Bon Jovi Bassist Hugh McDonald Finds Clarity in Remote Work with ClearOne Aura® Versa® 50 Audio and Video Solution
April 13 2021 - 8:10AM
As the bassist and backup singer for legendary rock band Bon Jovi,
Hugh McDonald admits that his performances rely on trusted legacy
equipment and he doesn’t concern himself too much with following
the latest performance gear and technology. But after a year of
cancelled tours and countless hours using the integrated webcam and
microphone on his laptop, McDonald recently recognized that, in his
own words, “There has to be a better way to do this.”
After a brief chat with some industry
friends, he found the upgraded gear he needed: the ClearOne
Aura® Versa® 50 audio and video
solution.
“When I finally had to do a recording,
and I was setting up the laptop, positioning it in the room, it
really felt cobbled together, like a subpar solution,” McDonald
said. “The band ended up doing a lot of video from our homes for
various organizations, plus solo videos to prepare for a live
session in Nashville, and now when I look back, I wish I had
upgraded my collaboration gear earlier. No integrated laptop or
phone camera can deliver 4K video, HD audio and special functions
like the pan, tilt and zoom offered by my new ClearOne Aura Versa
50.”
The ClearOne Aura Versa 50 package
combines a UNITE® 50 ePTZ camera with a
CHAT® 150 speakerphone and a Versa USB Hub. The
camera offers a 4K, 120-degree ultra-wide view lens with a 3x
digital zoom, while the speakerphone delivers HDConference® audio
and plug-and-play simplicity with the Versa USB Hub.
“Everyone is using video calling on a
daily basis now, so this new equipment has made all of our
communications way better, to the point where I’ve actually said
‘Wow’ out loud,” he added. “My wife is launching an online store
for jewelry she makes that will include videos, and we constantly
use it for family chats, and I’ve already noticed that calls feel
better and more confident with the professional quality ClearOne
equipment.”
With the uncertain timeline for the
return of regular live events and musical performances, more and
more artists, musicians and other performers are seriously
considering how they can work from home to earn an income and stay
busy. From McDonald’s point of view, part of the equation is making
sure that any virtual performance or collaboration must feel as
personal and real as possible.
“When I’m in a virtual session
performing with bandmates or even for an audience, there has to be
a visceral sense of connection and shared excitement, which can be
instantly ruined by grainy video or scratchy audio,” he explained.
“There’s no downside to having a better camera, microphone and
speaker that offer vastly improved quality with more functions. The
small physical size of the gear is great, too, because we can
easily move it from my office to my wife’s computer, or take it on
the road so we always present our best.”
As the industry evolves and artists
increasingly invest time to connect directly with fans,
professional audio and video quality will continue to be a critical
component for the success and enjoyment of collaborations or
recorded performances. That’s why ClearOne developed its Aura
series of home office collaboration solutions in 2020 to ensure
that every person working from home can continue to present at a
professional level and pursue their goals with confidence and
clarity.
About ClearOneClearOne is a global market
leader enabling conferencing, collaboration, and network streaming
solutions. The performance and simplicity of its advanced,
comprehensive solutions offer unprecedented levels of
functionality, reliability, and scalability. Visit ClearOne at
www.clearone.com.
###
Contact:
Bob Griffin
Griffin360
212 481 3456 x16
bob@griffin360.com
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