In Florence, as in the States, they chose Shure microphones for a hybrid teaching method.
What student wouldn’t want to have the choice of studying in beautiful Florence or Malibu, California? Those enrolled at Pepperdine University are fortunate to be able to decide whether to attend one or more semesters in another city. A journey of personal enrichment to live immersed in a different culture, but without slowing down the pace of study. The Tuscan campus inaugurated the new academic year with an audio system that enhances the classroom experience and also allows for hybrid teaching, thanks to a project created by Informatica e Sistemi with Shure, Biamp and Atlona technologies.
The project involved four classrooms in the basement of a traditional Florentine villa with stone walls, parquet floors and antique furniture. Elegant surfaces that can not be affected in any way and that do not benefit the acoustics of the classroom. Size and intended use have strongly influenced the technological choice. In all classrooms, MXA710 linear microphone arrays (2ft) were implemented as ambient microphones. With Shure’s patented IntelliMix DSP and Autofocus technology, they provide all the processing needed to ensure echo-free, noise-free audio at the conference.
“The university required a microphone system that would enhance both teacher voice and student participation,” commented David Chirici of Informatica e Sistemi. “Since we could only intervene at the ceiling and needed a solution compatible with Zoom, the choice of Shure Microflex Ecosystem microphone arrays was immediate.” In the two smaller classrooms, which hold about twenty people, this environmental solution is sufficient for both teacher and student voice. The ceiling installation and configurable coverage allow for dynamic use of the room, ensuring consistent pickup even with a different desk layout.
The two largest classrooms, respectively for thirty and forty seats, have a wireless SLXD14 system with headset dedicated to the teacher, in addition to the ceiling microphone, for a more direct recording of the voice that does not fear the problematic acoustic environment. The four classrooms are networked thanks to the combination of the individual Biamp TEC1 control panels and the Biamp Tesira Fortè DAN CI digital audio platform, the brain of the system. This juxtaposition allows for intuitive volume and mute management in the individual rooms and a choice of plenary or single classroom configuration. “The two larger rooms are divided by a movable wall, which can be removed if necessary to create a single large room,” continued Chirici. “By choosing the right configuration with a touch, the audio technology will work as needed as a single or separate system, guaranteeing the institution considerable flexibility of use.”
The high level of the implemented AV solution is simplified in a classic USB port with which teachers connect to the classroom system. By plugging in their own computer, the videoconference initiated via Zoom activates, via the Shure ANIUSB network interface, the Atlona DVSCAMHDMIW webcam and MXA710 microphone for intuitive, high-quality streaming of the course. “After the first few weeks of sudden closure, the main office chose to invest in a major technology upgrade for all of its locations to ensure educational continuity,” added Elizabeth Whatley, director of the Florence office. “We are very pleased with the result. The technology implemented allows our students to follow the lessons in streaming with excellent quality. In addition, the products chosen have a sleek design that harmonizes with our venue.” The audio system for the classrooms is completed with Biamp Desono column speakers, models COLS41 and COLW41, characterized by a directive diffusion that is well suited to acoustically difficult environments, improving speech intelligibility and decreasing the risk of feedback and echoes.
The Shure, Biamp and Atlona products implemented in the classrooms of the Florentine branch of Pepperdine University are distributed in Italy by Prase Media Technologies.