Volume 7, Issue 12 — December 9, 2014
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A Scattered Mind
By Scott Tiner rAVe Columnist
I am not sure if it is the holiday season, a busy schedule or something completely different, but my mind has been very scattered over the past few weeks. As such, I thought the only way I could write a column this month is if I embraced that scattered mind, and wrote a column that represented it. So, here are some random thoughts that have been running through my mind.
Arrive announced a stand alone device to schedule rooms. It is similar to products previously released by Crestron and SteelCase. However, the Arrive InfoPoint allows for integration with Google Calendar and a stand alone device. This is interesting for those in education, as we always struggle with room schedules and knowing whether you can walk into a room when it is empty, or if a meeting or class is about to start up. Previous systems have required large back end systems, or have only integrated with a specific calendaring system, like Microsoft. This system, at a very reasonable price, allows you to implement this system in a few spaces and see how it works. That ability to “dip your toe in the water” is huge for a school that does not want to invest ten of thousands into a system that may not work for them.
Crestron recently announced the release of a streaming input card for its DM switchers. This is intended partially to match up with its streaming output card, but also allows the DM switcher, and therefore the entire AV system, to accept any H.264 video stream. This could be from a class capture system, a security camera or any internet stream that is H. 264. Also, it is helpful to know that Crestron’s Capture HD system can also send and receive H.264 streams. This was included in one of the myriad of firmware updates to the product over the past couple of years. Both of these release seem to have gotten little press, but have some major implications for your systems. By combining these products you can easily transfer video from any classroom or meeting room on your campus to any other space, whether on campus or off. This has implications for distance learning, along with simple overflow needs on your campus.
In 1998, Bates College built a new academic building and we wanted to have this ability inside of that building. It required coax connections to every room, complex switch boards and quite frankly, was never used — mostly because it was so complicated no one ever bothered to learn how to do it. Also, it would only carry composite signals, so we did not have the ability to transmit a computer presentation. Not anymore, now, if there is an Ethernet connection in a space, you can send various video signals around the world easily. Paired up with cameras and microphones that are already in your rooms for class capture, you suddenly have a robust overflow system in place. These are some products that need to end up on your R&D benches, if not in your spaces.
Speaking of Crestron, we were all saddened to learn about the passing of George Feldstein in early November. There are several amazing things about this man. First, is that just about every person in the AV industry has a story about him. He was that accessible and that humble. I could (and did) walk up to him at InfoComm and have a conversation. Think of that, just a regular person, walking up to the owner of a multi-million dollar company and having a conversation. He was not interested in whether I was a sales person, or could make his company money. He was interested in talking about technology and how we use it. Amazing. As I have written in past articles, I can not even get sales reps, that is people whose JOB it is to contact me, to do so. But here was George Feldstein, perfectly content to spend time with just a regular guy.
A second amazing thing for me about Feldstein is the type of leader he was. I like to read about great leaders, and think about what they do that makes them great. The information I have on Feldstein is is second hand knowledge from working with people at Crestron and observing the industry for years. It is clear that Feldstein loved his company. More importantly he loved it enough that he knew when to step back to ensure the future success of the company. We look at other leaders, both in the industry and outside of the industry, who are interested in their personal success. In those situations there is significant concern about who will lead a company, and who will innovate for that company after they leave. Mr. Feldstein was a strong leader because he prepared for that inevitable time. He prepared his company, and trusted his employees to do what they do best. He appointed leaders to take his place, and already had a large number of engineers working on the products of tomorrow. The true example of his leadership will be four to five years down the road, when Crestron is still the powerhouse in AV that it is today. I would love it if someday a biography was written about Mr. Feldstein that gave us all the opportunity to learn from him one more time. Leave a Comment
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This System Sucks
By Mario Porto Director of Strategic Accounts, HB Communications
“THIS SYSTEM SUCKS! NOTHING WORKS!!!” How many times have you heard that comment? If you’re like most of the people I’ve spoken to over the years, you’ve heard it more times than any of us would have liked. I recall meeting an architect from a very large global firm at a social event and when he learned what I did, he looked me right in the eye and said, “Oh yeah, AV, I know all about it. I know it never works.”
So, I’ve spent quite some time thinking about why this happens and I think it can all be summed up in two phrases that we all know well:
- Manure flows down hill.
- The Emperor wears no clothes.
