Volume 12, Issue 7 — April 10, 2014
|
Editorial Editorial Editorial
|
|
Industry News
Audio
Media Players, Recording & Distribution Displays
Projection Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
Control & Signal Processing
|
|
|
4K Resolution and Multi-site Churches
By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant
In 2003, I stood in front of a room of church leaders at the National Religious Broadcaster’s Convention and said: “Churches won’t need to spend the extra money on high definition video for the next five to 10 years.” I positioned my theory that quality NTSC video (SDI in 16:9 format) was more than sufficient with the right signal processing.
Well, here we are 11 years later and I was right — and wrong. Sure, the average church attendee still can’t tell the difference between SDI video shot with good cameras, lenses and production gear in good lighting compared to HD video — especially when the screen is the same format as HD video. But, I was wrong when I said that the cost of HD would make it too expensive for a full decade.
And yet, I’m again making a prediction: Churches will adopt 4K resolution for multi-site churches as the main application of this insanely high resolution.
When Pixels Matter
In the house of worship market, a trend that is seeing exponential growth is the explosion of churches launching multi-site campuses. These are additional campuses, typically within 15 to 30 minutes driving distance to the original (main) church campus. Recent research from Leadership Network, which keeps a strong pulse on the church market, surveyed 535 multi-site churches and revealed that 27 percent of all multi-site campuses are video-teaching only and an additional 28 percent used a combination of in-person and video teaching. That’s a little more than half of all multi-site churches, of which there are currently more than 8,000 in the U.S. alone (that’s 5 million people per weekend attending a church that has multiple campuses).
Consider that when the entire message comes from a teacher on video — that video needs to not include any distractions due to technology. And then consider the trend to use HD screens for a large, center screen (often that either drops all the way to the floor or ascends from it) for a head-to-toe shot while the side screens show the IMAG (Image Magnification — tight shots and waist-up shots). Together, there’s a great case to be made for life-like images when the entire message depends upon the suspension of disbelief that the teacher is in the room!
8 million pixels on a really large screen is the very real suspension of disbelief.
4K Content
Back to my story where I laid out the limitations of high definition video at the NRB Conference in 2003. At the time, it was fairly difficult to get any programming in HD for television, much left for a church to invest in full HD architecture. And even if they did, I argued, where were they doing to get any new content besides what they shot or created? Now this was National Religious Broadcasters Convention, so we had a bunch of churches on television in the room. Unless they were airing in a big market or on a national “big three” network, there was almost zero chance of any HD transmission in their immediate future — especially for churches not in a top 10 market.
Today, I would say that I wonder where churches will go to get 4K content. Beyond the video teaching capture at a main campus, for example, the video spots promoting ministries, events and activities have to all be produced at 4K to take full advantage of these glorious ultra-sharp displays. This, I think, is where this makes 4K still a bit out in front of the church space. Heck, just the editing processing power and storage alone will be a significant hurdle, not to mention the archival of raw footage.
But then I look at things like edge-blending on custom width screens with aspect ratios like 2:1 or 3:1 used as scenic backdrops, and I think that 4K has a lot to offer in those applications, too. Frankly, the ability to go much, much bigger with screens is very compelling when the image quality is there to keep things bright, crisp and vibrant.
Padding My Prediction
I wasn’t entirely right about my prediction for the adoption of HD for this market a mere 11 years ago. Having tasted that slice of humble pie, I recognize that the rate of change is greater than ever when it comes to technology — so much so that I am not sure that we couldn’t see a shift from HD to 4K by 2020 in the multi-site church space.
And yet, here’s the upside for manufacturers and integrators alike: You’ve got a lot of options ahead for finding ways to upscale 1080p, besides just getting churches past 1080i or 720p. There won’t be a shortage of conversion, playback, storage and distribution tools needed to help usher in 4K. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
Why I Like InfoComm’s New APEx Program
By Mark Coxon rAVe Blogger
I actually heard about InfoComm’s new APEx program about three weeks before InfoComm announced it formally. I attended an InfoComm roundtable event in Irvine, Calif. where Duffy Wilbert , SVP of member services, described how the organization intended to raise the bar on customer experience and thought leadership.
Duffy related that InfoComm had come to the conclusion that the CAVSP (Certified Audiovisual Service Provider) Program just wasn’t creating the end results they wanted and had become irrelevant. In his words, they told him it either needed to be “killed” or “revamped.” The result of that realization led InfoComm’s team to create this new program, APEx.
