Systems Contractor News - July 2022 by publications

Welcome to the JulyofIssue

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18 Executive Q&A Verrex CEO Thomas G. Berry IV reﬂects on the company’s diamond anniversary. Beyond The Tech Columnist Douglas Kleeger wants to know if you go the extra yard. Viewpoint Jay B. Myers explains how writing book grow your business.

2218 42 ® AVNETWORK.COM JULY 2022 CREDIT TK YOUR INSIDER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR MORE THAN 25 INMOODYEARSTHEProjectionMappingBringsZootoLifefor‘NightVisions’ AV-over-IP Distribution over LAN, WAN or Cellular Network More Than Just A Video Wall The 4000®

42 Pondering

Our coverage includes expert analysis, a supply chain update from Audinate, and new racks and mounts from the show floor.

Do you and your company go the extra yard for your customers?

People

26 Hybrid Events Are Good, Actually

By Matt Davis

By Mark J. Pescatore

How

34 28 3530

Blaze Audio is on a mission, according to Kevin Wilkin, executive sales director for North America.

Viewpoint the In-Person Experience has the pandemic changed our interactions? Sharath

What’s the difference between a decent webcam and an AI-enabled personal videoconferencing camera?

By Jennifer Guhl

Business

By Carolyn Heinze

In-person events are back, but there’s still a global audience looking for live streaming and VOD content from trade shows.

4 SCN // July 2022 // avnetwork.com CONTENTSVol.29No.7July2022 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 2022 by Future US, Inc. PRINTED IN U.S.A.

30 InfoComm In Review

By Douglas Kleeger

18 Executive Q&A

Technology

By Mark J. Pescatore

Lighting helps set the stage for exhibits at the Mariners’ Museum as well as a night-time experience at the Nashville Zoo.

By Mark J. Pescatore

22 Beyond The Tech

By Wayne Cavadi

A streamlined classroom AV setup uses minimal hardware in hundreds of learning spaces across campus.

In the Mood

28 USC: Hybrid Learning Pioneers

There are plenty of options for conference cameras for today’s hybrid work or classroom environment.

DepartmentsAbraham 17 ASSOCIATION NEWS 20 NEWSMAKERS 40 PRODUCTS 24

19 Executive Q&A

34 5 Things to Know about the Jabra PanaCast 20

Verrex CEO Thomas G. Berry IV reflects on the company’s 75th anniversary.

35 Seeing Is Believing

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Bottom: This equipment rack supports both screens.

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Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL, is my family’s go-to ballpark. Every season, we drive up to proudly cheer on our Jupiter Hammerheads, the Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere and collected our fair share of photos with mascot Hamilton R. Head (aka Hammy for those of us in the know). The stadium is also home to the Palm Beach Cardinals, the Single-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, but we’re a united Hammerheads house.

6 SCN // July 2022 // avnetwork.com SYSTEMS CHECK ®

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Take Me Out to the Scoreboard

On a pleasant Friday night, we recently watched the Hammerheads properly trounce the Clearwater Threshers (the Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies), but this time it was different. I was less interested in the pitch count and more interested in the screen displaying it.

Daktronics invited my family to watch the game from their suite as the company celebrated the installation of two new outfield screens. Both screens went live within weeks of the May 27 contest. At 25 feet high and 41 feet wide, the displays are signifi cantly larger than the previous offerings, one of which was a more traditional baseball scoreboard with no video capabilities.

Mike Kempany, a sales representative for Daktronics, has provided dvLED screens for a number of Florida sports venues. He said the 15HDs in Roger Dean Stadium are a popular choice in stadiums used for MLB spring training, because the 15mm spacing between lines of resolution offer great contrast, especially in direct sun. Daktronics accounts for the main video displays in more than 85% of spring training sites. (Roger Dean Stadium hosts spring training for both the Marlins and Cardinals.)

Before the game, I also snuck in a brief tour of the press box, where I met Ryer Gardenswartz, media relations and promotions coordinator for Roger Dean Stadium. For most games, he’s the guy running the displays through the Dak tronics Show Control solution. When there’s not a game, he’s also the guy improving the on-screen layouts. The new displays support multiple zones on the screen, which means he’s got plenty of options. Looking good so far, Ryer!

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Content Director Mark J. Pescatore, Ph.D. mark.pescatore@futurenet.com

Vice President, B2B Tech Group Carmel King

Adam Goldstein, adam.goldstein@futurenet.com, 212-378-0465

Below: Ryer Gardenswartz and Show Control in the press box.

Nicole Schilling, Heather Tatrow

Head of Design Rodney Dive

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People don’t come to minor league games to watch the video screens—after all, we don’t sing “take me out to the scoreboard” during the seventh inning stretch— and two outfield screens hardly create an immersive environment. Still, it’s all about delivering a great experience for the fans, and these new screens will deliver highquality visuals to help people follow the game stats in style for years.

Andi Tureson andi.tureson@futurenet.com

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Art Editor Rob Crossland Production Managers

’m not the guy who watches baseball on TV, but I love the ballpark experi ence. I will happily sit through nine innings with a bag of peanuts and a cup of whatever diet cola is on tap in the stadium.

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This single unit offers several unique features that provide system designers with exceptional versatility: Switchable Transmitter / Receiver operation PoE+ support Dual (copper / fiber) network interfaces Silent, fanless operation Auxiliary H.264/5 video output streams Versatile KVM Routing network security features

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ProSource Raises $175K for Make-A-Wish

Brett Perkins, Owner and Lead Designer, PDC AVL

INTEGRATOR INSIGHT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Nightscape is a Nashville, TN-based experiential production and creative con tent company that is redefining how people interact with physical spaces. Built to provide immersive, multisensory experiences to transport guests into different times, places, and worlds, the flagship venue opened in April 2022 in Nashville’s Gulch neighborhood.“Whenbuilding out our state-of-the-art 360-degree projection-mapped venue, Epson’s projectors were instrumental in helping to bring our vision to life,” said Mike Weinberg, CEO and founder of Nightscape. “Their team worked hand-in-hand with ours every step of the way, with excellent communication and a consistent prob lem-solving mentality that put us in a great position to succeed from day one.”

What are some of the common lighting issues canrooms,invideoconferencingforconferenceandhowyoufixthem?

auctions, and games to encourage the crowd of ProSource members and vendors to donate to their deserving “Wish Kid.” Origin Acoustic’s Marc Fisher served as the evening’s emcee and rallied the crowd to open their hearts and wallets, raising the grand total. The evening was a huge success, with sponsors committing to fulfilling a wide variety of wishes.

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The ProSource event challenged 15 sponsors to stretch their creativity with props, costumes,

The Nightscape venue offers a blank canvas for creative minds. The main space is equipped with 10

uick to adjust and adapt to an ever-chang ing environment, Nightscape worked with technology company Clair Global to leverage Epson projectors for its 360-degree projection-mapped creative entertainment space. Equipped with flexible projectors that blend into the space while providing vibrant, eye-popping visuals,

Epson Pro L1490UNL, four Epson EB-PU1008W, and three Epson EB-PU2010W laser projectors. The projectors illuminate from all directions, continuously casting visuals on the walls and ceilings to create a sense of complete immersion for guests. Housed in compact, white chassis, Epson laser projectors fill 360 degrees of space with stunning color and impressive brightness, while blending into the space to deliver the illusion of different environments without interference from the technology.

roSource, one of the largest audio, video, and integration buying groups in the United States, raised $175,000 for Make-A-Wish Central and South Texas during a fundraising event held at the ProSource Spring Meeting. The total amount of donations exceeded the goal of making 15 wishes come true.

“Experiential environments are on the rise and with the ability to deliver a range of dynamic worlds in one space, Nightscape is offering something magical that today’s consumers crave,” said Ramzi Shakra, project manager, Epson America. “Weinberg’s new venue breaks down barriers to offer endless enter tainment possibilities—and creativity—and Epson is proud to be a part of it.”

Epson EntertainmentProjectionIlluminatesMappedVenue

“ProSource has made so many wishes possible for our children over the years,” said Shelby Gill, interim CEO of Make-A-Wish Central and South Texas. “But they don’t stop at just granting wishes—they are always interested in learning our Wish Kids’ stories and making them feel like part of the ProSource family. ProSource has an incredible communitycentered culture, and we are so honored to be part of their philanthropic impact.”

For us, lighting is a priority over camera position. The camera needs light, and there are no shortcuts for that, but there are ways to provide it on both a small and large budget. I like to ask my clients if they are comfortable with DMX-controlled lights, or if they would prefer a set-it-and-forget-it design. We have installed moving head fixtures in meeting rooms, and in other rooms we have moved table lamps with inverted shades to create the proper illumination. There is a prescribed method of giving “correct” lighting—but realizing not every client can afford the right method, we like to work with what the client has and what they are willing to do.

“We set ourselves a goal of $150,000 this year, and we want to thank everyone for their generosity in helping us exceed the target,” said Jessica Paskon, vice president of finance and operations, ProSource. “Tens of thousands of volunteers, donors, and supporters advance the Make-A-Wish vision to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness. The overwhelming success of this annual fund-raising event is a reflection of the heart and passion of our organization.”

A veteran in practical playback, Marks has nearly 30 years and 50 feature films on his resume. That includes Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002, giving Marks the space cred to understand the demands of the Star Trek universe. He was brought on for Seasons 2 and 3 of the series, and immediately went to work on changing how the visuals would be produced.

how FlexGlass could be used, paired with how much less expensive it was than other solutions like video walls, it continued to grow in use. What initially was going to be monitors for side consoles became an innovative and ground-breaking curved-screen concept, which Marks quickly realized that he could accomplish with FlexGlass.

aptain’s Log: Pro AV is now powering the final frontier.

Initially, the concept was to not have a lot of practical playback. However, once Marks showed

The soundstages weren’t exceptionally wide, presenting another challenge: throw distance. That’s where the Epson rear screen projectors came into play. “I didn’t have a tremendous amount of room, so I had to use quiet projectors,” Marks explained. “[Epson projectors] were also uniform size to the body. Epson worked very closely with us and supported us with test lenses and test projectors. They were compact, quiet, and worked very well.”

Lighting was another challenge. “[FlexGlass] is anti-reflective, but if you have too much light, you’ll get a little grey,” Marks explained. “My tech team worked very hard to make sure the color balance between the OLEDs and the laser projectors matched color temperature-wise and black levels. That ensured a better-looking image throughout.”

A large advantage to FlexGlass is its versatility. It’s not thick, so cutting it is relatively easy—and Marks was sure to use every piece available. “It’s a great tool for production because they can be repurposed very quickly and cut to size as needed.” Marks was also able to order in excess, since he was experimenting with new curves and layouts, due to the inexpensive price point, which left him scraps to try different shots and innovations.

“

“This could have been done as visual effects,” Marks noted. “But I’m using [FlexGlass] in nontra ditional ways in a very inexpensive way. You couldn’t do that with a standard rear-projection screen. You couldn’t cut it to these sizes or get these vibrant images not affected by the light from the set. It’s pretty remarkable stuff.

For the bridge of the STARGAZER, Marks paired FlexGlass with rear-projection Epson Pro Series projectors and LG OLED displays to bring high resolution and detail to the bleeps, blips, images, lights, and even 3D effects on the crew’s consoles.

Star Trek: Picard, the latest in the long line of Star Trek series, follows the return of Jean-Luc Picard and his quests aboard the STARGAZER starship. To bring the bridge of the spacecraft to life, Todd A. Marks, series integrator and computer playback supervisor, turned to Screen Innovations’ FlexGlass projection screen to create stunning visuals on the set.

In Season 2, Marks’ work with FlexGlass is vividly on display in Episodes 1 and 10. However, with the success of the results, the technology is more heavily featured in the upcoming Season 3.

“FlexGlass gave us that product that defied what you can normally do on a set.”

His company, Images on Screen, provided much of the show’s computer playback and projection mapping systems. “I work closely with our playback graphics design team to help them provide the story-specific software that my playback engineers feed to all the monitors and display devices on set while we are filming the show,” Marks explained.