The Dynamics of Manure Flow
If you look at the genesis of every AV project, they all start pretty much the same way. A group of people within an organization has a need, so they seek out the appropriate “experts” to advise them on filling that need. The process of assessing then begins, etc… you know the drill. The problems start when the conversation turns to money: How much is this going to cost and who’s going to pay for it? That’s when things get real interesting.
In most organizations, anything that involves doing something to a building has to go through the facilities group (or whatever name they give the people responsible for the proper operation of the systems within a building). The facilities folks often carry the budget for the building’s improvements and maintenance and if they don’t, every other group WANTS them to: Makes sense, right?
OK, so the facilities folks now need to build a building (or improve an existing one), so they need to find out what’s going to happen inside that building. Who are they going to ask — the people that came to them to build the building in the first place, right? Well… not so fast. The facilities people are pretty smart and they’ve figured out that if they ask the people that are going to actually use the buildings what they would like the building to do, they’re going to ask for EVERYTHING including the kitchen sink, thus blowing their budget out of the water. So what often happens instead is that the actual end users of the systems being put into the building are left out of the conversation about what should be included in the new building that they asked to be built in the first place. Sounds crazy right? Well, ask anyone in the higher education space and you’ll see that it happens more often than you’d think logical.
Now you have a design team, assembled by the facilities group, that goes about designing a building and its systems. AV consultants are hired, and when they ask to speak to the end users to do “Need Analysis,” more often than not, they are told that they can’t: The facilities guys or whoever else has been assigned the task of representing the users. Another one that I’ve heard often is, “Well, we’re looking to you to make recommendations based on your experience and expertise. What are other organizations like ours doing?”
The design consultant is designing in a vacuum more often than not. Too often, the group that’s been identified as “the end users” doesn’t even know what AV means, let alone being capable of deciding how they’d like their new control system to work. So their decisions are too often based on one criteria: What’s the least expensive way to do it?
The design process continues and then the project is put out to bid, lowest-qualified bid wins (I love that one but that’s for another article), etc. and we now have an AV integrator on board. The integrator has a set of documents that are his (or her) marching orders but a funny thing happens: the integrator is pretty smart too and he (or she) recognizes that there may be a better/faster/easier/cheaper way to accomplish the task described in the documents. So, what to do? If he makes a recommendation that will increase the cost of the project, it will most likely be refused because by the time AV came along, the budget had long been spent. If he makes a recommendation that will save money, the client will want a credit and the cost of the project goes down: not so good for him. So, for the sake of expediency and business preservation, he says nothing and builds the project the way it was designed.
Project is finished, documentation is complete, etc. Now it’s time to close the loop and bring in the end users (remember them?) for training. The integrator’s trainer starts to show them their new systems, of which the trainer is very proud, but then the users say, “Huh, this isn’t going to work. We don’t do things like that here, etc.” Now the fun REALLY begins.
The users go back to their bosses, who go to the facilities people, who go to the design team, who go to — you guessed it — the integrator and say, “WTF, this system is no good; it sucks; nothing works.”
So, as you see, the manure does indeed, flow downhill. We’ll deal with the emperor’s clothes in the next article. Until then, wear high boots.
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Extron Unveils Next-Gen Fiber Optic Control Inserter Extron’s new FOX II RS 104 is a four-port RS-232 inserter for long-haul transmission of control signals to remote source and destination equipment over fiber optic cabling. Each port provides a bi-directional fiber optic connection to an Extron FOX II or FOX Series transmitter or receiver for the Ethernet insertion and extraction of control data, while maintaining a continuous pass-through link for video and audio. The FOX II RS 104 is designed for use in applications with a centralized control system that require the long-haul transmission of AV and control signals over fiber optic cabling.
RS-232 data from the Ethernet port is inserted onto one or more of the fiber optic outputs, providing remote monitoring and control. Reclocking on the unit’s buffered fiber optic outputs ensures signal integrity and transmits the fiber optic signal at its original power level. The inserter maintains the performance of the optical signal transmission while providing bidirectional control from a control processor, eliminating the need for separate control system wiring to remote devices. Available in multi-mode and single-mode models, FOX II RS 104 is compatible with FOX II Series transmitters and receivers, as well as the extensive line of Extron FOX Series matrix switchers, distribution amplifiers, and extenders.
