Smart phone as wireless mics

So, way out of my depth here in the sound et al forum, but wondering if to extend the audio of a meeting around a conference table to the web or call in for a meeting, smart phones could be used as wireless mics. It just seems that with a half doze nor so smart phones ( 1 per every 2 or 3 people?) connected via wifi to a laptop that's on line, this could be pretty simple. A speaker on the laptop or wired in would provide the other way. I found apps for wireless mic uses but no idea if the whole thing can work and what it takes to support a half dozen devices.

Thoughts or experiences?

(I first thought just phones calling into a conference service but need to mute all but one speaker I think and figure out how to avoid feedback. A listen in and text if a comment from outside would be a reasonable option.)

Have everyone jump into a hangouts or skype call together.

Too much latency with too much variability, which would confound echo cancelling. We take for granted the complex DSP processing that a conference phone, like a Polycom, is doing.

OK - but if a web conference thing works, like goto meeting or uber conference, with the mic an speaker in the laptop, I was just looking for more mics without having to have actual mics and wires spread around the room. It is primarily to allow several people to listen in remotely and last experience with three wired mics at the "head" table area left a good part of the comments out. But maybe just not doable for reasons you note.

Teamspeak 3

Cost money for the app on the iPhone free on Android

Mumble

Free for all phone

Just need a good host server and a strong internet connection. If everyone is muted there shouldn't be any feedback.

Not sure this does it. 15-20 people around a conference table with a phone every 2 or 3 people so someone remotely can hear anyone. These all seem like for individuals all in different locations, and that the speakers would always be on - OK for people in different locations with their mic muted but not with all mics live. Maybe I'm missing the ability to turn off speakers on a smart phone while leaving mics live.

That is all adjusted in the software. Speaker being server admin and adjusting the clients permissions accordingly. With the ability to turn people on and off at will. Clients having the ability either thru the software or their phone adjust the volume of their speaker.

Curious as to how big this conference table is that the person speaking can't project their voice? Or is the person speak somewhere and reaching out to many conference tables?

I use all Three Com programs , Mumble , TS 3 and Vent . They are all pretty similar and have a wide variety of which have some pretty good control.

Amiers said:

That is all adjusted in the software. Speaker being server admin and adjusting the clients permissions accordingly. With the ability to turn people on and off at will. Clients having the ability either thru the software or their phone adjust the volume of their speaker.

Curious as to how big this conference table is that the person speaking can't project their voice? Or is the person speak somewhere and reaching out to many conference tables?

I use all Three Com programs , Mumble , TS 3 and Vent . They are all pretty similar and have a wide variety of which have some pretty good control.

Click to expand...

Trying to let people who didn't travel to meeting listen in from their office or home.

login to server that has auto mute. The other nice thing is a youtube stream, ustream, twitch.tv. I think even yahoo has some sort of streaming service. Google Hangouts and Skype are also very viable. It really depends on how much bandwidth you have to host.

BillConnerASTC said:

Trying to let people who didn't travel to meeting listen in from their office or home.

Click to expand...

Are you just looking to have those people listen or you wanting them to be able to talk back? Either way, just get a polycom and put it in the middle of the room and forget about it. Get a conference call number for it, dial in, and go. I do this type of setup for all of our board meetings and it works fine.

Primarily listen in only. It is in a hotel and trying to avoid those charges for hotel av. Probably a 25' square of tables so not sure if polycom on cell hotspot or WiFi will cut it.

Not sure renting a few more mics and the hardware to use it won't be the answer - just thought a laptop and cell phones - already there - would be slick.

http://www.controlbooth.com/index.php?threads/Audience-participation-app.38656/ Kind of like this?

urban79 said:

http://www.controlbooth.com/index.php?threads/Audience-participation-app.38656/ Kind of like this?

Click to expand...

I was watching that. Seems possible - basic web conference software on a laptop and audio input from these mics - and maybe the three wired ones we have already for head table - and it might work.

May be too late to be helpful, but the issue I've had with multiple phones in the same room is the latency between them. Hearing your own voice played back with a delay can be hard to deal with for a lot of people.

There have actually been a few products designed to deal with this issue though, the latest one I saw is Phoenix Audio Smart Spyder. Designed to plug into a smart phone via 3.5mm or computer via USB, and multiple units can daisy chain together for large tables. Uses 4-element mic array to help with noise cancelation (often an issue, depending on the HVAC noise levels in the room) http://www.phnxaudio.com/products/mt503/
Unfortunately they're still somewhat pricey, although cheaper than previous options we've used.