By Wayne Cavadi

10 SCN // July 2022 // avnetwork.com NEWS

FlexGlass Projection Screen Powers Starship Console in ‘Star Trek: Picard’

Venom is when I first learned about FlexGlass,” Marks recalled. “It was an MRI set in a hospital, and it was this big, beautiful, calm image. It wound up as the first shot in the teaser—that’s how much they liked it. We ended up doing a proof of concept [for Picard], and they were blown away when we shared the Muchresults.”like the crews of various Star Trek starships, Marks was embarking on a journey that boldly went where no one had gone before. “Having this wide display area, no one else has ever done something with the kind of complex curves on a practical set before,” Marks said.

The choice for a curved-screen set piece led to several challenges. Keeping the FlexGlass tightly in place was a priority that was solved by a custom-built mounting design, which took advantage of Screen Innovations’ clips.

Here again, an XTP II CrossPoint 1600 matrix switcher and XTP SR HD 4K HDMI receivers handle AV switching and distribution to the projectors and sound system. Content for the four exhibit tables comes from four PCs. Content for standard presenta tions comes from three XTP T HWP 101 4K HDMI wallplate transmitters.

Extron AV switching, distribution, and control— selected because they were already using

A depth camera senses users’ hand motions in 3D space above the tabletops as they interact with what’s projected, emulating a touchscreen—but without the “touch.” The experience is driven by software from Relative Scale, which is based in Raleigh, NC.

The Data Experience Lab and the nearby South Learning Lab offer tools to help students and faculty build expertise in data science and digital scholarship.

After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, a full schedule of virtual and in-person workshops, seminars, and events took place in Fall 2021, many of which were presented in HyFlex formats that accommodated in-person attendees in the new AV-enabled spaces as well as remote attendees. After a “soft” opening providing access to limited groups of faculty and students, the Hill Library and its many new technology spaces became accessible to everyone in mid-August 2021.

The renovation involved many high-tech additions and upgrades, including cutting-edge AV amenities that make the Hill Library a one-stop hub for learning, teaching, research, collaboration, and experimentation. AV-enabled spaces added during the 2021 upgrade included the Innovation Studio for virtual reality and other emerging technologies; the Visualization Studio, with immersive 360-degree projection; and the Data Experience Lab, a collabora tive space for data science, visualization, and analyt ics. Also included in the renovation were more group study rooms, learning labs, and presentation spaces.

ousing more than 1 million volumes, North Carolina State University’s D. H. Hill Jr. Library was constructed in phases spanning decades. However, the building saw a major renovation in 2021.

High-End Learning Studios

Five MPA 601 mono amplifiers drive 10 ceilingmounted speakers above the tables and in the presentation areas. Operation of the AV system is controlled from a TLP Pro 1220MG 12-inch Wall Mount TouchLink Pro touchpanel via an IPCP Pro 555 control processor.

The Innovation Studio is a reconfigurable learning space that showcases work of students and faculty using a novel interactive projection experience. Several 10x5-foot projection surfaces appear on four tables in each of the studio’s quadrants. Three standard projec tors with drop-down screens can be used for presenta tions. A 4K laser projector in the ceiling above each table points down, delivering content onto each tabletop.

Extron’s GlobalViewer Enterprise software to manage their extensive deployment of Extron systems in many of the school’s other learning venues—is crucial to the operation of all these spaces. “Our 15 years of experience with Extron gave us confidence that their products were right for the Hill Library applications,” said Ryan C. Hunter, lead AV profes sional for advanced technology spaces, NCSU. “No matter the circumstance, we know we can depend on Extron’s support.”

Visualization Studio

South Learning Lab

A 16x16 XTP II CrossPoint 1600 matrix switcher and XTP receiver work to distribute program content with HDMI video. The audio system includes XPA U 1002-70V and NetPA 1001-70V AT amplifiers that deliver audio from analog and Dante sources to an extensive wall and ceiling speaker system, which includes seven SM 28T surface mount speakers on the circular wall surrounding the audience and four SF 26PT pendant speakers suspended from the ceiling. The Extron Control App operates the AV functions and lighting in the room via a touchpanel interface on an iPad mini running the Extron Control App.

Extron Creates Engaging Study Venues for Renovated NCSU Hill Library

content produced by faculty and students across the campus. Eight projectors and 12 speakers deliver seamless 360-degree video and enveloping Dolby Atmos surround sound for compelling teaching and learning, research talks, special projects, and events.

12 SCN // July 2022 // avnetwork.com NEWS

The Visualization Studio is an immersive, theater-inthe-round experience designed to showcase engaging

speakers. The AV system is controlled by an IPCP Pro 555 control processor via two touchscreen interfaces. Each group study room can accommodate four people around a table, and features a whiteboard on one wall and 48-inch flat-panel display on another. HDMI

NEWS

Small Groups, Big AV

The instructor lectern contains a PC and a guest HDMI connection, both of which supply content to the matrix switcher via XTP transmitters. Video from a PTZ camera connected to the lectern PC USB port is also available. The two ceiling mounted projectors and six 48-inch active learning displays all receive signals from the XTP matrix switcher.

Designed for small groups, the Data Experience Lab includes an 86-inch interactive touchscreen display. HDMI video and audio are fed to the display, while user control is managed via a wall-mounted NBP 106 D Network Button Panel.

content is shared through an HC 402 Meeting Space Collaboration System via a wired connection to an HC 402 wallplate transmitter or via a wireless access point. Users control the AV system at a wall mounted NBP 106 D Button Panel next to the transmitter wallplate.

Innovation Studio

The room’s audio system includes ceiling array mics, wireless mics, and program audio feeds from the matrix switcher via both analog and Dante network sources. An MPA 601 amplifier drives the room’s

Multimedia is key to the data visualization techniques practiced in these labs.

Adaptable for large or small learning groups, the South Learning Lab has many AV content sources and displays. An XTP II CrossPoint 1600 matrix switcher is used to select and distribute program content and control signals. Students can share HDMI content by plugging into six XTP T HWP 101 4K HDMI wallplate transmitters or linking to seven wireless access points.

oday’s business leaders are facing unique challenges in the marketplace. Adapting to new workflows and remote collaboration, staying agile with technology or new solutions, and being open to new business models are chal

Prysm Systems Leads a New Era of Collaboration for Market Research Firm

“Prysm Systems’ technology is unique because it integrates seamlessly with other vendors,” noted Greg Blandford, account executive for Diversified. “It’s a key component to the overall success of these projects. The client has numerous inputs, and the information needs to be quickly and easily available on the displays. With Prysm Systems displays, the end user is able to send multiple sources from another third-party system and seamlessly display the content to their audiences.”

“A benefit of working with Prysm Systems is their in-house project management team. Their large-format displays are unique, so it’s helpful to have their project management team support these projects,” Blandford added. “They’re very handson throughout the entire project. From the initial conversations with the architect to the final installation, Prysm Systems provides a white-glove service to ensure the entire project is a success.”

An industry-leading market research firm has developed a unique solution that enables business leaders to tackle these business challenges. By taking leaders outside of their everyday environ ments and placing them in breakthrough labs, researchers can provoke hands-on collaboration sessions that disrupt conventional thinking, spark creativity, and introduce new perspec tives—all leading to tangible engagementrativecreateSystems.engagementsdirectorsaidtoday’slenginglargesttionsandthatcreatedsolutions.problem-solving“Ourclienthastheselaboratoriespromoteengaginginteractiveconversathatsolvetheandmostchalissuesfacingbusinessleader,”DarrinBrooks,ofstrategicforPrysm“Thegoalistoaunique,collabospacetodrivethroughlive

NEWS SCN // July 2022 // avnetwork.com14

experiences. It’s designed to push business leaders outside their comfort zones. The client has thought about every detail in the room. The colors, lighting, scent, and technology are strategically designed to create a unique sensory experience. Technology plays a large role in the overall experience within the Inroom.”partnership with global technology solutions provider Diversified, Prysm Systems has integrated immersive visual displays in more than 20 of these hands-on laboratories throughout the United States. The Prysm Systems 225-inch LPD 6K is an interactive large-format display with a panoramic image uninterrupted by seams and bezels. Powered by the Prysm Application Suite, the LPD 6K empow ers collaboration and elevates presentations by enabling users to present multiple content plat forms and third-party applications into one display solution.

By gathering various content platforms and applications into one display, Prysm Systems allows presenters to step away from standard flat meetings and singular presentations. Users can simultaneously share presentations, connect outside team members with Zoom, watch a video, or share other content. It creates a custom-designed experience that enables individuals to experience the complete picture as they dig into complex issues.

Together, Prysm Systems and Diversified have built a long-standing relationship to drive consist ency through new installations. The companies have established a unified team that has evolved over the years.

“We have established a great partnership between Diversified, Prysm Systems, and the client,” said Blandford. “The client has a longstanding relationship with Prysm Systems, even before Diversified was introduced to the project. There’s an ongoing and open dialogue between the client, the manufacturer, and the integrator. It’s unique in the sense that the manufacturer is very hands-on.

lenges they currently face.

NEWS

Register of Historic Places sinceWhen1978.the church decided to modernize its audio and video systems, it brought in Dave Armstrong and Sound Planning, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, to consult on the project.

ne of the most sensitive forms of AV installation is for historic churches, where the infrastructure for modern systems simply does not exist—and in many cases cannot be installed due to preservation requirements. Located outside Miami, Coral Gables Congregational Church is one such structure. Built in 1923 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, this United Church of Christ house of worship has been on the U.S. National

“This congregation has a real commitment to music, which they made very clear in our initial meeting,” noted Armstrong. “As soon as I saw the Bösen dorfer grand piano in the sanctuary, I knew they were serious, and that the Electro-Voice EVA line-array system would be a perfect candidate for the main PA.”

A go-to EV solution for house of worship sound, EVA (Expandable Vertical Array) offers all the benefits of concert-type line arrays without their cost and complexity. Each EVA module comprises two array elements with a total of two 8-inch woofers and four 1.25-inch compression drivers mounted on Hydra waveform converters, reducing overall array size.

Using design input directly from Electro-Voice, Sound Planning proposed a single EVA array to cover the entire congregational seating area, which includes a balcony. “It’s not a huge space, so all we needed was one center-hung three-box EVA array—the equiva lent of a six-box conventional system,” noted Armstrong. “We installed it among the exposed beams in the ceiling, with the lowest point 21 feet above the floor. The beams are dark wood, so the black cabinets and cabling hide well up there. There were no objections to the aesthetics.”

The array features three EVA-2082S elements with a progressive dispersion approach. For the long throw to the balcony, the top box has a tight coverage pattern. The middle cabinet covers the back of the room, while the bottom module addresses the front pews. This covers the entire space evenly, with no front, down, or side fills necessary. For contemporary music presentations, a rolling cart with one selfpowered Electro-Voice EKX-15SP subwoofer is available for extra low-end support.

“The historic architecture remains unchanged, the EVA system looks and sounds fantastic, and the folks at Coral Gables Congregational Church are thrilled,” said Armstrong.

EVA’s compact design also minimizes visual distrac tion, with clean lines and no visible rigging hardware.

Electro-Voice EVA Optimizes Acoustics at Historic Church

RGB Spectrum Video Wall Processor Joins School District’s Cybersecurity Battle

16 SCN // July 2022 // avnetwork.com NEWS

Source signals are displayed in windows of any size, anywhere on the video wall. Instructors can instantly switch and route sources, choose preset display layouts, and pan and zoom to view particular items of interest. The processors consolidate critical visuals and data to provide a centralized, correlated view to the students.

The Galileo processors receive an extensive range of baseband and IP-based inputs: classroom PCs, virtual machines running Open Broadcast Software (OBS) controlling live RTSP streaming feeds, internet traffic analysis, cyberattack alerts, threat intelligence,

When we work through step-by-step procedures, it is very easy for all students to see what the instructor is doing and utilize it as a point of RGBreference.”Spectrum’s CAT

to a length of 330 feet. For installation ease and convenience, the extenders have integrated PoH power to supply endpoints over the same Cat 5e/6 cable that carries the video and data signals. This eliminates the need for external power connections. A CAT-Linx 2 pair needs only one power supply connected to either the transmitter or the receiver end to power both devices. The extender’s advanced features include HDCP 2.2, Dolby, and DTS HD audio support, as well as serial and IR control of display devices.

