Volume 10, Issue 11 — November 23, 2016
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A Season of Understanding
By Joel Rollins rAVe Columnist
I love the holidays. Even though they often come as a mixed blessing, combining some welcome time away from the office with seeing the relatives that I didn’t necessarily want to see. I really enjoy this time when people make an effort to smile a little more, to contact old friends and, frankly, just to be a little easier to live with. And, especially this year, I think we all need it.
So now let’s talk about the problem that most of us will deal with: how to use the downtime that tends to come around the holidays. Every company I have ever worked for, and, since then, every company I have led, has had a plan to use the holiday downtime. Sometimes the list of work to be accomplished is even more ambitious than my Christmas list, which has included a Lamborghini every year since I was 14 years old.
So, every year, the various crews within the business, led by ambitious department managers, make lists of the things that they want to accomplish during the downtime. The field crews make lists that include things like reorganizing the vans, doing check-in and maintenance on gear, reorganizing the warehouse and building a new soldering bench. The office personnel make lists that include preparing receipts and paperwork for tax season, updating company records, taking inventory and sending out the annual letter requesting tax exemption forms.
Now, certainly, all of these things are valuable things to accomplish. All of them pay off later in the year when we are too busy to even attempt them, but let me suggest to you an option that could pay off even more.
Have them exchange lists. Or, at the very least, exchange crew members for some of the tasks.
If this is to truly be a season of understanding, one of the things that would pay off most through the year is for the various parts of the business to have a better understanding of the needs of the others. All too often, the office crew complains about the activity of the field crew, how they never document things or turn in receipts, etc. The field crew whines about how busy they are and that the office crew simply doesn’t understand that there really isn’t time to actually document the hours spent on a job.
Here’s the other reason for a list exchange. There is an old saying that a change is as good as a rest. And, let’s face it, the things that we put on these lists are chores — or, at least they are for the people who made the list. Because of this, often things like holiday parties, fruitcake, and just general goofing around push some parts of these lists off, Because frankly, well, they are chores. But, as with Tom Sawyer getting his friends to whitewash his fence, people who don’t do them every day might take more interest in them.
On top of this, they might learn something! Just recently, our accounting manager learned the definition of “PTZ,” which enabled him to explain the bill to a client without having to contact the tech in charge. Time saved. Some understanding gained.
But there are other important business reasons that taking this time for some temporary change in duties can be valuable. For instance, asking the field technicians to help update client records can involve them inputting client preferences and contacts into the records. If you’ve been reading my columns for very long, you know that I’m a proponent of a cloud-based project and information management system called Basecamp. It’s a very simple, web-based system, (which we have been using for about 10 years) and it has gotten more valuable with every year as the office staff put in information for use by the field staff (credit records, who can approve a charge, etc.) and the field staff put in information like hours, projects, and customer requests and comments. This system enables any of our people to brief themselves about a client and their projects before speaking with them. However, getting the system going was a major chore, especially establishing the need for field people to contribute. This kind of a slowdown time may be the time that you can actually get a system started.
The final reason: promoting a useable basic technical understanding — such as having the ability to call the office staff and asking them to find a four-output HDMI distribution amplifier and get it down to the convention center. Nobody likes these incidents, but the flexibility of having non-technical employees execute such chores when necessary can be valuable.
As an afterthought: this could also be fun, and help build some personal understanding between the members of your staff. And, in this “season of understanding” what could be better than having a better understanding of the people that we work with day-to-day? Leave a Comment
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Just Another Week in the Life of an Audiovisual Technician
By Nick Voss Treffen Saint John
It occurred to me this week that AV technicians experience the most fascinating lives. This is the best career choice anyone could make and if I had to go back I’d pursue a life in audiovisual and staging all over again.
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This past Sunday, I staged an event for Justin Baldoni, who plays the main character in Jane the Virgin TV series. An interesting chap he is. He travels everywhere with his beautiful wife and newborn daughter. As he was giving his talk, we could hear his daughter crying in the Ritz-Carlton foyer. Not missing a beat, he cleverly wove the crying baby into his speech. The audience swooned. What a cool guy this Justin Baldoni is, I thought to myself. He hasn’t been corrupted by stardom. Furthermore, he and his entourage treated me not as a lowly technician, but as an important partner in making his program go its best — and it did.
On Tuesday we had lunch designed for royalty. Many conference attendees left early and in order to fulfill the $100 per person food and beverage guarantee, I was invited to dine along. Most of this food would have otherwise been wasted. Of course, I eagerly accepted. When the meal was finished, the customer inquired if I’d like to take home all the leftover food (prepared by Ritz-Carlton celebrity chefs). The customer instructed the resort staff to box up the goods and he himself carried everything to my truck, which was parked at the loading dock. I’ve been eating shrimp every night since then and tonight I’m having leftover bison! I still have the pulled pork in the freezer.
