Volume 12, Issue 17 — September 5, 2014
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Editorial
- Bad Hoc
Joel Rollins : rAVe Columnist Editorial Editorial Editorial
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Industry News
Audio
Displays Control & Signal Processing
Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
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Bad Hoc
By Joel Rollins
rAVe Columnist
Sometimes, in my role as the general manager of a small AV company dealing with large clients, and being part of planning both their permanent installations and their events, I stand at a crossroads that can give me some perspective. Or get me hit by a car. The key for me, and for all of us, is to look around and understand that we are standing in that crossroads.
I think I’m in one now.
If you pay attention to the industry press, and to your clients, you will discover that there is a rift developing between their normal meetings, held in their own meeting spaces, and their events. And if 30 years in the business have taught me anything, it’s that these differences eventually must be worked out. The big difference is that their internal meetings become more and more free-form, more and more an event of collaboration than of information distribution, and that the agendas are more and more driven by the participants. On top of that, these agendas become less detailed and less meaningful as meetings become more events that are self driven between peers. On top of that, these agendas and the meeting materials themselves become more driven by contribution, in the style of each contributor — meaning that they come in the form of various forms of social media, Google docs, office online, etc. And often in order to look at these materials you have to go to various sites, meaning that they are never truly combined and never truly coherent.
I’m all for this. In installations, I am a big proponent of the bring your own device trend. I love it when a conference room is flexible enough to let everyone work in their own way. I love the trend towards huddle spaces, equipped for small meetings to break out at any time, using whatever materials the attendees want, with no preparation. If I watch what my clients are doing, their spaces are becoming less meeting spaces and more ad hoc collaboration spaces all the time.
Is that a car I hear bearing down on me in the crossroads?
As this becomes more part of company culture, I believe that we will see it change their external events and large events as well. I’m seeing some of it now.
Large events depend on planning. Period. But I am now seeing events being planned using social media threads, and with more and more ad hoc time being not only accepted, but demanded. Recently, I was sent all of the outlines for meeting using one cloud-based system, and material submitted on three more. The idea of the “show book” is becoming harder and harder to keep up with as guests, presenters, and attendees, each become used to tracking these things in their own way, developing their materials in their own way, and presenting them in their own way.
On top of that, the audience now gets into the act. All the time. There are very few meetings that I can think of recently that did not have constant comment going on via social media, often displayed on screens. Watching them go on, at times I feel that the audience is talking to each other more than to the presenters. This may be what they want, and with their internal meetings may be what they need. But the sudden changes in the meeting that are driven by these comments, and accepted by the presenters, can make it hard for a crew to follow.
Besides that, I guess that one of the problems that I have with it is that this trend tends to remove some of the things about meetings that I have enjoyed the most. In staging, we have always had a high theatrical element. We have stage sets, themes, skits, rehearsals, and a crew that knows what is going on at all times to achieve a desired effect. When the desired effect is ad hoc, what do we do with the show? How do we make the event something special?
And, as a longtime presenter, I have to ask the question, “Is ad hoc spontaneity a substitute for content?” Often, I get the comment “we don’t want too much agenda, because we want to encourage the free flow of ideas.” But all too often now, when I ask what is going to happen at a particular point in a meeting, I get the response that they don’t know yet.
Over the last year, I’ve seen more and more development of products designed for this type of spontaneous use in large meetings. There are now several systems for using smart phones for polling or even as microphone systems where anyone in the audience with a smart phone can talk. I’ve seen websites and cloud-based systems developed to capture meeting information among large groups. I’ve even seen professional facilitators spring up for holding these kinds of meetings.
So it has the opportunity to change the way large meetings work. It’s a curve we must stay out in front of, as inevitably some people will decide down the road that if meetings are going to be conducted this way anyway, the large event will become unnecessary. I don’t believe that is true, and I believe that the pendulum will swing back the other way as it always does. In the meantime, those of us in the rental and staging industry need to both stay ahead of the technology curve on this, and to be prepared to help clients get the most of these technologies, while reminding them what events are really all about.
Because the last thing we want is to be standing at the edge of the crossroads watching them go by. Leave a Comment
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Techno-Inversion: What It Means for Companies When Consumer Technology Comes First
By Christopher Jaynes
CTO and Founder, Mersive
I’m sitting in a midtown hotel lobby in New York surrounded by what I call a technology inversion. What’s that? Well, in general, the evolution of technology follows fairly predictable patterns. Large problems are given attention by large institutions (governments, academic communities, corporate research labs) and their solutions are then productized. These products are then utilized by these same large institutions until, much later, they find applications in small business, the home, and finally, the consumer space.
This is a familiar story and was how almost all of your technology landscape evolved: Your iPad is the product of ENIAC, an military industrial complex computer developed to better compute artillery trajectories. The same is true for your microwave oven, your toaster, the elevator, your radio and television and, of course, the Internet itself.