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Crestron Now Shipping Streaming Input Card for DigitalMedia Switchers Crestron today announced it’s now shipping its DMC-STR Streaming Input Card. It enables card-based Crestron DM switchers to receive H.264 video stream over an IP network. The source can be an IP camera, a streaming server or content from a DMC-STRO streaming output card in another DM switcher. Crestron says that because DigitalMedia provides both point-to-point and streaming on a single platform, this signal can then be distributed via HDMI, HDBaseT, or fiber.
Streaming removes all distance limitations and utilizes existing infrastructure to enable signal distribution for applications where dedicated wiring is impractical or can’t be installed. Because DM uniquely provides both point-to-point connections (such as HDBaseT and fiber) and streaming on the same platform, you can configure the switcher on an input-by-input and output-by-output basis.
Crestron specs the DMC-STR to support streams at resolutions up to HD 1080p, with bit rates up to 25 Mbps. The streaming input can be configured to receive streams via its dedicated “Content LAN” port (to isolate control and content onto separate networks), or via the DM switcher’s LAN port (to enable a single network connection for the entire switcher, including streaming).
The DMC-STR Streaming Input Card receives H.264 streaming video in, and then the DM switcher outputs the content via any output card as any signal type or infrastructure. Conversely, the DMC-STRO Streaming Output Card transmits any source signal as H.264 streaming video.
Card-based DM switchers are easily configurable as organizational needs change. By simply adding or replacing cards, streaming capabilities can be added without having to change or replace switcher frames. You can even install a DMC-STR card in a DMCI card interface for a standalone streaming decoder.
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DVIGear Introduces 4K Optical Extenders That Work Over a Single Fiber DVIGear has launched two new single-fiber optical extender models, the DVI-7313 and DVI-7314. These compact extenders support 4K @ 30p resolution signals up to 1.2 miles (1640 feet).
These extenders support HDMI v1.4 (non-HDCP) signals with resolutions up to 4K (4096×2160/30p) over long cable distances. DVIGear says these extenders are similarly priced as other extension technologies (such as HDBaseT) while providing the same level of performance at much greater distances. The DVI-7313 supports multi-mode optical fiber, while the DVI-7314 supports both multi-mode and single-mode fiber optic cable.
Most single-fiber optical extenders transmit signals over multiple optical wavelengths, which can suffer from chromatic dispersion over long cable runs. To avoid this issue, these extenders employ a cutting-edge, high-speed SerDes that combines the DVI/HDMI signal channels into a single uncompressed 10.3 Gbps bit stream. This enables the optical transmission of the signal over a single optical wavelength, which provides increased signal fidelity, stability and flawless image quality, regardless of cable length.
The suggested list price for the DVI-7313 is $698.00/pair, while the DVI-7314 is $798.00/pair. Both extender sets are available now for immediate delivery. More information can be found here: DVI-7313 and DVI-7314. Leave a Comment
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Extron Ships 3G-SDI to 3G-SDI Scaler with Audio Embedding and De-Embedding Extron is already shipping their new DSC 3G-3G A — a 3G-SDI scaler that converts between 3G‑SDI, HD‑SDI, and SDI resolutions and frame rates. It accepts, scales, and outputs SMPTE video resolutions from 480i and 576i up to 1080p/60 and 2K. The DSC 3G-3G A features advanced Extron video signal processing with 1080i deinterlacing and Deep Color processing for optimal image quality. The DSC 3G-3G A also provides flexible audio capability with analog audio embedding, de-embedding and level adjustments. Dual SDI outputs, genlock and an input loop-through facilitate integration in demanding professional environments, while the compact enclosure simplifies installation.
The DSC 3G-3G A offers several features that enhance and simplify AV system integration, including two 3G-SDI/HD-SDI/SDI outputs so that a pair of displays can be driven simultaneously. The scaler also features input equalization which conditions incoming 3G-SDI signals to compensate for signal loss over long input cables. Reclocking on the SDI input loop-through eliminates high frequency jitter. Additionally, the DSC 3G-3G A offers a range of audio capabilities including SDI audio management, input gain and attenuation controls, input audio muting, and output volume control. Two channel audio input and output connections are provided for embedding audio onto the SDI output, or sending de-embedded content to a sound system or other audio destination. The output can be set for stereo or dual mono.
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Hitachi Adds CP-HD9320 and CP-HD9321 to DLP Projector Lineup Hitachi America is introducing two new DLP projectors, the CP-HD9320 and CP-HD9321 — both with full HD 1080p (1920×1080) resolution and they’re designed for large auditoriums, conference rooms, museums, and concert or stage productions.
