Volume 12, Issue 2 — January 23, 2014
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Editorial Editorial Editorial
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Industry News rAVe BlogSquad rAVe RADIO Displays Projection Audio Unified Collaborative Conferencing Control & Signal Processing Media Players, Recording & Distribution
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AV People: Andrew Brickman of Logic Integration
By Molly Stillman rAVe Director of Marketing & New Business Development
Sometimes people just end up working in the AV industry by accident. Maybe their family has worked in the industry for years, maybe they came in through the guidance of a trusted friend or mentor, or maybe they had a passion for something related to AV.
For Andrew Brickman, service department manager at Logic Integration, it was pretty much all of the above.
“My AV career started in high school,” recalled Andrew. “I was attending a school called New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire. I was under the study of my music teacher at that time. I grew up with an a show production family and my father did a lot of music producing in recording studios. I was surrounded by all forms of media. And in high school I became intrigued with what makes it all work — the wires, the power, the speakers, the processing. That’s what really sunk the hook for me.”
Growing up Andrew was like many teens and extremely passionate about music, but he took it a step further and continued to pursue his love of music and playing bass. His music career was going strong. However, having grown up around recording studios and knowing a lot of older and famous musicians, Andrew knew that he would have a tough time doing music the rest of his life. He knew he needed a backup plan.
At the time, his music teacher and his counselors encouraged him to get his music degree, but also encouraged him to get a degree in some type of low voltage area or some type of trade so that he would have that to fall back on. During this time in 1996 and 1997, media began to blow up so Andrew felt that it was a safe route to take.
“I went to Hartwick College to study music and then went to Full Sail University in Orlando, Fla. for my Advanced AV Engineering degree,” explained Andrew. “All the while, I still had dreams of being a rock n’ roll star… I was at Full Sail in 1998 when the music scene began to blow up in Orlando. So I thought, ‘This is great! I’ll get my AV Engineering degree and then I’ll be in the hot spot for music all at that same time.’”
The move for Andrew was easy and comfortable and he knew that he was in the right place at that point and time to possibly make his music dream happen. However, the challenge of the curriculum at Full Sail was no joke.
“Full Sail is typically a 24/7 school. I started with 168 people in my class and I graduated on time with 32,” said Andrew. “It’s very demanding, but it really breaks you in to how the industry really works. You may get called and have to be on the job at 1:00 a.m. So that really set the mind frame that I have now to carry forward with my work.”
In addition to the education Full Sail provided, it also had a high end studio on campus so Andrew was able to do a lot of studio work there.
“Being a bass player and having the ability to play all styles of music along with the fact that I knew how to market myself well, furthered my music career,” said Andrew. “I began to play on the same stage as some of the biggest names out there.”
Andrew was living his dream.
He began touring, playing bass, sharing the stage with bands including Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Pantera, Damage Plan, Lacuna Coil, Static X, Drowning Pool and others.
Since he was also trained in the AV aspect of things, he began to do live sound and audio on the road for even bigger names like Willie Nelson, Redman and Method Man, Bob Marley and the Wailers, R. Kelly, Sevendust, Creed and even Blue Oyster Cult. (Andrew did add that the best prescription for a fever was more cowbell.)
Andrew continued to play with his own band in addition to working with recorded and live audio. You could say that a music career was going fairly well for Andrew. But he knew he couldn’t keep it up forever.
“You know, going through like, getting married, having kids, at the age of 27, 28, I knew it was time to slow down and put the backup plan into effect,” said Andrew.
He wanted something more. He wanted the bigger picture from life. So he decided to pursue high-end AV more exclusively. He began working with Show System Integrators in Orlando doing installations for Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and even a $2.5 million surveillance contract for Orange County Public Schools.
He’d been doing install work his whole life and so he was comfortable, but it was a different aspect of the business that he wasn’t as familiar with. There was a lot of bid work so Andrew was always trying to be on his toes and forward thinking. It was that which made Andrew even more comfortable with AV and gave him the confidence that he could do anything. He knew that this was the industry that he could end on. He had found his place in AV.
As his career in AV advanced and as he continued to form relationships around the industry, a series of events eventually led Andrew and his family out to Colorado. He began looking for work and eventually ended up working at Logic Integration where he is now.
“I pride myself on the fact that I am the ‘I’m here for you, I’m the ‘can answer any question kind of guy’,” explained Andrew. “We are dealing with all this new stuff coming out — VGA is going away and there’s only HDMI and now we’re looking at Cat7 and 4K and the truth is, everything is different. There’s always a problem and always something you have to fix. I don’t work off of paper, I work off of what I see.”
In addition to his job in AV, Andrew is passionate about his family. He is married to Angela and they have two children, Austin (18) and Ashlynn (4).
At the end of the day, Andrew is an AV guy and a family man. His experience in the industry has given him the drive to encourage others, too.
“For people that want to go into AV, you have to understand that you have to be comfortable with what you do, and always know that there’s people out there to support you,” he explained. “No vendor wants their equipment to fail in the field so never be nervous about what you’re walking into. Walk in with confidence, because 99 percent of the time you are going to have more knowledge than them. Be confident, pride yourself in your knowledge, know how to ask for help, find support, create relationships. Always put your best foot forward.”