Two of iCSI’s cybersecurity classrooms are designed with the look and feel of a security opera tions center. Each classroom contains three video walls powered by RGB Spectrum’s Galileo video display processors. A single Galileo processor in each classroom drives the three video walls: two 2x4 arrays of 55-inch LCDs and one larger 2x6 array. RGB Spectrum’s Galileo processor was selected for its real-time performance, ability to support a diverse variety of digital and IP-based signal sources, and exceptional 4K image quality.

Linx 2 HDBaseT extenders were installed to transmit the visuals from the Galileo processor to the video wall monitors. CAT-Linx 2 extenders transmit signals of up to 4K resolution over conventional Cat 5e/6 cable

RGB Spectrum’s Galileo video wall processors power video walls in the new Institute of CyberSecurity and Innovation.

local and national web resources, news broadcasts, and social media channels. Content displayed includes dark web transaction monitoring, hacking community chatter, and maps depicting simulated cybersecurity attack origination and target points.

“The RGB Spectrum Galileo fulfills our training objectives very well,” explained Josh Beck, senior iCSI instructor. “This display technology has become key to the instructional process. It is great to be able to have displays of sufficient resolution and size that all students can easily see all relevant information.

For iCSI, RGB Spectrum’s Galileo video wall technology is a vital component for training students for a career in the rapidly growing cybersecurity profession. “It looks terrific and makes an awesome impression on guests and visitors,” Beck added. “It is very flexible and allows instructors to get creative with lessons and challenges.”

s the battle against cyberattacks and hack ing rages on, the North East Independent School District (NEISD) in San Antonio has opened a new cybersecurity training facility. Opened last November, the Institute of CyberSecurity and Innovation (iCSI) trains high school students on how to detect and identify hacks and cyberattacks, as well as how to respond to threats.

Students from all seven district high schools have access to networking and cybersecurity classes, and can work through a four-year pathway to earn professional certifications in information technology. The curricu lum provides students with hands-on learning opportunities and real-world exercises. At iCSI, students learn to build, configure, and secure computer systems and networks within a data center designed specifically for this purpose. Students can deploy hundreds of virtual machines and private networks.

“Hybrid elements remain a driver of AV spending there,” said Peter Hansen, economist, AVIXA. “Technology improvements are also a part of the growth now, as solutions catch up to the new needs that have developed over the past couple of years.”

For Pro AV, this poses a risk to demand stemming from the risk of economic contraction. Pro AV prices are actually more stable than inflation. Inflation is being driven largely by fuel and food (since fuel costs are a substantial portion of food costs). Housing is a driver in the United States as well.

After Eurozone inflation numbers came in at 8.1% for the last 12 months on May 31, U.S. inflation numbers came it at 8.6% for the last 12 months on June 10. These are high numbers that pose an economic risk as central banks respond by raising interest rates to cool the economy down. The U.S. Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by 0.75% this year and the European Central Bank announced the first rate increase in 11 years to take place in July.

www.avixa.org/meta.

Pro AV ContinuesDecelerationGrowing,Stillbut

The expansion is especially good news when considering the context. Right now, global labor markets are historically tight. For example, the May Employment Report showed the addition of 390,000 U.S. jobs against a steady 3.6% unemployment rate. This is strong enough on its own before noting that layoffs hit a record low in April and the gap between job listings and unemployed workers is at unheard-of levels. In other words, AV is having notable success recruiting despite an incredibly difficult recruiting market.

Visit www.avixa.org/AVindex to access the free monthly Pro-AV Business Index reports and learn more about the methodology. For more information about joining the AVIXA Insights Community, visit www. avixa.org/AVIP.

For an in-depth look at Pro AV supply—including, delays, price change, and more—check out the Macroeconomic Trends Analysis (META) Q2 report at

None of these factors are particularly influential for Pro AV products. We’re not immune from fuel prices, but they’re just not a big percentage of total cost. That’s why AVIXA’s data shows flatter prices in our industry.

The Pro AV Business Index report is derived from a monthly survey of the AVIXA Insights Community, a research community of industry members that tracks business trends in commercial AV.

VIXA’s latest Pro AV Business Index shows May as another month of rapid sales expansion, though with modest deceleration. The May AV Sales Index (AVI-S) came in at 63.2. Since the sin gle-month record recorded in March (72.7), the AVI-S has subsided to a level that would have been high but not unusually so in the pre-pandemic era. This is a rate that might be described as strong but sustainable.

On the negative side, supply chains remained a top issue. This constraint was counterbalanced by many positives, one of which is the continued increase of in-person activity, with a chorus of cautious optimism from live events.

As observed for the AVI-S, the AV Employment Index (AVI-E) decelerated modestly in May, from 64.1 to 62.2. Though the AVI-E is numerically lower than the AVI-S, it is relatively higher. Sales change more rapidly than employment does, making AVI-E numbers above 60 less common than for the AVI-S. This emphasizes the pace of AV payroll expansion we’re seeing right now.

17avnetwork.com // July 2022 // SCN NEWS

Position: CEO

Ovetime: For the past 20 years, my spare time has been spent raising our two daughters, who are now off at college. We recently moved to the beach, so I expect my spare time will now be spent exploring everything the Jersey Shore has to offer.

Company: Verrex LLC

CEO Berry and Team Celebrate Company’s 75th Anniversary

Thomas G. Berry IV

TB: Over the past couple of years, short-term goals have taken a beating due to the pandemic. I feel that recovery from this pandemic, assisting our clients with their RTO plan, and finally working through supply chain challenges are goals for this year.

SCN: Where do you see the Pro AV industry heading?

Longer-term, the search for acquisitions around IT and security capabilities is a priority for our private equity ownership group.

SCN: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having offices across the world?

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Thomas Berry IV: My uncle once told me that I was “born so he could retire.” So, I guess I have been at Verrex for 53 years. Actually, I joined in 1991, one day after graduating from college. I started in operations, selling service contracts to our clients. Over the years, I followed the sales tract through the organization, culminating in being named CEO in 2000.

With the pandemic, the Verrex management team understood that changes needed to occur in order to survive and prosper, including setting new directions, understanding how our clients needed our services, and, most importantly, how we would support our employees and their families. No change in strategy is possible without the entire team focused on the mission of business continuity. Communicating with all employees, clients, and partners was critical in figuring out a way forward.

TB: Seventy-five years in business is a huge accomplishment and it deserves to be celebrated. Anybody that knows Verrex knows we love to party. We will be planning a series of events that will involve the entire Verrex ecosystem, from employee events like hatchet throwing to a summer family picnic. We want everyone who has contributed to our success over the years to be involved, so industry events, including a Client Appreciation Party at InfoComm as well as vendor open houses, will keep us busy throughout the year. Giving back to others is also an essential

SCN: What are some of the unique challenges of leading a multi-generational business?

SCN: How did the pandemic change your corporate strategy?

Diamond Days for Verrex

TB: Verrex has had an international presence since 2010, and there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t benefit from this investment. Our clients demanded a “global” approach to support their enterprise footprints and we answered the call. As far as disadvantages, the only one that comes to mind is the challenge of procuring gear available in the states, elsewhere around the world, at similar pricing— obviously, a work in progress.

TB: Over the years, I have taken on the responsibility of leader—and as one, it has always been about the people. I am proud of my employees’ success and growth. Current and past employees are achieving great things and having a significant impact on the industry. By far the proudest I am as a leader is seeing second generation employees join Verrex because of the positive experiences their parents have had here.

TB: Our clients are in various stages of bringing their employees back to the office, and they’ve all realized the way they conduct business has changed. Most have changed video platforms need to accommodate a hybrid approach. It’s all about user experience both in the office and working from home, so it comes down to interesting camera and microphone solutions. Make it simple, make it equitable.

component of the Verrex culture, so charity events where we can make a difference will also be on tap.

One day at a time, we were able to move forward and establish a new business normal. In hindsight, two-plus years later, I feel strongly that our flexibility and understanding of the unprecedented events made us a stronger organization.

SCN: What are the short and long-term goals for your company?

TB: Every client has unique needs that aren’t satisfied with a boxed videoconference solution. Our clients need us to develop customized solutions to deploy as standards. We will continue to change at a fast pace to promptly meet their needs.

SCN: How is Verrex celebrating its 75th anniversary?

TB: When I joined the company 30-plus years ago, I did not fully understand the responsibility of stepping into the big shoes of my father, and what it took to earn the respect of everyone at Verrex and throughout the industry. I needed to surround myself with great people who could keep our thriving company culture growing. Another challenge of a family-owned business is being open to change. I am proud to say that due to the extensive amount of industry chatter around this topic, Verrex prides itself as an agile organization that embraces change as part of its mission.

By Mark J. Pescatore

TB: As we turned the calendar from 2019 to 2020, the future never looked brighter. Then the pandemic hit and hit hard. In a matter of weeks, the world as we knew it would be forever changed. As anybody who has called the AV industry home knows, there are always headwinds to overcome. Corporate strategy is a yearly exercise undertaken to plot a course that the entire organization will follow. Part of that exercise includes challenges built into the model.

SCN: How long have you been with Verrex, and what are your responsibilities?

SCN: What are some Verrex achievements that make you most proud?

SCN: What are some of the major Pro AV needs that customers in your major markets (corporate, finance, healthcare) are requesting?

Verrex has had an international presence since 2010, and there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t benefit from this investment. Our clients demanded a “global” approach to support their enterprise footprints and we answered the call.

SCN: What are some of the most common audio mistakes you find in retail spaces?

Kevin Wilkin: I began working with Blaze Audio only recently. While we’re well established in Europe, Blaze Audio is a start-up here in the United States. I was hired to establish business operations for the Americas as well as to build the sales channel for North America.

Position: Executive Sales Director, North America

SCN: Blaze Audio is very focused on retail spaces. Why is audio so important in places like stores, cafes, and hotels?

KW: From a product support standpoint, I can comfortably say that a lot of the product support calls I’ve seen involve answering very basic installation questions because the techs, while perhaps well versed in something else, are not comfortable with audio. That means as a good partner, we need to provide remote connectivity to assist in programming our smart amplifiers, offer great and supportive phone assistance, educate techs on distributed audio systems, and be willing to walk the tech through the installation if it comes to that.

SCN: Where do you see the Pro AV industry heading?

KW: Currently, Blaze Audio is about providing high quality future-proof amplifier solutions at unbeatable prices. Our products must play well with others. As we speak, we’re rolling out new firmware for the PowerZone Control Web App with drivers for the major third-party control platforms and ability to select loudspeaker presets encompassing all major brands. You’ll see us expand smart accessory options for our amplifiers. Perhaps more significantly, we have one of the foremost loudspeaker engineers in the U.S. on our team designing unique performance grade speakers. Combined with the amplifier technology of Pascal, this meeting-of-the-minds represents a wealth of opportunity going forward.

Company: Blaze Audio

KW: In short, it amounts to unparalleled product flexibility. So much of what we do today is done through our phones, and we expect to be able to make changes to our environment with them. Hence, we’re aligning with how people already interact with their personal technology. The PowerZone Connect amplifiers can, of course, be controlled from any smart device since it is browser-based. The amps literally have a router built into them that immediately shows their availability as a Wi-Fi device on your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Audio is being constructed as a company without walls—one that can readily adapt to the changes we all experience. Secondly, I think AV companies are experiencing less and less profitability on hardware, and are having to focus more on services to be profitable. This is not a new trend. As a good partner, it’s important for Blaze Audio to facilitate the sale of services—and providing networkable audio product is part of that.

Wilkin: Company Strives to Deliver Commercial Simplicity through Streamlined Operations and Product Flexibility

SCN: What new initiatives are we likely to see from your company?

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SCN: How can systems contractors better position themselves to profit from products and/or services you have to offer?

KW: Blaze is on a mission to create commercial simplicity through product flexibility at competitive price points. We will ensure commercial simplicity by way of streamlined operations and by product flexibility that facilitates a few products covering most fixed install applications. This allows system integrators and dealers to carry fewer SKUs in stock and simplify stock keeping, service, support, and in and outbound ordering and logistics. We want to offer the go-to solution for system integrators and dealers doing small to medium-size applications.