Only an AV technician can shut down the airport in America’s sixth largest city and not go to jail. On my drive home, the aforementioned customer wanted to hitch a ride from Tucson to the Sky Harbor airport. A New Yorker he is, a true Manhattan man, he expressed interest in spending time with his AV technician while admiring the Arizona desert rather than listen to an Uber driver with whom he had no connection. As long as he didn’t mind a bouncy Penske truck, I welcomed the companionship. As we approached Sky Harbor Terminal 4, we were pleasantly surprised to find that I could drop him off at the curb. Though searching diligently we did not notice any height restrictions. After I exited the ramp I was greeted with a sign that alerted me to a mere 12’ clearance. I was now stuck; no going back now. As I pulled to the center to allow traffic to pass, PHX PD rushed to the scene. They did not fault me. One sympathetic officer admitted that it happens all the time. “Happens all the time? Why don’t you install signs at the top so this never happens again?”, I thought.
But some problems are not meant to be solved. The police had a system in place to get things moving again. Their efficiency gave me reason to believe that indeed it does happen all the time. Nearby barricades moved swiftly into place and an army of police officers showed up at once from nowhere to seal off traffic, and in fifteen minutes I was on my way. The incident shut down all eastbound traffic along the north side of Sky Harbor Terminal 4 during rush hour traffic. Those of you who may have missed your flight due to my Penske blocking the way can be assured I did my best to redeem myself by writing Sky Harbor police requesting signs on the upper ramp to prevent this from happening again. But since “it happens all the time,” I do not expect to see height restriction signs anytime soon. By this time I assume some of you are pondering Einstein’s famous definition of insanity. Hey, I’ve been paying attention to those “root cause” analysis talks the management gurus bandy on about in their high-dollar conference speeches.
***
That same week, Thursday, I staged an event in Carefree, Arizona at a luxurious Arabian horse facility. I was told the property belonged to “a famous golfer.” That famous golfer turned out to be Tom Lehman, who I had bossed around all afternoon thinking he was one of the landscapers. Oops!
Only an AV technician has the ability to humiliate himself further and get away with it. Nearby another fellow set tables and performed menial chores of various sort. Wherever assistance was needed the young chap was eager to jump in. Eventually he retrieved a guitar from his car. Assuming he was an event volunteer and a sometimes local musician recruited to provide evening entertainment, I instructed him to connect his guitar and we’d do a sound check. After strumming a few chords I thought to myself, “Hmmm… this fellow is pretty good.” I then asked him to sing a few bars into the vocal mic. Whoa! This ain’t no ordinary cowboy beer hall singer!
Me: Do you know Brothers of the Highway?
Him: Yes, I think I know that one. [plays a few bars]
Me: Did anyone ever tell you that you sound exactly like George Strait?
[laughter all around me]
The man was Blaine Larsen. What was I thinking? Now that I’ve driven a few additional nails into my coffin, I pledged to shut up and pursue good behavior, nor would I dig the ditch I’ve made any deeper.
At the end of the evening it came time to collect the check from the client. Expecting a reprimand because I’ve insulted every celebrity within earshot, instead the client gave me a substantial gratuity because, “This was the best sound we ever heard and you and your crew did a great job. A few others said the same thing.”
The best sound you ever heard? It kinda helps when Blaine Larsen is singing!
***
The next morning, we staged another event at Scottsdale’s Westworld where a well-known national charity was having a staff meeting. To keep costs low, we agreed that I would use VGA projection instead of HD. Once on-site, the client realized her new computer had HDMI output only. During the setup, I anticipated such a predicament and had an HDMI-DVI conversion ready to go.
Client: You are, like, soooo awesome!
Me: Ma’am… it’s just another day in the life of an AV technician.
This blog was reposted with permission of Nick Voss and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Marantz Debuts Portable Headset AmplifierThe new Marantz PHA-3 Stereo Field Production Headphone Amplifier provides three independent headphone feeds from balanced or unbalanced sources and can drive headphones to high levels at audiophile quality with low distortion — ideal for field broadcast production companies, portable audio/video production crews and live sound productions where critical audio monitoring is required, even under high SPL conditions. The PHA3 features a rugged metal case and the ability to daisy-chain additional units utilizing the Loop outputs.
Features include:
- Three independent headphone outputs with individual level controls
- Balanced XLR inputs or 1/4″ and 3.5mm stereo inputs
- Switchable stereo or mono operation
- 1/4″ Loop output for daisy-chaining additional units in series for extra outputs
- Parallel 3.5mm and 1/4″ outputs with two additional 1/4″ outputs
- Internal power (2x AA) or external power (5-17VDC) with seamless switchover
- GREEN LED indicates power with good battery, RED indicates low battery power
- LED turns RED to warn when four hours of battery life remain
- Rugged aluminum chassis with strap loops for wearing or mounting
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1 Beyond Launches New StreamMachine Line1 Beyond announced a new, more powerful line of StreamMachine systems for live streaming and recording. The 1 Beyond StreamMachine, billed as an all-in-one video switcher, recorder, streaming encoder, comes in five models designed for different needs.
The new StreamMachine systems are:
- 1 Beyond StreamMachine Edge ($3,995) is a compact and affordable desktop system for those who want a professional quality broadcast on a tight budget.