However, on rare occasions, a technology inversion occurs, and a fundamentally new capability finds its way into the hands of the consumer well before it has had impact in enterprise business or governments. Technology inversions are an exciting phenomena, and, when they occur, disruption and opportunity follows. It’s not often that large corporations find themselves using technology that is behind what is being deployed in the home, but when it happens, the companies that adapt the fastest create a huge advantage for themselves.
Take the example of Twitter. I’ve met a few individuals whose lucky jobs are to follow technology inversions and prepare their businesses to take advantage. One of these individuals, working at a fortune 50 company in 2007, adopted Twitter as a serious platform for marketing well ahead of the curve — a major coup.
Although technology inversions are occurring more often than in the past, they are still rare and each is very important. The 3D printer is inverting an entire industry related to prototype manufacturing and design.
So what inversion am I sitting in right now? Probably not a surprise to my readers that it’s wireless streaming of media to shared displays. The hotel lobby here has deployed an AppleTV and a group of eager business folks are reviewing a set of documents from a MacBook in an ad hoc meeting. This behavior and other consumer technologies for wireless media (I can watch HD TV anywhere on my home network using my tablet) have vastly outpaced what is available in the corporate conference room or institutional classroom where the single video cable still holds sway.
Inversions like these create disruption because expectations and behaviors are set outside of traditional mechanisms. If I can use my home ultra-HD television set to watch four channels at a time, and I can stream media from a mobile device to a display in a hotel common area — how am I going to sit through a meeting where only one person (the one with the video cable tethered to their laptop) is allowed to share media?
It’s an exciting time for how we share, use and collaborate around various media sources. If you’re an AV design consultant, an architect, or a collaboration specialist, embracing wireless streaming for the enterprise is an area that you’ll want to become familiar with. Just like other moments of technology inversions, there are already companies who have seen it as an opportunity and are looking to adopt. I’m on my way to meet with one of those companies right now who have told me they too see that the era of display-as-collaborative-infrastructure has arrived. Leave a Comment
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Driving Adoption of Visual Collaboration Technology
By David Danto Director Emerging Technologies, IMCCA
How much money are you wasting on technology today? Many technology products have failed at organizations (or in the marketplace) because its owner assumed it was just so cool that everyone would flock to using it. Regrettably, that’s just not reality. No matter how “cool” the technology may be people tend to keep doing whatever they’ve done all along — meaning nothing new will establish itself in an organization unless there is an active project to drive its use.
That’s exactly the story for visual collaboration and videoconferencing. This is a very powerful tool that organizations can use to transform the way they do business, but all of the predicted ROI and benefits don’t happen if the technology doesn’t get used.
What I frequently ask technology managers to do is compare the planning and effort used for implementing a technology (project managers, written plans, schedules, targets, metrics, timelines, recurring meetings, etc.) with the time and effort put into the usage and adoption plan. If they are not equal efforts then utilization will fall short of the ideal — and often far short — leading to disappointment and negative perceptions of what should be a great technology.
So what does a good visual collaboration usage and adoption plan look like? First of all, it puts the technology in a secondary role and leads with the people. Ask yourself, “Did your users have any input into selecting that video system or service you just bought and implemented?” If not, it represents a lost opportunity to drive adoption right from the beginning.
Creating a focus group that represents a cross section of your users and finding out what they are really thinking (not just what you think they are thinking) has tremendous value. A formal process to engage users before shopping for technology not only ensures that the products you select will be in line with actual needs, but it provides some other benefits as well:
- It serves as a “pressure-release valve” — so people do not let problems or bad perceptions build up.
- It inherently conveys a sense of worth and value to the users — which then leads them to be more open to adopting changes in process and technology (because they feel the end product was “developed by them.”)
- It begins to grow a group of “technology champions” that will be open to piloting new systems and spreading the word about their value.
Once you have completed that step you’re ready to develop a technology plan that actually meets your user’s needs. If you do so honestly you will conclude that no one product is the solution. Visual collaboration should be part of an organization’s entire Unified Communications strategy — providing the correct tool for each different application. Getting to that point requires a comprehensive User Segmentation plan. What are the various user groups that will interact with the collaboration technology (executives, managers, administrators, remote workers, team leaders, etc.?) Which tools will be appropriate for which groups and/or uses? How do you present that recommended tool information (as well as provide training) to each of the segments (which often requires different approaches to the varied user types?)
As you select the best technology to meet your now identified needs and let the implementation project follow its detailed steps, organizations should continue the formal work on the adoption plan in parallel. A well-developed plan will surely include some of the following elements:
- Benchmarking – What are realistic utilization goals and targets? What do you say when some senior executive calls a month after implementation and asks about utilization in his area. (Someone says “20 percent.” “Is that good?” Do you know? Does he?) The wrong time to be trying to figure out benchmarks is after you’ve gone live with your systems. You need to determine in advance what metrics you will track. Before the first device is purchased you should set 30/60/90/120 day targets that are realistic. Pre-plan automatic actions that kick in if you are over or under your expected numbers.
- On-boarding / Communications – How do you handle the “awareness” messaging? Who are your champions/evangelists? What kind of launch events can you create? How do you provide training materials for your identified user segments — each with different needs (one-on-one training, group training, Web instructions, on-demand video?) How do you continue to get your message out post launch?
