Systems Contractor News - May 2024

YOUR INSIDER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS

®

Young Pro AV Professionals Reaching New Heights in 2024

AVNETWORK.COM

MAY 2024

18 Executive Q&A Mike Tsinberg celebrates 25 years of Key Digital.

32 Blueprint for Success Matt Czyzewski advises building a career of intent.

42 Viewpoint

18

32

42

Nyere Hollingsworth explores the current real estate identity crisis.

YOUR INSIDER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS

®

Young Pro AV Professionals Reaching New Heights in 2024

AVNETWORK.COM

MAY 2024

18 Executive Q&A Mike Tsinberg celebrates 25 years of Key Digital.

32 Blueprint for Success Matt Czyzewski advises building a career of intent.

42 Viewpoint

18

32

42

Nyere Hollingsworth explores the current real estate identity crisis.

CONTENTS 22

The Nine Meet a select group of younger professionals making an

impact on the Pro AV industry.

36 Technology 34 Network-Enabled Efficiencies

People 18 Executive Q&A

Modern command and control environments should consider KVM-over-IP systems.

By Tom Fitzgerald

Mike Tsinberg, founder and CEO of Key Digital,

36 Cry Havoc in Huntsville

reflects on 25 years of delivering connectivity

The Von Braun Center modernized its

solutions.

audio with an EAW ADAPTive system.

By Mark J. Pescatore

By Wayne Cavadi

Business

38 A Better Way to Connect

30 8 Tips for Pro AV Newcomers Here are some tips to help get your career started on the right track.

38

Cottonwood Creek Church has upgraded its production capabilities with Panasonic.

By Jennifer Guhl

By Dan Smith

Viewpoint

32 Blueprint for Success

42 Office Space Identity Crisis

Our newest industry veteran columnist

Can the current technology transformation help

encourages a career of intent.

deliver critical insights for businesses?

By Matt Czyzewski

By Nyere Hollingsworth

Departments 4 SYSTEMS CHECK 6 NEWS 20 NEWSMAKERS 40 NEW PRODUCTS

Vol. 31 No. 5 May 2024 Systems Contractor News (ISSN 1078-4993) is published monthly by Future US, Inc., 130 West 42nd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036-8002. Periodical postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to: SYSTEMS CONTRACTOR NEWS, P.O. Box 1051, Lowell, MA 01853.

Subscribe online at www.MySCNews.com. Please allow 6-8 weeks for address changes to take effect. ©Copyright 2023 by Future US, Inc. PRINTED IN U.S.A.

avnetwork.com // May 2024 // SCN

3

®

SYSTEMS CHECK avnetwork.com

Maybe You Don’t Know What I Want MARK J. PESCATORE Content Director

T

he folks at Martin recently shared some information about the final KISS concert at Madison Square Garden last December. Lighting designer and programmer Michael Cooper used lots of Martin gear on the band’s lighting

rig, including MAC Ultra Performance (as follow spots), MAC Ultra Wash, and other fixtures. Based on the clips I’ve seen online, it was a fitting sendoff for one of the

EMAIL

mark.pescatore@futurenet.com

most successful musical acts of all time.

What more needs to be written about KISS that hasn’t been covered in the past 50 years? Well, here’s one nugget: KISS is one of my favorite bands. I’m sure this comes as

FACEBOOK

facebook.com/ systemscontractor

something of a surprise for many of you, especially after a quick glance at my headshot.

“Love Gun?” This guy?

Basically, I grew up with KISS as my rock ‘n’ roll superheroes. They were larger than life (even had a song with that title on KISS Alive II). Many albums had awesome cover art and included cool bonus items such as posters and temporary tattoos. The band

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

members had even had secret identities like superheroes.

Despite commercial success (more Gold records than any other American band), the band always had and always will have its critics. But if someone sings the lyric “I wanna rock and roll all night,” you can rest assured someone else, even haters, will complete it with “and party every day.”

TWITTER twitter.com/scnmag

The band went through several lineup changes, released more compilation albums than many bands released with original content, and experimented with disco, pop, grunge, and the whole concept album concept. Through it all, here I am, decades later, a grateful fan who still listens to their music.

What can I say? I like KISS. So, if I were purchasing a jukebox, you know what band would be taking up plenty of auditory real estate. What I wouldn’t want is for the person selling me said jukebox telling me that I don’t want KISS songs.

Now, imagine that jukebox is actually a Pro AV installation. And KISS? Well, instead of a band, it’s a particular product or technology. Yes, integrators are the experts, but sometimes it’s easy to forget to actually listen to customers and consider their preferences.

Over the past few years, for example, a handful of videoconferencing platforms have been battling it out for market dominance. Maybe your company is known for Microsoft Teams integrations and you have the best elevator pitch in the business for adopting the platform. If there’s no particular brand loyalty at play, it might be an easy

KISS officially ended its live performances at Madison Square Garden last December.

sell. But what if your customer is all Google all the time and it’s Google Meet or nothing?

It doesn’t have to be videoconferencing software, either. From switchers to microphones to displays and more, people familiar with Pro AV tend to develop PHOTO COURTESY OF KISS

preferences over time. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it— it’s not just a cliché, it’s a way to reduce your product search and find equipment you can trust.

Conversely, a bad experience or two can swear clients off brands, too. Cooper had good reason to choose Martin lighting fixtures for the KISS project— he is clearly a fan of these products and the results speak for themselves. That said, he also told me there are some lights out there that he won’t use again.

Whether it’s a rock band or a videoconferencing platform, people like what they like. When a company invests in an AV infrastructure, it tends to be a long-term relationship. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of familiarity. For some projects, as Cooper reminded me, it comes down to product availability.

But more often than not, there are specific reasons for brand loyalty. Before you decide what your client needs, make sure they’ve had a chance to tell you want they want.

4

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

MAY 2024 VOL. 31 NO. 5 CONTENT

Content Director Mark J. Pescatore, Ph.D. mark.pescatore@futurenet.com Senior Content Manager Wayne Cavadi Contributors Matt Czyzewski, Tom Fitzgerald, Jennifer Guhl, Peter Hansen, Nyere Hollingsworth, Dan Smith Art Editor Rob Crossland Production Managers Nicole Schilling, Heather Tatrow A DV E R T I S I N G S A L E S

Managing Vice President of Sales, B2B Tech 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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NEWS

Nureva Founders Receive Meritorious Service Medals

N

included in the company of so many distinguished Canadians who have made such important contributions to the country and the world,” said Knowlton. “It has been our absolute pleasure to play a part in serving the needs of educators

ureva founders Nancy Knowlton and

Meritorious Service Decorations recognize

David Martin have each been awarded

remarkable Canadians for their extraordinary

Tech visionaries and married team Knowlton

a prestigious Meritorious Service

accomplishments and contributions that bring

and Martin have a substantial track record in the

Medal. As part of the Meritorious Service

honor to Canada. Encouraging

globally over the past 30 years.”

Pro AV and IT arenas. Martin, Nureva’s CTO, is

Decorations (Civil Division), the medals

excellence is at the core of every

driven by a deep understanding of technology

were awarded to the couple for their

governor general’s mandate,

trends and how technology solutions can make life

exceptional contributions to improving

and the Meritorious Service

better in business. Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO and

educational opportunities for young

Decorations (Civil Division) are

recent inductee into the SCN Hall of Fame, is

people in Canada and abroad.

among the highest Canadian

regarded as a global expert on technology adoption

Knowlton and Martin were

distinctions that can be

in education. The couple founded SMART

recognized at a ceremony

awarded.

Technologies in 1987 and launched Nureva in 2014.

on March 21.

Presented by Governor General Mary Simon, the

David Martin and Nancy Knowlton

Diversified Gets Flexible with Talent Sourcing

D

“Dave and I are

Today, Nureva employs a team of 160 people and

honored to receive this

has more than 40 patents for its Microphone Mist

distinction and be

technology.

Meyer Sound Acquires Audio Rhapsody

Extron Opens Las Vegas Facility

E

xtron has opened a new regional Training and Experience Center in Las Vegas. The facility will include

an innovative training center along with an engaging product demonstration area, filled with the latest in Extron technologies

duction talent. The service supports a broad range of

I

founded by Jonathan Deans, who is

expansion is part of our commitment to meeting

modern enterprise needs, from corporate events and

known for his pioneering work in

our customers’ needs and is another way we offer

immersive sound. With the acquisi-

the highest level of personalized and accessible

tion, Meyer Sound strengthens its

services. As we continue to grow, you can be

iversified has launched Flex Sourcing, which provides organizations with a flexible, efficient solution for sourcing pro-

live broadcasts to full-scale productions, by curat-

n March, Meyer Sound

deployed in a variety of environments.

“We are excited to open another Training and

announced its acquisition of

Experience Center in the U.S.,” said Casey Hall,

Audio Rhapsody, a startup

Extron’s chief marketing officer. “This

ing a skilled set of specialized resources including

Jonathan Deans

videographers, audio engineers, directors, produc-

position in theater sound solutions, using Deans’

assured that customer service and support

ers, camera operators, and more.

expertise to develop software solutions to expand the

remains our top priority, wherever you may be.”

company’s portfolio of integrated digital systems. The

Located within the Hughes Center, a

as well as partnerships with third-party vendors that

By leveraging its deep expertise in AV and media,

team will focus on developing the next generation of

premiere business park, the new facility offers

excel in critical aspects of media production and live

audio show control software for the NADIA platform.

convenient proximity to McCarran International

event management, Diversified makes it easy, fast,

Deans has had a relationship with Meyer since

Airport and is also close to the Las Vegas

and low risk for organizations to assemble proficient

1978, and the company even acquired Deans’

Convention Center and Las Vegas Strip. With its

teams to produce bigger events in a cost-effective

company, Level Control Systems, in 2005, which led to

worldwide headquarters in Anaheim, CA, Extron

manner while ensuring the job is done right. Flex

an expansion of Meyer’s digital solutions. “Jonathan

has facilities strategically located in Silicon

Sourcing includes a comprehensive discovery process

is a recognized leader in the world of theater sound,”

Valley, Dallas, Toronto, New York City, Raleigh,

to provide customized solutions, plus the freedom to

said John McMahon, SVP of Meyer Sound. “We’re

NC, and Washington, DC, as well as across

tailor production staff to exact needs, which

excited to join forces with him and his team as we

Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia.

optimizes resource allocation and cost effectiveness.

continue to build upon our successes and expand our

“Flex Sourcing empowers companies with the

investments in the sector.”

ability to quickly mobilize high-quality production

“Meyer Sound has been there throughout my

teams with the exact expertise they need precisely

career,” said Deans, who has assumed the role of senior

when they need it,” said Mat Newfield, president and

specialist, theatrical production systems. “I founded

chief commercial officer at Diversified.

Audio Rhapsody to build tools that remove the silos and barriers to creativity that are inherent in theatrical sound design systems and processes, and I’m so thrilled to complete that journey with a team of people who share the same passion.”

6

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

Extron has opened a new Training and Experience Center in Las Vegas.

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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

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

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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.

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Powered by © 2024 DVIGear, Inc.

NEWS

Hendley Receives First John Greene Mentorship Award

A

lesia Hendley, business development

using her platform to amplify other voices.

manager at Sennheiser, was presented with

“Learning that I won the first-ever John Greene

NSCA’s inaugural John Greene Mentorship

Mentorship Award left me speechless,” Hendley said.

Award at the 26th annual Business & Leadership

“John always poured into me, especially early on in

Conference in late February in Irving, TX.

my career. He constantly cheered me on, shared his

Hendley is an AV professional who found her

Alesia Hendley

knowledge with me, and encouraged me in times

passion for the industry at a young age as a sound

when I wanted to quit. To know I’m playing a part in

helping others reach their full potential. NSCA created

engineer in her father’s church. Today, in addition to

others’ lives the way John did for me is a true honor

the award to honor his legacy. He not only dedicated

working for Sennheiser, she’s also one of the

and a blessing.”

his life to industry mentorship, but also served as a

industry’s top influencers and content creators. As an

Greene, a well-known industry educator and

industry leader, she focuses on paying it forward and

mentor who died in 2021, was passionate about

volunteer and co-captain for Special Olympics Pennsylvania and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Elara Las Vegas Hotel Upgrades Pylon Signage

T

he Elara by Hilton Grand Vacations, a

is more than 53 feet tall and 29 feet wide for a

52-story resort hotel connected to the Las

combined surface area of more than 3,000 square

Vegas shopping center Miracle Mile, recently

feet.

retrofitted its pylon display with EMPIRE Exterior

“With so much lighting and glamor on The Strip,

LED video technology from SNA Displays. The over-

it’s more important than ever for Las Vegas property

haul, which yielded three times more digital canvas,

owners to invest in high-quality LED for their

went live in time for last November’s inaugural Las

large-format digital displays,” said Doug Fundator,

Vegas Grand Prix, which passed near the hotel.

director of sales for casinos and gaming SNA Displays.

Used both for on-premise messaging and Digital

“It’s more cost-effective than ever to go bigger and

Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising, the monolith-

bolder, and we’re seeing many clients substantially

shaped Elara pylon is dual-faced providing views to

increase the size and impact of their messaging

east and westbound traffic. Each side’s digital display

centers through these kinds of retrofits.”

An overhauled pylon display at the Elara by Hilton Grand Vacations in Las Vegas is used for on-premise messaging and DOOH advertising.

WJLA has overhauled its main studio with an updated set and Brightline lighting fixtures.

WJLA Updates Studio with Brightline

S

inclair Broadcast Group recently collaborated with Brightline to revamp Studio A at WJLA, one of two Sinclair flagship stations (the

other is WBFF in Baltimore) and the ABC affiliate serving the Washington, DC, market. Consisting of a full Brightline fixture package, the set is the new home for “7News,” “Good Morning Washington,” and “Fed Government Today.”

The two companies have renovated hundreds of stations in markets across the country. Getting TV stations on the air is always a race against the clock, and Sinclair and Brightline have forged a turnkey approach that results in a timely and seamless implementation of each project.

“Everything we learn from previous stations carries into the next,” explained Sam Cercone, managing partner, Brightline. “I’ve learned and enjoyed so much working with my colleagues at Sinclair. The latest evidence is our work at WJLA, of which we’re extremely proud.”

8

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

NEWS

S

SCN Announces 2024 Stellar Service Awards

Best Tech Support Platinum: Prysm Service and Support Team With a clientele of global enterprise companies relying on Prysm for multiple installations around the world, it is essential that Prysm’s support service matches the requirements and mindsets of

o many awards programs in the Pro AV

Best Online Training

industry recognize new products and

Platinum: Q-SYS Online Training

four-stage program to ensure an informed service

technologies. (At SCN, for example, we

Q-SYS Online Training strives to deliver a unique

from true solution experts.

these businesses. The company has a well-defined,

have our upcoming Installation Product Awards at

approach to learning, with trainers that are not only

• Planning: understanding the client’s unique use

InfoComm, as well as the Pro AV Best in Market,

knowledgeable but also fun and engaging. Since its

cases and a site survey to evaluate the environ-

which we share with other Future B2B properties.)

training videos are modular, participants can easily

ment and identify other technologies in the

That’s why the SCN Stellar Service Awards

navigate to a previous course or skip a module to come

ecosystem.

are so special. They provide an opportunity to

back to it later. Whether it is a general introduction to

recognize excellent service and the manufacturers,

the Q-SYS Ecosystem or how to build a control system

tandem with onsite engineers to configure

distributors, and integrators that deliver it.

in a hands-on Q-SYS environment, there are

software and hardware.

