Volume 9, Issue 3 — March 26, 2015
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Crew Call
- E=AV2
Joel Rollins : rAVe Columnist
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E=AV2
By Joel Rollins rAVe Columnist
“The difference between Stupidity and Genius is that Genius has limits.” – Albert Einstein
This month, I open with a favorite quote. And this is not just because I get paid by the word. If that were true, I would’ve used a much longer quote.
I do it because I am lazy.
Now, I am not ashamed of being lazy. The world is changed by lazy men (and women) looking for easier and faster ways to do things. And, believe it or not, one of the foremost of those lazy people was Albert Einstein.
Now, there were some very good reasons that Einstein spent a lot of his time staring out the window, doodling on a scratchpad. In fact, as an interesting aside, after he was brought to the Institute for Higher Studies at Princeton University, escaping the Holocaust, he was asked what he considered the most amazing thing he had found in America. His answer? Colored pencils.
So Einstein spent a lot of his time performing physics experiments in his head. This was largely because of two factors: First, no instrumentation existed at the time to actually perform physical experiments in the field of physics that he pioneered. There were no electron microscopes, no particle accelerators, no ultrahigh speed sensors, etc. In fact, there was no physical evidence at all of many of the things that he was experimenting with. So almost all of the experiments that won him the Nobel Prize were performed in his head as “thought experiments.” He maintained that he would literally set up “experiments,” in his mind, where he had the ability to “see” atoms and subatomic particles. He would then “perform” the experiment in his head, note the results, and attempt to verify them mathematically. The second reason? A “thought experiment” can be performed much, much faster than a “real world” experiment.
Now, in my own “thought experiment” with this article, I can hear a number of you out there saying, “Joel, you’re no Einstein.”
Granted.
But even at the non-genius, non-subatomic level at which I work, there is a place for the “thought experiment.” Think about it: There is a type of experiment that we are called upon to perform often in our business. It is something that is often done under pressure, that we have little time to achieve, and which usually determines the outcome of the rest of our day. It’s called troubleshooting. It’s something that is done much faster in your head than in the real world (and is much easier on your knees and elbows).
In teaching any of the many classes that I have taught for InfoComm and my other professional associations, I have always maintained that it is much faster to troubleshoot in your head than it is to swap out components. However, absent a logical thought process for troubleshooting, most technicians, especially new technicians, begin the troubleshooting process by swapping out cables and components. I maintain that if you find yourself doing it this way, you are already lost. A favorite “war story” of mine comes from a very large Association meeting in which one of my lead audio technicians was setting up a very complex microphone arrangement. It was one of those Association meetings with a head table of around 56 (approximately equal to the number in the audience), each of whom had to have a microphone. This, as usual, was a political decision on the part of the Association, rather than an audio decision. But, that aside, we were about 30 minutes out from show and had noted a buzzing sound that came and went in the audio system. The client, a new meeting manager, was extremely nervous about this, and came into the hallway to find me. Rather breathlessly, she told me that there was a problem with the sound system, and she was worried because my lead audio technician seem to just be standing in the middle of the room. Without even checking, I told her, “that would be because he is thinking — which is just what you want him to be doing right now.” (N.b.: Obviously, he immediately solved the problem, or this would be a story that I would be trying to forget rather than quoting it in an article).
So, over the next couple of columns we will explore the idea of visualization and thought experiments in troubleshooting. Over the last 20 years, I have attempted to follow the process of a number of technicians that were the best at this, and define a process for it. That process goes like this:
visualize-eliminate-test-solve-repeat
Next month, we will look at some actual examples in an effort to help each of you to find their process and streamline their troubleshooting time.
However, before we do, it might interest you to know that the “thought experiment” is in fact a defined logical process:
A thought experiment or Gedankenexperiment (from German) considers some hypothesis, theory, or principle for the purpose of thinking through its consequences. Given the structure of the experiment, it may or may not be possible to actually perform it, and if it can be performed, there need be no intention of any kind to actually perform the experiment in question. (Via Wikipedia)
So we’ll see you next month, when I and a couple of longtime colleagues will help define structured method for troubleshooting in your head.
