide to purchase your product or service. Create a funnel and plan out the types of content that people will need. Present yourself as a trustworthy source of knowledge and information.
Another important strategy is word of mouth'since consumers trust each other more than they do businesses, make sure to include consumer-generated content, like customer reviews or video testimonials, on your website.
Example: The customer searches 'women's winter coats' on Google to see what options are out there. When she sees someone with a cute coat, she asks them where they bought it and what they think of that brand.
At this point in the consumer decision-making process, prospective buyers have developed criteria for what they want in a product. Now they weigh their prospective choices against comparable alternatives.
Alternatives may present themselves in the form of lower prices, additional product benefits, product availability, or something as personal as color or style options. Your marketing material should be geared towards convincing consumers that your product is superior to other alternatives. Be ready to overcome objections'e.g., in sales calls, know your competitors so you can answer questions and compare benefits.
Example: The customer compares a few brands that she likes. She knows that she wants a brightly colored coat that will complement the rest of her wardrobe, and though she would rather spend less money, she also wants to find a coat made from sustainable materials.
This is the moment the consumer has been waiting for: the purchase. Once they have gathered all the facts, including feedback from previous customers, consumers should arrive at a logical conclusion on the product or service to purchase.
If you've done your job correctly, the consumer will recognize that your product is the best option and decide to purchase it.
Example: The customer finds a pink winter coat that's on sale for 20% off. After confirming that the brand uses sustainable materials and asking friends for their feedback, she orders the coat online.
This part of the consumer decision-making process involves reflection from both the consumer and the seller. As a seller, you should try to gauge the following:
Remember, it's your job to ensure your customer continues to have a positive experience with your product. Post-purchase engagement could include follow-up emails, discount coupons, and newsletters to entice the customer to make an additional purchase. You want to gain life-long customers, and in an age where anyone can leave an online review, it's more important than ever to keep customers happy.
Putting yourself in the customer's shoes can help you steer consumers towards your product. Here are some tools to help you analyze their decision-making process and refine your brand marketing and sales tactics.
A customer journey map visualizes a hypothetical customer's actions. Use it to empathize with your customers as they go through a specific process or try to complete a purchase. Map out the actions the customer is likely to take.
Learn how to make a customer journey map to understand the decision-making process for your product/service.
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