Volume 8, Issue 8 — August 20, 2014
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Crew Call
- Bad Hoc
Joel Rollins : rAVe Columnist
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Bad Hoc
By Joel Rollins rAVe Columnist
Sometimes, in my role as the general manager of a small AV company dealing with large clients, and being part of planning both their permanent installations and their events, I stand at a crossroads that can give me some perspective. Or get me hit by a car. The key for me, and for all of us, is to look around and understand that we are standing in that crossroads.
I think I’m in one now.
If you pay attention to the industry press, and to your clients, you will discover that there is a rift developing between their normal meetings, held in their own meeting spaces, and their events. And if 30 years in the business have taught me anything, it’s that these differences eventually must be worked out. The big difference is that their internal meetings become more and more free-form, more and more an event of collaboration than of information distribution, and that the agendas are more and more driven by the participants. On top of that, these agendas become less detailed and less meaningful as meetings become more events that are self driven between peers. On top of that, these agendas and the meeting materials themselves become more driven by contribution, in the style of each contributor — meaning that they come in the form of various forms of social media, Google docs, office online, etc. And often in order to look at these materials you have to go to various sites, meaning that they are never truly combined and never truly coherent.
I’m all for this. In installations, I am a big proponent of the bring your own device trend. I love it when a conference room is flexible enough to let everyone work in their own way. I love the trend towards huddle spaces, equipped for small meetings to break out at any time, using whatever materials the attendees want, with no preparation. If I watch what my clients are doing, their spaces are becoming less meeting spaces and more ad hoc collaboration spaces all the time.
Is that a car I hear bearing down on me in the crossroads?
As this becomes more part of company culture, I believe that we will see it change their external events and large events as well. I’m seeing some of it now.
Large events depend on planning. Period. But I am now seeing events being planned using social media threads, and with more and more ad hoc time being not only accepted, but demanded. Recently, I was sent all of the outlines for meeting using one cloud-based system, and material submitted on three more. The idea of the “show book” is becoming harder and harder to keep up with as guests, presenters, and attendees, each become used to tracking these things in their own way, developing their materials in their own way, and presenting them in their own way.
On top of that, the audience now gets into the act. All the time. There are very few meetings that I can think of recently that did not have constant comment going on via social media, often displayed on screens. Watching them go on, at times I feel that the audience is talking to each other more than to the presenters. This may be what they want, and with their internal meetings may be what they need. But the sudden changes in the meeting that are driven by these comments, and accepted by the presenters, can make it hard for a crew to follow.
Besides that, I guess that one of the problems that I have with it is that this trend tends to remove some of the things about meetings that I have enjoyed the most. In staging, we have always had a high theatrical element. We have stage sets, themes, skits, rehearsals, and a crew that knows what is going on at all times to achieve a desired effect. When the desired effect is ad hoc, what do we do with the show? How do we make the event something special?
And, as a longtime presenter, I have to ask the question, “Is ad hoc spontaneity a substitute for content?” Often, I get the comment “we don’t want too much agenda, because we want to encourage the free flow of ideas.” But all too often now, when I ask what is going to happen at a particular point in a meeting, I get the response that they don’t know yet.
Over the last year, I’ve seen more and more development of products designed for this type of spontaneous use in large meetings. There are now several systems for using smart phones for polling or even as microphone systems where anyone in the audience with a smart phone can talk. I’ve seen websites and cloud-based systems developed to capture meeting information among large groups. I’ve even seen professional facilitators spring up for holding these kinds of meetings.
So it has the opportunity to change the way large meetings work. It’s a curve we must stay out in front of, as inevitably some people will decide down the road that if meetings are going to be conducted this way anyway, the large event will become unnecessary. I don’t believe that is true, and I believe that the pendulum will swing back the other way as it always does. In the meantime, those of us in the rental and staging industry need to both stay ahead of the technology curve on this, and to be prepared to help clients get the most of these technologies, while reminding them what events are really all about.