Gary Kayye put out a brief description of the program already, so instead of rewriting that, I’ll just give you the link here.
The part of Gary’s article I want to comment on though is summed up in one of his paragraphs.
The InfoComm International Audiovisual Providers of Excellence program also mandates the use of two industry standards to foster better communication between the AV provider and the client. Because both the ANSI/INFOCOMM Standard Guide for Audiovisual Systems Design and Coordination Processes and the AV System Performance Verification Standard were developed in an open, consensus-based process, approved by an independent outside body, and are aimed at providing proper communication and documentation between the AV industry and the client, using both on several projects is a requirement.
What exactly does this mean?
Well in a nutshell, it means that integrators will be required to get report cards from their clients to stay in the program.
InfoComm states this clearly in their FAQ:
You will ask your customer to expect an online survey on your firm’s work. The completed form is sent to InfoComm. Only surveys with an overall positive rating will count toward InfoComm APEx status.
The online customer surveys are a required element of the program. Small companies must provide two positive customer response surveys annually, while medium companies are required to provide four, and large companies must provide six.
I remember in the roundtable event that Duffy seemed a bit tentative when relating that APEx would include a client rating system and the room was completely silent other than my exclamation of “Yes!”
So why did InfoComm decide to take this long overdue step? According to them:
It was also decided that the AV customer should have a role in determining whether or not customer satisfaction was achieved.
Wow! Really? The CUSTOMER should have something to say about CUSTOMER SATISFACTION??? What a novel idea!
All snark aside, I applaud InfoComm for finally making this a part of its programs. This is something I have a history of fighting for over time, and a change I have been actively campaigning for.
Back in May of 2012, I wrote an article that asked if the lack of some measure of real world performance in InfoComm’s programs decreased their value. At the time I got some scathing comments on the subject and it was rumored the article was even mentioned by InfoComm in a closed door meeting that year.
At InfoComm 2013, I was a guest on a RedBand Radio podcast that addressed the subject as well and I reasserted the need for some type of customer rating system for CAVSP, again to mixed reactions by the other panelists.
That discussion spurred a follow up article in June 2013, in which I asserted that CTS was nothing like a driver’s license.
I finally joined in a discussion group on LinkedIn that questioned the value of CTS and made similar comments that were met with mixed reactions.
I have also been known to poke at InfoComm on Twitter about the subject. All this aside, my emotional outburst at the roundtable was due to some sense of accomplishment in hearing that something I had been campaigning for so long had finally been brought to fruition.
It would be hubris to assume I am the only one who made this happen, but if my vocalization of the thoughts of others helped to bring this requirement into APEx, than I am proud to be a small part of it.
What do you think of a client survey system in the APEx program? Chime in in the comments! Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Looking and Seeing – The World through AV Eyes
By Leonard Suskin Pixel and Ink-Stained Wretch
Before my AV career I did a few other things, including telephony and the unparalleled horrors of residential cable installations. One interesting thing about these three fields is each has lead me to a greater focus on parts of our world the rest of us take for granted and fail to notice. If you drive down a residential street with me, for example, I’ll notice if services are brought in aerially or below ground, if cable and phone drops are run neatly at right angles or lazy diagonals from the pole, perhaps even if homes are being fed with fiber or copper. A closer look and I’ll see if connections are properly grounded. Why? It’s simply become part of my world. So to it is with AV. Sometimes as a consultant I can even see things which aren’t really there.
Earlier this year, Molly Stillman asked the following question: Does work in AV “ruin” live events for you? I’ve never worked in the live-event side of the industry and, for that matter, don’t attend all that many live events. What I do know how to view – and what has become part of my world – is installed AV. What’s interesting is the different things that irk or interest me as I’ve moved from the integration to the consulting side of the world. Over a year ago when I was first seeking work with the SMW team, Tom Shen asked me a very good question: why did I think I was ready to work in consulting? This was part of my answer: a passion I have for the technology, and an eye I develop towards seeing it. If you were to walk through a hotel lobby with me, I’d very likely be able to tell you where they have video monitors, where there are speakers, and what I think they should have done as compared to what they actually did. This game of asking myself what the designers were thinking, what they should have been thinking, and what I would do differently is one I am constantly playing in my head.
Two recent examples come to mind. One is a digital signage display at my local grocery story (the Douglaston outpost of the New York based chain Fairway). My contractor eyes see a nice Sony display surface-mounted above the deli counter, fed by a signage player of some sort. It matches the similar monitors pole-mounted near the frozen foods. My contractor eyes see that it might be mounted slightly off-true, and that someone left the protective plastic cover on the bezel. These kinds of small installation details are easy to spot anywhere.
