Rants & rAVes — Episode 1075: Here’s the Status of the AV-over-IP Standard
Many people don’t know that there is actually a “proposed” AV-over-IP standard, called IPMX, that’s moving through the process of becoming an “adopted standard” for ProAV. Developed from SMPTE 2110 and managed by the AIMS Alliance, IPMX already exists. Also, a company called Macnica has a reference board, dubbed the MPA1000, that you can buy today — and, […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1074: So, What’s Up with Christie? A Lot, Actually!
Gary was joined by today’s Rants and rAVes guest, Steve Capling, director of global enterprise marketing at Christie, to talk about the plethora of new products the company has introduced in 2021. Working with THE rAVe Agency during rePLAY 2021, Christie will debut new projects in the 1-chip DLP Inspire Series, a new M Series high-end 4K25 […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1072: Check Out Draper at InfoComm 2021!
Not only will Draper be exhibiting at InfoComm 2021 this week but, the company will be heading there with two new product lines for you to see and touch! Gary was joined by Draper’s Randy Reece, who talked Foundation and Acumen. The Foundation Mounting System is aimed at dvLED installs and includes an innovative and rugged design, a complete side-trim option and […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1071: Get Ready to See eGlass and HoverCam at InfoComm 2021!
Prepare to be impressed with this real-time demo here on today’s videocast! In booth 3943, you’ll get to see the eGlass LightBoard) along with HoverCam’s new products and technology. And, Gary was joined by director of marketing Bayley Pierson on today’s edition of his Rants & rAVes podcast for a real-time demo. WATCH THIS and be impressed. In case that […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1070: Siemon at InfoComm 2021 — Cable Topologies and New Technologies
In this videocast, Siemon‘s Dave Valentukonis discusses cable topologies — including why #AVtweeps should only use Cat6A UTP and above cabling solutions. Plus, he gives you a sneak peek of what you’ll see from the company at InfoComm in Booth 2021. Yes, you read that right … Siemon will be in Booth 2021 at InfoComm 2021 so you […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1069: Planar To Debut All Its New Displays at rAVe’s rePLAY and MicroPalooza
Although Planar won’t be at InfoComm 2021, it will be participating in THE rAVe Agency’s rePLAY 2021 week (Nov. 2-4 2021), as well as holding its own six-city tour in November and December — (dubbed MicroPalooza) covering the entire U.S. Registration is free (but limited) and Gary was joined by Planar’s own Adam Schmidt and Steve Seminario to talk all about the tour (as […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1068: SDVoE Now Does 8K, Will Debut APIs at rAVe rePLAY 2021
The SDVoE Alliance picked THE rAVe Agency’s rePLAY 2021 event — the week after InfoComm (Nov. 2-4 2021) — to not only launch 8K over the SDVoE ecosystem but the organization is also using rePLAY to show you how its new API works! Gary was joined by SDVoE’s Justin Kennington to talk about 8K, the API, Season […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1067: Sony Won’t Be at InfoComm but It Has Plenty of New Products
Although Sony will not physically be at InfoComm 2021, the company will be leveraging the LAVNCH platform to debut plenty of new products during THE rAVe Agency’s rePLAY 2021 event — the week following InfoComm 2021 (Nov. 2-4). rePLAY is designed to wrap up everything we saw at InfoComm 2021, along with covering all the new products we loved […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1066: Yes, SpinetiX WILL Be at InfoComm 2021
Few companies grew as much as SpinetiX did during the pandemic. Even fewer innovated as much. From the cloud-based ARYA to its new Live Agent feature, SpinetiX has a lot of new offerings to show attendees. In addition to bringing its new 4K players with PoE and Wi-Fi, SpinetiX will be using its booth (#2027) to […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1065: Absen Will Be at InfoComm 2021 With New Products!
Yes, Absen will physically be at InfoComm 2021 with one of the biggest booths on the show floor, and, yes, the company will be launching new products. With the rise in virtual sets using LEDs and the move toward replacing LCDs with LEDs in meeting rooms, Absen is perfectly positioned for a big-time 2022. Gary caught up […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1063: What’s Up With NanoLumens?