- 1 Beyond StreamMachine Portable ($8,495) and StreamMachine Portable Pro ($11,995) are all-in-one units with built-in monitor, keyboard and trackpad for those who want to take their production on the go.
- 1 Beyond StreamMachine Studio ($5,995) and StreamMachine Studio Pro ($8,995) are sturdy rack units for control rooms, production trucks or other locations where portability is not needed. They can also be configured as a desktop unit.
All models have at least four HD-SDI inputs and can capture, stream and record 1080p. The Pro level units have more storage capacity, CPU power and 8 HD-SDI inputs. Highlights of new features for all systems include:
- Powerful GPU encoder to stream high resolutions using less CPU
- High resolution ISO recording
- Easy to use Wirecast Pro user interface to add effects, resize, position, crop, flip rotate, and combine multiple video sources, apply color correction filters and more.
- Updated 2D/3D animated titles with live text entry, or scroll/display text from a file or an RSS feed.
- Virtual sets, instant replay, enhanced built-in audio mixer and audio/video delay all standard.
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KLARK TEKNIK Ships 1176-KT Compressor KLARK TEKNIK announced the shipping of its 1176-KT FET-style compressor with a discrete signal path utilizing custom-engineered MIDAS input and output transformers. The compressor offers three ratios: 4:1 for moderate compression; 8:1 for severe compression: 12:1 for mild limiting; and 20:1 for hard limiting. Additionally, ‘All-button’ mode is included for aggressive vocals and especially effective when applied to drums, bass, guitar and room microphones.
An Attack Knob adjusts the time it takes for the compressor to respond to audio that exceeds the threshold. To accompany this, a Release Knob adjusts how long the compressor remains engaged after incoming audio falls below the threshold. Similarly to the Attack Knob, the Release Knob response time is faster when clockwise and slower when counter-clockwise.
An illuminated vintage-style VU meter keeps the 1176-KT in style with the original KLARK TEKNIK processor. The meter applies visual confirmation of gain reduction and output level based on which meter button is selected. And, the 1176-KT comes in 2U steel rack mount enclosure for live concert touring while using Neutrik XLR connectors.
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NEC Europe Launches Another WUXGA Native But 4K-Capable, Laser Installation Projector NEC Display Solutions Europe today launched the PX1004UL laser phosphor projector. Offering maintenance-free operation for up to 20,000 hours and spec’d at up to 10,000 ANSI lumens brightness, the PX1004UL completes NEC’s Solid State Light (SSL) source line-up of projectors with 5,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 ANSI lumens.
Using Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology and native WUXGA resolution (1920 x 1200), the projector has the capability to process 4K input signals – but converts them to WUXGA. In addition, the laser projector utilizes a filter-less design technology and is essentially dust proof, removing the need for filter cleaning or replacement. These features combined with low overall power consumption provide exceptional reliability and virtually zero maintenance. The PX1004UL projector is therefore an attractive option in scenarios where total cost of ownership is crucial and maintenance access is limited.
The projector offers easy and flexible installation options with support for third party lenses. This enables the PX1004UL to be used as a drop-in replacement without any reprogramming. The free landscape and portrait orientation function of the projector makes it suitable for use at any angle, while the geometric control function makes the projector perfect for projection onto curved surfaces. Furthermore, the projector supports automatic camera-based stacking and blending. This gives users quick and easy multi-screen setup capabilities, plus support for large presentation pictures.
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Extron Intros SMP 111 With Recording and H.264 Streaming Capabilities in a Compact Package
Extron just launched the SMP 111, a high performance recording and streaming processor for capturing and distributing AV sources and presentations as live streaming and recorded media. The SMP 111 accepts an HDMI signal with embedded audio and an analog audio signal. Extron high-performance scaling and flexible signal processing enables superior display of content of varying resolutions from computer and HDTV sources.
The SMP 111 supports extensive streaming capabilities. It can record and stream simultaneously, with independent resolutions and bit rates using a range of transport protocols and session management options. Recording with the SMP 111 provides easy capture of live HDMI signals to an internal flash drive and external USB drives. Optional RCP 101 Series remote control panels are available to extend both front panel control as well as USB connectivity for thumb drive recording media. Requiring no licensing fees, the SMP 111 is a compact, flexible, and cost-effective solution for streaming and recording content.
The SMP 111 is ideal for applications that require simple recording of a single video signal with audio and metadata. It provides MP4 or M4V file format recordings integrated with metadata, chapter and event marking. It is also ideal for applications that require live streaming to remote participants, hosting services, or local confidence viewing. The SMP 111 can be adapted to many applications, documenting virtually any meeting, conference, or activity that uses an AV source as a reference. The SMP 111 is ideal for use in corporate, education, government, and rental and staging applications.
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Epson Debuts New PowerLite 2000-Series Portable ProjectorsEpson today announced the new Epson PowerLite 2000-Series. The series features nine projectors that are designed for business meetings, large boardrooms, lecture halls, classrooms, and houses of worship. The PowerLite 2000-Series includes up to 5,500 lumens of color brightness and 5,500 lumens of white brightness, in addition to full HD 1080p support and comes equipped with built-in enterprise level Wi-Fi security, and features a full interface for multiple connections and installation flexibility.