It’s clear that Andrew not only speaks that, but lives it. Leave a Comment
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CES 2014: Much Ado… Or Not?
By Aldo Cugnini DisplayDaily
of weather-related delays. Did it live up to the hype? Here’s a snapshot of this observer’s experience.
The highlight of the show must be 4K/Ultra HD. Not only did every major manufacturer show 4K displays — of course, LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony and the rest had a huge presence — but it seemed that every second- and third-tier manufacturer couldn’t risk getting caught at the show without one either. And not only were several of these displays curved, but LG and Samsung both demonstrated bendable displays; at the command of a remote, the display went from flat to curved in about 5 seconds. Some tongue-in-cheek remarks from the crowd regarding life-cycles brought a similar response — better get a service contract! Certainly, the appeal of such a feature could be more in its wow factor than its actual utility, but hey, it can be done.
A secondary technology caught in the halo effect of 4K is one of its potential enablers — High Efficiency Video Coding, or HEVC. Not blind to the practical issue of how to deliver content in 4K, many of the 4K sets include built-in HEVC decoding. In addition to making a reasonably-sized media server practical, combining HEVC decoding with Internet access (aka Smart TV) could make Web delivery of 4K content realistic.
One of the issues discussed at the CES Unveiled press event last fall was that of user sensitivity (or lack thereof) to the perceived difference between 2K and 4K. For this reason, some players are starting to emphasize the Ultra HD experience as combining the benefits of increased resolution as well as increased color depth – even to 12 bits per color. This is a benefit not lost on Dolby, who showed in a private demo their High Dynamic Range coding system called Dolby Vision. Suffice to say, after seeing the demonstration on a mainstream consumer display, side-by-side with a $100,000 pro-grading monitor, the increase in high- and low-luminance detail was startling.
The Smart Home is another area that received substantial attention, with large and small appliances all getting connected to the Internet, for growing convenience and energy-saving benefits to consumers. (Perhaps the devil was in the details, but you may have heard that Google announced after CES 2014 that it plans to acquire smart thermostat maker Nest Labs in a $3.2B deal. Perhaps that cute little round display may soon start showing Google videos on your hallway thermostat?)
Finally, we would be remiss not to mention another hotspot at the show — 3D printing. With take-home systems running at less than $500, consumers can start cranking out their own small molded action figures, even as a craft. But the technology is only starting to scratch the surface of exciting business uses. One such area could revolutionize the industry of injection-molded consumer-electronics device enclosures.
A very mature and key component of many devices including TV displays, the manufacture of injection molded plastics is both ubiquitous as well as closely guarded, with the expertise to build the molds being held by fewer and fewer craftsmen. 3D printing, while currently slow, could nonetheless be used to make rapid prototypes of the molds themselves, in a kind of lost-wax process, which could then be used to crank out the actual injection-plastic pieces.
An exciting CES overall, the coming months will be the acid test — in retail stores — to see how new product releases can continue to build off the momentum. Leave a Comment
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New Display Sizes and Formats to Look for in 2014
By David Hsieh DisplaySearch
It can be said that the flat panel display industry started in 1993, and at the age of twenty, the issue of maturity arises. While flat panel volume growth has slowed, product innovations continue. As we have discussed, the display is the most important user interface for devices, which utilize it to provide differentiation and enable innovative features. At 2014 CES, the many new display sizes, resolutions and features indicated potential industry directions.
The tables below list the new display models we may see in 2014. Of course, not all of the panels listed here will go into mass production, as panel maker strategies can change. But there will be other new models not included here. With so many new panel models launched in 2014, it will be a year for display innovation. We will track the status of these new panels in our Quarterly Worldwide FPD Shipment and Forecast Report.
Wearables
Smartphone
Tablet PC
Notebook
LCD Monitor/AIO
TV
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ANSI Approves InfoCommAV Systems Performance Verification StandardInfoComm International’s latest standard, ANSI/INFOCOMM 10-2013, Audiovisual Systems Performance Verification, has been approved by ANSI, a private non-profit that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment systems.
ANSI/INFOCOMM 10-2013, Audiovisual Systems Performance Verification provides a comprehensive, systematic and practical approach to verifying performance of AV systems. This standard will provide practitioners the ability to produce a verifiable evaluation of the audiovisual system based on quality assurance, testing, and acceptance, and will ensure the system conforms to the owners’ operational needs, as established in the system/project documentation. A one-page overview can be found at infocomm.org/standards.
“Through the development of this standard, InfoComm has achieved its goal of establishing verification guidelines to promote effective communication between industry professionals and their clients on issues relating to system performance,” said David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD, executive director and CEO, InfoComm International. “However, in order for this standard to be a true success it must become integrated into the way the AV industry does business. I urge manufacturers to encourage their partners to use this standard, integrators and design consultants to implement the standard and technology managers to ask commercial service providers about it.”
The following subject matter experts helped in developing this standard:
- Matthew Silverman, CTS, PMP, George Mason University, Moderator
- John Bailey, CTS-D, CTS-I, Whitlock
- Jason Brameld, BSc (Hons) ARCS, MInstSCE, PTS Consulting, LLP
- Greg Bronson, CTS-D, Cornell University
- Paul Depperschmidt, CTS, Cisco
- Richard Derbyshire, CTS, Shen Milsom & Wilke, LLC
- Dan Doolen, MS, ISF-C, CQT, University of Illinois
- Tristan Gfrerer, Google, CTS, BEng (Hons)
- Mike Izatt, CTS-D, Spectrum Engineers, Inc.