- Policy Review – What things at your organization need to change now that your collaboration tools are available? How does one ask for a system or software? Who’s allowed to get which one? Will anything change in your room reservation process or your travel approval policy?
- Evaluation and Management – At some fixed point you need to take a long look at how it’s going. What do the metrics say? Are any adjustments needed? How is ROI looking? What can be improved?
As I stated earlier, getting these and other elements planned and executed correctly is as complex as the technology implementation itself. If you’ve never created an adoption management plan it is wise to reach out to service partner firms or specialists that have done so (with a track record of success), and can help create a plan customized for your organization’s needs.
As a final step, it’s a good idea to get your original focus group back together again to ask “How did we do?” and “Is there anything we can fix?” A solid, ITIL based strategy involves a continuous improvement cycle, and a collaboration technology implementation is no different. All aspects should continually be reviewed for opportunities to improve the service.
If a thorough and well thought out usage and adoption plan is implemented correctly, the increase in technology ROI and user satisfaction will more than cover the required investment of time and resources.
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This article was written by David Danto and contains solely his own, personal opinions. David has over three decades of experience providing problem solving leadership and innovation in media and unified communications technologies for various firms in the corporate, broadcasting and academic worlds including AT&T, Bloomberg LP, FNN, Morgan Stanley, NYU, Lehman Brothers and JP Morgan Chase. He now works with Dimension Data as their Principal Consultant for the collaboration, multimedia, video and AV disciplines. He is also the IMCCA’s Director of Emerging Technology. David can be reached at David.Danto@Dimensiondata.com or DDanto@imcca.org and his full bio and other blogs and articles can be seen at Danto.info. Please reach-out to David if you would like to discuss how he can help your organization solve problems, develop a future-proof collaboration strategy for internal use, or if you would like his help developing solid, user-focused go-to-market strategies for your collaboration product or service.
All images and links provided above as reference under prevailing fair use statutes.
This blog was reprinted with permission from David Danto and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Digital Signage Installations: Eight Lessons Learned
By Tracy Robertson ADFLOW Networks
With 14 years of experience managing complex digital signage rollouts for some of the largest retailers in North America, we have developed a few best practices along the way. Deploying digital signage is not just hanging screens — it is about integrating the digital experience into the DNA of a store’s design. From considerations around cabling to positioning media players and digital screens, here are some of the lessons we’ve learned that save time and money and ensure our clients get the most value from their investment.
1. A site survey streamlines the installation process.
Conducting a site survey before the installation identifies the right mount for the solution upfront. For example, in cases when a site survey isn’t done beforehand, the installer may not realize that the media player is going to be mounted on a cement wall, which requires a ceiling mount. The site survey also prevents problems with cabling; we’ve seen situations where clients must redo cabling because they didn’t factor in the impact of other electrical devices in the store and that can be costly.
2. The optimal location boosts the effectiveness of digital signage.
Attracting the attention of shoppers is key to a successful retail digital signage project. Unfortunately, when installing cabling the tendency is to just put the screen close to the power source which isn’t always the optimal location. Even if cables need to be changed or the power moved, it is important to take the time to determine the right screen location for the best impact. Understanding the goals behind the installation of the digital signage helps determine the proper placement. Before you install your screens, ask yourself “what behavior am I trying to encourage with these screens?” This simple question will force you to think through screen placement and store traffic patterns.
3. The right cabling set-up is critical.
When we arrive at locations where someone else has done the installation, often the cables are running here, there and everywhere and nothing is tied down. Cabling shouldn’t look like a spaghetti dinner. Taking the time to meticulously label and tie down each cable so it’s well organized will save time and avoid headaches in the long run. That way if you need to resolve a problem in the future, it’s easier to determine which cable is causing the issue.
4. Purpose-built media players enhance digital signage solutions.
We see people using a regular PC to deploy digital signage and then experiencing jittery content or issues with content that won’t play properly. Using media players that are purpose-built for digital signage and custom-designed for your applications provides greater reliability and better results.
5. All screens are not created equal.
Some people use consumer TVs for their digital signage solutions, however, home TVs are not meant to run 24/7 so they end up failing, which is costly. If you are serious about providing a superior customer experience, it pays to use commercial screens, which are designed to run continuously while maintaining a sharp, high quality picture.
6. Good communication is an essential part of the process.
We do a number of things to keep the lines of communication open including site surveys so everyone is on the same page about the project. Another critical activity we do on all installations is to create a wire diagram using a store layout and architectural drawings to detail the engineer’s designs for the mounting and placement of digital signage. When a technician goes to do the installation, they have a clearly laid-out plan of every engineered detail of the solution. In cases where a company has their own installation team, we provide instructions and direction.
7. A strong project plan helps mitigate risk.
Everyone involved should know what needs to get done, when, how and who is responsible. This will prevent problems such as components not arriving on time. If you are planning renovations, the project manager can coordinate them to dovetail perfectly with the digital signage installation to avoid extra costs. Perfect execution is critical. If a new store has a grand opening, sometimes there is a narrow window to get the installation done.
