Volume 13, Issue 9 — May 8, 2015
|
Industry News
Audio
Lighting Unified Collaborative Conferencing
Control & Signal Processing
Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
Digital Signage
Media Players, Recording & Distribution
|
|
|
Making a Case for Software Based AV Management
By Eric Cantrell Medialon
Audiovisual systems in classrooms, meeting rooms and huddle spaces have been steadily moving into the world of IT, replacing separate displays, playback, matrix switchers and DSPs with simple interactive whiteboards and soundbars, or even Microsoft’s new Surface Hub touch screen. The question of whether an AV control system is even needed in these spaces at all is increasingly valid.
AV systems used to be complex, with lots of different components brought together in such a way that took trained technicians to understand the signal paths and how to get each type of source to the destination, be it a telephone call to the loudspeakers or a PowerPoint presentation to the projector. Ah, the memories of half a dozen remote controls in the top drawer of the credenza!
In an attempt to democratize AV, control systems were invented, making complex AV systems more approachable and usable for general users, without needing to understand signal flow or how each room was designed. Touch screens became de rigueur, though each programmer thought differently about what makes a control system useful, and it was rare that any two systems functioned alike unless the same programmer was hired to do them.
Typically, control systems consisted of a hardware based controller in each room, connected to the AV devices in that room, including the local touch panel or button pads, sometimes both.
More recently, those expensive touch screens have been replaced by an app on a tablet, and AV devices in multiple rooms are connected to the network, enabling the controller to manage many more devices in multiple rooms. Typically, this means the hardware controller can be located in an equipment room along with other centralized systems, such as a digital signal processor or a matrix video switcher. Hooray for efficiency!
The graphics have gotten fancier, but programming has mostly been the same old story, if you want multiple systems to work the same, you need to hire the same programmer. Besides, he has the original code, so if you want to change a projector model or add a button, it’s much less expensive to hire him again to make the modification than to pay someone to start over from scratch (which would result in you having one room that didn’t match the rest).
But now, here we sit at the nexus of AV and IT, where computer manufacturers are creating touchscreen collaboration tools, and interactive whiteboards combine projection, signal switching, audio, and an on-board computer. With so much of the AV incorporated into these arguably IT devices, how necessary is an AV control system at all?
Want to do a video conference? Launch Skype.
Need to do a presentation? Pop in a USB stick.
How about playing a video? Stream it from your network file server.
AV control systems are in an awkward position at the moment. Their skill sets are being replaced by advancing capabilities of the devices they once controlled. AV control systems are trying to find themselves in this changing world. And their place is likely in middle management, making sure the devices are there, operating, and keeping an eye on expendables such as projector lamps.
A college campus with hundreds of classrooms, or a conference center with dozens of breakout rooms needs to monitor and supervise the AV equipment. Who has time to log into web pages for 100 different projectors, just to make a note about the lamp hours remaining? Control systems are great for this kind of supervisory task.
Most AV control systems are based on microprocessors of limited capacity and have limited memory. If they can handle multiprocessing, that only means one controller can run multiple programs, not that a single program can be busy polling and processing complex calculations or string operations and still be able to handle input from touch screens simultaneously. When projects get too big or complex, the entire system can feel sluggish, which results in multiple button presses by users, further complicating the situation.
Due to limitations of the hardware, a college campus or conference center would need to have dozens of hardware controllers, and each one needs to be purchased, programmed, maintained, and powered. And then gathering all the information from all the controlled devices in one place requires yet another layer of software or a cloud service. It’s typically not easy to set up or maintain, and in many cases, technicians just log into a dozen different control systems to gather the information manually.
Let’s contrast this with modern computing hardware, operating systems, and software.
Even a modest netbook has hundreds of times more computing power than most dedicated AV control hardware. The PC can handle multiple TCP connections, simultaneously performing calculations, running scripts, querying databases, and rendering graphics… and that’s just to look at Facebook! Why couldn’t this processing power be used to control and supervise hundreds of video projectors from a single machine? Imagine the electricity you could save every year just by not running dozens of hardware boxes!
What if the user interfaces were simple web pages, written with HTML and CSS? That would enable any device with a web browser to be used as a control surface. No longer would you need dedicated touch screens or special apps to control your AV system.
Gathering information about the health and well-being of your AV equipment is a major benefit of using AV control systems. If all the devices are controlled by a single system, they become easy to supervise and manage in one central place with little effort.
Another consideration is about the nature of electronic hardware in general. Eventually, it will stop working. With a hardware controller, your only choice is to buy another hardware controller, and hope that your programming can be installed on it. With a software based AV control system, if the computer hardware dies, simply install the software and the project files onto another computer, and you’re back up and running.
With software AV control systems, there’s another alternative for handling hardware failures: virtualization.
Software based AV control systems can operate on any computer, even a virtual one, running on a server with other virtual machines, like your IT department may already be using for e-mail, file servers, FTP, Accounting or any number of other mission-critical applications.
The virtualization systems used by datacenters are designed to provide automated recovery from hardware or software failures, as well as resource balancing as more memory and processing is required.
If a stick of memory or a power supply fails in a server, the hypervisor layer handles the situation by continuing to run the virtual machines on different hardware. This concept is called “fault tolerance.”
This technology is not limited to datacenters, however. In fact, it is easy and inexpensive (even free in some cases) to implement datacenter-style virtualization on a small scale. That kind of hardware redundancy is something no dedicated hardware based AV control system can offer.
Another advantage of looking at AV Control from an IT perspective is the ability to provide better integration with IT services, such as single-sign on credentials management tools or room booking systems.