KW: From a hardware perspective, I think Blaze Audio already comes in as a more profitable product at a more competitive price. We offer complementary system design services for those who would benefit and by registering projects, the profitability for integrators becomes significantly greater. Setup time for the PowerZone Connect matrix amplifiers DSP is both simple and sophisticated, so programming/labor time is minimal.

SCN: What are the short and long-term goals for your company?

Kevin Wilkin

Overtime: In my spare time, I write and record music, play piano and guitar, hike, lead a great band for my church, and go on adventures with my kids.

By Mark J. Pescatore

SCN: How long have you been with this company, and what are your responsibilities?

Blaze Audio Is on a Mission

SCN: Why the decision to allow your new PowerZone Connect amplifiers to be configured via cell phone?

KW: I’ll speak in terms of two trends I see. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I think we’re going to see an evolution of technology that must keep up with the fast-changing complexities of our lives as social beings. The physical boundaries we were accustomed to pre-pandemic relative to work, shopping, worship, healthcare, etc. have been blurred so greatly they will never be the same again. We’re no exception. Blaze

KW: Blaze Audio is about facilitating a feeling or vibe that enhances a person’s experience of a space, activity, or event. Shopping is one such experience—and there are decades worth of data showing how background music boosts sales. As a commercial audio provider, we see our products playing an important role in most

AV companies are experiencing less and less profitability on hardware, and are having to focus more on services to be profitable.

commercial audio applications.

KW: Most of my years in the AV industry have been working for or on behalf of manufacturers. However, I consider it an advantage to have worked on all sides of this industry starting as a full-time musician, moving to studio recording engineer, to manager of a pro audio department for a major MI retailer, to pro audio manufacturer representative in the NY Metro area, to AV integrator, to commercial/pro audio manufacturer, and now to Blaze Audio. I like to think I’ve learned how to listen to what customers want and to anticipate what they require.

SCN: How has your background prepared you for your role?

PEOPLE NEWSMAKERS

products ranging from robotics to video switchers.

his passion for technology and client support, Perry comes to AVL from Points East Audio Visual, where he was owner and chief consultant.

Eric

Based in Los Angeles, ANDREAS HOESCHLE has joined ADVANCED SYSTEMS GROUP as key technical account manager, southwest. In his new role at ASG, Hoeschle serves as the trusted advisor to the ASG client, ensuring a smooth customer journey from initial installation through decommission. Hoeschle is an experienced IT professional who has worked in client support for more than 20 years in various industries and disciplines. Pre vious experience includes roles at Integrated Media Technologies (IMT), ELEMENTS Storage, Dell Technolo gies, The Hallmark Channel, and GPL Technologies.

Andreas Hoeschle

Jay Perry

Michelle Byrne

With her promotion to vice president of global marketing, KIM FRANKLIN has joined the executive team at LISTEN TECHNOLOGIES. In this role, she will continue to lead brand strategy, corporate marketing and communications, digital marketing, and public relations, in addition to her global marketing

SCOTT JANSSEN has joined ATLONA as its dedicated quality manager for its growing quality and support team. Reporting to the director of quality and support, Iftekhar Hossain, Janssen will manage Atlona’s large software QA and RMA quality teams, and focus on surpassing Atlona’s exacting quality objectives for new products and solutions. Janssen’s 34 years of quality assurance work includes roles of increasing responsibility at Apple and ReplayTV. He subsequently owned and operated QA4U Software Test Labs, where he and his team tested

AVL MEDIA GROUP has appointed JAY PERRY to the position of audio product technical support specialist. In his new role, Perry will be responsible for working with consultants, designers, dealers, and integrators in Canada and the United States supporting all of the AVL professional brands. An industry veteran known for

MICHELLE BYRNE has been appointed the new global chief people officer of ELECTROSONIC GROUP. She will be responsible for all aspects of people manage ment including talent acquisi tion, development, and retention. Beyond human resources, Byrne will lead internal communications, employee engagement, and safety efforts for the company. With more than 15 years of experience in human resources and leader ship positions within technology companies, she is well-equipped to lead Electrosonic’s people opera tions and help the company continue its growth trajectory driving employee engagement.

ANALOG WAY has appointed ERIC DELMAS as CEO to lead its worldwide group. Delmas has developed and turned around a variety of high-tech businesses for more than 25 years in countries such as France, Japan, Germany, and the United States. Prior to joining Analog Way, he held multiple general management positions both in very large semiconductor compa nies and more recently in an international SME in the field of high-end microelectronics.

ScottDelmasJanssen

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ValeriiaGordonKimDavidShaverCooperFranklinIsaacPolovkova

technical knowledge of Philips displays—further strengthening and extending PPDS’ unique and acclaimed team of International Key Account Managers (IKAM) to support all major market verticals.

Self-proclaimed “problem solving specialist” POLOVKOVAVALERIIA has joined PPDS as its new dedicated international project manager for tailored installations in hospitality, corporate, and retail. She will

BJ SHAVER for the Americas, DAVID COOPER for Asia-Pacific (APAC), and JACOB BARFOED for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). All three directly report to Jochen Frohn, global director of business development, while Shaver and Cooper will also be developing regional sales strategies in close collaboration with Americas CEO Alan Macpherson and APAC CEO Tim Zhou, respectively. Shaver has been with the company for more than nine years, first serving as a regional sales manager and then later as an installation business development director. Cooper has also spent more than nine years with L-Acoustics as a sales manager and is well known for his prior 20-year association with Midas mixing consoles. Barfoed is a new hire who previously worked for Sony Professional for almost two decades in various leadership capacities.

ORIGIN ACOUSTICS has expanded its executive leadership team by adding GORDON ISAAC as chief marketing and strategy officer. With nearly 30 years in the CI Channel market, Isaac brings longstanding industry relation ships, knowledge, and marketing experience. Isaac arrives at Origin Acoustics from Action Matters Consulting, a coaching and consulting business he founded in 2018. He was recently a general manager for AVB, and previously held executive and leadership roles at AVAD, Core Brands, R2W, and Crestron Electronics.

provide full end-to-end service and support to multinational businesses across 159 countries, coordinating and executing project rollouts from tender to completion. Polovkova has more than 10 years of AV industry experience—including specialist

Jacob Barfoed

responsibilities. Franklin joined the company in 2014. Under her leadership, Listen Technologies honed its purpose—everyone deserves an exceptional listening experience—and expanded and amplified its position as a leader in assistive listening and workplace communication solutions.

Having recently announced the creation of a team dedicated to the Asia-Pacific region, L-ACOUSTICS has created and filled three key sales director positions to match its regional operational structure:

I’m good with that. Now, what does that mean to us as service providers and to our industry in general?

Me and Billy Joel, circa the late 80s. No comments, please, on the hairdo and stash, kids—almost all sound guys looked like that back then!

Shane mentioned he would like me to add additional details, for example, a side elevation showing a table, floor pocket, wall boxes, and the interconnecting conduit between all devices, in addition to all the drawings I just described. In other words, he wanted a graphic representation of what was clearly described in three locations already.

Change Your Perspective, Increase Your Bottom Line

22 SCN // July 2022 // avnetwork.com

Billy’s answer was interesting to say the least. He thought for a moment, and said (the best of my recollection), “I am no genius. I am compe tent at what I do, that is all, but in this world being competent at something can appear to make you a genius compared to others.”

He believes, and I don’t disagree, having both text and redundant drawings from multiple views will likely work better for those who choose not to read the notes—and, in fact, will make it less likely to be missing devices. Of course, that means more work initially, and more redundant work at that, but that’s what it means to go the extra yard. It’s about peeling back the layers, thinking in advance about an issue, and solving it before it happens. (I daresay that is what an engineer is supposed to do.)

In today’s world, getting to work early, staying late, and occasional weekend work is almost universally accepted as necessary. But I think SPYE’s idea is really forward thinking and the correct perspective to have. Putting in the extra time, money, and effort to upgrade all drawings is nothing less than a stellar way to run a department and company. There is a difference between adjusting your workflow for out-of-state projects and doing it across the board. It's just a smart policy to add this same level of detail on local and remote projects to your construction documents.

Keeping the Faith

He told me not to take offense (none taken), but he wanted to add additional details to our drawings. Even though I called out device details and dimen sions in more than one place—say an elevation, device detail, and a reflected ceiling plan (RCP)—that was not Thereenough.hadbeen an instance at an out-of-state job site. When they got on site, devices clearly shown on the drawing in more than one place were missing, causing significant delays and cost overage. He was very clear that it wasn’t me or my drawing(s). The GC, EC, and crews on site admitted to not reading the notes!Ouch, that is not supposed to happen.

e have all heard the expression “going the extra yard,” and we all know what it means, right? Using a quick online search to see what is out there, I found it defined as going beyond what is “necessary or expected in order to please someone, achieve something, or get something done correctly.”

Almost 40 years ago, still relevant? You decide.

What prompted me to write this piece is an actual issue that came up during a conversation I had with Shane Seira, executive director of systems engineer ing at SPYE, a premier AV integrator in Minneapolis. I had been the architect of new drawing standards for the company. We were talking about infrastructure construction documents I had created and provided in recent months. As I had not had much feedback, I asked how satisfied SPYE was with the quality of work overall, and if there was anything I could do differently.

By Douglas Kleeger

Doug Kleeger, CTS-D, DMC-E/S, XTP-E, KCD, is the founder of AudioVisual Consulting Services. Contact him with questions or comments at doug@ avcs.us.

PEOPLE BEYOND THE TECH

Do You Go the Extra Yard?

Perspective folks, what is yours? Are you always looking for ways to cut corners, maybe save a dollar on the front end to add $10 on the back end? The perspective to constantly be agile and look toward doing the best work you can, even if you make a little less, is what separates the companies from really going the extra yard from those who maybe just give an inch.

Shane said the work is top quality, and they are more than satisfied, but…

Here is a related experience I had in the 80s. I provided AV services for a small show on Long Island in the Hamptons at Southampton College (which sadly closed in 2004). There were maybe 200 in attendance in the auditorium for a private Q&A with Billy Joel. I brought in a wireless mic, connected to their headend system, and served as the MC. I walked around, providing the mic so everyone could hear the questions that were asked. Billy sat at a piano for much of the time.

The usual questions were asked—do you write the music or lyrics first and such things— but one question really stood out to me: How does it feel to be a genius?

As the sun sets and the animals settle into sleep, a combination of light and sound create a breathtak ing spectacle. As visitors make their way through the different areas of the zoo—including the Entry Village, Festival Field, Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear, and the Jungle Gym Playground— pathways, trees, and bodies of water are trans formed through the imaginative use of projection and audio for an experience that seamlessly bridges technology and storytelling. Using an upgraded audio system consisting of outdoor-rated Crown amplifiers and QSC and JBL speakers, a musical score created specifically for the project adds an extra element of immersive engagement amongst the animal-themed imagery.

Klip Collective, a visual art firm that specializes in hyperreal projection, lighting, and audio design, collaborated with the Nashville Zoo on a concept to increase visitation at night, creating a unique opportunity for engagement while most of the animals were asleep. The concept quickly became known as “Night Visions—A Wild Display of Light and Sound,” an immersive celebration of art and nature through the use of vibrant imagery, projection mapping, and immersive audio.

Epson Pro Series laser projectors, including four EB-PU2010B, three Pro L1755UNL, and six Pro L20000U, use 3LCD technology to create lifelike images with outstanding brightness and vivid color depth. The projectors were selected for the project due to their size, which allows them to be hidden

process, selecting the best technology, and providing ongoing support. The program will continue to run Thursday-Sunday nights through mid-July.

Nashville-based event technology provider DWP Live was brought on board to take the idea from concept to reality, helping to manage the install

Klip Collective was also responsible for all elements of the projection mapping, including the creation of content, renderings, and warping and blending of content. The firm spent eight days on site using its own custom warping and projection software through TouchDesigner to design content ranging from small creatures emerging on rock walls to beautiful, colorful projections appearing through a waterfall.

Spotlight on the Sea Home to one of North America’s largest maritime history collections, the Mariners’ Museum and Park recently upgraded its lighting control system to the Strand NEO CONSOLE from Signify, helping to enhance overall storytelling capabilities through the use of dynamic colors and visual effects within its theaters and exhibits.