Because the last thing we want is to be standing at the edge of the crossroads watching them go by. Leave a Comment
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GLP Launches New Generation of X4 XL LED Lights GLP’s next generation impression X4 XL LED moving head has 55 RGBW LED sources, each rated at 15 watts and each color matched to align across units. And with its quad color sources, the impression X4 XL offers a color pallet ranging from soft pastels to deep, strong saturated colors.
For effects across its face, the X4 XL allows for individual control of each of the 55 pixels, with a complete range of patterns built into the fixture as standard. Custom patterns can be programmed quickly and easily via a few DMX channels and recorded directly into the control desk. The X4 XL standard DMX mode uses just 26 channels with access to all functionality.
GLP says the optical system of the X4 XL has been designed to give even coverage of both color and intensity across its beam at all zoom ranges and doesn’t suffer from dark spots, remaining faithful to the core needs of a washlight and not sacrificing performance for gimmicks. And, the optical dimming performance of the X4 XL claims no color shift occurring during any part of the dimming process as an electronic shutter gives a wide and varied strobe effect up to 25 flashes per second, with built-in macros for ease of programming.
Finally, the impression X4 XL features 16-bit pan and tilt control, with 660° of pan and 260° of tilt movement, complete with feedback sensors to ensure positional accuracy at all times.
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Blonder Tongue Intros HDE-HVC-PRO Blonder Tongue announced the HDE-HVC-PRO, a new MPEG-2 SD/HD professional series encoder designed to deliver motion optimization for fast-paced programming, including live sports events. In addition, the company announced enhancements to its SDE-4AV-QAM MPEG-2 SD encoder, which enables operators to deliver more SD channels at lower bit rates. Both the HDE-HVC-PRO and SDE-4AV-QAM encoders bring increased levels of video quality and bandwidth efficiency to the broadcast, cable and hospitality markets.
Aimed at local distribution and retail applications, Blonder Tongue’s HDE-HVC-PRO encoder allows operators to accept SD and HD programming from a variety of sources and deliver video content streamed across a network. Using the encoder, operators can accept either one HD program from an unencrypted HDMI, VGA or component input, or up to four SD programs in NTSC baseband AV format. Each AV input program is digitized, MPEG-2 encoded and multiplexed into one multiprogram transport stream (MPTS), then simultaneously delivered as a single QAM, ASI or IP output.
The recent upgrade to Blonder Tongue’s SDE-4AV-QAM encoder offers enhancements to customers. The MPEG-2 SD encoder now features the same fast-motion estimation capabilities available in the company’s new HDE-4S-PRO encoder as well as improved SD performance. By encoding SD programs at lower bit rates, the SDE-4AV-QAM Blonder Tongue says it allows operators to deliver more SD channels per QAM without impacting video quality. This allows operators to cost-effectively expand their channel lineup and increase viewer satisfaction. With the optional HD-PRO software upgrade, the unit is configurable in either HD or SD mode via Web interface. Through a simple firmware update, existing customers can take advantage of the new motion optimization capabilities.
Both the HDE-HVC-PRO and SDE-4AV-QAM encoders support real-time Dolby Digital audio encoding. The details are here. Leave a Comment
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Sharp Ships 24” 10-Point Touchscreen LCD Sharp’s new LL-S242A-W is a 24” LED-lit LCD touch screen that offers 1,920×1,080 resolution monitor with a viewing angle of 178 degrees, both horizontally and vertically. It includes 10-point multi-touch capability that also features handwriting support via a fine-tipped touch pen. One cool feature is that a palm cancelation function prioritizes pen recognition, so you can write with the touch pen even if your palm is resting on the screen.
The LL-S242A-W connects with Sharp’s interactive whiteboards and Sharp video walls and is aimed for use in meetings, presentations, seminars and lectures held in large venues. Content on the LL-S242A-W, including the presenter’s handwritten annotations, can be mirrored in real-time on the interactive whiteboard or video wall for all participants to see. Sharp says the bundled touch pen allows smooth onscreen writing of both text and lines as it uses a 2 millimeter tip.
