Overview

The University of Oxford’s centrally managed Replay lecture-capture service (powered by Panopto) supports thousands of recordings each term across a diverse estate of seminar rooms and lecture theatres. To guarantee clear audio in every capture—particularly when presenters forget or mis-use wireless lapel mics—Oxford’s IT Services adopted the MXL AC-404 USB boundary microphone as the default, “always-on” device for small-to-medium teaching spaces.

About the University of Oxford

Founded in the 12th century, Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, teaching more than 26,000 students across 38 self-governing colleges. Its Replay programme delivers recorded lectures and seminars through the Canvas VLE, giving students flexible, accessible learning resources.

The Challenge: Reliable Audio in Hundreds of Varied Rooms

Replay recordings fail if no microphone is detected or if audio intelligibility is poor. Technicians, therefore, needed:

  • A “fit-and-forget” mic that would capture intelligible speech even when other mics were muted or missing.
  • Rapid, friction-free installation without external DSPs or phantom power.
  • Affordability at scale for equipping hundreds of rooms across multiple colleges and departments.

The Solution: MXL AC-404 Boundary Microphone

After evaluating several USB microphones, IT Services specified the MXL AC-404:

  • Plug-and-play USB connection—no drivers or additional power rails required.
  • Three-capsule array with 180° pickup and a 7.6 m (25 ft) reach, providing whole-room coverage from a lectern or desk.
  • Low-profile, rugged housing that withstands daily classroom use.

The microphone is now documented as the “typical USB mic” for small seminar rooms (< 50 students) in Oxford’s official AV guidance.

Key Outcomes

✔ Fewer Failed Recordings

With a permanently connected AC-404, rooms always deliver an audio feed to Panopto, slashing support calls linked to silent videos.

✔ Consistent Speech Intelligibility

The mic’s wide pickup arc captures both lecturer and audience questions without hot-spotting, improving replay quality across disciplines.

✔ Rapid Roll-Out & Low TCO

USB installation meant estates and college technicians could outfit rooms in minutes, keeping project costs within tight post-pandemic budgets.

✔ Future-Proof for Hybrid Use

Because the AC-404 appears as a standard USB audio device, it is equally useful in Microsoft Teams or Zoom sessions, supporting Oxford’s growing hybrid-teaching initiatives.

Implementation & Support

Educational Media Services coordinated deployment:

  1. Prototype room testing verified pickup patterns and gain structure.
  2. Bulk procurement secured unit pricing within the university’s framework agreement.
  3. Simple user guides were placed on lecterns, reminding staff that audio is captured automatically.

Ongoing support is minimal—if a PC is replaced, staff simply reconnect the USB cable and the mic enumerates instantly.

Conclusion

By standardising on the MXL AC-404, the University of Oxford achieved a robust, scalable audio solution that meets the pedagogical demands of modern lecture capture while keeping installation and maintenance straightforward. The case demonstrates how a single, cleverly chosen peripheral can underpin a world-class digital-learning service.

Interested in replicating Oxford’s success in your business? Contact Audio Visual Distributors for local stock availability, demo units or technical advice on integrating MXL microphones into your teaching-space projects.