Systems Contractor News - May 2023

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Young Leaders Blaze New Trails in Pro AV AVNETWORK.COM

GETTY IMAGES

MAY 2023

19 Executive Q&A

Atlona's Jamey Swigert discusses BYOD and more.

34 Do You See What I Hear?

CommLink Integration’s Evan Landry talks audio design.

42 Viewpoint

19

34

42

Nyere Hollingsworth delivers a progress report on meeting equity.

YOUR INSIDER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS

®

Young Leaders Blaze New Trails in Pro AV AVNETWORK.COM

GETTY IMAGES

MAY 2023

19 Executive Q&A

Atlona's Jamey Swigert discusses BYOD and more.

34 Do You See What I Hear?

CommLink Integration’s Evan Landry talks audio design.

42 Viewpoint

19

34

42

Nyere Hollingsworth delivers a progress report on meeting equity.

CONTENTS

24

The Nine The future of Pro AV is in the hands of individuals like these young

leaders. Meet this year's members of The Nine.

34

People

Technology

18 Executive Q&A

34 Do You See What I Hear?

James Chen from Kordz reflects on the company’s

Don’t let poor audio design distract from the live

20-year history of better connectivity.

experience.

By Mark J. Pescatore

By Evan Landry

19 Executive Q&A

35 Certify or Die

Executive director Jamey Swigert talks BYOD and

In today's hybrid workplace, UC device certification

more as Atlona celebrates 20 years.

programs matter. Here's why.

By Mark J. Pescatore

By Vic Bhagat

22 On Your Business

36 Room Scheduling Made Easy

Learn why small businesses need a leadership team

How do you choose the “right” control panel for your

for long-term success.

hybrid workspace?

By Steve Greenblatt

By Wayne Cavadi

Viewpoint

Business

42 Meeting Equity: A Progress Report

30 One Standard to Rule Them All?

Why we need better communication between

A common chipset and 10GigE transport help make

corporate real estate and tech professionals.

the case for SDVoE.

By Nyere Hollingsworth

By James Careless

32 Blueprint for Success If you’re not adopting AI in your business, you might already be behind the competition.

By Julian Phillips

30

Departments 6 SYSTEMS CHECK 8 NEWS 20 NEWSMAKERS 40 NEW PRODUCTS

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SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

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MAY 2023 VOL. 30 NO. 5

MARK J. PESCATORE Content Director

Do You Waste Time with Technology?

V

ideoconferencing has become an indispensable part of today’s business world. Too bad it’s such a waste of time.

Well, maybe not the meetings themselves. In any organization, there

are budgets to discuss, courses of action to debate, and corporate cultures to

EMAIL

mark.pescatore@futurenet.com

nourish. All these talking points can be addressed via videoconference—and with today’s remote workforce, it might just be the most effective way to get through that laundry list of action items. Your results may vary.

FACEBOOK

facebook.com/ systemscontractor

The wasted time comes from tangling with technology. Late last year, MAXHUB shared some rather alarming research. Based on a sample size of 2,000 adults in Great Britain, almost 60% of employees admitted it can take up to 10 minutes for them to setup virtual videoconferencing technology. And before you scoff at those struggling to make the platform of the day play nice with the camera of the day, let

LINKEDIN linkedin.com/company/ systems-contractor-news

ye among us who have not been accosted with the dreaded “You’re on mute!” declaration cast the first stones.

Back at the office, 48% of workers said user-friendly technology was the top priority when using videoconferencing to work with their off-site colleagues.

Specifically, more than a third (37%) stressed the importance of a good microphone,

TWITTER twitter.com/scnmag

while another 37% said hassle-free BYOD was central to hybrid success.

Here’s another nugget: 28% of respondents didn’t think their company had the right technology for them to perform to the highest standard for their job (for hybrid work). The tech numbers are bad enough, but what’s arguably worse is that 23% of U.K. workers felt excluded when they remotely joined a virtual work meeting.

For workers aged 18-24, that number increased to 27%.

I know what you’re thinking: Aren’t those whippersnappers supposed to be better with technology? Maybe they are, but they aren’t necessarily better at working from home. Maybe they’re new to the workforce and less inclined to speak up in a meeting with people who haven’t had a chance to truly engage with them.

Instead, they’re just another face in a Brady Bunch video mosaic—and too young to get the Brady Bunch reference.

Tony McCool, MAXHUB’s U.K. and Ireland sales

Everyone who works remotely, even on a hybrid basis, should get a standardized satchel of tech.

manager, noted that many businesse s have failed to keep pace with the AV equipment needed for the new hybrid workforce. “It is crucial that all businesses carefully assess their AV needs and the design of AV within meeting spaces,” he explained.

Whether you like it or not, hybrid meetings are the one from Crestron, 60% of respondents said remote participants were part of at least half of their meetings— and almost a third (30%) have at least one remote participant in all their meetings. If you don’t want employees to

How do you do that? A smart first step is to create a remote worker technology kit. Not only should integrators be providing these to their employees, but they should have two or three kits at various price points ready for the next bidder.

Everyone who works remotely, even on a hybrid basis, should get a standardized satchel of tech. We’re talking webcam, speakerphone, headset, lighting, and a portable USB docking station that can handle all the peripherals you provide.

Standardize it all, so it’s easy to deploy, support, and replace.

To be fair, standardized technology kits will be quite the expense, depending on the size of the organization. You know what else is expensive? Replacing quality remote employees who feel disconnected from virtual meetings.

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

Content Director Mark J. Pescatore, Ph.D. mark.pescatore@futurenet.com Content Manager Wayne Cavadi Contributors Vic Bhagat, James Careless, Steve Greenblatt, Jennifer Guhl, Nyere Hollingsworth, Evan Landry, Julian Phillips Group Art Director Nicole Cobban Art Editor Rob Crossland Trainee Designer Eva Garis Production Managers Nicole Schilling, Heather Tatrow A DV E R T I S I N G S A L E S

Vice President, AV/Consumer Electronics & Pro Audio Adam Goldstein, adam.goldstein@futurenet.com, 212-378-0465 Sales John Casey, john.casey@futurenet.com, 845-678-3839 Janis Crowley, janis.crowley@futurenet.com, 845-414-6791 Debbie Rosenthal, debbie.rosenthal@futurenet.com, 212-378-0468 Zahra Majma, zahra.majma@futurenet.com, 845-678-3752 Andi Tureson andi.tureson@futurenet.com SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE

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new normal. According to a different research study, this

feel excluded when they work from home, make them feel like part of the team.

6

CONTENT

VP/Content Creation Anthony Savona

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NEWS John Macdonald

Level 3 Audiovisual Achieves Memnon AV900 Compliance Opens New HQ

L

evel 3 Audiovisual has achieved AV9000

whole is applying quality management in the

Compliance, making it one of only a hand-

services it provides. This provides the first level of

ful of companies worldwide to achieve the

evidence to buyers that they are receiving the

designation, highlighting its quality assurance pro-

services they ordered, and that the company is

cesses for full design, implementation, and man-

committed to delivering high-quality solutions that

agement of AV systems for enterprise businesses.

meet their expectations.

M

edia preservation and migration services provider Memnon has completed a move to a new, purpose-built facility that will

act as its headquarters for U.S. operations.

Since 2014, Memnon has been located on the campus of Indiana University, Bloomington, initially

The designation confirms that Level 3 Audiovisual

“The Association for Quality in Audio Visual

has implemented quality management processes in

Technology is thrilled to welcome Level 3 into the

as a dedicated on-site delivery facility for a major multi-year migration project with the university. Now,

its services and meets the rigorous standards set by

small and elite group of companies who have attained

as both Memnon’s regional and global operations

AQAV for AV technology providers.

AV9000 Compliance,” said William Lawrence Jr.,

continue to grow, the team has moved to a new facility

“Achieving AV9000 Compliance is a critical

executive director, AQAV. “Level 3 Audiovisual has

just a few miles away in Bloomington. The new media

milestone for us and has been a part of our vision

shown exemplary evidence of compliance during the

migration and warehousing facility provides the team

for many years,” said Jeremy Elsesser, CEO of Level

qualification audit, and is clearly invested in Page 1

with more space, allowing them to improve overall

3 Audiovisual. “Our team has been running a

furthering the pursuit of quality. Achieving AV9000

capacity and efficiency across production and opera-

marathon of inches that requires everyone to be

Compliance certification is no small effort, and

tions, and opens the door for future expansion.

aligned and in sync with our vision for excellence in

demonstrates Level 3 Audiovisual’s invested efforts

quality. This certification is an incredible moment

to make all their outcomes better through pervasive

new U.S. director of operations and production. “I’m

in our history, and we are proud to serve as a leader

quality assurance.”

excited to lead such an amazing team here in Bloom-

in quality for our industry.”

Memnon has also welcomed John Macdonald as its

ington, and I look forward to seeing what new

More buyers, especially at enterprise busi-

opportunities the facility brings us," he said.

nesses, are requiring AV vendors to be AV9000 compliant. It goes beyond individual skills and

Utter Is Now ZTransform

certifications—and verifies that the company as a

U

tter Associates has announced a rebrand and change of company name to ZTransform.

Since it was established in 2004, the Seattle-

based company has built a reputation for innovation and quality in services such as facility planning, architecture and construction interfacing, systems engineering, integration, and operational readiness.

ZTransform has expanded into the corporate new media space, added a broad managed services catalog—including technical and operations training, technical support, and staff augmentation—and continues to offer value-added equipment sales nationwide.

“The inspiration for this exciting rebrand

JEREMY ELSESSER

Digital Projection Brings Alley Mural to Life

revolves around the continued growth of our team, our expanding customer roster, and our increased ability to manage multiple projects without

“Mountain Majesty” is a 40x60-foot, black-and-

through a child’s eyes. Immersive experience

compromising the first-class standard

white mural accentuated by colorful, projection-

designer George Berlin said the Titan projector

of service that our customers have come

mapped visuals via by a Digital Projection Titan

“allowed us to create a focused, rich, and vibrant

to expect,” said Erik Utter, president

projector. One of many featured pieces in AdAmAn

display, integrate projection software to layer the

and founder. “Through our continued

Alley, an outdoor art exhibit in downtown Colorado

digital images perfectly over the mural, and make it

focus on emerging technologies and

Springs, CO, it merges fine art and digital imagery to

pop both day and night, all within the tight confines

managed services, we are extending

relate the beauty and wonderment of Pikes Peak

of an alley.”

solutions well beyond our native broadcast space.”

8

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

Erik Utter

DN-300

The Ultimate AVoIP Platform

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This single unit offers several unique features that provide system designers with exceptional versatility: 

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

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

Auxiliary H.264/5 video output streams



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DisplayNet also provides software-defined MultiViewer and Advanced Video Wall engines that power a wide range of applications without the expense and complexity of ancillary products. A highly intuitive web-based UI and API greatly simplifies setup and installation, as well as integration into third-party control systems.

Contact us today to see how DisplayNet can move your next AV system into the future.

ZERO COMPROMISE – INFINITE POSSIBILITIES Powered by sales@dvigear.com | (888) 463-9927 | www.displaynet.com © 2023 DVIGear, Inc.

NEWS DAKTRONICS

deliver excellent image clarity and contrast with wide angle visibility. The display will also incorporate environmental protection to ensure it operates as expected in the outdoor elements of Minnesota.

A 1,600-square-foot auxiliary display in right field is 60% larger than the previous display. There is also an outfield fence display running 110 feet long and an 800-square-foot bullpen display, all within the seating bowl to add to the game-day experience.

Additionally, 11 new ribbon displays totaling 1,485 feet

The Minnesota Twins opened the 2023 season with 22 new Daktronics LED screens, including one of MLB's largest video displays.

'Scoreboard 2.0' Welcomes Back Minnesota Twins Fans

D

in length have been affixed to the seating fascia throughout the stadium, which allow for game-inprogress information, captioning abilities, additional statistics and graphics, and the opportunity to highlight sponsors throughout events.

But wait, there’s more. A tower adds more than 2,000 square feet of content, and a box office display provides an additional 187 square feet of digital space to connect with audiences and communicate information pertinent to those spaces. At Gate 34, another

aktronics is helping to enhance the game-

ballpark opened in 2010,” St. Peter noted. “Digital

large display welcomes audiences and Twins fans to

day experience for Minnesota Twins fans

displays bring the game day environment to life, and

the stadium.

at Target Field for the 2023 season and

these LED upgrades will equip our ballpark with the

beyond with an extensive upgrade of its displays, a project Twins president and CEO Dave St. Peter affectionately called “Scoreboard 2.0.”

very best of stadium videoboard technology.”

The main attraction is the left field video display

“This current update will put the technology and information available to the fans at Target Field to the top of all ballparks at the highest level of professional

that measures approximately 56.5x178 feet—76%

baseball,” said Tony Mulder, Daktronics regional

larger than the previous display and the sixth

manager. “We’re proud to continue our relationship

more than 23,000 square feet, which is “63% more than

largest in Major League Baseball. As one of a select

with the Minnesota Twins that dates back to the early

what we had here in 2022 and 110% more LED since the

few in MLB to be HDR-capable, the display will

days of the HHH Metrodome.”

Target Field now has 22 new LED screens that total

With Fulcrum Acoustic, Stetson Baseball Scores Big

M

main press box, and FH1596-WR full-range coaxial horn loudspeakers for field coverage.

The field had never had audio coverage, so it was important to Conerly that the field have outstanding sound. “The new video system has audio tied to it, the lighting system has audio, so the field system needed

elching Field at Conrad Park in DeLand,

to offer them something where they could say we have

to kick,” he said. “With its pattern control and

FL, is home to the Stetson University Hat-

the same system as a notable NFL practice field or MLB

projection, the FH is just an amazing cabinet. They

ters, a Division I baseball team. It is also

stadium,” Conerly said. “I showed them other sports

really push.”

used by DeLand High School and numerous recreation

stadium projects that Fulcrum had done and said,

teams. Owned by the city and managed in partnership

‘That’s the caliber of what we bought.’”

by the city and Stetson University Athletics, the facility

For the loudspeakers, EAI focused on

opened in 1999 and was well overdue for renovations.

high-quality coverage with an emphasis on

As part of an $8 million renovation project, the City

the audio and control on the field.

The new sound system also required an expansion of the distribution system powered by three new Apex amplifiers: two CloudPower1504s 4x1500W and one CloudPower354 4x350W. “It was our first time using

of DeLand Parks and Recreation enlisted the help of

CX826-WR compact coaxial

Entertainment Arts (EAI), an AV integration and

loudspeakers were used on the

liked everything about it so far.

production company based in Orlando, FL, to design a

smaller poles, GX1226-WR

The interface will do a lot. No

new AV system. The goal was to transform Melching

coaxial loudspeakers for the

matter what you need to

Byron Conerly, owner of EAI, spearheaded the project. “In recent years, several MLB players have come out of Stetson University, so the stadium has been getting a lot of attention. It was

connect to it, it will work.”

ENTERTAINMENT ARTS

Field into a modern facility.

Apex Amps,” said Conerly. “We

Fulcrum Acoustic's weather-resistant loudspeakers (left) helped modernize Melching Field at Conrad Park (right).

EAI also installed wireless control connectivity to the audio console, so it can be controlled on the field via iPad. The system was setup with various zones and custom-

time to put the attention on the audi-

ized presets for special events. “It sounds

ence,” he explained.

amazing,” added Conerly. “The director of

EAI chose Fulcrum Acoustic because of

the City of DeLand Parks and Recreation

its weather-resistant product offerings,

was delighted. At the first practice,

domestic availability, and legacy of installs

everyone was ecstatic with the install and

at high-profile sports venues. “We wanted

how it’s working.”

10

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

VuWall Helps Transform Sports Stadium into G7 Command Center

V

VUWALL

NEWS

VuWall solutions were deployed for security monitoring at the International G7 Summit.

uWall’s TRx centralized video wall manage-

mand room, along with a smaller 4x2-foot video

within the summit’s network and with the utmost

ment software, encoders, and video wall

wall. In addition, six 65-inch displays were deployed

flexibility and full-featured management software.

controllers were used to monitor the 48th

in the meeting room of joint staff.