The Mariners’ Museum and Park has upgraded its lighting control system to enhance overall storytelling within its theaters and exhibits.

To protect them from the elements, the projec tors are installed in IP65-rated housings that are waterproof and weatherproof. All control elements, including audio, media servers, networking, and video distribution, were also housed within their own AV system racks in an environmental enclo sure. None of the enclosures are located within animal exhibits, but are still able to be hidden in a way that allow them to go unnoticed by visitors.

better during the day and are unintrusive to the visitors and animals, as well as their lower mainte nance

“Onecosts.ofthe biggest challenges with these kinds of installations historically is budget for mainte nance,” said Danny Whetstone, founder, DWP Live. “Lamps are expensive, and you run a projector for 800-900 hours and then you have to replace the lamp. With the new laser technology, you have got a 25,000-hour laser lifetime on the light engine, and that’s really allowed more opportunities to develop for these kinds of projects from a budget perspective and not have those incredible maintenance costs.”

o matter the colors used or brightness levels set, lighting is an ideal way to evoke a variety of emotions and provide a more immersive experience within larger AV installs and projects. Everyone is looking for ways to bring foot traffic back to their locations—and Tennes see's Nashville Zoo at Grassmere and the Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, VA, are using innovative lighting projects to bring new life to their attractions.

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The “Night Vision” program at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere uses projection mapping and a musical score to increase visitation at night.

In Moodthe

By Jennifer Guhl

Sights and Sounds

This is the first big integration at home for DWP Live, and Whetstone was thrilled to have the oppor tunity for their friends and families to be able to experience this unique install alongside them. “It is a real joy for us to have this opportunity to support Nashville directly as a Nashville-based company, and to be able to do something right here at home that supports our local community,” he said.

BUSINESS LIGHTING

Lighting Helps Set the Stage at Mariners’ Museum, Nashville Zoo

to the old system, Kines is excited for what lies ahead. “The future possibilities are there—and the ability to change light intensity and cues in real time will be very useful,” said Kines. “The level of control we now have with the NEO is impressive. We are in the process of training people to become

power users of the software, and then the sky’s the limit for creativity. As we change our exhibits and get ready to display additional USS Monitor artifacts as they are fully conserved, we will most likely change the lighting schematic in a radical way.”

LIGHTING BUSINESS

From left, Danny Whetstone, Tim Kines

Throughout the exhibition areas, the museum can tailor individualized lighting settings based on the emotions and feelings the exhibition team is hoping to evoke for the visitors. For example, dynamic and somber lighting is used within the theater spaces, which helps create the sense that visitors are experiencing the action for themselves.

One of the main reasons the museum selected the Strand NEO CONSOLE was its ability to transfer show files from their old system with ease. Tim Kines, audiovisual expert technician for the Mariners’ Museum and Park, was worried he would have to rebuild all their old show files when moving over to a new system—and was relieved to learn the NEO system would act as more of a plug-and-play option.

avnetwork.com // July 2022 // SCN 25

Available Light assisted him remotely with the transferring of files and adjusting of levels until the firm was eventually allowed to return to the museum. Kines operated as the eyes and ears on the ground for the contractors and even worked with Strand directly to figure out issues concerning timing of lighting within the theaters.

Eventually, the center will also use the lighting system to highlight artifacts from the USS Monitor wreck. The USS Monitor Center, which was added to the museum 15 years ago, is one of the largest conservation projects of its type, with more than 3,000 artifacts actively being conserved by the museum. Currently, the museum is replacing all the LED lighting within its exhibition spaces in an effort to conserve and highlight the items.

While the user experience is as close as possible

“We needed to upgrade our control console to add dynamics and effects via a simple-to-use interface, and the NEO fit perfectly,” said Kines. Its ease of use also allows for museum IT and security staff to learn basic settings for turning the lights on and off, helping them perform those functions on those early mornings or late evenings when the AV staff isn’t present.

The timing of the project sadly coincided directly with the pandemic, with the initial site visit with contracted lighting design firm Available Light taking place right before the shutdown. With Available Light unable to be on site, Kines was left to do a lot more of the work than he was expecting, including installing the hardware himself.

and summer, including NAB, ISE, and InfoComm, are decidedly in-person affairs, including their training and education components. In fact, some of the shows are doing less in terms of live streaming and videoon-demand than they were before the pandemic.

Yes, CES did belatedly and grudgingly offer a virtual component in 2022—but that was at the apex of the Omicron wave. The major tech shows of this spring

Except…they don’t necessarily need all that stuff anymore. Let’s start with the obvious: Trade show education can benefit from the same camera technol ogy advances as higher education lecture capture. Auto-tracking cameras, with optical zoom capabili ties that make them suitable for even large seminar rooms, can capture high-quality video of even the liveliest presenter—no camera operator required. They won’t offer the production values you might want for a recorded keynote, but they are more than up to the task of providing global access to association and exhibitor training sessions. In fact, they’re already performing that role for some of the world’s leading education institutions.

BUSINESS TRADE SHOWS

n the dark days of 2020, as virtual events took off as a replacement for in-person gatherings, many events industry observers firmly predicted that, even post-pandemic, trade shows would be forever“Evenchanged.whenevents become physical again, they will require a hybrid approach so that attendees have options to remain safe and comfortable,” Mark Roberts told the Trade Show News Network. “This means that some aspects of the show…will remain virtual for greater access and reach.”

At the recent NAB Show, PTZOptics offered some hybrid elements of our own as exhibitors. We broadcast from both the booth and the show floor, holding live Q&As and giveaways with our virtual audience. NAB 2022 was a great show—it beat the odds, reaching over half of 2019’s registered attendance—but a significant chunk of their audience is still stuck at home and eager for a window into the event.

Trade Show Realities

Let’s acknowledge realities here: Producing video content from a trade show is really expensive, and event organizers are trying to bounce back from two year of drought. A robust livestreaming or live video production program at a trade show requires a cost outlay of hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover

Even in locations with terrible Internet, such as a trade show floor, producers will have the ability to push content via NDI Bridge to a second location with stronger Internet and livestream from there. Confer ences will be able to capture and livestream their content without having to build an on-site production suite—a potential six figure per-event savings.

Network costs and on-site production consume a larger chunk of the video production budget, but here again, technology advances have unlocked new, more efficient approaches. Remote production protocols like NDI Bridge and Medialooks are poised to bring a sea change to video production, breaking the tradi tional workflow where a producer must be alongside the camera or in a half-million-dollar production suite to capture and edit broadcast-quality content.

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That’s a shame, because the global audience that industry observers like Roberts and Conerly saw developing over the last two years is definitely still out there. Many people are still staying home. Deloitte forecasts that by the end of this quarter, corporate travel spend will reach 36% of 2019 levels—and there’s no clear “full recovery” date in sight. If show organizers and exhibitors want to reach audiences comparable to the pre-COVID era, they have to offer a virtual component.

Using network-connected robotic cameras, producers will be able to control a production or live stream from anywhere, switching between cameras and presets, activating tally lights so the subject knows which camera is live, tracking subjects, and adding production effects. And I do mean anywhere. The producer could be in a traditional control room or at home working on a standard PC.

Bill Conerly predicted in Forbes that trade shows would come back leaner and more business-focused: “Many associations will have one or two large meetings a year, with education in between conducted virtually. Trade show producers may want to consider that those who have been coming because of the education, and not because they are buyers, don’t add much value to the exhibitors.”

Both Roberts and Conerly had every logical reason to be right. Still, as in-person trade shows return in earnest in 2022, I can’t help but notice: Don’t the new trade shows seem an awful lot like the old ones?

It’s not too late. Trade show organizers can still reach audiences that blow their 2019 numbers out of the water, if they embrace the new video production tools available to them. Far from a budget-buster, modern video production techniques could let them offer their exhibitors a whole new participation benefit: high-quality, reusable video assets that can reach audiences year-round.

Global Audience Opportunities

By Matt Davis

Matt Davis is the director of technology & information systems for PTZOptics.

everything from high-bandwidth network drops to camera operators to the construction of a temporary onsite video production studio to production team travel. Trade shows have a legitimate need to operate really lean this year, and it’s easy to understand why they’d balk at such costs.

Hybrid Events Are Good, Actually

“Our entire classroom setup is two rack units and that’s it–everything else is software-based.”

n the summer of 2019, Joe Way began his tenure as director of learning environments at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. His mission: to contribute to the school’s digital transformation effort by upgrading the AV systems in hundreds of spaces across campus. In other words, before the pandemic—thus, before the term “hybrid learning” became ubiquitous—his job was to ensure that instructors and students would have the ability to teach and participate in classes either on site or remotely.

“Our entire classroom setup is two rack units and that’s it––everything else is software-based,” Way explained. “[The system] is very simple, yet very complicated at the same time: All of our touch panels use HTML5, so they’re not standard Crestron control. And all of our programming is done in C Sharp [C#].”

Streamlined Classroom AV Uses Minimal Hardware

headshot and PQ? hardware, with software-based systems doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Each room is outfitted with a Crestron UC-Engine and Crestron Flex videoconferencing hardware, with signal distribution handled via the Crestron Digital Media NVX platform. Monitoring and management is provided by Crestron XiO Cloud.

USC: LearningHybridPioneers

by Carolyn Heinze

Training Challenges

Joe Way, USC

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which provided additional design services, as well as programming and integration. By the beginning of 2020, all of the equipment was sitting in storage on campus—extremely good timing, in light of the looming COVID-19 crisis.

Advantageous Timing

The final result incorporates a minimal amount ofany chance we can replace projector shot with Joe's

“When COVID hit and everybody got kicked off campus, I remember our provost coming to me and saying, ‘How are we going to solve this?’” Way recalled. “I was like, ‘We already did. All the equip ment is sitting here [and] we have an empty cam pus––let’s get this stuff installed.’ I consider myself the luckiest man on Earth because I actually designed something that solved the pandemic problem.”

Rob Ogulnick, senior systems account manager at Spinitar, noted that USC’s hybrid learning technology model has been adopted by a number of other higher education institutions. “They know that there are going to be students that will be working and calling in from home that want to be active participants,” he said. “They need to have the right tools at home— meaning computer, camera, and microphone—and the classrooms need to be equipped with good cameras, a good recording system, and good micro phones and audio systems. We’ve vetted that out over the last three years, and we have some really good solutions. And working with USC really helped us define what will work and what won’t.”

It was a big project, involving more than 300 general use classrooms, 100 dual-purpose confer ence/group study spaces, several lecture halls, and a large auditorium. Going in, Way knew he would be incorporating UC technologies into his design, as well as support for videoconferencing via Zoom and cloud-based monitoring and management. He began designing a system, reaching out to manufacturers to research potential solutions.

Eventually, he partnered with Spinitar, an AV design and integration firm headquartered in La Mirada, CA,

USC also updated its audio systems, with the integration of Shure’s Intellimix Room audio process ing software, as well as Shure ceiling array micro phones. With a few exceptions, Way says there was no need to upgrade video display and projection technology, loudspeakers, or amplifiers.

Way said that one significant challenge associated with this deployment was user training. At first, both instructors and students were confined to their homes and 100 percent remote; when people started returning to campus, they needed to become familiar with the hybrid learning model.

The majority of faculty and students have returned to the USC campus, with the exception of international students who weren’t allowed into the country due to ongoing travel restrictions. As of this year, USC mandated that all classes must be streamed and recorded, and Way predicted this practice will continue even as the pandemic draws to an end.

“You can’t just say, ‘We’re going to host three training classes,’ and expect people to show up,” Way explained. “Some people won’t.” Instead, his team took a white-glove approach to getting faculty on board, with a combination of hands-on training, cheat sheets, webinars, and an online portal where people can access resource materials.

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“It’s an expectation—things have changed because society has changed,” Way said. “It’s now something that I have to be able to allow in every single space and every single instance, even if it becomes a smaller percentage of users.”

