Use In-Class Microphones

Summary	How to use and setup in-class microphones for remote teaching
Author	Maintained by Derek Smith
Help	Get help with this article
Status	in need of review.

Why Use In-Class Microphones?

In-class microphones should be used when deans or school administrators indicate a student is out for an extended period of time. Students are sometimes given the option to join a class Zoom and participate in remote listening. Because of this, it is important to know how to setup the microphones Riverdale offer in the event student(s) are off campus while school is in session.

Using In-Class Microphones

We have deployed a Snowball microphone on a height-adjustable stand to most Hill classrooms and teachable indoor spaces. The Snowball microphone has two distinct uses:

Vocal mic for video voice-overs, Zoom sessions, and other occasions where your voice needs to be upfront, clear and crisp
Omnidirectional mic for capturing class discussions

On the back of the Snowball is a small switch found above the cable connection. Use the following settings depending on the type of class or desired recording:

Position 1 is for close vocals
Position 3 for classroom and groups

Once you've put the microphone in the correct mode, make sure the microphone is plugged into the Anker hub. Every classroom has the same Anker Hub installed.

Plug the microphone USB cable into the Anker hub
Plug the USB-C cable into your school issued computer
Check the audio source settings on your computer and make sure the classroom microphone is the default option.

Read more about this technology on the Hybrid Classroom AV page.

Here is an image of the model we're using at RCS. It is glossy black in color, and sits on a floor mic stand with a weighted base. When the mic is active and has power, the red LED at the top is illuminated.

For vocal use, position the microphone a bit lower than mouth level, either standing or sitting. A 16' USB cable connects the microphone to the Anker USB-C hub for use in class.