If there were a “University of Audio Technology,” it would be called SynAudCon; why reinvent the wheel? Synergetic Audio Concepts, known fondly as SynAudCon by the thousands of AV professionals who’ve taken its courses over the past 48 years, offers the ultimate audio “degree” program through a college-like track of classes. Pat and Brenda Brown, who run […]
When Len Dozier entered the AV market, Lyndon B. Johnson was the president, pro video was still black and white and Sony wasn’t a player yet. But, that was before Len sold Sony into every Nissan dealer in the U.S. Len went on to eventually create what is, arguably, the first mount company in AV — […]
The past year has been and continues to be a challenge for those in the AV industry, and it is even harder on those in the live events AV community. We are used to being behind the scenes, but being in the background proves to be more problematic — we are not at the forefront […]
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 […]
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 […]
Gary caught up with Almo’s VP of marketing, Melody Craigmyle, today to talk E4v — the E4 Evolution show, a virtual version of the E4 Experience. If you attended either of the 2020 E4vs, you know that it wasn’t like any other virtual event as it exclusively used the LAVNCH VTS platform. Now with the 2021 event, Almo […]
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 […]
NSCA’s membership is at an all-time high, as is engagement. Why? Well, according to this videocast with NSCA’s executive director, Chuck Wilson, and rAVe founder, Gary Kayye, when the economy is tough, communication, collaboration and transparent dialogue from within the industry community is critical. NSCA has built its reputation on providing systems integrators with business […]
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! […]
Happy New Year, everybody! I’m back with a brand-new podcast episode — this time about the live events industry and how that market is fairing during COVID-19. It’s no secret that this area of AV has taken a hit this past year. But that has led to a crazy amount of creativity from a […]
“Value engineering” are two of the most dreaded words in AV — they typically mean compromising system designs to meet the client’s budget. Most of the time, integrators use a shotgun to evenly distribute the discount across the project. In this episode of Selling AV, I suggest that may be a really bad idea, and […]
It’s no secret that within Rants & rAVes, I focus a lot on new products and new technologies. Without them, I’d have nothing to rAVe about! It makes sense that Jupiter Systems is featured on this episode because the company entered a new display category in November with its 21:9 aspect ratio UCC display — […]
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 — […]
Get ready for Gary’s annual Krystal Ball webinar presented by Almo Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, at 2 p.m. EST. LG’s Adam Coleman and Dan Baker joined Gary in the latest Rants & rAVes videocast and gave a sneak peek of what to expect in 2021 from LG, related explicitly to microLED and webOS technologies. Register […]
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 […]
It’s always a great idea to have conversations around Technology at a higher level with regards to the value it brings to a business. As such, it’s tempting to talk about Return on Investment (ROI), but is that always the best approach? Listen in to hear my thoughts. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: […]
When Samsung has a touch LED install, they turn to a Texas-based startup called Ion Visual Solutions. Started by former AMX’er Chas Thornhill and former Reflect Project Manager Jay Seng, the two are the Ghostbusters of LED installs. When a wall isn’t flat but Samsung still needs a flat LED wall, who are they gonna call? Ion. When they […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Sony REA-C1000 has won four industry awards — including two from rAVe — and you’d never know it. Dubbed the “Edge Analytics Appliance,” the REA-C1000 is really four separate products in one: a chroma-key-less CG Overlay (meaning it can generate a virtual background anywhere at any time without a green screen), a PTZ auto-tracking system, a […]
Few companies ever offer a lifetime warranty. And fewer ever offer them on display products. But, Planar just one-upped the entire LED market with its EverCare program — offering a limited lifetime warranty on the entire TVF Series of LED wall displays! Yep, a LIFETIME warranty. Why and how can the company do this? Well, Gary Kayye was joined by Planar’s […]
Gary was joined on Tuesday’s videocast by ViewSonic’s director of business line management for commercial displays, David Naranjo, who talked about the benefits (and applications) of its new 1.5-millimeter pixel pitch 135″ and 1.8-millimeter pixel pitch 163″ all-in-one LED products. These are already shipping and have a unique refresh rate as well as a built-in digital signage platform — listen/watch […]
rAVe’s own Steph Beckett joined Gary on his latest videocast to talk about an all-new podcast logically titled: Study With Steph. Steph’s been in AV for a few years now, and Gary challenged her to get her AVIXA CTS certification. Well, challenge accepted. But, since Steph never does anything alone, she’s taking you along on her CTS journey — so any and all AV’ers (who want […]
Gary was joined Thursday by VDO360’s founder, Dan Freeman, to talk about the $1,000 reduction on the company’s AutoPilot UCC system as well as the company’s line of SEE Series cameras. Since the pandemic, VDO360’s business has skyrocketed and all of it’s been through AV dealers — and they’re distributed by Almo Pro A/V. Watch! […]
For the first time ever, Gary Kayye and Jonathan Brawn will be presenting together. Both AVIXA Educator of the Year recipients, Gary and Jonathan are well-known and respected as some of the most knowledgeable display technologists in the AV market — Jonathan, a flat-panel display guru, and Gary, a projection and LED tech expert. Dec. 17 will mark the first […]
ClearOne just announced record sales and earnings, and some of its recent success points to the BMA 360 — a patented ceiling tile beamforming mic array. ClearOne’s VP of audio technologies, David Lambert, joined Gary on his videocast today to explain how the BMA 360 works and how it’s different from the other ceiling-tile-based mics on the market. […]
The famed Sixteen:Nine Happy Hour is coming back — at the AVIXA and DSF D=SIGN Digital Signage Conference! In the meantime, check out this videocast with rAVe’s Gary Kayye and Sixteen:Nine’s own Dave Haynes, chatting about the state of the digital signage market, too! It’s worth the watch! Space for the happy hour is limited to 300. Don’t miss it — register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dsign-happy-hour-hosted-by-avixa-and-sixteennine-registration-128767987517 Podcast: […]
Gary was joined by both D=SIGN opening keynote speakers, Laura Davis-Taylor and Beth Warren, today on his podcast along with AVIXA’s Sam Phenix and DSF’s Spencer Graham, to talk all about the industry’s new, premier digital signage event. D=SIGN: The Digital Signage Conference is coming Dec. 8-9 (aka next week). You need to register as this is going to THE event you will remember five […]
Almo is incentivizing its Encore Week of the E4v (E4 Evolution) show by giving away a 4K TV, a sounder (with sub) system and a new VDO360 OSHA-approved headset EACH DAY of the event (Nov. 30-Dec. 4) to three lucky #AVtweeps! So, if you missed any of the E4v sessions last month during the original […]
Gary was joined by both Sharp NEC Display Solutions’ President and CEO, Todd Bouman, and Sharp Imaging and Information Systems’ Mike Marusic, on his videocast today to better understand the impact of the joint venture that formed the new Sharp NEC DIsplay Solutions company. Nope, it’s not a merger — and yes, you can expect the synergy creating […]
BARIX CEO Reto Brader joined Gary on his videocast today to explain the simplest way to convert any distributed audio speaker into an IP speaker — using the company’s new IP Former. The IP Former simply has an Ethernet port on one side and 2-8-ohm speaker output on the other side; it allows you to put any speaker on an […]
As you may have read, security and home technology-focused Resideo (owner of ADI and Honeywell Home) acquired family-owned AV distributor Herman ProAV back in February. Now that the ink has dried and they are one company, Gary caught up with ADI’s global vice president of business development, Cynthia Menna, and Herman ProAV’s own Jeffrey Wolf, to talk about how they […]
