The Amazon Alexa has a seven element beamforming microphone array. Similar to what Lexicon does with their loudspeaker "soundsteer" technology, but in reverse.
Theoretically, this should be the optimum way to do a speakerphone; the beamforming technology allows the Alexa to isolate the sound of the person speaking from ambient noise in the room.
Is anyone aware of a speakerphone with similar technology?
If not, is anyone aware of a way to 'hack' an Alexa to use it as a plain ol' microphone? Basically eliminate all the software and have it behave like a microphone plugged into a Windows PC?
Theoretically, this should be the optimum way to do a speakerphone; the beamforming technology allows the Alexa to isolate the sound of the person speaking from ambient noise in the room.
Is anyone aware of a speakerphone with similar technology?
If not, is anyone aware of a way to 'hack' an Alexa to use it as a plain ol' microphone? Basically eliminate all the software and have it behave like a microphone plugged into a Windows PC?
It just occurred to me that something like a MiniDSP could do this too, except you need to process the INPUTS not the OUTPUTS.
IE, you could use three channels of a MiniDSP to do the processing, by simply putting the microphones in a circle and delaying them to do the beamforming. (Again, Alexa and Soundsteer are identical in this respect, just one is producing sound and the other is recording sound.)
Maybe there's a Windows app for this?
SoX
It seems like Sox could do it:
1) You'd buy seven USB microphones
2) You'd combine the seven inputs, but six of them would be delayed
3) Then you'd combine that into a single output
I think you might need some type of 'virtual microphone' device in Windows. Because Skype or Google Voice need to see ONE microphone, not seven.
IE, you could use three channels of a MiniDSP to do the processing, by simply putting the microphones in a circle and delaying them to do the beamforming. (Again, Alexa and Soundsteer are identical in this respect, just one is producing sound and the other is recording sound.)
Maybe there's a Windows app for this?
SoX
It seems like Sox could do it:
1) You'd buy seven USB microphones
2) You'd combine the seven inputs, but six of them would be delayed
3) Then you'd combine that into a single output
I think you might need some type of 'virtual microphone' device in Windows. Because Skype or Google Voice need to see ONE microphone, not seven.
You rock! I was googling for this stuff, and coming back with nothing but 802.11 Wifi stuff.
This is perfect.
This is perfect.
Glad to help!
It took me a couple tries to find it again. Google Now felt I needed to know about this a couple weeks ago. I decided to add one of those rPi projects to my Project backburner. A list which grows perpetually... 🙂
It took me a couple tries to find it again. Google Now felt I needed to know about this a couple weeks ago. I decided to add one of those rPi projects to my Project backburner. A list which grows perpetually... 🙂
I finally got around to buying me one of these.
I'm kinda surprised more people aren't raving about these on audio forums. I (mostly) work at home and Alexa is kind of amazing for a set up like that. Basically I can listen to music at my leisure. If I finish a conference call, I can tell Alexa to play something, and I can shut it up when I have a call come in.
Obviously, you can do all of this with a remote, but simply yelling at the stereo is way easier.
I have my Alexa hooked up to my Waslo Cosynes.
I'm kinda surprised more people aren't raving about these on audio forums. I (mostly) work at home and Alexa is kind of amazing for a set up like that. Basically I can listen to music at my leisure. If I finish a conference call, I can tell Alexa to play something, and I can shut it up when I have a call come in.
Obviously, you can do all of this with a remote, but simply yelling at the stereo is way easier.
I have my Alexa hooked up to my Waslo Cosynes.
hey patrick, you can also also buy a ambisonic codec microphone. wont give you as much detail as much ability to isolate as an array like alexas, but it gives you a 3D picture. lots of acoustics consultants are apparently using them these days for room measurements.
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