Here is some advice I thought might be helpful for those of you installing (or contemplating) a whole-house VR installation using multiple microphones. I've been a heavy implementer/user of VR for over 4 years now and here is some of what I've learned.
HARDWARE:
I use a combination of Crown PZM-11 and Crown MB-3 microphones installed throughout the house connected to Gentner AP800 microphone mixers that are designed for teleconferencing applications. The older series Gentner MPA & Peoplelink mixers work equally as well, but lack some of the additional features on the AP800 such as matrix mixing and better software management (cool stuff, but not required for good VR). I originally started with 8-mics connected to Biamp Advantage mixer and gate equipment. This worked quite well too, but my VR system has expanded and been upgraded as I've moved and re-installed 3 times now. Others are using the Shure SCM-810 mixer with good results. Much of the hardware is detailed in this current thread in the hardware category:
Link to post containing hardware info & some photos
INSTALLATION:
Mic placement is a trial and error kind of thing. I've never installed into ceilings as this seems to be against all the "best common practices" I found in my research. The PZM mics are a boundary mic and rely on the surrounding wall surface to function properly... most of mine are mounted 6-8 feet up on the wall near the center. Mounting close to door openings/windows is not recommended and other substantial wall hugging things like book cases, large pictures/artwork may also interfere.
The other big consideration is to keep them away from noise makers like HVAC vents, ticking clocks, refrigerators, etc. The mics are very sensitive and will easily pick up noise from such devices (a PZM-11 installed in a wall that has a computer placed against it will pick up the fan and drive noise easily even if located 10-15 feet away!). Don't be scared though, just play around... I actually mounted my first PZM-11 in a 4' x 4' piece of 1/2" plywood so I could move it around the rooms and experiment. I spent a few weeks moving it around before cutting any holes in the walls and this helped me find spots that worked the best...
Also keep in mind where you will most often be standing/sitting when you issue voice commands in each the room. If you spend a lot of time on a sofa or chair in your living room... it would be best to have the mic located in the opposing wall across from you rather than in the wall behind your head (even if it's closer by distance). Also think about your walking patterns and what direction you might be walking when issuing commands while on the move. For instance, if a bedroom has only one entrance door from a hallway, you'll be better off placing the mic in the bedroom wall you are facing as
you walk into the room. This will help pick up your voice as you are walking down the hall towards the room and eliminate dead spots. If you placed the same mic on the opposite wall of the bedroom, it probably won't pick up well until you are already in the room.
TUNING:
Take things in baby steps to get started... I would recommend plugging in a single mic through your mic mixer to your sound card and use the "Sound Recorder" app that's included with Windows (or similar recording app as Sound Recorder will only allow 60secs recording time) to record the audio that is coming through... this is a great way to check the quality of the sound before attempting VR. Once you have the basics working and have installed multiple microphones around the house use the recording application again to help tune your microphones and make adjustments to your mixing hardware's mic level, gating, etc. When I was tuning my house, I would start the recorder and then walk through the entire house while continually talking and speaking my location, orientation and direction of travel. Playing back these recordings provides significant clues as to the coverage you are getting from your mics as well as possible noise sources that may interfere with good VR.
Example Banter:
"I'm standing in the kitchen facing the sink, now I'm turning and walking towards the living room, I am now sitting on the couch, I am now walking down the hall past the office door and towards the bedroom, I am now standing in the bedroom, I am now sitting on the bed. I'm now walking from the bedroom past the guest bath and into the office facing the computer. I am now sitting at the computer."
Once you have mics installed throughout the house this is invaluable to adjust levels, etc. When you play back the recording you will be able to tell where you voice is too loud or soft, also if there is any echo/reverberation as well as the general sound quality (am I picking up background noise from a fan, PC, or dishwasher that is interfering). Once you have what sounds like a good clear voice on the recordings in all areas you wish to issue voice commands from, then start with your VR. I used a wireless notebook terminal serviced to my HS server while doing the VR training. This allowed me to walk around the house while reading the training text so it was picked up from multiple mics and seemed to help as well.
Once everything was tuned I'm seeing ~95% VR accuracy with approximately 90% coverage including the garage on a 2800Sq ft two story house with only 12 mics. I listen to the TV and stereo at low volumes and have found that I can even issue VR commands while these are playing, but accuracy is probably around 80-85%.
ENVIRONMENT:
I'm finding that this is one of the biggest factors that contributes to a successful VR installation. Your homes construction, surfaces, and furnishings will play a big role in how well VR works with multiple open air microphones. I'm working right now to re-install whole house VR in my current home and am battling to get things dialed back as they were at my previous homes. The new house has hardwood & tile flooring, Open wood ceilings, and solid walls of glass for many exterior walls (still furnished sparsely too). It's a charming place, but a harsh environment for VR! I'm finding that getting reliability up for commands is a challenge compared to previous homes that were carpeted, full of furniture, art and curtains. Seems that part of my VR install will include some home decorating as well.