Here are all the specs [PDF]. Leave a Comment
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Extron Intros New USB Extender That Supports Everything Extron’s new USB Extender Plus extends signals from USB peripheral devices located up to 330 feet (100 meters) away from the host computer using a single CATx cable. The extender supports USB 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, and 1.0 devices with data rates up to 480 Mbps. Direct connection of USB peripherals to a remote host eliminates the need for additional IP network drops, equipment, software or drivers. For streamlined integration, the transmitter includes USB peripheral emulation that supports trouble-free booting of the host. Also, the receiver features an integrated four port hub with 5 Volts, 500 mA available on each port to power attached devices.
The USB Extender Plus streamlines integration by avoiding IT-specific design criteria that may be in conflict with the need to extend KVM in professional AV installations. Extron says that for increased system reliability, peripheral emulation mimics continuous connection of device to host. Real-time status LED indicators provide visual confirmation of port activity between an active host and each connected peripheral device. The 1” (2.5 cm) high, quarter rack width enclosure of both the USB Extender Plus transmitter and receiver allow rack mounting or discreet installation beneath a table or inside a lectern.
For more information, click here. Leave a Comment
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Kramer Intros VS-62H Ultra HD Matrix SwitcherKramer’s new VS-62H is a 6×2 HDMI matrix switcher that is 4K capable at 2.97Gbps per channel.
The VS-62H is in a small desktop form-factor and includes embedded webpage control, RS232, IP and front panel controls. The system features three levels of automation per output (Last Connection, Priority and Manual Override) that could even allow for a controller-free operation (automated switching). The video detection for automation is based on actual video clock signal recognition.
The two independently buffered outputs are geared towards dual-screen or video-conferencing applications with resolutions of up to Ultra HD (4K). As part of the automation support, there is also a display standby feature that automatically turns off an output to which no input is routed.
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Blackmagic Makes ATEM Camera Control 6.0 Available Blackmagic Design has released its ATEM Switchers Update 6.0, which adds support for controlling cameras from ATEM production switchers via the program feed to the camera. This is a free update from the Blackmagic Design website.
According to Blackmagic, the ability to control cameras from the live production switcher was previously only available to extremely high-end broadcasters who had the costly infrastructure that allowed this feature. With the new ATEM Camera Control software update, ATEM live production switchers can now control cameras via a new open standard protocol sent to the camera via the return program feed.
ATEM Camera Control is compatible with the new Blackmagic Studio Camera when running software update v1.8.2 or later. The Blackmagic Studio Camera HD and Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K models feature both optical fiber and regular SDI program return feeds to the camera and the commands from the switcher are broadcast to all cameras via this program return feed.
The Blackmagic Studio Camera can be controlled via a regular CCU style of control, however to allow even greater creativity, the Blackmagic Studio Camera has a fully featured DaVinci Resolve primary color corrector built in featuring the same YRGB style grading that is found on DaVinci Resolve.
This new ATEM Camera Control with color correction will allow customers to not only get perfect matching between cameras on live production, but operators can also take into account changing light conditions, which is common on outdoor events. Then when customers need to generate creative looks, such as for music videos, they can push the correction further for exciting looks all in real time.
The control panel in the ATEM Software Control allows normal operation of the ATEM live production switcher, but then at any time the user can select the camera tab and then see the controls for each camera. They get a familiar CCU style of interface with easy control of black and iris settings on the camera as well as focus. When controlling a camera, this camera is automatically output using one of the switchers aux. outputs so the operator can use this aux. output to local monitoring.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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DVIGear Launches Line of HDBaseT Extenders DVIGear just launched two new HDBaseT extenders in the DVI-7520 and DVI-7525 aimed at the commercial AV and rental markets.
