ClearOne Beamforming Microphone Array Quick Start

Beamforming Microphone Array

Group Microphone for Professional Conferencing

Quick-Start Guide

Table of Contents

THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY ..................................1

QUICK-START OVERVIEW ................................................................2

Quick-Start ProcedureS ......................................................................2

UPDATING THE CONVERGE PRO FIRMWARE ...............................3

uPgrading from conVerge Pro 3.X firmware ...................................4

uPgrading from conVerge Pro 2.X firmware ...................................4

uPgrading from conVerge Pro 1.X firmware ...................................6

CONNECTING THE

BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY .........................................7

UPDATING THE

BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE FIRMWARE ..................................8

USING THE MICROPHONE ARRAY ..................................................9

Volume and mute .................................................................................9

microPhone array indicatorS ...............................................................9

conVerge conSole and conSole manager ......................................9

MOUNTING THE

BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY ........................................10

Part numberS ....................................................................................11

QUICK-START GUIDE

THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

The Beamforming Microphone Array is 24-microphone device with
beamforming and adaptive steering technology designed specifically
for the with CONVERGE® Pro products: 880, 840T, 880T, 880TA.
The Beamforming Microphone Array connects with the CONVERGE
Pro through an Expansion Bus (E-bus) port: 3 arrays per supported
CONVERGE Pro and up to 16 Beamforming Microphone Arrays can be
daisy-chained in the site. The Power for the Beamforming Microphone
Array is supplied through a Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) connection.

The Beamforming Microphone Array is supported for use as a ceiling­mounted, wall-mounted or tabletop assembly.

IMPORTANT: The Beamforming Microphone Array only can
be used with CONVERGE Pro systems operating at version 4.X
software and firmware.

The latest version of the CONVERGE Pro firmware can be found on the
ClearOne website at:

http://www.clearone.com/resources#professional_audio

The latest version of the Beamforming Microphone Array firmware and
the Beamforming Microphone Array Installation Guide can be found on
the ClearOne website at:

http://www.clearone.com/resources#professional_microphones

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BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

QUICK-START OVERVIEW

Installing and using the Beamforming Microphone Array in your
CONVERGE Pro site is subject to the following rules:

1. The Beamforming Microphone Array can only be used with
CONVERGE Pro systems operating at version 4.X or greater,
and requires that the firmware on the CONVERGE Pro and the
Beamforming Microphone Array both be updated.

2. You must have a CONVERGE Pro 840T, 880, 880T and/or 880TA
in the site. (The Beamforming Microphone Array will not work with
standalone TH20, VH20, 8i, 1212, or 1212A units.)

3. You can have up to 3 Beamforming Microphone Arrays per valid
CONVERGE Pro unit up to a total of 16 Beamforming Microphone
Arrays per site. More valid CONVERGE Pro units may be added to
increase the number of Beamforming Microphone Arrays.

Quick Start Procedures

These steps must be done in the following order to use the Beamforming
Microphone Array in your CONVERGE Pro Site:

1. Update the CONVERGE Pro firmware to version 4.X using
CONVERGE Console.

2. Connect the Beamforming Microphone Array to the updated
CONVERGE Pro via the E-bus.

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QUICK-START GUIDE

3. Update the Beamforming Microphone Array firmware using
CONVERGE Console. (The Beamforming Microphone Array
firmware can not be upgraded directly without an updated
CONVERGE Pro.)

4. Using the Beamforming Microphone Array

5. Mounting the Beamforming Microphone Array

UPDATING THE CONVERGE PRO FIRMWARE

The 4.X versions of CONVERGE Console offer significant upgrades from
previous versions. Beamforming Microphone Arrays are not recognized
by CONVERGE Pro units running older versions.

ClearOne strongly encourages users to upgrade all firmware to the latest
release version.

NOTE: Save the CONVERGE Console site file before performing
any firmware upgrade.

Please follow the steps listed below to upgrade your firmware:

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BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

Upgrading from CONVERGE Pro 3.X firmware

1. Remove any 1.X, 2.X and 4.X units from the stack by disconnecting
the expansion bus link cable from the 3.X units.

2. Re-connect to the 3.X stack with CONVERGE Console.

3. Download the 4.X firmware file to the stack of units.

4. The units will default and reboot after the download of 4.X firmware.

5. Units are fully upgraded.

6. Verify units have been upgraded by checking the firmware version
on the front panel.

Reconnect all E-bus cables, if needed, to complete the stack of units.

Upgrading from CONVERGE Pro 2.X firmware

1. Remove any 1.X, 3.X and 4.X units from the stack by disconnecting
the expansion bus link cable from the 2.X units.

2. Re-connect to the 2.X stack with CONVERGE Console.

3. Download the 4.X firmware file to the stack of units.

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QUICK-START GUIDE

4. The units will default and reboot after the download of 4.X firmware.
The 2.X to 4.X upgrade requires the firmware to be loaded twice to
complete the version upgrade.

