Hearing Loops-Counter Microphones, Extensions

Small Microphones

Are gooseneck microphones in the way? Or being broken, moved, or unplugged? One solution is to install a different kind of microphone.

The Contacta MIC-M74-02-B comes with a small steel right-angle bracket that has an adhesive strip on the bracket and it also has a hole in the bracket that can be attached with a small bolt/screw. It’s a good-quality directional mic. [Photos and description, courtesy of Alan Anttila, Hearing Support Solutions LLC]

The Ampetronic ACBMIC is about 1.5” in diameter and has adhesive tape on the bottom or can be screw mounted, this works best mounted on a flat surface, i.e. the countertop because it’s a boundary mic. This mic is directional and I’ve mounted it at the Eugene Airport as a replacement for larger damaged mics. I mounted these in front of the keyboard under the computer screen. This mic has a 3.5mm TRS connector, which would need to be cut off if the counter loop system is a Contacta brand equipment. Let me know if you need wiring details for this mic/Contacta driver combination. Mounting mics on computers gives me pause because, at some point, the computer screen could fail or be replaced/upgraded. Would the person doing the screen swap-out handle getting the mic onto the new screen? I prefer the ACBMIC cardioid boundary mic that can get mounted on the counter top, it’s small and won’t get in anyones way….Also, some screens are touch screens, which concerns me regarding the staff tapping on the screen with the mic close at hand. [Courtesy Alan Anttila, Hearing Support Solutions LLC]

SoundTech CM-1000, 3.5 mm Omni-Directional Microphone. Amazon. This microphone is a good portable microphone for small group meetings, with 6-8 people around a table, with one person speaking at a time. Since it is an omni-directional microphone, it probably is not a good solution where there is a lot of background noise, since it will pick up ALL sound. It may work or may not work for a counter hearing loop.