Credential management systems allow the IT team to manage what functions each user is able to perform with the AV system. A general user may be able to turn a projector on, select an input, and adjust the volume of the speakers in the room, while a technician may be able to see lamp hour status, projector temperature, adjust audio EQ. Managers, on the other hand, may be more interested in knowing about the usage of the AV assets in each room so they can schedule preventative maintenance or to report about uptime for service level agreements.
Connecting to a room booking system makes it possible for the AV Controller to prepare rooms for scheduled meetings ahead of time, making sure equipment is functioning properly, alerting the meeting organizer if something isn’t working right. The meeting organizer then can opt to move the meeting to another location, cancel it, or reschedule, rather than waiting for everyone to arrive, just to find out the presentation or videoconference can’t take place.
Imagine the efficiencies an organization can gain by using automation and supervision together in an AV Management system. By comparison, it makes today’s touch screen based control systems seem about as useful as that credenza drawer full of remote controls!
To recap, centralized systems provide efficiencies in system operation, including system setup, power consumption, less equipment to purchase, program, and maintain, and ease of device management. Hardware controllers and their limited processors aren’t built to manage hundreds of devices in a real-time manner. However, modern computing hardware, operating systems, and software can handle a large amount of device communication and user activity easily. Running AV control software in a virtual machine provides additional benefits of reduced power consumption, hardware redundancy, and automated disaster recovery.
The next step to making AV systems truly useful will be implementing automation and management functions that connect AV to other critical business functions, such as credential management, room booking, and even building management systems.
All of these benefits come with a lower purchase price and lower total cost of ownership than hardware-based AV control. Just like Skype and Microsoft Lync have largely replaced dedicated hardware videoconferencing solutions, it’s only a matter of time before software replaces hardware for AV control.
We have the technology. Let’s do something with it! Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
InfoComm: Read to Lead
By Dave Labuskes Executive Director, InfoComm International
I love to read. In fact, I maintain what I admitted long ago would be a perpetual reading list. Perpetual, because no matter how much I read, there are more books added to it each month than I can get through. And the books are only part of the list. It also includes trade magazines, blogs, white papers, special reports and thought pieces that appear in places throughout the cyber world My reading this past weekend included a couple blog entries. One was by Tom Stimson (one of InfoComm’s past presidents and more recently our Master of Ceremonies for InfoComm Live 2015) somewhat optimistically entitled The Final Word on Shrinking Margins and another by Christopher Maione entitled Where Did Our Margins Go? Both examine the changing nature of our industry and the impact on profit margins for our members. As fate must have had it, I also read, InfoComm International’s March 2015 Economic Snapshot Report in the same sitting. For the uninitiated, this is a report put together by a professional market research team and made available for free to all InfoComm members. Guess what I found beginning on page 53 of the report?
AV end users (the actual recipients of “Dear Client” letters) reveal, “Other than cost, what could AV vendors do to make it easier for their organization to acquire AV solutions that further their organization’s mission.” Why haven’t you and your marketing team already read this? This is like reading the playbook of the other team.
Here’s some of what they said:
- Ensure quality and completed work. We have had a number of bad vendors who either did sloppy or incomplete work.
- Improved project management on AV purchase and installation projects.
- Bring new AV equipment to our locations for team members to see the equipment operate and for hands-on operation.
- Create AV show rooms with the latest technology… let us test drive it.
- Help us explain to our users why Solution X is better than Solution Y.
- Keep us up to date with current trends and solutions available.
- Keep us informed on innovative solutions that will help us support our users more efficiently.
- Provide real life examples on how to use their equipment.
Themes that I see interwoven within these are:
- Do good work.
- Help me see your value, then help me communicate it to my colleagues.
- Help me understand where all of this is going.
In short (cliché alert), demonstrate your value to the prospect by making their life easier, making them look good, or helping them get their job done less expensively or more effectively. If you’ve known me for any length of time, I’ve probably subjected you to a lecture on this basic three-legged stool for long-term client relationships.
But wait, there’s more. Coupled with this information is analysis of industry expectations. And in that analysis we see something that certainly raised my eyebrows. The confidence of the industry (measured via the InfoComm Performance Index or IPI) reflects a sizeable gap based on company size… and the gap is growing wider. The largest gap that was previously seen was set in the June 2014 survey, with an 11 point spread between the smallest companies (those with gross revenue/turnover of up to $2 million) and the largest companies (those with gross revenue/turnover of $25 million or more). The gap in the January 2015 sample reaches 14 points for the past six month IPI.
Here’s what I get from all this. There are as many ways to differentiate your company in the marketplace as there are prospective customers. They just aren’t the same ways that worked five years ago. Don’t write letters, solicit letters. Don’t talk about your problems, talk about the client’s problems. And craft your relationship in a manner that ideally targets the strengths of your company to the needs of your prospect.
And say “no” when the structure of the deal moves you away from this alignment. Over the course of my career, politely saying “no” to a client or prospect regarding requests that wouldn’t work for us has been the most effective close I’ve ever utilized.
Is the optimism of the larger firms reflective of their success in recognizing this? Or are they larger because the already recognized this reality. As much fun as “chicken-and-egg” discussions can be, engaging in them takes me from my reading time, so you’ll have to debate that one among yourselves.
This column is reprinted with permission from InfoComm International and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
MUSIC Group Buys TC Group
MUSIC Group has today announced the acquisition of TC Group, one of the largest group of companies in the professional audio industry. Headquartered in Denmark, and with offices all over the world, TC Group owns and manages some of the most acclaimed brands such as Tannoy, Lab Gruppen, Lake, TC Electronics, TC Helicon and TC Applied Technologies.
The addition of Tannoy, Lab Gruppen and Lake allows MUSIC Group to round out their professional install and touring sound offerings alongside Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound, while TC Electronics and TC Helicon represent the industry’s leading brands in the guitar effects and voice processing sector, and perfectly complement MUSIC Group’s Bugera guitar tube amplifier brand and highly successful Behringer prosumer division.
