Volume 14, Issue 24 — December 27, 2017
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Industry News Audio Control & Signal Processing Media Players, Recording & Distribution
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Augmented Reality Will Change Our Industry
By Scott Tiner rAVe Columnist
In my last column, I wrote about how virtual reality will offer amazing opportunities for integrators working in higher ed. A few days after I finished, I read an article that made me think about how augmented reality will change the basic functions of our industry. The article is titled “Why Every Organization Needs an Augmented Reality Strategy” and appeared in the November 2017 issues of Harvard Business Review. This was one of the best articles I have read about the impact of augmented reality. Take a few minutes and read it. After reading it, you will know that If you run any type of business: integration, design, support services or manufacturing, you will be impacted by augmented reality. Taking a cue from the article, here are some ways I think we will be affected, sooner than later.
In the article, Michael Porter writes about the visualization effects of AR. In the AV industry, we will see this soon with installs. A problem that currently exists with installs is that the installer needs to look at a design schematic and translate that to the physical reality in front of them. This is where many mistakes are made — in that translation. By implementing AR, installers will be able to look at the boxes in a room and the device will decode the barcodes on them. The box that they need at that moment will be highlighted by the VR. Then when they turn to the rack, AR shows them where in the rack that specific piece of equipment goes, based on a rack elevation drawing done by the designer. Finally, as they wire the rack, they see the images of where all the various connections plug in. This prevents any translation mistakes from the drawing to the physical reality.
Troubleshooting is another area where AR will prove to be extremely useful. This is both during and after installation. By looking at the equipment, the installer will be able to see all the information that they currently need to read on a computer. Is a video connection receiving signal? What level is a certain audio input set at? Additionally, changing any of these settings will be done by hand motions. A virtual volume dial will be able to be turned to tune the settings perfectly. The installer will be able to make these changes walking throughout the space, without carrying a computer. By implementing AR, installation companies will be able to save money by cutting down on errors and possibly reducing the number of staff required on an install site. Requirements for the designer to be on site will be reduced as the designer will be able to view the exact install and current settings, as though they were standing in the room, if the installer has any questions or needs to make any changes.
Providing a support service also is enhanced with AR. Imagine being able to walk into a space for a trouble call. By looking around the room, at the projector, at the touch panel and at the rack, you can get readings on settings and signals.
Documentation is another opportunity for improved services and lower costs. Since all the equipment is being recorded virtually as it is installed, there is no need to document changes after the install. This prevents future problems when those updates were forgotten to be made to the final drawings. Serial numbers, ownership tags, models, etc. will all automatically be recorded through the AR system.
As the article mentions, the biggest hurdle right now is the cost, awkwardness and availability of augmented reality lenses. These systems have decreased in cost and size dramatically, even in the past two years and there is no reason to expect this decrease won’t continue. The AV industry has a head start in this area, as we should be very familiar and experienced with the current AR equipment. The second hurdle is getting all the information into a digital format. Again, we have a head start in this area. Every integrator and manufacturer has digital drawings of their installs and equipment. To integrate this into an augmented reality view will become an easier lift because of this head start.
These are just a few of the ideas on how our industry will be drastically changed by augmented reality. Firms who begin to prepare for these changes will be ready to take advantage of them when they become more and more mainstream. Leave a Comment
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Have You Done These Three Things?
By Lee Distad rAVe Columnist
One of my favorite aphorisms (and I have plenty) is that you have to make the most of what you’ve got. Because, and while I know that it’s a tautology, all you have is all you’ve got.
That’s the essence of what it means to have best practices in your business. Best practices are just that: They’re things that you do because they work, and work well.
There are any number of aspects of your business you can evaluate and develop best practices. In my observations and experience, these three are the ones that should be given priority to improve on.
First, standardize your job processes. And standardize all of them. Everything your team does, from design to install to programming, should be done the same way, every time. It was drilled into me that the only thing “custom” about “custom install” should be the minor details in any given job. To the client, it may look “custom designed” but for your team, it’s just another day on the job. Especially with regard to system design, from which everything else falls into place, laying out every job according to a standard template saves huge amounts of time and, of course, money.