My consultant eyes see something different. They see that if one waits in a natural position a few feet back from the deli counter the display is too high to see without craning ones neck and that if you’re actually AT the counter it is directly over your head. Given the pace of the Fairway deli counter, customers standing far enough back to view the content will almost certainly lose their place in line. The content consists of a loop of what appear to be in-house produced cooking and food videos with an overlay including the store’s social media address and a few announcements. It’s nicely chosen content for a grocery store, but misses an opportunity to highlight anything special in the specific area where it’s placed. The consultant in my head wants to push the display back behind the deli counter, adjacent to the pricing board. This is where people will be looking anyway, greatly increasing the
attention the sign is getting. As there are more than one of these in the store, content can be adjusted per location; perhaps the deli counter could show sandwich making, the creation of some of their salads and slaws, or give an idea of what we’re supposed to do
with that hundred dollar a pound Iberico ham I’ve always been tempted to try but have feared that I lack the sensitivity of palate to appreciate. As things stand, it’s a reasonably clean installation with
appropriate content. With a tiny bit more thought, it could be something more. And, of course, with a tiny bit more thought and a great deal of extra money
the menu board could be replaced with a video wall for something truly spectacular. That’s the part where my consultant-eyes see things which don’t, in fact, exist. This also might, in all fairness, be a bit of overkill for store signage.
I’ll give you a quick preview of my second example from the wild: interactive kiosks at rail stations here in New York. In addition to form and function, those suggest another theme which I’ll be exploring in a future post exclusive to ExpresSHENs, the official blog of SMW (but please remember – whether I post here or there, my opinions are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the SMW team at large).
What do I have to say about this?
Tune in next time!
For the nonce, I’ll leave you with a question: With what kind of eyes do you look? And what do you see that isn’t there, or that others don’t? Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Worldwide Shipments of Front Projectors Reaches $2.63 BillionWorldwide shipments of front projectors grew reasonably year-over-year by 6 percent to 2.12 million units in CYQ4 2013, representing $2.63 billion in value, according to the latest research from Futuresource Consulting.
In 2013, EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) quarterly performance in CYQ4 posted a 4 percent year-on-year volume growth to reach 702,000 units. Although this wasn’t enough to offset the year-on-year decline of 6 percent.
Eastern Europe enjoyed the greatest year-on-year quarterly growth where 151,000 units were shipped during CYQ4 2013, a 12 percent increase from the year before. The end of a temporary diversion of government funding for infrastructure for the 2014 Winter Olympics allowed Russia to resume its high sell-in volumes, with a total of 780,300 units shipped — a 10 percent year-on-year increase. Most of this volume went into the education sector and high sell-in is expected to continue for the short term. EU member states in Eastern Europe also enjoyed growth not only due to the Q4 retail period but also as a result of using up the remainder of their 2007-2013 EU budget.
The Middle East and Africa saw only modest growth in CYQ4 2013 with 139,000 units shipped, a 1 percent year-on-year growth. This was due to education projects in Saudi Arabia and UAE failing to come to fruition. However, the MEA region remains a strong opportunity long term due to its low penetration.
With 412,000 units shipped during CYQ4 2013, Western Europe also enjoyed an overall year-on-year growth of 3 percent, largely due to strong retail sales in France and Germany, whose markets had year-on-year increases of 8 percent and 9 percent respectively. Spain also had its best sell-in since 2011 with 330,900 projectors being shipped during the last quarter of 2013. A reduced sell-in to the UK’s under-represented retail market for projectors saw the country experience a 5 percent year-on-year decline in total sales in the final quarter.
The Asia-Pacific market enjoyed a 5 percent year-on-year increase in projector shipments during CYQ4 2013 where a total of 835,000 units were shipped. However annual totals contracted by 0.2 percent with 3.17 million units shipped during CY 2013 compared to 3.18 million units in CY 2012.
China’s market continued its return to growth in CYQ4 with sales volumes reaching 496,000 units, an 8 percent year-on-year increase, which allowed the country to also experience an annual year-on-year growth of 3 percent. Both the easing of political tensions between China and Japan towards the end of CY2012 as well as latent demand built up during the brief dip during early 2013 played a part in this increase.