TC Electronic has also long been established as a leader in broadcast, studio, mastering and production processing, where it gained ultimate authority in loudness control and mastering. For decades now, Tannoy’s HiFi products continue to win “Best in Class” Awards, and as a result the brand has developed a huge following of audio enthusiasts around the world.
TC Group’s strong focus on product innovation and IP creation is further demonstrated by their TC Applied Technologies company, which is invested in cutting-edge semiconductor designs, networking and interface technology.
MUSIC Group founder and CEO Uli Behringer commented, “MUSIC Group stands for relentless focus on innovation, business transformation and overall IP creation. Since the acquisition of Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound, we have been continuously pursuing brands that complement the mixing console, processing and loudspeaker excellence offered by these historic brands. Throughout our search, TC Group has clearly stood out as the ideal match because of their world-class brands, impressive intellectual property, sterling reputation and first-class team of people. I am very proud to welcome the TC Group team into our family.”
Tannoy, Lab Gruppen and Lake will now join MUSIC Group’s prestigious Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound anchor brands to further strengthen MUSIC Group’s continued expansion into the professional A/V market. Aimed at delivering complete system solutions to Install and Touring customers, the combination of these brands represents an unprecedented range of choice for the most demanding of applications.
Uli Behringer continued, “We will invest heavily in positioning TC Group’s brands at the very pinnacle of the industry, as we have done with Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound, where we have invested over $100 million in highly automated and integrated manufacturing facilities, quality control systems and engineering resources, including a new Center of Engineering Excellence in Manchester, UK.
TC Group will now equally have full access to MUSIC Group’s extensive resources and advanced automated system platforms in such areas as product development and lifecycle management, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and finance.”
TC Group’s CEO Anders Fauerskov responded, “We are very honored that during the acquisition process, some of the largest industry players were bidding for TC Group; however we have selected MUSIC Group as they represent the perfect fit in terms of strategic direction, overall synergies and company culture. Our team is thrilled to join MUSIC Group and open a new chapter for TC Group and its prestigious brands. With the incredibly talented people and massive resources of the MUSIC Group behind us, the team is excited to enter a new era of unprecedented innovation and growth.” Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Audinate Hosts 5th Annual Dante AV Networking World at InfoComm 2015For the fifth consecutive year, Audinate will be hosting the all-day Dante AV Networking World conference at InfoComm 2015. The event will be held Tuesday, June 16 at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla.
The free all-day event will feature presentations, training workshops and interactive panel discussions led by industry experts. The event will also feature a major interoperability demonstration of Dante-enabled products from the industry’s leading audio manufacturers, including AEQ, Attero Tech, Ashly, Atlas Sound, Audinate, Audio Technica, Bose, ClearOne, Extron, Focusrite/RedNet, IED, Lab.gruppen, Lake, Presonus, Shure, Sound Devices/Video Devices, Stewart Audio, Studio Technologies, Symetrix, TC Group, Williams Sound and Yamaha Commercial Audio.
The agenda will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Industry Trends in Digital Audio Networking
- Dante in House of Worship: Willow Creek Community Church Case Study
- Networking 101: Understanding Network Basics
- Dante in Sports : Networking the American Airlines Arena for the Miami Heat
- Dante in Retail: National Retail Chain Case Study
- Live Demonstration: Building your First Dante Network
- Dante in Broadcast: Recent Advancements at Microsoft Production Studios
- Dante in House of Worship: Sojurn Church Case Study
- Dante in Education: University Case Study
- A Glimpse into the Future of Dante
The event will feature giveaways throughout the day, a sponsored lunch for all attendees and a hosted networking mixer at the end of the day. Conference attendees will also earn four CTS RU credits.
Seating is limited, so register now to reserve your place. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Beale Street Audio Reveals Beale Xpress Line, Adds New Distributors Beale Street Audio is broadening its product line to include Beale Xpress, a line of amplifiers, subwoofers and speakers designed for integration and featuring its Sonic Vortex Technology. The line includes residential audio solutions, 70/100v speakers for commercial applications and products for the international market.
Initial Beale Xpress speaker offerings will include: 4, 6.5 and 8-inch in-ceiling models, 4 and 6.5-inch in-wall models, angled in-ceiling and dual voice coil models, 6.5 and 8-inch in-ceiling subwoofers, and 70/100v in-ceiling speakers for commercial applications, all powered by Sonic Vortex. The Beale Xpress line also includes single room and multi-room amplifiers, subwoofer amplifiers, IR products, EZBrackets, kits accessories and more. All products mentioned are available now, or will be within 45 days.
Beale Xpress products will also be available in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa from BMB Electronics B.V., the Netherlands-based distribution company Beale Street Audio recently acquired. BMB will prime Beale Xpress for immediate international expansion by serving as the central European hub for all Beale Street Audio product lines and instantly creating a more efficient and responsive supply chain.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron Adds SM 28 Fast Installing, Two-Way Surface Mount Speakers Extron has launched the SM 28 SpeedMount Surface Mount Speaker, a two-way speaker with a patent pending, concealed wall mounting system. It features an 8″ (20.3 cm) woofer with dual tuned ports and a 1.1″ (2.8 cm) tweeter. The SM 28 provides a frequency range from 59 Hz to 22 kHz, and a power rating of 90 watts continuous pink noise, 180 watts continuous program capacity. The Extron exclusive mounting system is designed to accommodate division-of-labor installations and save costs. The SM 28 is available as an 8 ohm model, and an SM 28T version which can operate in 8 ohm direct as well as 70 volt and 100 volt modes. The SM 28T features a six-position power tap selector for up to 64 watts, which can conveniently be accessed through the grille from outside the speaker.
