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  Andrea Electronics Superbeam Array Microphone Bundle SUMA
Andrea Electronics Superbeam Array Microphone Bundle C1-1019800-20


 


Our Price: $59.95
Sale Price: $39.95
You save $20.00!


Stock Status:In Stock
Product Code: COM-054

Description Technical Specs Extended Information
 

This bundle includes the following:
  • Superbeam Stereo Array Microphone
  • Stereo USB Microphone Audio (SUMA) Adapter
  • Built in PureAudio and DSDA Noise Cancellation
  • AudioCommander Software
Features

  • The Andrea Superbeam Array Microphone: Enabling "The Freedom

  • of Voice"

  •  

  • An effective, natural communication interface requires

  • clear, noise free audio input. By ensuring highly intelligible, low noise audio
  • source input (spoken words),a Andrea Electronics' digital microphone products
  • and technologies enable more accurate and reliable communication as well as
  • high performance speech recognition in noisy office environments. In the past,
  • the only way to obtain a clear voice signal that provided the optimum level of
  • communication and an acceptable level of speech recognition performance was to
  • wear a headset. By wearing a headset, the microphone is at close proximity to
  • the speaker’s mouth, thereby, forcing the voice to be the primary signal (the
  • acoustical environment [noise] becomes insignificant when the distance between
  • the microphone and the speaker's mouth is negligible). Our products and
  • technologies enable a person speaking to be at a distance from the audio input
  • source, freeing the speaker from having to hold or wear a conventional "close
  • talking" microphone, while maintaining the same level of performance. We refer
  • to this capability as untethered, "far-field" microphone operation.

  •  

  • One of the most significant barriers to speech recognition

  • performance and, as a result, in speech recognition usage and popularity, is
  • the high sensitivity to the acoustic environment and, in particular, to the
  • surrounding noise in any real office or workstation. The only technically acceptable
  • solution, until recently, was to use a headset; however, this made the user
  • experience annoying, uncomfortable and inconvenient. Recent noise canceling
  • microphone array product developments have enabled users to be untethered;
  • however, these solutions are very expensive and, therefore, less appealing to
  • an average user. Andrea Electronics, together with Analog Devices, has
  • developed a groundbreaking solution: The Andrea Superbeam Array Microphone (the "Superbeam Array"). Analog Devices has developed an interface that allows the
  • Superbeam Array to connect to the PC and run the necessary software
  • instructions on the PC's processor. The Superbeam Array is a two-microphone (two-channel
  • ) device that attaches to the top of any laptop or PC equipped with Analog
  • Devices’ next generation SoundMax Cadenza software. The SoundMax Cadenza software is integrated with Andrea
  • Electronics' PureAudio and DSDA (Digital Super Directional Array)
  • noise-cancellation software, thereby removing the high costs associated with
  • required memory and processing power from the microphone device (now powered by
  • the PC’s host processor).

  •  

  • Andrea’s PureAudio is a voice enhancement noise reduction

  • algorithm that can detect non-voice signals and eliminate them from the
  • incoming audio stream. PureAudio is very effective in reducing repetitive and
  • stationary noises such as computer-fans, air conditioners, and other background
  • noises. Andrea’s DSDA (Digital Super Directional Array) utilizes a two
  • microphone array configuration which studies the signals that are coming from
  • the two microphones in order to create a narrow reception cone. The array

  • behaves as a directional antenna that “looks” (or actually

  • listens) to the voices that are coming from its “look” direction and ignores
  • noises or voices that are coming from other directions, thus eliminating a large
  • number of interferences, including neighboring speakers and reverberations.

  •  

  • The end result: freeing a speaker from having to hold, or

  • wear, a conventional microphone with a very high-tech, low cost, sleek hardware
  • accessory.

  •  

  • We developed the attached white paper in order to document

  • the effectiveness of the Superbeam microphone when compared to that of the conventional
  • alternative microphone products. In particular, we demonstrate that Andrea’s
  • technologies enable far-field microphone operation that is at least equal to that
  • of an industry-leading USB headset.

