Hangouts Audio Options for Samsung Chromebox

This post will review the audio options that can be used with Samsung Chrome boxes for video conferencing (Google Hangouts). A range of hardware will also be discussed from entry to professional options. Keep in mind the larger the conference room and greater number of participants, directly relate to cost.

The audio controls and source selections are different on ChromeOS on a Chromebox. The following provide a quick visual overview, please left click, select size for larger view of screenshots:

The first screenshot is the lower right corner, of the Vizio TV Monitor. Left click on the user pic/time will popup the general user dashboard. The audio part controls volume and provides access to USB connected audio devices. The third screenshot shows the audio sources connected using USB ports. The checkmark shows the selected device.

The audio output options are the Chromebox internal speaker or the stereo speakers in the Vizio TV/Monitor, in my configuration. The configuration uses a Displayport to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable, allowing use of the Vizio stereo speakers. 

Bluetooth can also be used to connect audio devices to the Chromebox. products are available for both USB and Bluetooth, as well as a lapel microphone that can be connected using a smartphone or using one of the available hands-free microphone/earhone used with cell phones. The high end devices are specifically designed for video conferencing or conference phone calls. Jabra has a family of devices one of which (Jabra 410 USB and 510 Bluetooth & USB) is typically used for typical small to medium sized conference up to roughly 10 x 14 feet. In a separate posting I'll take a look at the recommended TV/monitor size, distance from participants vs. guideline screen size, general ideas on the audio verse the number of participants and in general the need for a video camera with a field of view.

Smaller conference configurations can use USB microphones, the Blue Microphones Snowball shown below is a popular plug & play microphone with switched omnidirectional or cardioid. The cardioid option reduces feedback from speakers in back of the microphone. An example is speakers in the TV/monitor used for conferencing, generally in back of the microphone used by participants.

An entry level option is a Bluetooth mini-speaker and microphone, inexpensive, generally limited to one or two Hangout participants. Many are available, select one that is plug and play on PCs, these generally work on Chomeboxes. 

The Rokit Boost 6 Watt Rectangle Bluetooth Speaker with Built-In Microphone has both Noise reduction and echo cancellation getting to the low end of speaker/microphone combinations for Hangouts and other types of audio/video conferencing.