DVIGear says both the DVI-7520 and DVI-7525 extend uncompressed HDMI or DVI, embedded audio, bidirectional RS232 and IR and Ethernet (DVI-7525 only) using a single twisted-pair CATx cable. They claim that both these extenders support HDBaseT 5Play, route resolutions up to 4K / 30p (UHD) resolution, bidirectional IR, POH (see below) and long range operation:
- DVI-7520: 4K / 30p up to 130 ft. (~ 40 m), 1080p up to 230 ft. (~ 70 m)
- DVI-7525: 4K / 30p up to 230 ft. (~ 70 m), 1080p up to 330 ft. (~ 100 m)
Using “Power over HDBaseT” (POH), this uses a standardized 48 VDC power as well as a handshake feature that prevents power exchange with incompatible devices. As you know — and about which we have written extensively — today there are many HDBaseT products on the market that utilize non-standard implementations of power over the HDBaseT link. This problem has created numerous interoperability challenges for system integrators who are faced with HDBaseT products that do not work with each other or in some cases actually cause equipment failures. Kudos to DVIGear for doing HDBaseT right.
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BenQ Adds Two 6,000-Lumen Projectors to Lineup BenQ America has just launched its brightest projectors yet with the SH963 and TH963. Both are specified at 6,000 lumens using a two-lamp system. Using native 1080p DLP chips, they’re both integrated with the Hollywood Quality Video (HQV) processing technology from Qualcomm, have optional long- and short-throw lenses and they are both categorized as large venue projectors. They also have a spec of a contrast ratio of 8300:1.
They offer 1.5x zoom capabilities, horizontal/vertical lens shifting, 2D keystone correction, and an embedded test pattern and the TH963 offers optional short-throw or long-throw lenses. Inputs include HDMI, VGA, five BNC and network posts. Also, with a LAN control feature, the projectors also provide support for Crestron, SNMP, PJLink, and AMX systems, Extron for enabling remote management and control in addition to projector maintenance from workstations.
Using Colorific technology, both projectors also include power-saving features such as an “Eco Blank Mode” that allows presenters to blank out the projection screen whenever the projector is not in use and a standby mode, where users can lower power consumption to less than 0.5W while the units are inactive. Lamp replacement is via access from the side or top of the projector and BenQ says a filter-free optical system further reduces the TCO of the devices.
The SH963 and TH963 projectors are now shipping and specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Middle Atlantic Takes Aim at Chief and Peerless-AV with Debut of Display CartsThe new FlexView Series from Middle Atlantic is a collection of display stands and carts aimed at ProAV applications like hospitality and education.
Middle Atlantic claims that their FlexView solutions feature the lowest profile display mount in the industry as well as a smaller base for unimpeded, up close display interaction. In addition, it enables mounting of larger displays than competitively-priced solutions currently available in the market, including most 90” screens with VESA 800 mounting or smaller.
Models are available with electric or manual display height adjustment for ADA compliance and versions are also available in stationary or mobile configurations with rugged casters.
FlexView options enable integrators to do more within a slim profile with features like the Lever Lock system for small component mounting and a locking easy-access door for quick maintenance. All carts and stands are integrator and end-user friendly with storage where it’s needed and useful options and accessories to provide more flexibility in customizing the solution to the application.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Extron Introduces Six-Input, Four-Output Audio Expansion Processor With AEC and Dante Extron has introduced the AXP 64 C AT, an audio expansion processor with six mic/line inputs and four line outputs for remote connectivity to a Dante-enabled DMP 128 audio system. It is used to place six mic/line sources onto a Dante audio network and route any four Dante channels from the network to an amplifier or other destination. The AXP 64 C AT features Extron ProDSP with gain, filtering and dynamics processing for all inputs and outputs. Four of the inputs also include AEC, 48 volt phantom power, and control ports. FlexInputs offer the additional capability to process Dante channels in place of the first four local inputs. A single Ethernet cable from one AXP 64 C AT, or several linked units, to a central equipment rack greatly reduces the effort and expense of pulling one cable for each endpoint.