Following installation standards on the jobsite means fewer errors, fewer corrections and completing projects on schedule and on budget. If your team really gets their processes down to a science, your projects can come in under budget, which is always welcome.
Building on the last point, tighten up your labor efficiency. Managing labor efficiency is a thankless, but critical task for your project managers.
Years ago, and I’ve never been able to find it online again, I read a study on motor vehicle service departments for car dealerships. (It makes me sound like a nerd, but I enjoy learning more about other industries.) What I took away from the reading was that while operating at 100 percent efficiency (as measured by hours billed less wages paid) is impossible, the service departments in the study that were profitable service operate at between 45-55 percent efficiency. By contrast, despite being “busy,” service departments operating at an average of 28 percent efficiency weren’t profitable, and ran in the red.
It’s something that’s stuck with me, and while I’m unaware of any similar study done in the AV channel, it’s a useful heuristic to keep in mind while evaluating install labor.
Unrelated to the previous two points, but hugely important in its own right is the need to be on top of receivables. That’s something that sounds like a “duh, obviously” statement, but is often easier said than done.
The common denominator in many small AV companies that have failed is that they were lax on terrible at collecting the money they were owed. Deposits need to be fair, but also need to collect enough to fund beginning the client’s project. With progress payments, the contract with the client needs to be explicit about the terms required for work to proceed. As with everything crystal clear communications up front, and as the job progresses will help forestall disagreements. If there is a dispute, having all of this clearly communicated initially goes a long way to keeping receivables up to date. Doing a bunch of work up front for free and then getting stiffed isn’t a particularly good business model.
If nothing else, evaluate how your business handles those three things. If you’re not satisfied with how they measure up, work to improve them. If you do you’ll have a better chance of being around later. Leave a Comment
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AlltecPro Launches Operations By Hiring Vin Bruno AlltecPro, Serving ALL Who Deploy Technology (yes, that’s their entire name) launched business operations today. AlltecPro describes itself as “a manufacturer and provider of consumer technology and professional audio/video products for commercial and residential applications.” The company works with everyone integrating and installing technology in the corporate, education, construction, hospitality, entertainment and home markets.
Vincent Bruno has been appointed president of the new company. Previously, Bruno was the CEO of the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) and the director of marketing for Crestron Electronics.
“This is an exciting period for our industry as technological innovation advances rapidly and the opportunities are tremendous,” said Vin Bruno. He continued “AlltecPro already works with thousands of technology integrators around the world that professionally design, install, upgrade, repair, monitor and manage systems for their customers. Our industry delivers exceptional experiences by providing simplified technology workplace environments and personal lifestyles. Our clients include technology integrators, audio/video dealers, retailers, consultants, facilities managers, IT professionals, electrical contractors, plumbers, HVAC installers, builders, designers, architects, educators and homeowners. We work with respected manufacturers that build innovative products and we lead with our own house brands including Comprehensive Cable & Connectivity, Gallery Digital Signage Solutions, Alltec Screens, HamiltonBuhl, Buhl LED, AV LinkPro and HygenX.”
These in-house brands are all owned by the same parent company, Vcom International, the apparent founder and owner of AlltecPro. Alltec will be selling products manufactured by those companies, distributing other brands and offering services such as systems design and installation.
AlltecPro, Serving ALL Who Deploy Technology is here. Leave a Comment
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Audinate Releases Dante IP Core for Xilinx FPGAs Audinate has announced the availability of Dante IP Core, a soft IP solution for audio manufacturers. It allows OEMs working with FPGA-based designs to add Dante audio connectivity to AV products at a lower cost and with greater flexibility than ever before.
Development teams can save time, reduce BOM costs and minimize their internal footprint by using a single FPGA to implement both product applications and Dante audio networking. Dante IP Core efficiently runs alongside OEM product applications such as ASRC, audio encryption, and signal processing on a range of Xilinx FPGAs, providing channel counts up to 512×512 with ultra-low latency and sub-microsecond synchronization.
