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Transforming meetings with next-generation conference microphones
Many people who spend hours each week in meetings will recognize that one of the biggest frustrations is often hearing—and being heard. Hikvision's network professional audio solutions, however, transform meeting spaces into environments where speakers can talk naturally from anywhere in the room and be always heard perfectly.
Meetings are the heartbeat of modern business. In the United States alone, approximately 55 million meetings take place every week1—that's over 1 billion conversations every year. Most employees now spend up to one-third of their workweek in meetings, a figure that has climbed 8-10% each year since 2000.
When asked about their biggest frustration during these critical conversations, half of all professionals say that they experience issues related to audio. Although this situation can be solved with the installation of an appropriate conference audio system, the puzzling question remains: if conference microphones and speakers have been around for decades, why do such problems persist?
In many cases, the answer lies in how most conference rooms are still built. Frequently, they require a range of equipment such as mixing consoles, audio processors, feedback suppressors and equalizers (which sometimes require entire equipment cabinets), just to handle sound. Desktop microphones, meanwhile, restrict speakers to stay close to the device, whilst wireless options introduce battery management and interference concerns. As for that feedback squeal, it's usually the result of complex gain staging requiring constant manual adjustment. What’s more, all this equipment demands extensive wiring, professional calibration, and ongoing maintenance.
Modern network audio architectures can fundamentally change this game, transforming both installation complexity and ongoing management.
Let's compare. A traditional conference room installation, including microphones and a speaker system, will typically require:
A network-based audio installation, on the other hand, simply needs:
Installations that once required routing dozens of specialized audio cables now need just one network cable per device. Hikvision's professional audio solutions embrace this network-centric approach. With our audio assistant software, all system configuration happens through a single, visualized interface. Administrators can adjust settings, define pickup zones, and monitor system health from any computer.
Instead of cluttering tables with microphones or asking speakers to hold devices, what if the microphone simply disappeared into the ceiling?
Hikvision’s 128 Mic Network Ceiling Array Microphone represents a new generation of conference microphones designed to make communication as seamless as possible. With 128 individual pickup units arranged in an intelligent array, this conference room microphone captures clear audio up to 10 meters away. This frees up presenters to move freely across the room. No one stretches awkwardly toward a microphone during conference calls and no device gets passed around like a relay baton. Participants simply speak naturally from wherever they happen to be in the room.
The truly smart part is, the array doesn't just pick up sound—it follows it. Integrated with conference cameras, the system follows active speakers automatically. When someone stands to present or moves while speaking, both the audio capture and the video frame adjust seamlessly. The camera follows the voice, keeping remote participants engaged with natural, dynamic visuals.
Here's where many conference room microphone systems hit their limits. What happens when your auditorium seats 200 people? When your lecture hall spans 30 meters? When your multi-purpose room needs coverage across complex layouts?
Traditional solutions create frustrating tradeoffs. Installing numerous independent microphones, for example, brings management headaches and audio conflicts. Relying on just a few microphones, however, creates dead zones and forces participants to waste precious meeting time passing devices from person to person—breaking the flow of discussion.
The 128 Mic solves this through intelligent cascading capability. Cascading isn't simply placing multiple microphones in a space. When microphone coverage areas overlap, you typically get interference, echo, and degraded audio quality. Sophisticated algorithms allow cascaded 128 Mics to operate in overlapping coverage zones without interference. The system intelligently manages which microphone captures audio from which zone, seamlessly handing off as speakers move between coverage areas. Participants can speak freely without passing devices around, keeping conversations flowing naturally and preserving valuable meeting momentum. This isn't just about more microphones—it's about smarter coordination.
Each 128 Mic in a cascaded setup can define eight pickup zones, giving administrators control over massive spaces through the same audio assistant software. You can designate priority areas across the entire venue—ensuring moderators, instructors, or keynote speakers are always captured clearly, even in spaces accommodating hundreds of participants.
Background noise is the invisible meeting killer. HVAC systems, street traffic, keyboard typing, paper rustling—traditional conference microphone and speaker systems often amplify these distractions right alongside the speaker's voice. The 128 Mic tackles this issue with AI-powered noise reduction algorithms which are capable of identifying and suppressing over 300 types of background noise, both steady-state and transient.
What's particularly valuable is the heterogeneous processing architecture built directly into the device. This single conference room microphone system handles both remote conferencing audio transmission and local sound reinforcement simultaneously, making conversation more convenient.
The 128 Mic is part of Hikvision's complete network audio portfolio—including Network Ceiling Speakers, Audio Processors, Linear Speaker Columns, Column Speakers, and Gooseneck/Rectangular Microphones. Every component connects through a standard network infrastructure and is managed through the same software interface.
The result is a seamless experience. Presenters can move naturally and freely—whether standing, walking around, or gesturing—without ever needing to lean toward a microphone. Remote participants hear clearly without frustrating "can you repeat that?" interruptions. And your IT team can manage easily through familiar network tools rather than specialized audio engineering equipment. Whether it's a 6-person meeting room or a 500-seat auditorium, Hikvision's network professional audio solutions transform meeting spaces into truly collaborative environments. That's what modern conference rooms should really deliver today.
Contact us today to discover how effortless audio can work for you.
[1] Cross River Therapy (2025). Time Wasted In Meetings: 59+ Meeting Statistics
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