The PowerLite 2000-Series leverages HDMI connectivity but also includes USB ports for images from a USB drive stored as PDF, JPEG, BMP, GIF, or PNG files without having to connect to a PC. In addition, leveraging a wireless LAN module, the PowerLite 2000-Series projectors offer security features such as WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA-EAP, WPA2-EAP wireless encryption to help prevent information leakage in an enterprise environment.
The series also features Faroudja DCDi Cinema video enhancement technology delivering exceptional image quality without introducing artifacts. In addition, the DICOM Simulation Mode (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) provides the ability to reproduce images with an advanced grayscale level that simulates DICOM Part 14, designed for viewing grayscale medical images, such as X-rays, for training and educational environments. Wireless screen mirroring with Miracast allows PowerLite 2000-Series users to stream Full HD movies, videos, photos, and music from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC directly to the projector.
The flagship models – PowerLite 2265U and PowerLite 2165W – include HDBaseT connectivity for easy installation, in addition to support for Multi-PC projection, which allows up to four individual PC screens to be displayed simultaneously over the network with up to 32 connected to the same projector. The projectors include Screen Fit, an auto-sensing feature that adjusts the image size to fit within a frame, whether it’s a screen or a board, with the push of a button. The PowerLite 2265U and PowerLite 2165W projectors can be used with the Epson iProjection App to display content from an iOS or Android mobile devices with wireless or network capabilities4.
Here are all the specs.
The different models can be compared here:
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Audinate Announces Dante Via and Dante Virtual Soundcard Bundle for $59.95
Audinate has announced the availability of its Dante Software “Combo Pack,” combining licenses for Dante Via and Dante Virtual Soundcard for only $59.95. This bundle apparently represents a 25 percent savings over purchasing the software separately. The Dante Software Combo Pack provides the ultimate in computer-based audio flexibility and creativity, including:
- Record up to 64 channels of audio using your favorite tools with Dante Virtual Soundcard
- Share audio from applications and USB devices with Dante Via
- Create computer-only audio networks, or connect to any Dante system
Dante Via connects all your computer-based audio, including USB, Thunderbolt and PCIe devices as well as audio applications, to any Dante audio network. Audio applications, connected devices and Dante network endpoints are automatically discovered and displayed in an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Dante Via supports up to 16×16 channels of audio for each application and up to 32×32 for each connected device.
Dante Virtual Soundcard claims to turn your computer into a high performance Dante-powered recording workstation. Users can instantly connect to record, process and play out up to 64×64 channels using any audio application and any combination of Dante-enabled devices and software. Like Dante Via, Dante Virtual Soundcard uses the Ethernet port you already have —no snakes, no converters, no special cables or connectors.
To learn more about the Dante Software Combo Pack, go here. Leave a Comment
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BALD Technologies Intros Rental Lift for Large-Format LCDs BALD Technologies has begun shipping a new powered lift column designed to be mounted in a flight case and lift up to a 300-pound, 90” monitor. The product has a vertical travel of 27” to include adjustable integrated dampening. It was specifically designed to address demand coming from large format monitor users wanting to use their display at offsite meetings and trade shows.
The column has three bracket options:
- A non tilt bracket
- A lift and tilt bracket for 32”-65” monitor
- A bracket designed to hold the new Microsoft Surface HUB 84 and InFocus MondoPad
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elektraLite Intros ML-902 Moving Head Spot Fixture elektraLite’s new ML-902 is a full-featured moving head profile spot fixture powered by a bright 120-watt cool white (6,500K) COB LED that delivers an output equal to that of a 250-watt HMI discharge lamp.
elektraLite’s newest moving head profile spot fixture easily adjusts for color via its indexable seven-color wheel, and pattern choices on the product are equally versatile thanks to two wheels each holding up to seven interchangeable gobos. One wheel is fixed for static image projection, while the second is adjustably rotatable at the individual gobo level for spinning effects. Eighteen interchangeable gobos are included with the ML-902 for maximum flexibility and interchangeability.
Additional features of the ML-902 include a rotating five-point prism, wide-range strobe with various features, zoom, focus control, and fine (16-bit) pan and tilt, in addition to the digital dimming features, as well as coarse (8-bit) pan and tilt operation for maximum control of beam movement.
Delivering 640fc at a distance of 10 feet and 187fc at 20 feet, the ML-902 is compatible with multiple voltages (AC 100-240V – 50/60Hz) and features a power consumption of 146 watts (1.2A). Housed in a rugged black aluminum chassis with a rigid flat steel yoke and corrosion-resistant hardware for top-notch durability, the fixture weighs only 30 pounds and comes equipped with a 18-inch integrated Edison power cable, safety cable and U-bracket for pipe attachment.
eIelektraLite’s new ML-902 (ELE817) lists for $1,079.00 and here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Delvcam Debuts 17-Inch HD Rackmount Monitor Delvcam today announced the availability of the new “economical” DELV-3GHD-17IRM rackmount monitor with a 1920×1080 resolution for professional video monitoring.