For installers, the flexible mounting system includes a 0° mounting plate and a 10° mounting adapter. The 0° mounting plate provides the electrical connections and allows the SM 28 to be oriented vertically or horizontally, flush with the wall. When the versatile 10° mounting adapter is added to the mounting plate, the SM 28 can be positioned with a 10° tilt downward, upward, left, or right.
The SM 28 saves time and installation costs for AV system contractors working with low-voltage contractors in a division-of-labor installation. During rough-in, a low-voltage contractor installs the mounting system on the wall and terminates the speaker cable to the mount’s integrated wiring contacts. Later, the AV system contractor completes the installation by sliding the SM 28 onto the mount.
The SM 28 is sold in pairs and carries a 5 year parts and labor warranty. It is available in a black or white finish and includes a 0° mounting plate and a 10° mounting adapter. Also available is an optional yoke mount kit for the SM 28. It allows for vertical or horizontal speaker mounting on a wall, or on a ceiling, and provides 180° of pivot in 10° detented steps.
Here are the tech specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Mackie Ships Dante Expansion Card For DL32R Mixer Mackie has started shipping its new DL Dante Expansion Card that allows for the networked audio to the DL32R wirelessly controlled digital live sound mixer. The DL32R is controlled wirelessly, using the Mackie Master Fader control app for iPad, freeing sound engineers to mix from any location in a venue. The DL32R delivers 32-channels of digital mixing with convenient direct-to-drive multi-track recording/playback, new Onyx+ recallable microphone pre-amps, in an ultra-compact 3U rackmount design.
The new DL Dante Expansion Card provides 32×32 channels of network audio I/O, allowing the DL32R to be connected to any Dante-powered AV network. Dante delivers the easiest-to-use AV networking solution, featuring automatic discovery of devices, simple graphical audio routing, incredibly low latency and flawless interoperation with hundreds of Dante-enabled products. Flexible IO patching in the DL32R lets the user route Dante signals to any channel input, and send any of the mixer’s outputs to the Dante network.
The DL Dante Expansion Card ships with a license for Dante Virtual Soundcard software, allowing direct recording/playback of up to 64 channels of audio from any Dante network to a PC or Mac computer.
All the details are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Clockaudio Ships Retractable Motorized Ceiling Microphone CCRM4000 Clockaudio is now shipping its CCRM4000 Retracta Motorized Ceiling Microphone. Designed for use in boardrooms, conferencing and nearly any audio conferencing application, the CCRM4000 offers an alternative to installations that can’t have any microphones on the table, but still need high quality sound. The unit comes virtually pre-assembled and allows you to bring the microphone closer to the participant, which contributes in getting more direct sound and less of the room. In addition, the retractable unit enables the microphone to completely withdraw back into the ceiling when not in use, leaving the room aesthetically pleasing and ready for other functions.
Clockaudio ships the CCRM4000 master units complete with a ceiling mounted IR sensor, remote control, cardioid microphone with knuckle joint and magnet, ceiling bezel with locking ring and jockey wheel, 18VDC power supply unit, ceiling tile mounting bracket and safety cable. Slave units are also available.
All the tech specs are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
HARMAN’s JBL Professional Debuts VTX V25-II Loudspeaker JBL Professional, a subsidiary of HARMAN, has just announced the VTX V25-II, the successor to the V25 line array loudspeaker. It features a brand-new waveguide for what JBL Pro says is improved long-throw performance, improved wavefront control and improved power matching with the companion Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD four-channel amplifier.
VTX V25-II maintains the same outstanding horizontal coverage performance of the original V25 and current V25 owners can upgrade their cabinets to the new V25-II performance standard in a matter of 10 minutes with the VTX-V25-WG-UK Waveguide Upgrade Kit.
The new V25-II waveguide features design improvements that were motivated by the highly-effective VTX V20 waveguide and differs from its predecessor with revised internal acoustical path geometry and double the number of acoustic transmission paths. In addition, the V25-II waveguide’s exponential geometry assists with wavefront expansion while providing improved wavefront control and line source array coupling in the vertical plane at higher frequencies.
The V25‐II waveguide provides better acoustic loading conditions for JBL’s D2 dual diaphragm, dual voice coil compression drivers, resulting in over 10 dB higher sensitivity above 10 kHz. This sensitivity increase means that less high frequency shelving equalization is required in order to achieve the same acoustic output response and, as a result, there is a significant increase in amplifier headroom. Limiter thresholds can also be adjusted so there is less peak limiting activity and reduced distortion. All of this combines to provide higher maximum SPL and improved system packaging density since there is a better power match when V25‐II is used with Crown Audio I-Tech 4x3500HD four channel amplifiers.
Improved polar characteristics and wavefront control are also obtained with the new waveguide which translate to improvements in long-throw performance and overall, V25-II offers more even coverage, front to back. Improvements can also be found underneath and behind the array, where V25-II focuses significantly less high-frequency energy.
Also new at Prolight & Sound, JBL is introducing the VTX V25-II-CS, which includes the optional V25-CS-K compression suspension kit pre-installed at the factory and is intended for use with VTX V25-VTC Vertical Transporters and accessories.
All the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Earthworks Ships 30kHz Boundary MicrophonesThe Earthworks IMB & IMBL Boundary Installation Microphones, designed for permanent installation, are now shipping. The IMBL30 comes in a black, white or silver finish and features the all new LumiComm Touch Ring, which consists of a dual-color LED light ring and a touch sensor output, providing integrators complete freedom to assign function and LED color with a media control system. And the Earthworks Boundary Microphones feature RF shielding to prevent interference from cell phones and other electronic devices.