After the G7 Summit, the system was reinstalled to

G7 Summit that took place in Garmisch-Parten-

To disseminate streams of data, camera feeds,

kirchen, Germany last year. Deployed by integrator

and other incoming information, the team relied on

AVS, the town’s sports stadium was transformed into

VuWall’s comprehensive visualization management

“The G7 Summit is an event that brings together

a makeshift command center where the summit police

solution, which provided the flexibility to ingest and

dignitaries from several countries to discuss topics

could visualize the proceedings and surrounding area

visualize the wide range of sources at a moment’s

of global importance, so being able to build an

from giant video walls powered by VuWall’s solutions.

notice. AVS installed 40 VuStream 150 encoders,

effective and secure video wall solution to monitor

While world leaders discussed and proposed

which were all centrally configured and managed by

the town and the event was paramount,” said Fadhl

solutions to global issues, more than 18,000 police

TRx. Along with 16 HDMI 2.0 AVXT extenders, the

Al-Bayaty, vice president of product management

officers were commissioned to oversee the safety

VuStream 150 allowed high-quality video streams to

at VuWall. “Our video wall solutions not only were

and security of the event from the stadium. From

be delivered across the organization’s IP network.

fast and easy to deploy, but they also enabled the

traffic accidents to spontaneous demonstrations, all

In addition, two VuScape 640 video wall control-

police stations in Bavaria, adding visualization resources to the organization.

various streams of data and video to be accessed and

incidents before and during the summit were

lers were deployed, providing easy control and

controlled as needed, ensuring the safety and

projected onto a 12x4-foot video wall in the com-

distribution of all content sources to any display

security of the event.”

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

11

LG BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

NEWS

Kent State’s Immersive Blank_Lab Provides Space for Collaboration

New LG|U Academy Offers Accredited Courses for Integrators

K

ent State University, one of Ohio’s leading public universities, is home to more than 25,000 students and offers more than 300

degree programs. Nestled within Kent State’s campus is the Blank_Lab, an immersive environment designed to encourage new projects and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

The Blank_Lab is a resource for students, faculty,

The Blank_Lab offers an immersive collaboration environment for Kent State students and faculty.

To help Pro AV integrators learn skills necessary

and staff to investigate experiences that bridge the

to sell and install the latest products, LG Business

scope of immersive technologies, including augmented,

Solutions USA has launched LG|U, a new training

virtual, and extended reality tools. The space is a black

academy at its headquarters in Lincolnshire, IL.

box environment designed to be reconfigurable to

projectors across the 360-degree projection to create a

LG|U will offer comprehensive product and

support the development and demonstration of projects

seamless display. “Scalable Display Technologies

installation classes for integration partners,

utilizing these technologies. It supports group experi-

answered a unique challenge for the Blank_Lab,” noted

starting with in-person accredited courses on

ences of up to 15 people, regardless of whether users

Campbell. “The other vendors we were considering had

dvLED technologies.

engage with AR/VR headsets or experiment with

completely fixed packages with controlled projectors

projections to create an immersive experience.

and software. We are not a single use case scenario. We

According to James Pfenning, technical sales director at LG Business Solutions, LG|U will also

“It’s a maker space with a range of AR, VR, and XR

required a solution that would flexibly support our

offer virtual courses and embark on a U.S. tour

technologies,” explained J.R. Campbell, executive

maker environment. We wanted the ability to change

for in-person classes in 2023. The objective is to

director, Design Innovation Initiative, Kent State

components as needed. We purchased 10 prosumer-

provide more accessible training programs to

University. “Rather than creating a dedicated cave or a

level projectors, and we needed a software solution that

help professional integrators maintain industry

static projection environment, we created a larger one

would allow us to effectively create a seamless image

readiness that is essential to satisfying market

with a hung grid ceiling to allow for a hung curtain wall

around a 360-degree environment.”

demand and maintaining competitiveness.

and support reconfiguring of supporting cameras,

“Technology advances every day, offering new

Campbell said the Blank_Lab can easily showcase

projectors, and other components. We integrated

anything in a browser window or desktop without

opportunities for businesses and integration firms

screen mounts that support 360-degree projection and

relying on specific software driving the system. “Our

that design and install AV solutions,” Pfenning

a 15-channel audio system to support the ability to

goal is to have a solution that’s easy to use, meanwhile

said. “Technicians who are properly trained and

experiment with 3D spatial audio.”

eliminating any barriers to entry for students, faculty, or

certified to install, integrate, and service the latest

Kent State University selected Scalable Display

products are best prepared to capitalize on these

Technologies to automatically warp and blend multiple

staff,” he added. “We’ve confidently accomplished our goal with Scalable’s software.”

opportunities. Without this education, firms limit their ability to bid on many projects. We want our partners to enjoy continued success and growth, and by opening LG|U programs to the professional integration community, we are providing easy access to valuable training with both in-person and virtual options.”

The inaugural LG|U course, “DVLED Installation,” provides integrators with extensive hands-on training for installing and maintaining both pre-packaged and customizable displays that

AVIXA Partners with HETMA at InfoComm 2023

A

colleges and universities. The summit will follow the structure of a typical project lifecycle from initial inception through consulting, design, installation, and support, with attendees working in small groups to address challenges and discuss best practices.

HETMA’s booth on the show floor will feature a

VIXA has partnered with the Higher

HETMA Approved classroom, conference room area,

Education Technology Managers Alliance

and events space, while the organization’s show

(HETMA) to bring a wide-ranging pro-

floor tours will focus on technology for the higher

come in a variety of pixel pitches, sizes, shapes, and

gram for higher education technology managers to

even curvatures. Pfenning said the dvLED curricu-

InfoComm 2023, which takes place June 10-16 at

lum will soon expand to include a basic course on

the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando,

voice in the conversation in the AV world. The

dvLED technology and a course on system design.

FL. HETMA will host education, networking events,

partnership between HETMA and AVIXA gives us a

and show floor tours, and have a presence on the

physical presence to the voice we’ve been asking

InfoComm trade show floor.

for,” said Joe Way, Ph.D., chair of HETMA and

To maximize value for participants, LG worked to achieve course accreditation from AVIXA. The two-day installation course provides up to 32 total

Making its debut at InfoComm

education space.

“Higher ed tech managers have always wanted a

director of learning environments

renewal units (RUs), including 16 standard Certified

2023 is the Higher Education

at the University of Southern

Technology Specialist (CTS) credits and 16 CTS-I

Summit, presented by HETMA.

California. “AVIXA has been a

(Installation) credits.

The half-day collaborative

major supporter of HETMA ever

program on June 13 will focus on

since day one, and we’re excited

the current AV and IT topics facing

to grow this partnership.”

12

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

NEWS

DAS Audio sound reinforcement systems keeps customers motivated in several South Florida Legacy Fitness locations.

DAS AUDIO

DAS Audio Pumps Up Legacy Fitness

A

fter years of training professional athletes and A-list celebrities, Manning Sumner developed a fitness system called Partner Interval Train-

ing (PIT), which made professional-level fitness results accessible to everyone. Now, Sumner is the founder and CEO of Legacy Fitness, which has expanded to include Florida-based facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Coral Gables, and Wynwood. Music is an integral part of Legacy’s programs, and its locations have been equipped with sound reinforcement systems from DAS Audio, including models from the company’s ACTION-500 Series, ARTEC Series, and E11EVEN Sound

by DAS Audio product lines.

“Throughout 2022, we had systems deployed into each of our locations,” explained Sumner. “While there is some variation between each facility due to room size and other factors, one thing is consistent: great sound that motivates people to give their very best effort.”

The Wynwood facility also serves as Legacy’s headquarters. It houses Sumner’s office, administration offices, conference room, podcast room, cold plunge facility, sauna, IV suite and smoothie bar, as well as the open gym. Its audio system includes eight ARTEC-310.96 compact two-way wide array enclosures, eight ARTEC-308 wide-range two-way passive systems, and four E11EVEN Sound ESBR18 passive direct radiation subwoofers. E11EVEN Sound EP-6K4 amplifiers power the system, with signal processing from BSS Audio completing the setup.

Other locations include a mix of ES-10 two-way point source loudspeaker enclosures or

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

13

ARTEC-310.96 array enclosures, ACTION-S18

“At each location, the one most important and

subwoofers, EP-64K amplifiers, and BSS Audio

consistent factor regarding the quality of sound is the

signal processing. With support from DAS Audio

clear, natural, and balanced performance. As you move

personnel, Guillermo “Willy” Rodriguez, owner/

about the various spaces, the sound is very consistent,”

operator of Willy-Tech Services of Miami, an AV

Sumner said. “Dead zones simply don’t exist. Because

system integration services firm and E11EVEN

the areas are so well covered, the volume doesn’t have

Sound certified installer, handled the installation.

to be overbearing.”

NEWS

SCN Announces 2023 Stellar Service Awards

T

here are plenty of awards that recognize

Best Sales Operation

Best Tech Support

technological achievements. After all, the

Platinum: Extron

Platinum: AVPro Edge Tech Support

Pro AV industry is driven by innovative

Extron was founded on the core value of profes-

AVPro Edge’s Tech Support not only helps with video

products and solutions. But at SCN, we also like to

sional integrity, with the ultimate goal of complete

distribution needs when it comes to its products, it

recognize the importance of providing meaningful

customer satisfaction. This commitment is

also helps solve the entire issue. The company’s

and effective services. The Stellar Service Awards

reflected in its three ongoing guiding principles:

experienced staff is not only trained to just figure out

provide an opportunity for manufacturers, integra-

Service, Support, and Solutions. Employees are

what could be happening with one device—they work

tors, and distributors to showcase how they deliver

prepared to do whatever it takes to make certain

the entire signal flow path and help configure

high-quality service to clients.

that the entire process of doing business with

everything in the path for smooth AV distribution.

Extron is a positive and professionally rewarding

Gold: Haivision GuardianCare

of votes from you, our readers, to determine the

Between March and April, we received thousands

experience.

Silver: Biamp Global Tech Support Team

winners of this year’s Stellar Service Awards. Thank

Gold: TD SYNNEX AV Sales Professionals

you for your participation—and now here are your

Silver: The SoundPro Experience Team

exceptional service providers.

Best In-House Training

Best Project Management Tools

Best Supporting Content Platinum: Shure User Guides, Educational Booklets, and Webinars

Platinum: D-Tools System Integrator

Shure provides essential resources to help audio

Platinum: Shure Audio Institute’s Wireless Best

D-Tools SI is a project management solution that

professionals keep pace with rapidly evolving

Practices and Techniques

can help manage large, complex projects and

technology and emerging design innovations. Shure

Shure Audio Institute’s Wireless Best Practices and

improve business performance. With its advanced

always offers its user guides, educational booklets,

Techniques is a master class for anyone involved in the

capabilities and features, it can streamline work-

and webinars for free to share knowledge and

specification, installation, or operation of multi-

flows, improve communication and collaboration,

encourage best practices. The company works directly

channel wireless audio systems. The comprehensive

and enhance customer satisfaction. From flexible

with system integrators, consultants, music industry

training program covers a variety of topics including

formatting and comprehensive content to detailed

retailers, engineers, and musicians to develop and

the basics of radio waves and wireless transmission,

project planning, business reporting and analytics,

deliver content that helps our customers get the most

best practices for antenna selection and placement,

and API integration and support, it enables integra-

out of their gear.

and understanding frequency coordination. Offered

tion with third-party solutions, such as accounting

Gold: BrightSign BSN.cloud Cloud-Based Digital

both in-person and online, the master class incorpo-

software, CRM systems, and more.

Signage Management

rates effective demonstration and real-world anec-

Gold: TD SYNNEX Services Portal

Silver: BZBGEAR Technical Support Webpage

Gold: TD SYNNEX Strategic Partner Summit

Best Website Dealer UX

Best Design Services/Tools

Silver: The Exertis Almo E4 Experience

Platinum: Crestron Pro Portal

Platinum: XTEN-AV

Crestron’s new Pro Portal was designed to make

XTEN-AV’s AI-powered AV design and proposal

every project a success. One portal enables dealers

software empowers designers, integrators, and end

Platinum: SynAudCon Online Audio Training

to proactively manage their accounts and their

users to automate their AV diagramming, design

SynAudCon has trained thousands of audio practition-

client’s expectations. Now, dealers can plan

calculations, documentation, and proposal creation.

ers worldwide for 50 years. The principles taught in

projects more effectively with access to up-to-the-

X-DRAW allows users to streamline designs with

SynAudCon courses have been implemented and

minute lead times via the Estimated Product

AV-specific capabilities like automatic cable labeling,

tested on “tens of thousands” of systems. SynAudCon

Availability tool. The Order Status Tool provides

block styling, 1.5 million products from 5,200 brands,

teaches the theory as a means of problem solving using

24/7 access to the detailed status of every order:

and more. x.doc equips users with features to create

a multimedia presentation. Learning the “why” and

tracking numbers, serial numbers, order confirma-

winning proposals and reduce close times, specifi-

the “how” becomes intuitive: Learn it once, use it for a

tions, delivery confirmations, and more.

cally for the AV industry. XTEN-AV’s patented

lifetime. There are 11 available that serve all levels of

Gold: Shure Partner Shop

solution offers end-to-end automation on every step

expertise on a wide range of audio-related topics.

Silver: Extron

of project.

dotes for Shure’s RF experts.

Best Online Training

Gold: Legrand’s AV University

Gold: Extron

Silver: Crestron Technical Institute

Silver: NETGEAR Pro AV Design Services

14

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

NEWS

Lightware Simplifies Connectivity for Bank

F

ounded in 1990, Northrim Bank has matured from a small community bank to Alaska’s only publicly traded, publicly held company with

branches from Nome to Ketchikan. Growth in Alaska has come with its fair share of obstacles and required videoconferencing available to those customers who couldn’t make it to physical locations. Lightware’s zero-latency MMX HDMI Matrix Switcher and Cisco solutions help solve some of those challenges.

“Northrim Bank has customers who live off the road system, branches that can only be serviced by air, water, or sled, and branches stretched across geography twice the size of Texas,” explained Ben Craig, executive vice president, CIO for Northrim Bank. “In 2014, Northrim Bank deployed Cisco secure videoconferencing to every branch and remote employee to better connect employees and customers. As with most pre-pandemic videoconferencing solutions, initial organizational adoption was slow.”

Craig said the bank integrated Cisco WebEx SX80 room codecs to enable collaboration between remote and in-person meeting participants, but there was no simple way to power displays, manage inputs, or connect peripherals. Although the team tried to deploy “home-grown” solutions, the result was an “overwhelming and intimidating user experience creating a large barrier to adoption.”

At this point, Northrim Bank discovered Lightware’s MMX HDMI matrix switchers. The standalone solution offers 4K30 fps signal management through HDMI 1.4 connectivity, with zero latency for critical operations as well as compatibility and connectivity features. The Lightware’s MMX Series expanded the capabilities of Northrim’s investment, transforming each meeting room into a powerful, yet easy-to-use tool for all employees.

“Lightware’s technology removed users’ real and LIGHTWARE

Lightware’s matrix switchers have helped simplify videoconferencing for Northrim Bank employees.

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

15

perceived barriers to adoption by delivering intuitive

displays and peripherals are powered on and changed

and colorful graphical user interfaces to control the

to their correct default inputs, and their speakers and

room’s projector screen, TVs, power, volume, mics,

microphones are adjusted to preset volumes. Users

input sources, and display and projector outputs,” said

can enter the room without being overwhelmed by the

Craig. “Once users enter the room, they are immedi-

technology. It provides them with a consumer

ately greeted with intuitive instructions prompting

technology experience and is as simple as using an

them to wake the system using the touchscreen, their

iPhone or an iPad.”

The Warner Theatre now features a house audio system with JBL loudspeakers and Crown amplifiers that can support most incoming productions.