Though CYQ4 is typically a weak sell-in quarter in India, its economic position and education budget delays continue to stifle demand for projectors with a substantial decline of 21 percent year-on-year where just 41,000 units where shipped in CYQ4 2013. Korea’s heavy investment in projectors for recreation and entertainment continues with sales in the 4,000-5999 lumen segment growing year-on-year by 38 percent in CYQ4 2013, assisting the total market’s year-on-year growth of 8 percent in the same quarter.
The Americas market grew by 8 percent year-on-year in CYQ4 2013 following a generally poor sell-in to the region during 2013.
The United States was the key driver behind the regional growth where virtually all market segments had increased sales — a year-on-year growth of 12 percent in CYQ4 2013 — after weak sales in the first three quarters of 2013.
With the exception of Brazil, the Latin American region continues to experience low sell-in with CYQ4 2013′s market declining year-on-year by 20 percent. Although Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) pushed ahead with plans to equip 240,000 students with notebooks by March 2014, it had not specified any plans to equip classrooms with a main display. Import duty restrictions in Argentina continue to stifle its projector market with the country receiving just over 7,000 units in the last quarter of 2013. Elsewhere in Latin America, education projector tenders are considerably less frequent than in 2012 when smaller territories had shown encouraging signs of growth. Corporate markets also remain stagnant without a compelling incentive to trade up to more featured, higher value products.
The entire report is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Global Large Format Display Market Posts 20% Growth in 2013: Futuresource ConsultingWorldwide shipments of professional flat panel displays increased by 8 percent quarter-on-quarter in CYQ4 2013 to reach 567,000 units and finish the year with 20 percent volume growth, according to the latest research from Futuresource Consulting.
“The EMEA region continues to perform well, with quarterly volume growth standing at 16 percent and market volumes reaching 163,000 units. Also, the project business in Russia and Poland supported by strong performances across much of Western Europe saw the region grow by 16.6 percent quarter-on-quarter” says Ben Davis, Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting.
“Year-on-Year growth in the region stands at 22 percent and the market grew quarter-on-quarter by 14 percent. However, this is excluding the Turkish market where the FATIH project had spiked volumes of 65″ IFPD a year previous.
“Market value remains consistent with CYQ2, growing 12 percent quarter-on-quarter with good demand for 60-inch & 70-inch screens complementing stable volumes in the mid ranges.”
2013 has brought good growth to the region, excluding Turkey, year to date volume growth was 21% with significant increases in demand seen in key Middle Eastern territories where project business in transport, retail and education is driving early adoption cycles.
At a Regional Level
Despite U.S. demand continuing to remain relatively stagnant (the market is returning annual growth of 0.03 percent in 2013) the Americas region returned QoQ growth of 5 percent with good business seen in Canada, Brazil and other areas of Latin America.
The Asia Pacific region closed the year with a solid quarter, full year 2013 volumes reaching 920,000 units, 28 percent growth on 2012. The market of Japan, China and Korea all returned annual growth rates in excess of 20 percent.
At a Segment Level
Entry level/Prosumer products continue to gain traction in the market, while high end solutions lose share. Mid-range products maintain demand as customers trade down value-orientated solutions.
Video wall products maintained their strong position in a growing market, with volumes driven by the increasingly diverse applications for video wall set ups and super narrow bezel’ product increasingly being used as standalone displays in aesthetically-orientated retail applications.
This 111-page report reviews the quarterly performance of flat panels sold in the corporate and public display markets to date and provides an outlook to 2019, profiling key countries regions and reviews the major developments in terms of product features and competitive landscape.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
dnp north america Opens Office in AnaheimAs of April 1, 2014 Applied Screen Technologies, owned by rp Visual Solutions’ Randy Pagnan, will now be doing business as dnp north america, which will serve the North and South American markets for optical screen manufacturer dnp denmark. The company has opened a facility in
Anaheim, Calif.
dnp north america will be responsible for sales, marketing, accounting, service and distribution within the South and North American markets, with support from dnp headquarters in Denmark. North American Sales and Marketing Manager Jesse Walsh will continue in his role, along with new hire Ginger Dodier-Williams.
dnp north america’s website is not up yet, but when it is, it will be here. Find out more about dnp optical screens here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
InfoComm Replaces CAVSP With APEx, Audiovisual Providers of Excellence DesignationEarlier this week, InfoComm debuted its new Audiovisual Providers of Excellence (APEx) designation. InfoComm APEx replaces InfoComm’s Certified AudioVisual Service Provider Program (CAVSP), which will conclude at the end of the year.
InfoComm APEx will also recognize a broader base of industry certifications beyond InfoComm’s CTS credential as a sign of commitment to quality.