8. A support team is invaluable for resolving installation issues.
When you encounter issues, having access to a knowledgeable support team is critical. We have a remote online monitoring system that enables us to ensure the media player is working properly before the installation is completed. When issues arise, we can proactively reach out to resolve them before our customers even realize there’s a problem.
Image via Mathew5000 on Wikimedia Commons Leave a Comment
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270K Interactive Displays Sold in Q2 2014
Interactive whiteboards and interactive flat panel displays in the education and corporate sectors achieved close to 270,000 unit sales in Q2 2014, a similar volume to Q2 last year and a good pick up after a quiet Q1, according to the latest quarterly research from Futuresource Consulting.
“The product shift from interactive whiteboards to interactive flat panels is gaining momentum, but has yet to make the jump across to all countries,” says Colin Messenger, senior market analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “IFPD volumes are significant, accounting for one in every four displays sold globally. There were nine vendors showing IFPDs at the recent ISTE conference, which should also contribute to future growth.”
Asia Dominating, USA Subsiding, But at a Slower Rate
Asia bounced back in Q2 with an increase of 12 percent YoY, while China posted strong growth of 18 percent YoY. Asia still dominates the market with sales of over 150,000, which accounted for two thirds of the global share. Asia is forecast to remain the largest region for the next five years with over 40 percent share in 2018.
USA sales almost reached 50,000 displays, an 11 percent YoY decrease. This was a marked improvement from the 20 percent decreases from previous quarters. Over half of classrooms already have an interactive display with penetration now at 60 percent and this will increase to 74 percent by 2018.
EMEA on Track
EMEA performed below last year’s results, mainly due to low volumes in Russia. Russian sales have been hit by budget cuts, currency exchange rates and new tender legislation.
The second phase of the FATIH project in Turkey has now started and Futuresource projections show that this will account for over one third of all sales in EMEA this year.
In the UK, interactive flat panel displays are taking significant market share away from interactive whiteboards, which in turn will create the faster value growth.
The Global Perspective
The latest round of Futuresource research shows that the total display technologies market of interactive whiteboards, interactive flat panels and interactive projectors will exceed 1.3 million devices by 2018. However, the adoption rates of these three products are very different by country and even by region. (Futuresource has compared all three technologies in 67 countries.)
“In 2013, seven million tablets were purchased by schools across the globe and this has definitely contributed to the increased competition for education budgets,” says Messenger.
“The scale of the corporate space presents a number of alternative opportunities. Moving forward we see the corporate market as the fastest growing sector, increasing to 24 percent by 2017, with the growth coming from more developed markets like the U.S., UK, Germany and Sweden.”
The Interactive Displays Quarterly Market Track is a comprehensive service, based on actual sales-in data from vendors. The service covers both interactive whiteboards and interactive flat panels in education and corporate sectors. Leave a Comment
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Pakedge Adds RE-1 4-Port Router
Pakedge Device & Software is launching its new four-port RE-1 router at CEDIA Expo 2014. Built with A/V networks in mind, this “value-priced” router is designed to bring all the power and flexibility of enterprise-grade networking to a new market of users stepping up from consumer grade networking equipment.
Unlike data networks, A/V networks stream bandwidth-intensive, low latency multimedia content which due to the surge in cloud-based services and mobile device streaming, is often delivered to multiple network users simultaneously. Consumer grade equipment falls short in performance as it is designed to meet mass market price points, resulting in low grade chipsets, limited features, and a “good enough” mind set. While it can serve the buyer’s immediate needs, consumer grade equipment is ill-prepared to support growing A/V traffic requirements. Instead, enterprise grade networking technology offers a more robust set of features and functionality that supports the specific needs of A/V networks, including throughput and bandwidth control, security, scalability and reliability.
The RE-1 is designed with A/V networks in mind. This router features four gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, one of which can be used as a LAN or WAN, giving connected devices rapid speeds. The RE-1 router also incorporates several performance-enhancing features, including Pakedge TruStream technology to prioritize latency-sensitive traffic (VoIP traffic, streaming video, etc.), IGMP snooping (for streaming devices and applications like SONOS) and is UHD/4K-ready. The RE-1’s dual-WAN failover ensures maximum network uptime. A USB 3.0 port is included to optimize high speed media sharing.
Security is top of mind on the RE-1 router, thanks to features like website access controls, VPN, a virtual DMZ port, and a guest network. In addition, the RE-1 provides the capability to block specific devices, ports and IP addresses.
Several features are built into the RE-1 to facilitate installation and troubleshooting. A simplified GUI and universal plug-and-play (uPnP) make the RE-1 easy to set up. This ensures a quick, easy installation – even on networks heavily reliant on traditionally complicated and difficult to configure A/V devices. Secure remote access enables offsite troubleshooting while onboard network utility tools (e.g. Ping, traceroute and NSLookup, etc) assist in network problem resolution. The RE-1 is fully compatible with the BakPak Cloud Management System, a Pakedge hardware-and-app combo that lets integrators monitor and manage their clients’ networks remotely.
