Extron Debuts Eight-Port Fiber Optic Audio Extractor Extron this month launched the new FOX AEX 108, an eight-port fiber optic audio extractor for independent processing and routing of audio signals in a fiber optic AV distribution system. Each port accepts signals from a FOX Series transmitter to extract a two-channel analog audio signal for processing, and then re-transmits the original signal to a FOX Series receiver. To simplify integration with mixers, DSP devices and audio amplifiers, the FOX AEX 108 provides both balanced and unbalanced stereo. Buffered loop-throughs feature output reclocking and full transmitter power levels to ensure signal integrity. Available in multi-mode and single-mode models, the FOX AEX 108 is ideal for use in FOX Matrix system applications that require extraction of audio signals for local processing and independent distribution.
The FOX AEX 108 is part of the larger, expansive FOX Series of fiber optic products from Extron. It is compatible with FOX Series matrix switchers, switchers, distribution amplifiers, plus HDMI, DVI, VGA, VGA/YUV and AV transmitters and receivers. Housed in a compact 1U, half-rack width metal enclosure, the FOX AEX 108 is designed to provide convenient access for audio signal processing and routing from an equipment room.
All the detailed specs are here: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=foxaex108 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Mojave Audio Intros Matched Pair of Condenser Mics Mojave Audio has announced a cool new stereo mic in the form of the MA-101SP, which is a matched pair of Mojave Audio’s MA-101fet cardioid condenser microphones, designed for stereo recording and live sound reinforcement applications.
Each MA-101fet in the matched pair provides reproductions of instruments without the shrillness and high frequency artifacts so often encountered with modern condenser microphones. The microphone FET circuitry and externally polarized capacitor mic element combine to deliver low noise and high quality performance, according to Mojave. The MA-101fet features both omni and cardioid polar patterns by way of interchangeable capsules and with its 3-micron thick, .8-inch diameter gold sputtered diaphragm, this new microphone is a truly versatile recording instrument.
Each MA-101fet in the MA-101SP matched pair offers performance specifications including a frequency response of 20 Hz-20 kHz +/ – 3 dB, a sensitivity rating of -40 dB (1 volt per pascal), with a distortion rating of less than 1 percent @ 120 dB SPL (-15 db pad off) and less than 1 percent @ 135 dB SPL (-15 dB pad on). The microphones operate on standard 48-volt Phantom power.
Here are all the details: http://www.mojaveaudio.com/MA-101fet.html Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Christie Announces JumpStart Content Management System Here at ISE, Christie today announced the official launch of its Christie JumpStart content management solution into the EMEA market. JumpStart is designed for simplifying high resolution content on a multi-display or tiled digital canvas (edge-blended projectors).
Christie JumpStart targets architectural markets including museums, universities, stadiums, corporate offices and retail stores needing high resolution, reliable content playback across large video walls. Rental and stagers will also benefit from JumpStart’s speed and ease of setup and support for unique display configurations.
Benefits of Christie JumpStart:
- Multi-windowing capabilities including video files, applications and text
- Seamless integration with Christie MicroTiles, automatically optimizing resolution of the Christie MicroTiles display
- Supports non-standard resolutions and independent resolutions
- Simple user interface allows for quick changes and intuitive user controls
- Integrated solution with single PC/software bundle means no additional hardware and no ongoing software costs or licenses
- Positioning and playback of content can be accomplished by seasoned designers and less technical users
- Plays media locally so no external source PCs or movie players are required
- Scheduling of playlists within each content window
Go here to learn more: http://www.christiedigital.co.uk/emea/products/Pages/default.aspx
To see a video we shot about JumpStart at ISE this week, click here: https://www.ravepubs.com/index.php?option=com_ravevideo&ravevideo_id=6578&view=ravevideo&Itemid=538 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Canon's Latest LCoS Projectors Offer 5K Lumens and 1900×1200 Resolution Canon's latest LCoS projectors are its brightest-ever in the REALiS line. The new REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D offer the company's fourth-generation AISYS (Aspectual Illumination System) optical technology, are native WUXGA (1920×1200 – 16:10) and carry a brightness spec of 5,000 lumens. Integrated with Canon's Color-Correction IC (integrated circuit) and 3D color LUT (look-up table) for six-axis color management, the REALiS WUX5000 D projector has all the features of the WUX5000 model plus a DICOM Simulation mode designed to reproduce medical images such as X-Rays, CAT scans and MRI images with superb 21-step grayscale gradation.