The InfoComm International Audiovisual Providers of Excellence program also mandates the use of two industry standards to foster better communication between the AV provider and the client. Because both the ANSI/INFOCOMM Standard Guide for Audiovisual Systems Design and Coordination Processes and the AV System Performance Verification Standard were developed in an open, consensus-based process, approved by an independent outside body, and are aimed at providing proper communication and documentation between the AV industry and the client, using both on several projects is a requirement. InfoComm makes all of its standards available to its members at no charge in order to drive the adoption of practices that will advance the industry.
Creating a program that acknowledges outstanding companies of all sizes was a priority, and requirements vary based on the number of company employees. InfoComm will invest in a substantial online campaign to promote APEx companies to end-customers. A toolkit that APEx companies can use to promote their designation will be made available to participating companies.
While this program is aimed at integrators and design consultancies, InfoComm will unveil related programs for the live events, technology manager and manufacturing communities later this year, with input from these constituencies.
All the information for what’s available so far is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Wohler Adds AVB Card Wohler Technologies today announced a new AVB Monitoring Option card for its flagship AMP2 Series modular monitoring AMP2-E16V system. Once the card and software update are installed on the AMP2 Series unit, AVB channels can be mixed, level-adjusted, and monitored alongside AES, SDI, analog and other input types, and in the same fashion.
The Wohler implementation of AVB is unique in that AMP2-E16V monitoring units already deployed in the field may be upgraded easily to support AVB. No additional dedicated system is necessary. Rather, as a result of the series’ modular design, users can add AVB support via a 100 Base-T Ethernet port and RJ45 connection when needed. Just like any other module for the AMP2-E16V, the AVB card occupies a single card slot.
Each AVB Monitoring Option card decodes two AVB streams of eight channels each (IEC 61883-6 format), and these two streams must be locked to the same media clock. AVB channels can be output via AES and analog outputs or re-embedded within an SDI stream. Going forward, those Wohler customers who employ the AVB card will be able to update its firmware just as they would the firmware for any other I/O module.
Here are details of the card. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
DPA Intros New d:screet Miniature Necklace and d:fine Headset Mics at NABAt NAB, DPA Microphones has introduced the new d:screet Omnidirectional Miniature Necklace Microphone, the heavy-duty d:screet 4060 and 4061 Omnidirectional Miniature Microphones, and the classic d:screet Omnidirectional Miniature Mics with reinforced cable relief.
The new d:screet Necklace Microphone lets audio techs not worry about how to attach the mic to clothing when consistent audio output and quick, easy mounting are the main requirements. It features DPA’s d:screet 4061 Omnidirectional Miniature Capsule in a soft rubber necklace and is designed specifically for use by non-technicians. The d:screet Necklace Mic comes in black, white and brown and in lengths of either 18.3 or 20.9 inches.
During the show, the company is presenting two options. Incorporated on all d:screet Miniature Microphones, the robust strain relief version ensures that people who are not used to handling miniatures can feel reassured by the increased reliability. The heavy-duty 4060 and 4061 microphones, which are ideal for people who require even more enhanced security and for whom the visual appeal is of less importance, are ideal for placement in rigorous filming situations. It features a stainless steel housing, sturdy cable relief and a thicker .08-inch cable. Both enhanced versions are exceptionally durable and ideally suited to the rigors of broadcasts.
Combining the flexible mechanics of DPA’s modern d:fine ear mount solution with the sound qualities of the 4066 Omni and 4088 Cardioid headsets, the new d:fine 66 and 88 Headset Microphones are ideal for broadcast productions with vocal performers who need to move freely without obstructions from a handheld mic or mic stand and address every need that actors, musicians and singers may face on live television. These new products join the original d:fine as well as the traditional 4066 and 4088 Miniature Headset Microphones under the company’s d:fine family.
For more information, click here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
TASCAM Features UH-7000 Mic Pre/USB Interface at NABTASCAM is presenting its new UH-7000 USB Mic Pre to the broadcast market for the first time at the 2014 NAB Show. The 4×4-channel audio interface is a standalone microphone preamp that features the company’s HDIA (High Definition Instrumentation Architecture), an entirely new design for microphone preamps, which ensures clean sound reproduction with a high resolution.
The UH-7000 is ideal for a recording or live setup, and can be also be used for home recording with a computer. With a fully-balanced signal path from input to output (in standalone mic pre mode) and enhanced instrumentation amplifier architecture, the UH-7000 includes new premium components to achieve a -128 dBU noise floor, 117 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 0.0009 percent THD rating. Additionally, dual-sided PCM4220 A/D converters capture mic or line inputs at up to 192kHz/24-bit resolution. For monitoring and line output, the UH-7000 coerces audio through a Burr Brown DA converter for fluid and honest sound reproduction.