Dante IP Core reduces the marginal costs of incorporating Dante in FPGA-based products, offering OEMs greater flexibility in aligning product families. Dante IP Core runs on the widely used Xilinx family of FPGAs. and provides all the interfaces required to be a fully functional Dante endpoint, including SiLabs clock synthesis, serial and parallel audio, DDR2 and SRAM, and a variety of standard control interfaces including UART, SPI and I2C.
Audinate is now a member of the Xilinx Alliance Program, a global community of qualified vendors that offers IP cores, tools and support for system designers who are developing innovative products using Xilinx FPGAs.
Dante IP Core is available for the Xilinx Spartan 6 family of FPGAs. Support for the Artix 7 FPGA is expected Q1 2018. For additional information, go here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Introduces Architecturally Discreet Pendant Speaker Extron has entered the pendant speaker market with their new SF 3PT, a pendant loudspeaker with a 3” full-range driver for speech reinforcement and music playback in high-ceiling and open-ceiling applications. The SF 3PT is available in black or white and is paintable to fit in with any décor. Included with the SF 3PT is Extron’s exclusive PendantConnect speaker cable that combines the speaker wires and a steel safety cable within a single outer jacket, providing for a finished installation that is clean and secure. The UL listed SF 3PT offers both direct 8 ohm and 70/100 volt operation and is voiced similarly to the Extron SF 3CT LP for sonic consistency in mixed ceiling environments.
The SF 3PT pendant speaker comes with everything needed for a finished installation, including 20 feet (6.1 meter) of PendantConnect speaker cable, an Extron exclusive hybrid design incorporating the speaker wires and a steel safety cable into a single outer jacket, allowing for a secure and seamless integration using only a single cable.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Amphion Loudspeakers Intros Helium and Argon Bookshelf Models with Redesigned Cabinets Amphion Loudspeakers announces Helium410, Helium510, Argon0 and Argon1 bookshelf loudspeakers with redesigned cabinets. The two Helium models utilize also new, higher class components. The major cabinet change implemented with the smallest Helium and Argon models is the repositioning of the reflex tube. Now it is located right behind the woofer. The new design improves their bass response and enhances the clarity of the midrange.
In addition, Helium410 and Helium510 employ a new tweeter that they say provides a cleaner and wider listening area compared to the old one. This way the signature Amphion three-dimensional sound is brought to a new level, ensuring great detail and exquisite music appreciation throughout the whole room either in a stereo speaker setup or a complete home theatre installation. With this changes, the most affordable, entry-level Amphion speakers Helium410 and Helium510 are getting closer in terms of components and sound quality to their more expensive siblings.
The Helium410 and Argon0 desktop speakers already have a new design of their woofer grid.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Comprehensive Intros New CHE-HDBTWP230K — HDBaseT Wall Plate Extender Kit Comprehensive Connectivity Company launched its new HDBaseT Wall Plate Extender TX/RX Kit (up to 70 meters) with HDMI, VGA and audio (CHE-HDBTWP230K).
This kit includes one wall plate and one receiver and extends HDMI, VGA and stereo audio signals up to 230 feet with a 1080p resolution over a single Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6 unshielded twisted pair network patch cable via HDBaseT technology. Connection to the wall box uses 90° cable connectors. Auto switching displays the last connected device, use the front button for manual switching or serial RS232 switching option from a control device. Supports any OS and requires no driver set up. Bi-directional power allows easy connection to either the wall plate end or receiver end. HDCP and EDID are supported via HDBaseT.
Features:
- Transmit HDMI / VGA with analog audio signal up to 70 meters
- Bi-directional power from either TX or RX
- Includes one transmitter wall plate and one receiver
- Auto EQ adjustment for optimal signal clarity
- Input source sequence selectable via Auto, Manual and Serial RS232
- Support resolutions up to UHD (3840×2160) and Full HD (1920×1080)
All the detailed specs are here. Leave a Comment
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New Extron HDMI Matrix Switchers Offer 18 Gbps Performance for 4K/60 SignalsExtron’s new DXP HD 4K PLUS Series supports signals up to 4K/60 with 4:4:4 chroma sampling. They support HDMI 2.0b specifications, including data rates up to 18 Gbps, HDR, Deep Color up to 12-bit, 3D and HD lossless audio formats. These HDCP 2.2 compliant matrix switchers incorporate Extron technologies such as SpeedSwitch, EDID Minder, and Key Minder as well as HDMI input equalization and output regeneration to ensure reliable system operation. Digital audio can be de-embedded from any input and assigned to digital or analog stereo outputs for ease of integration. Available in 4×4, 8×4 and 8×8 sizes, the DXP HD 4K PLUS Series is ideal for applications that require reliable, high performance matrix switching of 4K/60 HDMI signals.
