In order to address the need to pick up and record the audio from audience questions or responses, CAEN is installing static, room-wide audience microphones in most College of Engineering classrooms. These microphones are automatically fed through the room’s audio system, including the Lecture Capture Service and the Zoom Live Streaming PC, where programming takes care of the routing. No instructor configuration is needed, as the microphones are essentially “always on.”
Audio from these audience microphones is “mixed in” with the instructor’s microphone, but the instructor audio has the priority signal. So, when the instructor speaks into their microphone, the audience microphones automatically dip in volume. Instructors are encouraged to continue to use the wireless/lapel microphones for maximum audio quality, especially in larger spaces. CAEN will continue to fine-tune this service throughout the term to ensure optimum performance.
Note: Some rooms have size and configuration constraints, so audience microphones cannot be installed. Handheld microphones are available when possible. Refer to the Lecture Capture Service Availability page for the current list of locations.