- Thomas Kopin, CTS, ISF-C, Kramer Electronics USA
- Richard Morrison, CTS, Prince2, CPEng, BE (Computer Systems), Norman Disney & Young
- Mike Quinn, BEng, CEng, MIET, CTS-D
The standard is available at the IHS standards store at global.ihs.com or from ANSI at webstore.ansi.org. InfoComm members can download a free copy of the standard. InfoComm will also be offering an education session about the new standard called “Audiovisual Systems Performance Verification: Deliver What you Promise,” on Feb. 5, at Integrated Systems Europe. Please visit infocomm.org/ISE for more information. Leave a Comment
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Top Projector Brands Named in TFCinfo’s Annual Projector Brand Perception And Preference Research TFCinfo today announced the completion of its “Projector Brand Customer Perception and Preference Study 2014.” This report marks the 13th year that this annual projector brand benchmarking study has been conducted. Results of TFCinfo’s new report reveal significant movement among projector competitors in the three measurable areas of brand strength: awareness, image and intent. These areas are analyzed across the five most important market segments in the projector industry: large corporations, SMB, SOHU (small office/home user), education and government.
Many brands are solidifying their position; some are moving up in rankings and expanding their dominance from other markets, while others remain stationary. While many brands were researched in-depth and each show significant strengths and weaknesses in certain areas, a few brands stand out above the rest in this year’s research. Some of the general brand highlights from this research include:
Epson: Epson again has a stellar performance this year among those in the education market, however it is their improvements in other markets this year that make the brand stand out. Epson shows great improvement this year in the more business oriented segments, and has especially strong results coming in from the SOHU market. Epson improved their unaided and aided awareness scores, as well as their purchase consideration, in four of the five market segments surveyed (a 6 percent gain in consideration among SOHU alone). Epson also has one of the strongest and most clear brand profiles compared to their competitors in the Brand Image Index analysis. Epson is in a great position being viewed as a high quality, reliable brand that is considered both an excellent investment and a good value for the money.
NEC: In our examination and comparison of the key market segments, TFCinfo found that while
NEC continues to be driven by large business the brand is beginning to successfully transfer their positive image and reputation to other market segments. This year NEC’s most notable improvements come from the education market where the brand improves upon their unaided free recall, aided brand recognition, and purchase consideration. NEC is considered to be a high quality, reliable brand by experienced projector end users.
Sharp: In previous years Sharp had posted gains in some segments and losses in others, leaving the brand in relatively the same position. This year Sharp has turned this around and is showing some really positive momentum. Sharp posts gains in every single market segment on unaided awareness, and posts aided brand recognition gains in four of the five segments surveyed. While Sharp does have an advantage in SOHU, as the brand has a strong retail presence and various other consumer product offerings, these research results are showing that brand is improving in other segments. The most positive improvements this year for Sharp come from those in large corporations. Sharp is also beginning to be viewed as not only a value, but an investment.
Panasonic: Our brand association and use analysis shows that Panasonic is one of the most considered brands for purchase (tying with Epson). Being a strong name in the consumer market continues to help the brand to be named one of the top brands associated with home theater projection, and this supports their strong scoring in SOHU throughout this year. Panasonic is also one of the top performers in the Brand Image Index and has one of the clearest profiles of all the brands surveyed.
InFocus: Considering all of the changes at InFocus over the years, the brand continues to do well. InFocus posts gains in unaided free recall and aided brand awareness in three of the five segments surveyed this year, and remains one of the most recognized brands in the projector industry. InFocus is clearly seen as an inexpensive, mobile projector, and continues to be easily identifiable as a brand that specializes in projectors and projector technology. Considering their long history in the category, this image is not likely to change for some time regardless of changes with the company.
Sony: Despite some setbacks over the past few years in this annual tracking research, Sony’s strong brand strength continues to be clearly evident in the projector category. Sony is one of the top four most recognized projector brands overall and is the #1 brand on unaided free recall in SOHU this year (tying with Panasonic) and also the #1 brand on aided brand recognition in SOHU as well. Sony performs very well on important affinity attributes, placing in the top three for the majority of important purchasing factors surveyed (such as quality, reliability, price as an investment and ease of use).
Dell: While Dell has not been a top performer in this research over the years, and the brand continues to appear under recognized compared to their current market share, they have shown continuous improvements year over year. Dell posts gains in unaided free recall and aided brand recognition in four of the five market segments surveyed this year. Dell also improves upon their purchase consideration as well. Experienced users and purchasers clearly view Dell as an affordable, easy to use mobile projector.
Brands that are analyzed in depth include: 3M, Dell, Dukane, Eiki, Epson, Hitachi, InFocus, Mitsubishi, NEC, Optoma, Panasonic, Runco, Sharp and Sony.
This extensive 350+ page report reveals detailed customer insights and analysis that will help manufacturers to build and sustain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. This report will give your company the tools it needs to successfully measure the effectiveness of your brand investments and marketing, and will aide a manager’s ability to guide business decisions over the long term.