The DXP HD 4K PLUS Series matrix switchers are designed for use with computers equipped with 4K graphics cards, media players, and similar signal sources, as well as 4K native resolution displays. With a maximum data rate of 18 Gbps, they support computer and video resolutions up to 4096×2160 at 60 Hz with eight-bit color in 4:4:4 color space. In addition, these matrix switchers fully support 1080p/60 with 12-bit Deep Color. To maintain signal integrity, they feature automatic cable equalization on inputs and output reclocking to reshape and restore timing of the video signal at each HDMI output. These features combined with Extron Pro Series High Speed HDMI Cables allow longer 4K signal runs, reducing the need for additional signal conditioning equipment by compensating for weak source signals or signal loss on long cable runs. Additionally, +5 VDC, 200 mA is available on each output for powering peripheral devices.
The DXP HD 4K PLUS Series is here. Leave a Comment
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Metra Home Theater Group Debuts Spyclops Bullet and Dome Cameras Metra Home Theater Group just announced their Spyclops Bullet, Mini Bullet, Dome and Mini Dome IP Cameras. Metra Home Theater Group’s Spyclops Bullet IP Cameras, SPY-BLTW3IP4 and SPY-BLTG3IP4 are 4 megapixels (MP) at 20 fps or 1080 at 30 fps. The new line of bullet cameras, available in both white or grey, are ONVIF complaint, 2.8 – 12 millimeters manual varifocal lens, a 4MP CMOS sensor, built in Power over Ethernet (POE) and IR LED’s for viewing up to 40 meters at night.
The Mini Bullet IP Cameras, including SPY-MNBLTGIP4 and SPY-MNBLTWIP4, feature 1080p at 30fps or 4MP at 20fps and are ONVIF complaint. Available in white or grey the Mini Bullet IP Cameras feature 2.8mm fixed lens, 1/3” OmniVision 4MP CMOS sensor, Hisilicon DSP for wide dynamic range, built in Power over Ethernet (PoE) and IP LED’s for viewing up to 30 meters at night.
Spyclops Wireless Mini Bullet IP Cameras, including the SPY-MNBLTWIP2W and SPY-MNBLTWIP4W, from Metra Home Theater Group boast Wi-Fi support for up to 300 meters, 2.8-millimeter fixed lens and the capability to stream up to 1080p at 30 fps or 4 MP at 20 fps. Featuring IR LED’s for viewing up to 30 meters at night, the Wireless Mini Bullet Cameras are available in white and include an ONVIF compliant IP camera, 2.8mm fixed lens and Hisilicon DSP for wide dynamic range.
Metra Home Theater Group’s Dome IP Cameras, including the SPY-DOMEWIP4 and SPY-DOMEGIP4, boast 4MP at 20fps or 1080p at 30fps. The Dome IP Cameras are ONVIF compliant, available in white or grey, and include a 2.8 – 12-millimeter manual varifocal lens. Designed with built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE), the Dome Cameras include Hisilicon DSP for wide dynamic range and IR LED’s for viewing up to 30 meters at night.
The Spyclops Mini Dome IP Cameras, including the SPY-MNDMWIP4 and SPY-MNDMGIP4, are available in white or gray and feature either 1080p at 30fps or 4MP at 20fps. The Mini Dome Cameras are ONVIF complaint, include a 2.8mm fixed lens, Hisilicon DSP for wide dynamic range and include IR LED’s for viewing up to 20 meters at night. Here re the details. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV 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% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the high-end HomeAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004.
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Copyright 2017 – rAVe [Publications] – 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 HomeAV Edition contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
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