Volume 8, Issue 18 — September 16, 2010

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Welcome to another issue of rAVe ProAV Edition!

Today we have some great contributed articles, as well as our first article from our new freelancer, Lee Distad. Welcome, Lee! Today he writes about the challenges of designing AV systems for houses of worship, and how to approach different types of organizations.

We also have a very important article from NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson about the dangers of taking risks in this recession when selling systems or bidding for contracts. Don't leave yourself unprotected. Clint Hoffman and Tom Kopin from Kramer also have some tips for you about using HDMI in commercial systems that are very useful. Finally, we have an interview with Paul Depperschmidt of TANDBERG, who talks about the changes in their relationships with AV dealers and their place in the AV market since Cisco bought the company.

As always, let us know what you think.

And for all the details on CEDIA next week (even if you ProAV dealers aren't going), don't forget to check out our CEDIA OnDemand Powered by rAVe NOW page here: https://www.ravepubs.com/cediaexpo

Enjoy the issue!

–Gary Kayye, CTS

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Risky Business

By Chuck Wilson
Executive Director, NSCA

I’ve been all over the country seeing members this summer and have enjoyed the company, but not the conversations. No matter what topic we are on, the conversation seems to turn to some crazy story of a project gone completely wrong. Don’t get me wrong; jobs have been going bad for years, but not like this. Our jobs used to go bad because we missed a labor bid by a few dozen hours, or we forgot a crucial piece of equipment – that type of mistake.

But now, these jobs are falling apart because of things often beyond the limits of our technical and estimating skills. Risk management in systems integration and contracting has become a “business” issue and one we need to respond to quickly. Good jobs are going bad because of performance disputes, scope of work disputes, improper project management, restrictive use of subs and unplanned delays due to other contractors failing to hold up their end of the job. I spoke with one member who is still awaiting his retainage from a project from 18 months ago. Projects are costing our members real money simply because of unrealistic scheduling or because we signed a contract waiving any rights or any means to remedy.

Please do yourself a favor and carefully review what you are about to commit your company to in a contract. For example, never ever sign a document that includes an indemnification for the negligence of any other contractors or trades. Things like that seem harmless, yet I was with a member last week who faced a $500,000 worker’s comp lawsuit because of that one sentence. At least think about all of the potential risk-based costs for the project beyond just the necessary margins and labor-related items, such as project meeting time, legal fees, safety plan filing, numerous indirect costs and contingencies. I have seen jobs go at expected cost (actually below the real cost) with expectations of landing major change orders. That truly scares me.

I know it’s easier said than done in this tight bid market. I am very sympathetic to the commissioned sale person who is struggling to land that big job they have worked for years on and are ready to sign anything to get started. I get that, but sometimes, winning the project just can’t come at the risk of losing the company.

Chuck Wilson is the executive director of the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA), a not-for-profit association representing the commercial electronic systems industry. At the helm of NSCA, much of Wilson’s time is spent assisting contractors with the challenges of today’s business environment. He often gives lectures and presentations at key industry events, and has been published in numerous leading trade journals. Reach him at cwilson@nsca.org
 

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Tips for Installing HDMI, HDCP in Commercial Jobs

By Clint Hoffman and Tom Kopin

Sources and displays with HDMI and HDCP weren't designed for commercial jobs. Here's how to design reliable systems.

When tackling a commercial HDMI A/V system with some HDCP mixed in, it's best for installers to first take a deep breath.

Sources and displays with HDMI and HDCP – the new four letter words of A/V – were not designed for commercial installations. But with a little knowledge and planning, you can design and install profitable, reliable systems. Here are some tips.

1. Check HDCP compatibility of any DVI devices you will be using in the system. The HDMI standard calls for HDCP implementation. DVI does not. Know if your DVI devices are HDCP capable or not.
    
2. Remember that once a signal has HDCP, it must always have HDCP. If you are incorporating HDCP sources, you cannot convert the signals or use a device that blocks the HDCP information along the way. Any distribution amplifiers, switchers or other products you need to incorporate to meet the signal routing requirements must pass the HDCP if HDCP is to be used.
    