(Note: Unfortunately, none of my thought experiments have ever been able to help me talk an Association executive out of trying to have 56 open microphones in a room.) Leave a Comment
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Bose Professional Expands ControlSpace Dante-Enabled Products Bose Professional has expanded its range of Dante-enabled ControlSpace offerings with several new Dante endpoints and a new fixed-I/O DSP, providing integrators more options for creating installed audio solutions using Dante. The new ControlSpace products — ESP-1600 engineered sound processor; EP22-D and EP40-D endpoints; and WP22B-D and WP22BU-D wall plates — were designed to allow for Dante connectivity in houses of worship, classrooms, conference centers, hotel meeting and ballrooms, sporting and live performance venues and others.
The ControlSpace ESP-1600 extends the line of Bose fixed-I/O engineered sound processors with a new model designed for up to 16 analog inputs. The ESP-1600 features a built-in ESPLink output for sending eight digital audio channels to one or more PowerMatch amplifiers and when combined with a Dante card, the ESP-1600 becomes a powerful, high-quality and cost effective input processor (e.g. stage box) for Dante network distribution.
ControlSpace Dante endpoints, including the EP22-D 2-in/2-out Dante endpoint, EP40-D 4-input Dante endpoint, WP22B-D 2-in/2-out Dante wall plate and WP22BU-D 2-in/2-out Dante wall plate, complement Bose ControlSpace ESP products and PowerMatch lines and share configuration and control using ControlSpace Designer software. ControlSpace Dante endpoints, combined with ControlSpace ESP products and PowerMatch amplifiers, allow installers to create Dante-enabled systems of nearly any size, in either new installations or when retrofitting existing systems. Available in wall-box and rack/wall-mount versions enabling installation in various locations (surface, table, shelf, rack), Bose ControlSpace Dante endpoints are convenient and cost-effective for connecting analog devices like microphones and mixer amps.
Also, the company’s ControlSpace Designer software has been updated to version 4.2 to support the ControlSpace Dante endpoints and the ESP-1600 processor.
Here are all the tech details. Leave a Comment
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Extron Ships Six Input, Four Output Audio Expansion Processor with AEC and Dante Extron is shipping the AXP 64 C AT, an audio expansion processor with six mic/line inputs and four line outputs for remote connectivity to a Dante-enabled DMP 128 audio system. It is used to place six mic/line sources onto a Dante audio network, and route any four Dante channels from the network to an amplifier or other destination. The AXP 64 C AT features Extron ProDSP with gain, filtering, and dynamics processing for all inputs and outputs. Four of the inputs also include AEC, 48 volt phantom power, and dedicated control ports for mic control. FlexInputs offer the additional capability to process Dante channels in place of the first four local inputs. A single Ethernet cable from one AXP 64 C AT, or several linked units, to a central equipment rack greatly reduces the effort and expense of pulling one cable for each endpoint.
The AXP 64 C AT includes four independent channels of AEC with advanced algorithms for fast convergence and optimal intelligibility in conferencing applications. The AEC-enabled inputs also offer FlexInput capability to route a Dante channel through the processor in place of a local mic/line input. The flexible input selection enables the AXP 64 C AT to process audio from remote wireless microphones, wallplates, and other sources from anywhere on the Dante network.
In an installation with a large number of mics, the AXP 64 C AT audio expansion processor places audio signals onto the Dante audio network using standard IP networking. Signals are received as expansion inputs at one or more DMP 128 AT processors. A sound system designer can incorporate several AXP 64 C AT or Extron AXP 50 C AT audio expansion processors to create a large mixing matrix with up to 56 remote inputs and 24 outputs per DMP 128 AT using the built-in four-port Gigabit switch. This greatly simplifies scalability and the audio cabling infrastructure by avoiding long analog mic cable runs. To further simplify the audio cabling infrastructure, the AXP 64 C AT converts four channels from the Dante network to line level audio signals, processes them, and routes the optimized audio to local sound reinforcement systems.
All the detailed specs are her. Leave a Comment
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Lumens Intros New VS-LC101 Compact CaptureVision Lecture Capture Station Lumens Integration today introduced the VS-LC101 CaptureVision lecture capture station. The VS-LC101 can capture up to four different signals while synchronously recording, broadcasting and streaming up to 1080p.