  •  

  • In the attached white paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness

  • of our technologies through speech recognition performance results. We show
  • that the Superbeam Array performs at least equivalent to that of a “close
  • talking” microphone, even though it is used in the “far field” mode, providing
  • the untethered experience desire by the average user. Speech recognition
  • performance represents the harshest environment with which to benchmark
  • microphone performance due to the high sensitivity of the application to the
  • surrounding noise and acoustic environment. The microphone is required to
  • eliminatem the noise but also be able to address the nature, location and
  • intensity of the noise, the size and

  • reverberant quality of the room, the clarity of the speaker,

  • and the microphone's capability to adjust to movement by the speaker during
  • dictation. The speech recognition test results provide a quantitative

  • measure of relative microphone performance.

  •  

  • Although we used speech recognition results as a measure of

  • relative microphone performance, the Superbeam Array improves the quality and
  • intelligibility of the voice signal. Using communication applications such as
  • VoIP, audio conferencing or videoconferencing, the improved intelligibility
  • leads to a better understanding for the listener, thereby enhancing the overall
  • end user experience.

  •  

  • What is the USB Superbeam®?

  • The USB Superbeam is a bundle comprised of the following:

    • Andrea Superbeam Array Microphone
    • A Quick Start publication

  •  

  •  

  • Microphone Arrays - USB Superbeam Array FAQ

  •  

  • Do I need to install software for the USB Superbeam Array

  • Microphone to work correctly? What is on the CD that comes with the Array?

  • Yes! You must install the Andrea USB Audio Software from the

  • provided CD BEFORE plugging in the Andrea Stereo USB adapter. This is required
  • to insure the Andrea Noise reduction software loads correctly.

  •  

  • We also recommend installation of AudioCommander® to aid set

  • up and use of the USB Superbeam microphone.

  •  

  • The CD includes:

  •  

    • USB Superbeam
    • software installation
    • AudioCommander
    • software installation
    • USB Superbeam
    • Users Guide

  •  

  • Note: AudioCommander is not required for proper operation of

  • the USB Superbeam Array Microphone.

  •  

  • Are your USB drivers Microsoft approved and digitally

  • signed?

  • Yes. Our USB drivers have successfully passed Microsoft WHQL

  • testing and are digitally signed by Microsoft.

  •  

  • How does AudioCommander work with the USB Superbeam Array?

  • AudioCommander offers centralized control of multimedia

  • audio on your computer and enhances use of your USB Superbeam Array Microphone
  • with:

  •  

    • Audio Wizard to
    • set microphone levels to optimum
    • Playback and
    • Record controls including the ability to "tear-off" individual
    • controls and keep them conveniently on your desktop
    • Access Andrea
    • Noise Cancellation features
    • Audio
    • Record/Playback feature

  •  

  • I installed the USB Superbeam and now my speakers do not

  • work. What do I do?

  • When you plugged in the USBD-2A it replaced your sound card

  • as the audio input and output device. You can do one of two things:

  •  

    1. Plug your
    2. speakers into the USBD-2A headphone jack instead of your sound card.
    1. Change the sound
    2. playback device in Windows from Andrea USB USBD2-A to your sound card. This is
    3. done in Windows XP from: Start, Control Panel, Sound Speech and Audio, Sounds
    4. and Audio Devices and select the Audio Tab. Change the Sound Playback device
    5. from "Andrea USB USBD2-A" to your sound card device.

  •  

  • I installed the USB Superbeam and my speech recognition

  • accuracy went down. What do I do?

  • You need to rerun your speech training since you changed

  • microphones.

  •  

  • Where do I plug the Superbeam microphone into?

  • The Superbeam Array Microphone plugs into the microphone

  • input of the USBD-2A adapter.

  •  

  • Can I use a headset with the adapter instead of the

  • Superbeam Array?

  • Yes, the USBD-2A adapter microphone input supports Andrea NC

  • and ANC headsets.

  •  

  • (When used with ANC headsets the TRS1 Adapter must be used

  • for the microphone input.)

  •  

  • Can the mic be placed anywhere else besides the monitor?

  • Our testing has shown the "above the monitor"

  • location to perform best for speech recognition software like IBM's ViaVoiceTM
  • and Microsoft Office XP's built in speech recognition program.