3. Other than sources and displays, all devices used should provide re-clocking and equalization of HDMI signal. Everything that is used in the middle of the signal path – distribution amplifiers, A/V receivers, etc. – should have active re-clocking and equalization circuitry to rebuild the signal. Avoid passive devices.
    
4. An HDMI 1.3 device does not necessarily support all the features of the HDMI 1.3 specification, so check each device specified and installed for the precise features required in that system. For example, a product might claim HDMI 1.3 on the packaging and provide deep color compatibility but not HD Audio. Don’t just look for the version number; be sure you have the features you need for your particular system in every component.
    
5. The signal driving capability of sources, especially in Blu-ray players, can greatly vary from model to model. Know the limits of each component you specify and install.
   
   If you have two Blu-ray players – even from the same manufacturer – one might be able to drive a 1080p signal 30 feet and another just 20 feet over cable of identical construction. You need to know what each component can do before you specify it and install it or you will be making return trips to the job site for troubleshooting and equipment replacement.
    
6. Not all HDMI inputs of a display are created equal. HDMI input No. 1 usually is backed by the best electronics. With the same source and the same 50-foot cable, you could conceivably get a picture on HDMI input No. 1 of a display and not on HDMI input No. 3. This is a probably a cost-savings technique by display manufacturers who are assuming that most applications of their product will be with a short cable connected directly from the source to the display.
    
7. Know what EDID your source is seeing and when it sees it. This will determine what kind of signal your source will send out. EDID is 256 bytes of data that a display sends to a source to identify all its capabilities, especially its native resolution.
   
   Be sure that you can pass that EDID information from the monitor to the source. If you can’t because of system design, employ an EDID capture and emulation device to ensure the source sees the correct EDID for the display being used. Don’t incorporate any device in your signal path that does not allow EDID to pass unless you have accounted for it with an EDID capture and emulation solution in the system design and installation.
    
8. If you need to employ range extenders, be careful of range extenders that rely solely on the HDMI source for power. Externally powered devices will provide reliable and repeatable results. There are too many variables with the 5-volt power from the source.
   
   Is it up to the proper level? Is it too low or too high? Does a distribution amplifier or switcher in the system that the signal passes through affect the level? It is simply best to protect your system from potential problems by using range extenders that are externally powered.
    
9. Signal range will greatly vary based on cable quality, signal resolution, signal color depth and the specific sources and displays used. As bandwidth of the signal increases with greater resolution or color depth, the distance that signal can travel in a particular cable decreases.

Cable construction (quality) can make a huge difference in the distance a signal of a specific resolution and color depth can travel. Even the specific inputs on a display or the outputs of one source versus another can also impact the distance a particular signal can travel. Use the highest quality cables you can, know bandwidth of the signal you are routing and its impact on your system components and design and know your sources and displays.

Don’t leave anything to chance or you will be troubleshooting the job on site and watching your profits disappear.

This article was originally written for and published in CEPro. Reach Clint Hoffman at choffman@kramerus.com

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Houses of Worship And Integration Challenges

By Lee Distad
rAVe Columnist

In all the commercial integration channels, delivering a great installation depends heavily on the integrator/client relationship and the communication dynamic between the two. While there are commonalities from one channel to another, the House of Worship channel, itself very specialized, has challenges that are unique.

To discuss the challenges inherent in House of Worship projects, I first sought out someone who can talk knowledgably about both sides of the issue. Reverend Brian J. Munro, M. Div., spent 13 years with Sony Canada, and was in fact the man who hired me there, and he was an influential mentor during my time with Sony. He left the business to attend seminary school and has now spent a decade in full-time ministry.