Hitachi’s new projectors provide six interchangeable lenses and brightness outputs up to 8,200 ANSI lumens. Two built-in color wheels enable users to easily switch between what they call a Rich Color Mode (higher saturated colors) and Bright Mode (full light output). Because, the CP-HD9320 and CP-HD9321 use a dual lamp system, if one lamp stops functioning during use, the second lamp continues to run and projects the image with no interruption. Twenty-four hours of continuous operation is possible with the Alternative mode, which alternates the use of the two lamps.
Hitachi’s CP-HD9320 and CP-HD9321 incorporate five digital inputs including 3G SDI for broadcast capability,HDBase-T, VGA, HDMI and video.
Here are each projectors specs CP-HD9320 and CP-HD9321. Leave a Comment
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Kramer Enters Commercial and Residential Audio Realm With New Speaker LineOriginally launched at this summer’s InfoComm show, Kramer’s new speaker lines — Galil, Yarden, Tavor and Dolev were introduced so Kramer could become a “major global player in the audio arena.” Crestron will now compete with Atlas, TOA, JBL, Extron, Crestron and Bose, among many others, in the commercial and residential audio world.
Galil Family: Kramer’s Galil family is a classic fits-all speaker solution designed for transportation centers, hotels, educational facilities, small and large boardrooms, shopping centers and other large venues. Galil is supported by constant voltage amplifiers and Lo-Z to Hi-Z audio transformers. The Galil line offers an affordable range of 4”/6.5”/8” open and closed (UL) in-ceiling round speakers and an affordable full line of 4”/5.25”/6.5” on-wall speakers. All speakers include tapping transformers (70V/100V/8Ω).
Yarden Family: The Yarden family is Kramer’s new performance-based line designed for executive boardrooms, high-end hotels, banks, embassies, government facilities and music halls. Offering exceptional and unprecedented sound quality, Yarden includes 4”/6.5”/8” in-ceiling round speakers and 4”/5.25”/6.5” on-wall speakers with multiple tweeters that provide varying degrees of dispersion for a variety of purposes. Yarden features stereo or stereo/mono speakers, a music/speech switch to enhance intelligibility, Kevlar woofers, titanium pivoting tweeters such as ceiling-tile speakers, round in-ceiling high-power speakers, on-wall speakers and more.
Tavor Family: The new Tavor family of powered speakers offers all-in-one solutions where time and space saving installations are important. Tavor includes ceiling-tile speakers, on-wall and subwoofers. The Tavor line is designed for transportation centers, hotels, educational facilities, small and large boardrooms, shopping centers and other large venues.
Dolev Family: Dolev is a new family of high-quality bi-amplified studio-grade speakers that deliver clear and balanced flat response with low THD even at high volume. Dolev speakers are designed for control rooms, editing studios, sports bars, music clubs, high-end facilities and home entertainment. Dolev offers three different models: 5.25” with a 50-watt amplifier, 6.5” with 75-watt amplifier and 8” with 100-watt amplifier.
Here are the specs on each line. Leave a Comment
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Hall Research Announces Eight-Port HDBaseT Extender Hall Research’s UHBX-8X is a one-RU, eight-input, eight-output HDMI extender (HDMI to HDBaseT outputs) for extension to 150 meters (500 feet) using UTP (Cat5e/6) cables. The extender supports HDCP, deep-color, CEC and 4K (UHD) resolution. The HDBaseT outputs can be directly connected to displays equipped with HDBaseT inputs or any of the various receivers from Hall Research including the cost effective UH-1BT-R or the PoH powered UHBX-R-PD that also provides RS-232 and IR extension.
The UHBX-8X includes IP (Ethernet), and RS-232 ports for control. Using these ports the user can address and send RS-232 or IR commands to any of the receivers to control the display. Eight IR emitter ports are provided on the UHBX-8X that can be used to control multiple sources connected to the UHBX-8X.
The extender is constructed as a 1RU rack-mountable unit and has a built-in power supply. To send power over HDBaseT (PoH) to compatible receivers, an optional 48v power supply is required. LED indicators on the front panel show Link, HDCP, Long Reach and Power status for each output.
The extender is also available as a four-port version, the Model UHBX-4X.
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Christie Adds 45K Lumen ProjectorChristie unveiled its new Roadie 4K45 — a 4K (4096×2160) resolution and 45,000 lumens at 60 Hz with optional 120 Hz capability.