• Install and Commission: support team works in • Customer Success: tailored user adoption

As in years past, we received thousands of votes

hundreds of video courses. Whether participating

from you, our readers, to determine the winners of

remotely or at Q-SYS training facilities, users can

the Stellar Service Awards. Thank you for your

access resources to enhance their understanding and

participation. We now proudly present your

application of the QSYS Platform. Utilize real Q-SYS

• Technical Support and Service: local specialists in

exceptional service providers.

hardware simulations to apply learning in practical

the United States, Middle East, and across APAC

scenarios and get real-time feedback and guidance

ensure quick response times in local languages

Best Design Services/Tools

from the instructors. Classes are available in several

training ensures each client is able to maximize Prysm’s features for their specific requirements.

for the optimize support.

Platinum: Extron

languages and are free.

Gold: Sound Devices Service and Support Department

Extron offers a wide selection of system design tools,

Gold: Shure SAI Wireless Workbench (WWB) Tutorials

Silver: WyreStorm Tech Support

including system builders, design guides, online

Silver: SynAudCon Online Audio Training

calculators, and technical resources to help AV

Best Website Dealer UX

professionals design their ideal systems and select

Best Sales Operation

just the right products. In addition, Extron system

Platinum: Shure

The Extron Insider website offers a seamless user

design engineers are available to work with

Delivering an excellent experience to customers has

experience for AV professionals, streamlining

integrators to provide system design support and

been at the heart of Shure’s mission for nearly 100

access to the tools and up-to-date information they

technical troubleshooting services to system

years. Key attributes of its sales process include

need for superior project outcomes. Its intuitive

integrators throughout the project lifecycle, from

communication, collaboration, planning, thought

navigation and user-centric design facilitate easy

sales to system installation and commissioning.

leadership, strategic advice, and commitment. The

access to product and training videos, certification

Gold: Crestron Intelligent Video Room Designer

strong relationships built with partners allow Shure

programs, configuration tools, software, and more.

Silver: SoundTube EASE Audio Design

to deliver professional support at every stage of the

Users benefit from the comprehensive, user-

buyer’s journey.

friendly platform for MSRP and—depending on

Gold: Extron

account type—reseller pricing in local currency for

Silver: Sound Productions

use in bids, proposals, and project budgets.

sell boxes of hardware. As the first Pro AV distributor

Best Supporting Content

Best Project Management Tools

to offer value-added services well over a decade ago,

Platinum: Exertis Almo E4 Experience

Platinum: D-Tools System Integrator (SI) V21

AV Outsourcing from Exertis Almo helps reseller

The E4 Experience is well-established in the AV industry

The newly released D-Tools System Integrator (SI)

partners create a path to grow their current business

as a valuable, free, one-day traveling education,

V21 allows integrators to stay on top of project

model and recurring revenue without the need to add

training, and product showcase for integrators,

timelines and budgets with easy-to-use task

or maintain staff. Services include:

consultants, and end users. E4 stands for the four main

tracking and collaboration tools that streamline

pillars of the experience: Explore, Engage, Educate, and

workflows and effectively manage installations,

and live TV programming with recurring

Expo. The E4 Experience brings together top educators,

service orders, and job costing. Moreover, SI V21

commissions.

manufacturing partners, AVIXA CTS Renewal Unit

users can schedule and dispatch field technicians

certified training, technology firsts, and endless

with D-Tools Mobile Install 2.0 to assign

networking opportunities. It includes a “crown jewel”

installation tasks and service orders, then monitor

showroom packed with the newest AV gear in use,

the timely completion of those tasks. Among the

technicians nationwide for full service hourly

making it an ideal place for integrators to bring their

key features is a mobile view and in-app chat that

projects, including site surveys and service calls.

local end users. Attendees can expect to learn the latest

keeps field technicians in constant contact with the

business and industry trends necessary to stay

office and projects on track. Plus, field technicians

designs and schematics for signal flows, bill of

productive and gain valuable skills that can immediately

can use SI V21 to upsell clients with additional

materials, room elevations, and conduit and riser

be implemented. Thanks to Exertis Almo’s exhibiting

products or services with on-the-spot approvals.

runs with Revit, AutoCad, and Sketchup Pro

partners, the E4 Experience is free to attendees and

To assist SI users, D-Tools has a team of 15

programs.

includes breakfast, lunch, and parking.

individuals in its support and training departments.

Gold: Digital Projection Concierge Service & Support

Gold: Biamp Cornerstone

Gold: XTEN-AV

Silver: The Farm AV FarmAssist

Silver: BZBGEAR Technical Support Knowledge Base

Silver: Jetbuilt

Best Value-Added Services Platinum: Exertis Almo AV Outsourcing Grow workforce, not overhead. It’s not enough to just

• Connectivity: Internet, bandwidth, voice services, • Control Systems and DSP Programming: remote and onsite programming for any size job.

• Labor and Project Support: contracted skilled • Engineering, Drafting, and Consulting: CAD

10

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

Platinum: Extron Insider

NEWS

AtlasIED Celebrates 90 Years of Sound Solutions

I

premium and beam-steering loudspeakers.

In 1934, Atlas Sound made headlines by being the first company to combine the horn shape of the megaphone with

n 2024, AtlasIED is celebrating a rare mile-

reinforces our commitment to never-

electro-acoustics to create

stone: 90 years in business. Atlas Sound has

ending growth and innovation,

outdoor PA loudspeakers. Today,

been providing audio and communication

maintaining relevance, and high-quality

AtlasIED remains a versatile

service to our customers.”

manufacturer with full-time

solutions to the world since 1934—and since the acquisition of Innovative Electronic Designs

Today, the company focuses

(IED) in 2011, the company manufactures

on application-based

An early ad from Atlas Sound (now AtlasIED)

manufacturing facilities in Phoenix and Ennis, TX. The Ennis

a wide variety of commercial audio and

solutions with a wide and

communication technology solutions.

flexible range of installation and

molding machines, robotics, and automation, and

Building on the legacy of prior owner

aesthetic options, including

houses the majority of the company’s inventory.

Loyd Ivey, who passed away in Sep-

communications and audio

tember, AtlasIED’s current owner, John

platforms, as well as a broad array of

Ivey, remain steadfast in operating as a family-owned business.

loudspeakers for commercial

facility boasts metalworking,

Since its inception, the company has helped customers improve end user experiences in some of the most visited venues in the world, such as New

applications. The company

York’s LaGuardia Airport and Moynihan Train Hall,

is well-positioned for future

along with supporting world-famous talent ranging

proud of our AtlasIED

growth with recently

from Whitney Houston to the Beatles. “It’s an

family for reaching 90 years

announced enhancements

honor to be able to look back at AtlasIED’s heralded

as a global leader in audio

to its Atmosphere audio

legacy, knowing that there is so much more ahead

and communications

control system platform,

of us,” John Ivey added. “This year, we recognize

technology,” said John Ivey,

plus key strategic

our accomplishments that serve as a tribute to the

president and CEO.

investments in threat

people and technology who have made AtlasIED the

“Arriving at this milestone

detection technology and

global leader that it is today.”

“We couldn’t be more

Loyd Ivey

avnetwork.com // May 2024 // SCN

11

NEWS OCEANX

traveling exhibition,” Clark explained. “To achieve the look and feel of being on the ship, it was essential to develop a wall system that provided different spaces and rooms that mimicked the ship’s walls. The wall system we developed is flexible and provides modularity for different gallery spaces.

“There is also the hangar door projection in the sub hangar, which features a 30-minute looping video of actual footage from the rear deck of OceanXplorer. The rear projection setup, with the video and audio, reinforces the notion that this state-of-the-art vessel is

Currently at the Arizona Science Center, the OceanXperience submarine swims with the fishes at the immersive adventure.

always active and operating.”

So, what are some of the Pro AV secrets behind this oceanic adventure?

OceanXperience Takes Guests Under the Sea(s)

By Wayne Cavadi

N

ew immersive experiences are popping up with regularity and captivating people of all ages and interests. The OceanXperience

exhibit,” explained Eslinger. “Fivestone Studios created

“The photorealistic renderings, used for the HoloLens experience, mission debriefing projection wall, and the holographic displays, were brought to life using 3DS Max,” said Eslinger. “All of the interactives were created with Unity using in-house tools and assets from Unity’s Marketplace. These applications run on high-end Windows computers that are directly connected to the displays.”

a local Node.js server to store and process data on each

For the whale tagging station, Unity’s Universal

interactive so that guests’ choices and progress could be

Render Pipeline (URP) and custom shaders were used to

evaluated at the end of their experience.”

make performant photorealistic real-time graphics that

Of course, there were a few challenges along the

responded to the user’s physical tagging pole. “This

way. When Xplorers “board” the Zodiac—a small

real-time rendered output was projection mapped to

is one of those. Conceptualized in 2022—when

open-air boat for tracking—the replica tagging poll and

the exhibit’s walls to create a 3D look from where the

exhibition producer Flying Fish and the ocean

sensors beneath the projection surface mimic an actual

user is standing,” Eslinger added.

exploration organization OceanX partnered for

tagging experience. Anna Clark, head of marketing for

innovative, underseas storytelling—it is a traveling

Flying Fish, described the task as “incredibly

on the programming and user interfaces to truly

exhibition based on a forthcoming television series

challenging and rarely achieved on a first attempt.”

enhance the user experience, one that has been

Through Unity, Fivestone Studios was able to focus

produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and

That HoloLab was the result of another challenge.

OceanX in association with Earthship Productions

OceanX wanted everyone to experience the HoloLenses,

cloud-based collaborative design platform, that allowed

for National Geographic.

but with an expected throughput of 250-300 visitors per

its global team to contribute to design and execution.

OceanXperience premiered in June 2023 at the

hour, that was logistically impractical. Not only would it

positively received thus far. It also used Figma, a

As with any immersive exhibit, projection mapping

Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. Multimedia

require a bevy of headsets, you’d also need to factor in

plays a key role. The Tagging Station is powered by an

company Fivestone Studios was charged with bringing

extra time for Xplorers to grasp how to use them.

Epson L635SU short-throw projector, an interactive

the exhibit to life at the center, and it certainly has quite

Thus, the HoloLab Experience was born. The

projection microscope uses a Panasonic PT-VMZ71BU7,

a bit for every Pro AV lover. “The OceanXperience

10-minute facilitated experience with viewing windows

the sub hangar deploys a Panasonic PT-RCQ80LWU,

features a mix of projection mapping, traditional touch

and simulated Ncam live feed allows Xplorers to

and the mission debriefing uses a Panasonic

screens, holographic displays, and Microsoft HoloLens

interact. Plus, this allows OceanX to restrict the

PT-MZ780BU. Flying Fish also provided an oceanic

headsets,” explained Justin Eslinger, director of

HoloLenses to a secure and single location, which makes

soundscape throughout the exhibit.

innovation, Fivestone Studios.

it easier to monitor the hardware and support visitors.

While OceanXperience is a fun and interactive

Another challenge was somewhat architecturally

“Overall, we are extremely pleased with the result of the exhibit," said Eslinger. "It was a fun challenge that

journey, it is also meant to be an educational experience

imposed: How do you make visitors feel truly

we hope will inspire the next generation of scientists

for those involved. Visitors (the “Xplorers”) are given

immersed? “Typically, we try to use fewer walls with a

and explorers.”

three missions. One takes visitors on a study of humpback whales and includes a bridge mapping table, tagging station, and computer station to analyze data.

Another mission takes visitors to the Bahamian waters to study great hammerhead sharks, complete with a mission control mapping table and submersible station that includes a coral reef and shipwreck. The last mission studies a group of orcas, and guests get to pilot drones and interact with a hologram station. Don’t worry, casual Xplorers can take their time on a nonmission adventure as well.

“The goal was to have guests register their RFID bracelet and go on a guided mission throughout the

12

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

The OceanXperience uses a mix of projection mapping and other Pro AV technologies for simulating activities such as tagging humpback whales.

OCEANX

an RFID wristband to track their progress on one of

NEWS

L

NDI 6 Update Adds Native HDR Support, Improved Connectivity ast month, just in time to make a splash

through an NDI Bridge utility for hardware. This

networks and cloud-based workflows. This shift

at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas, NDI

plug-and-play solution promises a significant impact

transforms NDI from a primarily local technology to a

announced the release of NDI 6, a key update

on the flexibility of remote productions and setups,

cornerstone of global networked broadcasting.”

set to significantly impact content creation and

offering a seamless experience for anyone sending

broadcasting. With native HDR support and expanded

and receiving video, regardless of device, platform, or

been under beta testing with product developers

WAN connectivity for hardware, NDI 6 addresses

location. The new feature allows devices to send

including Autodesk, Chyron, Kiloview, Lumens,

critical industry requirements while pushing the

encrypted NDI streams over a WAN, facilitating

Matrox, Panasonic, and Vizrt as part of the NDI Beta

boundaries of visual quality and remote workflows.

secure, remote real-time collaboration between

program. Results have led to the successful

Equipped with native HDR and 10+ bit color

locations. NDI-enabled cameras with the Bridge

integration of NDI 6 into both existing and

support, NDI 6 meets broadcast industry demands for

utility can join remote networks without depending

forthcoming products.

professional-grade video streaming over IP and making

on additional software or tools.

broadcast-quality streaming widely available. The

“With its advanced bit depth and expanded color

Since Q4 2023, the core technology update has

“The feedback from our customers and beta testers played a pivotal role in developing NDI 6.

update provides higher contrast, which expands

range, NDI 6 elevates the visual quality of our

Many of our partners want to adopt NDI workflows

brightness headroom. Plus, it offers wide color gamut

products to unprecedented levels, enhancing every

more profoundly, and further improved image quality

and minimal color banding, which ensures seamless

aspect of the content creation process,” said Ulrich

will enhance the usage of NDI,” explained Nick

transitions and gradients, as well as broad compatibility

Voigt, global head of product management, Vizrt.

Mariette, director of product management, NDI.

with support for PQ and HLG formats, expanding

“The new Bridge utility feature also opens doors to

“Now, anyone seeking high-end quality can stream in

streaming to most HDR and non-HDR devices.

seamless connectivity, enabling our customers to

HDR with the flexibility, efficiency, and

effortlessly integrate NDI devices into their remote

interoperability NDI has always offered.”