Another crucial component of the UH-7000 is its audiophile-designed +48V phantom power supply and extra-large power transformer. Additionally, the mic pre/interface has a solid aluminum structure; meticulously calibrated knobs for smooth, custom-tapered gain setting and bright 20-segment LED peak meters to accurately convey each channel’s true level. The device is also equipped with two XLR balanced inputs and outputs, two balanced 1/4-inch inputs and an AES/EBU digital out.
For more information, click here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Biamp Ships TesiraFORTÉBiamp Systems is now shipping its
TesiraFORTÉ series of audio processors.
TesiraFORTÉ consists of eight models — four AVB models and four non-AVB models — with fixed input and output configurations. These processors are a part of Biamp’s Tesira family of DSP-based media systems.
Also shipping is Biamp’s new Dante-enabled DAN-1 digital server networking card, which, like its current SCM-1 card does with CobraNet, functions as a gateway interface to support 64×64 channels of Dante networked audio.
For more information on TesiraFORTÉ processors, click here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
BTX Offers New Reach US Bee 8 Capture SystemThe Bee 8 Training Capture System is an all-in-one network streaming and recording device from Reach US. Featuring redundant recording on both an internal hard drive and a front USB thumb drive so an event is never lost, the Bee 8 has an integrated browser-based menu which makes it easy to operate and manage.
This network-based recording and streaming device can synchronously record audio, video and computer screen signals from three different HD sources. The Bee 8 can also stream content live via h.264 which makes it capable to watch anywhere and the recorded MP4 file makes it portable to be played back on almost anything.
Built on an embedded operating system and designed to run continuously 24/7, the Bee 8 Network Recording Appliance is available from BTX here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Panasonic Debuts 98″ and 84″ 4K LED Displays at NAB Panasonic this month announced two new large-format 4K (3840×2160) LED displays along with other new professional AV technologies at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.
The 98” TH-98LQ70 and 84” TH-84LQ70 4K displays are being marketed for broadcast production, digital signage, rental and staging, design and simulation as well as command and control rooms. These displays, combined with Panasonic’s imaging capture and workflow technologies, provide a one-stop solution for organizations with image creation needs. The displays can also scale non-4K sources to a higher level of picture quality.
LQ70 Series displays are equipped with a protective glass and also feature a ruggedized aluminum frame. They can be installed vertically or horizontally, and offer SLOT3.0 architecture. Panasonic says the displays will ship in September 2014. For more information, click here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
Casio Introduces Bright Laser/LED Hybrid Ultra Short Throw Projector Casio today introduced its first lamp-less ultra short throw projector, the XJ-UT310WN. With brightness up to 3,100 lumens and a throw ratio of 0.28:1, Casio says the XJ-UT310WN is the brightest ultra short throw on the market without a lamp. It enables users to project an 80″ image from 18″ away. Other features include:
- WXGA resolution
- Wireless connection to smart phones and computers (802.11b/g)
- 2 GB of built-in memory
- HDMI, RGB and video inputs
- Audio inputs and a built-in 16-watt speaker
- 20,000 estimated life
- Dust-resistant design
- Fixed lens and mirror system
- Laser and LED hybrid light source
Casio’s free mobile application (Apple iOS and Android compatible) allows users to display and annotate presentations from a mobile device, as well as capture and save. They can also open an Internet browser and display content in real-time. There is also an image capture function using the mobile device’s camera to snap an image and send it to the projector. Casio says the primary target for this projector is the education market.
Casio says the XJ-UT310WN will be available in Q3 2014 with an MSRP of $1,999.99. More information is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
DPI Intros 10,000 Lumen Laser Projector
Digital Projection International (DPI) has announced the launch of the HIGHLite LASER WUXGA 3D, which offers 10,000 lumens from a solid-state light source, capable of producing over 20,000 hours of illumination and WUXGA
(1920×1200). Due to the light source and lack of a lamp, this projector offers a lower total cost of ownership.
Image edge blending is included as standard, along with advanced geometric warp correction. Additionally, active 3D functionality with frame rates up to 144 Hz is included. Inputs include dual HDMI 1.4,
DVI and 3G-SDI, as well as HDBaseT connectivity for the transmission of uncompressed HD video over a CAT5e/6 LAN cable. A diverse selection of both fixed and zoom lenses, with throw ratios ranging from 0.77:1 to 6.76:1 and extensive lens shift, is available.