IMB30 models are available without the LumiComm Touch Ring, and come in a black, white or silver finish. The IMB microphones are only 1.44″ (3.6 centimeters) in diameter and the IMBL models have a 1.59″ (4.0 centimeters) diameter and feature a 60Hz to 30kHz ±2dB frequency response, and claim the flattest frequency response of any boundary microphone on the market. Coupled with a True Semisphere polar pattern, which features a near-perfect frequency response at 0, 45 and 90 degrees, the IMB and IMBL microphones deliver exceptional clarity and intelligibility for fixed installations.
The IMB and IMBL Boundary Microphones have a max acoustic input of 136dB SPL and sensitivity of 70mV/Pa. This near-perfect polar response and high sensitivity allow a sound contractor to install fewer IMB microphones and cover the room with full frequency response.
All the detailed specs are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Turbosound Ships iQ Series
Turbosound today announced that it’s started to ship the new iQ Series networked loudspeaker product line.
The iQ Series combines Turbosound’s loudspeaker product with Klark Teknik’s networking and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technologies to create what they are referring to as “Acoustic Integration.”
Acoustic Integration allows for changes to overall sound system performance, in real time, without ever leaving the mixing desk. Users can easily set up and adjust built-in DSP parameters directly at the loudspeakers, or remotely via PC.
Perfect for FOH and floor-wedge applications, the iQ15, iQ12, iQ10 and iQ8 two-way loudspeakers are lightweight, portable, and provide premium-quality sound. Added support for low-frequency performance comes from the iQ18B and iQ15B subwoofers, which provide exceptionally deep and powerful bass. All enclosures feature standard 35 mm pole-mount sockets, for deploying dynamic full-range systems that are ideally suited for even the most demanding sound-reinforcement applications.
The iQ Series is affordable enough for small to medium-size venues, such as theaters, schools and houses of worship — yet powerful enough to easily accommodate festival stages, dance clubs and convention center corporate events.
The full range iQ8, iQ10, iQ12, iQ15, and Q15B and iQ18B subwoofers are available starting at $549.99 and all the specs are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Crestron’s New Commercial Lighting Control Plan Crestron is changing the way lighting control systems are designed, specified, and installed with the new SpaceBuilder design-based solutions. Crestron says its SpaceBuilder is the fastest way to design, install and start up commercial lighting controls for any size building or system.
According to Crestron, the advantages of a SpaceBuilder system include:
- Faster quotes
- Faster submittals
- Comprehensive packaging and streamlined delivery system
- Simplified wiring and installation
- Fewer components and logistics
- Pre-programmed operations
- Faster commissioning and start up
- Seamless networking
With SpaceBuilder, lighting controls are designed on a space-first basis, reducing the complexity of building-first designs and saving time and money every step of the way. An online system filter helps even the novice designer to select the optimal Crestron system for their application. The accompanying automated configuration worksheets help to quickly complete the system design for a single space-type and can easily be copied for other similar spaces in the building. Designers no longer need to worry about knowing the product model numbers or technology specifications. All they need to know are the lighting requirements for the specific space.
In addition to improving efficiencies for the design community, SpaceBuilder simplifies the delivery and installation process for the contractor. Rather than searching through pallets of dimmers, sensors and keypads in a remote staging area, installers get one box for each room that contains all the components, technical information and wiring diagrams needed to complete the installation.
After installation, the contractor energizes the system and it immediately functions. Every Space Builder system arrives in its own box pre-programmed during production. It’s not necessary for a field tech or programmer to visit the site to program the system.
When it’s time to start up an entire building, SpaceBuilder systems network together seamlessly for master control, integrating with building management systems or property management systems. Organizations can also monitor and manage AV equipment, room scheduling, lighting, shades, climate and energy consumption from a single platform with Crestron Fusion enterprise management software.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Mersive Finally Does Android Mirroring on Solstice Mersive has added Android mirroring on their Solstice wireless presentation and BYOD collaboration system.
Dubbed the Solstice Pod, the newest addition to the Solstice wireless presentation and collaboration product line combining Solstice Software with an Android-based hardware platform to create a wireless media streaming solution for collaboration in meeting rooms and classrooms.
Both Solstice Software and the Solstice Pod feature Android mirroring support from mobile devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop. The addition of Android mirroring support with Solstice further expands the ability for users to share content seamlessly from their mobile devices to the Solstice display without the need for video cables, increasing the flow of information in the meeting room for improved collaboration and decision making.
Features on the Solstice Pod:
- Unlimited users sharing unlimited content
- Android Mirroring support on devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Desktop streaming with synchronous audio
- Native support for 4K displays
- Remote configuration via a web browser
- Continuous software upgrade path
- Built-in WAP capabilities
The Solstice Pod lists for $799 for the Small Group Edition (SGE) version and $999 for the Unlimited users version. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Barco Hints at New ClickShare and We Know What It Will Be LikeExactly three years ago, Barco announced its wireless presentation and collaboration (BYOD) system called ClickShare. The product has generated a lot of buzz and steady sales growth since it was launched, and it is now the reference for wireless presentation and collaboration. With an exciting product development roadmap ahead, Barco is determined to facilitate collaboration in today’s knowledge economy. Barco said it’s shipped over 80,000 units already.
To design ClickShare, Barco set up an in-house incubator team to develop a wireless presentation system. As the first of its kind, ClickShare quickly became a leading wireless mirroring product. For the past three years, the ClickShare portfolio has grown with the addition of the CSM-1 product, the introduction of the ClickShare management suite, and the addition of new features and functions — including synchronized sound and full mirroring from mobile devices.