5. Units are fully upgraded.

6. Verify units have been upgraded by checking the firmware version
on the front panel.

Reconnect all E-bus cables, if needed, to complete the stack of units.

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BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

Upgrading from CONVERGE Pro 1.X firmware

1. Remove any 2.X, 3.X and 4.X units from the stack by disconnecting
the expansion bus link cable from the 1.X units.

2. Re-connect to the 1.X stack with CONVERGE Console.

3. Download the 4.X firmware file to the stack of units.

4. The units will default and reboot after the download of 4.X firmware.
The 1.X to 4.X upgrade requires the firmware to be loaded twice to
complete the version upgrade.

5. Reconnect to the stack with CONVERGE Console. Download 4.X a
second time to the units. The units will reboot.

6. Units are fully upgraded.

7. Verify units have been upgraded by checking the firmware version
on the front panel.

Reconnect all E-bus cables, if needed, to complete the stack of units.

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QUICK-START GUIDE

CONNECTING THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

Connect the Beamforming Microphone Array units to the CONVERGE
Pro via the E-bus connections using CAT5-24AWG solid conductor RJ45
cables. Power can be through a standard Power-over-Ethernet switch or
through an external PoE power supply.

NOTE: The PoE connection is only for power, not control. Power must
be for individual units; no daisy-chain power is allowed. Firmware
upgrades, etc. are performed via the E-bus connection.

Set each additional Beamforming Microphone Array unit to a unique ID
using the Device ID selector rotary switch on the back of the unit. (Range
0-F)

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BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

UPDATING THE FIRMWARE OF THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

NOTE: All CONVERGE Pro units in the site must be running
firmware level 4.X to be compatible with the Beamforming
Microphone Array. Before continuing, follow the appropriate
procedure above to update the firmware on the CONVERGE Pro
units.

1. Connect the E-bus cable between the CONVERGE Pro units and
the Beamforming Microphone Arrays.

2. Connect the CONVERGE Pro units with CONVERGE Console.

3. Open the Firmware Loader screen.

4. Browse for the bf_mic.mdo file.

5. Download the Beamforming Microphone Array firmware.

6. The Beamforming Microphone Array(s) will default and reboot after
the download of 4.X firmware.

7. Units are fully upgraded. (All Beamforming Microphone Array units
connected via the E-bus on the site are simultaneously updated.)

8. Restore the saved site file to the system using CONVERGE
Console.

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QUICK-START GUIDE

USING THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

The Beamforming Microphone Array must be added to the site using
the CONVERGE Console 4.X software. This software also provides the
capability of configuring the pickup pattern and other characteristics
available in Configuration mode. Refer to the online help available with the
CONVERGE Pro software.

Volume & mute

These controls are available through the controller configured for your
CONVERGE Pro site.

microphone ArrAy leD inDicAtors

The illuminated microphone indicators at the ends of the Beamforming
Microphone Array show blue/red when the microphone array is active/
muted. You can set the indicators to remain off by using CONVERGE
Console to change Unit Properties for the Beamforming Microphone
Array. See the help file for more details.

conVerGe console AnD console mAnAGer

The CONVERGE Console 4.0 installer only comes with CONVERGE
Console 4.0. CONVERGE Console versions 3, 2 and 1 are not part of the
install like that of CONVERGE Console Installer 3.0.

A new version CONVERGE Manager comes with the CONVERGE
Console 4.0 installer. If CONVERGE Console 3 is installed the,
CONVERGE Manager will show all 4 versions of CONVERGE Console,

1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0. If CONVERGE Console 3 is not installed, then the
CONVERGE Manager with only show CONVERGE Console 4.

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BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

MOUNTING THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

The array can be ceiling-mounted in either a suspended or solid ceiling,
or on a wall-mount assembly with the PoE and E-bus wiring passing
through the mounting assembly and plugging into the Beamforming
Microphone Array unit. Tabletop use is also supported with PoE and
E-bus cables attached under the unit. Detailed instructions are included
in the Beamforming Microphone Array Installation Guide available on the
ClearOne website:

http://www.clearone.com/resources#professional_microphones

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QUICK-START GUIDE

Part Numbers

910-001-003 Beamforming Microphone Array for CONVERGE Pro

910-001-004 PoE Power Supply and Cables Kit for Beamforming

910-001-005-12 Ceiling Mounting Kit with 12” Suspension Column for

910-001-005-24 Ceiling Mounting Kit with 24” Suspension Column for

910-001-006 Wall Mounting Kit for Beamforming Microphone Array

Microphone Array

Beamforming Microphone Array

Beamforming Microphone Array

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BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

CLEARONE CONTACTS

HEADQUARTERS:

Salt Lake City, UT USA

5225 Wiley Post Way
Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Sales: 800-705-2103
Toll Free: 800.945.7730
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e-mail: [e-mail]

TechSales

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Technical Support

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EMEA:

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e-mail: [e-mail]

LATAM:

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e-mail: [e-mail]

© 2013 ClearOne, Inc. All rights reserved.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. 800-000-000-21-01 Revision 1.1 July, 2013

APAC:

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Middle East:

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