JBL

NEWS

JBL Modernizes Audio for Historic Warner Theatre

T

o provide incoming productions and touring

bringing in more Broadway-style big performance

AC26 loudspeakers serve as front fills and balcony fill

artists with a rider-friendly sound reinforce-

bus-and-truck type shows, and it wanted to be able to

speakers, respectively. Crown I-Tech 4x3500 amplifiers

ment system with excellent coverage and audio

facilitate that. The JBL system is rider-friendly because

supply the entire system with clean and ample power,

quality, Warner Theatre’s production manager Ryan

of name recognition, performance, and longevity. If you

while the Crown plug-in for QSC Q-SYS systems enable

Patsy teamed up with consultant David Bateman,

see JBL on a rider, you know it’s going to work and it’s

the production staff to easily monitor the status of all

CTS-D, of Acentech and integrator Todd Pander of

going to sound good.”

amplifiers remotely from front-of-house.

Dobil Laboratories to outfit the historic theater with new JBL VTX Series line arrays and subwoofers.

Commissioned in 1929 by the then-named Warner

“I’ve had a lot of experience with JBL in the past,”

“The Crown plug-in for Q-SYS is really cool,” said

added Patsy. “It’s as rider friendly as they come, in my

Patsy. “I can put it on a touchscreen display at FOH

experience, making bands happy on riders.”

that’s easily visible by anyone on the crew, so we can

Brothers Productions and opened in 1931, the Warner

To ensure wide and balanced coverage with power

just look at a glance and make sure we’re running the

Theatre is an iconic landmark located in Erie, PA. The

and clarity, the main left-right hang consists of 18 JBL

system within the right parameters without blowing

venue operated as a cinema theater until it was sold to

VTX A8 line array speakers, suspended nine per side.

anything up.”

the city of Erie in 1976 and converted to a performing

VTX A8 combines two 8-inch woofers, four 3.5-inch

arts center. In addition to being the home of the Erie

midrange drivers, and two 2-inch high-frequency

Warner Theatre in-house crew support a vast majority

Philharmonic, Lake Erie Ballet, and the Erie BROADWAY

drivers in a single low-profile cabinet to provide

of the incoming productions without having to rely on

Series, the Warner Theatre regularly hosts concerts and

productions at Warner Theatre with efficiency and a

outside rental companies. “Because the JBL VTX

performances by touring artists like Alice Cooper,

consistent 110-degrees of horizontal coverage. Addi-

system is so rider friendly, a wider variety of acts will

Kenny G, Jerry Seinfeld, and more.

tionally, the team installed four JBL VTX B18 subwoofers

accept it and play on it,” said Patsy. “It costs thousands

deployed on the ground for reinforced bass response

of dollars to rent a PA for the day, no matter what it is.

throughout the venue.

We made this investment and charge the promoter a

Venue operator Erie Events conducted extensive building renovations to improve the facility in the downtime of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the

“We used to have complaints before, largely in part

Patsy noted that the new JBL VTX system helps the

smaller fee than rental companies. It’s a win-win

renovations, venue officials wanted to install a new

because we’d do shows in one day, and they wouldn’t

because the promoter saves money, and it generates

house audio system that could support most incoming

have time to tune the system properly under the gun,”

revenue for us.”

productions. The modernized live-sound reinforcement

Patsy recalled. “We’ve eliminated that step for a lot of

On the rare occasion that a touring production

solution features JBL VTX Series loudspeakers and

our smaller performances. We just need to hook the

insists on bringing their own sound system, the VTX

Crown I-Tech Series amplifiers.

system up and it’s going to cover the space great with

A8’s innovative auto-locking rigging mechanism helps

intelligibility everywhere in the room. We’ve had no

Patsy’s team streamline the breakdown and subsequent

complaints with the new system.”

re-deployment processes rapidly, saving the show

“They were looking for a house sound system that could meet as many of the touring acts’ riders as possible,” Bateman explained. “Erie Events was

In addition to the VTX A8 and B18, JBL AC25 and

promoter time and money in the process.

BattleBots Arena Gets Loud with Biamp

R

obotic combat fans now get a premier audio

The gift shop area also includes two Community IV6

the world, providing an array of premium loudspeak-

experience to go along with the technological

line array loudspeakers, four Community compact

ers, amplifiers, and accessories that will engage fans

carnage of BattleBots, as Biamp is the official

subwoofers, and ALCs. Local integrator PSX AV Las

in an immersive sensory environment unlike

audio provider for the BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon

Vegas provided the audio installation and support

anything they could experience on TV screens,” said

live events at Caesar’s Entertainment Studios in Las

services for the project.

Joe Andrulis, executive vice president of corporate

Vegas. Installed throughout the studio, including in

“Biamp is amped to partner with the world’s

the BattleBots arena, the lobby, VIP lounge, and the

largest and only professional robot fighting sport in

development at Biamp.

“The opportunity to take BattleBots directly to

BattleBots Store, the equipment cre-

our fans through a live stadium

ates an immersive audio experience to

environment provides another avenue

enhance the visual thrills of live robot

to experience the best in robot combat

combat five shows a week.

sports in one of the world’s great cities,

The arena features two dozen

Las Vegas,” said Keith Wright, Battle-

Community IV6 line array loudspeakers

Bots Destruct-A-Thon general man-

installed in the combat cage along with

ager. “Biamp helps make the

Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers

Destruct-A-Thon come to life, provid-

(ALCs). The VIP area includes 10 Desono

ing an unparalleled audio experience

ENT212 column point source loud-

that heightens the excitement for fans

speakers and associated amplifiers.

of all ages.”

Four Desono EX-S8 surface mount loudspeakers are installed inside the store and another 16 are in the lobby.

16

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

Biamp loudspeakers help engage fans at BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon live events in Las Vegas.

NEWS

Surprising and Substantial Leap in Pro AV Growth

By Peter Hansen

For example, though luck may have driven it so high, it does shift expectations upward for

“W

April relative to what they would have been ith the economy slowing and the

after February. In addition, if April comes in hot,

return to in-person boom mostly

too, that will be more trustworthy than if the

exhausted, Pro AV growth seems

mark came out of nowhere the way the March figure did.

to be settling into a moderate expansion phase.”

In September 2022, we began to track the top issue

Index (AVI-E) crept up just 0.8. That said, the AVI-E remains at a very positive level.

Or not. The introductory sentence for the February

for our Insights Community via a multiple-choice

Going forward, we expect only further continuation

index report does not seem quite so certain with the

question. This augments the open-ended question

of current AVI-E levels as companies seek to continue to

March data in hand.

where respondents share the factors having the biggest

fill out staffing shortages that developed during the

impact on their business that month.

rapid growth and difficult hiring market of 2022. That

This update saw the AV Sales Index (AVI-S) leap from 56.6 in February to 66.0 in March. An increase of

Unsurprisingly, supply constraints (i.e., delay and

continuation becomes only more certain to the extent

9.4 is rare, and a level as high as 66 is uncommon. It’s

lack of availability) have been the top issue since we

this month’s excellent AVI-S turns out to be a long-

great news. But to keep it in perspective: Anytime a

started asking. However, this question also reveals a

term signal rather than a one-off blip.

significant change happens without a clear explanation,

trend of improvement over time. In September, 49% of

The Pro AV Business Index report is derived from a

you have to be skeptical of its informational value.

respondents highlighted supply constraints as the top

monthly survey of the AVIXA Insights Community, a

issue; this month, that percentage was only 36%. No

research community of industry members that tracks

single other issue stands out as a clear second.

business trends in commercial AV. For more informa-

The shift may be noise rather than signal. Especially given that March was a month with meaningful economic turbulence in the form of several bank

Unsurprisingly, the AV employment market does

tion about joining the AVIXA Insights Community, visit

failures, it seems wisest to discount some of this change

not show the volatility observed in sales. While the

www.avixa.org/AVIP.

as a lucky one-off. That said, it’s still good news.

AVI-S jumped almost 10 points, the AV Employment

Peter Hansen is an economist at AVIXA.

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

17

PEOPLE EXECUTIVE Q&A

Serious Cable Management Kordz’s Chen Reflects on 20 Years of Building Better Connectivity

By Mark J. Pescatore

Position: Managing Director Company: Kordz Overtime: I am an avid foodie, photographer, and musician.

matching connectors and keystone sockets. Based on

and optimal performance of bandwidth-intensive

the response of attendees at ISE, the global

technologies, platforms, and services.

integration community seems excited about it, too. : How long have you been with this company,

James Chen

PRO SlimCat mitigates many of the common pain

In the early stages of networking, the options for cabling were somewhat polarized. There were

and what are your responsibilities?

points experienced by integrators during the deploy-

high-quality, expensive, standards-based, propri-

James Chen: I began my career as an integrator and

ment of networking cable, especially in retrofit

etary solutions—and there were open, more cost-

moved into sales management, where I helped put

situations where space is tight and in projects with

effective, less capable protocol-agnostic solutions.

BenQ on the map in Australia. I also helped expand the

high-density equipment racks. The fact that PRO

There was nothing in between for the professional

reach of Epson and Samsung products into the

SlimCat adheres to all current communications

integrator. Kordz was one of the first brands to cater

professional integration community.

standards, including full 100-watt PoE++ compliancy,

to this middle ground, offering a range of products,

makes it all the more beneficial to systems integra-

each designed and engineered to adhere to a specific

tors and their customers.

communications protocol, ensure superior connec-

I joined Kordz in 2008 as general manager. Back then, it was a promising startup in Melbourne, Australia, finding a foothold in the professional cabling market. For the last 10 years, as managing

tivity, and enable fast, efficient deployment. : We tend to focus on the cables, but what’s your

Cabling requirements may likely shift again as we

director of Kordz International, I’ve focused on serving

approach to developing the connectors?

enter a new era of networking that demands some-

the connectivity needs of the professional integration

JC: Connectors are just as important as cables. They

thing I call predictable reliability. Our world has

community and spearheaded the distribution of our

are the point at which the greatest signal loss can

become increasingly unpredictable, as control and

solutions to more than 40 countries.

occur. At Kordz, we believe connectors should be

management of smart devices have moved to the

tailored specifically for every cable to ensure the entire

cloud, where updates happen transparently, and

network performs optimally.

subscriptions and support often lapse, potentially

: Your company likes to say, “It takes one to know one.” What do you mean by that?

We believe that a good connector should fit well in

rendering devices inoperable.

JC: At Kordz, many people on our team started their

the socket, so it’s neither tight nor loose, has the

careers as integrators. We are all the kind of guys that

appropriate extraction force for the specific applica-

predictable and reliable experience for end users. It

grew up with parents who were handy with tools, and

tion, and is made of materials to ensure durability and

takes time, knowledge, practice, and therefore experi-

it fostered a love of tinkering, pulling things apart,

longevity. The internal construction should exceed

ence to deliver a reliable and predictable outcome for

and finding ways to make them better and faster.

the specification and meet the promised capacity. It

any situation. Kordz has made predictable reliability its

can take us up to 18 months of careful engineering and

ongoing goal to deliver value to its customers.

As adults, we channelled this inquisitiveness into our professional lives in AV, where we felt fed up with

testing to get the design and manufacturing of each

service calls and stiff, inflexible cables that were so

connector right.

difficult to install. We knew there had to be a better way and hence strove to make better cabling products.

Our team shares a desire to do high-quality work

I believe the most critical aspect of a quality

Predictable reliability is the practice of providing a

Last but not least, I notice greater recognition among integrators of the importance of quality, safety, and adherence to fire regulations, better

connector, however, comes from how it was manufac-

transmission methods and language, and simplifica-

tured. A poor-quality connector is the result of

tion of cabling to single twisted pair cabling.

that’s right the first time, so we can move on to the

tolerances eroding on the production line due to both

next thing. We realize that the kind of integrators

human and machine error. At Kordz, we minimize

that use Kordz products are just like us. A good

these errors by manufacturing the connectors

JC: We launched our 20th anniversary celebrations at

integrator knows what good quality is when they

in-house on high-quality machinery and testing every

ISE earlier this year. It was a wonderful opportunity

have it in their hand. We know not everyone is wired

component on the line at each phase of development.

to connect with many of our dealers and customers

this way, and that’s why we say, “It takes one to know one.”

: How is Kordz celebrating its 20th anniversary?

from around the world who have been on the journey : What have been some of the major changes in

with Kordz for many years, as well as meet many new

the cable manufacturing industry since Kordz was

people. We hosted several evenings of birthday

established?

drinks, presented many giveaways, and moderated a

line unique?

JC: Kordz was born 20 years ago at the infancy of

cable termination challenge at our booth, which was

JC: Kordz was one of the first brands to develop slim

digital connectivity. Since its inception, we’ve seen a

the highlight of the show.

patch leads. It wasn’t long before our customers were

huge array of electronic devices enter the market. At

As the year progresses, we want to celebrate our

asking for a slim Cat6 cable that they could site

the same time, consumers have grown increasingly

customers and learn how they are applying technol-

terminate. Hence, the PRO SlimCat line was born.

tech savvy, expecting greater performance and

ogy in meaningful ways. By better understanding the

PRO SlimCat is a new-gen network cabling system

capabilities from their technology. As the market

challenges they face, we can continue to refine our

that offers all the power of a Cat6 cable in half the

shifts, so must the supporting cabling infrastructure.

solutions to meet their needs. Personally, I feel really

size. We are very excited about our suite of PRO

Today, the cabling foundation of homes and

proud of what the company has achieved and every-

SlimCat products, which includes cabling and

businesses must facilitate stable, reliable connectivity

thing it’s taken to reach this point.

: What makes your new PRO SlimCat product

18

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

EXECUTIVE Q&A PEOPLE

Core Connectivity Swigert Emphasizes Seamless Operation as Atlona Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Jamey Swigert Position: Executive Director Company: Atlona

By Mark J. Pescatore

: How long have you been with this company,

philosophy. That includes the inclusion of USB-C in

Overtime: I spend time with my kids, both of whom

many Atlona products, as USB-C is becoming the

are very active in sports, and build loudspeakers. I

predominant connection technology. We are adding

enjoy the combination of woodworking and

more power into USB-C delivery for our customers,

electronics.

and what are your responsibilities?

including the ability to charge devices as they

Jamey Swigert: I was responsible for managing

present. Finally, we continue to advance our

Atlona’s inside and outside sales teams in the

capabilities with USB routing, such as tying micro-

configured upon being received. This speeds up the

Americas upon Panduit’s acquisition of Atlona in

phones, cameras, and speakers together. Working

entire process and helps the integrator get in, get out,

2019. That included setting sales strategy,

on the core technology that enables our products and

and move on to the next job.

establishing quotas, overseeing sales incentive plans,

everything to seamlessly work together helps us

developing partner programs, and managing the

stand out in the marketplace.

distribution channel. I became executive director of Atlona in 2021, and today I am responsible for overall

: What new initiatives can we expect from Atlona at InfoComm and beyond?

: What trends—or stumbling blocks—are you

JS: We debuted OmniStream 2.0, our next generation

management and P&L responsibilities as it relates to

seeing in the AVoIP space?

AV-over-IP firmware, at ISE. It is a major

Atlona’s business.

JS: The integration side of the AV business remains

advancement that brings new capabilities like

somewhat challenged with fundamental networking

4K@60, fast switching, and multiview processing.

knowledge, such as properly configuring switches.

These will help customers create layouts on video

what are you most proud of?

The industry has made strides in developing

walls that typically require external processors that

JS: Two points come to mind. The first is how we

networking talent from the inside and bringing in

cost north of $10,000. We can provide thumbnail

successfully integrated Atlona into Panduit. We have

outside talent with IT experience. But integrators

previews on our Velocity touchpanels for sources, and

an intentional and well-thought-out plan to

lacking those networking skills are hesitant to

new, highly-efficient coding means that customers

maintain Atlona as an independent organization and

propose or specify it.

can move more streams between switches. And the

: As Atlona celebrates its 20th anniversary,

brand. We also wanted Atlona to leverage the

The lack of standardization among vendors

best thing for OmniStream customers is that it is a

resources and capabilities of a larger parent

presents another challenge. There are arguments to be

completely free firmware update. That is a lot of new

organization and bring the best of each company to

made about whether standardization is good or bad,

capability for no cost.

the other. We have achieved those objectives.

but when products do not work together, that is

Given all of these important benefits, OmniStream

Plus, we wanted to maintain Atlona’s culture,

problematic for the end user. Interoperability matters,

2.0 will be the center point for us at InfoComm. We will

which was and remains very distinct from Panduit’s

and while it’s not a complete barrier to AV-over-IP, it

soon release a new Velocity touchpanel and that will be

culture. There has been some blending of those

does make customers think longer and harder about

on the stand, and there are several other new products

cultures, but in a way that doesn’t make Atlona

whether that’s a route they want to take.

under development. I don’t want to give away too

employees feel as though they have been swallowed by a large global company. They maintain their

many details yet, but Atlona has a very strong product : Atlona is known for its connectivity solutions,

release schedule through 2023, some of which will

independence and Atlona still projects that feel of a

but then there are the Atlona Room Kits. What

private company. I think that is very important in

makes your room kits unique?

the AV industry.