Like any segment of commercial or residential installation, there are horror stories. Munro relates one from his experience, a large church in Edmonton, Alberta that was built with a very modern and upscale vision, yet has a reputation for sound that’s always out of whack. “I saw their senior pastor take 25 minutes to do a two mic level check in the sanctuary,” Munro relates. In his opinion, the speakers were acoustically mismatched, and improperly placed, clear signs of compromises and poor communication. He says, “I don’t know, but I suspect that the integrator was never brought onsite to talk with the builder.” As a result of a fundamental disconnect between the integrator, the people using it, and the overall vision, the project went off the rails.

To Munro’s thinking, part of the problem with unsatisfactory installations lies in communication breakdowns and partly that today’s integrated systems can be extraordinarily complex, and require serious training to operate. Michael Garrison, president of Michael Garrison Associates, has been designing and installing AV and control systems for Houses of Worship for 35 years. He says, “Back in the early days, systems were simple: audio only, no video, and lighting control was barely considered.” He asserts that back then you could grab someone off the street and teach him to competently operate one in a brief time. Today, that’s not really the case.

From Garrison’s point of view, a system that has been “oversold” has two probable causes, and they sometimes intersect on the same project. First, that an overly aggressive salesperson pushed for a system that catered to his needs more than the clients’. Second, if the client was too vague, or didn’t know what they really wanted, that leaves the door open for a final result that overwhelms the client. Another integrator who agrees is Heather King of Studio Spectrum, Inc. She notes that their projects experience one of two extremes — either they don’t interact with anyone who will actually use the system, or they end up with input from everyone. “On some jobs it will just be the ‘suits’ who aren’t necessarily in tune with what the system needs to do, and on others we’ll hear from the choir director, the AV director, and every Boy Scout troop leader who might ever have to play a video in the church!” King points out that both extremes lead to confusion and the potential for problems.

In order for integrators to better understand their House of Worship clients, Munro advises that churches fall into three distinct types, and that integrators need to clearly qualify them in order to best understand where they’re coming from. Fail to do that, he says, and he says, “you risk having a disconnect between what you’re trying to set them up with and what they’re willing to commit to.”

The least common, but most visible, are the large mega church projects. “If you land one of these, it will be a breeze,” Munro says. “They operate like a business or an institution” and will have full time people who have been given a mandate to make decisions and already have a good idea of what they need.

However, mega churches comprise maybe 2 to 3 percent of all the Houses of Worship in North America.  The median congregation across all churches is still only around 75 members, and the average church is still the most likely prospect that your firm will be approached by. What makes it tough, Munro says, is that in that middle group, the board will take a couple of people who have some, quite often oblique, connection to the world of technology and put them on the AV committee.

To help these middle and larger churches, you have to be sensitive to what they’re trying to do. Munro recommends that integrators probably ought to attend some of their services and events and see what they really need. “You’ve got to put them together with something that they can feel confident using,” he remarks. “You should not only commit to design, you should commit to training, and charge for it.” Coming from an end user, that’s advice worth heeding.

The third group is the small, family-based, tightly-run church. Munro says, “What’s going to happen is that they’ll behave as if they’re trying to get a nice stereo for themselves. You’ll go through and qualify them, do up a nice quote, and then they’ll cheap out on you, asking you to remove things, and then complain when the system isn’t satisfactory.”

With regard to systems that are “under delivered,” both Garrison and Munro agree that the main culprit is lack of training. While mega churches have the funds to employ full-time techs, the reality is that in most churches, AV gear are shared resources, and the AV committee is putting them in place for access by multiple users. And sadly, having an amateur at the sound board won’t deliver the results they’re expecting. “You inevitably have a very limited time to train end users,” points out Garrison. “How do you reach them all?” Garrison says that third-party companies exist that offer training programs to church AV volunteers. They won’t turn amateurs into pros, but they can help. Alternately, integrators can take Munro’s advice and offer training, something that Garrison supports, with the caveat that mid-sized integrators seldom have the manpower to offer in-depth training programs.