The entire report is here. Leave a Comment
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NSCA and FMI Forecast New Construction Starts and Renovations for 2014 NSCA’s newest version of the Electronic Systems Outlook, which is available free to members, provides updated indicators of new business opportunities by tracking new construction starts and renovations in the commercial buildings sector.
In this Winter 2013 edition, NSCA’s Electronic Systems Outlook provides a revised look at construction data by markets and systems. All signs show that the construction community is still experiencing continued modest growth and improvement in new construction, renovations, repairs, and retrofits. Compared to 2012, total commercial construction put in place for 2013 will finish at $352.5 billion, which is down 0.5% from 2012 (and lower than originally predicted). The Summer 2013 edition of the Electronic Systems Outlook originally forecasted total commercial construction put in place at $913 billion; the new data in the Winter 2013 edition exemplifies why it’s crucial to keep current with industry forecasting and benchmarking data.
This report also tracks residential construction due to its impact on the new construction of schools, retail facilities, houses of worship, and lodging.
There are a few economic concerns covered in the report that touch all market sectors. The first is the continued decline in public construction and expectations of more as sequestration continues. Second, lenders are still tight with their lending criteria. Consumers are being cautious about increasing their debt load, including their share of public debt with new bond issues for local municipalities.
Overall, electronic systems are increasing in total volume, but show a slight reduction from 2012. The forecast indicates that approximately $19.29 billion were spent in 2013 on electronic systems, down very slightly from the $19.31 billion spent in 2012. The original 2013 forecast expected spending closer to $20.3 billion
“For years, we’ve been following commercial construction reports,” says NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson. “We found that the electronic systems industry correlates with these trends. We expect 2014 construction put in place to total near $977 million.”
Systems integrators can use this new outlook report to benchmark their own sales numbers and prepare business valuations. Growth indicators can be used to determine incentive programs, reveal new markets with potential, and appropriately distribute resources.
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This forecast data can also be shared with financial advisors and lenders to prove the stability of systems integrators in the marketplace. “If we use tools like these to better familiarize them with this industry’s scope of work,” says Wilson, “then it’s much more likely that systems integrators will be perceived as a viable risk.”
This bi-annual forecast is made possible through a partnership with FMI, an outstanding management consulting, investment banking, and research firm for the engineering and construction industry.
The Winter 2013 edition of this report examines the current year to date, and also serves as a projection for 2014. This report is released each summer and winter.
The NSCA Electronic Systems Forecast is free for NSCA members. For non-members, the forecast can be purchased for $349. Non-members can also become NSCA members for $595 and receive this report as part of their membership package, which offers updates on government affairs issues, discounted registration for training and educational events, access to monthly industry webinars, etc.
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InfoComm Education Does ISEIf you’re attending ISE 2014 Feb. 4-6, you won’t want to miss the following professional development and networking opportunities. There’s less than a month to go, so plan accordingly. It’s as easy as 1-2-3.
- Register for Your CTS Exam at ISE: Again this year, you can take the CTS, CTS-D and CTS-I exams at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) in Amsterdam, Feb. 4-6. The first-come, first-served exam seats sold out last year. Start studying and save your exam seat now.
- Prepare for the CTS Exam Onsite: InfoComm International is offering a CTS Study Session at ISE. The Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) is recognized worldwide as the leading AV professional certification. InfoComm University has developed a new, one-day course designed to help you master multiple choice test-taking with timed, interactive drills using real CTS exam practice questions. On Feb. 3, the Monday before ISE opens, you will be quizzed with sample questions, test your own CTS knowledge with an instructor, and boost your confidence before Learn About Free Professional Development at ISE:
- For the first time ever, attendees are welcome to take two free InfoComm International professional development sessions at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE). Explore these sessions on technology trends, networking, systems verification and much more. Plan now to add two of these free classes to your schedule — you won’t want to miss this opportunity! Please note that you can attend additional sessions for a modest fee, and that the two free classes are not transferrable.
ISE will also showcase the latest AV technology solutions and networking opportunities. Make sure to catch Dirk Schlesinger, the global lead for manufacturing industries of Cisco Consulting Services, as he presents the opening keynote address, “Kick-Starting the Market for Building Automation.” For a complete program or to register here. Leave a Comment
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USAV Announces 2014 Apex Conference Dates and LocationUSAV announced today it will host APEX, a conference for USAV members, in the fall of 2014. The conference will be held Sept. 28 – Oct. 2 in Westminster, Colo. and will focus on fostering professional growth within USAV Integrator organizations. The conference is an extension of the USAV Leadership Conference (ULC) presented by USAV in 2013.
Similar to the 2013 ULC event, APEX 2014 will serve leadership from both the sales and engineering departments. The expanded APEX 2014 format will benefit also executive leaders, functional managers, or administrators looking to expand their knowledge of ProAV.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Draper Named America’s Healthiest WorkplaceCongratulations to Draper, which was named the healthiest workplace in the United States for 2014. Draper tops a list of 100 companies honored by Healthiest Employers LLC, a national organization dedicated to help improve the wellness of American workers.
“We are honored to receive this recognition,” says John Pidgeon, president of Draper. “We want to commend Draper’s Safety and Wellness Director, Linda Brinson, and the members of our Wellness Committee for their hard work, and all Draper employees and their family members who have supported this effort. We also want to recognize the Henry County Hospital, who staff the Draper employee health clinic and share the cost of an employee health coach with us.”