Other features include both RGB, VGA, DVI and HDMI 1.3 inputs, RS232 and IP control, plus motorized horizontal and vertical lens shift. Pricing for the REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D is $8,999 and $9,999 respectively and the models are scheduled to ship in March.
Go here for more: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/projectors/lcos_projectors Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Avlex Intros New Earset Microphones Avlex Corporation has introduced four new low profile single earset microphones: the HSP-39, HSP-29, HS-38 and HS-28. All four models combine a performance proven omni-directional condenser element with a hassle-free, interchangeable earhook design that eliminates the guesswork and frustration all too often associated with achieving a secure and comfortable fit when trying to accommodate different face shapes.
Aimed at the live performance, corporate AV and House of Worship markets, the models use a moisture resistant, omni-directional, back electret condenser capsule with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The HSP-39 and the HSP-29, the company’s flagship models, ship with a premium 3mm diameter element while the remaining two models utilize a more cost-effective standard 3.5 mm design.
The Avlex HSP-39, HSP-29, HS-38 and HS-28 earset microphones are available in black, cocoa brown or beige colors that enable these microphones to blend in with a wide variety of skin tones. Each model also ships with two screw-on replaceable audio cables, acoustically transparent windscreens and a MIPRO wireless bodypack adapter. The HSP premium models are packaged in a protective hard shell case with magnetic latches. The standard grade HS models are packaged in a zippered leatherette pouch. To enable use with non-MIPRO wireless systems, several optional adapters are available for use with Shure, Audio-Technica, AKG, Sennheiser, Electro Voice, Lectrosonics, Sony and other beltpack systems. Optional Red Dot (RD) adapters have a built-in 15 dB pad for use with MIPRO, Audio-Technica, AKG, Electro Voice and Shure beltpacks.
Complete specs are here: http://www.avlex.com/avlex_products.html Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Live Events Q&A: Johanne Bélanger, AVW-TELAV Johanne Bélanger is president of AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, a full-service AV rental and staging company and design/build firm that supports corporate events, exhibit programs, trade shows and conventions of all sizes. In 2010, AVW-TELAV was an inaugural recipient of InfoComm International®’s Green AV Award, which recognized the company’s efforts to operate more sustainably and to deliver sustainable solutions to its clients. In November 2011, Bélanger was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the InfoComm Board of Directors. In an interview, she shared her thoughts on the association’s evolution and on the state of the rental and staging industry. InfoComm: Congratulations on your election to Secretary-Treasurer. Can you describe your involvement with InfoComm over the years and why you wanted to get involved? Bélanger: InfoComm International has been a priority for me since joining AVW-TELAV in 2005. My predecessors placed great importance on the organization’s mandate. For instance, Harald Thiel, past president of AVW-TELAV Canada, was the only two-time president of InfoComm, and Ed Goodman, one of our company’s original founders and another past president of InfoComm, was recognized by InfoComm for his lifetime contributions to the industry. So I knew InfoComm was the perfect outlet to lend my voice to. That’s one of the reasons I was extremely honored when elected to serve on the InfoComm Board of Directors for a one-year term in 2009. At the end of that year, I was nominated again to serve a two-year term. During that term, I had the pleasure of leading the Live Events Focus Group, which brought together senior executives in the live events market to determine the current status of the live events marketplace in North America and identify ways in which InfoComm could better serve our live events members. As you know, this past November, I was elected as the board’s Secretary-Treasurer, which I will serve for a one-year term. I plan to continue representing and shaping the direction of the audiovisual industry with my colleagues on the board and look forward to new opportunities and challenges the future may bring. InfoComm: From your point of view, how has InfoComm evolved? Where do you see it going next? Bélanger: InfoComm has evolved to embrace a larger part of the rental and staging sector of the business, particularly in areas of education and training, certification and standardization. This is especially important to me as AVW-TELAV’s president, since our company has just made the strategic decision to focus its business primarily on the rental, event staging and facility markets. I expect that we’ll see an expansion of InfoComm’s rental and staging training, with more advanced courses and multiple levels of certification. In addition, with the timely creation of task forces and focus groups, such as the Live Events Focus Group I chaired last year to address the needs of our live events members, InfoComm keeps its ear to the ground to observe and predict industry issues, educate members and take action, when necessary. If the organization continues to handle matters in this fashion, I think it will have a much larger impact on our industry by setting higher standards and garner greater recognition of the AV industry by the general public. InfoComm: In general, how has the live events industry changed in recent years? What challenges does AVW-TELAV face that maybe it didn’t face five years ago? Bélanger: We have seen our industry