WAN connectivity is now embedded into cameras

avnetwork.com // May 2024 // SCN

13

NEWS

Sennheiser Applauds New FCC Rules for WMAS Wireless Mic Technology

I

n February, the Federal Communications

in the bandwidth limit specified for wireless

harmonic distortion products, known as

Commission (FCC) adopted new rules permitting

microphones. At that time, Sennheiser demonstrated

intermodulation (IM), which can interfere with

the operation of Wireless Multichannel Audio

a prototype system to the Commission’s Office of

wanted signals.

Systems (WMAS) in the United States. According to the FCC, “WMAS will enable more wireless

Engineering & Technology (OET).

The benefits of WMAS technology are

Since then, the FCC monitored further

accomplished by multiplexing audio channels onto a

microphones to operate in the spectrum available

developments of WMAS technology and concluded

wideband RF channel, which is 6 MHz for the United

… which provides additional options when more

that it justified the requested rule change. “We

States (in the case of Sennheiser’s WMAS

microphones are needed. The rules will permit

especially thank OET, who carefully studied our claims

technology). In this space, portable bidirectional

WMAS to operate on a licensed or unlicensed basis,

and supporting evidence,” said Joe Ciaudelli, director

transceivers will be able to communicate with a base

while preserving the existing spectrum rights of

of spectrum and innovation for Sennheiser. “WMAS

station at an extremely low power spectral density,

others that share those frequencies.”

will revolutionize the professional audio industry as

which will provide superior protection to nearby

WMAS is an advanced microphone technology

well as fulfil the Commission’s goals of greater

operators of other wireless devices.

designed to meet the challenges of highly demanding

spectrum efficiency and sharing compatibility.”

live performance and studio applications. Compared

Today, conventional wireless

Since WMAS uses a single RF carrier, the possibility of IM products is eliminated. As a

to conventional wireless microphone systems, WMAS

microphones are narrowband, limited to an

result, in-ear monitor channels will be able to

offers higher spectral efficiency—the ability to

RF bandwidth of 200 kHz. Each audio

use, in parallel, the same block of RF

transmit more audio channels within a limited block

channel uses a dedicated, mono-directional

spectrum as wireless microphones, further

of RF spectrum—as well as greater interference

transmitter-receiver pair tuned to a unique

enhancing spectral efficiency. “For years

protection to other wireless services that share the

RF carrier. Each transmitter continuously

customers have been asking for a single pack

same spectrum.

outputs power, typically 50 mW, which raises

Sennheiser, which applauded the FCC’s new rules,

that is both a transmitter and an in-ear

the RF noise floor with each channel

monitor receiver,” Ciaudelli

started development of its WMAS more than 10 years

that’s added to the configuration.

noted. “This will finally

ago. In August 2018, the company filed a Petition for

These multiple carriers are also

Rulemaking with the FCC requesting a modification

prone to generating non-

Joe Ciaudelli

become possible with Sennheiser’s WMAS.”

PAMA: Immersive Audio on the Rise

N

o, immersive audio is not a fad.

formats for both music and film/TV,” said Chris

In a recent survey of professional

Hansen, director of recording, Harman International.

promote and give confidence to customers that these

audio manufacturers conducted by the

“Sony’s game console, as a delivery system, helps

systems will perform to their expectation or beyond

push their Sony 360 format.”

the expectation of a traditional system,” said Marc

Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA), half the respondents said immersive audio now

Gary Boss, marketing director for Audio-

“A lot of different tools are required to help

Lopez, VP of marketing, Americas, at d&b

ranges from a significant to a solidly pervasive

Technica, agreed that Atmos seemed to be getting the

and permanent component of audio production

most traction—for now. “We feel people are just now

While only half the respondents cited studio

workflows—and all respondents expect to reach that

figuring this out and what their workflow will be, so

products for immersive mixing as applicable to their

level of pervasiveness within five years.

no real ‘standards’ are universal yet,” he noted. “We

product line, all respondents cited some demand for

are working on microphone solutions that can be

products offering immersive mixing capabilities for live

compatible with many different workflows.”

sound—the only product category in the survey where

PAMA asked its member companies to assess the impact of the burgeoning immersive audio movement on their product development and

Immersive loudspeaker systems for live sound

audiotechnik. “Typically, hearing is believing.”

all respondents found the category applicable to their

business. Two-thirds of participating companies

garnered responses across the range of low to high

product line. Those that cited good or better demand for

reported significant current overall demand for

demand from those with applicable products, with

immersive products for studio cited identical demand

products with immersive audio capabilities. Four out

the average just on the fair side of the scale. Demand

for live immersive mixing products, with little to low

of five respondents expect products with immersive

for theater-specific immersive loudspeaker was

demand the average across all respondents.

audio features to be a growth area in their company’s

rated slightly higher than for live sound

portfolio of products over the next five years, with

loudspeakers in general.

There is “no real standard for live reinforcement” regarding immersive speaker

one-third of all respondents seeing

configurations and protocols,

great potential for growth.

explained David Fuller, QSC’s VP

Current immersive audio product

product development–pro audio.

demand is cited as strongest in film,

“While FOH engineers for A-list

TV, and gaming, where established

artists are experimenting with their

protocols are baked into delivery

touring rigs, many installed venues

formats and devices. “Dolby Atmos is

can barely afford a stereo PA, let alone

in a leadership position for immersive

distributed PAs for immersive.”

N-36X-

14

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

NEWS

Two massive 60-foot displays from MAXHUB line the entry way of the OSU Alumni Center.

added. “Moreover, the robust design of

MAXHUB has demonstrated exemplary commitment

MAXHUB equipment ensures ease of maintenance,

to customer satisfaction through their responsive

minimizing downtime while optimizing system

and capable technical support services,” Pierce said.

reliability.”

“Their proactive approach to resolving issues and

With a project of this scope and complexity,

OSU Alumni Center Welcomes Visitors with Video Walls

T

he ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater, OK—home base to the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association—read-

ily supports all types of activities from intimate gatherings to major corporate events. Recently, AVL Systems Design of Edmond, OK, deployed massive dual 60-foot displays in Legacy Hall, the entry area of the facility.

“At the OSU Alumni Center, AVL’s innovations play a pivotal role in enhancing the visitor experience, particularly for new students and campus guests,” said Marc Pierce, president of AVL Systems Design. “The grandeur of the 60-foot walls serves as a captivating canvas, enveloping patrons in the essence of the institution and instilling a profound sense of awe upon entry.”

The Legacy Hall displays were installed and initially placed into service in January. The system utilizes a combination of two 60x10-foot MAXHUB CM27 Series displays, dual 60x3-foot CM27 Series displays, six MAXHUB V6 View Pro Series panels, four CMA Series panels, and one Raptor Series display panel. The solution seamlessly integrates local computer feeds, wireless video and audio transmissions, and accommodates a myriad of other audio and video needs to meet the evolving needs of the facility.

“Our solution for this project involves a comprehensive array of features and functionalities tailored to enrich the visitor experience,” explained Pierce. “From curated historical narratives to real-time updates on campus events and live feeds from sporting events, the AV system serves as a dynamic conduit for information dissemination and engagement. This includes a diverse range of multimedia content such as movies, video clips, and immersive 360-degree panoramic footage from sporting events and daily campus activities.”

Pierce said the MAXHUB equipment required minimal setup and configuration straight out of the box. “With intuitive interfaces and streamlined operation, our team found it easy to navigate and utilize the full capabilities of the equipment,” he

avnetwork.com // May 2024 // SCN

15

willingness to go above and beyond to ensure smooth

capable and responsive support services are crucial

operations have been instrumental in fostering a

to keep a project on schedule. “In my experience,

positive and productive partnership.”

NEWS

AVI Systems Celebrates 50th Anniversary

E

stablished as OMF Incorporated on April 1,

as modern IT services.

Joe Stoebner

remains dedicated to its core values of integrity,

1974, AVI Systems is celebrating its 50th

In the audiovisual industry, AVI Systems is

year of business. Joe Stoebner was there

broadly known as the only company of its size

“As we celebrate our 50th year in business, we

from the beginning, first as minority owner and

dedicated to 100% employee ownership. The

are incredibly proud of the journey that has brought

then as sole owner in 1979. Since those early days,

employee stock ownership plan was established in

us here,” said Jeff Stoebner, CEO of AVI Systems.

the company has evolved to become an industry

1989, and the company transitioned to 100%

“From our roots in Bismarck to our expansion

leader and innovator that serves clients regionally,

employee ownership in 2009.

across the United States and around the world, AVI

nationally, and globally.

With a focus on innovation and customer

First opening in Bismarck, ND, AVI has expanded

curiosity, stewardship, elevation, and oneness.

Systems has remained committed to delivering

service, AVI has earned a reputation as a trusted

leading audiovisual and collaboration solutions that

throughout the United States and will open new

advisor for organizations that wish to enhance

empower organizations to thrive in an ever-

locations in Phoenix and Washington, DC, in 2024. In

communication, elevate the modern workplace, and

evolving digital landscape. This milestone is a

2018, AVI acquired Magenium Solutions, adding

drive success. Today, AVI Systems serves and

testament to the dedication of our 1,100-plus

Microsoft solutions expertise to solve the growing

supports the AV/UC needs of multinational

employee owners, the support of our clients, and

business challenges of organizations and deliver

enterprises in 50 countries and 180 cities

our unwavering commitment to innovation and

advanced Microsoft Teams Room technology as well

worldwide. As the company looks to the future, it

excellence.”

Yamaha UC Closing Its Doors

ASG Expands with New London Office

E

gives ASG, which is headquartered in Emeryville,

“With globally distributed workforces now a reality,

Y

CA, a greater European presence to better serve

having an international presence is an operational

Yamaha, changes in the market environment have

its international customers, as well as meet

requirement. Technology doesn’t stop moving, and

prompted the company to liquidate its subsidiary.

the increasing worldwide demand for managed

London is a significant production center, so

services, production, and post-production facility

expanding was the logical choice. Our U.K. presence

to result in an increase in consolidated net profit of

expertise.

will be there to serve the needs of these

approximately $2.5 billion due to the application of

organizations.”

tax effect accounting and other factors. Liquidation

ntering its next phase of growth,

later dealing with issues like the actors and writers

Advanced Systems Group is opening a new

strikes, so there’s a lot of pent-up refitting and

office in London this month. The move

development that’s ramping up,” he explained.

The office will be located at Aviation House in London’s Holborn area, a booming professional and

Advanced Systems Group U.K., a wholly owned

amaha Corporation has decided to dissolve Yamaha Unified Communications, a U.S.-based subsidiary known for selling

conferencing system equipment. According to

The decision to liquidate Yamaha UC is expected

is scheduled for the end of June and will be

creative hub. Tim Cuthbertson, an ASG global

subsidiary of ASG, is part of a phased approach to

completed upon the conclusion of necessary

account executive with more than 30 years of

ramping up the company’s international presence.

procedures in accordance with local laws and

integration and professional services experience,

The U.K. team will focus on its current European

regulation.

will relocate back to his native London to

Formerly Revolabs, Yamaha UC was established

head the new operations as managing

even more comprehensive services, as well as ASG’s

in 2005 and acquired by Yamaha in 2014. The

director.

U.S.-based clients that have facilities in Britain.

company changed its name to Yamaha UC in 2018.

According to Cuthbertson, the

“From the start, our goal was never to be the

ASG London office was a “right time,

biggest integrator, but to be known for delivering

equipment in the United States will be handled by

right place” decision driven by

the best service for our customers,” said Dave Van

Yamaha Corporation of America.

shifting business and economic

Hoy, president of ASG. “We have been operating

factors. “Organizations in our markets have had to

Tim Cuthbertson

16

clients including SNAP, Google, and Yahoo with

internationally with a managed services and SI presence in London for more than a decade, and

reinvent their

several of our global M&E and enterprise customers

operations, first

have long requested us to establish a greater

adapting to

presence outside of North America. It’s clear that

workforce changes

this is the right time to formally expand our

caused by the

international business and open an office in

pandemic and

London.”

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

Going forward, sales of conferencing system

NEWS

March Bounces Back after Februrary Numbers Disappoint

By Peter Hansen

has been for the past three years: They’re finally

There’s good news on employment, too. The AVI-E

getting stuff in after long delays, and so much so that

(AV Employment Index) hadn’t suffered as dramatic a

P

they’re running out of storage space!

drop as the AVI-S, and it hasn’t recovered quite as

falling from 60.7 in January down to 53.4. Now we’re

pandemic job levels. Given the rise of factors such as

all the way back and even beyond, with the March

QR-code ordering, no-contact check-in, etc.,

delivered more good news. Payrolls added 303,000

AVI-S at 61.8. Given the lack of clear causation, we

recovering back to the 2020 level is a strong signal of

jobs, comfortably above expectations, and wages

suspected and certainly hoped for a quick rebound.

how “back” this sector is.

increased at an annual rate of 4.1%. These datapoints

ro AV is back on track. February delivered

Milestone alert: The U.S. employment report

strongly. But positive news here is welcome just the

surprising disappointment after a solid start

showed a heartening milestone in March: The Leisure

same. For the AVI-E, the course was 57.1, 53.8, then

to the year, with the AV Sales Index (AVI-S)

and Hospitality sector has now recovered its pre-

56.6 for January, February, and now March.

In the wider economy, the U.S. employment report

Commenters cited a number of factors affecting

The recovery and growth align with the restoration

their business in the period, with uncertainty chief

of a broad trend we’ve tracked for years as it relates to

confirm a strong and healthy economy, which

among them. In some ways, uncertainty was positive

Pro AV: the rise of the experience economy. This story

in that it’s reducing: Companies are settling into

was very much disrupted by COVID-19, but our

monthly survey of the AVIXA Insights Community, a

post-COVID work models, which is releasing funds.

research shows it coming back. For example, AVIXA’s

research community of industry members that tracks

In other ways, uncertainty was a negative, with

Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) report

business trends in commercial AV. For more

fluctuating revenues straining businesses. One

shows live events leading Pro AV revenue growth right

information about joining the AVIXA Insights

interesting comment identified supply problems as

now. We expect the experience economy to continue

Community, visit www.avixa.org/AVIP.

their top concern, but in a totally different way than it

robust growth for the foreseeable future.

Peter Hansen is an economist at AVIXA.

positions Pro AV for a solid year in 2024.

The Pro AV Business Index report is derived from a

avnetwork.com // May 2024 // SCN

17

PEOPLE EXECUTIVE Q&A

Connectivity to the Core Key Digital’s Tsinberg Reflects on 25 Years of Key Digital and Plans for Continued Success

Mike Tsinberg Position: Founder and CEO Company: Key Digital Overtime: I like to play chess, mostly online with many different players from around the world. Chess erases regional, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, political, and religious differences. I also like to spend focused time with our children, grandchildren, and friends.

By Mark J. Pescatore

versions of many of our foundational products such as our modular, scalable AV-over-IP systems, multiviewers, and extenders. We’ve just introduced a

distancing in the same room and hands-free products

SCN: Before Key Digital, you created some rather

new wireless HDMI extender that leverages 5G

such as wireless gateways and wireless extenders. In

significant technologies for the video industry.

technology and figured out a way to apply it as a

general, customers are quickly getting used to clear 4K

Which of your contributions would you say have

wireless distribution amplifier. And there’s a hub

TV, which in turn opens commercial markets for 4K

been the most significant?

coming for our wireless presentation gateway that is

delivery via wired or wireless connectivity.