The Delvcam DELV-3GHD-17IRM 17-inch rackmount 3G-SDI monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 700:1 contrast provides HDMI/SDI cross conversion. Designed for OB trucks, the studio, post production and surveillance applications in a slim, rugged steel housing, the monitor features multiple signal inputs and outputs, user definable buttons and a built-in tally interface.
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Zytronic and Tangible Display Wants to Remind You That They Pioneered Object Recognition on Large-format Touch TablesIn the wake of the new Microsoft Surface Studio computer with built-in object recognition (a video you NEED to watch), Zytronic with Tangible Display have launched object recognition capability on its MPCT multi-touch glass (ZyBrid) and foil (ZyFilm ) sensor products up to 85″ in diagonal.
When deployed in touch tables, object recognition provides a compelling new way of engaging the user with the touch screen and the interactive content. The function is particularly well-suited to retail applications, museums and galleries. The Zytronic and Tangible Display solution is based on the attachment of physical markers to the objects to be tracked and does not require modification of the touch sensor or multi-touch controller. Tangible Display’s proprietary object recognition user interface (UI) software, ObjectViz, works in concert with proprietary Zytronic firmware that can be quickly installed onto a standard ZXY200 or 300, 40-point multi-touch controller.
A key advantage of the combined Zytronic and Tangible Display solution is that although the sensor will continue to respond to multiple touches, any objects placed on the screen that do not have the requisite “tags” on their base are disregarded. Therefore a cup, pen or a bag left on the table, or a sleeve making contact with the glass, will be ignored. As part of the guided setup process, the Tangible software is taught to recognize only a specific pattern of tags attached to an object, and respond accordingly. Furthermore, a full report of user interactions can be saved for later review and analysis.
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Optoma Launches Redesigned Line of Projectors Built for Small Business, Education and Corporate MarketsOptoma today announced 10 new and redesigned projectors aimed at education, small business and corporate markets. The new projectors are:
- Optoma S321 is an entry-level SVGA projector designed for small classrooms and meeting rooms. It has 3,200 lumens of brightness and a 22,000:1 contrast ratio, weighs four pounds, has a VGA input, and costs $289.
- Optoma X345 and Optoma X355 are XGA projectors for classrooms, small businesses and training labs. Both models feature a 22,000:1 contrast ratio, a 10,000-hour lamp, 3,200 lumens and 3,500 lumens, respectively, and $449 and $499.
- Optoma W345 and Optoma W355 are both 22,000:1 contrast ratio and 10,000 lamp life and are native 1280×800 projectors aimed at classroom, small business or training labs, too. The W345 and W355 are spec’d at 3,300 and 3,600 lumens respectively, and list for $549 and $699.
- Optoma EH331 is a 1080p projector with 3,300 lumens, a 22,000:1 contrast ratio for $599.
- Optoma EH345 is aimed at corporate professionals and educators looking for a 1080p projector that is 3,200 lumens, 22,000:1 contrast ratio and 1.3x zoom for flexible installations. With a 10,000-hour lamp life, 10-watt speaker and MHL 1.2 support, the EH345 is $649.
- Optoma X416 is an XGA projector aimed at mid-size venues including corporate, house of worship and higher education environments with a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, 4,300 lumens and a 1.36x zoom. It also offers Wall Color Adjustment, allowing it to adjusted to project on non-white surfaces and it lists for $749.
- Optoma W416 is an WXGA projector for corporate, house of worship and higher education but this one is 4,500 lumens with a 1.6x zoom and 20,000:1 contrast ratio. The W416 lists for $799.
- Optoma DU380 is a WUXGA projector at 3,800 lumens, a 15,000:1 contrast ratio and a 1.6x zoom. DU380 is $799.
All the models mentioned above, except for the S321 and EH331, offer installation flexibility and variable throw distances. Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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Roland Announces VR-4HD High-Definition AV MixerRoland today announced the introduction of its VR-4HD High-Definition AV Mixer — a portable AV Mixer that integrates a digital audio mixer, video switcher, multi-viewer touch screen and USB video/audio streaming interface into a stand-alone device.
The VR-4HD has three dedicated HDMI inputs (1080p/1080i/720p resolutions). A fourth input includes a scaler to support both video and computer resolutions and also supports analog RGB and component input, as well as HDMI, so older devices can be used as sources without the need for external conversion equipment. HDCP is supported for input of copy-protected content from devices such as Blu-ray disc players.
The VR-4HD’s 18-channel audio mixer features Roland’s digital signal processing offering three-band parametric EQ, reverb, a compressor/gate on the mic inputs and level/multiband EQ on the master mix. The VR-4HD supports advanced features including auto-mixing, echo cancel, audio follow and up to 500ms of delay for perfect lip-sync between audio and video. The VR-4HD’s audio mixer can mix the four XLR microphone inputs, unbalanced stereo inputs on RCA and 1/8 mini connectors, along with the audio embedded in the four HDMI inputs. The final mix can be outputted via XLR or RCA and also embedded into the HDMI output, while a headphone output facilitates audio monitoring.
