Audio and video conferencing solutions is a term that covers a broad range of physical products, software or cloud-based applications that enable communication between 2 or more persons in different location. These solutions enable people to hear and/or see each other clearly, as well as enabling other forms of communication such as instant messaging or screen sharing.

In this guide, you will learn all about:

→ The causes of poor-quality audio/video

→ The importance of audio in a conference call

→ The benefits of video conferencing solutions

→ Why you should invest in a good audio & video conferencing solution

→ Factors to consider when choosing a video conferencing solution

The causes of poor-quality audio and video

The truth is most laptops’ own audio and video capabilities are not good enough to handle audio or video conferencing. Since most users don’t prioritize high-quality built-in microphones, from ceiling microphones to regular microphones, speakers and webcams; Some manufacturers use inferior quality components to keep the prices low.

This results in poor playback capabilities and low-resolution video with a narrow field-of-view. Although these may be sufficient for a one-on-one call at an employee’s desk, they are not capable of supporting multiple people at one end of the call who are sharing a laptop’s camera and microphone.

Aside from inferior quality conference equipment, there are other factors that affect the quality of an audio or video conference.

These include:

→ Poor internet connection at one of the conference’s end-points

→ Technical issues experienced by the conference calling service itself

→ Narrowband audio vs. Wideband audio

→ Background noise that interferes with the voice recording

→ People who speak louder than others, drowning out other people if several people try to say something at once

→ Acoustics in the room

→ The positioning of the phone, where is it located and who is sitting next to it

Why is audio quality important in a conference call?

We’ve all experienced it. The audio quality in a conference room is far from optimal. Weird background noises come out of the speakers. Speech is muffled and nobody understood anything. People must waste precious time repeating themselves for the other participants.

Poor quality audio causes a lot of frustration with the technology and with the other meeting participants. In conference calls where people can’t see but only hear each other, it’s even more easy to get distracted by background noises and muffled speech and stop paying attention to what other people are saying. In many cases, employees use technical issues with their audio meeting as an opportunity to do other tasks during the call.

If people experience too many issues with their audio meeting, they might cancel or reschedule the call, wasting even more time. We would dare claim that while video conferencing is a more effective communication tool that audio-only conferencing, it doesn’t help anything to be able to see each other if you can’t hear each other.

Most of the communication in meetings is transmitted through sound. Therefore, it’s essential that audio quality is prioritized.

What are the benefits of video in conference calls?

Video provides an extra layer of benefits on top of audio in a conference call. Here are some examples:

1. With video, employees can capture visual cues from other participants through their body language. Some things that are left unsaid can be captured anyway. This improves communication, shared understanding, and social bonds.

2. Two senses are better than one. Research shows that people are much better at absorbing and retaining information if it is delivering through several senses. By hearing AND seeing, people can concentrate and remember more.

3. Video provides the possibility to express ideas visually and share it with participants. This could be as simple as drawing something on a piece of paper or on a whiteboard.

4. Video helps meeting participants be more engaged and aids the interactivity of group collaboration with special features such as screen sharing, instant chat, and live document collaboration; maximizing meeting efficiency.

The benefits of investing in a high-quality audio and videoconferencing solution

You might be wondering why you should spend the money on an audio or video conferencing solution when most meetings in your organization take place face-to-face. Conference calls offer several benefits, mostly by saving time and money.

A conference calling system reduces costs relating to travelling to and from offsite meetings, helps increase the productivity and efficiency of meetings and frees up a lot of time for the employees. You can read more about the benefits of video conferencing solutions here.

Aside from cost reduction, a high-quality video conferencing solution with minimum technical issues makes a great first impression in client-facing meetings. Having great equipment in top working order demonstrates your competency and efficiency as a company.

Factors to consider when choosing a video conferencing system

It can be quite overwhelming to make a decision about which video conferencing system to invest in. Here are some factors to consider, that will hopefully offer some clarity and help you find the right solution for your needs. Ease of use – A system that is easy to use is also more likely to be used, even by the more technically challenged.

If you want a high user adoption rate, user-friendliness should be high on the agenda. Compatibility with user devices, regardless of brand, type or model. This is very important, especially in companies where the employees can choose what type of device (laptop, mobile etc.) they would like to work with.

Reliability – This is especially important when selecting a video conferencing service (such as Skype for Business, Zoom, GoTo meeting etc.) The service must be stable and reliable no matter where the user is located; whether they’re using cabled internet or WIFI, whether they’re in the office, the airport or a local coffee shop.

Request a demo of AV technology solutions from Biamp

Are you interested in learning more about the AV equipment that Biamp provides for meeting rooms and video conferencing, and how you can benefit from a Biamp installation?

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