Draper Safety and Wellness Director Linda Brinson credits company management with the program’s success.
“Draper top management has given full support in all the various wellness initiatives we have offered, which is an important key for any company to have a successful wellness and safety plan,” she says. “I started at Draper as the Safety and Wellness Director seven years ago and we have gone from raising awareness to helping employees understand the stressors that drive them to unhealthy habits — and giving them tools to succeed.”
The Healthiest Workplace Award program is operated throughout the United States by Healthiest Employers LLC. Six areas of “workplace wellness” were considered by a group of independent judges: culture and leadership; foundational components; strategic planning; communication and marketing; programming and interventions; and reporting and analysis. The awards recognize employers who have comprehensively incorporated the most effective employee wellness programs and practices.
“This highly selective award recognizes employers who demonstrate exceptional leadership in using wellness as a strategy to drive workplace productivity, employee health, and community well-being,” according to Rod Reasen II, president of Healthiest Employers. “As these employers demonstrate, every organization has a path to the Healthiest 100, regardless of size, industry or geography.”
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AVnu Alliance Introduces New AVB Education Sessions at ISE 2014AVnu Alliance, the industry consortium that certifies Audio Video Bridging (AVB) products for interoperability, has announced new networking and education sessions to be held at the AVnu Alliance Pavilion, Hall 7 Booth H195 during Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2014, 4-6 Feb., 2014 in Amsterdam.
In addition to sessions designed for booth visitors both new and old, the Alliance will host 11 members in the AVnu Alliance Pavilion each running live demonstrations of the latest in AVB-enabled products. Visitors to the Pavilion can expect demonstrations from AVnu members including: Avid, Barco, Biamp, Extreme Networks, Harman, Meyer Sound, Riedel, Uman, Waves, XMOS and Yamaha (more information on each demo below).
Below is the schedule of education sessions presented by AVnu Alliance members, taking place in the Pavilion during ISE 2014:
Tues., 4 Feb., 2014 and Wed., 5 Feb., 2014
- 10:00: Certifying AVB Products for Interoperability — presented by the AVnu Alliance
- 11:00: Time Sensitive Networking with AVB Daisy Chain, presented by Andy Gothard, director corporate marketing, XMOS and Andrew Lucas, lead AVB developer, XMOS
- 12:00: Deploying Large Scale AVB Networks, presented by Jeff Koftinoff, software conductor at Meyer Sound
- 13:00: Certifying AVB Products for Interoperability, presented by the AVnu Alliance
- 14:00: AVB Networked audio and video for fixed installations and broadcast, presented by Jürgen Scheuring, Chief Executive officer of UMAN.
- 15:00: Troubleshooting AVB Show Commands, presented by Frank Jiminez, technical marketing engineer, Extreme Networks
- 16:00: Certifying AVB Products for Interoperability, presented by the AVnu Alliance
Some of the presentations will also take place during the first half of Thurs., 4 Feb., 2014.
AVnu Alliance will be hosting product demonstrations in the pavilion throughout ISE 2014 showcasing new AVnu-certified products and AVB-enabled devices from members. These sessions will give attendees an opportunity to speak directly with AVnu Alliance’s President and members, as well as get a hands-on demonstration of the products with the following networked demonstrations:
Live Demonstration One
AVB-capable products from Meyer Sound, Avid, and Extreme Networks will be featured in a live demonstration to show the power of AVB interoperability and how it dramatically simplifies AV networks in a live sound environment. Products in the user experience demonstration will include a Meyer Sound CAL column array loudspeaker and D-Mitri digital audio platform, an Avid S3L live sound system and Avid Pro Tools 11 running on a laptop, as well as a switch from the Extreme Networks Summit series.
Live Demonstration Two
In a system example from Harman and Yamaha, Harman will showcase its eight-channel AVB-compatible Crown DCi Series amplifier and 64×64 BSS Audio Soundweb London AVB processor, with configuration of both in HiQnet Audio Architect software. Together with Yamaha’s CL 1 console with 64 channel talker/listener, and NEXO’s NXAMP 4×1 with AVB firmware this system showcases a complete solution for integrators and installers for designing and configuring AVB-based networked A/V systems. The NEXO NXAmp from Yamaha will form the foundation of the public address (PA) system being used to deliver AVnu Alliance’s Pavilion presentations and education sessions.
The theme chosen for AudioForum @ISE 2014 is: protocols and systems of integrated digital audio transport. Rick Kreifeldt, AVnu Alliance president, will lead a session on AVB at 15:00 on Mon., 3 Feb. at the RAI, Hall 12, Elicyum Area, room D407 and will take part in the audio “open mic” discussion following. Leave a Comment
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Planar Intros Next Gen Clarity Matrix With Thinner Bezel, 4K Input, Remote ManagementThis week Planar announced the next generation of its Clarity Matrix LCD video wall system, featuring what the company is calling its new G2 Architecture. This new version features several feature upgrades that integrators will appreciate, including a thinner bezel, fewer cables and easier service. The tiled bezel width of the display is now just 3.7 millimeters, besting the previous generations 5.5 millimeter tiled bezel width.
