does anyone know if there is a device to put an analog phone call into our audio mixing equipment?

Question

We want a user to dial an phone number and be able hear what they say on our conference room speakers, and for the caller to hear what the room is saying. Thanks

Answer 1

Obviously, this can be done with a simple speakerphone in the conference room.

However, I think what you want to do is use the sound system in the conference room (which is tied into your mixer).

You can do this easily by purchasing a phone that has a headphone jack and a microphone jack. Some inexpensive phones have this, and most high-end conference room phone will do this. Try Polycom, for example.

Be aware, however, that placement of the microphones and speakers is important. If not, you might get echos or the phone participants might not hear the speaker. This would be minimized with a good phone and well positioned equipment.

Answer 2

In my experience, Polycom is one of the most trusted brands of conference phone makers around. I know for sure they make models that allow you to daisy chain external microphones that are individually mutable, and I would be surprised if they didn't offer a solution that could interface with your existing conference room speakers. Check with your telephone Support Group or Service provider to determine the most appropriate product for you.

Answer 3

At the cheap end, Radio Shack used to sell a device that plugged into a phone line to allow recording of the phone calls directly to a cassette tape recorder.
Yup 43-2208 $30.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2123175&cp=2032052.2032075.2032077.2032094&parentPage=family
All warnings about echoes, etc. And you just don't use the remote. Interestingly, it will put sound on the line, like music on hold, at least the old version would.