  •  

  • Other locations will work but may pick up additional noises.

    •  The Superbeam
    • Array Microphone can be placed on a table or desktop, but can pick up acoustic
    • noise from a hard tabletop or desktop. If table or desktop placement is
    • required, try isolating the microphone by placing it on a foam mouse pad or
    • similar material. Make sure to point it to yourself.

  •  

    • The Superbeam
    • microphone is sensitive, so can pick up keyboard clicking and mouse clicks. Try
    • to keep the microphone away from these areas.

  •  

  • Note: The Superbeam Array Microphone is designed for

  • horizontal mounting only. Do not mount the microphone vertically or the noise
  • cancellation feature will not work correctly.

  •  

  • How far away should the mic be placed?

  • For speech recognition software the microphone should be 12

  • - 18" from your mouth. For less demanding applications like Internet
  • telephony and voice recording the range extends out to about 48". Remember
  • to readjust the microphone level by using AudioCommander whenever you
  • significantly change your distance from the microphone.

  •  

  • How do I adjust microphone levels?

  • The easiest way is to install Andrea's AudioCommander

  • software (included on the CD with your USB Superbeam Array Microphone).
  • AudioCommander includes an "Audio Setup Wizard" that steps you
  • through the microphone level adjustment, automatically setting the optimum
  • level.

  •  

  • Alternatively, if you are familiar with Windows you can

  • always manually set the "Record Microphone Level."

  •  

  • Do I need to sit directly in front of the Array?

  • Yes, the Superbeam Array is a directional microphone, so it

  • needed to be "aimed" at you (the sound source).

  •  

  • What applications does the USB Superbeam Array work with?

  • The USB Superbeam Array Microphone works with any

  • application that needs voice input.

  •  

  • When I use Net2Phone, people I talk to tell me they hear an

  • echo of their own voice, why?

  • You are probably using your speakers. The sound from your

  • speakers (the person you are talking to) is picked up by the Superbeam
  • microphone and sent back to the person you are talking to (acoustic echo).
  • Using headphones will remove the acoustic echo. The Andrea HS-75 headphones are
  • perfectly matched for use with the USB Superbeam. There may also be "line
  • echo" that is usually much lower in level, but will not be eliminated by
  • using headphones.

  •  

  • What PC's are compatible with the USB Superbeam Microphone?

  • Any PC's that have USB ports and Windows XP, 2000, Me, or 98

  • SE are compatible with the USB Superbeam.

  •  

  • Can I use the USB Supebeam with Windows 98 or 95?

  • No, Windows 98 and 95 do not have reliable support for USB

  • Audio.

  •  

  • What is the difference between the USBD-2A adapter that is

  • part of the USB Superbeam bundle and the Andrea USB Adapter?

  • The USBD-2A adapter has a stereo microphone input and a

  • stereo headphone (or speaker) output for full duplex operation. It includes
  • Andrea Pure Audio and DSDA noise reduction software.

  •  

  • The USB Adapter has a mono microphone input only. Output is

  • from your computer sound card. The USB adapter uses default Windows and Mac
  • drivers and does not include any noise reduction software.

  •  

  • Can I use the USB Superbeam for recording music or musical

  • instruments?

  • No. The Superbeam Microphone and Andrea noise reduction

  • software is optimized for voice only. We do not recommend it for recording
  • music or musical instruments.

  •  

  • Product Features

  •              

  •            

  • Stereo USB Microphone Audio (SUMA) adapter is designed to

  • support the SuperBeam stereo array microphone input only.

  •             SUMA stereo

  • microphone input supports sample rates up to 48K for high quality voice input.

  •             Use with

  • Andrea's AudioCommander software to optimize multimedia control.

  •             Note:

  • Product only works with Windows XP. Vista
  • software coming soon.

  •  

  •            

  •  

  • Provides control of audio input technology, and features:

  •  

    • DSDA2 and 3 beam
    • forming and PureAudio noise reduction software. Provides directional array
    • microphone noise cancellation, designed to enable far-field (headset free)
    • speech recognition command and control performance.
    • No Filtering:
    • Provides unfiltered stereo microphone audio input for high fidelity stereo
    • recordings.


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