The AXP 64 C AT includes four independent channels of AEC with advanced algorithms for fast convergence and optimal intelligibility in conferencing applications. The AEC-enabled inputs also offer FlexInput capability to route a Dante channel through the processor in place of a local mic/line input. The flexible input selection enables the AXP 64 C AT to process audio from remote wireless microphones, wall plates, and other sources from anywhere on the Dante network.
In an installation with a large number of mics, the AXP 64 C AT audio expansion processor places audio signals onto the Dante audio network using standard IP networking. Signals are received as expansion inputs at one or more DMP 128 AT processors. A sound system designer can incorporate several AXP 64 C AT or Extron AXP 50 C AT audio expansion processors to create a large mixing matrix with up to 56 remote inputs and 24 outputs per DMP 128 AT using the built-in four-port Gigabit switch. This greatly simplifies scalability and the audio cabling infrastructure by avoiding long analog mic cable runs. To further simplify the audio cabling infrastructure, the AXP 64 C AT converts four channels from the Dante network to line level audio signals, processes them, and routes the optimized audio to local sound reinforcement systems.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Sony Adds Wireless Streaming HD HandicamThe new Sony PXW-X180 is a portable camcorder for house of worship and rental applications that includes XDCAM technology. It offers features such as fixed G lens, three 1/3-inch type Exmor CMOS HD sensors for full HD 1920×1080 shooting, 25x HD zoom lens and an OLED viewfinder.
Sony also claims that a variable ND filter device will allow users to manually control density and brightness with a simple dial operation, which no other camcorder has. An integrated wireless function is interesting as it allows you to control the camera remotely via a smartphone or tablet, or transfer recorded video files from the camcorder to the smartphone in MP4 format, with live streaming. Finally, it also includes multi-CODEC recording, including XAVC.
Here are all the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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BenQ Ships New M6 Series WXGA Projector BenQ is shipping the latest in its M6 series, the MW665 projector, which is aimed at houses of worship, classrooms and boardrooms. It offers 3,200 ANSI lumens of brightness, a 13,000:1 contrast ratio and is integrated with SmartEco energy-saving features to lower the projector’s total cost of ownership (TCO).
Featuring BenQ’s Colorific technology and using native WXGA (1280×800) resolution DLP chip, the MW665 includes HDMI, VGA, wired LAN display and control, in addition to wireless connectivity. When paired with the BenQ QPresenter Pro app, participants can collaborate and share documents, photos, and Web content directly from their mobile devices or laptops. And, the MW665 also provides support for AMX, Crestron and PJLink systems.
When using the projector’s SmartEco mode, BenQ says the MW665 automatically adjusts lamp power by up to 70 percent. For environments where the projector has to remain powered on, BenQ’s LumenCare setting enables the unit to maintain constant brightness for the first 2,100 hours of lamp life. To further reduce power consumption, an “Eco Blank” mode allows presenters to blank out the screen whenever projection isn’t needed, while a “No Source Detected” mode automatically lowers brightness to 30 percent when no signal has been detected for more than three minutes. In “Standby” mode, the projector will lower power consumption to less than 0.5 watts during periods of inactivity, providing even greater energy savings and further lowering TCO.
The MW665 is already shipping with a list price of $999 and here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Extron Introduces Two New IP Link Pro Control Processors Extron has added two more control processors to its line: the IPL Pro CR88 and IPL Pro IRS8. The IPL Pro CR88 features eight contact closure inputs and eight relay ports, while the IPL Pro IRS8 features eight one-way IR/serial ports. These are both compact IP Link Pro control processors and include all the features found in the entire IP Link Pro family including power, speed and memory, as well as Ethernet control and enhanced security. They are compatible with TouchLink Pro touch panels and are ideally suited to take advantage of the advanced configuration options within Extron’s Global Configurator Plus and Global Configurator Professional.
The IPL Pro CR88 and IPL Pro IRS8 are compatible with GlobalViewer Enterprise software for complete, centralized AV resource monitoring, management, and control over a computer network. They are ideal for use as either primary control processors in smaller AV systems or as secondary control processors in AV applications that require control for multiple devices.
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe Rental [and Staging] 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).
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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 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
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