Rugged, reliable, and road tested, the 45,000 lumen Christie 4K45 offers a higher level of image brightness for rental staging and fixed applications including concerts, casinos, sports events, amusement parks, conventions, annual meetings and more. It features Christie TruLife technology.
The Christie Roadie 4K45 features:
- 45,000 lumens using Xenon illumination
- 4K Native Resolution at 60 Hz and upgradable to 120 Hz
- Patented Christie TruLife image processing
- Built in Twist and Warp allows pixels to be mapped onto any projection surface
- Full Connectivity with Standard Display Port and 3G-SDI input modules
- User-replaceable lamps can be automatically aligned at the push of a button
- User-friendly controls ensure easy maintenance and servicing
- Stacking and rigging frame
The Roadie 4K45 ships in March 2015 with a three-year parts and labor warranty. More information is here. Leave a Comment
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Shedding Light on a New App
By Scott Tiner rAVe Columnist
Several weeks ago I had a visit from my Draper rep, David Trapani. We got into a discussion about the products that Draper has for high ambient environment situations. I asked David how can he determine when we should use a special screen product. David took out his light meter and we started taking some samples. I explained that I I don’t always have the light meter with me when I am doing walk throughs. Also, people always look at you funny when you take out the meter. He suggested I check out an application called the Whitegoods LightMeter. According to the David, the app did an accurate job of taking readings.
I decided to do a side-by-side comparison between the white goods product and a professional light meter. I downloaded the light meter application and borrowed a pro light meter. An important note is that the Whitegoods LightMeter allows you to calibrate the meter, or simply set an option for a bright room or a dim room. I think it is very important to calibrate the software with a professional meter. In my testing, this is the only way that I was able to get consistent and reliable readings.
I first set up the meters side by side in an office setting. The reading on the light meter ranged from 41-43 FC. The Whitegoods app got a consistent reading of about 45. Second, I tested the meters out in a presentation space. I took light readings on the screen, and with the pro meter, the range was about 13. The Whitegoods LightMeter read 11. I tested in a few other scenarios, including a video conference room and our executive board room. While the readings from the Whitegoods app did vary above and below the pro meter, they were always very close.
These results left me very encouraged about the possibilities of using my iPhone as a light meter. A couple of other perks of the app are also very promising. In particular, while the app is taking its reading, the display will tell you what you can do in the amount of light. In my example of an office setting it reads “Ideal light for: …office desks, exhibition, conference, teaching spaces…” I find this particularly helpful because I believe it helps to demystify some of the work we do.
When we are doing a site walk through and pull out a professional light meter, many people react with a sense of: “This is being taken way too seriously” or, “Oh boy, this is gonna cost some money.” The reason is that most people don’t know or understand the device and taking the time to teach them the readings is probably not worth the time. However, pull out your phone and sit it on a table and have them see the readings, along with an explanation, and suddenly it is real but also very approachable. You can take it over to where the screen will be and allow the customer to play with lighting settings — having them watch the changes on the app is really powerful. Suddenly, they are part of a process and design, and you don’t have to “sell” them on the importance of lighting. They get it. They see it!
The application has some help on its info screen, but frankly is lacking overall in the area of useful documentation. There is no real explanation of how to calibrate the software. One page of their info lists common values of lighting. This is very useful and could be used to educate customers even more. It would be nice if this information was moved to the main page, and put on some type of meter (like a typical VU meter) where you could see how the light level affects projection or monitor display. Many customers are very visual and this type of image would be helpful for them.
Overall the Whitegoods LightMeter is an app that is worth its cost. Speaking of cost, it is free. I have no idea why, because it also does not have advertisements. Even at $4.99, this app would pay for itself immediately. Due to the limitations of angles that the lens on the phone can accept light, it will never be 100 percent accurate with readings. So, obviously if you are doing the final settings on a light system, or designing a light critical application, like a studio, then a professional meter is the way to go. However, for other instances where you are trying to get readings on your own, or help your customer understand the environment, this product is a hit! Leave a Comment
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Three Upgraded Christie Twist Options Provide Enhanced Image Quality for Multiple Projector Setups Christie is launching three upgraded versions of its Christie Twist technology this week. The Christie Twist solution allows for full image warping and advanced edge blending in Christie 3-chip DLP projectors using software that controls and edge-blends multiple curved images seamlessly on any surface.