Mike Tsinberg: I think the three technologies of most

an all-in-one BYOD collaboration system.

SCN: Currently, what are your busiest vertical

significance are: 1. Proposal to broadcast TV digitally. This allowed

SCN: What made you decide to establish Key Digital

markets, and what sort of solutions are you

HDTV compatibility—the HDTV digital RF signal

in 1999?

providing for them?

could be added alongside standard analog TV

MT: After helping to create the very successful HDTV

MT: Digital signage in retail stores and hospitality is a

broadcast of NTSC video.

and DVD formats with CE giants Philips and Toshiba,

big market for us. Sports bars and restaurants are also

2. Standardization on MPEG-2 compression for

the time felt right to build a team and apply my

keeping us busy. We have dedicated standalone

HDTV digital broadcasting. This allowed high-

experience and ideas to opportunities and markets

processors for multiview and video wall applications,

quality HDTV video and sound to be broadcast

that were emerging in digital video connectivity for

along with our AVoIP modular systems for matrixed

within the standard 6 MHz bandwidth of RF

the commercial and consumer installation markets.

signal delivery with integrated bidirectional device

spectrum allocated as guard channels to an analog

control and built-in processing for video walls,

TV station, and opened up the opportunity to

SCN: Your first product was a custom video

including mosaic video walls. Hybrid conference

deliver the identical digital MPEG-2 HDTV signal

distribution amplifier for Best Buy’s display

rooms are another large vertical, along with

via many different physical real-time or storage

televisions. How did those early days and projects

education, addressed with our Conference Room in a

mediums: cable, satellite, OTA, disk, tape, and the

set the stage for Key Digital’s longevity?

Box and Classroom in a Box solutions.

then fledgling internet networks. Previously, in

MT: That first product was actually analog, since

the analog TV world, each of the medium

HDTV sets in those days had analog video inputs.

SCN: What new initiatives are we likely to see from

distribution channels required its own signal

However, the wide aspect ratio and crisp, clear images

your company?

formatting and modulation methods.

of HDTV were the basis for what promised to be a

MT: We’ll be expanding wireless gateway capabilities

3. Working together with Toshiba and Warner

rapidly expanding HDTV and digital video market.

plus adding USB-C connectivity and switching for

Brothers to create the Emmy award-winning DVD

With our knowledge and experience with digital

various scenarios. We will also continue to improve a

format. This was another implementation of

video, the team we built at Key Digital was well-

very successful AVoIP lineup as the backbone of

universal MPEG-2 compressed video, but in this

positioned to anticipate the needs of a developing

functionally and visually impressive installations.

case on a low-cost, high-quality, easily distributed

market. As the market evolved, so did our products.

Since our R&D is all U.S. based, we are in close contact

consumer storage medium. DVD was the most

We filled core needs but also provided solutions to

with our customers and eager to implement ideas from

successful physical consumer video and audio

connectivity and inter-device communication issues

the field.

storage medium of all time, and it opened the door

while providing bidirectional control along with

for streaming video content over the internet, the

signal distribution. We grew with the market through

SCN: What’s next for the Pro AV industry?

now dominant TV delivery technology.

a commitment to meet customers where they live,

MT: First, digital signage will continue to grow as a

recognize their needs, keep our solutions cost-

market segment and become an integral and fluid

effective, and be a true partner in their success.

part of any new building construction, be it

SCN: How is Key Digital celebrating its 25th anniversary?

government, commercial, or residential. Second, with

MT: We have noted the milestone with an anniversary

SCN: What are some of the unique tech challenges

the ever-increasing complexity of commercial AV

logo and a refresh of our timeline of

of today’s hybrid presentation spaces?

systems, software control tools and their ease of

accomplishments. But honestly, day-to-day, we

MT: COVID-19 changed the marketplace to where most

implementation of use is becoming a key

know the way that we can thrive for another 25 years

any conference now consists of people present in the

differentiator between brands. Along with the KD App

is to continue to innovate and solve problems for our

office as well as connected remotely via videoconfer-

and KDMS Pro, Key Digital has pioneered the unified

customers. It’s our passion and focus. We truly

ence. The tech challenges include latency between

control of lighting, security, electrical, HVAC, and

delight in brainstorming about how we can apply new

interactive presenters, quality discrepancies between

other technologies with its iPad-based Compass

technologies. We continue to refine our products and

onsite and remote cameras and mics, enabling remote

Control Pro plug-and-play solution for complete

develop software tools for configuration and control.

content sharing, and remote/local system control.

system control, spanning products from 100-plus

We have been releasing second and third-generation

COVID-19 also increased demand for physical

Compass Alliance Partner brands.

18

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

PEOPLE NEWSMAKERS

Rep Report

B-TECH has entered a new

California, Nevada, and Idaho. With its knowledge of

D&B AUDIOTECHNIK has

distribution agreement with

EAW’s entire suite of products and a dedicated focus

appointed ROBB ALLAN, a

Indiana-based STARIN, a

to client relationships, Audio Source plans to grow

longtime sound engineer and

Midwich Group company,

EAW’s presence in their territory and beyond.

product designer, as principal

which will distribute B-Tech

product manager for d&b

products throughout the United States. Starin

PLIANT TECHNOLOGIES has recently expanded its

becomes the seventh Midwich Group company to

network with several new dealers and manufacturer

Robb Allan

distribute for B-Tech worldwide, following Sidev in

representatives in multiple regions throughout the

touring, studio, and television, Allan brings extensive

France and Van Domburg Partners in the

United States. Included amongst the new dealers

Pro AV expertise to his new role. His has worked with

Netherlands, which both signed distribution

representing the Southeast region are THE DESIGN

artists such as Radiohead and Coldplay, and was a key

agreements during 2023. Pre-existing agreements

OASIS (FL), BLACK KEY PRODUCTIONS (FL),

contributor to product development initiatives at Avid.

between B-Tech and Midwich include the Australian,

STRATA (GA), NEWTECH SYSTEMS (KY), AVANT

APAC, Irish, and U.K. markets, where their working

COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY (KY),

DRAPER has hired SAM NORD as

relationship spans a 15-year period.

CREATIVE SOUND AND LIGHTING (NC), and

Pro AV regional sales manager

BRADFIELD STAGE LIGHTING (TN). The latest

for the Western United States.

AUDIOCONTROL has appointed two new

dealers handling the Midwest include SIMONI

Nord will be responsible for

independent sales rep firms for the Midwest region

SYSTEMS (MI), SLS PRODUCTION SERVICES (MI),

working with AV dealers and The

of the United States: SALES AND MARKETING for

STRIV AV (NE), and MAJIC PRODUCTIONS (WI).

Michigan and AWA REPS covering Western

PURETEK GROUP (NJ) is a new dealer for the

Sam Nord

Pennsylvania, West Virgina, Ohio, Indiana,

Northeast, BOUNCE MULTIMEDIA (TX) will cover

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,

Kentucky, Minnesota, and both North and South

the Southwest region, and TVS PRO (UT) is the latest

Washington, and Wyoming. Nord brings more than 25

Dakota. Sales and Marketing is based in Kalamazoo,

dealer in the West. Additionally, the brand’s latest

years of experience with system integrators and

MI, and has been bringing custom installation and

manufacturer representatives include AUDIOPROS

manufacturers, serving most recently as VP of global

high-performance audio solutions to dealers and

(Manchester, CT/Northeast) and NETWORK

sales for Listen Technologies.

integrators in Michigan for more than a decade.

MARKETING (Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Dakotas,

Founded in 2009 with a showroom in Elmhurst, IL,

Kansas, and Missouri).

Soundscape. With a career in professional audio spanning

Farm rep firm in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,

JOCELYNE BÜCKNER was

AWA Reps provide the products and services for

appointed HOLPLOT’s new head

security, AV, and contract hardware (access control

POWERSOFT has appointed AVL MEDIA GROUP, a

of marketing. Bückner brings

solutions).

division of Intellimix Corp, as its new distributor and

more than 15 years of marketing

service center for Canada. Established more than 25

experience gained in various

EASTERN AUDIO WORKS (EAW) has partnered with

years ago, AVL Media Group will focus on promoting

AUDIO SOURCE as its new manufacturer’s

Powersoft’s products and technologies, making its

Jocelyne Bückner

representative. Based in Moses Lake, WA, Audio

customers and potential partners aware of their

audiotechnik as director of brand and corporate

Source will serve the Pacific Northwest including

features and benefits to significantly grow the Italian

communications. In her new role, Bückner will handle

Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Northern

audio manufacturer’s footprint in Canada.

both the experience-focused initiatives and the more

senior positions, including her latest leadership role at d&b

practical “nuts and bolts” marketing aspects of product launches.

Pro AV veteran RAINER

spent more than 10 years with global integrator

BRANDSTÄTTER has rejoined AV

MOOD Media.

K-ARRAY USA has appointed JOANNA “JOJO” MIKUCKI as VP

STUMPFL in the newly created

Rainer Brandstätter

role of product partnership

JAY BOUTON joins

of business development, KSCAPE.

manager. After transitioning into

DAKTRONICS to focus on

She has more than 17 years of

an IT consultant role during

aviation business development,

experience in the Pro AV industry.

COVID-19, he returned to AV

bringing more than 40 years of

Stumpfl in September. In his new position, which he

In her new role, Mikucki’s key

experience in aviation

Joanna “Jojo” Mikucki responsibilities include driving

technology to the company.

brand awareness for KSCAPE among architects, interior

CHRIS VAN LIEW returns to

designers, and AV consultants nationwide. She will also

Daktronics—where he started

provide project assistance and design support,

his sales career—as the aviation

spearhead AIA training presentations in the New York

BLAZE AUDIO has appointed

sales manager. Both serve on

Metro Area, and directly manage key customer projects.

HAYDEN SHAMBURGER to the

the aviation sales team within

Also, K-array USA appointed JEREMY FORSYTHE as

newly created position of director

the transportation market at

business development manager.

of strategic partnerships. In his

Daktronics. DEREK DOROW,

Forsythe brings more than 10

who has been with Daktronics

years of experience in the

since 2014 and brings

professional audio industry. In his

Hayden Shamburger Audio and its products to more of

experience in managing

new role, Forsythe engages with

the marketplace throughout North America and

projects, also joins the team to

key integrators and consultants to

globally, while also helping strategic partners achieve

provide pre-sales technical

Jeremy Forsythe

growth. With more than 18 years of professional audio

expertise for highly complex

spearheads special projects to enhance and promote the

projects.

K-academy training programs and expand the

describes as a hybrid role that sits between the sales and technical teams, he is responsible for PIXERA’s

Jay Bouton

technology partners and third-party integrations.

new position, Shamburger will be

Chris Van Liew

tasked with introducing Blaze

experience, Shamburger drove strategic partnerships for audio manufacturers Bose and Harman/JBL, and

20

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

Derek Dorow

cultivate relationships. Plus, he

company’s product demonstration capabilities.

NEWSMAKERS PEOPLE GERHARD ZAWATZKI has been

sales. These strategic appointments play an

manager, overseeing professional audio distributor

appointed head of international

integral role in accelerating LED Studio’s

accounts for the south EMEA regions.

sales at KINDERMANN GMBH.

U.S. growth.

Zawatzki has many years of

SOUND DEVICES has hired

experience in the Pro AV

MAXHUB has appointed DAVID

BRYAN LEE as its new global sales

industry, having held

HEEG to the position of

team member. In this role, Lee

management positions in sales

enterprise sales manager,

will utilize his 20-plus years of

and business development. In his new role, Gerhard

Midwest. In his new role, he

experience in the Pro AV industry

Zawatzki and his team will be responsible for the

manages the various sales

to continue support and growth.

Gerhard Zawatzki

strategic and operational expansion of international sales.

David Heeg

representative firms within the

Bryan Lee

territory to help develop and

audio retail sales with Hung Brothers Electrical Trading,

foster business. Heeg brings a wealth of industry

the first Sound Devices distributor in Singapore. He has

LED STUDIO

experience, which includes time as regional sales

also worked with Sennheiser, where he was promoted

has expanded

manager for Crestron Electronics as well as time

in 2008 to Philippines country manager.

its U.S. team.

with Christie Digital Systems.

KIRK

Kirk Kessler

USSI GLOBAL has promoted

KESSLER

POWERSOFT appointed TAKIS

AMANDA FLYNN to the new

joins LED

TSONOPOULOS as business

role of chief revenue officer.

Studio as

development manager for the

Among her new responsibilities,

director of sports and enter-

MEA region. In his new

Flynn oversees USSI Global’s

tainment sales U.S., with a

role, Tsonopoulos is responsible

sales, marketing, customer

Jen McGee

wealth of experience from a

PJ Pedroni

Lee began his career in 2003 in pro

for new and existing clients and

Amanda Flynn

working closely with high-level

operations. Flynn started with USSI Global in 2008 in

success, and revenue

career spanning more than 25

Takis Tsonopoulos

years with Samsung. LED Studio

decision-makers in the region. Tsonopoulos brings

business development and was promoted to director of

also appointed JEN MCGEE as

more than 30 years of industry experience to his

business development and customer relations in 2018.

associate director of project

new role and joins Powersoft from HARMAN

In 2021, she was promoted again, this time to vice

International, where he worked as an account

president of customer relations.

development and named PJ PEDRONI director of

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BUSINESS

The future of Pro AV begins with The Nine. Every year, SCN celebrates the accomplishments of a select group of younger professionals who are blazing new trails as business and sales leaders, training and tech support educators, and content creators—each of them helping to set the tone for the next generation of the industry.

GETTY IMAGES

Michael Coney

specifically AV, but I just love technology,” he said,

very small scale.” He also feels we’re a lot closer to

reflecting on his youth. “I was always into video

generative AI content in parks and venues like

games, and I had a VHS camcorder that my parents

museums and science centers. However, what he

By Wayne Cavadi

would let me use. I was really involved in theater

really sees as the next step in the evolution of Pro

and music and lots of live performances and

AV is wearables.

For Coney, this was always the way. “It wasn’t

more of these structured immersive scenes on a

entertainment, so it was also what story are we

“[I did a] project called Net Vibes, which is a

trying to tell? Those things have been constant.”

wearable that I developed last year. It allows a user

Coney spent his undergraduate time at both

to feel, to sense Wi-Fi with their body,” he said. “It

Title: Graduate Experience Designer

SUNY Sullivan and SUNY Purchase where he

essentially gives you a sixth sense, so you can feel

Company: Arup

studied, well, just about everything:

the Wi-Fi networks around you in the same way

Location: Brooklyn, NY

communications, media studies, emerging media,

that you would hear or smell something. While it

Overtime: Coney will cook dinner to “disconnect”

new media, and programming. It was there

may not be a very useful sense to have, the idea is to

from Pro AV, but you’ll usually find him “going out

MouseHole Studios was born.

speculate on what’s possible with these systems,

and living in that excitement” of immersive

“I only had a camera and a MacBook and so

with this technology, and where can we take it

experiences, artist meetups, and live coding events.

everything fit in a backpack,” Coney said. “It was

Why You Need to Know Him: If there’s one thing

like a full studio. And I would go to a site, film

beyond that.”