JS: The Atlona Room Kits, or ARKs as we call them,

: What’s next for the Pro AV industry?

developed from discussions with our integration

JS: There will continue to be change. Things have

partners. We were hearing that they wanted to bid on

changed very fast in AV over the last three years, but I

BYOD in meeting spaces?

more projects but lacked the resources to handle the

don’t see that slowing down in the near future. We

JS: Atlona was among the first out of the gate with

workload. When you have two designers and 10-15

know that chipset vendors behind HDBaseT and

wireless collaboration products in 2017. This was

bids, the math doesn’t work. Project bids are time-

AV-over-IP are on the verge of bringing new

around the time that the BYOD movement gained

consuming tasks that require a lot of knowledge, parts

functionality to the market. That will shake up things

momentum, and most products at the time relied on

from at least several manufacturers, and assurance

on the manufacturer side.

dongles or software downloads. We were at the

that those parts will work together. This was made

Customer preferences are also changing and

forefront of supporting native casting capabilities

more difficult as supply chain challenges emerged.

diverging. There is a set that is moving toward BYOM.

: How is Atlona addressing the growing trend of

direct from the user’s mobile device. Last year we

The ARKs were developed to reduce the bottleneck

debut at InfoComm.

That is timely because we all became very familiar with

began shipping the AT-WAVE-101, our second-

of design, procurement, and hours on site. These are

soft codec conferencing and remote work during the

generation wireless presentation platform, which

all-in-one kits that helps integrators complete jobs

pandemic. Another segment wants to invest in licensed

added dynamic content layouts and automated

as quickly as possible. That begins with a single part

rooms that run a specific instance of codec and locking

connect and disconnect capabilities, which among

number that provides everything an integrator needs

themselves into an ecosystem of certified hardware.

other enhancements positioned the WAVE 101 as a

to setup a meeting space—down to the pre-termi-

hands-free BYOM solution.

nated category cables. All the customer needs to know

interesting to see how each develops. As manufactur-

is the size of the meeting space. There is no design,

ers, we have to be prepared for the market moving in

the ordering is simplified, and the kits are 80%

many directions.

We continue to move forward with other connectivity innovations that are at the core of Atlona’s

These are two very divergent paths, and it will be

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

19

PEOPLE NEWSMAKERS

SAM CRAIG has joined

territory states of Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon,

CAD DISTRIBUTION, which

ADVANCED SYSTEMS GROUP

Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada.

represents six commercial

as vice president of cloud

Rep Report

production engineering. He is

Sam Craig

AV manufacturers in North America, has appointed

responsible for managing an

Image Marketing Group to join it in Southern

internal DevOps group that

California and Southern Nevada, while the

modifies and deploys ASG’s

Henderson Company will join CAD in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,

Virtual Production Control Room (VPCR) systems. He

Connecticut, Rhode Island, and upstate New

will also spearhead engineering and testing of cloud-based systems, and coordinate with the ASG

From Left Annie Sunseri, Jason Tessier, Todd Moffett

York. Plus, NAVA-Tech Sales will rep the com-

on-prem systems integration team in the creation of

MAXHUB has welcomed ANNIE SUNSERI as enter-

pany’s portfolio of audio and video solutions in

hybrid systems. Craig comes to ASG from a seven-

prise sales manager for the Northwest and business

Montana, Southern Idaho, Wyoming, Utah,

year run with Grass Valley, where he served most

development manager for distribution. Assuming two

Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso, TX.

recently as vice president of global pre-sales.

important roles for the company, Sunseri will oversee

Mark Walker

all sales for the U.S. Northwest territory and manage

In March, DAS AUDIO OF AMERICA appointed

B-TECH AV MOUNTS has

distribution partnerships for the entire U.S. region.

Samuel K. Macdonald (SKMac) as its new rep

promoted MARK WALKER to

Most recently, she served as senior channel sales

through the Mid-Atlantic and New York metro-

managing director U.K. He first

manager for Avocor and previously operated Sunseri

politan territories. Specifically, the Maryland-

stepped through the doors of

Marketing. Also new is JASON D. TESSIER, who

based company will represent DAS Audio in

B-Tech in 2007, forging a

joined MAXHUB as enterprise sales manager,

Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, Eastern

successful career in sales. His

Northeast, and TODD MOFFETT, who has been

Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Tri-State area.

contributions to the company

named enterprise sales manager, Southeast. Both are

went beyond his sales duties, and he was promoted to

responsible for driving sales of MAXHUB LED displays

Techrep Marketing is the new rep for EASTERN

director of operations U.K. in 2018, where he oversaw

and UC Series conferencing products throughout their

ACOUSTIC WORKS (EAW) in the Ohio Valley

all aspects of the business from manufacturing and

respective regions. Tessier has more than 25 years of

region. The company will represent EAW’s entire

logistics to sales. As managing director, Walker will

industry experience, most recently as a regional sales

suite of products, and has a reach that includes

continue to lead the U.K. team in all aspects of the

manager for FoxFury Lighting Solutions. Moffett is

Ohio, Kentucky, Western Pennsylvania, West

business, and will be a key decision-maker about

another industry veteran with previous sales experi-

Virginia, Michigan, and Indiana.

operational procedures that affect the wider B-Tech

ence with Optoma and Panasonic, among others.

International Group of companies worldwide.

Steven Pedroza

As part of its continued recruit-

ment, management and forecasting, performance

Pro AV veteran STEVEN

ment drive in the region, PPDS

metric analysis, and sales process optimization.

PEDROZA has joined HALL

has added KRISTEN O’CONNOR

In addition, O’Connor will also provide sales

TECHNOLOGIES as western

as its new sales operations

data management, communication, and tools

regional sales manager. He will

manager for North America.

administration to ensure increased efficiency and

serve as the primary point of

Based in Oregon, she will be

productivity, while helping to improve the sales

responsible for driving revenue,

onboarding process and provide ongoing training

contact for all resellers, distribu-

Kristen O'Connor

tors, and reps within the western

providing data-driven insights, pipeline develop-

Riedel Strengthens Management, Expands U.S. Sales

on sales tools.

Grass Valley. As COO, he will oversee all aspects of the company’s production, logistics, and supply chain, ensuring that Riedel continues to deliver innovative products and solutions to customers worldwide.

Url brings more than 20 years of experience in sales and customer success to his new role as CCO. He previously served as managing director and CSO of

The Riedel Product Division includes (from left) Oliver Zimmermann, Daniel Url, Rik Hoeree, and Jan Eveleens.

Riedel Communications has strengthened its Project

Qvest, head of global product management at Vizrt,

Division management team with the promotion of Jan

and chief product officer for Grass Valley. In his new

Meanwhile, the company has expanded its

Eveleens to COO and the appointment of Daniel Url as

role at Riedel, he will be responsible for driving the

Americas sales team with Todd Gardner as channel

chief commercial officer (CCO). As part of this move,

company’s global commercial strategy, working to

manager, North America, and James Skupien and Ben

Oliver Zimmermann will take on the role of executive

identify new market opportunities and develop

Gabrielson in regional sales manager roles. Dave

director, digital transformation, leading Riedel’s

effective go-to-market strategies.

Caulwell, who has managed and grown the channel

transformation journey.

Eveleens joined Riedel in 2018 as director of

Zimmermann previously served as Riedel’s

(along with the Riedel RED program) in North America

executive director of manufacturing operations. In

for years, will move into a new position as regional

business development for video, and he has been

his new role, he will lead the development and

sales director, East. Skupien, based in Chicago, will

instrumental in driving the company’s growth in this

implementation of the company’s digital strategy,

serve as regional sales manager, North Central, and

area. Before joining Riedel, he served as the CEO of

leveraging technologies to drive innovation and

Gabrielson, based in Arizona, will serve as regional

Axon and general manager of the Camera Division of

enhance customer experience.

sales manager, South Central.

20

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

Why Small Businesses Need a Leadership Team

GETTY IMAGES

PEOPLE ON YOUR BUSINESS

Decentralized Approach Is Better Strategy for Long-Term Success leadership team to have common qualities and meet a

By Steve Greenblatt

authority to others, the alternative of not making

certain set of standards, it is just as important that

such a commitment and continuing to be the jack-of-

they think differently, are willing to challenge and be

I

all-trades can be even more detrimental to the CEO,

challenged, speak up for what they believe, and

team members, and organization.

engage in healthy conflict when required. Diversity is

t is not uncommon that business owners who are the president and CEO also assume the roles of

Organizations that refrain from decentralized

a critical component in a leadership team; it ensures

COO, CFO, CMO, and more. After all, that person

leadership rely on the CEO to make or sign off on all

the organization does not overlook blind spots and all

was the founder—and likely the sole employee—

the decisions, thus making the company dependent

major aspects of business that make the organization

during the company’s infancy. Although holding on

on the CEO for day-to-day activities. When the CEO is

run are covered.

to these roles is a great way to manage costs, ensure

not available for any reason, the progress of the team

consistency, and maintain accountability, it can also

and the success of the business becomes inhibited.

Hold Your Course

be the root of many organizational problems and the

Plus, if something were to happen to the CEO, what

Easing the burden of the CEO by taking on responsibili-

biggest obstacle to growth and long-term success.

does that mean for the success of the company? A

ties is not the only purpose of the leadership team; what

company that centers around one person does not

is even more critical is how they support the CEO in

growth comes when “working on your business, not

allow for growth and scalability, which limits its

keeping the company on its defined course and ensuring

in your business” and success is marked by “building

potential and reduces its value.

that the organization remains focused on achieving the

Considering the popular business philosophy that

a business that doesn’t rely on the owner’s day-to-

goals that have been established and agreed upon by

day involvement,” can either of these aspirational

The Right Stuff

goals be reached without investing in a trusted team

Building a leadership team starts with identifying

ments to exist amongst passionate leaders (as well as

of leaders who can be relied upon to be a foundation

trusted and committed team members who display

with the CEO), those disagreements must remain

for the business?

their desire and ability to step up, truly believe in the

behind closed doors. Outwardly, the entire leadership

company vision and owner, and have the innate ability

team must remain unified in echoing the agreed upon

to put the company’s needs before their own. These are

decisions that undeniably define the company strategy

typically the “A” players within an organization.

and vision—and demonstrate a commitment to the

Plan for Success Many business owners/CEOs struggle with the concept of investing in others. This apprehension may be a

An elite breed of “A” player, known as an intrapre-

everyone involved. Although it is natural for disagree-

company’s long-range plan.

result of actual experience; however, one should

neur, embodies the business instinct, leadership

question whether those undesirable outcomes were a

qualities, and entrepreneurial mindset while working

who naturally find themselves in roles of responsibil-

function of the CEO’s own doing. Were the individuals

within an established company. These standouts

ity and authority on a team. As such, members of the

being asked to take on new roles truly given the

naturally challenge themselves to grow, hold them-

team crave their guidance, gravitate toward their

opportunity to succeed or were they set up to fail?

selves accountable to improve, identify and seek out

influence, and rally around their mentorship and

To develop a team, it is important to start by

solutions to problems, share ideas to add value and

security. Not only can a leadership team help future-

implementing effective management strategies.

capitalize on opportunities, and think outside the box.

proof the company, it can also foster the growth of

Consider the following guidelines, which can serve as

As such, they tend to instinctually inspire others to

team members, amplify the messaging of the com-

an effective learning process for both parties:

follow them on a course to success.

pany, unite the team around common goals, and

• • Clearly define tasks, expectations, and desired Establish realistic goals.

the entrepreneur is that the intrapreneur exists within

diffuse concerns by setting a confident tone that strengthens the team’s focus.

the organization rather than independently, because

Building a leadership team does not happen

they want to invest in the future of the company and

overnight. Even once the CEO becomes comfortable

trust in the values and decisions of the CEO. Instead of

with the notion and benefit of establishing a leader-

selves, make mistakes, and learn personally and

taking on the risk, responsibility, and demands of

ship team, it is critical to define the roles that are

professionally.

running a company of their own, they are committed to

needed and invest the time and effort required to

growing and improving an existing company that

identify, groom, and/or hire the right people to assume

rather than scrutinizing efforts or

supports them in pursuing their career goals. These are

the responsibilities required.

micromanaging.

the types of individuals that need to be sought after,

Steve Greenblatt, CTS, is the founder of Control

nurtured, and provided the latitude to grow within a

Concepts, Inc., which provides specialized software

leadership team.

and services for the Pro AV industry. Contact him at

outcomes.

• Provide ample preparation to take on a role.

• Empower team members to think for them• Provide positive feedback and encouragement While concerns for business owners and CEOs loom around the notion of relinquishing power, extending trust, and turning over decision-making

22

The subtle difference between the intrapreneur and

The best leaders are those with innate qualities

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

Inasmuch as it is important for members of a

steveg@controlconcepts.net.

BUSINESS XXX

GETTY IMAGES

They take risks. They forge new paths. They bring professionalism and positivity to the workplace.

They are The Nine—and the future of Pro AV is the hands of individuals like these young leaders.

Contributors: Wayne Cavadi, Jennifer Guhl, Mark J. Pescatore

Mel Baglio

“I really like a challenge—fixing things, putting in new processes, creating new ways for us to be

Title: Director of Operations Company: AV Chicago Location: Chicago, IL

successful in the long term,” Baglio explained. “And

Overtime: When she’s not spending time with her husband and pets, Baglio enjoys

finding ways to do things—not just because it’s how

architecture and landscape photography.

they’ve always done it, but because it works for us.”

Under Baglio’s leadership, AV Chicago is significantly healthier these days, with a team of 31 employ-

Why You Need to Know Her: Don’t tell Mel Baglio

her skills to the test on the road, lighting Broadway

ees, including 17 in operations. The company

she can’t do something. She might just make a career

shows on tour. During her time on the My Fair Lady

produced more than 650 events in 2022, from music

out of proving you wrong.

national tour, she met her husband, who was a stage

festivals to galas to store openings. Baglio said

carpenter at the time.

business is probably busier than ever; AV Chicago has

Baglio was a theater kid in high school, roughly until the moment she realized she had horrible stage

“Living on a tour bus is only glamorous for so

welcomed several returning clients as well as an

fright. That’s when she noticed a large A-frame

long,” she joked, so she moved to Chicago as a

ladder and a bunch of guys hanging lights in the

freelancer, eventually leading stage operations and

However, labor is at a premium these days,

auditorium. She wanted to give it a try, but was

lighting for regional theaters. Another move, this

with many techs choosing not to work full time.

promptly dismissed, because girls don’t do lighting or

time to Colorado, saw her establish a team as director

As a result, to schedule the company’s “inside

tech work.

of production for the Ent Center for the Arts, a new

circle of outside help,” events require more

$90 million venue in Colorado Springs. However, AV

planning and coordination.

Today, Baglio is a seasoned master electrician with a bachelor of fine arts degree in lighting design from

Chicago was able to lure Baglio back to the Windy City

the University of Oklahoma. Oh, and she happens to

almost two years ago.

be the director of operations for AV Chicago, a leading

influx of new clients.

“In the ‘before times’ as we call it, there were 20 full-time techs that worked for AV Chicago, and right

When she joined the company, there was a

now we have four,” she said. “People don’t realize

skeleton crew of five employees. Like so many other

there’s a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes to

companies, AV Chicago had been ravaged during the

make just one event happen—and we have 15 or 20 at

mixed with professional challenges. Although Baglio

pandemic. Along with the general manager, she

the same time. It’s just a little bit different than it

enjoyed working in local theater, she decided to put

helped develop a plan to rebuild the entire company.

used to be.”

events production services provider.