Here are the stats. Leave a Comment
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Almo E4 Fall Series Set for Washington DC and Boston
Almo ProAV today announced its E4 AV Tour will resume this fall, stopping for the first time in Boston on October 3 and in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 17. Continuing the theme, “Navigate to New Horizons,” the fall E4s promise to be an empowering day filled with new and “back by popular demand” training sessions worth InfoComm Renewal Units, 35 exhibiting manufacturing partners showing first-run products, live demos, and business-changing networking opportunities.
Both events include a keynote address delivered by rAVe founder Gary Kayye called “Being Smart About Smart Buildings,” which focuses on the explosive practice of pre-engineering AV into every room in new construction and how to become a preferred provider to the architect and facility manager community. Additionally, the October E4s will include the following courses, some worth valuable InfoComm Renewal Units:
- Power and Grounding Best Practices. InfoComm International (1 CTS RU)
- Assessing Network Readiness for AV Systems. InfoComm International (1 CTS RU)
- Video Walls: A Start to Finish Guide for Success. NEC (.5 CTS RU)
- NEW! Content Creation for Digital Signage. Almo Content Creation Team
- NEW! Hearing Disability Compliance. Listen Technologies (1 CTS RU)
- NEW! Making Meetings Smarter for a New Generation. Barco
The E4 events will also feature the opportunity to become involved in the Harman Eco System Buying Program. Designed to solve meeting space challenges, Almo is offering its partners an exclusive discounted bundle that includes products from the Harman line (JBL, AKG, Crown, DBX) purchased with AMX control systems.
Some of the highlighted products being shown on the E4 Expo floors include:
- AMX DVX-2110. A new lower-priced all-in-one presentation system option for conference rooms that require fewer AV inputs/outputs while retaining all the key Enova features.
- Barco ClickShare CSM. A smaller, entry-level version of ClickShare for meeting rooms.
- BrightSign 4K Resolution Media Player. A true 4K experience with 3840×2160 video at 60 frames per second via HDMI 2.0.
- C2G Rapid Run Optical. The leanest, longest, fastest, strongest modular cabling system on the planet.
- Canon REALiS WUX400ST Projector. Offers WUXGA resolution, 56:1 short throw ratio and extreme lens shift to deliver outstanding images and installation flexibility.
- Clear One Spontania System. Spontania is the most powerful cloud service available— putting all the benefits of visual collaboration within anyone’s reach–while removing the barriers of complexity and high costs.
- Elo Ultra-Thin 32-Inch PCAP Touchscreen. Provides fast, accurate, drift-free touch response in a slim, integrated design.
- Epson BrightLink Pro 1430Wi. An intelligent, interactive, collaborative, touch-enabled whiteboard solution.
- Listen Technologies Wi-Fi Personal Listening. Allows venues to stream audio content to their customers’ mobile devices to create better personal listening experiences.
- NEC NP-PX602WL. A new lampless projector using laser-phosphor technology for up to 20,000 hours of usage in 24×7 installation applications.
- Panasonic PT-RZ670U. The world’s first laser light source 1-chip DLP projector with 6,500 lm of brightness.
- Samsung Displays. A new 85-inch 4K UHD commercial display that is a slim, full-featured and a dependable choice for those looking to step up from HD to UHD.
- Securitytronix HD-COAXINATOR. Allows for stress-free high definition surveillance without IP wiring or the complexity of setting up a network.
- Sharp AQUOS Board 2. Four new displays (two 70-inch and two 60-inch) designed for smooth and effortless communication in a wide range of environments.
- Sharp AQUOS Q+ with Quattron and Revelation Technologies. Delivers 10 million more subpixels than Full 1080p HD TVs and includes a built-in upscaler, which makes everything sharper and more vivid. These displays play 4K content at about half the cost of an actual UHD 4K TV.
- TrippLite SRCOOL12K. Adds remote SNMP monitoring and management capabilities to the current portable air conditioning units to remotely adjust fan speed, cooling temperatures and dehumidification modes.
- ZeeVee HDbridge 2312. Encoding and modulating 12SD channels of composite video and analog audio. The quick set-up through a web browser allows for system customization.
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Learn To Optimize Sound Systems With SynAudCon In-Person Training
SynAudCon has THE TOP audio training program in the AV industry — I know, as I’ve been. And, they just announced that registration for its three-day Sound Reinforcement for Technicians (SRT) seminar, held in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 6-8, is now open.
SRT instructor Pat Brown provides a presentation along with interactive “hands on” exercises. It covers the theory behind how systems work, and demonstrates how to use instrumentation to look “under the hood” to troubleshoot systems. On Day 3, system tuning is presented in a technical, yet practical way.
The in-person training will take place at the Eisemann Center in Dallas. The seminar is approved for 24 InfoComm RUs and 21 BICSI CECs. Registration is available online here. Leave a Comment
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Sennheiser Intros Praise Pack Aimed at HOW Market
Sennheiser announced that it has launched something called “Praise Pack” that’s aimed exclusively at the house of worship market. The new bundle, which consists of four e 835 dynamic vocal microphones along with four pouches and mic stand clips, come snugly packaged in a specially embroidered, road ready Gator case.
