SALT LAKE CITY, April 13, 2021 — 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,
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.