become more price-driven in recent years. As the technology becomes cheaper and easier to purchase, there is less exclusivity associated with larger AV firms, such as ours. As such, offering value-added services, rather than commodities, is the key to future growth. We are also seeing much more pressure on margins as customers continue to demand discounted rates in a very competitive marketplace. We believe that this new reality is here to stay and that companies must learn to adapt by executing more efficiently and finding new ways to do business. In regards to equipment, we have been slowly moving away from proprietary AV boxes and towards computer-based solutions with add-ons, which provide the same result at a lower cost with higher performance. InfoComm: To what extent do issues that the pro AV industry is now dealing with (specifically the intersection of AV and IT technologies) impact rental and staging/live events? Bélanger: We continue to see more use of digital technology in live events and expect that this trend will continue, especially as more events seek to incorporate a virtual program to go along with the live event. That said, large-scale IT networks in the professional AV events market are not as prevalent. Yes, there is networking and data moving across the network. However, networks in rental and staging are primarily for controlling AV equipment. The AV signal is still separate and off the network. We are not seeing the merging of data, communication, and sources moving across a specialized single network, like one would in the integration market. InfoComm: AVW-TELAV has an outstanding record on sustainability issues (the company won InfoComm’s Green AV Award in 2010). What about other rental and staging companies? What can they do to improve their sustainability records? Bélanger: I cannot comment on how other companies are doing, but I can share with you the path AVW-TELAV took, which led to us becoming leaders in the green AV movement. Our first step was developing our company’s green policy in 2006. Shortly after, we established a Green Committee, made up of employees from each of our branches who expressed a keen interest in helping make AVW-TELAV a more environmentally-friendly organization. This committee worked as a conduit through which green ideas flowed from all levels of the organization. After researching the sustainability suggestions—most of which were small in effort but great in impact—we implemented the ones with merit, and then reported the outcome to the rest of the company to inspire all of the employees. As a company, we didn’t spend a significant amount of money to make environmentally-conscientious changes, like switching to more energy-efficient bulbs in our simultaneous interpretation booths or offering barely-used batteries to our employees for reuse. We just looked at the simple things and found ways to adapt to doing them more efficiently. Now that it has become more commonplace for our employees to speak up when they see areas for improvement around their branches and on show sites, from a sustainability perspective, we’ve decided to broaden our reach with our new “You Care, So We Care” committee, which tackles social responsibility issues on a larger scale. This is the model that has worked for us and is still working. Perhaps rental and staging companies that want to become more environmentally sound may use our journey as an example. We can all improve our sustainability practices and the first step toward doing so is awareness. A sustainability champion is a great way for a company to elevate awareness and implement and effective sustainability program. InfoComm: What would you tell rental and staging companies that might be reluctant to embrace InfoComm and some of its key initiatives, such as certification and standards? Bélanger: The rental and staging industry is still in its infancy and must prove itself as a bona fide industry with a level of standards that can be trusted. Customers don’t have the means to judge which company is most qualified to do the job; many don’t even know the right questions to ask and are basically charmed by whichever company has the best salespeople. InfoComm is working towards solidifying live events as a reputable industry, with proper performance and safety processes to follow and standards to be met. Those companies that are seen as leading the industry towards this standardization will have a competitive advantage. Similarly, the public will be able to distinguish which are the most capable live events specialists based on levels of expertise that they can trust and verify. The professionalism of our industry has improved tremendously as a result of InfoComm programs. Customers are becoming aware of InfoComm certifications and standards. I think it will become more and more difficult for companies to be competitive if they do not use the resources that InfoComm can offer. This Q&A was reprinted with permission from InfoComm and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe Rental [and Staging] 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% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the rental and staging industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions — in this case, it’s industry-veteran Joel Rollins' 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).
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rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004. rAVe Rental [and Staging] launched in November 2007. rAVe Ed [Education] launched in May 2008. rAVe DS [Digital Signage] was launched in January of 2009.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top Copyright 2012 – 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
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