Easier to use and with better, more precise pixel-to-pixel alignment than previous versions, the upgraded Christie Twist product family includes three tiers of specialized Twist software each for different application requirements. ‘Christie Twist’ software is a free download from the Christie website. ‘Christie Twist Premium’ and ‘Christie Twist Pro’ are paid upgrades and provide additional functionality for more complex projects.
Christie Twist and Christie Twist Premium are ideal for live theater and events, projection mapping, trade shows, large classrooms, corporate boardrooms, museums, house of worship, casinos and entertainment facilities and more. For more intricate projects – including flight simulators, virtual caves and domes Christie Twist Pro delivers unlimited arbitrary placement points for even greater accuracy. When purchasing Pro or Premium, customers can buy a dongle to attach to a PC running Twist software or license individual projectors and eliminate the need for a dongle.
Christie Twist technology also provides networked projector control by allowing the user to launch a virtual remote from within the twist software with all the functionality of standard Infrared remotes.
Here are the three versions:
Christie Twist
Maximum Projectors – 6
Control Points – Up to 81 Grid control Points
Brightness Uniformity – No
Auto Blending (Wallpaper) – No
Auto Blending (Field of View) – No
Arbitrary Point Placement – No
Christie Twist Premium
Maximum Projectors – 18
Control Points – Up to 87 Grid control Points, including six arbitrary points
Brightness Uniformity – Yes
Auto Blending (Wallpaper) – Yes
Auto Blending (Field of View) – No
Arbitrary Point Placement – Maximum 6
Christie Twist Pro
Maximum Projectors – Unlimited
Control Points – Up to 1,500 arbitrary or grid control points
Brightness Uniformity – Yes
Auto Blending (Wallpaper) – Yes
Auto Blending (Field of View) – Yes
Arbitrary Point Placement – Yes – Unlimited
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BenQ’s Target’s Pro AV Install Market with New Projector Line BenQ America has introduced three new projectors aimed at the ProAV market in the PX9710, PW9620 and PU9730, spec’d at 7,700, 7,000, and 6,700 ANSI lumens and XGA (1024×768), WXGA (1280×800), and WUXGA (1920×1200) resolutions, respectively. All the projectors have a 2800:1 contrast ratio.
To increase setup convenience for installers, the P-Series models are equipped with two interchangeable color wheels (RGBYCW and RGBYCM) that allow users to pick between brightness or color accuracy and also seven optional interchangeable lenses are offered ranging from wide fix to long zoom sizes. In addition, the projectors offer 360-degree horizontal projection, motorized zoom, focus and lens shifting, built-in test patterns, integrated filtration system, LED indicators, and multi-projector management via LAN.
Inputs include HDMI, DisplayPort, USB, RS-232 (control), RGBHV on BNCs and HDBaseT connectivity which transmits audio and video over a single cable across distances up to 328 feet. Taking the setup simplicity even further, the projectors provide installers with a lens-memory option for instant storage of up to 10 different settings, a center-lens hotkey to centralize the units’ lenses, and mechanical shutter capabilities that turn today’s fast-moving images into more fluid content. Managers can also change the units’ color wheels and 350W dual lamps from a top access door while the series’ optimized 10-fan cooling system ensures that the high brightness projectors always run at optimum temperatures.
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ARX Intros Remote Switcher for EWIS, Console Switching or Broadcast Applications ARX Systems’ Remote Switcher is designed to externally control a stereo input signal switcher for use in EWIS (Emergency Warning and Intercommunications System) emergency announcements, console switching and remote control of signal sources in broadcast applications.
Other applications include remote switching between FOH or Monitor Consoles, Main and DJ consoles when one main loudspeaker system is being used, and also remote broadcast signal source and transmitter switching. The Remote Switcher silently switches between two pairs of A or B female XLR inputs to a stereo pair of XLR male output connectors. ARX ‘SoftSwitch’ technology achieves this with no loud bangs through the audio system when switching.
Input Channel control can be selected in two ways. Mode 1 by remote switch / relay closure (using an external power pack / wall wart), or Mode 2 by 12 – 24VDC supplied from an EWIS panel or similar.
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New H.264 Streaming Media Processor With FlexOS Now Shipping Extron is shipping its new SMP 351 Streaming Media Processor with FlexOS, an H.264 streaming media processor that captures and distributes live AV sources and presentations. With five available inputs, the SMP 351 creates high-impact content by combining two high resolution signals, a background image and metadata into dynamic layouts that enhance a presentation’s message. It supports both live streaming and recording capabilities, delivering presentations to anywhere a network can reach. With Extron’s FlexOS embedded operating system, the SMP 351 adapts to new requirements. Extron FlexOS applications on the SMP 351 can be configured to interface with control ports and automate system operation.