DPI says the projector will ship this June. To get complete specs, click here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Juice Goose Intros P90-PRO Series UPS Products Juice Goose announced this week a new series of energy saving, online UPS products that reduce operating costs for end users and project cost for integrators — the P90-PRO Series. Juice Goose says the P90-PRO models feature a 0.90 power factor design that converts 90 percent of power line voltage and current into wattage.
Beyond the higher power factor, the P90-PRO ECO Mode is a selectable feature that allows a power bypass of the battery circuitry when line voltage is within an acceptable range. Eliminating the overhead load of the UPS increases operating efficiency of the UPS to 98 percent. When not in ECO mode, online (double conversion) circuitry provides a continuous charge on the UPS batteries while maintaining a complete barrier against any form of surge or voltage transient.
The P90‑PRO Series models include the 1000VA, 1500VA, 2000VA and 3000VA. Each can be rack, tower or wall mounted. For more information, click here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Chief Kontour Monitor Mounts Enhanced Chief has refreshed the Kontour series in response to customer feedback and is now offering enhanced versions of the K1 and K2 single and dual monitor mounts.
The design updates include:
- Option of black or subtle two-tone silver finish
- Next generation Centris extreme tilt for even smoother control and ergonomic comfort
- New external monitor rotation screw for fine-tuning the ease of display rotation
- Enhanced 3-step installation and quick-release monitor interface
- Improved base with included tool storage so your tools are always accessible
- More configurations and easier upgrade options for adding additional monitors
- Updated cable management options
Along with the refresh, the K3 and K4 array mounting solutions will see the complete launch of the entire series. Engineered to provide strong, safe support for multiple monitors, the Kontour series is modular in design and has options for anywhere from 2 to 12 monitors. These solutions are aimed at applications such as trading desks, call centers, security desks, IT, health care, control rooms and more.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Active Thermal Management Shows Dual CoolThere are rack installations in closets that are hot and so full that there aren’t any spaces left for a cooling system. Then there are closets with shelf-mounted systems that also need cooling. Active Thermal Management says that Dual-Cool can solve both problems as it has a two-mode cooling system that’s equally effective cooling racks and shelves, in both cases moving heated air to an attic or an adjacent area through 5′ of flexible tubing.
A benefit of Dual-Cool in a rack installation is that it mounts to the rack’s rear rails, taking up no front rack space. It’s 2U rack units high and only 7″ deep and it mounts easily behind a shallow component near the top of the rack. A remote thermal probe starts Dual-cool’s fans turning at low speed (adjustable) at 90F (also adjustable) and switches it to full speed if the temperature rises another 10 degrees.
Rack or shelf installation, heated air is pulled up from below Dual-Cool’s chassis by three powerful fans, and is exhausted through 5’ of insulated flexible tubing.
Here are details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Kramer Introduces the PT-1C EDID Processor Kramer’s new PT-1C is an EDID troubleshooter of sorts. Have problems with the way Apple handles HDCP, especially when integrating video conferencing systems? One of four back panel dip-switches turns HDCP on or off. When placed immediately downstream from a Mac with the HDCP off, the Mac outputs a non-encrypted signal that Kramer says solves these issues with Apple’s implementation of HDCP. The PT-1C does not bypass HDCP rules and cannot remove HDCP from a signal if it is present.
A second dip-switch on the PT-1C limits color depth. In situations where bandwidth on certain legacy equipment does not support Deep Color, the PT-1C can be used to ensure that only 8-bit color is passed.
There’s an audio dip-switch that provides a means for limiting the output of an upstream device to two-channel LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation) for cases where the target EDID is asking for an audio type that other system devices do not support.
Finally, the fourth switch is an EDID lock that allows the user to lock in the EDID from the connected display or other displays/EDID sources.which draws its power from the HDMI cable and it has four DIP-switches on the back panel.
Complete specs are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
New Version of Extron IN1608 Scaling Presentation Switcher Offers Built-In Control Processor Extron’s IN1608 IPCP is a new addition to the IN1608 product family that features a built-in Extron IP Link Pro control processor. You may already know that the IN1608 is an AV system in one box, including an HDCP-compliant, multi-format video switcher, a scaling engine, integrated DTP 230 transmitter and receivers, a mono or stereo amplifier, comprehensive audio processing, and now has added a control processor that is uniquely expandable.