Cheers,
Paul
HARDWARE:
I use a combination of Crown PZM-11 and Crown MB-3 microphones installed throughout the house connected to Gentner AP800 microphone mixers that are designed for teleconferencing applications. The older series Gentner MPA & Peoplelink mixers work equally as well, but lack some of the additional features on the AP800 such as matrix mixing and better software management (cool stuff, but not required for good VR). I originally started with 8-mics connected to Biamp Advantage mixer and gate equipment. This worked quite well too, but my VR system has expanded and been upgraded as I've moved and re-installed 3 times now. Others are using the Shure SCM-810 mixer with good results. Much of the hardware is detailed in this current thread in the hardware category:
Link to post containing hardware info & some photos
INSTALLATION:
Mic placement is a trial and error kind of thing. I've never installed into ceilings as this seems to be against all the "best common practices" I found in my research. The PZM mics are a boundary mic and rely on the surrounding wall surface to function properly... most of mine are mounted 6-8 feet up on the wall near the center. Mounting close to door openings/windows is not recommended and other substantial wall hugging things like book cases, large pictures/artwork may also interfere.
The other big consideration is to keep them away from noise makers like HVAC vents, ticking clocks, refrigerators, etc. The mics are very sensitive and will easily pick up noise from such devices (a PZM-11 installed in a wall that has a computer placed against it will pick up the fan and drive noise easily even if located 10-15 feet away!). Don't be scared though, just play around... I actually mounted my first PZM-11 in a 4' x 4' piece of 1/2" plywood so I could move it around the rooms and experiment. I spent a few weeks moving it around before cutting any holes in the walls and this helped me find spots that worked the best...
Also keep in mind where you will most often be standing/sitting when you issue voice commands in each the room. If you spend a lot of time on a sofa or chair in your living room... it would be best to have the mic located in the opposing wall across from you rather than in the wall behind your head (even if it's closer by distance). Also think about your walking patterns and what direction you might be walking when issuing commands while on the move. For instance, if a bedroom has only one entrance door from a hallway, you'll be better off placing the mic in the bedroom wall you are facing as
you walk into the room. This will help pick up your voice as you are walking down the hall towards the room and eliminate dead spots. If you placed the same mic on the opposite wall of the bedroom, it probably won't pick up well until you are already in the room.
TUNING:
Take things in baby steps to get started... I would recommend plugging in a single mic through your mic mixer to your sound card and use the "Sound Recorder" app that's included with Windows (or similar recording app as Sound Recorder will only allow 60secs recording time) to record the audio that is coming through... this is a great way to check the quality of the sound before attempting VR. Once you have the basics working and have installed multiple microphones around the house use the recording application again to help tune your microphones and make adjustments to your mixing hardware's mic level, gating, etc. When I was tuning my house, I would start the recorder and then walk through the entire house while continually talking and speaking my location, orientation and direction of travel. Playing back these recordings provides significant clues as to the coverage you are getting from your mics as well as possible noise sources that may interfere with good VR.
Example Banter:
"I'm standing in the kitchen facing the sink, now I'm turning and walking towards the living room, I am now sitting on the couch, I am now walking down the hall past the office door and towards the bedroom, I am now standing in the bedroom, I am now sitting on the bed. I'm now walking from the bedroom past the guest bath and into the office facing the computer. I am now sitting at the computer."
Once you have mics installed throughout the house this is invaluable to adjust levels, etc. When you play back the recording you will be able to tell where you voice is too loud or soft, also if there is any echo/reverberation as well as the general sound quality (am I picking up background noise from a fan, PC, or dishwasher that is interfering). Once you have what sounds like a good clear voice on the recordings in all areas you wish to issue voice commands from, then start with your VR. I used a wireless notebook terminal serviced to my HS server while doing the VR training. This allowed me to walk around the house while reading the training text so it was picked up from multiple mics and seemed to help as well.
Once everything was tuned I'm seeing ~95% VR accuracy with approximately 90% coverage including the garage on a 2800Sq ft two story house with only 12 mics. I listen to the TV and stereo at low volumes and have found that I can even issue VR commands while these are playing, but accuracy is probably around 80-85%.
ENVIRONMENT:
I'm finding that this is one of the biggest factors that contributes to a successful VR installation. Your homes construction, surfaces, and furnishings will play a big role in how well VR works with multiple open air microphones. I'm working right now to re-install whole house VR in my current home and am battling to get things dialed back as they were at my previous homes. The new house has hardwood & tile flooring, Open wood ceilings, and solid walls of glass for many exterior walls (still furnished sparsely too). It's a charming place, but a harsh environment for VR! I'm finding that getting reliability up for commands is a challenge compared to previous homes that were carpeted, full of furniture, art and curtains. Seems that part of my VR install will include some home decorating as well.
Cheers,
Paul
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