Coney has learned over his years, it’s how to see

things for people, and then I could edit them right

generation of Pro AV? “Formal education, either

what’s possible in an opportunity, assess the risks,

there. It kind of grew out of that.”

through college or through certifications, I think

What advice does he have for the next

and take full advantage in a positive, creative light.

With a CTS and soon a master’s from NYU IDM,

those are essential,” Coney said. “But on the other

Michael Coney is a man who keeps himself busy.

Coney has been with Arup for just about two years,

side, you’re developing your own sense of self. One

Wearing many hats, he is currently the graduate

where he is instrumental in things like high-level

of my favorite questions to ask people, whether I’m

experience designer for Arup, an engineering

concept design. He’s also on the AV team, so he

at a party or at a conference, is what’s exciting for

consultancy that uses “imagination, technology,

helps create designs for large-scale clients on

you right now? Everyone always says, ‘follow your

and rigor to shape a better world.” However, he is

aviation projects, healthcare, education, and

dreams’ or ‘do what you love,’ but they don’t really

also the creative technologist at his own MouseHole

museums, just to name a few. Plus, he’s done a lot

say how to do that. So, I find that question of what is

Studios. Perhaps his LinkedIn page sums up best

of work on immersive experiences.

exciting for you helps because everyone knows what

who Coney is at heart: an experience designer and cyberpunk storyteller.

22

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

Among the next big things Coney sees in the Pro AV industry is what he called the “gamification and

they’re excited about.”

BUSINESS

Nicole Corbin

websites that looked nice and were useful, and

Utelligence, the company’s strategic alliance

pursued a degree at Boston University that would

partner program. Working with companies like

allow her to learn both design and development.

Barco, Lightware, Logitech, Neat, and Sennheiser,

By Mark J. Pescatore

Corbin graduated early and began her career as a

to name a few, Corbin manages everything from

front-end web developer for a major healthcare

marketing efforts to security certifications. Security

company, where she worked closely with product

is an important part of the Utelogy solution, as

teams on several sites.

most of its major customers have strict information

That’s when she gravitated toward building

Today, as VP of business operations, she runs

After a couple of acquisitions, her job

security processes for data protection. She’s also

Title: VP of Business Operations

responsibilities shifted to building ads and

involved with “the business” part of the business,

Company: Utelogy

revenue-generating content. That’s when Corbin

including internal processes and procedures.

Location: Central Massachusetts

decided it was time for a new opportunity—and a

Overtime: Newly engaged, she’s planning a

smaller company. She found the right fit at Utelogy.

five years, Cobin said she’s still learning about the

wedding for next spring. She also loves nature

The California-based company offers intelligent

industry. She has watched first-hand how much

photography and has a black belt in Krav Maga.

monitoring software that helps organizations

has changed in such a short time, and her new

Why You Need to Know Her: Utelogy’s human

manage their AV assets.

knowledge lets her revisit the difficulties of trying

Swiss Army Knife has a background in UX design,

Corbin started her Pro AV career in June 2019 as

Pro AV peaked her interest quickly—and after

to setup and join a corporate HQ videoconference a

but now she’s tasked with launching new initiatives

the director of product and user experience at

decade ago through new eyes. “It just feels so funny

and optimizing day-to-day operations at Utelogy.

Utelogy. A few days later, with no AV background

looking back at that,” she said. “Compared to now,

whatsoever, she was at InfoComm. It was

when everything is just so easy, and everyone is

different direction. She attended a vocational

admittedly “very different” from her consumer-

trying to streamline the home experience into the

technical high school, where she initially thought

facing healthcare work. “I got a really good sense of

work experience.”

she would pursue graphic design.

what we were doing in the industry and who the

Nicole Corbin’s career could have gone in a very

She quickly realized that working with printing presses was not her calling, so she moved to the business technology program. There, she was

One day, Corbin will likely run her own business.

other players were,” she said. “It was a great

In the meantime, she’s been learning as much as

experience for me.”

possible about every aspect of Utelogy’s business,

Since that first InfoComm, internal changes in

which is great experience for her and much

tasked with some light web development as well as

Utelogy have pushed Corbin to grow professionally.

appreciated by the company. “I’m very fortunate

presentation design. “I found designing on a

“That was to my benefit, taking on a lot of different

that the people I work for know those are my goals

computer very interesting,” she recalled.

responsibilities along the way,” she said.

and they are helping me get there,” she said.

Sahil Dhingra

By Jennifer Guhl

maintain control over his emotions, regardless of

As part of his role, Dhingra has been entrusted

the situation, allows him to focus on the task at

with establishing standardized protocols for design

hand with determination and clarity.

and documentation. Leveraging the standards set

Unlike many in the Pro AV industry with robust hardware or sales backgrounds, Sahil Dhingra brings a unique perspective from his time in Silicon

Title: Co-Founder

forth by AVIXA, he is leading the way in ensuring consistency and quality across the industry.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to assemble a

Valley. With a rich history at HP, Cisco, and Apple,

team of exceptionally talented individuals at

his focus on innovation, software, technology, and

XTEN-AV,” he said. “The dedication and expertise

startups has shaped his approach.

displayed by each member of our team have been

“Growing up in this dynamic environment

pivotal to both the success of our company and my

Company: XTEN-AV

profoundly influenced my perspective on the

personal achievements. Their unwavering

Location: New York, NY

future,” he said. “It instilled in me a forward-

commitment to excellence in their respective roles

Overtime: When he is focused on something other

thinking mindset that has proven invaluable in the

has been the cornerstone of our success story.”

than advancing tech innovator XTEN-AV, he loves

growth of my company.”

hiking, working out, playing and watching

Fellow XTEN-AV co-founder (and SCN Nine

Dhingra’s pride extends beyond starting XTEN-AV. He is thrilled to be part of a company

basketball and soccer, and spending quality time

member) Vibhav Singh introduced Dhingra to the

revolutionizing the AV industry, and his excitement

with his daughter.

world of AV, and his extensive industry experience

about the growth plans for XTEN-AV and its

Why You Need to Know Him: Dhingra’s resilient

paved the way for them to start the company. The

customers is infectious. For Dhingra, the

spirit is not easily shaken, allowing him to focus on

transition has been welcome change. “Despite

customer’s needs are paramount to their success,

efforts to grow XTEN-AV exponentially within the

being a big industry, it still feels like a small family.

and he is committed to ensuring those needs are

next five years, pulling from his previous

I absolutely love this about the AV industry,”

met. As he declared, “Go above and beyond to make

experience in Silicon Valley. His unique ability to

Dhingra said.

your customers happy—money will follow!”

“Despite being a big industry, it still feels like a small family.

I absolutely love this about the AV industry.”

24

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

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BUSINESS

Sheon Harvey

By Wayne Cavadi

realized that with my psychology degree, I wasn’t

amazing teamwork, you can move mountains. I was

able to find a job that was going to sustain me out

able to move into an account executive position and

here in the Bay Area.”

started growing our team and then eventually

That’s not to say technology was a foreign concept to her. Her dad built computers, so she was

became a regional sales manager.”

Keep in mind, AVer and Harvey’s

tech savvy from a very young age. And from all

videoconferencing team were ahead of the curve,

those years studying to be a therapist, she knew she

and when COVID hit? “Oh, my goodness,” Harvey

wanted to help others. That’s when she saw the

recollected. “I mean, we couldn’t even keep up with

listing for AVer and submitted her resume. Harvey

the inquiries and how many people wanted

Title: Regional Sales Manager

admitted she probably was not the most qualified

cameras. It was insane.”

Company: AVer USA

candidate, so when she didn’t hear back it wasn’t all

Location: San Jose, CA

that surprising.

But for Harvey, success is only enjoyable when it’s a shared experience. “I don’t feel like

Overtime: In her own words, Harvey “lives to eat,”

But that didn’t stop her. “I printed out my

I’m winning unless everyone on my team is

so she is a foodie. One of the things she is learning

resume and went and knocked on their door,” she

winning,” Harvey said. “I realized this is the

to eat is fire—that’s right, she’s spins fire for fun.

recalled. “It was the director of human resources

industry that I want to be in because I want to be

Why You Need to Know Her: The former San Jose

who answered the door, and he was on his lunch

around like-minded people that want to help each

State psychology member is focused on enhancing

break. He was so impressed that I went out of my

other out and also really learn from one another.

the lives of everyone around her, whether it’s

way and drove all the way there and pretty much

I have an amazing team of people that are so

through technology or teamwork.

demanded an interview that he said, ‘All right, this

brilliant. I’m always learning new things within

girl has guts. Let me give her a chance.’”

this industry.”

Meet Sheon Harvey, Pro AV therapist. That may not be her official title, but after seven years with

AVer took the chance—and did it ever pay off.

So, after seven years climbing the ladder and

AVer USA, she’s realized that throughout all her

Though she started as a sales and marketing

achieving the unthinkable, what advice does Harvey

success—and there is a lot—her true passion is

specialist, she wore many hats, and quickly became

have for the next generation of AV professionals?

helping others, whether it be clients or colleagues.

a member of the newly created videoconferencing

“Knowledge is power,” Harvey said. “It sounds

team. In 2016, that team had three people on it

super corny, but it really is. The technology within

Japan, where she grew up, but really began when

Harvey’s story technically starts in Yokohama,

and made $2 million. Within three years, the team

our industry—it's always changing. You've got to

her family moved out to the San Francisco Bay Area.

more than tripled in size and revenue jumped to

be ahead of the curve—knowing what's coming out,

“I went to San Jose State and I was very gung-ho

$20 million.

what's hot—just so we can tailor our solutions to

about my studies,” Harvey said. “I was a research

“It was really amazing to be part of that

assistant and on my way to get my Ph.D. because I

substantial growth in our little videoconferencing

wanted to be a marriage and family therapist. But I

department,” Harvey said. “Just seeing with

Anders Karlsson

By Wayne Cavadi

Title: CEO Company: Humly

phones—a leader in Pro AV wasn’t what he

what people are wanting these days.”

There she goes, looking out for other people once again.

Spoiler alert: It wasn’t law.

necessarily aspired to become. “I started off as an

Though Humly started in 2020—just months

entrepreneur,” Karlsson said. “As soon as I was 18

before the COVID-19 pandemic struck—its roots

and could legally start a company in Sweden, I did

can be traced back almost 15 years prior. Karlsson

that.”

had an IT consulting business on the side even while

After a few startups and trying it out, he turned

practicing law, so technology was always part of the

to Pro AV, right? Wrong. “I’m actually trained in the

plan. Around 2007, he and his team began working

legal profession—I started off on the road to

on room scheduling software that led to

become a lawyer. I guess I was inspired by the TV

screensharing technology, which they licensed to

shows,” Karlsson recollected with a laugh.

third-party vendors. Roughly a decade later, he

Initially, he set out to be a defense lawyer or

realized all those components should be one

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

prosecutor, but quickly turned to intellectual

Overtime: When he’s not solving the next problem

property law—and learned it wasn’t like the TV

for the hybrid workplace, you’ll find him on the

shows. “It’s very interesting questions some of the

to hinder getting your name out there. “Our whole

slopes downhill skiing (or mountain biking when it’s

times, but it’s also just a lot of meticulous checking

four-to-six-month plan was out the window,”

warm), occasionally fitting in a video game.

of agreements and a lot of repetitive work,”

Karlsson said. “We had a really hard time talking to

Why You Need to Know Him: With Humly’s

Karlsson said. “That did not really suit me well with

anyone. People were concerned with their own

innovations, you don’t need to think about how the

my profile.”

things. The benefit, of course, is it became a

technology works—Karlsson’s team focuses on the human side of technology.

Luckily, especially for Humly, Karlsson made

platform, and the idea of Humly was born.

Of course, a global pandemic is certainly going

top-of-mind issue at the C-level of many

the choice to cut ties with the legal profession. “I

organizations because when we planned this out,

Anders Karlsson is doing big things for the

think it was a little bit by accident at first,” he

we were pushing a hybrid way of working.”

hybrid world. Under his lead in its almost four-year

recalled. “I was approached by an IT company

journey, Humly has kept an ear to the ground and a

looking for a CTO, and they knew about my

wave of Pro AV? “With all that is going on with AI

foot on the pedal to bring people some of the

experience in running a couple of businesses. I went

today, it’s going to be more important than ever to

solutions they need most in the evolving workplace.

into that and that grew. I ended up in a situation

focus on the creativity side and actually provide

where I had to make a choice: What do I think is

solutions to end customers that focus on the

most interesting?”

experience,” he offered.

While Karlsson has always been into technology—whether it was computers or cell

26

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

What advice does Karlsson impart on the future

BUSINESS

Gus Marcondes

By Jennifer Guhl

accessible. He strongly believes in the concept of

our training sessions underscores the industry’s hunger

“edutainment,” where entertainment serves as a

for knowledge and innovation,” he said.

conduit for delivering complex technical concepts.

For his own education, Marcondes feels fearlessness

After graduating with a degree in AV engineering in

and adaptability have been essential in his development

the mid-2000s, Gus Marcondes spent a decade behind

as an AV professional, and evolving industry trends and

mixing desks and vision mixers for studios like TV Globo

technologies constantly inspire him. “I firmly believe

and live events like Rock in Rio and the Rio Carnival. He

that effective teaching stems from firsthand

then relocated to Europe in 2013 to complete his

experience, trial, and mastery,” he said.

master’s degree. During that time, he gained experience

The AV industry is about community, and he enjoys

Title: Global Training Manager

working with various AV manufacturers—including

the camaraderie found within it. “As I navigate trade

Company: NETGEAR

RANE Pro, ALTO, DENON Pro, and Audinate—until

shows and events, I encounter former colleagues,

Location: Southampton, England

landing with NETGEAR, working on AV-over-IP

students, and friends, reaffirming the enduring bonds

Overtime: Growing up in Brazil, Marcondes formed a

protocols and Wi-Fi applications requiring networking

within our vibrant community,” Marcondes added.

singing trio with his father and older brother and

infrastructure.

performed around their hometown. He is currently the

This led to his current focus: increasing awareness

For those getting started in the industry, Marcondes recommends embracing feedback as well as

lead singer and songwriter of the “Tuto Tribe,” a

about NETGEAR Academy and helping to position it as a

acknowledging the beneficial value of constructive

collective of musicians worldwide specializing in music

premier platform for AV and IT professionals to gain

criticism and how it can help you advance in your career.

blending samba, rock, and reggae styles. The group has

accreditation and product knowledge. Marcondes

“Express gratitude for the time and effort invested by

performed at prominent European festivals, including

champions a customer-centric approach and finds joy

mentors and managers in nurturing your professional

the U.K.’s historic Isle of Wight Festival and Italy’s San

in streamlining AVoIP processes to make them more

development,” he said. “It could be the missing piece in

Remo Festival.

accessible. “Witnessing the overwhelming interest in

taking that next step.”