A loop-back audio capability via the USB 3.0 port can bring in audio from a connected PC using a conferencing software such as Skype and return audio to the PC without any audio feedback thanks to the included Echo Cancellation feature.
The Auto-Mixing function makes for simple and easy mixing of multiple presenters or panelists at conferences and events by automatically managing the levels of individual microphones, and can even give priority for volume to an event moderator who will always be heard above the other participants. The Auto-Mixing function can take care of managing audio levels across audio sources even when an operator is not present.
The VR-4HD includes DSK (Downstream Keying), Picture-in-Picture (PinP), Split and Quad composting effects ideal for creating news-style broadcasts and corporate presentation content. The DSK supports both Luminance Keying (Black / White) and Chroma Keying (Blue / Green). Compositing two videos in one screen using Picture-in-Picture or the split function is ideal for seminars and presentations.
Recording or webcasting from the VR-4HD is easily achieved by connecting to a PC or Mac using the built-in USB 3.0 connection. Up to Full 1080/30p uncompressed resolution video can be outputted from the VR-4HD. The VR-4HD embeds the audio mix with the video program and delivers it at the selected resolution. Included VR Video Capture application for Mac and PC provides an easy and effective way to capture uncompressed video with high-resolution audio. The VR Video Capture application can also capture compressed video for easy and immediate delivery of content to online video sites or internal corporate servers.
Additionally, main audio is included on both HDMI program and preview outputs, as well as via XLR and RCA connectors, and AUX audio output from RCA connectors is also provided. The HDMI preview output can be set to a multi-view mode, where all inputs are displayed with colored borders indicating the program selections. The balanced XLR main audio output is suitable for connection to professional PA equipment, and the AUX audio output can be used for sending monitor signals to presenters on stage.
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New Martin RUSH Scanner 1 LED Fixture Now AvailableThe new Martin by HARMAN RUSH Scanner 1 LED fixture is now shipping. This high-output LED fixture with a dynamic feature set offers multiple colors, gobos and prism effects.
This new addition to the RUSH lighting series delivers high output and super-sharp optics via two separate color wheels, one rotating gobo wheel, one static gobo wheel and a three-facet prism. High-speed pan and tilt capabilities make the RUSH Scanner 1 LED a fixture for creating lighting effects in dance clubs, cruise ships, rental companies, and other similar nightlife venue requirements.
Features include:
- Latest 90W LED light engine technology offering high output and crisp projection
- Full feature set including rotating/indexing gobo wheel, static gobo wheel, two color wheels, three-facet prism and motorized focusing
- Compact and lightweight design with a retro industrial design paying homage to Martin’s scanner heritage
- 2000+ Lumen output (awaiting actual photometrics)
- 14 Degree beam angle
- 175° Pan & 75° Tilt high speed mirror
- Two color wheels
- Rotating/indexing gobo wheel (six plus open)
- Static gobo wheel (seven plus open)
- 3-Facet prism (indexing and rotating)
- Electronic dimming and strobing
- Motorized focus
- 3 & 5 Pin DMX option
- Powercon in and through
- Weight: 9.6kg/ 21.1lbs
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AV Stumpfl Demos Uncompressed 8K Server with 12Bit Color SpacePromising to impress integrators, operators and exhibition designers, the Wings Engine Raw 8K claims to be the only media server of its type to offer uncompressed image quality of up to four simultaneous streams of 4K resolution (making one 8K image via a 2×2 configuration) for playback of native content. This server is also spec’d to handle 120fps as well as stereoscopic 3D imaging. And the Wings Engine Raw 8K media servers are capable of displaying visuals using a full 12-bit color space.
All Wings Engine Raw media servers now come with Dual 10 GBit network cards and certified NAS (network attached storage) systems that are certified 10 GBit switches.
In addition to the new 8K server, the Wings Vioso RX software now features a dedicated data management and transfer system that does not require all data to be physically copied onto a “Master” server. Instead, data can be copied to the NAS and assigned as so called “Proxy Objects” in the timelines. All “Slave” servers can now get their content directly from the NAS systems. Wings Vioso RX also features a built in XML interface which can be used to import data from third parties. Timelines can be generated automatically from third party data this way, to create a smooth workflow for integrating existing CMS data into new installation/digital signage setups.
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New Crown CDi DriveCore Series Amplifiers Are Now AvailableA new line of Crown by HARMAN amplifiers, the CDi DriveCore Series, is shipping. Crown says this series offers high-performance and a rich feature set at a competitive cost. Using technology derived from the Crown DriveCore Install Series, the CDi DriveCore Series offers streamlined functionality to work in almost any small/medium installation — houses of worship, restaurants, cruise ships, hotels, museums, theater, cinema, retail stores and similar installed sound applications.
Crown’s proprietary DriveCore technology eliminates hundreds of components within each amplifier, reducing the variability of component values, increasing reliability, resulting in incredible audio fidelity from an efficient design.