In early 2021, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) began rolling out its RebelFlex classrooms. The project––which involved more than 60 classrooms that seat between 25 to 179 students––addressed the institution’s need to provide hybrid spaces that could support onsite and remote learningLeveragingsimultaneously.existingvideo projection and display systems, Crestron 8x8 units supply switch ing, with a combination of seven and 10-inch Crestron touch panels providing control. The spaces now feature Vaddio Roboshot PTZ tracking cameras, Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) microphones with remote monitoring and management achieved through Sennheiser Control Cockpit software via Dante, and Panopto recording devices for lecture capture. The university worked with CCS of Nevada, a local AV integrator, on theWhiledeployment.themajority of UNLV’s faculty and students have returned to campus, the hybrid

With 15,000 faculty members on campus, Way and his team needed to roll out a large-scale training effort. In the end, training was multi-faceted.

“Vegas is a very transient town; people move in and out of here for all types of reasons,” Alaimo said. “We are a very nontraditional campus … moving to this hybrid model was something that was coming, and the pandemic pushed us to get there.”

UNLV Flexes with Faculty, Students

model will continue to offer the flexibility that both students and faculty are asking for, according to Frank Alaimo, CTS-I, DMC-E-4K, senior AV systems specialist and acting manager of classroom technology services at UNLV. He explained the campus itself hosts approximately 28,000 students, only a small fraction of which reside on campus. And then there’s the culture of Las Vegas itself.

“You had faculty come back who hadn’t taught on a campus for a year-and-a-half, and it was all brandnew technology and a new way of teaching,” he recalled. “They didn’t know what hybrid learning was.”

Solutions, Not Boxes

rom virtual production to shipping concerns, InfoComm attendees had plenty to discuss in June. The show welcomed 19,681 verified attendees from more than 110 countries and all 50 U.S. states, while 522 exhibitors showcased innova tive Pro AV products and solutions across 294,500 square feet of the North Hall and new West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Here are five trends I noticed while exploring the show floor.

Bullish on Shipping

avid Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, expected he’d be asked about hugging throughout InfoComm (he was all for it, by the way). However, once questions about personal interac tions were answered, he figured manufacturers, integrators, and solutions providers would be look ing to answer their own questions about where they fit in the new and evolving Pro AV ecosystem.

Labuskes: InfoComm Serves

Companies known for their audio products showed cameras and integrated audio and video bars. Biamp presented its line of Parlé audio and videoconferencing bars, Vidi conferencing cameras, while MuxLab’s Mux Meet Videobar came out of the shadows. And for companies such as Epson, which don’t have an integrated videoconferencing product, they are working with Microsoft and partnering with companies such as Jabra to offer a complete Teams Rooms solution.

movie production is poised to save billions of dollars in location shooting, as well as help actors feel present in the filming rather than pretending with a greenscreen. More importantly for our industry, the use of VR/ER has the potential to increase engagement in education and presentations.corporate

Can You Say Collaboration?

PSNI Celebrates 5 Years of ExpansionGlobal

While at InfoComm, I went camping (twice) and surfed a digital wave. Absen, INFiLED, and Planar showed the power of virtual production/extended reality. The use of these virtual LED backgrounds in

By Mark J. Pescatore

Labuskes was also excited about AVIXA Xchange, a new initiative that allows the sharing of informa tion among industry professionals, as well as the organization’s diversity efforts. “That’s such an important part of the future of our world, let alone our industry,” he explained. “And if we can facilitate that and be a catalyst for that, I think that’s at the core of AVIXA’s mission.”

AtlasIED’s vice president of sales, Michael Peveler, was quick to point out that except for three Danteenabled speakers that will be available in Q4, everything else they were showing in the booth was in stock and shipping, including a new Dante amplifier. The big news at ZeeVee was that its two new AV-over-IP products would be shipping within 30 days of the show.

Today, the Alliance can boast over 100 CSP partners—with 70% based outside of its 30-yearold roots in North America. It represents more than 200 licensed service and integration offices in 50 countries across six continents.

Virtual Production / Extended Reality

Audio Comes First in AV Finally, audio is getting its due. Holger Stoltze, Yamaha UC’s senior director of technical sales and marketing at Yamaha UC, is a frequent panelist on my AV Technology New Era AV/IT webcast series. He often points out that “audio comes first in AV.” The hybrid environment is here to stay, and clear, intelligible audio is the most important component. Cindy Davis is the brand and content director of AV Technology.

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“The world has changed in immeasurable ways,” Labuskes said. “AV is clearly business critical at this stage.”

that, many manufacturers were broadcasting that they have products in stock and shipping. Yamaha UC wanted to ensure you didn’t miss that message, so the staff was wearing flashing buttons that read: “We Have Stock.”

Top Trends from InfoComm 2022

Crestron, Kramer, Legrand AV, and Panasonic Connect booths were notably different at InfoComm 2022 than in the past. These booths were thoughtfully designed to present complete solutions representing specific applications or room layouts. Previous booth tours would spotlight nicely presented black boxes with a litany of alphanumeric representing the model number and a bullet list of features. Kudos to these companies and others that are moving toward the ecosystem narrative versus the pieces and parts.

It has been five years since the PSNI Global Alliance, the worldwide network of leading technology manufacturers and service providers, announced its global expansion at InfoComm 2017 taking its unified offering outside of North America for the first time since 1986. In 2017, 10 founding certified solution providers (CSPs) joined PSNI’s mission to serve the world with unified, premier AV/UCC integration and service standards along with best-of-breed manufacturers.

Of all the exhibitors listed on the InfoComm 2022 site, 201 were listed as having conferencing and collabora tion solutions. Frankly, I’m surprised it was that few.

Furniture companies such as Salamander have designed tables to maximize the viewing angle of meeting participants. Its Infiniti table is wedge-shaped, making it easy for the far end to see everyone seated.

Supply chain issues are a fact of life in every industry and will continue for the foreseeable future. Despite

By Cindy Davis

‘Business Critical’ AV Industry

For Chris Miller, PSNI Alliance executive director, the growth is not only welcome, but a testament to the need for a trusted, worldwide service that can deliver projects to the same high standards in Lahore as it does in London. “The world of business is exactly that—the world,” he said. “Businesses now do not have borders, and they require unified technology solutions that are familiar wherever their office is in the world. By uniting the strength of PSNI, our customers get a truly global organization that brings the skillset and all-important experience to world wide and cross-continental projects.”

While demand for electronics keeps increasing, it is a long process to increase semiconductor produc tion. According to Audinate, extra capacity is not expected until 2024. Meanwhile, supply has also been limited by staffing issues, shipping disruptions, and more. Plus, Pro AV does not enjoy priority over larger industries such as consumer electronics, automo biles, or the military.

Prototypes for the new Brooklyn 3 module, which was originally slated for 2024, are already being tested with customers. Mass production is expected to start in October. The new Fremont 3 module is on a similar track. The company is also evaluating options for its Broadway and Ultimo modules.

Audinate’s Josh Rush (left) and Chris Ware discussed supply chain issues during InfoComm 2022.

The company behind Dante digital audio network ing is experiencing a record increase in demand as the world continues to recover from the pandemic. Normally, this would be great news, but Dante compo nents, like so many others in the Pro AV industry, are complex and can require hundreds of parts.

IssuesSupplyNavigatesAudinateChain

INFOCO MM IN REVIEW BUSINESS

Audinate has also redesigned key products to include more widely available parts. Chris Ware, senior vice president of product development, said the company approached its supply chain issues as an opportunity to move to the next generation. “You want to be looking forward every time,” he offered.

Despite the challenges, Audinate reported it has

Josh Rush, chief marketing officer for Audinate, said sourcing microprocessors has been the biggest challenge. While the company has successfully advocated for more supply for some parts, others are expected to be severely limited for most of the year.

By Mark J. Pescatore

To address its supply chain issues, the company has employed several strategies to maintain its supply of components for its OEM partners. For example, the company has advocated to secure components on behalf of more than 500 manufactur ers with licensed Dante solutions.

here were plenty of positives at InfoComm 2022, but supply chain issues continued to cast a shadow across much of the industry. During a press conference at InfoComm 2022, Audinate outlined how it is dealing with component shortages and logistical issues.

Plus, Audinate has been able to migrate some customers from hardware to software-based options, including its Dante Embedded Platform and Dante IP Core. “One of the lessons we’ve all learned is to have options,” said Rush.

shipped more of its chips, cards, and modules (CCMs) in 2022 than through the same time period in 2021. That said, the timing of shipments has been inconsistent.

InfoComm Product Spotlight: Racks and Mounts

5.Lumi LVS02/LVC03 Series

5 4 1 2 3

3.Kanto MB Series

nents that are combined to create video walls. Components can be mixed and matched for an endless variety of video wall designs. The complete family of TiLED wall mounts are quick and simple to install, and save valuable time on the job. Plus, TiLED Solution Services can be used for assistance with design, specification, and installation.

Lumi’s new LVS02/LVC03 Series modular video wall mount systems are available in a variety of configu rations including ceiling mount, freestanding, pedestal, mobile, and permanent fixed. The systems offer the selection and versatility design ers and installers need, creating infinite configura tions in a horizontal direction with the optional rail extensions. Manufactured using lightweight aluminum and quality steel for a lifetime of use, the LVS02/LVC03 Series provides seamless digital signage with tool-free adjustment, including X, Y, and Z-axis. Lumi has made it easy to customize; components are available separately for the exact solution to fit any application.

Ideal for wiring closets and data applications, two-post networking racks (NR2P Series) are designed to provide full access to mounted equipment like patch panels, servers, and switches. NR2P Series racks are offered with three-inch or six-inch vertical channel rails, depending on rack depth. The four-post networking racks (NR4P Series) feature threeinch wide channel rails with 12-24 tapped holes in front and rear. Side extension panels connect front and rear posts, while providing addi tional pass-through holes and tie-off points.

Lowell Manufacturing launched several openframe rack designs for networking applications, made in America with certified U.S. steel and E.I.A./T.I.A. compliant. Two-post cable racks (CR2P Series) feature six-inch wide vertical channel rails for stable support of large cable bundles. Rails feature round holes (tapped 12-24) in front and square holes for cage nuts in back. The racks afford numerous tie-off points and pass-through holes,

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2.Chief TiLED i-Style dvLED Wall Mounting System

Like the existing TiLED H-Style dvLED Wall Mounting Systems, i-Style is designed with the installer in mind. Both are modular mounting systems featuring X, Y, and Z-axis adjustment to create perfectly flat dvLED video walls. Offset mounting slots protect LED displays from damaging friction during installation. New i-Style mounts feature left, middle, and right structural compo

Kanto now offers its MB Series wall and ceiling mounts for menu boards and other digital signage. The MBW21PT, MBW31PT, and MBW41PT wall mounts feature a modular rail system that allows two to four screens measuring 40-60 inches each to be mounted adjacent to one another, in either portrait or landscape orientation. The MBC211T, MBC311T, and MBC411T ceiling mounts are ideal for situations where wall space is limited. All six models provide up to 15 degrees of tilt angle, and their modular designs enable additional extrusions to be added to accommodate displays with wider VESA patterns, or the ability to connect multiple units together. MB Series wall mounts feature push-in/pop-out arms that offer easy access to a display’s AV inputs, and the mounts allow for easy leveling. The ceiling mounts include a telescoping mounting pole to adjust their height from 12.7-39.3 inches from the ceiling and can support two to four displays weighing up to 66 pounds each.

1.B-Tech BT8237

4.Lowell Open-Frame Rack Designs

plus twist-lock cable managers that can mount in front, back or sides. The support base has holes to accommodate anchors for code compliance, while the top can accept an optional ladder.

Designed for medium to large-sized screens, the BT8237 supports weights up to 176 pounds and features a low-profile design that mounts screens just three inches from the wall. The universal interface accommodates a variety of mounting patterns and includes adjustment screws that allow the screen to be levelled once mounted. Three swivel points on the arms offer a multitude of positioning options. All fixing points are concealed behind cover plates to hide fixings. Security fixings prevent unauthorized removal, and padlock tabs on arms offer an additional security option. Six cable management clips are included for a clean install.

ACCESSORY

MOST INNOVATIVE VIDEOCONFERENCING

“Every year, the SCN Installation Product Awards are a showcase for innovation,” said Mark J. Pescatore, content director, Systems Contractor News, who announced the awards. “These awards are a great opportunity to recognize manufacturers who continue to set the bar higher for their Pro AV customers.