ClickShare’s popularity is indeed on the rise. And, many manufacturers have emulated the product and some are even using the same Barco-owned AWIND chip-set. And, Barco has hinted to the market that, in the next few months, we will see more new ClickShare products. The development of the ClickShare product portfolio continues. In the coming months, new products will be launched to serve all segments of the Corporate AV market. “Collaboration is becoming very important in knowledge working environments,” Jan Willem Brands explains. “Users demand flexible, easy-to-use technology that simply facilitates getting their message across. ClickShare provides an excellent answer to these needs.”
Here is what we think we will see over the next year from the ClickShare development team:
- A 4K version: Expect Barco to launch a 4K version with four 1080p outputs — count on it!
- Expect a version that allows for non-compressed video at all resolutions
- Expect a feature that will allow ClickShare to have devices connected as distance-sources
- Watch for an eight-button (eight-source) version
- Watch for Barco to allow multiple ClickShare connectivity and collaboration
- ClickShare will integrate Skype for Business (or something equivalent)
- Agree? Want to see these features added to ClickShare? Comment and Share this article!
ClickShare is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Vaddio’s AV Bridge MATRIX PRO Ships Vaddio is shipping its new AV Bridge MATRIX PRO that adds audio and video mixing functionality directly to your PC for any UC application (Skype, WebEx, etc.). It’s an AV encoder with simultaneous IP and USB 2.0 streaming, a four input seamless HD video switcher, three built-in Quick-Connect interfaces for Vaddio cameras, an 8×4 audio matrix mixer/switcher with acoustic echo cancellation (AEC), four audio ports for Vaddio EasyUSB microphones with built-in AEC and a web server for configuration programming, control and remote management.
The AV Bridge MATRIX PRO is aimed for simplified AV from cabling to control in applications such as a distance education classroom, house of worship, large meeting venues, and other markets. It facilitates the use of multiple cameras, microphones and displays and allows for sound and video mixing. Users retain all the capabilities of traditional conference rooms with the added capability of cloud connection and content distribution.
Control for the AV Bridge MATRIX PRO is provided via the embedded web server with a simple user interface. Simply connect the AV Bridge MATRIX PRO to the network and the user has access to video and audio configuration, matrix mixing and routing, streaming (USB and IP simultaneously), room labels, networking, security, diagnostics and image controls. Full specs are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron Ships Room Scheduler Extron is now shipping the Extron Room Scheduling application. Extron says it has simplified the room booking experience by pairing standard TouchLink Pro touch panels with Microsoft Exchange to create a complete, easy-to-use solution. While competitive devices rely on additional scheduling software or external processors, TouchLink Pro touch panels only require free Room Agent software and Exchange to deliver a convenient stand-alone room booking solutions for any size facility. Users can reserve rooms from any Exchange-connected device, including their mobile devices, or from the touch panel itself. Since Extron Room Scheduling uses popular 5″ and 7″ TouchLink Pro touch panels, multiple mounting options are available, including on-wall, in-wall, as well as secure mounting to almost any flat surface, including glass or granite with the TLP Pro 520M.
Extron TLP Pro 520M, TLP Pro 720M, and TLP Pro 720T TouchLink Pro touch panels require no programming, as they simply operate as a client of Microsoft Exchange. Booking a room from the touch panel is as easy as tapping the “Reserve” button for the time you want. The intuitive interface clearly displays room availability and a timeline view of the room’s occupancy status for the rest of the day. In addition to the customizable touch panel interface, bright green and red LEDs within the bezel make it easy to see if a room is occupied or available, even from down the hall.
All the complete details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
TE Debuts HDMI Extender and Matrix Transformative Engineering (TE) has launched the HXU-1 Xtreme HDMI extender that sends HDMI signals (1080p) up to 600 feet.
The HXU-1 is designed to simultaneously extend and distribute HDMI, USB, analog audio, RS232, and IR signals over CAT5e/6 and supports 1080p HD video and up to 1920×1200 (WUXGA) resolution. The HXU-1 transmitter and receiver units can be connected together for a long-range Point-to-Point connection via CAT5e/6 cable. They can also function as Point-to-Multi-Point or Multi-Point-to-Multi-Point solutions by connecting to a gigabit fast network switch with IGMP snooping and 8K Jumbo Frame support.
The HXU-1 TX transmitters and HXU-1 RX receivers are $499 each. Details are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Global Caché Ships New Products
Global Caché announced today they have begun shipments of its newest connectivity products, the Flex Link Relay & Sensor cable and the Flex IP with Power over Ethernet (PoE).
Global Caché’s products connect almost any electrical device to a Wi-Fi and/or IP network so it can be controlled, automated and maintained by network-based software. The company offers other connectivity products and capabilities, including IR learning and its Control Tower IR database, available in the cloud.
The Global Caché Flex Link Relay & Sensor cable supports four configurable contact closure outputs and four configurable voltage and contact closure sensor inputs. Combined with an iTach Flex Wi-Fi or IP unit the new cable instantly puts a variety of relay devices onto a wired or wireless network with sensor input for state reporting of connected devices. The enclosure can be mounted directly on a DIN rail, allowing for simple integration with external relays. Here are the details.
The new Flex IP with PoE (FLEX-IP-P) allows for power to be pulled from an Ethernet connection, avoiding the necessity for a separate power supply. The PoE version of the Flex is available on wired units only. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron Adds DTP Transmitters for 4K DisplayPort and HDMI Extron just launched the DTP T DWP 4K 232 D and DTP T DWP 4K 332 D, two input Decora-style transmitters for sending DisplayPort or HDMI, audio, and control over a shielded CATx cable to Extron DTP-enabled products. The DTP T DWP 4K 232 D extends signals up to 230 feet (70 meters), while the DTP T DWP 4K 332 D extends signals up to 330 feet (100 meters). Both DTP T DWP 4K D models provide one HDMI input, one DisplayPort input, and independent analog stereo audio connections. They support video signals at resolutions up to 4K, including 2560×1600 and 1080p/60 Deep Color. Analog stereo audio embedding and RS232 remote control facilitate integration in demanding professional environments. Integrator-friendly features include EDID Minder, auto-switching between inputs, remote power capability, and bidirectional RS232 and IR pass-through for remote AV device control.