Through HARMAN’s HiQnet Audio Architect software, the CDi DriveCore can be controlled, configured and monitored on a standard TCP/IP network. The on-board digital signal processing in each amplifier allows for custom configuration:
- Input Router
- Input Delay – up to 1000ms
- 8-Band Input Parametric EQ
- Crossover
- 8-band Output Parametric EQ
- Output Delay – up to 100ms
- LevelMAX Limiter
Both receive and send channels over BLU link – HARMAN’s 256-channel, fault-tolerant digital audio bus. Direct Drive 70/100Vrms Output – Each output channel is capable of providing either 70V or 100V for high impedance applications.
Through a combined GPIO/AUX Port, recall presets, mute channels, monitor faults, power the amplifier on and off, and more.
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Samsung Acquires HARMAN, Including AMX, JBL, Crown and AKG Click here to see Gary Kayye’s thoughts about this acquisition.
Samsung Electronics and Harman International today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Samsung will acquire HARMAN for $112.00 per share in cash, or total equity value of approximately $8.0 billion. Upon closing, the transaction will immediately give Samsung a significant presence in the large and rapidly growing market for connected technologies, particularly automotive electronics, which has been a strategic priority for Samsung, and is expected to grow to more than $100 billion by 2025. HARMAN is the market leader in connected car solutions, with more than 30 million vehicles currently equipped with its connected car and audio systems, including embedded infotainment, telematics, connected safety and security. Approximately 65 percent of HARMAN’s $7.0 billion of reported sales during the 12 months ended September 30, 2016 are automotive-related, and its order backlog for this market at June 30, 2016 was approximately $24 billion.
HARMAN’s experience designing and integrating sophisticated in-vehicle technologies, as well as its long-term relationships with most of the world’s largest automakers, will create significant growth opportunities for the combined business by enabling it to leverage Samsung’s expertise in connected mobility, semiconductors, user experience, displays and its global distribution channels. In addition, the combination of HARMAN’s brands and audio capabilities and Samsung’s expertise in consumer electronics will deliver enhanced customer benefits and elevate user experiences across Samsung’s complete portfolio of consumer and professional products and systems.
“HARMAN perfectly complements Samsung in terms of technologies, products and solutions, and joining forces is a natural extension of the automotive strategy we have been pursuing for some time,” said Oh-Hyun Kwon, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Samsung Electronics. “As a Tier 1 automotive supplier with deep customer relationships, strong brands, leading technology and a recognized portfolio of best-in-class products, HARMAN immediately establishes a strong foundation for Samsung to grow our automotive platform. Dinesh Paliwal is a proven global leader and, in our extensive discussions, we have developed deep respect for him, his strong senior leadership team and HARMAN’s talented employees. HARMAN’s sustained track record of rapid growth fueled by technology leadership and an unmatched automotive order pipeline reflects its commitment to innovation and customers.”
“The vehicle of tomorrow will be transformed by smart technology and connectivity in the same way that simple feature phones have become sophisticated smart devices over the past decade,” added Young Sohn, president and chief strategy officer of Samsung Electronics. “We see substantial long-term growth opportunities in the auto technology market as demand for Samsung’s specialized electronic components and solutions continues to grow. Working together, we are confident that HARMAN can become a new kind of Tier 1 provider to the OEMs by delivering end-to-end solutions across the connected ecosystem.”
Dinesh Paliwal, HARMAN chairman, president and CEO, stated, “This compelling all-cash transaction will deliver significant and immediate value to our shareholders and provide new opportunities for our employees as part of a larger, more diversified company. Today’s announcement is a testament to what we have achieved and the value that we have created for shareholders. Samsung is an ideal partner for HARMAN and this transaction will provide tremendous benefits to our automotive customers and consumers around the world. Combining Samsung’s strengths in leading-edge displays, connectivity and processing solutions with HARMAN’s technology leadership and long-standing customer relationships will enable OEMs to provide new offerings for their customers. Partnerships and scale are essential to winning over the long term in automotive as demand for robust connected car and autonomous driving solutions increases at a rapid pace. This transaction will bring HARMAN and Samsung’s complementary strengths together to accelerate innovation in this space. More broadly, this investment underscores the strength of HARMAN’s employees, as well as our success and leadership across our markets. We look forward to working together with Samsung to elevate experiences for consumers worldwide.”
Here was Samsung’s summary of the acquisition:
- Automotive: Combining HARMAN’s leadership in new connected car technologies, including its top positions in infotainment, cyber security, over-the-air updates and telematics, with Samsung’s significant expertise and experience in connectivity technologies, including 5G, UX/UI, display technology and security solutions, will enhance HARMAN’s automotive and connected services businesses to drive greater sales and provide significant benefits as automakers speed the adoption of next-generation connected cars.
- Audio: HARMAN’s leading brands and cutting-edge audio systems include JBL, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, AKG, Lexicon, Infinity, and Revel. The company also licenses Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsen brands for automotive. All of these brands will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Samsung’s mobile, display, virtual reality and wearable products to deliver a fully differentiated audio and visual experience for customers.
- Professional: The combination will also expand the combined company’s business-to-business platform through its ability to deliver integrated, large-scale audio and visual professional solutions at stadiums, concert facilities and other performance centers such as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and STAPLES Center – home of the GRAMMY Awards.