NanoLumens invented curved and flexible LEDs — that’s its unique differentiation, too. But, in a sea of different LED providers, how does NanoLumens stand out? What are its other strengths? In this Rants & rAVes episode, Kurt DeYoung from NanoLumens tells you why he thinks you should consider this company first as your LED vendor. […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 13: The Customer Is Always Right
Let’s talk about gathering customer information. It’s an important part of specifying any room — you have to know what the customer needs. Of course, gathering info requires a certain level of communication. What are the best ways to communicate with a customer or client? What questions do you ask to properly find out what the customer […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 12: Radio Ga Ga
In the latest episode of Study With Steph, I invite Pete Putman (just in time apparently since he announced his retirement the week after we recorded) to chat with me about wireless radio systems. As you may have learned from Gary Kayye’s Rants & rAVes episode, Pete has had a long and fruitful career in the AV industry, […]
Rants & rAVes — Episode 1056: How’s the AV Market Doing? We Asked the Experts
Gary was joined on today’s Rants and rAVes podcast by AVIXA’s economic analyst, Peter Hansen, and its senior director of market intelligence, Sean Wargo. If you’re wondering when COVID will end, this is NOT the episode to watch. But, if you care about how the chip shortage will affect your business, when the AV economy will turn […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 11: Ohm My God
*Lizzo voice*: Y’all been waiting for this one! Every time I’ve asked someone for study tips for the CTS test, the first thing I’ve heard is “learn Ohm’s law.” So, being the physics-averted person I am, I avoided it like the plague for as long as possible. But I’m back. I’m ready to learn. Jim Maltese from Level […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 10: Control Freak
Control systems — they’re such a mystery to me. What are they about? What can they do? What do they want? Steve Greenblatt of Control Concepts, Inc. sits down with me to discuss just that. So — if you need help studying: commands versus functions, how a CPU communicates, types of control systems, etc. this is […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 9: Mixed Signals
It’s time to talk about the way we connect. No, not with one another. I’m talking cables and the things at each end you use to plug them into stuff. If you’ve ever wondered what a Phoenix connector is, why wires and cables are NOT interchangeable terms and why building an AV rack the proper […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 8: Networks (Not the Social Kind)
In today’s episode of Study With Steph, I catch up with my pal, Justin Kennington, to help me with networks. We answer the following questions: What is a network? Why does topology matter? What the heck is up with Ethernet (I previously thought it was just a cable. It is not just a cable.) For clarification […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 7: Video Killed the Radio Star
I took a few weeks to rearrange my episode structure, and now I am back here with all of you — and I am ready to learn! If you’re still following the CTS Exam Guide, I’m so sorry that the chapters no longer match the episode numbers. I will let you know we are still on […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 6: Blinding Lights
Now that I have some extra time to study for the CTS exam, I decided to take my time with this next section. Instead of hopping right into understanding video systems, I invited Sony Electronics Professional’s Chrissy Sara to discuss some concepts of light with me. As it happens, light works similarly to sound! Chrissy […]
Rants and rAVes — Episode 1036: Luke Jordan Failed the AVIXA CTS Exam — Now He Runs Its Certification Steering Committee
If you failed the AVIXA CTS test the first time you took it, you’re not alone. In fact, the guy who now heads the AVIXA CTS Certification Steering Committee, Luke Jordan, did too. It’s almost predictable, as Luke, vice president and co-steward at Electro Acoustics explains in this candid interview with rAVe’s Gary Kayye, if you plan to pass your CTS […]
Study With Steph — Episode 5: The InfoComm Announcement
In case you live under a rock and didn’t know, AVIXA has postponed InfoComm 2021 to Oct. 27-29. This news was a big sigh of relief for many in our industry because there is no way that Integrated Systems Europe and InfoComm in the same month was going to be easy for anyone. This week […]
Rants and rAVes — Episode 1033: AVIXA Shifts InfoComm 2021 to October — Here’s Why
Gary talked to AVIXA’s CEO, Dave Labuskes, today so Dave could explain — in great detail — the move of InfoComm from June to October. Remaining in Orlando, the show will now take place Oct. 27-29. This decision was very strategic and, in Gary’s opinion, a phenomenal move. Why? Hint: It’s not all about COVID-19! […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 4: Hear Ye, Hear Ye
This week, it’s the subject many of you have been dreading: audio. I (very stupidly) thought this would be one of my best subjects — and I now know how much physics goes into understanding sound. I invited AVIXA’s Chuck Espinoza on with me this week to talk about sound propagation, acoustics and more — […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 3: The Analog vs. Digital Episode
Hello #AVtweeps, this week’s podcast is a support group for any of you who have ever had trouble understanding the difference between analog and digital signals. Or, alternatively, if you understand the difference by concept but not by much of anything else. Tom Kehr, systems designer and trainer at Almo Pro A/V, was kind and […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 2: CTS Exam Logistics
Welcome to episode 2 of Study With Steph! This one goes out to all my homies who have decided they want to take the CTS exam — but then get confused about what to expect of the test and what is expected of you. In this episode, I met up with two of AVIXA’s be […]
Study With Steph — Lesson 1: Welcome to Study With Steph
Hey everybody! Welcome to the very first episode of Study With Steph. In case you haven’t heard, I am on a mission to become a Certified Technology Specialist. Word on the street is — it’s no easy feat. But that’s what I’m here for! I am taking a look at a test subject per episode […]