The SMP 351 offers extensive streaming capabilities in that you can stream and record simultaneously and can stream concurrently at two different resolutions and bit rates using a range of transport protocols and session management options. The SMP 351 creates MP4 media files that are directly compatible with virtually any software media player and popular content management system. MP4 recorded media can be saved to the internal solid state drive, a USB thumb drive, or a network storage directory to meet different application requirements. Designed for use in professional AV systems, the SMP 351 can be controlled using serial RS-232, Ethernet, and four digital I/O ports. Extron FlexOS applications installed on the SMP 351 interface with control ports and automate system operation.
The SMP 351 uses the Extron Streaming Content Manager – SCM software – that can be used to administrate users, groups, and recordings produced by the SMP 351. SCM also processes the recorded media into file packages that provide a data-rich playback experience using the Extron Media Player – EMP, a browser based media player that can be operated from virtually any computer or mobile device.
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Sennheiser Adds D 10 Headset Designed for Conference Calls and Webcasting Sennheiser’s new D 10 Series wireless headset was created specially for office professionals who use either a desk phone or a softphone/PC for their calls. D 10 Series headsets provide exceptional sound quality and a streamlined design that brings DECT headset solutions within reach of even more business users. Together with Sennheiser’s existing wireless DECT portfolio of DW and SD headsets, the D 10 Series delivers the benefits of wireless freedom and flexible working to contact centers, large and small offices and unified communications environments.
The D 10 Series is comprised of the Sennheiser D 10 Phone, a single-sided wireless DECT headset for direct connection to desk phones; the Sennheiser D 10 USB ML, a single-sided wireless DECT headset which works on a ‘plug and play’ basis with Microsoft Lync; and the Sennheiser D 10 USB, a single-sided wireless DECT headset that connects directly to softphone/PC and is suitable for unified communications environments.
The D 10 Series uses a noise-canceling microphone and a design that offers 2-in-1 wearing style (headband or ear hook) and ensures user comfort suitable for day-long use. Focusing on user needs, the headsets include ‘one touch’ call management, ActiveGard hearing protection against acoustic shock, and headsets being chargeable to 50 percent of full battery life in only 20 minutes. In addition, all variants provide 8 hours of wideband talk time (12 hours for narrow band) and long distance talk range — up to 55 meters (180 feet) in a typical office building and 180 meters (590 feet) with line of sight.
The D 10 Series’ single connectivity to either a desk phone or softphone/PC makes it simple to roll out and install ‘plug and play’-style, ensuring a perfect headset solution for all sizes of companies. For audio conferencing requirements, users can pair up to three additional headsets with one base station, while they can pair unlimited numbers for hot-desking needs. In addition, the D 10 USB variants have a built-in ringer with three ring tones and adjustable call volume.
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Liberty AV Solutions Releases DL-USB2 Long-line Extenders Liberty AV Solutions is shipping their new DigitaLinx Hi-Speed USB extender, the DL-USB2.
Liberty says the DigitaLinx DL-USB2 products will extend a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 signal (480 Mbps) up to 100 meters (328 feet). The modular extenders may be powered on either end for low power devices such as keyboards or mice. For remote devices which require more power, the client side extender will require to be powered.
Initial offerings in the product line include a modular USB host transmitter (DL-USB2-H), a modular USB client receiver (DL-USB2-C), a wall plate USB host transmitter (DL-USB2-WP-H) and a wall plate USB receiver (DL-USB2-WP-C). All combinations of host and client are compatible with each other.
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FSR Ships HDBaseT 70-Meter Transmitter/Receiver Set FSR has started shipping its new HD-H70-SP HDBaseT Extender Set. The extenders are designed to send uncompressed full HD digital HDMI video, audio and IR and RS-232 control signals up to 70-meters via a single CAT-5e / CAT-6 / CAT-6A / CAT-7 cable. Input resolutions include 4K (2160p @30 Hz), 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p, 576i and 480i.
Powered from a single power supply via bi-directional PoE, the extenders can control the source from the display’s location or vice versa via the IR pass-through or bi-directional RS-232 control functions. The compact unit measures 5.3” wide x 3.0” long x 0.6” high. The package ships with a transmitter, receiver, power supply, four mounting ears, two IR emitter cables and two IR receiver cables.