- Connected Services: Samsung will gain access to HARMAN’s 8,000 software designers and engineers who are unlocking the potential of the IoT market. This collaboration will deliver the next generation of cloud-based consumer and enterprise experiences, as well as end-to-end services for the automotive market through the convergence of design, data and devices.
Operating Structure and Leadership
Upon closing, HARMAN will operate as a standalone Samsung subsidiary, and continue to be led by Dinesh Paliwal and HARMAN’s current management team. Samsung is pursuing a long-term growth strategy in automotive electronics, and plans to retain HARMAN’s work force, headquarters and facilities, as well as all of its consumer and professional audio brands. Samsung believes the combination will increase career development and advancement opportunities for the employees of both companies.
Samsung’s Automotive Electronics Business Team, which was established in December of 2015 to identify opportunities for Samsung in the automotive sector, will work closely with the HARMAN management team to realize the full growth potential of the combination.
The purchase price represents a premium of 28 percent based on HARMAN’s closing stock price on November 11, 2016 and a 37 percent premium to HARMAN’s 30-calendar day volume weighted average price ending November 11, 2016. Samsung expects to use cash on hand to fund the transaction. The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
The transaction, which is subject to approval by HARMAN shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in mid-2017.
Harman is here and Samsung is here. Leave a Comment
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PixelFLEX Adds Front Service to the FLEXLite NXG LED Line PixelFLEX has added both front-serviceable video panels, plus right-angle corner capabilities, for all models of the FLEXLite NXG. With one of the highest resolution displays on the market, FLEXLite NXG panels are 500mm x 500mm and use a die-cast aluminum frame for additional durability. Available in 2.6mm to 6.25mm pitch options, plus a 6.25mm IP65 version as well, FLEXLite NXG tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness, and now the front-serviceable panels allow for quick and simple on-site adjustments.
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Sennheiser Announces the Digital 6000 Series Sennheiser has announced a new addition to its Professional Wireless Range: The upcoming Digital 6000 Series of radio microphones for RF-based live productions. The series uses the same long-range mode and proprietary Sennheiser Digital Audio Codec as the Digital 9000, Sennheiser’s top-of-the-range wireless series. Comprising a two-channel receiver in two different versions, a bodypack and a handheld transmitter as well as a rack-mount 19” charging unit, the Digital 6000 Series will be available from March 2017.
The digital two-channel receiver works across a switching bandwidth of 244 MHz (470 to 714 MHz), which is covered by three transmitter versions (470 – 558 MHz, 550 – 638 MHz, and 630 – 718 MHz). For larger systems, up to eight receiver units can simply be daisy-chained without the need for an additional antenna splitter; the multi-channel system will work with a single pair of antennas. The system latency is 3 milliseconds.
The Digital 6000 receivers are fitted with a Link Quality Indicator that ensures that issues get seen before any drop-outs occur. If, as in difficult RF environments, the signal should get temporarily corrupted to such an extent that the transmission error correction can no longer repair it, the intelligent error concealment of Digital 6000 sets in. It employs intelligent learning algorithms to replace the corrupted signal, enabling Digital 6000 to still transmit flawlessly where other digital systems fail.
The Digital 6000 receiver is fitted with a white OLED display, which gives a quick overview of the RF signal, link quality, audio signal, battery status, frequency and encryption. Several home screens provide easy access to further information, without the user having to navigate through submenues. Critical operating conditions and error messages are directly indicated on the display.
Digital 6000 works with standard active and passive UHF antennas, as the frequency-selective antenna filters are contained in the EM 6000 receiver. Therefore, existing antenna infrastructures can continue to be used.
The Digital 6000 transmitters use the same high-performance rechargeable accupacks as the Digital 9000 units. The SKM 6000 handheld transmitter is fitted with Sennheiser’s standard capsule interface and can therefore be combined with all the classic microphone heads from the evolution wireless Series, the 2000 Series, and also the special 9000 Series heads.
The SK 6000 bodypack excels as a high-end solution for wireless instruments such as guitar and bass — or is ready for use with the Sennheiser clip-on microphones MKE 1 (omni-directional) as well as the digital-transmission versions of the MKE 2 (omni) and MKE 40 (cardioid).
The L 6000 charger is a 19”/1U device that can be fitted with up to four charging modules, each of which recharges two bodypack or two handheld batteries, respectively. Three-coloured LEDs on the front panel give a quick overview of the charging process. More detailed information as well as additional parameters such as battery runtime, charging cycles and remaining capacity can be accessed via the Wireless Systems Manager.
As the 6000 Series transmitters are compatible with the Digital 9000 transmitters, the L 6000 charging unit can also be used for Digital 9000.
Digital 6000 integrates seamlessly into digital or analogue system infrastructures. The EM 6000 receiver is fitted with a digital AES-3 output, high-quality transformer-balanced analogue XLR-3 outputs and ¼” (6.3 mm) jack outputs. The Dante version of the receiver offers an additional Amphenol RJ-45 connector for integration into a Dante network.
The Digital 6000 Series is compatible with Digital 9000 in long-range mode; also, the 6000 Series transmitters can be used with the EK 6042 camera receiver. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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