The VS-LC101 CaptureVision Station is compatible with HDMI, VGA and RJ45 (networked content) and it can capture and record each of the inputs synchronously in the classroom, including Full-HD network cameras, a PowerPoint presentation from a laptop while using a document camera, digital microscope and DVD player, for example.
Lumens’ claims that a proprietary so-called, Signal Separation Technology, allows the flexibility of a single or dual source front stage (live lecture) display while simultaneously performing multi-source and multi-screen recording.
The VS-LC101 CaptureVision Station comes with an internal GUI and a remote control. The administrator of the CaptureVision can comletely control it either live or remotely via the network.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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tvONE’s Voyager USB 2.0 Fiber Optic Extender Ships tvONE has just started shipping its new Voyager USB 2.0 Fiber Optic Extender that allows extension of USB 2.0 up to 500 meters from a computer using multi-mode fiber. Distances up to 10KM can be reached using single-mode fiber and upgraded SFPs. The Voyager USB 2.0 Fiber Optic KVM extender is two units: the CPU Transceiver and the Remote Transceiver.
The Voyager USB is designed for extending USB peripherals including keyboards, mice, interactive whiteboards, touchscreens, flash drives, hard drives, audio devices, cameras and any other USB device across a dedicated multi-mode or single-mode fiber connection. And each pair can accommodate up to 14 different USB devices at one time. When used in combination with Magenta Voyager Matrix routers, such as the VG-48 and VG-160, designers can build remote managed computer/video applications with thousands of endpoints on a security-isolated fiber infrastructure over a 10km radius.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Apogee Announces Compatibility with Logic Pro X Audio Interface ControlsApogee has announced the availability of new software installers that provide compatibility with the audio interface remote controls recently introduced in Logic Pro X 10.1 and Logic Remote 1.2. Now Logic users with Apogee Duet, ONE, Quartet, Ensemble or Symphony I/O can adjust hardware input parameters directly from the Mixer view in Logic Pro X and Logic Remote, including mic pre gain, input type selection, phase control and more. This simplified user experience lets Logic users focus on a single session window when recording, and offers complete visibility and control of input parameters.
These same input controls are also now accessible through the Logic Remote App on iPad, enabling Apogee users to wirelessly adjust their input levels and settings from anywhere in the studio. Drummers can adjust mic pres without having to get up from behind the kit, engineers can do a line check while still setting up mics, and home musicians recording themselves can switch between a microphone and directly connected instrument without having to be in front of their computers.
All the details are here. Leave a Comment
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BenQ Launches New 5,000 Lumen SU917 ProjectorBenQ America has introduced its new SU917 Colorific projector aimed at large venues.
Featuring 5,000 lumens of brightness, high 7000:1 contrast ratio and WUXGA resolution, BenQ’s all-new SU917 projector equips presenters with content-display capabilities that make images fly off the screen, even in rooms with ambient light. Incredibly easy to set up, the device’s 1.5x big zoom lens provides a wider throw distance range while vertical lens shift capabilities — 120 percent to 145 percent — reduce the need to make frequent adjustments to the projector’s placement. To further facilitate installations, the projector’s 2D keystone (+/- 30) lets users easily align images while corner fit allows installers to adjust the four corners of any projection manually by setting both horizontal and vertical values. A hotkey directly on the remote walks users through a seamless setup process.
Equipped with MHL technology, the SU917 enables streaming and mirroring capabilities for users’ handheld devices, allowing presenters or participants to transfer small-screen content to the big screen directly from any portable unit. For added flexibility, the projector features Wireless Display for cable-free connections to content sources. When paired with BenQ’s QPresenter Pro app, users can transfer files from both iPhone and iPad devices.
Featuring BenQ’s energy-saving SmartEco technology, the SU917 automatically adjusts lamp power by up to 70 percent in order to apply just the right level of brightness. To further increase power savings, an “Eco Blank” mode allows presenters to blank out the screen whenever a source isn’t detected for more than three minutes. For quick rebooting whenever the projector is accidentally switched off, an Instant Restart feature lets users immediately reactivate the SU917 during 90 seconds where power is maintained at 30 percent.
BenQ’s SU917 projector is now shipping. All the specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Registration Now Open for InfoComm 2015 in OrlandoRegistration is open for the top ProAV show in North America, InfoComm. This year’s event will be held in Orlando from 13-19 June with exhibits being open the 17-19 June. You can register here.
