ClearOne BFM2 Quick Start Manual

Beamforming Microphone Array 2

Group Microphone for Professional Conferencing

Quick-Start Guide

THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY 2 ...............................1

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

CONNECTING THE BFM2 ................................................................3

UPDATING THE BFM2 FIRMWARE ..................................................4

TESTING THE MICROPHONE ARRAY ..............................................4

Volume and mute .................................................................................5

microphone array indicators ...............................................................5

MOUNTING THE BFM2 .....................................................................5

COMPLIANCE ....................................................................................6

PART NUMBERS...................................................................................6

Table of Contents

QUICK-START GUIDE

1

THE BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY 2

The Beamforming Microphone Array 2 (BFM2) is a 2nd generation
Beamforming Microphone Array product featuring 24 microphones,
beamforming and adaptive steering technology designed specifically for
the CONVERGE® Pro 2 products: 128, 128D, 128T, 128TD, 128V, 128VD,
120, and 48T. The BFM2 connects with the CONVERGE Pro 2 through a
Peripheral Link (P-Link) port. 3 arrays per supported CONVERGE Pro 2
and up to 6 BFM2s can be daisy-chained in one P-Link chain. The Power
for the BFM2 is supplied through a Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) or P-Link
connection from CONVERGE Pro 2.

The BFM2 is supported for use as a ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted or
tabletop assembly.

IMPORTANT: The BFM2 only can be used with CONVERGE
Pro 2 systems. It is not compatible with CONVERGE Pro or first
generation Beamforming Microphone Array systems.

The latest version of the CONVERGE Pro 2 firmware can be found on the
ClearOne website at:

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

The latest version of the BFM2 firmware and the Beamforming
Microphone Array 2 Installation Guide can be found on the ClearOne
website at:

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

BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY 2

2

QUICK-START OVERVIEW

Installing and using the BFM2 in your CONVERGE Pro 2 site is subject to
the following rules:

1. The BFM2 can only be used with CONVERGE Pro 2 systems.

2. You must have a CONVERGE Pro 2 128, 128D, 128T, 128TD, 128V,
128VD, 120, and/or 48T in the site. The BFM2 will not work with
standalone 128SR or 128SRD units.

3. You can have up to 3 BFM2s per valid CONVERGE Pro 2 unit up
to a total of 6 BFM2s per P-Link chain. More valid CONVERGE Pro
units may be added to increase the number of BFM2s per site.

Quick Start Procedures

These steps must be done in the following order to use the BFM2 in your
CONVERGE Pro 2 Site:

1. Update the CONVERGE Pro 2 firmware to the latest version using
CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE software.

2. Connect the BFM2 to the updated CONVERGE Pro 2 via the P-Link
bus.

3. Update the BFM2 firmware using CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE.
(The BFM2 firmware can not be upgraded directly without an
updated CONVERGE Pro 2.)

4. Test the BFM2

5. Mount the BFM2

QUICK-START GUIDE

3

CONNECTING THE BFM2

Connect the BFM2 units to the CONVERGE Pro 2 via the P-Link
connections using CAT6-24AWG solid conductor RJ45 cables.

The BFM2 can be powered via a P-Link1 from CONVERGE Pro 2 (a single
cable carries power, audio and control), a PoE power supply2 (external
or ClearOne; a maximum of three BFM2 units can be powered by one
ClearOne PoE Injector),or a standard PoE switch3.

The power-source-selection switch should be set towards PoE if the
BFM2 is powered by PoE, or set towards P-Link if powered by P-Link.

power-source-selection

switch

(for future use)

1

1

2

3

4

Daisychain Examples

Example 1 shows a basic daisychain of three BFM2 arrays to a single

CONVERGE Pro 2 unit:

Example 2 illustrates a daisychain of four BFM2 arrays to two
CONVERGE Pro 2 units:

QUICK-START GUIDE

5

UPDATE BFM2 FIRMWARE

1. Connect the P-Link cable between the CONVERGE Pro 2 units and
the BFM2s.

2. Connect the CONVERGE Pro 2 units with CONVERGE Pro 2
CONSOLE.

3. Open the Firmware Loader screen.

4. Browse for the bf2_mic.mdo file.

5. Download the BFM2 firmware.

6. The BFM2(s) will default and reboot after the download of firmware.

7. Units are fully upgraded. (All BFM2 units connected via the P-Link
on the site are simultaneously updated.)

8. Restore the saved site file to the system using CONVERGE Pro 2
CONSOLE.

TEST THE BFM2

The BFM2 must be added to the site using the CONVERGE Pro 2
CONSOLE software. This software also provides the capability of
configuring the beams (enable/disable) and other characteristics
available in Configuration mode. Refer to the online help available with the
CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE software.

Volume & mute

These controls are available through the controller configured for your
CONVERGE Pro 2 site.

6

microphone ArrAy leD inDicAtors

The illuminated microphone indicators at the ends of the BFM2 show
blue/red when the microphone array is active/muted. You can set the
indicators to remain off by using CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE to change

Unit Properties for the BFM2. See the help file for more details.

MOUNT THE BFM2

The array can be ceiling-mounted in either a suspended or solid ceiling,
or on a wall-mount assembly with the PoE or P-Link wiring passing
through the mounting assembly and plugging into the BFM2 unit.

Tabletop use is also supported with PoE or P-Link cables attached under
the unit.

NOTE: 1st Gen BFM mounting kits are compatible with 2nd Gen
BFM2 unit and vice versa.

Detailed instructions are included in the BFM2 Installation Guide
available on the ClearOne website:

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

QUICK-START GUIDE

7

Part Numbers

Item White color SKU Black color SKU

Beamforming Microphone Array 2 910-3200-201 910-3200-201-B

BMF2 Ceiling Mount kit with 12” Suspension Column 910-3200-203-12 910-3200-203-12-B

BMF2 Ceiling Mount kit with 24” Suspension Column 910-3200-203-24 910-3200-203-24-B

BMF2 Ceiling Mount kit with 36” Suspension Column 910-3200-203-36 910-3200-203-36-B

BMF2 Ceiling Mount kit with 48” Suspension Column 910-3200-203-48 910-3200-203-48-B

BMF2 Ceiling Mount kit without Suspension Column 910-3200-203 910-3200-203-B

BFM Ceiling Mount kit with 12” suspension column 910-001-005-12 910-001-005-12-B

BFM Ceiling Mount kit with 24” suspension column 910-001-005-24 910-001-005-24-B

BFM Ceiling Mount kit with 36” suspension column 910-001-005-36 n/a

BFM Ceiling Mount kit with 48” suspension column 910-001-005-48 n/a

BFM Wall Mount 910-001-006 910-001-006-B

PoE Power Supply Kit 910-3200-202

50 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-50

100 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-100

150 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-150

200 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-200

COMPLIANCE

Details on compliance can be found on the ClearOne website under
“Resource Library”.

BEAMFORMING MICROPHONE ARRAY

8

© 2016 ClearOne, Inc. All rights reserved.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. QSG-0031-001 Rev 1.0 AUGUST 2016

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