The PLACID USB measurement microphone provides a complete, self-contained digital acoustic measurement solution in a single device. The measurement microphone capsule, preamplifier, and 24-bit analog-to-digital converter are integrated into one USB device that connects directly to a PC or laptop — no external DAQ, preamplifier, or power supply required. This makes it the simplest possible entry point for acoustic measurement with calibrated, documented performance.
The USB microphone is powered entirely from the USB bus — no external power supply is required for laboratory use. For field measurement, a USB power bank provides several hours of continuous operation. The device appears to the operating system as a standard USB audio device, and is compatible with any software that supports USB Audio Class compliant input, including PLACID PQ Analyst, third-party acoustic analysis software, and custom measurement scripts.
For applications requiring Class 1 performance, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration, or more than 1 simultaneous measurement channel, the PLACID PQ401 DAQ with a Class 1 measurement microphone set is the appropriate choice.
The USB measurement microphone is intended for applications where Class 2 performance and ease of use take priority over maximum measurement accuracy. For Class 1 microphone performance, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration with stated measurement uncertainty, multi-channel simultaneous measurement, or extended frequency range beyond 16 kHz, the PLACID PQ401 with a Class 1 measurement microphone is the appropriate instrument.
The two products are complementary: the USB microphone provides a low-cost, portable measurement capability for surveys, screening, and educational use; the PQ401 system delivers laboratory and compliance-grade measurement performance. Both use the same PQ Analyst software interface, so users transitioning from the USB microphone to the PQ401 do not need to relearn the analysis workflow.