The new bundle, priced at just $349 (a savings of more than $100 if each mic was purchased separately), represents a great opportunity for churches to realize clear audio reproduction with four of Sennheiser’s best selling microphones. Each e 835 microphone comes with a 10-year warranty and fits neatly into the black Gator case, which has ‘Sennheiser Praise Team’ embroidered on its exterior.
Sennheiser e 835 microphone features:
- Dynamic cardioid microphone for speech and vocals
- Cuts through high on-stage levels
- Clear reproduction with a high presence
- Consistent sound quality (varying distances, moving off axis)
- Handles high sound pressure levels
- Isolates handling noise, hum compensating coil
- Rugged metal housing
Here are all the details on the Praise Pack. Leave a Comment
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HARMAN’s JBL Intros EON 206P Portable PA System
HARMAN’s JBL Professional is introducing the EON 206P Portable PA system and billing it as an all-in-one powered system that’s aimed at small band/solo acts, coffeehouses, clubs, schools, worship events, meetings/seminars, presentations, health clubs and more.
The JBL EON 206P features a pair of 6.5 inch passive loudspeakers, each featuring a 6.5-inch woofer and a 1-inch neodymium black nylon dome tweeter, powered by a 160-watt power amp section (80-watts per channel). The EON 206P features a maximum SPL output of 113 dB, with a nominal coverage pattern of 100×80 degrees.
The EON 206P also features an integrated 6-channel mixer with: two balanced mic/line channels with XLR/quarter-inch combo jacks (CH1 and CH2); two stereo inputs (CH3 and CH4 is RCA and quarter-inch; CH5 and CH6 is a 1/8-inch mini jack). The mixer also features Stereo Monitor Out (quarter-inch left and right out) with volume control (for an external sub or stage monitors), master volume control, reverb on Channels 1 and 2, bass/treble control, and universal power (100-240V; 50/60 Hz).
Designed for easy portability, the entire EON 206P system weighs only 25 pounds, features a durable road-tough enclosure, convenient internal cable storage, and comes in a suitcase format for easy transport and storage. It also features a 36 mm pole socket for easy mounting. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Stewart Audio Launches Low-Power Networked Amplifier Series
Stewart Audio this week introduced a family of four low-wattage, networked amplifiers that address the need for lower channel count support at the local amplification stage. The new series brings the benefits of power-efficient digital audio networking to what Stewart believes is an underserved customer base, where consultants, systems integrators, dealers and end users require simple, affordable networked amplifier solutions scaled for smaller zones.
Using what the company calls compact footprint, all four products are designed for simple installation at endpoints, providing networked amplification to smaller zones, whether for standalone needs in small-to-mid-sized installations or to provide low-power amplification to smaller, distant zones in larger scale projects. Dual inputs in two models (AV25-2 NET+ CVA50-1 NET+) allow customers to serve both local and global PA systems if desired, with the option to target and prioritize pages and other audio events across many zones. This flexibility ensures that Stewart Audio customers can address larger facility needs while filling the void of local amplification requirements.
Stewart Audio incorporates Dante Ultimo media networking solution from Audinate into its product architecture to enable more affordable networking solutions for lower channel counts and lower power consumption. Compatibility with other Dante-enabled products is also ensured for a seamless, high-performance networking architecture across installations of any size.
Installations are further simplified with the presence of Symetrix Composer 2.0 software. Composer 2.0 software natively integrates device discovery and signal routing all four new products through its unique Dante third-party programming environment. This further reduces complexity for the installer, accelerating deployment times and creating a cohesive end-to-end Dante networking solution with local amplification.
The complete range of new Stewart Audio networked amplification solutions include:
- AV25-2 NET+: A 2x25W, 4 or 8 ohm low impedance amplifier with two analog and two Dante inputs, and remote and local volume control. Automated port switching can override audio feeds depending on which Dante or analog feed is set to priority.
- AV25-2 NET: A digital-only version of the AV25-2 NET+ with two Dante inputs.
- CVA50-1 NET+: A 50W, 70/100V mono amplifier with one analog and one Dante input, remote and local volume control, and automated priority port switching to insert local audio feeds over main programs.
- CVA50-1 NET: A digital-only version of the CVA50-1 NET+ with a single Dante input.
All four compact solutions can be pole mounted or attached to a flat surface near loudspeakers, and are plenum-rated to reduce the installation costs associated with rack-mounted systems. However, the 1/3RU design enables simple integration into central equipment racks if desired.
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BenQ Now Shipping RP700+ Interactive Flat Panel Display
BenQ America today announced the official release of its latest interactive flat panel (IFP) display: the RP700+. Designed to increase classroom interaction, boardroom collaboration, and make wayfinding more intuitive, the 70-inch full HD display uses six-point multi-touch technology to provide responsive feedback and more accurate positioning. As a result, students, presenters and information seekers are able to experience enhanced screen sensitivity while features such as multi-source compatibility and enhanced visual comfort turn the panel into a comprehensive solution for any of today’s interactive digital signage applications.