Why You Need to Know Him: Marcondes stands out with his unique approach to technical training. Drawing from his artistic background, he infuses his sessions with musical metaphors and anecdotes, making complex technical concepts more engaging and

“I firmly believe that effective teaching stems from firsthand experience, trial, and mastery.”

BUSINESS

Eric Martin

effectively teach science and computer

terms that others can understand. He is never

programming.

afraid to ask questions, which stems from his early

His skills in AV, computer networking, and pedagogy were a perfect fit When Just Add Power

By Jennifer Guhl

“That comes from my days as a teacher when I

needed a trainer to bridge the gap between legacy

dealt with teenagers who were afraid to ask

HDMI matrices and AV-over-IP. His role is to

something for fear of sounding stupid to their

identify areas where integrators could benefit from

peers,” he said. “If I don’t understand it, how could

additional knowledge, making installations easier

anyone else possibly understand it?”

and more efficient.

Title: Director of Training and Development

education days.

“My job is to spot where the integrator needs to

Martin takes pride in Just Add Power’s innovative technical support programs, in-person and

Company: Just Add Power

know or learn more so the installation is easy

remotely. For him, the job doesn’t end when the

Location: Seminole, FL

without wearing a programming hat,” Martin

device works; the entire system must function

Overtime: Martin is committed to staying active.

explained.

seamlessly. He is also passionate about investing in

He attends CrossFit regularly and plays soccer at

Just Add Power is constantly innovating, and so

the future of the AV industry by developing

least once a week. He can also be found playing his

is Martin, who is expanding his knowledge to easily

education programs for Just Add Power to take into

favorite video games late at night.

translate highly technical subjects into accessible

local Florida schools. “It’s gratifying to think we’re

Why You Need to Know Him: With a master’s in education, Martin is deeply invested in facilitating learning and understanding. As the director of training and development with Just Add Power, he is determined to bridge the gap between development and deployment.

Eric Martin’s path to the AV industry is a unique one, rooted in his passion for video games. His early experiences of figuring out the components needed to connect his gaming systems to his TV sparked his interest in computer hardware and building his own PCs. This knowledge became a valuable asset when he transitioned into teaching, allowing him to

Vibhav Singh

By Jennifer Guhl

helping propel the next generation of AV installers

“It’s gratifying to think we’re helping propel the next generation of AV installers into the future.” sales. “Everything was done out of folders on paper,” he recalled.

This simple observation gave birth to XTEN-AV,

into the future,” he offered.

With the industry constantly changing, Martin believes you have to be willing to modify and improve your resources continually. “Coming from a science background, you learn that there are a thousand ways to fail or for something not to work, but it’s all about finding that one success,” he said.

“There’s a eureka moment where everything comes together at once. Usually, a gradual evolution—a small tweak, adjustment, or modification—goes into the product, training, or installation, but it amounts to a huge difference in the end.”

He credits this success to the company’s focus on profoundly understanding its users and prioritizing their feedback to deliver solutions that

a design and proposal software that incorporates

exceed expectations. “Embracing change and not

innovative technologies to transform how AV

fearing it is the biggest lesson I have learned

professionals work. Singh’s AV sales background

through my AV sales days and now as an

has allowed him to identify this pain point and

entrepreneur,” Singh explained. “The industry is

others, and inspires him to deliver industry

constantly evolving, and being open to new ideas is

solutions that guide the industry away from legacy

a great way to stay ahead of the competition.”

Title: Co-Founder and CEO

methods. “My ample experience in sales and ardent

Singh’s vision is to inspire AV designers,

Company: XTEN-AV

interest in technology is what I call my USP [Unique

integrators, and sales professionals to break free

Location: Washington, DC

Selling Proposition],” he added.

from conventional methods and discover

Overtime: One of his biggest passions is cricket—

Singh takes pride in how XTEN-AV has

innovative solutions that streamline and enhance

playing and watching—and the rest of his time is

revolutionized the AV industry, inspiring

overall operations. “My dream is to create AV

spent obsessed with his one-year-old daughter. He

professionals to leave behind the pen-and-paper

design and sales processes that leverage the

also credits working out for helping him develop

ways of diagramming, calculation, and

technology that the AV industry revolves around,”

some of his best ideas.

documentation for more modern technology. “I

he explained, “take these technologies beyond

Why You Need to Know Him: With more than 15

have had feedback on how XTEN-AV has helped

hardware, and create sophisticated and reliable

years of experience in Pro AV, Singh is dedicated to

people increase their productivity, efficiency, and

software solutions.”

bringing about meaningful change within the

revenues by 10 times.”

industry. He helps individuals adopt innovative technology that makes processes more straightforward and efficient. “Being at the forefront of innovation is very exciting and encouraging!” he said.

When working in sales for manufacturers like Harman, Biamp, and Music Tribe, Vibhav Singh noticed a significant gap in the market for software solutions designed to streamline AV designs and

28

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

“The industry is constantly evolving, and being open to new ideas is a great way to stay ahead of the competition.”

BUSINESS

Rob Voorhees

By Mark J. Pescatore

Title: Business Development Manager II - Technical Specialist

audio systems from scratch. He also manages

Almo when a colleague told him about contributing

partnerships with more than 300 internet service

his voice to industry media. Voorhees scoffed at the

providers for bandwidth and telephony contracts for

idea at the time—but during the pandemic, he found

customers.

his niche. Rather than taking deep dives into

Early in his professional life, it’s probably fair to

technology (which he is certainly capable of doing),

say that Voorhees was Pro AV adjacent. He has always

he wanted to provide more personal advice to his

loved music (he has an eclectic collection) and began

audiences through real-world experiences. “I realized

his career selling cassette tapes at Sam Goody.

that not everything has to be super-technical,” he

Through later roles at Best Buy and Sears, he learned

explained. “Now I get my biggest joy out of helping

more about consumer audio and video technologies.

others through my own experiences.”

Eventually, Voorhees transitioned to the

An avid runner, Voorhees has learned to keep his

Company: Exertis Almo

telecommunications industry. “I was looking for an

eyes on the road ahead, both personally and

Location: New Jersey

outside sales position that still blended with the retail

professionally. He is determined to be “always

Overtime: He married his high school sweetheart,

world,” he recalled. That career shift wound up as a

improving, never stale.” He subscribes to two

loves spending time with his two daughters, and is

15-year stint with DirecTV, which had him working

business philosophies, which he admits are clichés

ready to talk fantasy football when you are.

with those same electronics stores and introduced

but work for him.

Why You Need to Know Him: From designing audio

him to the world of distribution. In 2017, he made the

projects to closing telecommunication deals, Rob

jump to Exertis Almo.

Voorhees is constantly pushing himself to improve.

Beyond the day-to-day, Voorhees is also a media

The first is time management. In the past few years, he has changed his lifestyle to include early morning workout and email sessions, as well as an

His official title is business development

mogul in training. Not only has he contributed to SCN

early bedtime. “It allows me to stay on top of my tasks

manager, but Rob Voorhees wears several hats at

and other industry publications, but he launched his

for that day,” Voorhees explained. “It doesn’t work

Exertis Almo. He represents the HARMAN vendor

own podcast, “Mind Your Business,” in February on

for everybody, but it’s part of my recipe for success.”

relationship as part of the audio team and is also a

the Exertis Almo YouTube Channel. Through the

member of the professional services teams. That

series, Voorhees and his guests discuss various

“Technology in this space is constantly evolving and

includes everything from finding the desired

business development topics.

changing,” Voorhees said, “and I don’t ever want to

components for customers to designing complete

It was during the first week of his time at Exertis

His other guiding principle? Always be learning.

be left behind.”

avnetwork.com // May 2024 // SCN

29

BUSINESS LABOR ISSUES

8

Tips for Industry Newcomers

Here’s How You Can Build A Rewarding Career in Pro AV

By Dan Smith

industry has to offer. Aim to attend national-level

I

NUTHAWUT SOMSUK / GETTY IMAGES

shows like InfoComm, where there are endless opportunities to see the technology in action and t’s beginning to look a lot like … InfoComm. In

to experience the launch of groundbreaking

fact, it’s right around the corner. And as in years

products. Tradeshows provide a golden

past, the 2024 show presents the perfect oppor-

opportunity to talk to experts, take courses,

tunity for industry newcomers to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of Pro AV. According to an AVIXA data recap, a whopping

socialize, and network.

Don’t have the time or resources to break away for a major tradeshow? Luckily, the AV

37% of attendees at InfoComm 2023 were there for

industry realizes this common challenge. Traveling

the first time. This means that of the nearly 30,000

single-day events and conferences that come to local

verified attendees, well over 14,000 newcomers

areas, as well as AV showrooms stationed throughout

registered to engage at the largest technology

the nation, are available throughout the year. Thanks

exhibition and conference in North America focused

to technology, there are many online ways to

realizing the importance of respecting and embracing

on the Pro AV industry.

immerse as well.

differences, conveying respect, and promoting

The overall future of Pro AV is bright—and I mean

equality. Our technology also helps us create a more

with more than just LED! Based on AVIXA forecasts, the

Get Involved

Pro AV industry is expected to add nearly $100 billion in

Pick an area where you want to get involved, learn

simple lighting to ADA-compliant listening devices,

revenue over the next five years, reaching $402 billion

more and meet people, and then look for local or

these tools help level the playing field and allow

by 2028.

online ways to connect, either through industry

employees to do and be their best.

Newcomers are the future of the Pro AV industry.

associations, trade magazines, or company

diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce—from

They aren’t just recent college graduates looking for

connections. For example, maybe you are a woman in

Attract and Retain Talent

their first jobs. They are also professionals with

the industry and want to connect with other women.

Whether you are building a business, team, or

established careers in adjacent industries, such as

A quick Google search will usually yield multiple

department, finding employees is a challenge today.

architecture or music. Or they are finding their way to

resources to get started.

This will require some creativity and flexibility to stay

Pro AV through emerging trends like drones, XR solutions, or AI. Traditionally a male-dominated industry, more

Keep Learning

competitive so you can continue attracting and keeping the right talent. Consider competitive options, such as

It’s up to us to make learning a career-long, lifelong

performance bonuses during slower times, flexible

women are also entering AV, though there’s more work

requirement. Whether it’s the fundamentals or

work schedules, and hybrid work environments. With

to be done in this area. AVIXA research shows that in

something entirely new, there’s always something to

an aging population, don’t overlook retired/semi-

2023, women made up 15% of attendees at both

explore. Take advantage of growth opportunities

retired people who can offer part-time assistance.

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) and InfoComm, which

through AVIXA’s CTS certification or other industry

is a slight increase over previous years.

designations, webinars, educational sessions,

Establish Good Credit

podcasts, and more.

This is a foundational piece of advice as cash flow,

One thing is for sure: AV newcomers realize the opportunities available in this industry. They want to be

inventory for pending projects, and billing times after

part of creating AV experiences that enhance our world.

Don’t Forget Services

This works out—because Pro AV needs newcomers, too.

Make sure that services are part of every project, be it

period of time. If you are purchasing products, make

Their diverse pathways bring creativity and expertise in

labor and installation, digital signage, or drafting and

sure you establish your credit at the outset to keep

areas where industry veterans are not well-versed. The

engineering. According to NSCA, more than 14% of

your projects moving forward.

result is new ways of conducting business and fresh

sales revenue in 2023 was derived from non-recurring

ideas that drive ideas, productivity, and profitability.

sources, such as contracted maintenance agreements

Find a Mentor/Be a Mentor

(monitoring), managed services, and other recurring

Once you immerse, you’ll naturally find an industry

they dive in? With these tips, AV newcomers are

fees. Developing or outsourcing services are crucial

expert(s) you’ll want to lean on for direction and

well on their way to an exciting and evolving career

for revenue and profit, especially as hardware

information. Don’t forget, one day, you’ll be an AV

that will undoubtedly help shape the future of the

margins compress.

veteran. One of your responsibilities as a future Pro

So, what does an AV newcomer need to know as

Pro AV industry.

Go to Industry Events

Embrace DEI

installation can tie up a lot of money for an extended

AV expert will be to pay it forward for the next generation. It’s imperative to help newcomers find

Diversity, equity, and inclusion warrants its own

their way and keep our industry growing.

Not only is the world of Pro AV immersive, it’s critical

article (and there are many available on the subject),

Dan Smith is the executive vice president for

for newcomers to immerse themselves in all the

but suffice it to say that the Pro AV industry is

Exertis Almo.

30

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

BUSINESS BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

Steering Your Future Build a Career of Intent, Not Happenstance, with Planning and a Willingness to Grow

By Matt Czyzewski

N

avigating a career is often like taking a

to make—be it moving to a different company,

Regardless of your current role or future aspirations,

continuing your education, more job experience,

developing your soft skills can immediately benefit

technical training, or a combination thereof—is key

you and the people you work with. Everyone can be

to achieving your career goals.

better at communicating, conflict resolution,

rafting trip down a river—full of twists and

Hopefully, your manager will be receptive to the

turns, paddling hard to stay in the current,

plan and offer guidance and encouragement on how

Don’t be afraid to take refresher classes because

moments of terror or excitement, and maybe even

to proceed. If they’re not, that may also be another

best practices evolve. Certainly, basic principles like

a few times when you find yourself going backward.

indicator to seek success at a different company.

“treat others with respect” never go out of style, but

It’s best to start the trip with a plan, knowing that

Unfortunately, Mike Tyson was right when he said,

effective time management, and life in general.

there are many nuances to interpersonal skills and

you’ll have to adapt (possibly several times) based

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the

on where you’re at in the river versus where you

mouth.” Everyone’s career path is unique and needs

want to be.

frequent reassessment. Unanticipated changes at your

Seek Out Feedback

current company, such as layoffs or office closures,

Just because you think you may be “killing it” doesn’t

may temporarily disrupt your long-term goals.

mean others feel the same way. Check in with your

Make a Plan At the start of your career, it might be hard to tell

relationships that need to be practiced regularly.

Realistically, we probably all know someone who

manager and peers regularly, asking, “How am I

which lane you want to be in—engineering,

has been laid off at least once, so your career may need

doing?” or “What could I do better?” And prepare

management, sales, marketing, etc.—until you get

to take a back seat to the reality of getting a job and

yourself for some frank feedback.

some experience. And that’s OK. Some people may be

reacquiring financial stability. Reassessing your career

If you’re managing your career effectively, you

happy as individual contributors, while others may

plan after getting established at your new company to

should never be surprised at the feedback on your

want to pursue a management path.

see if it’s still the right way forward is a good idea.

annual review. How others perceive you can be, at

Even after choosing a lane, you may recognize it’s

times, wildly different from how you perceive

not a good fit for your goals and interests. Allow some

Continue Your Education

time to figure out what motivates you professionally

Regardless of your current education level, there’s

life to see what changes they have noticed. If they

and makes you happy/satisfied.

always more to learn. Many companies offer tuition

haven’t noticed any change, you may need to practice

reimbursement programs, allowing you to take

those skills more.