King also supports the need for paid training, and points out that Studio Spectrum has done it for quite some time. “Charging for training is standard,” she notes. “We build that into our quotes, and typically do two sessions, one for the church leadership to give them an understanding of the system, and one for the volunteers.” It’s a policy that she says has worked well and accomplishes two goals. First, it means that the users have a better grasp of how to operate the system, and second, it increases her company’s visibility. “They remember us,” she says. “There’s often high turnover amongst a church board, and a year later nobody’s around who remembers who installed the system.” By increasing their face time with the actual users, her company is remembered when the time comes for more paid work.

Lee Distad is a rAVe columnist and freelance writer. Reach him at lee@ravepubs.com

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An Interview with Paul Depperschmidt of TANDBERG and Cisco

We have been getting questions from readers in the ProAV market asking us lately what is going on with Cisco and TANDBERG, saying that some of them had been dropped as dealers and they wondered if TANDBERG was going entirely over to the IT channel for dealers. We went straight to the source to get our answers, speaking to Paul Depperschmidt, a ProAV and videoconferencing industry veteran. Depperschmidt was working at TANDBERG when Cisco acquired the company, and is now the senior business development manager for TelePresence distribution at Cisco.

rAVe: What has changed for the AV Partners since TANDBERG joined Cisco?

Paul Depperschmidt: There have been no changes to enVision Partner program as a result of the acquisition. The opportunities that existed before are still there. Those partners that were certified with TANDBERG are still certified with TANDBERG and will have the opportunity to participate in the new integrated partner program.
 
We had a deadline for partners to complete the TANDBERG Authorized Partner Program certification on July 31, 2010 and some decided not to participate. All partners who were certified with TANDBERG will have the opportunity to move forward with Cisco.
 
In addition, we are strongly adhering to our selective recruitment process. During the first week of the acquisition, acceptance of new applications for partnerships was significantly reduced. This was done to ensure any new partner fits a geographic and/or specific vertical need such as AV integration. We are doing this to protect the investments our existing partners have made with TANDBERG and ensure we have the right mix of partners as we move into the integrated program.
 
The new integrated program will be announced later this calendar year. It will combine the best aspects of the TANDBERG envision Partner program with the world class Cisco TelePresence ATP Partner program.
 
rAVe: What is the opportunity for AV Integrators now with Cisco?
 
Paul Depperschmidt: Having worked in the AV Industry for the last 25 years, it is easy to see things from that perspective. Cisco offers the AV community the ability to be on the IT team. The days of IT managers looking at integrators with a curious indifference should soon fade away. Our solutions will now be mainstream and we should be invited to the table.  Estimates are that the TelePresence market will grow from $2B to $8B in a few short years. A rising tide will lift all boats. While there will be a move to more appliance-based solutions, integrated solutions will grow as well.
 
Cisco will be involved in all aspects of communications in our new world. In the future, TelePresence will be at work and at home. It will come in all forms such as desktop, meeting rooms and on PDAs. Digital signage will become pervasive in many aspects of our lives as we work, shop, travel and play. Video recording, archiving, data basing and retrieval will now use the power of the network to provide instant access to obscure sections of video that would otherwise be next to impossible to find.
 
As a driving force, Cisco will ensure these applications run as part of the network, not as an isolated layer in it. Applications will work together seamlessly opening up new tools that are not yet imagined. Cisco will need partners who can deliver these applications and the AV Integrators will play a major part.
 
rAVe: You and I have known each other a long time and we used to teach classes at the InfoComm Institute for Professional Development together to integrators helping them deal with change. What "change" advice would you give the integrator today, considering the influx of IT and the economy? 
 
Paul Depperschmidt: Be very good at what you do. Competence will be king. Cisco is looking for the AV expertise and competence that the AV integrators bring. The forward-looking AV integrator will race to understand how real-time communications such as video work on IP networks. Currently these are applications that run on the network. It does not require the full knowledge of designing and implementing networks. It does require the knowledge of how these applications will affect the network and how to assure the network is properly configured to provide the reliable Video service. Your new partner to help in this effort will be the world leader in IP networks, Cisco.
 
