Thank you for joining us in our new adventure, rAVe Rental [and Staging]. Once a month, we’ll bring you some of the latest product news, some links to other stories of interest and, of course, an editorial by our always-entertaining columnist, Joel Rollins. Please forward this on to your colleagues and help us spread the word! That way, we get to keep it free for you. And if you have feedback, you’ll find the email for Editor-in-Chief Denise Harrison at the bottom of this newsletter. We’d love to hear from you! Enjoy the issue! Gary Kayye, CTS
Thanks to our sponsor, Da-Lite Screen Company
Crew Call By Joel Rollins Welcome to the first edition of rAVe for the Rental and Staging segment of our industry. I’m excited to be part of this effort, and I’m really looking forward to developing it into the kind of forum for ideas that our craft has needed for a long time. What makes rAVe R&S needed? We recognize that the rental and staging part of our business is very different from all the other areas. There are lots of publications in the audio visual industry, and even a few in the rental and staging segment. I write a monthly column for a very good one called Rental and Staging Systems, and there are a number of others. But the rental end of our business is difficult to completely address in traditional publications. Things change quickly, and many issues are subject to multiple interpretations. In traditional publications, the necessity of meeting publication deadlines means that late-breaking information is left until the next issue. Traditional magazines address topics in depth, and thus must try to pick topics only of universal interest. In this new edition of rAVe, we hope to address topics of the minute, and to create an open forum for the many diverse members of our industry. We want to keep this short, to the point, and immediate – just like the other rAVe e-zines.What kind of topics will we address? Everything we can, as long as it’s important to the rental community. We’ll talk about products and procedures, about big issues with personnel and small ones with projectors. We’ll be opinionated – not necessarily right, but opinionated, and we encourage our readers to contribute their views on anything we take up. We intend to open discussions in a business full of individualists. I think a sense of community among the people in our business is important. For the last 20 years, I’ve spent a significant amount of my time writing and teaching in many industry programs, such as the InfoComm Academy and Institute for Professional Development. I’ve gotten to work closely with a lot of the “movers and shakers” in the AV business, and share ideas and questions with some of the smartest people in the industry. It’s taught me a lot, and allowed me to make a lot of very talented friends, among them people like Gary Kayye, who asked me to get involved in this. I’ll be asking a lot of them to contribute opinions and ideas to this edition of rAVe. Gary and I see a lot of things differently – in fact, we enjoy arguing about them. But we see eye-to-eye on the idea that we as an industry need to work together to create our future. In coming issues, we’ll address many of the difficult topics of the rental and staging business, from both technical and industry viewpoints. We’ll try to do so with a completely open mind, and to be unafraid to ask the really tough questions. I hope that you’ll get involved, too. When you see something that you question, or that you agree with, you can contact me at the email address below, and I encourage you to do so. Those of you who subscribe to this newsletter will also get an invitation to join our blog, where we’ll continue the discussion in more detail. In the meantime, get prepared to really open up the talk in our next issue, “What’s Wrong with the Rental Business?” Talk to you soon. JRR
Christie Introduces Ultra Bright 3LCD Projector Aimed for the Staging Market It is the Christie LX1500, which uses 11 optional lenses to support a variety of placements in virtually any show. And the lens suite is compatible with ALL the previous Christie LX120 and Christie LX100 models! And, the LX1500 includes motorized vertical and horizontal offset. Topping off this killer light engine is a range of optional input modules, including digital blending/warping, SDI, and HD-SDI. And all the standard video, computer and HD input standards used in any staging environment. For more information, go to http://www.christiedigital.com/AMEN/Microsites/LX1500.htm
New Matrix Switcher for HDMI Signals From Kramer Have you seen Kramer’s catalog lately? They trot out new products every month – lots of them directly applicable to rental and staging. In a recent announcement, Kramer Electronics says the company is shipping the new VS-42HDMI Matrix Switcher for HDMI signals. The 4×2 switcher offers signal optimization and EDID data capabilities. Kramer designed the feature set and small frame size for applications such as HD-equipped conference, advertising, or rental and staging environments. The switcher is compatible with all HDTV signal types and features Kramer re-Klocking and equalization technology that rebuilds the signal allowing it to travel longer distances. The VS-42HDMI is able to route any or all inputs to any or all outputs simultaneously and supports HDCP (High Definition Digital Content Protection). The VS-42HDMI matrix switcher routes HDMI 1.1 signals up to 1.65Gbps bandwidth per graphic channel. Kramer uses a sophisticated and unique EDID handling mechanism to make installation and operation of HDMI devices a “plug and play” experience. EDID data allows the output device to describe its capabilities to the HDMI source, providing the VS-42HDMI with key information about the monitors connected to the outputs. The VS-42HDMI captures the output device’s EDID information and stores it in a non-volatile memory. The user can recall this setting or a factory default EDID of 720p if one is not stored. This allows a convenient and reliable connection to the source. The VS-42HDMI is controlled locally using the front panel buttons: four input buttons and an off button corresponding to each of the two outputs. A Panel Lock button on the front panel provides the security. Price is $1,495. For more information, go to http://kramer-us.com/indexes/item.asp?name=VS-42HDMIDa-Lite Introduces Heavy Duty Fast-Fold Deluxe Screen with Foldable Black Backed Da-Mat Material The screen is seamless up to 16’ high, and surfaces include Da-Mat, Da-Tex, High Contrast Da-Tex, Pearlescent, Cinema Vision and Dual Vision. One new and unique feature is that it now comes with a foldable black backed material. This gives you portability AND the opacity needed for a great image quality. For more information, go to http://www.dalite.com/whats_hot/index.php?wID=152 Analog Way Debuts High End Video Controller for Large Events/Staging The Axion Controller has a 7 inch, WVGA Color touch panel, USB connection for configuration and setup, control for up to six screen configurations, customizable and user configurable presets, and a joystick with direct effects access. For more information, go to http://www.analogway.com/products/product.php?Product=65
Check Out These Staging Case Studies Gulfstream Park Installs Kramer Electronics and Sierra Video Solutions for HD Video Installation Barco Surrounds Stadium Audience in 360° Projection at Opening Gala of Ormen Lange Gas Field Christie and Vista Bring To Life New Zealand’s Virtual Experience For Rugby World Cup 2007
Well, that's it for this edition of rAVe! Thank you for spending time with me as we muse the industry's happenings. To continue getting my newsletter, or to sign up a friend, click the link below. To send me feedback, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write to me at gkayye@kayye.com or for editorial: Denise Harrison at dharrison@kayye.com A little about me: Gary Kayye, CTS, founder of Kayye Consulting. Gary Kayye, an audiovisual veteran and columnist, began the widely-read KNews, a premier industry newsletter, in the late 1990s, and created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which later became InfoComm IQ. Kayye Consulting is a company that is committed to furthering the interests and success of dealers, manufacturers, and other companies within the professional audiovisual industry. Gary Kayye's rAVe was launched in February 2003. rAVe Home Edition co-sponsored by CEDIA launched in February, 2004. To read more about my background, our staff, and what we do, go to http://www.kayye.com Copyright 2007 – Kayye Consulting – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact Kayye Consulting, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 425 – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – 919/969-7501. Email: dharrison@kayye.com Gary Kayye's rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors.
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