Her career has been a steady diet of creativity

24

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

THE NINE BUSINESS

Jeremy Codiroli

nected pieces and processes,” he explained. “Our

Title: Vice President, Process Improvement Company: AVI-SPL Location: Richmond, VA

should be focused on delivering a consistent experience

Overtime: Codiroli loves football and played defensive end on a state championship-level

that meets every one of their needs, on their schedule,

team. He also loves spending time with his wife and two kids, mountain biking, and

wherever they need it.”

watching as many movies as possible.

customers demand high quality, and everything we do

Data is king for Codiroli, and he inherently relies on making decisions based on it. Still, he tries not to get stuck in the trap of “paralysis by analysis,” causing him

Why You Need to Know Him: Jeremy Codiroli has the

of data-driven improvement projects. When Whitlock

to drag out decision-making due to the goal of perfec-

ability to put a strong focus on complex calculations,

approached him about being its first-ever process

tion. “The key is knowing that sometimes you just need

data, and processes—but also can transition to more

improvement manager, he was fascinated by the

to move forward with a decision and be ready to

creative thinking to come up with unique outside-the-

possibilities within the AV industry.

iteratively adjust your strategy instead of waiting too

box solutions. Combining that with his extensive

After the merger with AVI-SPL, Codiroli was

process improvement and supply chain experience

promoted to director of process improvement. This led

long to make a decision,” he noted.

Codiroli has achieved a lot at the relatively young

allows him to focus on transforming AVI-SPL’s supply

to the opportunity to manage more complex initiatives,

age, earning him admiration from the senior leadership

chain model, improving consistency as well as the

later leading to his eventual promotion to vice presi-

team of AVI-SPL, who seek his counsel and support on

quality of what they provide for their customers.

dent of process improvement.

the future development of the business. “For the AV

“We’ve involved some customers in this

“I’ve loved every minute of it, and I’d be interested

industry to continue its path of continuous growth and

process, and hearing their excitement for our

in continuing with the process improvement or supply

market relevance, we need more ‘Jeremys,’ and every

long-term plan makes me proud to work for a

chain path within this industry,” he said. “My ultimate

CEO should be making these kinds of investments in

company open to ‘crazy’ ideas and dramatic

goal is to become a COO, since everything about

their business,” said Julian Phillips, managing director

business transformation,” said Codiroli.

corporate operations excites me to wake up and get

of XTG, the API-SPL Experience Technology Group.

Starting as a supply chain analyst and project

started every day.”

“There is no greater feeling than loving what you

manager for a chemical company, Codiroli developed

One thing he learned pretty quickly is that the Pro

do, and the satisfaction of seeing your organization

process improvement skills that eventually led him to

AV industry is complex. “This is not an easy industry to

improve because of your contributions,” he said. “I will

improve various areas of operations and led to his love

master due to the vast number of literally intercon-

never get bored of experiencing that.”

BUSINESS THE NINE

Karen Castaño

incredible,” she said. “That was it, hands down.”

Title: Director of National Business Company: Exertis Almo Location: Dallas, TX

married her two passions, team and strategy. “You

Overtime: While she enjoys photography and writing, you’ll most likely find her chasing

think of what’s happening right now, like the

around her two-year-old triplets in her spare time (which she photographs and writes

mergers. Yesterday’s little company might be

about in her blog).

bought and then they become the next day’s big, big

All this makes her current role a perfect fit, as it

company. It’s the same thing with account managers,” she explained. “These people who start out Why You Need to Know Her: Karen Castaño’s own

that you do because at some point, you’re going to

tomorrow, they might go and become a field

ambitions are secondary to her team’s success, where

have to get up in front of people, whether you’re in

manager, they might become a business develop-

she is a strong advocate for promoting the future

an interview, you’re in a sales position, you’re in a

ment manager. And they’re all the future leaders of

talent of Pro AV. “My joy is seeing other people

coaching position, and you’re going to have to

what we’re doing. I’m shaping that, and I think that

succeed,” she said. “It’s far more important than my

perform,” said Castaño. “Learning that gives you a

that’s a big role and a big responsibility.”

personal glory.”

lot of confidence to be able to do it.”

While Castaño may not have intended to be, she

Castaño has had a wild ride in her recently

Today, she guides a national team of account

is part of the changing landscape of Pro AV. As a

celebrated sixth year in the Pro AV industry. She

managers and customer engagement representa-

strong and successful female leader, she is one of

started with Stampede in 2017, saw the company

tives. Well, at least per her job description and

many who are rising to positions that not long ago

rebranded to Exertis Pro AV in 2020 and then

resume. What stands out about Castaño is her

were male dominated. “You can feel [the shift]. And

transition to Exertis Almo in January 2022. She was

passion for her people. “That’s probably my biggest

it is really nice, because I do think that that is

named to her current position, director of national

role,” she said. “I’m in the business of growing my

changing dramatically,” she added.

business, in April 2022.

people.”

What advice does she impart on the future of Pro

A career in Pro AV wasn’t necessarily Castaño’s

Castaño was at a software company when Pro AV

AV? Be curious and be flexible. “It's a great place to

future. She attended UCLA as a theater major with

came calling. “It was the strategy piece of it that felt

get your feet wet,” she said. “If you can be flexible

aspirations of being an actress. She then got her

really interesting,” she said.

and just know that changes are part of what

MBA at Claremont Graduate University in California.

She entered the industry in what she called “trial

happens when you have this many products and

While her focus on marketing and strategy helped

by fire” and quickly learned what made it the right

this many manufacturers, then the cool part,

her get to where she is today, so did UCLA.

fit. “I discovered that the thing about the industry

especially about distribution, is you have so many

that’s really amazing is the people are just really

choices—and that's awesome.”

“That theater degree serves pretty much any job

“I’m in the business of growing my people.”

Karen Castaño

Brandon Heinz

and learn from some of the industry’s brightest

Title: Product Manager Company: Renkus-Heinz Location: Los Angeles

knowledge, skillset, and relative success to a few of

Overtime: Heinz organizes dance music events with a group of best friends, highlighting

my favorite mentors, and I couldn’t be more

domestic and international artists and record labels, and produces his own house and

grateful for those opportunities.”

techno music.

minds,” said Heinz. “I owe so much of my current

Heinz thrives on the teamwork-based atmosphere of the Pro AV industry, and feels every project is an opportunity to learn from the client’s per-

Why You Need to Know Him: With a formal

classes as possible with SynAudcon, leading him

spective. “An excellent AV system integration takes

education in biology, Brandon Heinz brings a unique

into applications engineering.

a lot of knowledge about many disciplines, and to

perspective to systems-level thinking. This approach

As an applications engineer, Heinz immersed

allows him to dissect and analyze how various parts of

himself in all aspects of sound system life, includ-

many people to get the most out of the whole

an AV system work together, allowing him to identify

ing concept development, design, commissioning,

system,” he explained. He takes pride in seeing his

the appropriate trends that will enable Renkus-Heinz

and post-sales support. He also was able to take

clients thrive and watching them utilize Renkus-

to connect with a broader market.

part in acoustic evaluations of the Renkus-Heinz

Heinz solutions in a variety of places with greater

Gen 5 product line.

consistency and less time on site.

After a reluctant start to his AV career, working at Renkus-Heinz after college to make some extra

Following a short stint working as an audio system

provide the correct solution, you often must rely on

Heinz feels you can never stop learning, and

money, Heinz fell in love with the atmosphere and

engineer with Faraday Future, Heinz returned to

recommends always looking for takeaways from

his interest grew from there. As a technician in the

Renkus-Heinz to take on his current role as a product

every situation. “Nearly everything we're con-

electronics production department, he worked

manager. In this role, he has streamlined develop-

fronted with can be a learning exercise if you have

closely with their engineers as they completed

ment procedures and feedback mechanisms, helping

the right mindset,” he added, “and approaching

design validation testing on an IC-Squared project.

them be more responsive to their partners and refine

challenges with an open mind will allow you to

This experience jumpstarted his interest in loud-

their future product offerings.

gather new and helpful information, even in

speaker systems, and he began attending as many

26

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

“I’ve been incredibly blessed to work around

seemingly insignificant areas.”

THE NINE XXXBUSINESS BUSINESS

David Kaszycki

inventory, then dynamically searches for documenta-

Title: Co-Founder and CEO

As software updates are made available, Beam pushes

Company: Beam Dynamics Location: Winston-Salem, NC

notifications to customers automatically.

Overtime: In his off hours, Kaszycki can be found cooking, writing, trying local craft beers, or golfing.

tion, updates, end-of-life announcements, and more.

When COVID-19 hit, Kaszycki’s hours were reduced, leaving plenty of time to make progress on Beam. The company won a startup grant, and Kaszycki became Beam’s only full-time employee in December 2020.

Why You Need to Know Him: David Kaszycki is an

protecting the business from people with ulterior

Today, Beam has 21 employees and is expanding its

entrepreneur at heart who likes to solve problems.

motives, and focusing on business and operations, not

feature set and into new market verticals—and Kaszycki

That combination led him to co-found Beam

just the “fun” stuff. Kaszycki re-enrolled and

expects the company to be self-sufficient by the end of

Dynamics, a company that is bridging the information

graduated in December 2012.

the year. Beam already has more than 5,000 manufac-

gap between Pro AV manufacturers and end users.

A few years later, he was working in the profes-

With an entrepreneurial father who had worked

sional video industry, tasked with visiting hundreds

turers and vendors as well as almost 500,000 unique products in its database.

with some of the earliest touchscreen kiosks, Kaszycki

of broadcast studios and production sets every

figured it was inevitable that he’d lead a startup in the

year—and he continued to see the same problem.

ing his leadership style. In the beginning, he was

tech industry. He started early, establishing his first

Gone were the days of simply opening a chassis and

focused on having a strong vision for the company.

company with two partners when he was a sophomore

addressing an issue. Equipment needed firmware,

Now, he is focused on helping his team understand and

at Furman University in Greenville, SC. NBinnovation

software, and security updates, none of which could

deliver on his vision for the future.

installed digital LCD screens across the university

be fixed with a screwdriver or soldering gun.

campus and sold digital advertising. Kaszycki even left

Meanwhile, as a young CEO, Kaszycki is transition-

Kaszycki thinks Beam has real value for both end

Beam Dynamics was born when Kaszycki devised a

users and manufacturers. “Our platform brings

way to help end users manage their products. Basically,

together the people who own products with the

one web portal collects data from thousands of vendors

companies who make those products, allowing them to

it didn’t take off. The major deal never came through,

into a single place, while keeping data presentation

communicate in a common environment,” he said.

and the business folded. He learned a lot from that first

consistent between manufacturers and vendors. The

“We’re making the industry a better place for all

attempt, including the importance of diversification,

service allows an engineer to upload a list of their

stakeholders.”

school for a year to pursue the opportunity.

After more than two years of running that business,

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

27

BUSINESS THE NINE

Adrienne Knick

going to make you stronger for the next thing that you

Title: Senior Director, Certification

lesson to learn, to not be afraid to fail. But failure is

Company: AVIXA Location: Fairfax, VA

only temporary, and it improves your odds for next

Overtime: If you don’t see Knick working, chances are she’s in the air working on her pilot’s

time.”

license.

try,” Knick said. “And I think that was a really hard

Knick is most proud of helping AVIXA maintain its relevance. She was the force behind getting the CTS exam proctored online. Of course, COVID-19 acceler-

Why You Need to Know Her: Adrienne Knick has

position came along.

ated the process—but Knick looked another challenge

long worked on improving the AVIXA testing and

That position was certification coordinator for

assessment space, and was a driving force behind

AVIXA. “I’m actually one of the very lucky people who

making the CTS exam available through online exam

got a psych degree and actually get to use it,” Knick

CTS exam to just a huge number of people across the

proctoring.

said. “A big part of [the certification program] is

world,” Knick said. “There are going to be some

industrial organizational psychology, the science of

places around the world where it’s still cumbersome

stars, Knick is already a seasoned AV veteran,

human assessment, and what makes something

to have to go to a test center. It might be a day of

spending her entire career in the certification

statistically valid and what makes something a good

travel. And now we have removed that barrier to entry

department at AVIXA. Beginning her journey in 2009,

test question, and how you actually measure reliably

for them, which is so important for workforce

the testing and certification process has come a long

and validly the knowledge you’re trying to target.”

development.”

way while she climbed the ladder to senior director of

As Knick looked back at the past 14 years with

Though one of the industry’s brightest young

certification.

in the face and once again conquered it.

“It really opened up the opportunity to take the

After more than a decade in the industry, what

AVIXA, every new position presented a new challenge.

parting advice does Knick have for the next wave of

A life in Pro AV wasn’t necessarily in the cards.

Getting up to speed on accreditation standards and

Pro AV talent? “Be ready to learn,” she said. “AV is

Knick graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in

how to administer them were not taught in Knick’s

constantly evolving. We saw a huge jump in evolution

psychology. She worked at Best Buy’s Geek Squad,

psychology classes. Nor were the thousands of pages

with the pandemic when everyone was suddenly like,

which piqued her interest in technology. (It’s also

for her annual audits once she was in a managerial

‘We have to figure out how to make everything online

where she met her husband, so it turned out to be a

position (audits AVIXA always looked very good in,

now.’ We were here for that. And there is going to be

great job for her future.) However, finding the right

mind you).

something else. There’s always going to be something

career after graduation in 2007 was no easy task, so Knick patiently waited, temping until the right

“I don’t shy away from a challenge and even if it doesn’t work out, you’ve learned something that’s

else that is going to be that kick to have the next round of innovation.”

“Be ready to learn. AV is constantly evolving.”

Adrienne Knick

James Knight

ment consulting offers great insight into organiza-

educational centers, Knight makes it a point to seek

tional behavior and the full value chain employed to

out feedback from Xilica’s user base and customer

deliver a great product or service,” he said.

advisory board to improve and scale its technology

Title: CEO

he currently serves as CEO and has empowered the

With the industry challenging all to innovate,

Company: Xilica

evolution and expansion of the business, developing

Knight recommends staying nimble, thinking fast,

Location: London

long-term strategies to meet client needs now and in

and always finding ways to support your partners.

the future. One of those strategies was further growing

With Xilica being entirely channel-driven, Knight is

the company’s partnership with Sennheiser, with a

proud of its channel program, Xilica One, which offers

Why You Need to Know Him: James Knight had little

strategic alliance with their Business Communication

extensive benefits to their resellers in Pro AV, UC, and

prior experience in the AV industry before joining one

division announced last year. Both companies

datacom. “Xilica understands that to be a vendor of

of the leaders in collaboration technology, Xilica, in

understand the importance of connectivity and work

choice, we must be meaningfully different and

2020. But he leveraged his extensive management

collaboratively to create impactful systems using a

profitable to supply,” he said.

consulting experience to bring a fresh perspective to

range of tailored products. “We’ve worked closely with

Even though he ended up in the AV industry

the business, increasing value while deploying

Sennheiser to enhance interoperability between the

fortuitously, he finds himself fascinated by emerging

solutions that are easy to implement.

two portfolios and ensure that system deployment can

industry trends like the convergence of AV and IT, the

be turnkey,” he said.

blend of communication technology between the UC

Knight started his career as a management consultant to large, multi-national businesses in the

Using that experience, Knight joined Xilica, where

Authentic interaction and ease of use are a

offerings.

sector and traditional Pro AV, and the way IT and

consumer goods, technology, and hospitality indus-

sustained focus for Xilica, especially when developing

consumer electronics companies are expanding into

tries, helping companies to reposition themselves

future product offerings. Building on its established

the AV industry. He is definitely an AV industry

based on changing client needs and trends. “Manage-

range of audio products for meeting rooms and

newbie no more.