MOST INNOVATIVE VIDEO PROJECTION SOLUTION

Epson America: EB-PU2220B 3LCD Large Venue Laser Projector with 4K Enhancement Sharp/NEC: PE506UL Laser Projector

2022ProductInstallationAnnouncesAwardsatInfoComm

SCN

MOST INNOVATIVE VIDEO DISPLAY Absen: NX Series

MOST INNOVATIVE AVOIP SOLUTION

Chief: TiLED i-Style dvLED Video Wall Mounting System

PRODUCT Biamp: Parlé Conferencing Bar

MAXHUB: UC M40

Cameras

MOST INNOVATIVE VIDEO PROCESSING SOLUTION

Matrox Video: Matrox ConvertIP NETGEAR Business: M4250 Series Managed Switches

Each of the nominated products were submitted by their respective manufacturers. Winners were chosen by industry professionals through a ballot accessed through avnetwork.com. The product entered must have first shipped between January 1, 2021, and April 8, 2022. Up to two winners were selected in each category.

PRODUCT

MOST INNOVATIVE DIGITAL SIGNAGE PRODUCT

rp Visual Solutions: Wallmate Slim (RPWM-32BS-XMS-UNV)

NewTek: PTZ3

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MOST INNOVATIVE STREAMING PRODUCT

Planar: Planar DirectLight Ultra Series MicroLED Video Wall

Bose Professional: AMM Multipurpose Loudspeakers

BrightSign: BrightSign XC5

MOST INNOVATIVE MOUNTING SOLUTION

MOST INNOVATIVE AUDIO SOLUTION

MOST INNOVATIVE EMERGING TECHNOLOGY LG Business Solutions USA: CLOi ServeBot Samsung Electronics America: Samsung EV Charging Station

Sony Electronics: FW-100BZ40J BRAVIA Professional Display

ViewSonic: ViewSonic ID2456 Touch Monitor

MOST INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION PRODUCT

MOST INNOVATIVE SIGNAL MANAGEMENT

MOST INNOVATIVE AV INSTALLATION

ZeeVee: ZyPer4K-XS SDVoE Encoders and Decoders

Vanco International: Evolution by Vanco EVEX4K70 4K HDR Extender

Epiphan Video: Pearl Nano

he Systems Contractor News 2022 Installa tion Product Awards were announced on June 7 during a ceremony during InfoComm at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Winning products were recognized across 13 categories.

Congratulations to all our winners.”

Yamaha Unified Communications: VSP-2

Blackmagic Design: ATEM Constellation HD

And the winners are:

QSC: Q-SYS NC Series Network Conference

PTZOptics: SuperJoy

It’s got the hardware.

It’s a good camera, but the AI is not perfect. The PanaCast 20 includes a 13-megapixel camera that

The automatic white balance produces a very pleasing image, however, I was able to “confuse” it while moving from side to side in a room with a combination of natural light and interior lighting. The changing white balance is distracting, so you might want to manually set your picture if you move frequently. You can turn off the auto white balance and adjust the image in Jabra Direct with settings such as saturation and brightness.

Of course, the camera can only track you as long as you remain in frame; it’s not designed to move left or right beyond the parameters of the existing shot. However, the PanaCast 20 offers a generous 90-degree horizontal field of view (along with 75-degree vertical

Things to Know about the PanaCastJabra20

By Mark J. Pescatore

The camera’s intelligent zoom automatically goes to work when you turn on the camera. It tracks your face and frames it, even when you move. The tracking can fall behind a bit if you move too quickly, but I’d rather have slow and steady than quick and jerky camera adjustments for my videoconference.

With a street price of about $329, the PanaCast 20 is priced well above a “decent” webcam. Of course, that decent webcam doesn’t include a privacy cover, metal housing, or custom carrying case. Plus, the PanaCast 20 offers UHD resolution and the added features of AI tracking and picture-in-picture. If you’re not exactly skilled at sitting still, the PanaCast 20 could be a helpful tool for better web-based presentations.

You’re ready for travel. The PanaCast 20 includes a zippered soft carrying case, which is equipped with a mesh pocket to hold the (included) USB-C cable and a form-fitted space for cradling the webcam during tran sit. That’s a nice touch and a welcome safeguard for presenters moving between locations.

But you’re going to need/want software. If you want to access all the functionality of the PanaCast 20, including the three built-in MEMS microphones, you’re going to need to download the free Jabra Direct software. The Jabra Direct interface provides access to several features and settings that deliver more functionality to the PanaCast 20.

delivers UHD (3840x2160) resolution at 30 fps, as well as 1080p/30 or 720p/30. The AI can deliver up to 3x “lossless” digital zoom at 720p, so you’re never at less than HD quality.

Jabra Direct also provides access to the picturein-picture mode, a unique feature that uses Edge AI processing to combine two real-time video streams into one, displaying the second stream in an inte grated window within the main image. This is helpful for presenters that either stand relatively still or have a tendency to walk as they talk. While maintaining a wide static shot of the entire area, such as you standing next to your whiteboard, the PanaCast will maintain a close-up on your face in the bottom right of the screen at a minimum of 720p resolution.

If you’re feeling a little paranoid, or just need to excuse yourself from a meeting for a moment, there is a privacy cover accessible through a switch below the lens. The LED above the lens turns red when the privacy cover is activated, a stark contrast to the happy white glow during normal streaming.

2 inches wide and just over 3 inches deep, so it takes up very little real estate on the top of your monitor. It may be small, but the PanaCast 20 is far from flimsy. Plus, it’s adaptable. The foldable clip means the camera can be adjusted to fit almost any desktop LCD or LED monitor. I noticed the unit sits higher on the bezel of my Samsung monitor than my usual webcam, so it doesn’t block any of the screen. Plus, a standard thread in the base means you can also attach it to a tripod for added versatility.

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You get true plug-and-play operation. One USB-C cable (included) connects the PanaCast 20 to your computer. I plugged the PanaCast 20 into a MacBook Pro and a Microsoft Surface; Google Meet found it instantly for both computers. The unit is certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and when I opened Zoom on my Windows laptop, I was able to select the PanaCast 20 without a problem.

When I used my professional lighting setup, which I use for webinars and other video projects, the PanaCast 20 delivered a dynamite image. Remember, though, it’s still a webcam with a small lens. Shut off the lights and you will be disappointed in the picture. When I just used light from the office window, the picture was a little grainy but OK—but when I only used the monitor as a light source, the picture got noisy in a hurry. That said, in comparable lighting, the PanaCast 20 provided far better color reproduction than my regular webcam.

The compact PanaCast 20 features a foldable clip, so it can fit on almost any desktop monitor. Plus, a standard thread in the base means you can attach it to a tripod.

and 117-degree diagonal), so it should be able to

For example, if you don’t need the intelligent zoom, you can turn it off in Jabra Direct and even save a couple of presets for your favorite framings. However, if you don’t have the software on your computer, you can’t shut off the intelligent zoom. Once you turn on the microphones, you should be pleased with the results. While they obviously can’t match the fidelity of a quality headset mic, the PanaCast 20 audio outperformed the built-in mic of my regular webcam.

As the hybrid workplace continues to evolve, it seems an endless amount of audio solu tions—like speakerphones and ceiling mics—plus a wide range of confer ence cameras are available. Another factor to consider is whether it is

Of course, audio quality is a must for an all-in-one solution. Many conference cameras include innova tive technology to block unwanted noises.

TECHNOLOGY

By Wayne Cavadi

Since corporate meeting spaces, class rooms, and even home offices come in a variety

Tony McCool, MAXHUB UCC

Seeing Is Believing

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“If remote participants are struggling with poor audio coming from conference rooms, it’s affecting the quality of their meetings,” Nutley said. “Offer them a solution that combines the best of all worlds, with industry-leading professional audio and

of shapes and sizes, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Ensuring that everyone can be seen and heard is imperative toward achieving meeting equity (a term that continues to gain ground in the industry).

Options Abound for Conference Cameras for Hybrid Meetings

he hybrid life is not only upon us, but seemingly here to stay. Seeing and being seen are important parts of the new age of conferencing and collaboration, because it keeps participants—from colleagues to students—engaged and actively part of the conversation.

wiser to piecemeal a videoconferencing solution together or look for an all-in-one solution.

Every environment is a little different. Corporate presentations in large boardrooms may need a different approach than those for smaller huddle rooms. So, where do you even begin to look for the right

“Theresolution?area number of things to consider,” explained Tony McCool, country manager for MAXHUB UCC solutions. “What is the size of the room? How many people will be in meetings? Where is the preferred camera location? What platform will you be using, or will you need flexibility of platforms? Do you want a dedicated room solution, or will you use your own laptop? Will meeting participants wish to share content from their laptops or mobile devices on to the display? Once we know these answers, we can then progress to understanding the ideal camera solutions.”

“One of the many advantages in an all-in-one solution is the ability to ensure optimization and certifications for the most popular UC platforms,” said Peter Nutley, product expert for collaboration and public sector at Jabra. “Wherever team members are, and whatever collaboration hub they are using, they are able to connect with each other as well as clients, partners, customers, and just about anyone in an instant. In addition, all-in-one solutions greatly reduce meeting room installation, setup, and commissioning times.”

“A good rule of thumb is the smaller the room, the wider the angle,” McCool added. “Large rooms are fine with PTZ-style cameras with an 80-degree angle or so. Medium rooms—120-degree cameras are ideal where the participants at the front can be located far enough from the camera to still be visible. For the smallest rooms or huddle spaces where people are very close to the camera, 180-degree cameras are ideal, or perhaps the new generation of 360-degree cameras, which can be placed in the center of the table.”

“A good rule of thumb is the smaller the room, the wider the angle.”

CONFERENCE CAMERAS

The Vidi 150 is the latest professional-grade conferencing camera from Biamp for meeting spaces ranging from huddle rooms to mediumsized conference rooms. Designed with extraordi nary simplicity for a wide array of use cases, it features a 4K camera with a 120-degree field of view, 8MP sensor, and a built-in mic array. It also adds manual electronic pan/tilt/zoom (ePTZ) with remote controlled, user-definable presets, as well as automatic participant framing and ePTZ. Like the Vidi 100 before it, both are cost-effective solutions offering excellent picture and audio quality.

Biamp Vidi 150

Bose Videobar VB-S

TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE CAMERAS

EPOS EXPAND Vision 3T

innovative 180-degree video, facilitating natural conversations no matter where they’re working.”

With the DTEN GO with Mate, transforming any display into a powerful videoconferencing system for Zoom is as easy as connecting via HDMI. The com panion DTEN Mate 10-inch touchscreen then pairs with the GO to provide touchscreen control and screen mirroring. The four-camera array covers up to 32 feet with 160-degree horizontal field of view. A 12-microphone array covers the same dimensions, and with DTEN’s Audio AI sound suppression technology, participants can be sure what needs to be heard is, remotely or in person.

The HT-CAM-4K-EPTZ makes “meetings more meaningful and less stressful” with an easy and convenient-to-install camera designed to automati cally do all the work. The sleek form factor houses

“We also provide solutions for front-facing cameras that combine fixing on a room area, person, or whiteboard as well as tracking a presenter at the same time,” McCool added. “This could be useful in training environments. Just as important could be the quick and easy way of switching tracking off and to utilize pre-set camera positions.”

AVer’s VB342 Pro is equipped with a 4K PTZ camera to deliver crisp imagery in any meeting. Featuring a 92-degree optical lens with 15x zoom, the VB342 Pro delivers true-to-life video quality. The VB342 Pro includes AVer’s Audio Fence and beamforming technology to ensure outstanding sound for small to medium-sized meeting rooms. AVer Audio Fence technology is designed to turn any space into an uninterrupted meeting zone by silencing any distraction outside the viewing angle.

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The Bose Videobar VB-S is a compact, all-in-one conferencing device that’s quick and easy to install,

AVer VB342 Pro

Hall Technologies HT-CAM-4K-EPTZ

complete image. Large classroom settings, training centers, or any wide conferencing area are all captured and presented with perfect clarity in any of the camera’s six viewing mode options. The 4x zoom capabilities further enhance the UNITE 180 feature set.