AV Integrators should also create relationships with UC and Network Systems Designers. In the new world, implementations of real-time communications will require expertise in all of these areas as well as AV integration. Be open to teaming with complimentary companies to achieve the overall goal for the end client.

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Polycom Launches Green Assessment Service Called 'Go Green'

During a Polycom Go Green Assessment, they say they’ll conduct a comprehensive evaluation of an organization's meeting and travel requirements, telework opportunities, and current collaborative tool usage. Polycom told us that upon completion of the assessment, you'll receive a summary report that outlines your client’s current carbon footprint, and what impact their current collaboration technologies (if they have any) or “traditional travel” have on that footprint — essentially establishing a baseline for their (and your) GreenAV efforts. Of course, the report also recommends further ways to improve productivity and efficiency in your organization so you can help sell and integrate a long-term carbon savings — and, of course, sell Polycom technology!

Quite honestly, this is an awesome service from Polycom and we expect all the high-end manufacturers to use this as a marketing tool to help you sell GreenAV gear in the future. No one can really justify an ROI on VTC versus travel as it’s never been the true equal alternative to “being there in person,” but if the clients you work with have a green concern or are moving towards sustainability in their future, this is a great start.

Want to learn all about it? Go to: http://www.polycom.asia/services/professional_services/go_green.html

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New Large Display Report Available from Insight Media

Late last week, the September 2010 issue of Large Display Report (LDR) debuted in what could be called the “summer of 3D.” We began to see hints of the technology moving into the mainstream with 3D on the radar of major TV chip vendors, and announcements that included:

• The #1 TV chip vendor (Trident) is now including support for frame-compatible 3D technology on its top-selling system on chip SOC (TV550) solution.
• THine signal conversion chips for flat panel devices announced 3D frame identification support (V-by-One HS) that makes the switch between 2D and 3D content streams more trouble free for TV system designers.
• Integrated chip technology (from ECT) makes available on-board, real-time 2D-to-3D broadcast conversion.
• More power (5x increase) is coming to pro solution NVIDIA GPUs (graphic processors) targeting large scale visualization and professional broadcast environments — further boosting 3Ds usefulness as a professional application.

Chip integration and continued ASIC development by top CE chip brands not only portend a maturing of the 3D market, but also reflects confidence in ROI (return on investment) from 3D technology. This sets the pace for a new wave of 3D integration going forward, with both efficiency and price/value benefits that could help spur demand even further. 

Elsewhere in displays this month, projector makers were getting ready for both IBC and IFA European trade shows with some exciting pre-show announcements like the new Christie 4K and projectiondesign 2.5K resolution front projectors, the latter targeting post production and broadcast for high res images with an LED illumination option.  Other projector announcements show that this technology is far from bowing out to the flat panel juggernaut, with short-throw options and 3D display images hard to match with any other technology.

To purchase the September issue of Large Display Report for $250.00, email: annmarie@insightmedia.info

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A 3D Glossary Debuts

The 3D@Home Consortium and the MPEG Industry Forum released a new glossary of terms to provide a common language for discussing, identifying and improving the subjective quality of stereoscopic (i.e., 3D) video.

This comprehensive glossary defines more than 235 terms for 3D videographers and their crews, post production, and test facilities. It is designed to facilitate their communication on the many distinctive aspects of digital production, testing, encoding and compressing, when considering three dimensions.

The terms were identified and defined in a joint effort by a Project Team of the 3D@Home’s Consortium’s Content Committee (ST1) and MPEG IF’s 3D Working Group, both lead by Sean McCarthy, Ph.D., from Motorola Mobility. The glossary is considered a ‘living’ document and we will see subsequent revisions and updates. Many of the terms are more easily demonstrated visually than in defined in written form, so the written definitions will be expanded soon with multimedia examples available online.