The new G2 architecture allows the display to accept a 4K signal — the individual panels aren’t 4K, but you can basically create a 4K display in a 4×2 configuration. Planar’s Big Picture Plus processing is built-in, so content can be scaled across either the entire video wall, or sections of it. It also offers 10-bit color processing.
The Clarity Matrix with G2 Architecture also offers built-in video extension (up to 330 feet/100 meters) and now a single power supply can power up to eight displays at once. Previously, cables had to be run to each display for power. A four-panel video wall, for example, now only requires a single cable.
Planar says these displays have been designed for 24/7, mission-critical applications, offering a 25 percent reduction in energy output due to off-board electronics. The company has also now integrated its WallNet software so displays can be monitored and troubleshot remotely, even in environments using single network management protocol (SNMP).
The Clarity Matrix with G2 Architecture is available in the same sizes as before — 46″ and 55″, and there should only be a slight cost increase over the previous generation, which Planar says will be more than made up for in energy and cable savings. It’s also still ADA compliant, with an installed depth of 3.6″. For now, Planar will also continue to manufacture the previous gen Clarity Matrix display as well. Some models are shipping now and the rest should by the end of Q1 2014.
The Clarity Matrix with G2 Architecture will be shown at both the ISE show in Amsterdam next month, as well as DSE in Las Vegas immediately following. More information is here. Leave a Comment
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Christie Launches New 70″ EnteroChristie is expanding its line-up of high-brightness, LED video wall cubes with the introduction of the Christie Entero HB 70″ HD front-access cube.
These front-access cubes are aimed at environments that have space limitations. These also appear to have the narrowest screen gaps in the industry (only 0.2 to 1.7 mm nominal space between screens with front-access design). The new 70″ Entero will ship in February 2014 and is designed for 24/7/365 operation. In addition, the Christie Entero HB Series is the first and only LED control room display to offer wireless control through Wi-Fi capability. You can make adjustments, control the wall or perform diagnostic monitoring through an iPad or other similar wireless device.
The new 70″ version is 900 lumens (or 1,100 lumens depending on which mode you use it in), is native 1920×1080 resolution, uses DLP technology and uses a shallow depth cabinet design that’s 1,009 mm (39.7”). The LED light source is rated at 80,000 hours and uses dust-free sealed optics.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Delta Displays Offers All-in-One MiniNOC Bundles for Small Control RoomsDelta has launched a new MiniNOC, billed as a complete display solution that combines a wide screen display with a multi-source video wall controller. Delta’s MiniNOC displays are targeted to small, low-cost yet mission-critical control room requirements.
Using Delta’s megapixel video displays and a MiniCON video wall controller, MiniNOC is basically a turn-key packaged solution for control room projects with small budgets and limited space. MiniNOC displays are available in a variety of sizes and options, however Delta has removed the complication of system design and ordering by matching each kit to a single part number — one SKU, one order, one delivery to the installation site.
Delta offers 10 different bundled options based on two display platforms:
- The MiniNOC WX series combines all the benefits of the seamless, super-high resolution WX displays with the embedded MiniCON controller. Available in four models with screen sizes ranging from 137×41” to 203×72”, the MiniNOC WX can display resolutions up to 7 megapixels on a seamless digital canvas.
- The MiniNOC LCD series features the MiniCON controller and super narrow bezel 46” or 55” tiled LCD panels. Available in six different configurations, the MiniNOC LCD offers viewing areas from 80×45” up to 143×81”.
A brochure covering all 10 systems is here. Leave a Comment
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Peerless-AV Intros New 47″ Outdoor TVPeerless-AV launched a 47″ outdoor TV at CES last week dubbed the CL-47PLC68-OB. Offering native 1080p resolution, the outdoor TV can operate in severe temperatures ranging from -24 degrees Fahrenheit to 124 degrees Fahrenheit and features an IP65 rating, making it water and dust resistant.
Peerless-AV says the 47″ Outdoor TV is maintenance-free with no filters that need to be cleaned and/or replaced. It’s constructed of aluminum and uses safety glass.
The new display is LCD with 700 cd/m2 in brightness, a 1000:1 contrast ratio and both HDMI and VGA inputs. It’s scheduled to ship in mid-February.
All of Peerless-AV’s TV and display solutions are water and dust resistant and/or proof (dependent on the model), making them ideal for outdoor entertainment as well as digital signage and menu board operations, among other uses. Dependent on model, the TVs and displays range in size from 32″ to 55″.
The new HDTV isn’t on Peerless-AV’s website yet as it’s too new, but when it is, it will be here. Leave a Comment
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Digital Projection Intros 12,000 Lumen Laser ProjectorDigital Projection will launch a new 12,000-lumen laser version of its HIGHLite line of projectors at the Integrated Systems Europe trade show in Amsterdam next month. Like most solid-state lighting devices, it’s spec’d at 20,000 hours and offers WUXGA resolution (1920×1200).
This is only the industry’s third laser projector — the other two are from Barco and Sony.
Features will include edge blending, 3D capability, refresh rates up to 144Hz, two HDMI 1.4 inputs, a DVI and a 3G-SDI inputs, as well as HDBaseT connectivity and lens options range from 0.77:1 to 6.76:1.