The DTP T DWP 4K 232 D and DTP T DWP 4K 332 D help ensure optimal system performance by automatically adjusting color bit depth based on the display EDID, preventing color compatibility conflicts between the source and display. In addition to RS232 input selection, these transmitters can be set up to automatically switch when they detect a source, making them ideal for automatic routing and unattended operation. They also feature independent connections for embedding stereo analog audio onto the DTP video output signal. For added installation flexibility, the DTP T DWP 4K D transmitters can be remotely powered by Extron DTP-enabled products over the twisted pair cable. They offer an HDBaseT output mode that provides the additional integration convenience of a twisted pair output that is compatible with any HDBaseT-enabled display.
Here are all the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Pakedge Announces Custom Configuration and Branding Storage for Integrators Pakedge Device & Software has announced the launch of the Pakedge Custom Engineering program. This program gives systems integrators the opportunity to embed their custom configurations into the router firmware itself. In addition, integrators can co-brand their logo into the router’s graphical unit interface (GUI) and onto the unit label.
In contrast to loading a preconfigured file, Pakedge Custom Engineering is more robust, as it involves burning the configurations directly into the firmware. This means an integrator can still make configuration tweaks on a customized router, and can revert back to the customization by hitting the factory default button.
These customized routers accelerate and automate network installations by ensuring that networks are instantly set to the integrator’s unique specifications on every project. Registered Pakedge dealers will be able to set custom configurations to suit their particular needs, whether they be commercial or residential, market segment or application specific.
The process for ordering customized routers occurs in two steps. First, an integrator will consult with Pakedge technicians and develop the customized firmware — a process that generally takes two to three weeks to complete. Once the firmware is ready and available for order, the integrator can choose how many units they would like to purchase.
Pakedge Custom Engineering was developed to help integrators market their expertise and differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded market, against consumer grade equipment and other no-name commodity brands.
The Custom Engineering program is currently available on Pakedge RE-1 and RE-2 media routers only, but is expected to expand to other Pakedge network devices in the future. The upcoming WK-1, an 802.11ac wireless access point, will be the next Pakedge product in line for the custom firmware service.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Chief Ships Fusion Wall Mounts and Accessories Chief is now shipping the newest Fusion mounts — everywhere in the world — and a new line of accessories is also available and works across wall, free-standing and ceiling mounted Fusion solutions.
According to Chief, their engineers and designers held extensive interviews with installers and also watched installations in process to note any trouble spots they could solve.
The new fixed and tilt mounts still include the hallmark 4 Cs of Fusion — including Centerless lateral shift, ControlZone height and roll adjustment, Centris low profile tilt and ClickConnect tool-free latching.
- Set screws – keep the mount rigid and stable throughout the life of the installation
- Nesting spacers – can be stacked to achieve any depth and reduce waste
- Teardrop design – speeds up and eases installation through use of lag screws
- Magnetized ClickConnect – makes it easy to store and access pull cords
- Redesigned end caps – allow cables to be routed behind the poles
- Additional lateral shift – shifts wall plate around electrical and low voltage boxes on the wall
- Enhanced security – integrated security lever makes safeguarding displays easier
- Extension rod – provides better accessibility to ClickConnect on extra large mounts
- Interface hardware box – when displays will be mounted at a later time, hang interface hardware on mount rails without losing pieces
New accessories include above/below shelving, side covers, speaker adapters and CPU holders. Single stud adapters are available for medium Fusion mounts. The shelves can be installed above or below the display, and all new FCA8XX accessories work across the wall, freestanding and ceiling Fusion mounts, making inventory easier.
For a full list of upgraded models, new part numbers and tech drawing downloads, go here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Pakedge Intros New Access Point in WK-1According to Pakedge, the WK-1 is an enterprise-grade 802.11ac wireless access point with a built-in 2×2 radio (claiming speed three times the speed and throughput of wireless-N access points).
Available in white, making it ideal for most indoor installations, the new wireless-AC access point can also be painted to blend in to almost any architectural environment. It will also be available in black which might be used in auditoriums, theaters, or other dim lit conditions.
Powered by PoE+ and with a high signal-to-noise ratio, it delivers a clear signal from anywhere – making it ideal in hard to reach places. Included brackets allow the WK-1 to quickly and easily be mounted to standard or drop-tile style ceilings and walls. Because it is PoE powered the WK-1 does not need to be plugged into a power outlet, allowing integrators more freedom in deciding where the WAP could be placed.
The new, improved GUI makes set up easy. Redesigned for a more unified look to facilitate a more consist experience across the Pakedge platform, the new WK-1 user interface is what Pakedge says is intuitive and incredibly simple. Integrators can access the GUI, set up preferences, and upload firmware in a matter of minutes.
The WK-1 is the most recent Pakedge product to be enabled for the manufacturer’s Custom Engineering program, which burns integrators’ preferred configurations into the firmware. This means an integrator can still make configuration tweaks on a customized wireless, but can revert back to their preferred customization by hitting the factory default button. This essentially condenses your best system integrator’s knowledge and experience and programs in directly into the devices.
In addition, these customized units are co-branded with Pakedge — the integrator’s logo will be visible from the device interface and on the serial number label. The Pakedge Custom Engineering is intended to help dealers scale their business a little more, extending their market reach to new customers more efficiently and effectively while still gaining a profit.