BenQ’s new RP700+ is native 1920x1080p resolution, has a 4000:1 contrast ratio, and 350 nits of brightness, and the unit’s two 15W speakers in case the room doesn’t need amplification. Featuring six-point multi-touch technology, the RP700+ enables receptive tactile navigation, allowing users to simply touch the screen for responsive panning, zooming, and scrolling, just like a tablet. And, the panel is equipped with anti-glare glass to reduce screen reflection and eliminate any visual noise caused by glare. The display’s ambient light sensors also adjust brightness based on surrounding light levels to reduce eye strain and produce up to 50,000 hours of light life, while the unit’s anti-fingerprint finish and low blue light technology further optimize the viewing experience.
The RP700+ can be positioned in portrait or landscape mode while hotkeys embedded onto the front bezel enable quick and easy access to menus, volume, and other control features. With three convenient USB ports also on the front bezel, the RP700+ can support up to three sources simultaneously while providing overall access to HDMI, VGA, RS232 and S-Video via additional ports. Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS, the IFP works seamlessly with any PC or smart device via easy plug-and-play capabilities. The RP700+’s intuitive DisplayNote teaching software tool is ideal for classroom applications, enabling learners to stream content, collaborate and contribute to any presentation in real-time via multiple tablets or laptops.
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Kramer Intros Six-Button Control Panel
Kramer’s new RC-43T is a six-button keypad control panel that works as a remote control panel for master room controllers such as the Kramer SL-1 in classrooms, meeting rooms, boardrooms or auditoriums.
The RC-43T uses proprietary KNET protocol to power and communicate over a single cable and between Kramer products. Using front panel buttons that are touch-sensitive via LED lights, the touch panel is 2.72×0.63×4.5″ (WxHxD), or 6.9×1.6×11.4 centimeters, and works in single gang U.S. wall plates.
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Extron Launches Wireless HDMI Product Line with eLink 100
Extron has finally entered the wireless video transmission market with its new eLink 100 – a wireless extender that sends HDMI video and multi-channel audio signals up to 100 feet (30 meters). This is a big deal as Extron is the leader in signal routing and the bellwether when it comes to technology adoption and this entry will sort of rubber-stamp the wireless video industry in a way no other company could.
The eLink 100 is HDCP-compliant, and supports computer video with resolutions to 1920×1080, including HDTV 1080p/60. Latency of less than one millisecond ensures high quality wireless operation with real-time performance. Use of the 5 GHz spectrum allows signals to pass easily through walls and other obstacles. To ensure connection stability in environments with multipath signals, the extender uses a robust multi-input and multi-output — MIMO communication technology with AES-128 encryption and actively monitors the RF spectrum for selection of the ideal transmission channels. Since these technologies do not require line-of-sight, the eLink 100 T transmitter and eLink 100 R receiver may be concealed or mounted in separate areas to maintain the aesthetics of the space.
The eLink 100 features MIMO technology, which provides maximum throughput to enable pixel-for-pixel transmission of high resolution video with ultra-low latency. Automatic Frequency Selection — AFS, including Dynamic Frequency Selection — DFS, actively monitors the RF spectrum to identify and select an available channel, avoiding interference from other devices. For installations with multiple display devices, one transmitter can support multiple receivers, allowing an AV signal to be distributed to as many as four displays. These technologies and the compact size of the eLink 100 make it an effective means of wirelessly extending HDMI video with embedded audio in a wide variety of environments such as historic buildings, houses of worship and other locations where running cable is a challenge.
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Extron Ships Compact Four Input Scaler
Extron is now shipping its new IN1604 HD — an HDCP-compliant four-input scaler that features three HDMI inputs, a universal analog video input and an HDMI output. It’s designed for installation beneath conference tables and in lecterns to provide localized switching support for sources such as presenter devices. The IN1604 HD joins the recently available IN1604 DTP, which features an Extron DTP twisted pair output.
The IN1604 HD features what Extron is calling an advanced scaling engine that can scale HDMI and analog video signals to a common high resolution output and includes features like 1080i deinterlacing and Deep Color processing. With Extron EDID Minder, Key Minder and SpeedSwitch, integrators can easily connect sources and a display with plug-and-play simplicity, automatic device negotiation and nearly instantaneous switching.
The IN1604 HD delivers essential audio integration capabilities that include HDMI audio embedding and de-embedding, flexible audio switching with two individually assignable analog audio inputs, switching transitions, gain and attenuation adjustments for each analog input, output volume control, and selectable audio muting. The IN1604 HD also features convenient options for remote control and operation, including front panel controls and on-screen menus, USB, RS232 and contact closure with tally output for easy integration into a variety of environments.
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DVIGear Adds Presentation Switcher/Scale
DVIGear’s new DVI-3571a is branded a presentation switcher and scaler that accepts up to eight video inputs: three HDMI (or DVI), three RGB analog (VGA), one component video and one composite video. Each input supports a broad range of signal formats and resolutions. The selected input signal is routed simultaneously to two HDMI outputs and one RGB analog (VGA) output for downstream display and/or processing. Two scaling engines provide user-selectable output resolutions up to 1080p and 1920×1200.