You should also be realistic with yourself

yourself. Talk to friends at work and in your personal

regarding how long you want to stay with your current

classes at reduced cost or even for free if you meet

If you’re interested in management positions,

company or a particular industry. Are your interests

specific criteria. Several education resources within

consider seeking out professional coaching. Skills like

strong enough to keep you satisfied for your entire

the industry—AVIXA, NSCA, SynAudCon, and

motivating others, giving praise, and sharing

career, or do you think you may want to pivot to an

more—also deal with various topics to further our

constructive criticism do not always come naturally to

entirely new job or industry at some point?

collective industry knowledge. Professional

everyone. Even if it comes naturally, getting some

accreditation programs can go a long way toward

outside perspective or affirmation of our perceived

establishing bona fides in your chosen field.

abilities is not a bad idea.

I’ve been in product development/engineering and executive management for over 40 years in the AV industry, and it has been fun, challenging, and even

I also encourage people to look outside the

Reading or listening to books on subjects that help

frustrating at times. But I also know several people

industry, such as at executive courses from

you progress is also important. Podcasts can also help

who have left one industry for another or one job

universities or professional seminars, to continue

improve skills, and following respected leaders inside

function for another and have been extremely happy

their education. Outside organizations and

and outside the AV industry on social media can lead

in their new role or company. Knowing your interest

interfacing with peers in other industries help you

to valuable suggestions or reading recommendations.

level may influence longer-term career choices.

gain a different perspective, diversify your thinking,

It takes a lot of time and intention for people to

and give exposure to how other companies function.

get where they want to be, myself included. Even if

Next, determine if there is a path to your goal with your current employer, but don’t be discouraged if

Look into professional organizations you can join

you reach your goal, keep going with your continuing

there isn’t. This may tell you what your next move

that will also help you gain knowledge, perspective,

education. There are always newer, better, faster ways

may need to be.

and skills, such as Vistage, Rotary, IEEE, and AES, to

to do things. Take time to enjoy the trip, though, and celebrate the wins.

Talk to your manager about your career

name a few. Get involved with boards or committees

aspirations, present your plan, explain how you

in professional or charitable organizations. Those are

intend to fill any gaps in your skillset, and ask for

another excellent opportunity to interface with

helm.

their feedback on identifying your gaps. Assessing

people both inside and outside the industry.

Matt Czyzewski is the executive vice president at

your skills and understanding what changes you need

Lastly, don’t overlook the value of soft skills.

It’s your future, so never be shy about taking the

AtlasIED.

Outside organizations and interfacing with peers in other industries help you gain a different perspective, diversify your thinking, and give exposure to how other companies function.

32

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

TECHNOLOGY COMMAND AND CONTROL

Network-Enabled Efficiencies

By Tom Fitzgerald

without manual switching commands or the technical know-how they require, so users can stay focused on

I

their work. n modern command and control environ-

Simplifying management of both IT-based and

ments, where staff are tasked with monitoring

traditional AV systems, KVM-over-IP systems make

and managing increasing numbers of sources

it easier for organizations to scale up connectivity

and systems, optimized visualization and efficient

and connect to new sources as needed. With virtually

communication are critical contributors to real-time

every new system and source connecting over IP,

decision making. With the right technology and

organizations can quickly extend their remote access

solutions, organizations can address these require-

and monitoring capabilities. Because the IP network

ments effectively, realizing valuable efficiencies

supporting signal extension is built for reliability

that translate to greater productivity, more effective

and security, administrators and users enjoy

collaboration, and enhanced responsiveness.

minimal downtime, as well as confidence that data

AV-over-IP technology has emerged as a principal enabler of efficiency in command and control because it allows organizations to extend, distribute, and

transferred over the KVM network is protected from unauthorized access.

GETTY IMAGES/TETRA IMAGES

Is It Time to Implement KVM-over-IP in Command and Control Environments?

Command and control environments can benefit from KVM-over-IP technologies.

When collaboration among control room

control ultra-high-resolution video and audio over IP

operators is a must, organizations can realize greater

various systems—physical, virtual, and cloud-

to a virtually unlimited number of screens across their

efficiency by facilitating fast, easy sharing of

based—as individual windows across multiple

existing local area networks (LANs). At the same time,

important systems on a common display. If a single

monitors allows for customization according to each

robust IP-based KVM (keyboard, video, mouse)

team member can instantly share a problematic

user’s preferences. When the KVM system offers this

systems enable staff to access remote systems—from

source with the larger group, the full team can work

capability, users can consolidate and monitor

one to more than a dozen—with flexibility.

together more effectively to identify and resolve any

numerous systems as if on a personalized video wall.

With just one keyboard, mouse, and monitor

issues. Real-time sharing and review of information

This model eliminates the physical strain of turning

setup, individual users can access multiple systems

on a shared video wall can be essential to timely group

to face different displays while supporting greater

simultaneously and switch instantly between them.

coordination and response.

responsiveness. Operators can more rapidly assess

Switching between systems occurs in the background,

When the KVM system supports this capability, delivering the appropriate

information and take necessary action.

Because organizations often can deploy KVM-

signal directly to a video

over-IP technology on the same IT network that

wall without the need for

supports their data payloads, they can take advantage

additional encoders or

of IP-based signal switching and extension without

decoders, the organization

significantly increasing the time and money they

can enable more rapid

spend on infrastructure and network management.

team problem-solving

Establishing this control room connectivity

without incurring added

infrastructure, organizations can enable convenient

costs, adding complexity,

remote access, support 4K over IP, and leverage

or increasing

high-end display solutions to bring greater efficiency

administrative

to critical operations.

requirements. Initial

With the right KVM-over-IP technologies,

integration of the system

organizations can introduce game-changing

remains straightforward,

efficiencies across their control room operations.

as do day-to-day

From flexible, reliable access to remote systems to

operation and

collaborative review of a key source on a shared video

maintenance.

wall, the benefits of modern IP-based signal

While KVM-enabled

distribution and visualization combine to support

touchscreen and

more productive teams and individuals. This

keyboard/mouse-based

connectivity infrastructure delivers the tools and

control significantly

capabilities they need to monitor critical processes

reduces desktop clutter,

more responsively and collaborate with team

making for a more

members in supporting smooth operations.

comfortable workspace,

Tom Fitzgerald is the KVM product manager for

the freedom to arrange

Black Box.

34

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

TECHNOLOGY AUDIO SYSTEMS The architecture of the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center presented unique challenges for the audio system install.

Cry Havoc in Huntsville EAW ADAPTive Audio System Modernizes Von Braun Center

By Wayne Cavadi

L

Buzzer Beater

completed the final handoff and training by mid-

Simply put, it was time for a new sound system. As

October, right in time for the hockey opener. EAW

Christian Tuttle, principal CEO at Verta Technologies,

certainly played a role in that turnaround as well.

ocated in downtown Huntsville, AL, the

put it, the Von Braun Center received a “full return on

“[One of several] challenges for this project was

Von Braun Center is a true multipurpose

their investment” out of the previous sound system.

delivery,” said TJ Smith, president, EAW. “With our

facility. There are two music venues—the

Upon inspection, it had been past its prime for quite

production and warehousing in Massachusetts, we

1,300-capacity Mars Music Hall and the 2,000-seat

some time—so long, in fact, the original

were able to deliver the entire system within 60 days

Mark C. Smith Concert Hall—and the 10,000-

manufacturer didn’t even support it any longer.

of receiving the order.”

seat Propst Arena, which is home to the Southern

Clusters were failing and the low end was gone.

The entire system consisted of 58 EAW Anya V2

Professional Hockey League’s Huntsville Havoc.

It would be no easy task for Verta Technologies.

As recently as March 14, the Huntsville faithful

Hockey season was looming as its team got to work in

three-way speakers, and a primary and secondary

continue to pack the arena, leading to the team’s

July. That left less than four months to not only tear

Dante network backed by a slew of NETGEAR

14th-straight sellout.

out the existing equipment but install the EAW

switches, which was all supported by a Q-SYS system

ADAPTive audio system.

for DSP and control.

Clearly, the right sound to get these sellout crowds going is essential. With a dying audio

“The schedule was tight, especially considering

system in place, a renovation project was

we received the purchase order just two months

approved and awarded to Verta Technologies—

before starting,” explained Tuttle. “Every aspect was

which has been working with the Von Braun Center

expedited; manufacturing dispatched trucks upon

for almost five years on other upgrades around the

receiving them, EAW sent us speakers in batches of

campus—to bring the Von Braun Center up to date.

20, maintaining a constant flow for this project. We

While it is a multiphase project, the audio portion

are genuinely grateful for their dedication. The

was completed just in time for hockey season—in

deadline was challenging as we had to decommission

under four months, mind you—with an Eastern

and uninstall an entire arena audio system before

Audio Works (EAW) ADAPTive audio system

installing the new equipment.”

pumping up the volume and gameday experience for Havoc fans.

36

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

modules, 12 EAW Otto subwoofers, eight EAW QX500

Rather impressively, Verta Technologies finished most of the construction in September, and

Multiple EAW Anya V2 modules are part of the Danteenabled audio system for the 10,000-seat arena.

AUDIO SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

Structurally Challenged

done by a single person and is part of the beauty of

The time crunch wasn’t the only challenge. The

this system.”

architecture, especially in the roof, was not one the

said, the new sound system has been well received.

“It’s always satisfying when the naysayers leave

Verta Technologies has been hard at work

with a smile on their face,” said Doug Collingsworth,

modernizing the Von Braun Center, and per Tuttle,

design engineer and production manager at the Von

“Von Braun Center and Verta needed a system

there is more coming. The next phase plans to see

Braun Center. “The decision to go with EAW was an

that could get over the crowd noise [+105dB] while

video walls and campus-wide digital signage. That

excellent one. The system sounds great.”

Verta team had ever dealt with before.

covering evenly from behind the glass to the top of each section,” Smith explained. “To make this even more challenging, they had limited trim height due to a relatively low ceiling. EAW ADAPTive technology met these challenges exceptionally well. We were able to achieve the spec with arrays of two to four modules keeping the loudspeakers out of sightlines.”

“The arena roof structure presented the most challenging obstacle we’ve ever encountered,” Tuttle acknowledged. “Its hub-and-spoke style I-Beam design, with a central mast and nine spokes extending to the outer walls, created a nonsymmetrical decagon. It posed unique difficulties.

“Our rigging team performed exceptionally well.

Despite the complexity of the building, we maintained precision within 3 inches of the XYZ axis for every point. Their expertise was crucial, considering the building’s age, dating back to the 1970s.”

While the rigging crew played a large part in installing what Tuttle called “a wonderful design which ended with a wonderful outcome,” the unique plan of attack deserves equal credit as well. “To expedite the project, we adopted an unconventional approach,” he recalled. “Rather than assembling a dedicated arena team, I used mine and a few others’ background in crane operation and heavy equipment moving. This allowed us to use a crane inside the arena for all picks and transfers, significantly reducing the rigging team’s size to three or four members.

“Surprisingly, we completed the demolition of the entire existing audio system, including 70 speakers and around 18 arrays, within two days. The permanent installation of the 12 new arrays and four subarrays from high steel was accomplished in three days using the same crane transfer method.”

End Game While it was tricky to install the EAW ADAPTive system in the arena, the installation actually encompassed the entire Von Braun Center campus, including the music and concert halls, which makes it one of the largest permanent EAW ADAPTive installations in the world. Being a truly multipurpose facility, it was essential to have a flexible solution.

“The EAW ADAPTive system, as implied by its name, offers high adaptability to various event styles and coverage patterns without requiring a whole team of people to physically move anything,” Tuttle explained. “By being able to deploy a new resolution file, you’re able to change coverage or mute or unmute zones or change the system, which can be

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TECHNOLOGY LIVE PRODUCTION Cottonwood Creek Church has adopted the Panasonic KAIROS ST 2110 live production platform.

A Better Way to Connect Cottonwood Creek Church Upgrades Production with Panasonic KAIROS

By Jennifer Guhl

W

switcher, and more. Within the integration, two

allowed them to showcase a karaoke game, something

Panasonic KAIROS servers were installed to support

they had been able to program earlier that afternoon.

iMac and broadcast feeds, and a third was recently

The platform allowed the church to switch between

ith its congregation expanding rapidly

installed to support a new youth building currently

screens easily and with no latency, expanding its

over its 30 years of service, Cottonwood

under construction.

content capabilities during the concerts.

Creek Church, located in Allen, TX,

“It’s an incredible piece of technology,” added

“Before, that would have been a much more

was looking for a more comprehensive approach to

Chapman. “At the same time, we can create macros

complicated process,” said Dave Evans, executive

connecting with its worshipers, guaranteeing the

and stuff on the system so that an everyday volunteer

production director for Cottonwood Creek Church.

same experience for both in-person and remote

can walk up to the control panel and make massive

“We probably could have done it, but I’m not sure we

engagement.

changes with a simple button push. That’s powerful

could have. But with the KAIROS system, we could do it

for us, so we don’t necessarily have to have staff or

within 10 minutes of realizing we wanted to do that.”

“Our Blackmagic switchers were great, but they do what they do and nothing else. We were looking for something next-generation,” said Will Chapman, online minister for Cottonwood Creek Church.

While attending InfoComm, the church was

trained volunteers to operate the system.”

Less Complicated Process

KAIROS has also allowed the church to approach broadcasting differently. It provides its engineers and directors with the tools for quality and creative

The church said it only uses about 12% of the platform’s

broadcasting capabilities, including value-added

introduced to Panasonic’s KAIROS ST 2110 live

capabilities, which have probably tripled its prior

features when broadcasting through its website. Plus,

production platform. After Panasonic demoed the

capabilities before the transition. For example, when

it can broadcast directly through Facebook and

platform in January 2023, the church quickly

hosting their most recent Christmas concerts, the

YouTube, increasing its awareness and introducing its

committed to Panasonic Connect’s ecosystem of

church was able to produce a split-screen layout that

services to potential new audiences.

products.

This change in quality has not

And we mean committed.

gone unnoticed—and the church

Cottonwood Creek Church has

has noticed that tech support

more than a dozen Panasonic PTZ

emails and complaints have

cameras (a mix of HD and 4K

virtually disappeared from its

models) and multiple PTZ

congregation. “Now, all I’m

controllers, plus two studio

hearing from people is that they’re

cameras, a 4K camcorder, CCUs and remote operation panels,

38

hearing the message, seeing From Left: Will Chapman, Dave Evans, Peyton Thomas, Brycen Welborn

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

what’s going on in the room, and

LIVE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

connecting with it in a way that we haven’t had

they’ll call me back as soon as they can, and that’s

how it can expand its offerings, including being able

before,” said Chapman.

everyone we’ve worked with at Panasonic,” said

to broadcast remotely from various locations and

Brycen Welborn, AVL systems director with

establishing a studio segment during their

Cottonwood Creek Church.

broadcasts. “Honestly, it inspires our creativity to

Church members were introduced to the platform during the demo last year, and its ability to address an issue that cropped up in real time became a strong

With the other 88% of the platform’s capabilities

selling point for the church. They realized they

yet to be unlocked, the church is excited to explore

think of ways to connect with our people better,” added Chapman.

needed to create high-quality, in-house overflow rooms for a sold-out conference, with many people still looking to purchase tickets and participate in some fashion. They set up two new LED screens within the rooms to accommodate additional attendees—and using a high-quality NDI stream from KAIROS, they delivered a wow factor that blew attendees away, providing seamless content integration from the conference in the main room.