DPI will show the projector in Stand C88 at ISE 2014 and more details will be here. Leave a Comment
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Meyer Sound Debuts LYON Linear Sound Reinforcement System and Callisto 616 Meyer Sound’s new self-powered LYON linear sound reinforcement system is the newest addition to the LEO Family of linear loudspeaker systems that are self-powered. LYON will make its debut at the ISE trade show in Amsterdam.
LYON linear line array loudspeakers are available in two versions: the LYON-M main line array loudspeaker and the LYON-W wide-coverage line array loudspeaker. Compatible with the 1100-LFC low-frequency control element and the Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management system, the LYON-M can anchor a powerful system for installations in arenas and large auditoriums, as well as tours and festivals. The LYON-W can serve as down fills to augment a LYON-based system. Both LYON versions can be used to provide supplemental coverage in a LEO system.
At ISE, Meyer Sound will also show the recently announced Galileo Callisto 616 AES primary array processor — hardware and software solution for driving and aligning Meyer Sound loudspeaker array systems. Designed as a mastering tool for delivering digital audio, the Callisto processor combines alignment tools like U-Shaping equalization and delay integration with a suite of AES3 analog and digital inputs and outputs.
LYON is here.
Galileo Callisto 616 is here. Leave a Comment
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CAD Audio Debuts New 1600 Series UHF Wireless MicsCAD Audio launched this week the new StagePass 1600 Series UHF wireless system. The new StagePass provides 100-channel frequency UHF operation and is integrated with CAD’s own ScanLink technology (for auto scan, select and link to the optimum channel in any RF environment). Other features include something they are calling True Diversity that apparently cuts down on multipath interference along with CADLock Automatic Tone Encoded Squelch that eliminates unauthorized transmissions in the signal path.
The 1600 systems are available as the WX1600 Handheld System, a WX1610 Bodypack System featuring the Equitek E19 Broadcast and Production miniature condenser earworn mic, as well as a Cardioid Lav and Guitar Cable. StagePass TX1600 handheld TX1610 body pack transmitters have soft touch multi-function On-Off/Mute/Low Battery/ScanLink status switches with multi-color LED indicators. The WX1600 receiver is housed in a metal chassis with ¼” and XLR outputs and specs include a Frequency Response of 40Hz–15KHz, and Dynamic Range >105dB.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Schoeps Intros Best Looking Mic We’ve Ever Seen With V4 DesignThe Schoeps V4 U, a studio vocal microphone, is modeled after the classic appearance of the SCHOEPS CM 51/3 microphone from 1951. Schoeps says the fundamental idea was clear that only a small-diaphragm capsule could meet the requirements for the technical response curves and transparency of sound that they wanted for this vocal mic. But the diffuse-field characteristics seemed to call for a large-diaphragm capsule, in which the pressure build-up due to the large membrane surface would cause the inevitable and desired narrowing of pickup pattern at high frequencies to begin sooner.
In the end, both of these conflicting requirements were able to be achieved through the use of a beveled ring around the membrane, thus increasing its diameter (as far as certain acoustic phenomena are concerned) to about 33 millimeters. Schoeps says this 33-millimeter beveled collar causes the capsule’s directivity to increase steadily and smoothly at high frequencies, as in a large-diaphragm microphone. Meanwhile, the superior acoustic qualities of a small-diaphragm capsule are maintained. The capsule is elastically suspended internally to reduce handling noise and other solid-borne sound. The head can be angled +/- 20°.
Specs include:
- Maximum sound pressure level of 145 dB SPL
- Maximum output level = 5 V
- Output stage: Transformer-less and without capacitors
- Symmetrical, balanced output
- Low, frequency independent output impedance
- Requires +48V phantom power via XLR-3
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ClearOne Adds Beamforming Microphone Array Technology to COLLABORATE ClearOne’s Beamforming Microphone Array can connect directly to the COLLABORATE Room Pro system without the need for a DSP mixer by using a standard USB connection. This new COLLABORATE Room Pro SKU will be officially launched at next month’s Integrated Systems Europe in Amsterdam.
CleearOne says the COLLABORATE Room video conferencing solution enables up to nine locations bridged together with built-in video streaming, recording and multi-casting — all without the need for physical infrastructure or media servers as the COLLABORATE Room is software-based.
ClearOne’s Beamforming Microphone Array is what the company calls a professional-grade microphone system with focused acoustic beams, digital signal processing, adaptive steering and acoustic echo cancelation.
The new COLLABORATE Room Pro SKU includes a 24-element Beamforming Microphone Array (either glossy black or white) along with the COLLABORATE Room Pro codec and 18x UNITETM PTZ camera.
All the details are here. Leave a Comment
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Did Extron Just Get Into Digital Signage Media Player Market with New H.264 Streaming SME 100? Extron’s new SMD 101 is a compact H.264 streaming media decoder used with Extron SME 100 encoders to provide complete end-to-end AV streaming systems. The SMD 101 is designed specifically for use in professional AV applications to decode live streamed content from SME 100 encoders or play back AV media files accessible from network shares. It accepts streaming resolutions up to 1080p/60 and outputs a variety of resolutions, from 640×480 up to 1920×1200. Fill/Follow/Fit aspect ratio controls manage disparities between the streaming video and display format. This compact, energy-efficient decoder is an ideal counterpart to the SME 100 encoder to deploy in simple overflow and monitoring applications or multi-channel streaming systems and digital signage systems.