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THE NINE BUSINESS

Justin Lachovsky

Authenticity is also essential for him; he focuses on doing that in everything he does—and believes

Title: Director, Sales and Marketing Company: Telecine Location: Montreal

that if you are always yourself, the rest will follow as it

Overtime: Lachovsky is a massive fan of DC comics, especially Batman. His fandom is so

should. “My passion for technology has made it easy

large that he even has a half-sleeve Batman tattoo on his right arm. You could say the Dark

for me to learn more about all the industry compo-

Knight is always with him.

nents,” he added. “It’s not just work for me, it’s fun.”

When Telecine sadly lost its beloved founder, James Fine, last year, Lachovsky helped make the

Why You Need to Know Him:When it comes to

finishing his undergraduate degree, he started to

transition as smooth as possible with his selfless,

digital signage, Justin Lachovsky focuses on content

work at Telecine as a marketing assistant. From there,

compassionate leadership. “While he is smart as a

first. It’s a concept that Telecine, the innovative

he worked in everything from project management to

whip, it is his empathy, his emotional intelligence,

digital signage company where he serves as director

account management. “I just love technology so

that makes him smarter than the average bear,” said

of sales and marketing, continues to provide

much that I took a deep interest in everything we did

David Defelici, vice president of business develop-

education on for the industry. He also approaches

to make cool content for our clients’ displays,” he

ment with Telecine. “It sounds cliché, but his

everything with the customer and their needs first,

explained.

humanity sets him apart.”

helping them to find the best solution to achieve

A self-proclaimed tech geek, Lachovsky is

Looking to the future, Lachovsky said he loves

their desired effect rather than pigeonholing them

currently responsible for leading the strategic

everything the industry has to offer, and his goal is

into a pre-built solution.

direction for all marketing and sales initiatives, but

to stay within the digital signage industry for as long

“There is always a solution to their request, but

is always looking to expand upon the company’s

as possible. The constant evolution within the sector

focus on the objective they are looking to achieve and

business operations. Recently, he spearheaded an

makes every day a new adventure and forces him to

success is guaranteed,” said Lachovsky.

initiative to make the company more agnostic

adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape.

concerning its content creation efforts, allowing

“Just when you think you are getting used to a

hole” of the Pro AV industry, working in various roles

them to work with a broader scope of signage

certain technology, bam! Something new to play

until he found his current position. As he was

software platforms.

with,” he said.

You could say Lachovsky “fell down the rabbit

“There is always a solution to their request, but focus on the objective they are looking to achieve and success is guaranteed.”

Justin Lachovsky

Katie Murphy Khulusi

room. The product launch was Ed Sheeran’s +–=÷x

Company: Meyer Sound Location: Berkeley, CA

but one of Meyer Sound’s most successful line

Overtime: What doesn’t she do in her free time? Along with snowboarding and

arrays to date. “I was one of the designers acousti-

backpacking the Sierras with her dad, she is the neighborhood coordinator for the

cally for it,” she explained. “I made the new horn for

Berkeley Food Pantry, makes candles, and moonlights as a bar trivia host.

it. So that was the first time that I was able to not

Title: Engineering Director, Acoustical and Mechanical

Tour, and the show would go on, PANTHER or not.

Fortunately, it wasn’t only a successful launch,

only say, ‘I designed this major part of it, but I was also the project manager.’ I was the product owner.

Why You Need to Know Her: You would think that

that she became an audio assistant. “And some-

being the driving force behind Meyer Sound’s

where in there it was kind of like, ‘Okay, there is a

PANTHER loudspeaker system would top the list,

general path for electrical engineering that has

Murphy Khulusi. Being young, female, and now a

but that is just part of Katie Murphy Khulusi’s story.

music in it; this whole technical side of the music

leader in the industry, she is passionate about the

She’s not just part of the youth revolution in Pro AV,

industry,’” Murphy Khulusi explained. Luckily for

future and making it a better place to work for

she is likely your strongest ally and advocate, using

her, she was trained on a Meyer Sound system. Even

everyone. “I am a very outwardly presenting,

“every platform that is available to me to do that.”

more fortunate was that the stars aligned when it

bubbly young female,” she said. “Overall, women in

came time for the job hunt: Meyer Sound was

engineering and in Pro AV—there’s only a handful,

looking for an acoustic test engineer.

especially as you start to get more towards the top.

Sometimes a person is destined for a profession.

Call it fate or happenstance, but that seems to be

My whole self was completely tied to that project.”

However, success and glory are not what drives

exactly the case for Murphy Khulusi. Music was her

Destiny called and Murphy Khulusi obliged,

passion since her youth, and the former oboe player

beginning her rise in Meyer Sound until she landed in

every opportunity that is given to me to talk about

had dreams of being a studio lot musician and working

her current role in February 2022. When asked about

how I’m proud of myself and my company, but also

on film scores. As she got older, she decided she was

her crowning achievement, it was a quick answer:

to talk about what I see going on in the industry and

much better at math and went to the University of

The launch of PANTHER. Facing the duress of

how kind of this new, younger generation that’s

Southern California for electrical engineering.

pandemic challenges (supply chains, for example),

now starting to come into these senior manage-

Murphy Khulusi had to execute with little wiggle

ment roles can help propel it into the future.”

It was there, while minoring in music recording,

“I am not afraid to say what I think. I will take

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29

BUSINESS VIDEO-OVER-IP

Compatible with other SDVoE products, the ZeeVee ZyPer encoder and decoder product line distributes content to an unlimited number of displays over a 10Gb Ethernet switch.

One Standard to Rule Them All? With Common Chipset and 10GigE Transport, Alliance Members Make the Case for SDVoE

By James Careless

in an IT-centric world, and neither do the members of the SDVoE Alliance.”

A

for 65% of all internet traffic. This is why streaming

The Key Is Interoperability

video distributors need access to a video streaming

The creation of the SDVoE standard addresses one of

Alliance all believed that we have to ultimately change

standard that is reliable, interoperable among many

the AV user community’s biggest complaints, namely

how we do business to stay competitive,” said

AV equipment platforms, and uncompressed for 4K

that proprietary AV equipment made by Vendor A

Kennington. “Although changing their way of doing

traffic to maximize viewing quality.

won’t interoperate with AV equipment made by

things was scary—it feels safe to say, ‘You can only

Vendor B. Such restrictions limited the choices of

use my products with my products’—they all knew

a proven, reliable AV-over-IP standard that runs on

users when it came to buying new AV equipment,

what the AV industry was facing thanks to PCs and

commercial-off-the-shelf 10GigE networks. It is

including combining gear from various vendors to

how we had to start looking at the world.”

compatible with technology made by major AV

reuse legacy equipment and get the best prices for

equipment manufacturers and vendors including

new purchases.

In fact, the clear, compelling need for an interop-

ccording to the application and network

erable AVoIP standard is what galvanized a handful of

intelligence company Sandvine, streamed

manufacturers and others to put aside their propri-

video usage grew 24% in 2022 and accounts

Software Defined Video-over-Ethernet (SDVoE) is

NETGEAR, ZeeVee, Christie, Semtech, Black Box, and

Before Windows-based personal computers

etary pasts and come together for the AV industry’s common good. “The founding members of the SDVoE

Kennington’s explanation is echoed by Bob Michaels, CEO of ZeeVee. “Our involvement with the core technology goes back to 2014 when we were

IDKAV—all of which banded together to form the

became ubiquitous, this was something AV vendors

looking to move our legacy products, which were all

nonprofit SDVoE Alliance consortium in 2017. Today,

could get away with, but no longer. “You can’t go to

RF-based, into AVoIP,” he said. “We became a

it has more than 55 members, with approximately 800

the IT director and say, ‘Well, we have to buy Dell

founding member of the SDVoE Alliance as a result of

SDVoE products in their combined catalogs.

printers because we have Dell laptops, and as you

the experience we gained over those earlier years, and

know, Dell laptops only work with Dell printers,’”

because we truly believe in the technology.”

“SDVoE is different from other AVoIP video standards because SDVoE is built around a chipset

Kennington said. “That’s an insane conversation, and

“SDVoE was one of those places where we saw a

that is common to all SDVoE devices,” said Justin

yet that used to be the conversation in AV. If I’ve got a

kinship in needing some kind of standardization in

Kennington, president of the SDVoE Alliance. “This

specific AV vendor’s system today and I want to

the industry for how AV is moved over an IP network,”

means interoperability is built into this standard from

expand it, I need to buy from the same AV vendor

added John Henkel, NETGEAR’s director of SMB

the start.”

tomorrow. That’s how AV has done business in the

marketing. “With SDVoE, our customers realize that

past. But I don’t think this approach works anymore

they can use endpoints from any manufacturer depending on their need, and they can mix-andmatch in different rooms if that’s the way it works best for them. All kinds of SDVoE signals can come from various vendors’ equipment and then run through a simple NETGEAR switch and it’s all going to work reliably.”

Other Advantages SDVoE’s interoperable design delivers tangible benefits to AV vendors, content providers, signal distributors, and end users. The technology's use of 10GigE networks is another big benefit in the emerging world of 4K video.

“Our philosophy is to use as little compression as needed to transport signals,” Kennington said. “If your video signal is less than 10 gigs per second, we don’t even compress it. So, a 4K 30fps signal is 6 Gbps of raw video data: We just transmit that as a 6 Gbps stream on our network.”

More than 55 members of the SDVoE Alliance, including Christie, have combined to produce hundreds of SDVoE products.

30

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Of course, there are larger video data streams—for example, 4K 60fps works out to 12 Gbps of raw data,

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14/04/2023 10:17

VIDEO-OVER-IP BUSINESS

which won’t fit into a 10 Gbps pipe. “That’s when we turn on our very lightweight and usually lossless compression, which will squeeze it down to 9 Gbps,” said Kennington. “The most bandwidth that we ever consume for a video stream is 9 Gbps, because we want to leave that last gigabit available to support

John Henkel

Bob Michaels

Justin Kennington

data traffic.”

As for signal latency? It can occur when video is streamed using the SDVoE standard, but latency can occur no matter what standard is being used. “Everything has latency: If you and I are standing in a room six feet from one another talking to one another, there is latency in the speed of sound,” Kennington observed. “The real issue is whether or not this latency is detectable by the user.

“In SDVoE, the latency is the same that you would experience going through a matrix switch, which is the latency of a few memory buffers in the line. If SDVoE compression is turned on, that adds five video lines of latency. So, for a 4K60 video signal, with compression turned on, our latency is a fixed 117 microseconds. That’s 0.117 milliseconds.”

Then there’s power savings. SDVoE runs on ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chipsets, which have been designed to support the SDVoE standard. As such, they use up to 70% less electricity than an FPGA (field-programmable gate array)—a common architectural choice for other AVoIP products—doing the same job. This reduced power can save operators serious money when hundreds or even thousands of SDVoE devices are in use.

“ASIC technology is at our core,” said Kennington. “Our approach to AV-over-IP is more sustainable, which is great to think about in big green/save-the-planet terms. Saving electricity means cutting emissions and reducing your carbon footprint and all that, and it’s also saving a lot of money for the end customer.”

NETGEAR’s M4300 line of AV-over-IP managed switches support the SDVoE standard.

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GETTY IMAGES

BUSINESS BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

AI: A Business Accelerator Is Born Four Ways Artificial Intelligence Can Help Pro AV Sustain Profitable Growth

akin to how agricultural laborers felt during the industrial revolution 250 years ago.

That technology is AI, and it is no longer the science fiction of Space Odysseys and Ex Machinas; it is here, it is now, and it’s already playing a significant role in shaping our future. AV industry leaders, therefore, need to resist any luddite reflexes and embrace it with open minds and open arms.

To help allay fears and encourage experimenta-

By Julian Phillips

and profitable revenue growth.

Over the last 30 years, the Pro AV industry has

are four ways AI can assist the AV industry to

D

grown to be a $258 billion powerhouse (according to

experience another 30 years of sustainable and

onning his signature black turtleneck,

AVIXA), helping to transform business collabora-

profitable growth.

Steve Jobs ambled on to the stage at Mac

tion, education, government, healthcare, enter-

World 2007 and proclaimed, “Every once

tainment, and hospitality around the world. In the

1

in a while, a revolutionary product comes along

most part, this success has been achieved through

that changes everything.” He was, of course, talk-

the curated fusion of space, content, and

ing about the launch of the iPhone—and how right

technology.

he was. Before the end of that decade, smart-

Our traditional AV technology has helped people

tion and discover pathways to business value, here

Audio Fidelity During the pandemic (and when permitted), my

kitchen was being remodeled over a two-week period. My office is on the other side of the wall, and I was on nonstop Teams and Zoom calls in the middle

phones had revolutionized the way people worked

tell better stories, communicate remotely, engage

of crashing, banging, sawing, and swearing. Not once

and played, and had dominated the attention span

and delight audiences, educate and inform, and

did any remote participants during these meetings

of a generation.

simulate real life situations. To that end, we have

hear anything other than my voice, AI playing its role

played our part in the progressive digital transfor-

in keeping the good and getting rid of the bad without

mation of the economy.

any additional hardware or programming.

I believe we have now arrived at a new “tipping point” where artificial intelligence, most recently popularized by ChatGPT, will change everything as

Now, envision a new technology that goes

These very same AI engines are moving beyond

well. I also believe the AV industry is ideally

beyond being a mere aid to human productivity, but

video calls and headsets into open spaces and

positioned to take advantage of AI engines and bots,

can perform the work for human beings instead.

immersive experiences. There is not a single audio

helping to shield us from recession and acting as a

This technology is so advanced that it instills a

manufacturer not embracing the power of AI, with

powerful accelerator of business transformation

sense of job insecurity among knowledge workers,

some ahead of the pack.

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BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS BUSINESS

2

Video Equity

to look at how AI can help you to transform your

focus for the company. But he also said something very

Post COVID-19, many organizations are seeing

business. As Rudyard Kipling would direct you, “Meet

profound at an MIT commencement address back in

the benefits of a “video first” culture. Unfortunately,

with triumph and disaster and treat those two

2017: “I’m not worried about artificial intelligence

there are still issues with video quality and the

imposters all the same.”

giving computers the ability to think like humans. I’m

equality of experience between in-person and remote participants. And this is having a real impact on

We return to Apple, this time with current CEO Tim Cook, who declared earlier this year that AI is a major

more concerned about people thinking like computers.”

Put that in your ChatGPT and smoke it!

return-to-office (RTO) strategies.

Again, AI can play a significant role. Microsoft’s VRTO (Virtual Real-Time Optimization) uses AI to code and decode video to make best use of available bandwidth, helping to reduce video freezing and pixelation, resulting in a more stable and high-quality video experience.

Zoom has developed “Smart Gallery View.” This feature uses AI and machine learning algorithms to adjust the video feed layout and ensure that all participants in a meeting are visible and clearly framed. Zoom also offers an AI-powered feature called “Touch Up My Appearance” (tough job in my case), which uses machine learning algorithms to smooth out facial features and reduce the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles on the video feed. This feature is designed to improve the appearance of users during video calls and help them feel more confident and professional.

3

Repetitive Tasks I was recently on stage at AVI-SPL’s global Sales

Acceleration Summit (SAS), and I asked 500 salespeople and designers if they knew anything about ChatGPT. Virtually every hand went up. After my speech I was approached by dozens of people regaling stories of how they were actively using it to write code, format statements of work, conduct research on customers, create copy for marketing campaigns, and solve technical problems without referring to manuals.

For the CTS holders reading right now, ask ChatGPT to calculate viewing aspect ratios for you (providing a few simple inputs) and watch what happens. In short, we just don’t have enough qualified people in the global AV talent pool to meet current demand, if we keep doing our jobs the same way we have always done them. We must embrace AI tools like ChatGPT to minimize repetitive, manual tasks and liberate our people to create more value and deliver better experiences for our customers.

4

Business Intelligence Let’s move on from the agricultural laborers to

the mill owners for a minute, the business leaders of the Pro AV industry. Are you listening? This AI stuff is for you as much as it is for the techies.

There are countless ways in which AI can be used to eliminate recurring costs and redundant overheads, streamline business processes, and provide real insights into customer and market behaviors. If you are not already adopting AI in your business, then you might already be behind the competition.