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Christie Expands 1-Chip DLP Lineup With Q Series Additions Christie has added three new projectors to their Christie Q Series family. The new so-called “whisper-quiet” Christie DWX851-Q, Christie DHD851-Q and Christie DWU851-Q models deliver 7900, 7500 and 7900 ANSI lumens, respectively, and are usable in either single or dual-lamp mode. Operational in portrait or landscape setup and suitable for auditoriums, board and conference rooms, government, video mapping, rental staging and more, the three new models provide 2500:1 contrast ratio, Christie eClarity for improved control over image sharpness, gloss and shading, and built-in High Dynamic Contrast Range (HDCR) that eliminates image washout in high ambient light conditions while preserving image clarity.
With two color wheels built-in, users can select the one that best suits their content and application. The High-Brightness color wheel provides superior whites for enhanced graphic presentations while the Ultra-Rich color wheel delivers an expanded color gamut and lifelike images. The Q Series is equipped with a software function that allows for easy switching between the color wheels.
Features of Christie DWX851-Q, Christie DHD851-Q, and Christie DWU851-Q include:
- Two HDMI inputs
- Dual 350W UHP lamps
- Christie eClarity and HDCR
- Built in Ultra-Rich and High Brightness color wheels
- HDBaseT
- Portrait mode capable
- Edge blending and Geometric correction
- DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) Simulation Mode for training
- Status monitor display
- Motorized zoom, focus and lens shift with memory
- PC-less presentation
- Black or white design
- 3G-SDI (HD model only)
Christie Q Series models ship this month. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Sennheiser’s Digital 9000 Series Now has a Dante Card Sennheiser has announced the availability of its Dante card for the EM 9046 receiver that makes the Digital 9000 wireless microphone system, capable of being integrated into Dante audio-over-IP networks. Also available as free downloads are the associated new Digital 9000 firmware version 3.0.3 and the new Wireless Systems Manager 4.2 with a set of optimized monitoring functions.
The EM 9046 DAN extension card is inserted into the expansion slot of the EM 9046 eight-channel receiver. Internally, the card features sixteen audio inputs to send the digital audio and command signals over the Dante network. Connection is via two Gbit RJ45 sockets that serve to either establish two redundant network circuits or daisy-chain the signals. The card works with sampling rates of 44.1/48/88.2 and 96 kHz at a resolution of 24 bits.
The new firmware version 3.0.3 for Digital 9000 can be downloaded free of charge here. With this firmware update, the receiver’s clock menu will be expanded to include a “MAN” (multichannel audio network) option, enabling the receiver to synchronize to the word clock of the Dante network.
Additional benefits of the new firmware version include the monitoring of up to four daisy-chained receivers via any of the receivers’ monitoring outputs and the automatic assignment of frequencies after a scan. Engineers are now also able to scan just a 24 MHz portion of the spectrum instead of the entire booster range of 168 MHz. This increases speed in critical frequency situations.
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Crestron Ships 3-Series 4K DigitalMedia Presentation SystemNow shipping, the new Crestron 3-Series 4K DigitalMedia Presentation System (DMPS3-4K-150-C) combines Crestron’s DigitalMedia technology with a built-in IP-based 3-Series Control System, a 10×1 4K multimedia switcher, mic mixer and audio DSP.
With its built-in 3-Series Control System, the DMPS3-4K-150-C is a network appliance with high-speed Ethernet connectivity and enterprise-level security. AV Framework enables the DMPS3-4K-150-C to directly communicate with Crestron Fusion enterprise management software, right out of the box. Crestron says that all connected rooms across the organization can be centrally monitored and controlled from a single dashboard — all without any custom programming.
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Kramer Debuts VS-211HA HDMI Auto-SwitcherKramer has announced the VS-211HA, a two-input HDMI auto switcher that can be set to select between autoswitching (last-connected or priority) and manual switching modes (manual and manual override). VS-211HA detects actual HDMI signals (instead of just 5V presence) allowing auto switching only to sources actually in use. HDMI 5V output turns off when no inputs are connected to enable cascaded setups and to let displays go into sleep mode.
The Kramer VS-211HA offers full signal re-clocking and parallel analog audio and HDMI switching. VS-211HA also features HEC, ARC and 3D pass-through and supports full HD video up to 6.75Gbps (2.25Gbps per graphic channel). In addition, it has PC audio ports for separate switching of 3.5-millimeter audio.
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