The SMD 101 supports use of both push and pull streaming configurations, making it adaptable to a variety of network conditions and streaming requirements. Stereo analog audio and HDMI-embedded audio signals are both supported, providing compatibility with embedded display speakers or existing audio systems. The SMD 101 offers integration-friendly control capabilities including an optional handheld IR remote, wired IR, RS232 or Ethernet. An easy-to-navigate Web interface provides simple, flexible, management and control. Advanced AV signal processing and control features, in addition to a variety of networking and streaming protocols, come together to make the SMD 101 an ideal streaming solution in corporate, government and educational environments.
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WyreStorm Intros Power Over HDBaseT ExtenderWyreStorm’s new EX-1UTP-IR-50-POH is a transmitter and receiver that the company says can send uncompressed HD (up to 1080p) video, audio, bidirectional IR control and remote power up to 50 meters over a Cat5e/6 cable (using the HDBaseT standard). WyreStorm also claims it can handle 4K content for up to 35 meters.
Since the EX-1UTP-IR-50-POH extender set features PoH (Power-Over-HDBaseT) technology, it, theoretically, eliminates the need for a separate power supply at the TV, resulting in a simpler install as the receiver is powered from the transmitter at the source end. In addition, the adapter claims to also have an EDID feature that allows an integrator to choose from one of a number of pre-set EDID’s. For example, achieving 7.1 DTS audio from an AVR becomes quick and easy as the integrator simply sets the EDID on the EX-1UTP-IR-50-POH accordingly and the transmitter requests 7.1 audio directly from the source.
The WyreStorm EX-1UTP-IR-50-POH is now shipping and lists for $479 USD and all the secs are here. Leave a Comment
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Mersive’s Solstice Display Software Integrates with AV Control Systems Mersive announced this week the availability of the Solstice Open Control Communication Protocol, which allows integration between Solstice Display Software with in-room AV control panels from vendors such as Crestron and AMX. With this integration interface, users can control their Solstice displays from their room control panel.
Introduced in March 2013, Mersive’s Solstice software enables multiple users to connect simultaneously to a shared display using a range of mobile devices and applications over an existing Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. With Solstice, anyone can walk into a meeting room and instantly connect and start a collaboration session.
The AV and IT industries are in the midst of a convergence, in fact, according to a recent InfoComm report, 56 percent of pro-AV Professionals believe the convergence has already changed the way they do business. Mersive says that its software-only solution Solstice works with any kind of display, including a single projector, flat panel or a large video wall. It can run in parallel with soft-client video conferencing solutions, such as Vidyo, WebEx, Lync, GoToMeeting, etc. It also comes with an IT dashboard that centrally manages all displays throughout the enterprise, and now the addition of the Solstice Open Control Protocol makes it easy to integrate with room control systems, providing additional efficiency, functionality and cost savings.
Mersive offers a free 30-day trial of Solstice Display Software, which needs to be installed on a Windows machine that is connected to a display. Solstice is display agnostic; it can work with any type of display including projectors and flat panels. Get a free trial here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Expands New Cable Cubby Series/2 LineupExtron has introduced the Cable Cubby 500 and the Cable Cubby 700, which are two all-new Cable Cubby Series/2 line of cable access enclosures for AV connectivity and AC power. Extron also offers the existing Cable Cubby 1200 low-profile enclosure and Cable Cubby 1400 double-sided enclosure. These modular enclosures support a broad range of available AV connectivity and AC power options, including Extron Retractor cable retraction modules, AAP — Architectural Adapter Plates and AV cables. AC power modules are available for the U.S., Europe, and other major world markets.
All Cable Cubby Series/2 enclosures are engineered for fast assembly and installation on the job site. An integrated clamp system secures the Cable Cubby Series/2 enclosures to the furniture surface. The modular design allows convenient installation or replacement of cables or AAPs from the top of the enclosure, after it’s installed. The Cable Pass-Through Plate utilizes a split-ring design that facilitates cable installation while eliminating the need for separate cable grommets. The AAP Plate can be pre-populated and cabled before installation within the enclosure. Most AC 100 Series AC Power Modules provide two unswitched AC outlets. To support the charging of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices in AV presentation environments, the optional AC+USB 200 Series Power Modules provide one or two AC power outlets, plus two 5 VDC USB power outlets with 2.1A / 10.5 watts of total power.
The Cable Cubby 500 is here. The Cable Cubby 700 is here. Leave a Comment
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ClearOne’s VIEW Pro Displays Ultimate 4:4:4, True-Color Digital Multimedia Streaming For IP NetworksClearOne’s VIEW Pro encoders and decoders provide for 4:4:4 multimedia streaming (H.264-based) with what the company claim is loss-less compression. Content can be distributed via IP to virtually an unlimited number of displays. VIEW Pro is compatible with ClearOne’s StreamNet technology for auto discovery and control of all networked StreamNet products.
The included VIEW Virtual Matrix Software displays a simple view of the entire system on a single screen, as well as providing source and destination selection and control options in Windows, Android and iOS for StreamNet encoders & decoders. Users have control access from any number of input devices, including wall touch-screens, desktops, laptops and handheld devices. The VIEW Pro provides for HDCP support and can output up to 1920×1200 resolutions at 60 Hz.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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