“Since fully transitioning to KAIROS, when we say we’re doing an overflow room, we’re able to deliver that high-quality type of experience where it’s even better than what you would have at home, even though it’s not in the main room,” added Chapman.

New Production Heights KAIROS has also allowed them to deliver a level of professionalism for critical functions, including a recent remembrance service for a mass shooting that impacted their community. Local, state, and national media members were in attendance. The platform allowed the church to broadcast the service seamlessly, which would have been difficult with its previous configuration and allowed the focus to stay on those grieving and praying for their injured or lost loved ones.

Plus, the new platform has expanded the church’s rental business, allowing them to support everything from a Christian band shooting their music video onsite to conferences, taking advantage of the platform’s support of multiple rooms. This puts rental clients at ease because of the technology at their fingertips and the professionalism of the church’s technicians and operators. “What’s so cool is that when people come in and see what we have, they leave all their gear in the truck,” said Compton.

Panasonic highlighted the versatility of the KAIROS platform, which allows churches to deliver high-quality content through an intuitive, familiar interface. The platform’s simple controls, which can be set to enable various functions with a single button, make it easy to operate efficiently without a steep learning curve for staff, volunteers, or contract technicians. “It’s a lot simpler of a system to use but has much more power and flexibility behind it,” said Peyton Thomas, solutions engineer with Panasonic Connect North America.

The church viewed its technological transition as a strong partnership with Panasonic, and when any issues come up, they are immediately addressed. For example, during the installation process, when one of the servers was not receiving video correctly, Panasonic responded immediately, sending someone to the church the next day to find a solution. “If they don’t answer the phone right away, it’s an email, or

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39

TECHNOLOGY NEW PRODUCTS

has also expanded its auto-tracking to include five new

DPA Microphones AIR1

RGB Spectrum Zio Recording System

advanced features: Standard, Area, Stage, Wide Area,

Intended for quick mounting on round,

and Fine Adjustment modes. Plus, the cameras include

omnidirectional headset or lavalier microphones

presets for exposure, color, and image, and allow direct

between 0.1-0.23 inches, the AIR1 universal

connection to Zoom, Google Meet, and other

miniature fur windscreen has a patent-pending

videoconferencing platforms (USB UVC). Available in

design that delivers highly efficient and consistent

black or white, the KY-PZ540 and KY-PZ540N are ideal

wind protection. Its newly designed acoustic fur is

for large event spaces and instances when the need to

30% shorter than other wind protection accessories,

zoom in from a distance is essential.

Available in both commercial and ruggedized

reducing its visual impact. Uniform wind protection is

versions, the new Zio Recording System

achieved through the fixed size of the air cavity

features support for third-party IP signal sources as

surrounding the microphone capsule, which provides

well as Zio-generated streams. It supports camera,

complete and consistent acoustical transparency.

Crestron Control App for Zoom Rooms Software

computer, and other signals up to 3840x2160, as

Sturdy handles at the windscreen opening ensure

Before, running Zoom

well as third-party playback applications like VLC.

swift and effortless mounting and perfect placement

Rooms videoconferencing

Designed for scalability and versatility, the Zio

on the microphone. The handles also minimize

and the rest of a space’s

Recording System is available in 1 RU and 2 RU

handling of the fur, so the AIR1 will maintain its shape

devices often required

configurations, depending on storage requirements,

significantly longer than traditional windscreens.

two different control

and is fully compatible with the entire Zio product

Two sizing options are also available to fit most

interfaces, one for the collaboration software and one

family, including encoders and decoders,

professional miniature microphones, and six color

for everything else (lighting, climate, and even AV

multiviewers, and video walls. Users can choose

options complement most apparel.

solutions needed for a hybrid meeting). Now, Crestron

H.264 or H.265 video compression, allowing optimal

Control App for Zoom Rooms Software allows

video quality or bandwidth efficiency based on

Barco UniSee II

specific needs. It can simultaneously record and

The new generation of

single user interface. It also provides users with

playback up to 30 IP streams. With a FIFO

the Barco UniSee LCD

flexibility. Systems can be easily scaled and

architecture for efficient recording and the ability to

video wall platform

applications added based on customer needs. Plus,

export video segments for external playback, users

significantly boosts

dealers can design and manage custom user interfaces.

have comprehensive control over recorded content.

the viewing

The value-add app is available for download in the

experience while

Zoom App Marketplace, and there is no additional cost

refining the

to enable it for spaces. Crestron 3-Series or 4-Series

ergonomic aspects.

control systems processors, hardware processors, and

everything to be efficiently and securely controlled via a

The color gamut has been significantly increased by

Crestron VC-4 Virtual Control solutions are enabled to

applying quantum dot technology. Plus, the video wall’s

support Crestron Control App for Zoom Rooms

contrast is increased to HDR levels by implementing a

Software installations.

mini-LED backlight unit that allows more refined and accurate local dimming. Sense X, which automatically

Quam Nichols DSB Series

matches the brightness and colors in real time, has been

A new product series aimed at eliminating sagging

Derived from the success of Origin Acoustics’

extended to also match the contrast, creating a balanced

ceiling tiles, Quam’s new DSB Series—or Device

residential architectural loudspeakers, Origin PRO

single canvas for both static and dynamic content.

Support Bridges—are universal mounting devices.

has taken the same feature-rich product ethos

Advanced polarizer technology delivers a constant

These load-bearing bridges eliminate tile sag caused

toward the commercial installation market. A

performance, whatever the viewing angle. The real use

by the weight of the installation on a suspended tile

complete line of high-performance Origin PRO

power consumption of Barco UniSee II is 20% lower

ceiling, and offer the ability to mount strobes,

speakers is available in three versatile form factors

compared to the previous generation, and uptime is

indicator lights, cameras, Wi-Fi routers, and smoke

(in-ceiling, surface mount, and pendants) in three

maximized due to the high reliability of the platform

detectors onto the tile grid. The DSB Series reduces

sizes (5, 6, and 8-inch), as well as an 8-inch

(with redundancy options for critical components).

installation time and eliminates the need for stocking

Origin Acoustics Origin PRO Amplifiers

subwoofer for in-ceiling and pendant options. Its

different mounting devices to match various project

which allow for 2 and 4-channel options with power

JVC Professional Video KY-PZ540/KY-PZ540N

output ranging from 60-750W per channel, power

The company’s first PTZ cameras to incorporate 40x

an adjacent ceiling tile with a single (DSB1) or double

both low-impedance and 70v/100v speakers. Origin

zoom, the KY-PZ540 and KY-PZ540N (with integrated

(DSB2 and DSB3) integrated T-bar offsets. Ideal for

PRO Amplifiers will be available in 2 RU and

NDI HX3 capabilities) incorporate JVC’s 4K imager. The

classrooms, offices, and hospitals, the DSB Series is

compact, 1 RU half-rack versions. Origin PRO

cameras also include JVC’s Variable Scan Mapping

made of rust-resistant metal and comes with a white

amplifiers with Dante are designed for large-scale

technology, which dynamically scans the 4K sensor to

powder coat finish.

projects where low-latency and system-wide

produce a seamless and lossless image transition up to

synchronization are imperative. An intuitive web

40x in Full HD. Other features include AI-enabled

app is built into all Origin PRO amplifiers for easy

advanced SMART auto-tracking operation and NDI

system setup and customization.

supported IP-based remote operation capabilities. JVC

new line of full-matrix DSP-enabled amplifiers,

40

SCN // May 2024 // avnetwork.com

configurations. It incorporates single-gang and 4 square mounting configurations and can be used with

NEW PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY

VMP ERTCFAN1 Video Mount Products has announced the ERTCFAN1 1 RU temperature controlled cooling fan kit. It is ideal for applications where inconsistent room

Atlona AT-OME-CS31-SA

temperatures are a constant. Designed to turn on

The new AT-OME-CS31-SA (three HDMI inputs)

and off automatically at a user-specified

and AT-OME-CS31-SA-HDBT (one HDBaseT input

temperature, the ERTCFAN1 can help provide peace

and two HDMI inputs) 3x1 switchers both

of mind for sensitive equipment. Housed in a black

consolidate AV switching, USB routing, audio

chassis with a static-resistant, powder coat finish,

mixing, amplification, and control into a low-

the ERTCFAN1 provides a maximum combined air

ConferenceShare shares video and audio captured by

profile enclosure. Ideally suited for learning and

flow of 150 CFM. The fans are wired to a common

in-room USB devices with Windows or macOS laptops

meeting spaces, the new units primarily share the

plug. Other features include a 53-inch power cord

during Teams or Zoom meetings. With

same feature set, with key variances in AV

and a lighted on/off rocker switch.

ConferenceShare enabled on their laptop, users gain

switching and USB capabilities to meet specific

access to USB devices connected to the ShareLink Pro

requirements. Audio capabilities include audio

Wired and Wireless Presentation System, simplifying

ducking, an on-board mixer for combining three

the process of incorporating in-room resources in

line inputs, de-embedded HDMI, and USB audio as

remote meetings. ConferenceShare works in

well as 2x25 watt amplifier and line level

conjunction with ShareLink Pro software and

outputs. Both models support switching

ShareLink Pro 1100 and ShareLink Pro 500 units to not

between two host devices and include a

only share content from a user’s local computer,

four-port hub for connecting cameras,

laptop, or mobile device to the room display, but also

speakerphones, interactive displays, or

share video and audio from a local USB camera or

other peripherals. The remote input of the

microphone with remote participants using Teams or

OME-CS31-SA-HDBT supports extension of HDMI,

Zoom. It also supports integration with Microsoft 365

Ethernet, power, control, and USB 2.0 data up to

Calendar to streamline UC meeting connections.

330 feet.

Extron ConferenceShare

FIBER CABLES

FLYPACKS & ROAD CASES

FURNITURE

MODULAR FLOOR BOXES

INSTALLATION PRODUCTS

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

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

avnetwork.com avnetwork.com // May 2024 // SCN

41

VIEWPOINT

Office Space Identity Crisis Can the Current Technology Transformation Help Deliver Critical Insights for Businesses?

By Nyere Hollingsworth

T

can’t be in the office with you on that day. Solving

meaningful insight into our respective work habits

that part of the equation tends to fall on the shoulders

and productivity. From there, we can be a lot smarter

of technologists who need to expand the reach of

about how we invest in our respective organizations

he office space isn’t dead, but it is going

wireless networks, enable local egress of internet

and really start to define what the office space needs

through an identity crisis—and we will likely

connectivity, and update collaboration spaces.

to be.

spend the next two years witnessing its com-

These activities are all necessary to fit out the

plete metamorphosis. While I have yet to see predic-

space that we need, but a true accounting of value

actually in the room can tell us what our peak usage

tions of economic calamity coming from the market

added to the organization for these investments

hours really are without having to comb through room

analysts and economists that track the commercial

remains elusive. As a result, many organizations are

booking data in the hopes that people actually showed

real estate sector, it is clear that the status quo will

still in a wait-and-see posture. After all, if it doesn’t

up to those meetings. Also, when similar insights into

continue to adapt as we figure out what to do with all

appear to be overtly broken at the moment, why fix it?

environmental conditions are paired with machine

of this empty space.

Coming Soon: True Insights

While many companies have implemented

For example, video systems that count people

learning and predictive analysis, we can make recommendations to our colleagues about which parts

in-office mandates, I have heard of very few that that

Many organizations lack the data collection and

of the building may be best suited to host that

are requiring an in-person presence for five days per

analysis tools that would guide that decision calculus,

meeting based on the size of party, length of meeting,

week. My anecdotal survey of industry peers suggests

and that is where investments today would yield the

or other data pulled from the meeting invite. As this

that we are all hovering around a 30-40% peak office

most benefit in the near future. A former CIO with

loop of data feeds itself, we are able to make better

census relative to employees assigned to a given space.

whom I worked would inevitably ask “Where is the

space planning decisions—but also make better

data?” in every meeting that required a decision from

real-time usage decisions that better approximate

Earning the Commute

him. There are many of us that are unable to provide

the curated experiences that we have created for

With office vacancy rates hitting record highs,

that data at present because we don’t have the tools to

ourselves at home.

according to Moody’s analysis, it is clear that

collect it. The good news is that we are also in the

companies are scaling back their office footprints and

middle of a transformation in technology that is

will require proper planning among corporate real

reevaluating current and planned investments in

enabling tools that we have today to give us the

estate, IT, and human resources professionals to truly

physical space to cope with the changing work styles

information we need to demonstrate a return on

influence overall workplace design. Convergence of

and habits that are in demand among knowledge

investment in office space transformation.

the physical and virtual workplace is the future—

workers. As a result, corporate real estate

There is promising technology coming from all

This metamorphosis of the physical office space

there is no going back to the days of physical presence

professionals that manage these spaces for

areas of the Pro AV landscape that will leverage

companies large and small are still struggling to make

artificial intelligence to provide all sorts of insights

the office make sense, because the appetite to invest

into how our space is really being used and what we

datasets to provide that complete picture of current

remains low given the scope of change required to

need to do to make it better for our colleagues. I’m

and predicted work habits so we can justify the

transform these spaces to suit the modern workforce.

excited about the promise of people counting, voice

transition that we all know is necessary. The office

and facial recognition, and integration with

space is still trying to work through its identity crisis.

productivity platforms.

We need to leverage all the tools available to help us

One thing that we can likely all agree on is that the space that we built five years ago no longer fits the needs of the organization that we are now. In years

However, I’m excited not just because these

for the sake of physical presence.

We have a responsibility to continue to merge our

decide what the next phase ultimately will be.

technologies will enable more immersive and

Nyere Hollingsworth is the senior manager

and furnishings to spruce up a dated office space. But

frictionless collaboration experiences from the

for collaboration and productivity technology

today this space needs much more in order to draw

workspace, but rather these technologies will give us

at Grainger.

employees back in and earn the commute.

The drawback to the office revolves around collaboration and connecting with your colleagues.

While free coffee and food are great, I haven’t heard of many colleagues willing to sit in traffic to enjoy a coffee while sitting on video calls all day.

What I have heard quite consistently is that they

ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

prior, this might have meant some new paint, carpet,

are coming to the office to be around other team members and foster those human connections that are crucial for emotional connection to the meaningful work we all pursue. To that end, it is important that we create welcoming and inviting spaces that support the psychosocial ties to a team, department, and broader organization that are really hard to develop.

Simultaneously, that need for connectedness to your colleagues still needs to account for those that

42

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