Challenge Connecting Multiple Smartphone Mic's Simply & Quickly

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of connecting multiple smartphone microphones quickly and simply for recording a meeting with participants who are strangers and may not want to install any applications. The focus is on exploring various methods and technologies that could facilitate this connection across different smartphone platforms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using Android Beam technology, although notes it only works on Nexus devices.
  • Another proposes utilizing a conference call setup, but raises concerns about feedback issues if all phones are active simultaneously.
  • There is a suggestion to initiate a conversation where one person receives text messages from others to connect their microphones, although the feasibility of this approach is unclear.
  • Some participants mention using Skype in conference mode, but express uncertainty about how to record the audio effectively.
  • Another idea involves using NFC (near field communication) to simplify the connection process, while also noting that Bluetooth may not be the most reliable option.
  • A participant mentions researching WiFi video conferencing as a potential solution, indicating that operating without video could lower data rates and mitigate issues like feedback with earphones.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on a specific solution, as multiple competing ideas and methods are proposed without agreement on their effectiveness or feasibility.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about participants' willingness to engage with technology and the varying capabilities of different smartphone platforms. The discussion also reflects uncertainty about the reliability and practicality of the proposed methods.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals looking for innovative solutions to audio recording in group settings, particularly in contexts where participants are reluctant to use dedicated applications or technology.

Dutch Nomad
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Dear Readers,

I'm facing a pretty interesting challenge, which is: "How to connect multiple smartphone mic's in the quickest and simplest way?"

Here is a use case. I go into a meeting with a group of random (strangers) that all have smartphones, Android, iOS, Windows. Now I want to record this meeting and in doing so I would like to leverage the mic's of all the phones in the room. How can I get the strangers phones to connect with my system, or maybe the cloud, to capture all the recordings in one platform. The main difficulty being that the other people in the meeting do not want to spend time installing an app of any kind. Basically I want them to notice the least possible of the whole operation. They should have to do little to nothing.

My ideas:
- Using the android beam technology by holding phones against each other (only works on Nexus though)
- Using some sort of bluetooth system.
- Maybe I have a unique URL that I can type into a webserver on each phone.

If you have any thoughts, ideas, suggestions on this challenge, feel free to comment!Peter
 
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Can you set up a conference call with all the included phones? They probably would all have to have their volumes turned down so they don't cause feedback with each other.
 
yeah using Skype in conference mode

not sure if/ how it could be recorded tho
 
skeptic2 said:
Can you set up a conference call with all the included phones? They probably would all have to have their volumes turned down so they don't cause feedback with each other.
Hey,

Thanks for the answer. It's not the ideal solution because the people would need to hold their phones on their ear all the time and like Davenn mentions, I'm not recording this.

Here is another thought: One person initiates the conversation and has a number that the other guys can send a text message to. Now there needs to be a way to connect these people with the first person by using the received text messages to connect everyone and turn on their mic's!
 
davenn said:
yeah using Skype in conference mode

not sure if/ how it could be recorded tho

Thanks for replying!
It would indeed be something similar to Skype but then with recording. I'm still thinking how it could be easier than having to use Skype though. Maybe using NFC (near field communication) or something alike. It should basically be the simplest way to connect phones ever. Bluetooth is not bad, but it's not the most reliable either :s
 
I Googled WiFi video conferencing and found a lot of hits. You could operate without the vision and the data rate would be significantly lower.
Earphones would remove the problem of howlround.
 

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