The Audio Technologies That Matter More Than Ever in audioXpress February 2021

audioXpress February 2021 explains why Microphones have gained Essential Status, and how microphones have a foundational contribution to voice front-ends. Erica Yorga details how Thousands of Virtual Microphones can solve audio conferencing challenges, and Mike Meechan explains how to design high-performance microphone preamplifiers. Brent Butterworth reviews the Widex Moment mRIC RD hearing aids to understand the differences and similarities in the critical sound experience. Michael Steffes explains how to increase the output current for an audio op-amp, and Andrew C. Russell details the X-Altra, a high-performance MC/MM phono equalizer DIY project. Now available in print and digital.

People working from home. Constrains on manufacturing and logistics. These are ideal times to repackage and relaunch basic products in high-demand. M-Audio just launched two new ultra-compact and affordable audio interfaces featuring the company’s own Crystal preamps, enabling users anywhere to produce studio quality sound for livestreams, podcasts, and music productions. And the company increased the perceived value with a strong software bundle for all production needs.

The coronavirus pandemic created a cultural shift in enterprise headset use, particularly in the office, as workers chose their own equipment and incorporated Bluetooth connectivity into their routine, according to the latest report by SAR Insight & Consulting. Research by the market analyst firm found that the lockdown that most countries implemented following the pandemic had other unforeseen knock-on effects.

HEAD acoustics continues to expand its series of online seminars focusing on enabling seamless audio/video conferences that help to increase the productivity and engagement of employees working in home offices and collaborating remotely. To give an overview over challenges and added value of this complex testing scenario using two acoustic test rooms, HEAD acoustics will host a free online seminar on August 11, 2020, with three different sessions available for different time zones.

Recognizing that working from home, away from the audio lab, is restrictive for many audio engineers, the support team at Listen, Inc. has produced a series of videos outlining some of the things that users can do using SoundCheck without all their usual test hardware, enabling developers and audio engineers to be productive when working from home. The videos span from cleaning up test sequences, to exploring offline analysis, using the recall step, to learning the new SoundCheck 18 features and more.

As part of its COVID-19 Tech Briefing Series, Futuresource Consulting shared interesting insights on how the major shift in behavior caused by the pandemic could drive opportunities for hearables in the work place. At a moment when worldwide, end-users are working from home and using remote communication more than ever before, key brands have reported a significant surge in sales from businesses equipping their workforces during lockdown, and many anticipate significant changes in communication culture.

A global emphasis on working from home combined with advice to minimize COVID-19 transmission from shared surfaces even within a home, will help cement the benefits of smart home voice control for millions of consumers. Last year, 141 million voice control smart home device shipped worldwide and, despite the key China market being impacted during the first quarter of 2020, the value of voice control during the pandemic will ensure that this year, voice control device shipments will grow globally by close to 30% over 2019, states ABI Research.