The IN1608 IPCP features a built-in IP Link Pro control processor, with the same advanced features, processing power, and technologies found in the standalone Extron IPCP Pro control processors. The IN1608 IPCP delivers high-speed processing and control port capacity for complete, customizable control of an entire AV system, including all source devices and displays, plus room functions. You can connect an Extron TouchLink Pro touch panel to the built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch (without the need for an external interface) directly to the IN1608 IPCP.
As with all Extron control systems, the IN1608 IPCP is intuitive and configurable with their Global Configurator software. The latest version of Global Configurator includes features such as conditional logic, local variables, and macros. Global Configurator Professional adds unprecedented scalability with Controller Groups, a unique feature that allows an IN1608 IPCP to be combined with additional IP Link Pro processors to create a large-scale control system. This is aimed at not only rooms, but controlling multiple systems or even remote locations around the world. IN1608 IPCP systems throughout a facility, building, campus, or offices worldwide can be monitored and managed using Extron GlobalViewer Enterprise server-based software.
With the purchase of an Extron LinkLicense with the IN1608 IPCP, a tablet or laptop can serve as the primary control interface for the AV system. A unique benefit of LinkLicense is the ability to use Extron GUI Designer software to design interfaces for specific user roles in an organization. LinkLicense works seamlessly with Extron’s TouchLink for iPad app, and allows an interface to be duplicated to many additional devices. It simplifies deployment of AV system control for BYOD with a single license purchase per system and no per-user fees, and allows a standardized BYOD strategy for AV control across an organization.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
New HDBaseT Receiver With Integrated Amplifier and IP Control System Aurora Multimedia has announced DXE-CAT-RX3 series of HDBaseT receivers are now shipping. These new HDBaseT receivers consist of four models all incorporating balanced analog stereo audio input and output with mixing capabilities, and dual relays for screen/lift control.
The DXE-CAT-RX3A model adds a 2×35-watt amplifier. Two additional models come complete with on-board IP/web based control (DXE-CAT-RX3-C and DXE-RX3A-C). The “C” versions include a stand-alone control system offering tablet integration and one RS232, one IR, two relays, audio input mixing control and output level control. Built-in web server features allow for non-platform specific web-control integration from iPad/Tablets and other web browsing devices.
The DXE-CAT-RX3 when combined with Aurora’s DXW-2 wall plates and DXB-8 button panel provide a complete AV control and distribution system over a single CAT cable. More information is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron Intros Half-Rack, Four Input Scaler with DTP Extron’s new IN1604 DTP is an HDCP-compliant scaler with three HDMI inputs, a universal analog video input and a DTP output, all housed in a 1U, half rack enclosure. The IN1604 DTP is designed for installation beneath conference tables and in lecterns to provide localized switching support for sources such as presenter devices, as well as signal extension up to 330 feet (100 meters) over shielded CATx cable to reach a wall or ceiling-mounted display. The IN1604 DTP features automatic switching and a scaling engine that converts both HDMI and analog video sources.
The IN1604 DTP includes a DTP twisted pair output (HDBaseT-compliant) that can be used to extend video, audio and control to a DTP receiver behind a flat-panel display on a wall or above a ceiling-mounted projector, with the receiver powered over the same shielded CATx cable. Integrators can choose from a complete line of DTP 230 receivers for 230-foot (70-meter) signal extension or DTP 330 receivers for 330-foot signal extension, to accommodate distance requirements of specific applications. The DTP output can also be used for sending video and embedded audio, plus bidirectional control signals to any HDBaseT-enabled display (a projector or monitor with a direct HDBaseT input). The IN1604 DTP scaler includes 1080i de-interlacing and Deep Color processing and the box is integrated with Extron’s EDID Minder, Key Minder and SpeedSwitch.
Finally, the IN1604 DTP has some interesting audio integration capabilities that include HDMI audio embedding and de-embedding, audio switching with two individually assignable analog audio inputs, switching transitions, gain and attenuation adjustments for each analog input, output volume control, and input audio muting — a lot, quite frankly, for a small 1/2 rack width box. The IN1604 DTP can be controlled via front panel controls, on-screen menus, USB, RS-232, and contact closure with tally output.
Here are all the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe ProAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: We run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
Don’t like us? Then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send us feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to founder Gary at gary@ravepubs.com or Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
Everything we publish is opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship publication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition is co-published with CEDIA, covering the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
To read more about rAVe’s team and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top |
Copyright 2014 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: Sara@rAVePubs.com
rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
|
|
|