Here are all the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
BALD Technologies Intros Manual Tilt Kickstand for Large Touchscreen LCDs BALD Technologies just announced the release of a brand new product that it says is specifically designed to simplify the process of transporting, setting up and tilting 30”-55” touchscreens. The two part machined aluminum and steel stand is quickly adjusted and setup/broken down by pulling two quick-release pins from the ultra wide, stable, multi-port base.
BALD Technologies is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
AmpliVox New Adjustable Version of the Patriot Lectern Ships AmpliVox Sound Systems’s has launched a new height-adjustable version of its Patriot Lectern. The 3045A Patriot Lectern is equipped with a push button, electric silent lift mechanism that adjusts the working surface height from 36 to 56 inches and any height in between.
The Patriot’s power lift mechanism allows the lectern to adjust to presenters of all heights while providing perfect sound amplification for audiences up to 2,500 and rooms up to 20,000 square feet. It’s made from solid lacquer-coated hardwood base and fabric-covered, customizable top.
Sound-equipped models of the Patriot deliver crystal clear sound with an integrated 50W amplifier, sensitive AmpliVox Electret Condenser Gooseneck Hot Mic, Bluetooth streaming capability, and optional 16 channel UHF receiver for wireless mics. The wireless version also supports a Dual Presenter Option, allowing one presenter to wear a wireless mic while a second uses the on-board gooseneck mic. The lectern moves easily on four hidden industrial casters and features a drop top reading table that can be used in either flat or slanted positions. The Adjustable Patriot is available in two styles: the Patriot 3040A Series with an open back and spacious storage shelves, and the Patriot Plus 3045A Series with an integrated cup holder, reading light and storage drawer.
Here is where you can see it for yourself. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Hypersign Integrates Google and Samsung to Create Digital Signage Offering for Education Hypersign today announced the availability of a new digital signage solution for K-12 in collaboration with Google and Samsung Electronics America. The bundled offering enables students and staff to receive a wide range of content on digital signage and desktop PCs such as standard school broadcasts to timely alerts for emergency preparedness.
With the combination of Hypersign’s own software, Google’s Chrome and Samsung’s Smart Signage, information can be accessed and updated in real-time from anywhere. The platform includes:
- Hypersign is a cloud based, easy to use digital signage platform that allows users to create and publish a wide range of content, which can be distributed to digital signs and desktop PCs from anywhere and managed from one central location.
- Google’s Chrome Devices and Management allows school administrators to manage their organization’s Chrome devices, including Chromeboxes, from one central web dashboard that can be accessed from anywhere and any time.
- Samsung Smart Signage Displays are designed to improve student engagement and deliver dynamic, cost effective messages. In addition, Smart Signage provides a simple, easy-to-use interface eliminating complicated set-up and installation.
This partnership is referred to as the “theconnectEDU” and will focus on improving communications between school administration, students and other stakeholders using easy to use tools and best in class products. theconnectEDU package of a Samsung Smart Signage Display, Google Chromebox Device Management and powered by Hypersign Software will be available from over 250 IT and AV resellers in the US. The release of the solution will coincide with a series of live broadcasts through Google’s Hangout on Air to be held May 5th, 6th and 7th. To learn more, go here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
VIA Announces VIA Chrome Video Wall DS Series Controllers VIA Technologies has announced the VIA Chrome Video Wall DS Series Controllers, featuring a selection of media servers for creating multi-paneled menu boards as well as standard, mosaic and architectural video wall canvasses for delivering dynamic digital signage content.
Leveraging VIA’s advanced Chrome graphics capabilities, VIA Chrome Video Wall DS Series Controllers support playback of Ultra HD (4K) content as well as the simultaneous playback of multiple Full HD videos.
Combined with VIA MagicView — their content management platform for designing, distributing and displaying digital signage content — VIA Chrome Video Wall DS Series Controllers are aimed to provide an all-in-one server design and to make layout design easier.
VIA Chrome Video Wall DS Series Controllers features include:
- Support for up to 16 Full HD outputs
- Multiple Full HD simultaneous video playback and 4K support
- 360° display orientation for architectural and mosaic wall configurations
- Compatible with Flash, PPT, HTML 5, and most other video formats
- VIA MagicView®Content Management Software
Details on the VIA Chrome Video Wall DS Series Controllers is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
New Extron H.264 Media Player and Streaming Decoder Ships Extron is shipping its new SMD 202, the latest addition to the company’s H.264 Streaming AV product line. The SMD 202 is a compact, high performance media player and live stream decoder used in H.264 streaming applications. It provides the flexibility to present the signal from a locally connected AV device, decode a live streaming source, or play back media files from internal memory, removable SD card, local USB or network storage. The SMD 202 supports a wide range of container formats and streaming protocols, making it adaptable for use with a variety of encoded media. Advanced signal processing, scaling, and aspect ratio management supply high quality signals to AV displays.
The SMD 202 is adaptable to different network conditions and streaming requirements, offering both push and pull streaming configurations. Audio output signals are available as HDMI embedded audio as well as analog stereo audio, making it directly compatible with embedded display speakers or existing audio systems. An intuitive, interactive on-screen menu simplifies setup and source selection using front panel buttons or the optional handheld IR remote control. Designed for pro AV applications, the SMD 202 can be controlled using Ethernet, RS232, IR and wired IR interfaces.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe ProAV 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 us feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to founder Gary at gary@ravepubs.com or Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
Everything we publish is opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship publication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition is co-published with CEDIA, covering 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
To read more about rAVe’s team and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top |
Copyright 2015 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: Sara@rAVePubs.com
rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
|
|
|