Use In-Class Microphones: Difference between revisions

Summary	How to use and setup in-class microphones for remote teaching
Author	Maintained by Derek Smith
Help	Get help with this article
Status	Up-to-date for the 2023-2024 school year.

Latest revision as of 15:03, 27 November 2023

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 through Zoom and participate in remote listening only. It is important to know how to set up the microphones.

Using In-Class Microphones

Set-up Microphone

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 microphone 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

Connect Microphone to Laptop

Once you've put the microphone in the correct mode, make sure the microphone is plugged into the Anker hub. Most classrooms have the same Anker Hub installed. Some classrooms may have a white Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, especially classrooms without Epson Interactive projectors.

Plug the microphone USB cable into the Anker hub or USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (photos below)
Plug the silver USB-C cable (from the Anker hub) or the Digital AV Multiport Adapter into your school issued computer
Check the audio source settings on your computer in System Settings > Sound > Input tab and make sure the Blue Snowball microphone is selected
- In Google Meet, click on the three vertical dots icon, click Settings, and under Microphone check that the Blue Snowball microphone is selected
- In Zoom, under the audio icon, click the arrow and select the the Blue Snowball microphone is selected

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

Current Riverdale Microphone Models

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 USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for use in class.

Anker Hub and Multiport Adapter

Anker Hub. USB ports on the left side

Apple Multiport AV Adapter. USB port on the right side

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-===Using the Blue Snowball Microphone===
+{{AboxNew
+| name = Use In-Class Microphones
+| learning =
+| instruction = x
+| community = x
+| summ = How to use and setup in-class microphones for remote teaching
+| maintained = DIS
+| year = 2023-2024
+}}
+__TOC__
-We have deployed a Snowball microphone on a height-adjustable stand to most Hill classrooms and teachable spaces.
-The Snowball has two distinct uses:
+=== 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 through Zoom and participate in '''''remote listening only.''''' It is important to know how to set up the microphones.
-*as a vocal mic for superior audio quality for video voice-overs, Zoom sessions , and other occasions where your voice needs to be foremost;
+===Using In-Class Microphones===
-*as a omnidirectional mic for capturing class discussions.
-On the back of the Snowball is a small switch found above the cable connection. For our intended usage, switch position 1 is for vocals, position 3 for classroom & groups.
+==== Set-up Microphone ====
-[[File:SB_Switch.jpg|800x800px|thumb|alt=]]
+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:
-In classrooms with the single silvery USBC cables connected to the Anker USBC Dock, or to a Apple Multiport AV USBC Adapter the mic is available by selecting it:
+#'''''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 Macintosh macOS: System Preferences > Sound > Input tab:
+'''''On the back of the microphone''''' is a small switch found above the cable connection. Use the following settings depending on the type of class or desired recording:
-On Windows 10:
+* '''''Position 1''''' is for close vocals
+* '''''Position 3''''' for classroom and groups
+[[File:SB_Switch.jpg|438x438px]]
+==== Connect Microphone to Laptop ====
+Once you've put the microphone in the correct mode, '''''make sure the microphone is plugged into the Anker hub'''''. Most classrooms have the same Anker Hub installed. Some classrooms may have a white Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, especially classrooms without Epson Interactive projectors.
+* Plug the '''''microphone USB cable''''' into the '''''Anker hub''''' or '''USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter''' (photos below)
+* Plug the silver '''''USB-C cable''''' (from the Anker hub) or the '''''Digital AV Multiport Adapter''''' into your '''''school issued computer'''''
+* Check the audio source settings on your computer in '''''System Settings > Sound > Input''''' tab and make sure the Blue Snowball microphone is selected
+** In Google Meet, click on the '''''three vertical dots icon''''', click '''''Settings''''', and under '''''Microphone''''' check that the Blue Snowball microphone is selected
+** In Zoom, under the '''''audio icon''''', click the '''''arrow''''' and select the the Blue Snowball microphone is selected
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FJt_WAeaLg&feature=youtu.be
+Read more about this technology on the [[Hybrid Classroom AV]] page.
+== Current Riverdale Microphone Models ==
+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 USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for use in class.
+[[File:Glossy_Black_Snowball.png|177x177px]]
+== Anker Hub and Multiport Adapter ==
+[[File:Anker.png|left|thumb|Anker Hub. USB ports on the left side]]
+[[File:AMPA.jpg|none|thumb|Apple Multiport AV Adapter. USB port on the right side]]
+<br />