The DVI-3571a supports advanced audio features such as HDMI audio embedding and de-embedding, as well as lip sync correction up to 150 ms. The unit includes a variety of control features including Ethernet, RS232, IR remote and front panel selection. The unit can be easily integrated into a network using the Ethernet port and controlled via the built-in web browser GUI.
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Extron Introduces Single-Gang DTP Wallplate Transmitters for HDMI
Extron Electronics just introduced the DTP T HWP 231 D and DTP T HWP 331 D, single-gang Decora-style transmitters for sending HDMI, audio and bidirectional RS232 and IR signals over a shielded CATx cable to Extron DTP-enabled products. The DTP T HWP 231 D extends signals up to 230 feet (70 meters), while the DTP T HWP 331 D extends signals up to 330 feet (100 meters). The one-gang form factor provides maximum space efficiency in wall mount, floor box and furniture mount applications. The transmitters support computer video up to 2560×1600, HDTV 1080p/60 Deep Color and 4K resolutions. Both models also accept analog stereo audio signals for simultaneous transmission over the same shielded twisted pair cable. They feature remote power capability, plus bidirectional RS232 and IR pass-through for remote AV device control.
The DTP T HWP 231 D and DTP T HWP 331 D support 12-bit Deep Color, CEC pass-through and embedded HD lossless audio formats. Both transmitters maintain DDC communication of EDID and HDCP between a source and display for reliable operation. To streamline installation, they can be remotely powered by Extron DTP CrossPoint 84 matrix switchers or other DTP-enabled products over the twisted pair cable. The transmitters also offer an HDBaseT output mode that provides the additional integration convenience of a twisted pair output that is compatible with any HDBaseT-enabled display. The DTP T HWP 231 D and DTP T HWP 331 D mount in an included Decora-style wallplate designed for installation in one-gang U.S. wall boxes.
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New Storage Accessories from Chief
Chief has released several accessories for integrating systems in in-wall and above-ceiling applications. A new Component Adapter Bracket (PACUNV1) enables attachment of AV equipment inside the in-wall box series (PAC525 and PAC526). Simply snap the bracket into the existing wire tie anchor points — no assembly hardware required.
For the above-ceiling storage solutions, Chief has 1RU Rack Mount Brackets (CMS1RU) and a Plenum Rated Fan Kit (CMSFAN). The brackets allow for mounting 1RU rack electronics in the 2×2 size enclosures. The fan kit provides 100 CFM of air movement for active cooling and works with both the 1x2and 2×2 enclosures.
In addition, Chief has launched new in-ceiling plenum rated boxes that drop-down for ceiling-level access. Features include:
- 1×2 and 2×2 ceiling tile sizes
- They are pre-packaged with all the connect hardware needed for installation
- Ability to add power either in the box or facing the room
- A detachable power plate allows the electrician to pre-wire the area before box installation begins
- Integrated cooling vents to help with thermal management
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Extron Ships New Cable Cubby 202
Extron Electronics is now shipping the all-new Cable Cubby 202, a new edition to the Cable Cubby Series/2 line of cable access enclosures for AV connectivity and AC power. The compact Cable Cubby 202 is equipped with one fixed, unswitched AC outlet. The removable Cable Pass-Through Bracket accommodates up to four AV cables, allowing cables to be installed or serviced from the top of the enclosure, after it’s installed in the furniture surface. The Cable Cubby 202 also features a hidden, integrated clamp system that quickly secures the enclosure with common hand tools.
The Cable Cubby 202 is available with AC outlets for the U.S., Europe, and other world markets. The U.S. model also includes an opening for one MAAP (Mini Architectural Adapter Plate), such as a momentary switch or USB pass-through connector. The enclosure’s tilt-up lid is held open by a small magnetic catch, facilitating the use of the Cable Cubby 202 in both horizontal and vertical mounting orientations. When closed, the lid provides a single, full width cable pass-through. The Cable Cubby 202 is available in a durable black powder coat finish. Optional bracket kits are available to support up to three Extron Retractor cable retraction modules or two single-space AAPs (Architectural Adapter Plates) for alternate connectivity needs.
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FSR Expands Infrastructure Line of Wall Box Solutions with Introduction of PWB-353
FSR has expand its infrastructure line of Wall Box solutions with the introduction of the PWB-353 Wall Box. It features an open face design with a white interior and white extended trim ring, rather than a closed cover, which facilitates quick access to cables and connectors without cover removal.
The PWB-353 features multiple knockouts for power and openings for up to six single IPS connector plates. At 3-inches deep, it is designed for use in 3-inch or 4-inch stud walls. The extended trim ring provides a clean appearance while covering rough cuts in the drywall created during installation.
Key features of the PWB-353 Wall Box include a rugged 16-gauge steel back box, simple installation features, quick access to cables and connectors, multiple knockouts in a variety of sizes and included hardware.
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