Now is the time to experiment, dedicate resources

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TECHNOLOGY AUDIO DESIGN

Do You See What I Hear?

Don’t Let Poor Audio Design Detract from the Experience

audio system (adding smaller support speakers with shorter distances between them) can be accomplished with the help of three audio processing tools:

• Frequency shading: Only allow the frequencies lost over acoustic attenuation to pass through to the support speakers.

• Amplitude shading: Only provide enough volume to “support” the acoustic signal from the main acoustic anchor line array. We are not making it louder than it would have been, as doing

By Evan Landry

O

few minutes late and sat in the back row. The audio

so would draw the listener’s attention to the

system installer had done a great job—the main speaker

support speaker instead of the acoustic anchor.

was visually unobtrusive and color-matched to its ur attention is sought after so commonly in

surroundings. The speech was unmistakable.

• Delay: Each support speaker is delayed by

approximately 1 ms per foot of distance, so the

the human experience, and staying focused

But there was one glaring oversight. While the

on any one activity or task can be challeng-

podium and gooseneck mic were installed for lectors

up with the sound from the main line array.

ing. It may be that we’re attending a concert, worship

on the right side of the church, the main line array

Without delay for time-alignment of supporting

service, or business convention (events that we go to

speaker was installed on the left. The origin of sight

loudspeakers, clarity and articulation take a

intentionally) and are intent on paying attention. But

and sound were separated by more than 40 feet. My

the audio system fails to promote engagement with

face hit my palm.

the content—or worse, it distracts us or gets in the way of our focus. There has to be a better way.

The co-location of the main loudspeaker with the

sound coming out of each support speaker lines

sharp decline.

In a large room—whether a theater, auditorium, or cathedral—the sound will begin to attenuate as

message being delivered is called the acoustic anchor

the listener gets farther from the sound source,

approach. The loudspeaker “anchors” your attention to

which would require supporting speakers (aka

experience? I’ll start with the obvious: Speakers

the priest, professor, musician, or keynote speaker, and

delays). The approach here is that we’re only

generally aren’t pretty. They’re often large obtrusive

results in increased engagement from the audience.

replacing what has been lost by acoustic attenuation

How does an audio system detract from the listening

boxes on sticks. Fixing this problem is on the accessible

over the distance traveled within the space. Allowing

side of removing distractions: using loudspeakers that

Articulation Extension

are visually pleasing and blend in with the architecture.

What if the space is too large for just one loudspeaker?

acoustic anchor, and only extending the high

most of the frequencies to be reproduced by the

The more challenging part is increasing listener

Large rooms are typically afflicted with a drop off in

frequencies, will increase the listener’s attention in

engagement after making the loudspeaker visually

high-frequency energy, which causes the clarity and

the direction of the acoustic anchor.

unobtrusive. Our brains are stimulated via sight and

articulation to decrease as the distance from the

hearing during a concert, service, or convention.

speaker increases.

Transient Response

Authentic engagement can be increased with less effort

This drop off in articulation in a large room can be

Clarity and speech articulation are highly reliant on

when what you hear lines up with what you see. The goal

mitigated by using additional smaller loudspeakers for

the audio system’s ability to effectively and efficiently

is to place the primary audio source so that the sound

articulation extension while enabling the listener to

reproduce the transition markers of speech, such as “t”

seems to come from where it looks like it’s supposed to

engage with and focus on the audio from the main

in “toy” or “b” in “boy.” This is because 50% of the

come from.

loudspeaker. High frequencies (which account for the

intelligibility of speech is attributed to only 2% of its

clarity and intelligibility of speech) will drop off before

energy. To do this and increase clarity and intelligibil-

and the loudspeakers are on the sides, the listener’s

any other part of the signal, and additional loudspeakers

ity, we need a high-frequency driver (tweeter) in our

attention is being pulled in two different directions:

will need to be supported.

loudspeaker’s construction with a better transient

For example, if the person speaking is center stage

visually straight ahead and aurally to the side. This increases cognitive load, as the brain is required to

To avoid interfering with the listener’s attention to the acoustic anchor, the articulation extension of an

process information from two different places—and the increase in cognitive load decreases engagement.

Ideally, the loudspeaker is placed near

response. The best way to do this is by utilizing a ribbon tweeter or AMT (air motion transformer) to reproduce high frequencies.

Churches can be particularly challenging for audio design.

The acoustic anchor approach to audio system design includes a line array loudspeaker co-located with the visual

the action. This approach is known as

source. This provides increased listener

co-locating the audio source (loud-

engagement and decreased effort

speaker) with the visual source (the

required from the listener, reducing

person speaking or video display), which

cognitive load. From there, we add

significantly improves understanding,

supporting loudspeakers for larger spaces

enhances comprehension, reduces

and process their signal with frequency

cognitive load, and lowers the barrier to

shading, amplitude shading, and delay.

active listening.

Finally, choosing a loudspeaker with

True Engagement I once had the pleasure of attending a

superior transient response will provide an adequate rendering of transition markers, yielding unmatched clarity and

worship service at a cathedral in Utah. The

articulation of speech.

audio system had just been replaced, and

Evan Landry is the CTO for CommLink

speech reproduction was precise. I arrived a

Integration.

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SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

HYBRID WORKPLACES TECHNOLOGY

Certify or Die Why UC Device Certification Programs Matter in Today’s Hybrid Workplace

selecting solutions is how the room will be used. If it is a multipurpose space, you will want to make sure there are control and automation features to transform spaces as needed to accommodate different functions. Imagine taking a common area like a cafeteria and converting it into a hybrid collaboration environment for an all-hands meet-

By Vic Bhagat

O

ver the past several years, we have wit-

the device is supported by both the device vendor and

ing. The ability to reenergize existing spaces

the UC platform. This eliminates the guesswork and

provides greater value by enabling flexibility for the

support time, so IT teams can gain greater efficiency by

future. By using certified devices, you can be

spending less time troubleshooting.

confident that the room will work as intended when

nessed significant shifts in the modern

So, what does device certification mean for the end

workplace, where hybrid environments

user? It means a consistent, repeatable user experience

switching between modes.

With employees working in a hybrid capacity, we

with dispersed teams rely heavily on a seamless

regardless of room complexity. It is easier to find

must deliver exceptional experiences for in-person

experience to effectively collaborate. With vary-

certified solutions for typical small, medium, and large

and remote workers. This means the spaces where

ing room sizes and needs, it is important to select

rooms, but for high-impact spaces it is critical to select

people come together must be equipped with the

hardware and software that works seamlessly with

certified solutions that meet the AV needs of the space

right technology to serve in-person and remote

your UC platform of choice, while offering enhanced

to deliver an elevated user experience. In addition,

needs for every meeting type such as company

room features and capabilities to enable meeting

selecting a certified system with advanced features like

training, all-hands meetings, and spontaneous

equity for both in-room and remote participants.

automatic camera switching, multizone audio, and

collaboration. And with certified solutions, you can

To help simplify selection, many UC platform

video distribution enhances meeting equity and

have confidence in your technology investment.

manufacturers have established device certifica-

delivers an elevated collaboration experience.

Vic Bhagat is the principal, alliances and ecosystem,

tion programs to help ensure these devices deliver a

The most significant factor to consider when

for Q-SYS. Q-SYS

consistent and optimized end user experience.

These certification programs are typically a two-phase process consisting of objective and subjective testing. Objective testing is completed by an independent lab that operates many tests depending on the device type and intended use. For example, audio tests typically include single talk, double talk, echo cancellation, and HID sync functionality. After passing the objective testing, the devices also must pass real-world subjective testing to gain certification.

While most UC platforms do not block the use of any device, uncertified devices will vary in performance and may increase support needs. The benefit of using a certified device is not only to ensure a high-quality, reliable, and optimized experience—but also knowing

The modern workplace relies on a seamless experience for collaboration within hybrid environments.

Austin Government Access Goes 4K with Canare

A

TXN, the government access channel for Austin, TX, has made the move to a completely 4K environment with the aid of

use. That’s what initially sold me on the brand. Today, I especially like Canare cables, as they meet all the performance specifications I require.”

same time, several times a week.”

As ATXN covers live events up to three times a day both online and via cable networks, Wilkison needed

Canare 4K-capable 12G-SDI cables, video patchbays,

reliable cables. In the main studio, the team inte-

and BNC connectors. The station’s chief engineer,

grated the L-CUHD Series coax cables, which are

Garry Wilkison, and local integrator Kvasir Systems

specifically designed for 12G-SDI applications.

directed the recent upgrades.

Also Included in the renovation was the new SMPTE-

According to Wilkison, the greatest challenge with

stripping tool that was perfect for just about every

compliant 32MCKA-ST patchbay, which offers fully

the upgrade was the size and scope. “This is a huge

normalized capabilities without the need for patch

facility,” he explained. “We have three studios within

cords or looping plugs.

the building and four remote locations from which we

“I’ve been using Canare for years,” Wilkison said.

go live. So, we have more facilities and coverage than

“In my role, I usually specify all the equipment for an

any broadcast station in the area. We also operate four

install, and I have been going back to Canare since the

streaming channels, many of which are live at the

old analog days. Years ago, Canare created a cable

Austin’s ATXN selected Canare cables, connectors, and patchbays for its 4K renovation.

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

35

TECHNOLOGY ROOM SCHEDULING

Interface is especially useful in high-traffic areas such as lobbies, elevators, and major corridors.”

“Given current technologies, the possibilities are limitless—in fact, we’d recommend a panel designed from the outset to be capable of many, many functions,” McDonough said. “Scheduling and controlling lighting, shading, and HVAC, programming the right AV solutions for a hybrid meeting or a presentation, reporting on a room’s usage, even sending info to a control platform to track device lifecycles and licensing—all of those functions can now be handled from a single panel.”

Keep It Simple(r) As the technology world turns faster and faster, a key feature that most integrators and end users also look for is simplicity. This starts with an easy-to-install product In a hybrid world where lives are dictated by schedules, room scheduling control panels help facilitate fluid and accurate room booking while minimizing wasted time.

as well as an easy-to-operate solution for the wide range of technological expertise end users possess.

“A properly designed touchscreen should be extremely easy to install—and versatile,” said

Room Scheduling Made Easy How Do You Choose the ‘Right’ Control Panel?

McDonough. “Crestron manufactures a variety of mounting kits for any surface or application you could conjure. And if wall installation simply isn’t possible, there’s a hefty tabletop version that’s available.”

“Atlona AT-VTP-1000VL touchpanels are very easy to install,” added Bird. “They ship with a dual-purpose glass and wall mount that is universally compatible with one-gang U.S., U.K., and E.U. openings. They also have a standard VESA 75 pattern for compatibility with third-party mounts.”

As for whether these devices are agnostic, well,

By Wayne Cavadi

T

Outlook calendar, for example,” he explained.

that depends on what the end user wants. According

“Native compatibility with popular calendar

to McDonough, it is dependent on the manufacturer,

programs is vital to the user experience,” confirmed

although his solutions at Crestron are easily custom-

oday’s hybrid workspaces—whether corpo-

Robert Bird, product marketing manager, Atlona.

izable and integrated with a variety of solutions.

rate buildings or college campuses—come

“Workers want the freedom to use the systems they

with their challenges. People come and go on

are comfortable with and understand.”

different schedules, while others work remotely. As

Joe da Silva, vice president of marketing for

“[Atlona’s] Velocity gateways and touchpanels work together for room scheduling applications,” Bird said. “In addition, they can be integrated with

a result, writing down meeting times on a white-

Extron, feels there are a slew of “must-have” features

several popular calendar applications including

board has become a dinosaur-like approach.

to look for in a control panel. Some of the more

Google Workspace, Office 365, Microsoft Exchange,

Meeting equity and collaboration is important,

important features include enterprise-grade security

and Astra Schedule.”

but so are room analytics for IT professionals. The

with encrypted communication across the ecosystem;

right hardware and software to manage all this is

analytics to track room usage, activity patterns, and

ing the control panel; you need to get the software up

something systems integrators are prioritizing in one

occupancy trends; intuitive touchpanels with an LED

and running as well. “Setup is a breeze, with options

of the hybrid world’s latest trends.

status indicator to check space availability and

to customize the touchpanel interface with the

meeting length; a check-in button to confirm

meeting options you need,” said da Silva regarding

dynamos themselves along with the right software, can

meeting attendance; and the ability to monitor room

Extron’s room scheduling panels. “The free Room

help manage it all. We called on industry experts to find

occupancy to release the room to available status if

Agent scheduling software connects directly to

out what features are essential, as well as best practices

left unattended.

popular calendar services such as Microsoft

Control panels, both the mini-digital signage

behind room scheduling control panel installation.

More than the Minimum So, where do you start in your quest to find the “right” control panel? Colin McDonough, product marketing

While control panels used to take a more-is-less approach, with advances in software and technology

Remember, installation doesn’t end with mount-

Exchange, 365, Google Calendar, and others.”

In terms of scheduling the room itself, it should

to keep up with the ever-evolving hybrid world, more

be a simple process. But can it be done right from

is more. So, what else can these panels do?

the touchpanel, or is a separate software required?

“To further simplify finding, booking, and locating

“In a best-case scenario, either/or,” said McDon-

manager, Crestron, said the bare minimum should

a space, [Extron’s] Interactive Wayfinding Interface

ough. “While many users will schedule a room from

feature adjustable time and date calendar functions,

connects directly to our Room Scheduling touchpan-

the calendar apps on their devices, there are

along with an occupancy/status indicator. “The most

els,” da Silva explained. “This combination provides

occasions when it’s handy to tap the screen itself

efficient solutions can work with a variety of schedul-

real-time meeting space status and room location

and book a meeting time. A good solution can

ing platforms—communicating with the Microsoft

details on a centralized display. Having a Wayfinding

handle both.”

36

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

ROOM SCHEDULING TECHNOLOGY

Hybrid or Bust It seems with every new device or solution that’s introduced, the question has to be asked: Why is it important for a hybrid work environment? When it comes to room scheduling solutions specifically, why is something that schedules a physical meeting room important for people that may not even be in it?

“Room scheduling system synchronization with popular calendar applications is critical,” Bird offered. “With this capability in place, the system can support meetings booked by participants across the country, across the corporate campus, in the building,

AMX Varia Touch Panels

institutions, and hospitality venues can advertise,

or at the room.”

The professional-grade AMX Varia Touch Panels are

build brand awareness, and share internal com-

designed to adapt to the unique needs of multiple

munications through Reserva.

“More than ever our work lives are dictated by schedules,” added da Silva. “With hybrid work,

environments by offering a selection of pre-loaded

employees may have a variety of schedules. Room

apps—called personas—that define the entire

Crestron Flex Scheduling

scheduling, in conjunction with a calendar system,

panel experience. Personas include Web Kiosk,

With Crestron Flex Scheduling, workforces can

facilitates fluid and accurate information across staff

Zoom Rooms Controller, AMX Book Room Schedul-

quickly book the right space with the right technol-

to find, book, and locate a space—keeping everyone

ing, and AMX G5 Control. Varia panels offer

ogy, all while helping manage occupation density.

in sync and avoiding wasted time to search for a

simplified mounting flexibility with included wall,

Crestron Flex Scheduling gathers the different

space. Room scheduling touchpanels maximize

glass, and VESA-mount capabilities, as well as

types of spaces in your workplace on one conveni-

resource management and room usage, enabling

optional tabletop mounting accessories. Varia

ent platform that allows you to quickly identify

users to locate and book the proper size room.”

panels include advanced security protocols, and an

what you need and determine availability.

It’s important to remember that IT and execu-

integrated wizard streamlines initial setup, while

tive leaders benefit as well as employees or stu-

CloudworX Manager ensures seamless future

dents. “Understanding the true amount of

support through mass configuration and updates.