AV pros, tech managers, integrators and manufacturers attend the InfoComm show for the same reasons: to see and interact with what’s new; to learn the ins and outs of the industry; and to connect with people who are as passionate about what they do as you are.
Not sure if you should attend? Well, check out our MicroSite from InfoComm 2014 where we posted over 1500 new product videos, over 2000 photos of booths, recorded over 25 live podcasts and wrote over 300 blogs and new product news stories. After looking at that, how can you NOT come?
This is the flagship commercial AV show and it’s held in one of America’s most fun cities: Orlando. Please come to InfoComm — register here. Leave a Comment
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Audio-Technica Ships System 10 PRO Rack-Mount Digital Wireless SystemAudio-Technica is now shipping its new System 10 PRO Rack-Mount Digital Wireless System, the latest addition to the A-T System 10 wireless solutions. Like all System 10 models, the System 10 PRO Rack-Mount operates in the 2.4 GHz range, keeping it free not only from TV interference but also from the uncertain regulatory future facing the TV bands. Its durable rack-mount chassis houses one or two receiver units that can be operated locally within the chassis or be removed and mounted remotely (up to 300 feet away) via Ethernet cable. This groundbreaking approach to delivering wireless increases the versatility of the system while also greatly enhancing wave propagation – without the substantial expense of adding an antenna distributor and corresponding cables. Additionally, up to five System 10 PRO chassis (10 receivers) can be linked together using the RJ12 cable included with each system, creating a stable multichannel system with the simultaneous use of up to 10 channels.
The chassis’ LCD Dual System Display shows RF signal level, system ID, transmitter battery level, and system link status for both channels. Like all the products in the System 10 wireless family, the PRO Rack-Mount features 24-bit/48 kHz wireless operation, easy setup, clear, natural sound quality, and three levels of diversity assurance: frequency, time, and space. Frequency Diversity sends the signal on two dynamically allocated frequencies (with automatic frequency selection) for seamless, interference-free operation. Time Diversity sends the signal in multiple time slots to maximize immunity to multi-path interference. Space Diversity uses two antennas on each transmitter and receiver to maximize signal integrity. A ground-lift switch helps eliminate audible hum caused by ground loops.
Each System 10 PRO Rack-Mount system includes an ATW-RC13 receiver chassis, one or two ATW-RU13 receiver units, one or two AT8690 receiver-unit mounting brackets, one RJ12 cable, two rack mounting brackets, one joining plate, one AC adapter, and one or two ATW-T1001 UniPak body-pack and/or ATW-T1002 handheld transmitters. Both the receiver chassis and transmitters feature easy-to-read displays.
System 10 PRO is available in these configurations:
- ATW-1301 Single Channel Bodypack System $599.00
- ATW-1301/L Single Channel Bodypack System w/ Lav $699.99
- ATW-1302 Single Channel Handheld System $629.00
- ATW-1311 Dual Channel Bodypack System $1,059.00
- ATW-1311/L Dual Channel Bodypack System w/ Lav $1,259.00
- ATW-1312 Dual Channel BP/HH System $1,089.00
- ATW-1312/L Dual Channel BP/HH System w/ Lav $1,189.00
- ATW-1322 Dual Channel Handheld System $1,119.00
All the tech details are here. Leave a Comment
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Adamson to Launch New S-Series Line Array Family Adamson Systems Engineering just launched its new S-Series a sub-compact line array system, which consists of the S10 line array enclosure, S119 subwoofer, Blueprint AV and the E-rack, Adamson’s new unified rack solution.
The S10 is a two-way, full range, sub-compact line array enclosure ideal for mid-size arenas, theaters, churches and dance clubs, as well as outdoor festivals. It is loaded with two newly designed 10” ND10-LM Kevlar Neodymium low frequency drivers and an NH4TA2 1.5” exit high frequency compression driver mounted to a wave shaping sound chamber which produces a slightly curved wavefront with a nominal dispersion pattern of 110° x 10° (H x V). The compact solution — 265/10.4 x 737/29 x 526/207 (mm/in) — weighs in at a mere 27/60 (kg/lbs).