You can download a copy in PDF format by clicking here: http://www.3dathome.org/files/ST1-01-01_Glossary.pdf

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Minicom Launches New Platform: DS Vision Digital

Minicom Digital Signage just launched its new solution for media distribution and network-based control and monitoring capabilities of multiple remote displays. Called DS Vision Digital, they are real-time, digital, uncompressed (claiming to be FullHD 1080p) content players and managers that are all network controllable and manageable. 

The DS Vision Digital enables remote display management and control via the Screengate management gateway and features what Minicom is calling its Media Feedback Mechanism (MFM) — including a claim of patented Proof of Performance proprietary technology (POP) — so advertisers can evaluate the value of their network and operators can improve visibility and reduce system downtime while lowering operational costs and increasing return on investment.

Interested in the DS remote control and management market? Go to: http://www.minicomdigitalsignage.com/av_dsvd.htm

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NEC To Debut Pro-Quality LED Backlit LCD Monitors

In late Q1 2010, NEC Display Solutions will launch two new LCD public displays (46" and 55") in the NEC MultiSync X-series with LED backlights.

The NEC MultiSync X461S and X551S will be equipped with professional public display panels with the brightness and reliability standards suitable for public display applications.

The LED backlighting allows for lower energy consumption and an extra slim monitor. The products will be lighter and use absolutely no environmentally hazardous substances such as mercury, which is in line with NEC`s "Green Vision" campaign.  

In their press release, NEC Display Solutions says it has “…therefore decided to wait for these panels to become available instead of launching a commercial looking product with consumer quality.” That’s clearly a dig at other manufacturers who hope their high-end consumer products with LED backlights can climb into the pro public display arena (and probably explains why NEC is telling us now about 2011 plans).

Click here to see the entire press release.

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Christie Debuts 8,000 Lumen 1080p DLP Projector

Yesterday, Christie launched the new leader in pro-grade single-chip 1080p projectors in the form of the DHD800. The native 1920×1080 is a 1-chip DLP using TI's BrilliantColor 10-bit image processing and, in a first for a 1-chip DLP at this price, Christie has empowered it with four-sided image blending and color matching.

Replacing the DHD700, Christie is aiming it for both large venue HD meeting room applications since it has a series of lenses for both long-throw and short-throw applications and is specified at 7500:1 contrast ratio. Although not totally a GreenAV product, it does only use 23 watts of power in standby.

Here are all the specs and details: http://www.christiedigital.com/AMEN/Products/ChristieDHD800.htm

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ViewSonic's Interactive 7 Series for Education and Training

ViewSonic Europe launched five new projectors that’ll eventually make their way here. Aimed at the education market, the PJD7383i and the PJD7583wi, like the EPSON product line, allows teachers to write directly on the projected image via an interactive pen (without the need for alignment or calibration). Everyone seems to be going after SMART Technologies now (guess that’s why they went public when they did).   The entire ViewSonic 7 Series (PJD7382, PJD7383, PJD7583w, PJD7383i and PJD7583wi) are all IP-controllable, WiFi capable (even for video) and are XGA and WXGA resolution projectors.

To see the European news release, go to: http://www.viewsoniceurope.com/uk/company/news/vs_press_release_410907.htm

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Epson Launches Three New Meeting Room Projectors – But You'll Have to Buy Them at Best Buy or OfficeMax

We think there’s no better way to express our frustration with Epson’s distribution strategy than to simply reprint the first few lines from their newest press release. Here you go:

“Available at leading retail outlets such as Best Buy, OfficeMax, Staples, Office Depot, and Amazon.com, the Epson EX3200, EX5200 and EX7200 offer advanced and easy-to-use features, including USB Plug ‘n Play instant setup for Windows and Mac that instantly displays images on both the projector and computer by simply connecting a USB cable.”

That’s unfortunate, as all three models offer 2600 lumens, are 3LCD and very affordable. The $549 EX3200 is SVGA resolution, the $649 EX5200 is XGA resolution, and the $749 EX7200 is WXGA resolution (16:10 aspect ratio).