‘connected real estate’ that a business needs in the modern hybrid work environment can be incredibly

Black Box Reserva iCompel Edge

useful to a C-suite that’s making budgeting

The Reserva iCompel Edge line of touchscreen

decisions,” McDonough said. “These tools can also

meeting room signage solutions is powered by

tell IT which rooms may be underutilized—and help

Black Box’s flagship iCompel digital signage

them understand why.”

platform. Available in three screen sizes, Reserva

Now that you know what to look for, which

provides an intuitive and customizable user

control panels should you consider? Here are nine

interface that enables users to locate and schedule

for your consideration.

rooms in an instant. Businesses, educational

Atlona Velocity Velocity is Atlona’s complete solution for AV control, room scheduling, device management, and remote access. The room scheduling component is designed to provide information on the current status of meeting spaces as well as upcoming events. Velocity gateways synchronize with several popular calendar applications, including Google Workspace, Office 365, Microsoft Exchange, and Astra Schedule, allowing room schedules to be displayed on Velocity touchpanels. The touchpanels utilize color coded GUIs and bezel LED lighting, if equipped, to indicate whether a room is available or busy. Plus, users can book a meeting for an

9000

unoccupied room right at the touchpanel.

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

37

TECHNOLOGY ROOM SCHEDULING

Book from your desk, on a personal device, or on the

stylish design that can be mounted horizontally or

insight into room utilization, while room summaries

spot using enterprise-grade scheduling panels. The

vertically on any material, including glass, textile,

help staff, students, or guests easily navigate to their

illuminated indicators and wayfinding integration

metal, and wood—and positioned on walls, tabletops,

location in unfamiliar environments. Reserva Edge is

help teams and guests quickly locate rooms.

shelves, and underneath desks. Interoperable with

a compact 10-inch, ergonomically designed room

Scheduling panels outside rooms and in-room

Humly Reservations software, the device is compat-

sign with a tilted touchscreen interface and built-in

signage display work together to show availability

ible with Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Office 365,

NFC card reader. Larger 15.6-inch and 21.5-inch

and schedule for a seamless start to meetings.

and Google Workspace. Advanced features include

room signs are available where visibility from a

control functionality for adjustable desks and sensor

greater distance is critical.

detection as well as a PoE powering option.

RTI KX4 RTI designed the KX4 touchpanel to provide an easy-to-deploy solution that takes full advantage of singleroom commercial control—from boardrooms and huddle spaces to classrooms.

Combining an in-wall

Extron TouchLink

touchpanel and hard-button input with

Extron TouchLink room scheduling panels connect

a built-in control pro-

directly to popular calendaring services including

cessor, the KX4 allows

Microsoft Exchange, 365, Google Calendar, and

integrators to complete

others, which simplifies the room booking experi-

installs faster and with

ence. Users can reserve rooms with a couple of taps

the fully customizable

on the panel or from their mobile device. Free Room

control and interfaces

Agent software makes setup easy, allowing cus-

their clients demand.

tomization of the touchpanel interface without

The KX4 delivers both the on-wall control and

additional processors or programming skills.

processing power to manage multiple devices with

Vibrant touchscreens and bright LEDs make it easy

ease. By bringing together a 4-inch capacitive

to see if a room is occupied or available, and the

touchscreen, five-button interface, and a con-

TouchLink Wayfinding Interface, in conjunction

trol processor in a single unit, integrators can

with the room scheduling panels and a display,

deploy cost-effective standalone single room

Visix Connect

provides a centralized real-time view of availability

solutions.

Connect interactive room signs provide a feature-

and location.

Humly Booking Device

Uniguest Reserva

rich, cost-effective space management solution.

Publish schedules from Exchange, Office 365, EMS,

Predominantly used in corporate, education, and

CollegeNET, and Google Calendar—and start,

The new Humly Booking Device addresses the

hospitality environments, Reserva integrates with

extend, or end meetings right at the room sign.

evolving challenges of the hybrid workplace, provid-

calendar and timetabling systems to enable seam-

Room booking is simplified: See if other rooms are

ing users with a capacitive, high-resolution touch-

less delivery of room information alongside engag-

available with red and green side lights, or cancel a

screen solution to view and reserve bookable spaces

ing room signage. Reserva provides centralized

walkup reservation at the room sign with the press

on campus. Its flexibility is balanced with a compact,

management and customization tools that allow

of a button. Other features include customizable

organizations to easily monitor, control, and create

backgrounds, fonts, colors, room numbers, and AV

branded content. Built-in analytics provide a clear

resources, plus analytics to track room usage, availability requests, and resource issues.

Multiple power sources include PoE network switch, injector, or DC power supply.

38

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

TECHNOLOGY NEW PRODUCTS

independently or from a duplicate feed. The kiosks

Platinum Tools PTS Pro Crimp Tool

incorporate 55-inch Xtreme High Bright Outdoor

The new PTS (Pass Through Standard)

displays with Full HD resolution for bright and crisp

Pro Crimp Tool combines multiple

images, even in direct sunlight. The sealed, IP66-

tools into one sleek design. It allows

The Owl Bar is a front-of-room camera, micro-

rated design prevents access to foreign materials. The

for the termination of both ezEX-RJ45

phone, and speaker that pairs with the Meeting Owl

kiosks have an operating temperature of -31-140

connectors and the legacy EZ-RJ45

device and Whiteboard Owl camera to make hybrid

degrees, and are wind tested up to 135 mph. Available

connectors in a single tool with no part

meetings even more immersive. It works as a

in black or silver, Smart City Kiosks are available with

changes. The tool uses a sliding plate to

standalone device or integrates with other Owl Labs

or without 4-inch, 100-watt waterproof speakers and

change between the different types of

products to create a custom ecosystem, which uses

an optional IR touch overlay, which can detect up to 10

connectors, and a captive thumb screw makes

its proprietary AI-powered software to automati-

touchpoints.

swapping between connector styles seamless. It also

Owl Labs Owl Bar

cally switch between cameras to capture the best

features a connector locking mechanism, so connec-

view of in-room attendees, enabling more natural

tors “click” into the tool for termination. Cutting

face-to-face conversations between in-person and

and stripping blades for Cat5e and 6 are built directly

remote participants. It accurately frames the faces

into the handle. Designed for UTP and STP connec-

of in-room participants on screen as they turn their

tors, it also includes a wiring guide printed directly

heads, improving eye contact and preventing side

on the tool for easy connector wiring, replaceable

views. The Owl Bar features a 114-degree, 4K camera along with four omnidirectional microphones and

QSC L Class

can pair with eight smart mics on the Meeting Owl,

QSC’s next generation of advanced, intelligent, active

so everyone can be heard. Manage the Owl Bar and

loudspeakers is for applications ranging from portable,

other devices via tablet, phone, or desktop app.

plug-and-play setups to demanding, networked AV

Peerless-AV Smart City Kiosks

blades, and an ergonomic grip for comfort during extended use.

productions and fixed installations. The new LA108 (two-way, 8-inch) and LA112 (two-way, 12-inch) active line array loudspeakers are complemented by

WyreStorm NHD-500-DNT-TX

The new single (KOP55XHB) and

the LS118 (single, 1-inch) active subwoofer. Both line

The NetworkHD 500s series is an HDMI 2.0 AV-

dual-sided (KOP55XHB2) Smart

array loudspeakers can be deployed using dedicated

over-IP solution capable of encoding up to 8-bit

City Kiosks are designed for

array frames, ground-stacked, or mounted in one of

4K60 4:4:4 over 1 Gbps network via copper or fiber

simplified installation of running

two pole cups. The LS118 can be deployed in both

connection, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and

power and data cabling, while

horizontal and vertical orientations in a ground-stack

HLG content. The NHD-500-DNT-TX is the Dante

offering a dedicated storage space

configuration or using one of its two pole receptacles.

version that has the same technical and physical

for media components. The

L Class delivers high-output amplification, premium

features of the existing NHD-500-TX with the

dual-sided model offers increased

components, DSP, extensive system intelligence, and

addition of an integrated two-channel Dante and

screen space and opportunities for

an intuitive user interface. Users can configure and

AES67 audio output for enhanced interoperability

revenue-generating digital

deploy any L Class system with speed and reliability,

with other Dante and AES67 enabled hardware

advertising and wayfinding, and

while onboard Dante connects L Class to networked AV

solutions such as amplifiers, DSPs, mixers, or

its two screens can play content

systems and connected stages.

speakers. The new 500-DNT-TX allows Dante to

New Partnership with Audinate Brings Dante to Marshall IP Cameras Marshall has announced a collaboration with

“Marshall has been speaking Dante on the

Audinate that integrates Dante AV-H into

audio side of our business for some time with

Marshall’s line of AV-over-IP cameras with up

audio rack monitors. Now, with the development

to UHD/60fps resolution. Dante AV-H will be

of Dante AV-H, adding video to the equation is

accessible from Marshall IP cameras in June

something we had to participate in,” explained

starting with the CV730-BK/WH, CV355-30X-IP,

Tod Musgrave, senior director of cameras at

CV420e, and CV420-30X-IP, followed by the new

Marshall. “Dante AV-H was designed as a high-

CV630-BI/WI platform in August.

performance network solution where low latency

Dante AV-H is a software solution designed to

and ultra-high video quality matters, which is

Marshall cameras, including the CV730-BK/WH, will be able to access Dante AV-H.

allow manufacturers to incorporate Dante video

exactly where Marshall IP cameras have matured

adds monitoring and user access control to AV

control and audio into existing H.264/H.265-based

over the past 12 years, making this an ideal

systems. Dante AV-H video and audio flows are

IP video product designs. Dante AV-H brings

partnership extension.”

independently routable, allowing video and audio

interoperability to networked cameras and other

With Dante AV-H, all video and audio routing,

video endpoints, providing automatic discovery,

as well as device configuration and management,

demuxing hardware. Plus, audio channels from

connectivity, and manageability while using the

is done within the Dante platform. Dante Control-

Dante AV-H endpoints are completely interoper-

familiar, reliable H.264/AVC and H.265/HEVC

ler provides a single point of control for all audio

able with the thousands of Dante audio products

codecs already supported in common hardware.

and video routing, and Dante Domain Manager

on the market today.

40

SCN // May 2023 // avnetwork.com

to be sent where it needs to go without the need for

NEW PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY

transmit audio from one of two inputs, HDMI or

Nyquist administrative station by handling all daily

Visionary 5 Series

analog. The analog input can connect BYOD audio

system operations. Plus, using its built-in Chrome

A next-generation evolution of Visionary’s

devices or be used as a connection to a microphone

browser, users can directly access the Nyquist web

PacketAV Matrix Series endpoints, the 5 Series

in a podium/presentation or similar application. It

user interface.

boasts 4K60 4:4:4 1GbE encoders and decoders. The

is specifically practical in scenarios like live events,

5 Series raises the bar with an array of innovative

professional broadcasts, and houses of worship.

features and enhanced performance. Its 4K60 4:4:4

Bogen Nyquist Zone Paging Microphone Station

video support delivers clear image quality and color depth without compromising bandwidth. Audio Return Channel (ARC)-over-IP enables audio to be returned from a display or endpoint to the source without additional connectivity requirements.

The new Nyquist Zone

Nureva HDL310

Paging Microphone

The newest addition to Nureva’s audio conferencing

extension for enhanced videoconferencing and

Station (NQ-ZPMS) is

systems, the HDL310 simplifies the task of getting

remote collaboration. Plus, a full-motion MJPEG

an intuitive combina-

audio in spaces up to 30x30 feet. Using the next

substream provides users with a secondary,

tion VoIP phone and paging microphone station for

generation of Nureva’s Microphone Mist technology,

lower-bandwidth video stream for remote

hands-free, simplified communications across

it offers 44% more coverage area than its flagship

monitoring and simplified video distribution.

multi-zone commercial applications. It includes a

HDL300 system. Combining a single Nureva micro-

10.1-inch color touchscreen control panel and

phone and speaker bar with a new connect module,

gooseneck microphone for hands-free paging and

the HDL310 system delivers Pro AV performance in a

calling. The touchscreen enables easy visual

plug-and-play, IT-friendly solution that is easy to

selection of zones for immediate paging and

install, setup, and manage at scale. The HDL310

announcements, simple menu navigation, and call

system comes with Console Direct, providing a secure

functionality. Featuring up to 112 one-touch Direct

and continuous connection between the HDL310 and

Station Selection keys, the NQ-ZPMS allows end

Nureva Console, which allows IT staff to manage their

users to program specific features based on their

systems remotely—without an in-room computer

unique needs. The NQ-ZPMS uses G.722 wideband

running client software. The HDL310 also includes a

audio codec for superior acoustic performance, with

feature that lets users mute their audience to focus

built-in noise reduction and full-duplex acoustic

microphone pickup on the presenter’s voice, reducing

echo cancellation. It can operate as the primary

all other microphone pickup in the space.

INSTALLATION PRODUCTS

FLYPACKS & ROAD CASES

Isochronous USB-over-IP simplifies webcam

FIBER CABLES

MODULAR FLOOR BOXES

FURNITURE

For the latest industry news and information, visit us online at

avnetwork.com

To Advertise in the SYSTEMS CONTRACTOR NEWS CLASSIFIEDS, Contact Zahra Majma at zahra.majma@futurenet.com

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

41

VIEWPOINT

Meeting Equity: A Progress Report We Need Better Communication Between Corporate Real Estate and Tech Professionals

By Nyere Hollingsworth

A

As a result, spaces were often built with little

of a given project. They are shortening the asset

consideration for the lighting and acoustic treat-

depreciation timeline to allow for technology to be

ments necessary to realize the value add of a

refreshed on a more frequent basis. They are shifting

s I reflect on the direction of corporate col-

well-designed collaboration system—and often

space improvement funding to the technology team

laboration and the evolving utility of corpo-

these systems would be value engineered to the

and bringing them in earlier in the project to help

rate office space, it is clear to me that things

point of being ineffective to satisfy the use cases of

determine what the right technology investments

are never going back to the way that they used to

the organization. That leaves organizations with a

should be.

be. Having been party to major space renovations in

present-day collaboration technology landscape

multiple companies in various industries, one com-

that now needs a major overhaul in its conception,

exception than the rule, and the vast majority of

mon theme has remained true: Technology profes-

and intent, to enable the equitable meeting

U.S.-based companies are struggling with what to do,

sionals and corporate real estate professionals need

experience that is critical to the justification for

now that people are coming back into the office and

to talk more and work together to make the office

corporate office space.

relying on poorly designed video collaboration space

make sense, as well as to facilitate collaboration and productivity among their colleagues.

The Right Direction

However, these organizations are more of the

for their communication needs. Investment in meeting equity rarely factored into key design choices

By now, the “return to office” is well underway.

Organizations that had remote working cultures prior to

5-10 years ago, and many of those spaces have

Lessons learned from the widespread adoption of video

the pandemic are better positioned today to cope with

inherent architectural limitations that make it nearly

collaboration technology have brought these two

these changes, as their space designs at least considered

impossible to incorporate technology to enable

entities closer together than they have ever been.

remote participants. Those that are moving in the right

equitable collaboration among remote and in-room

direction tend to be those where technology and real

participants today.

Mistakes of the Past Five years ago, video collaboration was a “nice to

estate are talking very often and collaborating on the strategic vision of the organization.

We are in the very early stages of conceiving collaboration space where technology is utilized to

have” feature of a medium-sized conference room

They are more realistic about the technology

enhance human physiology and equalize engagement

or executive boardroom. The participant experience

lifecycle of their space beyond the cost per square foot

across geographic boundaries. Yet, at present, we are

for those unable to be in the room was hardly a

looking for technology to mitigate the effects of

consideration in the budget and subsequent design

design choices made years ago. When the technology

of these spaces, because the most important people

needs of today conflict with decisions made years ago,

were always in the room. Today, this technology is

it is really hard, really expensive, and really time

a requirement in all collaboration spaces, and

consuming to implement truly equitable collabora-

many organizations are trying to figure out

tion spaces that every organization needs.

what to do with the space that was not

Nyere Hollingsworth is the senior manager for

designed to suit the needs of a workforce

collaboration and productivity solutions at Grainger.

that is no longer dependent on physical office space.

In the past, many organizations relied exclusively on the corporate real estate team (since they carry the budget) to determine the collaboration technology needs of their organization.

Despite good intentions, these professionals often had little to no experience in this technology and less of a desire to ultimately

GETTY

IMAG

ES

support and maintain it once deployed.

avnetwork.com // May 2023 // SCN

42