What is the recommended number of microphones for a round table that is 4 feet or larger with four people?

In a round table setting with four people, especially when the table is 4 feet or larger, using three microphones is recommended to ensure clear audio capture for all participants. This setup effectively allows for optimal placement of microphones to minimize background noise and enhance sound quality.

The rationale behind utilizing three microphones is that it provides a sufficient number of audio sources to pick up each person's voice clearly while also covering the space evenly. With this arrangement, two microphones can be placed on opposite sides of the table, allowing for good coverage of voices coming from both angles, while a third microphone can serve to capture any conversation happening in the middle or to pick up sounds that the other two may miss.

Using only one or two microphones may create dead spots in audio capture, where it becomes challenging to hear all participants clearly. Similarly, deploying four microphones might result in overlapping audio and increased complexity in sound management, which is generally not necessary for a group of four people. Thus, three microphones strike the right balance for effective communication in this scenario.