But, in case you’re interested, here’s your latest competitor’s website listing them: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Epson/Epson-Projectors/pcmcat139900050010.c?id=pcmcat139900050010

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Christie Adds New Product Line Aimed at Stagers and Entertainment Venues

Christie's entered the stage lighting market in a very creative way via their new Nitro Solutions so-called digital luminaries. The modular series of motorized moving yokes can provide up to 20,000 ANSI lumens of video projection, creating high brightness imagery on any surface from anywhere. With the optional Xenon or LED lighting heads, the system can produce up to 50,000 lumens of lighting. Nitro Solutions can be installed at ground level or rigged to a truss, and are ideal for building projection, architectural lighting and cityscapes, houses of worship, theme parks, and live events such as concerts and theater presentations.

Christie Nitro Solutions offer two motorized yoke options: a dual-arm yoke for larger video projectors ranging from 12,000 to 20,000 ANSI lumens, and a single-arm yoke for projectors ranging from 5,700 to 15,000 ANSI lumens. The modular approach of Christie Nitro Solutions expands the effectiveness of the moving yoke platform by allowing the user to deploy the yoke with either a video projector or light head. Other features include DMX512 control and a quick-lock attachment system for easy set up and take down.

For complete specs, go to: http://info.christiedigital.com/m/378/37651/

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Crestron Updates iPad App

The newest version of the Crestron iPad App is now available from the iTunes App Store, where it’s still ranked the #1 Top Grossing iPad Lifestyle App. This update includes automatic portrait/landscape rotation and gestures navigation on the iPad for both Crestron and Prodigy control systems. In addition, a graphic template with user-selectable backgrounds, designed especially for the iPad, is available from the Crestron website. Dealers can create their own branded designs and clients can duplicate the same look and feel on their iPad as on their Crestron touch panels using the iPad App.

For complete details, go to: http://www.crestron.com/products/show_products.asp?jump=1&model=CRESTRON-MOBILE-PRO-G

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Extron's How To Videos: Up and Running in Less Than 15 Minutes

Most people dread setting up a matrix switcher – lots of inputs and outputs to configure and wire. Watch Extron Senior Applications Engineer Chris Bach take a brand new SMX System MultiMatrix switcher out of the box and put it into full operation in just 15 minutes, with full HDCP compliance and quick source switching. Chris walks you through the simple, intuitive steps to configure the switcher and set up EDID management, installs an HDCP-compliant DVI I/O board, connects the sources and displays, and then demonstrates the switcher's fast operation as he switches between a variety of sources and signal types.

Wanna watch? Go to:  http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=smxootbvideo

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InfoComm's Wednesday Webinars Are Back

Are you an InfoComm CTS? If you are, you can earn renewal units (RUs) to maintain your CTS from your computer. And, even if you aren’t CTS, yet, you can learn a lot from InfoComm’s webinars — most are free — every Wednesday 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT.

Upcoming Topics Include:

• September 22: Business Development: Business Insurance
• September 29: Business Development: iQ AV Products and Provider Directory
• October 13: AV Math: CTS Prep

To see the entire Fall Schedule, go to: http://www.infocomm.org/cps/rde/xchg/infocomm/hs.xsl/7604.htm

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News from Renkus-Heinz, AVI-SPL, WolfVision…

Renkus-Heinz has appointed Rik Kirby to the position of vice president of sales and marketing… AVI-SPL has announced a new multimedia and presentation suite called Caméléon TelePresence… Alpha Video, an ESC, has announced a program to recognize the Outstanding High School AV/Media Coordinator in Minnesota. The entry form is available online at www.alphavideo.com/av-award… WolfVision has extended the warranty period on its visualisers from three to five years… Magenta Research has partnered with Peter E. Schmitt Company as a manufacturer's representative.

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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% 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).

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To send me feedback, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com

A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I've been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don't think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.

Everything we publish is Opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship ePublication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA and launched in February 2004, is, by far, the largest ePub in the HomeAV market (we blow away ANY other Publication in the high-end home AV 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. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com

To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com

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Copyright 2010 – 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.