Due to extensive boundary element testing, the chamber exhibits increased vertical response with minimal sacrifice of high frequency energy in the far field. The S10 offers tremendous output (max peak SPL 141.3 dB) for such a compact enclosure.
The overall sonic characteristic of the S10 enclosure is amazingly clean due to Adamson’s patent-pending Controlled Summation Technology — a design method that brings the LF drivers as close together as possible, while symmetrically outwardly splaying them. Adams says the end result increases usable frequency range while decreasing summation at the crossover point, reducing interference. The LF drivers are also recessed behind the exit of the HF sound chamber, so as to not limit the size and shape. A small amount of delay aligns the lows to the high frequency energy, with some dynamic overlap control in place as well to diminish any remaining noticeable interference.
The companion S119 subwoofer is loaded with a light-weight, long excursion, 19” ND19 Kevlar Neodymium driver utilizing Adamson’s Advanced Cone Architecture and a 5” voice coil for exceptional power handling. It is mounted in an ultra-efficient front-loaded enclosure, designed to reproduce clean, musical low frequency information.
The cabinets for both the S10 and S119 enclosures are constructed out of marine grade birch plywood, aircraft grade steel and aluminum and feature SpeakonTM NL8 connectors. The S-Series utilizes Adamson’s new SlideLock Rigging System which allows angles to be set prior to lifting, which then fall into place when weight is taken. A stacking pin is also present to maintain proper enclosure angles when ground stacked. The S10 enclosure is also available as the S10i, utilizing a plated rigging system for permanent installation. The S10i’s slimmed down rigging reduces the weight and cost of the enclosure.
Here are the S-Series specs. Leave a Comment
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Bryston Expands BIT Lineup of AC Power Isolation Devices Bryston has launched the new BIT (Bryston Isolation Transformer) models aimed at larger applications. The new 45- and 60-amp models feature a 220/240-volt input with a 120-volt output and are available with or without AVR technology (Automatic Voltage Regulation). In addition to these new models, all BIT products will now be available with standard rack-mount faceplates, making them ideally suited for larger residential and commercial installations.
Bryston says the BIT product lineup was developed to address the need for an AC power device that accomplished three key objectives: power line conditioning, isolation and non-MOV-based protection. Existing models include 5-, 15- and 20-amp versions, now available with either 17-inch standard faceplates or 19-inch rack-mount faceplates.
Bryston’s new BIT products are already shipping and range in list prices from $5,900-$8,900.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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Harbinger Announces 14-Channel LP9800 Powered Mixer Harbinger’s new LP9800 is 14-channel powered mixer, part of its LvL series, that provides 800 watts of power. Users are able to drive stereo mains, split the power to handle both mains and monitors, or deliver all 800 watts in Mono Bridge mode. Each power-amp channel (mains and monitors) has a level control and a 5-segment LED input meter so you can check levels at a glance.
Line-level preamp outputs are provided for feeding powered stereo main and mono monitor speakers, so Harbinger says the LP9800 works great with virtually any speaker system. A pair of 1/4-inch line-level inputs let you route stereo signals directly to the amplifier.
You get 14 input channels with nine XLR microphone inputs and 1/4″ TRS balanced line inputs-each with a -25 dB pad, rumble filter, and clip indicator-plus three stereo channels with XLR mic and 1/4″ TS inputs, and a total of 14 line inputs. That’s easily enough to mix and manage sound for an entire band. Every input channel has a three-band EQ, effects send, and aux send. Globally switched, +48 volt phantom power serves all microphone inputs.
Dual, 9-band graphic EQ lets you shape the main or monitor mix. RCA Aux In and Aux Out jacks can route break music from a CD/MP3 player, send the main mix to a recording device, and more.
A 24-bit, stereo, digital effects processor delivers studio-grade reverb, delays and various other effects, complete with a Quick Parameter control, on/off switch, and 16 performance-ready presets. The effects can be routed to both the mains and the monitors, with separate level controls. You even get a jack for an effects-bypass footswitch (not included).
It lists for $349 and all the specs are here. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe Rental [and Staging] 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 me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas, Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue, which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
Everything we publish is Opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship ePublication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA and launched in February 2004, is, by far, the largest ePub in 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
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