As with any product category, the extra bells and whistles are sometimes just a nice add on, while other times increase the efficiency and performance of the camera. Take speaker tracking, for example.

ClearOne UNITE 180

DTEN GO with Mate

bringing premium audio and video to smaller spaces such as meeting booths, huddle spaces, and rooms up to 10x10 feet. Four beam-steering microphones automatically focus on voices in the room and reject noise. A 4K UHD camera with Group Mode and Individual Mode delivers crystal-clear video—helping remote participants feel like they’re in the room—while signature Bose sound supports multimedia presentations, plays Blue tooth audio, and ensures voices on the call sound natural. The sleek, low-profile design helps keep meeting spaces clutter-free.

The ClearOne UNITE 180 4K ePTZ professionalgrade camera features a full 180-degree panoramic field-of-view designed for visual collaboration. With real-time stitching, the camera achieves a variety of useful viewing modes for any application and environment, including wide spaces, bringing the views of multiple lenses together as one

“Effective speaker tracking, or auto framing, helps the remote participants joining the meeting room feel more like they have an equal seat at the table,” Nutley explained. “Without effective auto framing, far-end participants can struggle with even knowing who exactly is in the meeting room, let alone who is talking. Our intelligent software uses our AI technology to understand what’s happening in the room and react accordingly, perfectly framing active speakers. The result is a meeting experience that’s been completely reinvented, making remote collabo ration more dynamic with a real human touch.”

The Vision 3T is an all-in-one conferencing video collaboration solution for today’s smart, hybrid office. With just one touch, participants are in their hybrid meeting with a full Microsoft Teams experi ence. Collaboration is enhanced with full HD video and innovative voice pickup and noise cancellation technologies powered by EPOS AI. Easy to set up, easy to install and easy to manage, participants can immerse themselves in a natural meeting environment seeing facial expressions, body language, and more in clear detail and audio clarity with 360-degr ee coverage from its wide-angle 4K camera with Sony sensor, enhanced PTZ, and superior audio from included EPOS EXPAND 30T.

Welcome to the world of conference cameras. Here are several current offerings with a variety of feature sets to consider.

powerful 4K UHD and is coupled with AI that can frame according to the number of people in the scene, and the characters are in the middle. The all-in-one solution is designed with advanced ISP processing algorithms to deliver vivid images and streaming for seamless collaboration and connectivity. The auto framing feature works by using a 100-degree wide-angle lens to ensure all participants and materials can be properly viewed.

Jabra PanaCast 50

capture area on meeting participants and adjusts as people enter and leave. Users can adjust the capture area with the included remote, or request or provide remote camera control. Positioning is flexible: The HuddleCamHD Pro is equipped with a beamforming dual microphone array that can capture intelligible speech from up to 10 feet away, and the camera can be clamped to a monitor, attached to a tripod, or mounted to the wall or ceiling.

The HuddleCamHD Pro is a 4K webcam with electronic PTZ capabilities. Certified by Zoom Video Communications and available with either USB or NDI|HX connectivity, the HuddleCamHD Pro is designed for enterprise. The camera’s intelligent 4K sensor has a wide 108-degree field view with 8x digital zoom. Auto-framing automatically centers the

CONFERENCE CAMERAS TECHNOLOGY

The Jabra PanaCast 50 intelligent video bar is engineered to help businesses across industries navigate the hybrid way of working. It combines panoramic-4K video technology, professionalgrade audio, and AI-driven features to completely reinvent meetings and collaboration for today’s hybrid workforce. PanaCast 50’s intelligent video features ensure that meeting participants have an immersive experience—no matter where they are located. Patented real-time video stitching technology automatically joins the streams from three 13-megapixel cameras, creating a smooth, 180-degree field of view in Panoramic-4K that captures the entire room. Its Virtual Director feature automatically detects who is speaking and intelligently adjusts the video in real time to focus on them for more dynamic collaboration.

HuddleCamHD Pro

Logitech Rally Bar

Konftel Cam20

TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE CAMERAS

The MS-10 4K video soundbar is an all-in-one videoconferencing unit incorporating a high-quality auto-framing camera, multiple omnidirectional microphones, and a high-fidelity speaker system. It

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The Konftel Cam20 is a Zoom Certified conference camera that revolutionizes the experience and quality of everyday videoconference calls. The plug-and-play device features 4K UHD perfor mance and a 123-degree field of view, allowing participants to receive a clear and balanced image of all colleagues on the call. With WDR technology, the Konftel Cam20 automatically adjusts to any changes in the lighting conditions including sunlight contrast. Hosting interactive conference calls with the Konftel Cam20 can be conducted in a seamless manner due to the auto-framing functionality, allowing room participants to always be in frame. The installation process can be done quickly and easily by using the flexible clamp to attach to any desired screen, or by utilizing a stand.

The IntelliSHOT professional USB camera makes video collaboration and streaming classes easy. Whether auto-framing people around a conference table or tracking the classroom instructor, the IntelliSHOT ePTZ camera delivers foolproof performance. Free remote management and advanced auto-framing configuration allow integration partners to remotely fine-tune system performance for each customer environment. Use in larger spaces with its impressive 30x zoom and easily connect room audio with the built-in audio mixer for an all-in-one videoconferencing system. Plug and play with popular collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet. The IntelliSHOT is TAA and Buy America compliant, and includes a three-year warranty, including a first-year advanced replacement program.

is ideal for conferencing, collaborating, and unified communications, being compliant with all major platforms including (but not limited to) Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and WebEx. It is designed for easy mounting to either a monitor or the wall and enables USB connectivity via Ethernet and IR control.

The company’s flagship webcam produces 4K video quality closer to a DSLR or mirrorless camera with its 1/1.8-inch 8.5MP Sony Starvis sensor. Put simply, its iris provides DSLR quality but with the convenience and affordability of a webcam. With advanced auto-tracking technology, it keeps the speaker centered if they move. If there are several people in a meeting, it can autoframe the image to include multiple subjects. Other features include10x digital zoom, picture-in-picture, and dual omnidirectional microphones with noisecancelling technology.

Vaddio IntelliSHOT

The Rally Bar has a motorized lens that covers rooms 130-degrees across by 80-degrees high, with lossless image quality up to 5x optical zoom. The device also has a second built-in camera—AI Viewfinder—dedi cated to computer vision that can detect meeting participants to ensure they are automatically seen and included in the frame. This extra information helps optimize RightSight 2, which uses the second ary AI camera to automatically adjust and reframe to include people stepping in and out of the room who are out of sight of the main camera. With RightSight 2, the Primary PTZ camera zooms in on the active speaker while the AI Viewfinder captures a view of everyone in the room.

The MS-4KCam Ultra HD USB camera is built for today’s modern collaboration rooms. Its digital ePTZ capability can magnify portions of the camera’s wide-angle picture (up to 120 degrees), and then reposition the image to fill the frame. The extreme wide angle is ideal for conference rooms and auditori ums, and its low profile and affordability is perfect for smaller rooms including huddle spaces. MSolutions’ new MS-6U1C extender set pairs perfectly with the camera in all installations, allowing a single USB-C data channel to be extended up to 333 feet over a single CATx cable. The MS-6U1C extender now includes a remote powering option for the MS-4KCam as well as third-party conferencing cameras.

The Nureva XT was designed with the classroom in mind, bringing flexible and future-proofed hybrid learning to extend the in-room experience to remote learners. The Nureva XT has solutions for standard-size and large classrooms backed by one of Nureva’s innovative audio systems and the Nureva CV30 classroom camera kit. Its Microphone Mist technology combines full-room microphone pickup, in-room voice amplification, and HD camera with an 84-dergee field of view to focus on the front of the classroom. The scalable Nureva XT is easy to install and manage.

Nureva XT

Lumens MS-10 Soundbar

MSolutions MS-4KCam

NexiGo Iris N1000

KLANG KLANG:konductor

PanaJupiter34

The U-CAM is a USB 3.0/2.0 converter that connects any USB camera and audio to an HDMI input for codec, matrix, or display with embedded audio. Many professional videoconferencing systems and codecs, like the Cisco Webex Room Series, are equipped with only HDMI inputs for cameras. Now you can convert the image from the Huddly Canvas smart whiteboard USB camera and similar equipment. With its direct driver-free connection, the new U-CAM is a plugand-go device. It solves the problem of interoperabil ity instantly, with the video loop on USB 2.0 to high-quality M-JPEG format. It can be controlled on codec pads via its RS-232 or LAN connectors. The rugged and easy-to-handle extruded aluminum housing ensures a robust, stable, and durable product suitable for daily use in professional and commercial environments.

Roland SR-20HD

The Martin ERA 150 Wash, the successor to the Martin RUSH MH 6 moving-head LED, delivers a stunning 3,900 lumens—twice the brightness of its predeces sor—thanks to its newly engineered RGBW light engine and optical system. The ELP PAR, a successor to the RUSH PAR 2 static LED, outputs 3,500 lumens, thanks to the same powerful new light engine and

TECHNOLOGY NEW PRODUCTS

LYNX

Designed with monitor engineers and fixed installa tions in mind, KLANG:konductor provides a high-end mixing system that can deliver 16 immersive mixes and process 128 input signals at up to 96kHz, with an astonishing processing latency of less than 0.25ms. KLANG:konductor offers three DMI slots on its rear and guarantees flawless integration into any existing setup. For example, two DMI-MADI cards allow 128 input channels and mixes to be returned to a console; and one DMI-Dante card can connect the mixes to KLANG:kontrollers. Paired with integral singlechannel routing capabilities, it also allows the user to freely route between the immersive mix engine and convert between different DMI formats, with each DMI card offering up to 64 I/O channels at both 48kHz and 96kHz. A front-mounted seven-inch color touch display allows for direct mix control, audio setup, routing, and monitoring meters.

Pana 34 is Jupiter’s third in the Pana series that includes 105 and 81-inch models featuring the revolutionary 21:9 aspect ratio. Pana 34 is a dynamic desktop productivity tool with built-in features that make work and interactions seamless regardless of the platform. It offers modern functionality for desktop collaboration and connectiv ity for corporate offices and mission critical applica tions, as well as virtual film production where directors prefer a 21:9 format to review film playback after shoots. Engineers and designers will especially love the flexible bezel-less display experience. With 65-watt USB-C power delivery, HDMI, and DP ports, it provides a complete desktop display solution.

C2G Thunderbolt 4 USB-C Cable

Inogeni U-CAM

The new Instant Dialog Cleaner yellobrik module is designed to isolate speech and dialog by removing complex background noises in live broadcasts as well as recorded audio. It incorporates powerful Deep Neural Networks (DNN) AI technology from Audionamix to resolve many audio challenges that arise in Pro AV and broadcast environments. The IDC 141 analyzes audio and removes background noises and other ambient noises in real time. This audio cleaning process separates the dialog and speech from the noises, providing a crisp audio signal that only contains the spoken word. The AI technol ogy automatically detects the voice regardless of the surrounding noises and preserves the real integrity of the dialog, unlike other available noise reduction tools, which are often not adequate.

optical system. Both fixtures feature full-gamut color-calibration systems for consistent color reproduction from fixture to fixture—and support a dedicated color temperature control channel for adjusting the color space from the desired color temperature. Streamline setup with the ELP PAR’s smart rigging and control features, including omegabracket-connectivity and clear angle-projection indicators that allow for quick and repeatable installa tion. Both lights also feature a low-noise theatre mode, which operates at a whisper-quiet 33 dB.

DialogIDC1411TechnikInstantCleaner

HARMAN Martin ERA 150 Wash and ELP PAR

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The SR-20HD direct streaming AV mixer is a powerful and portable AV switcher that makes it easy to deploy livestreaming in a business or organization with minimal training. It combines a video switcher, audio mixer, preview screen, recorder/player, and stream ing encoder in one unit, simplifying the process and reducing user pain points. Presenters can stream directly to YouTube Live, Facebook, Twitch, or by RTMP to a CDN without the need for a computer, removing the risk of malware and other issues arising with computer-based streaming on enterprise networks. Packed with advanced Roland AV technolo gies, the SR-20HD has automatic functions that run in the background to eliminate dropped streams and help protect organizations from broadcasting inappropriate content. The adaptive bitrate function monitors the network connection and automatically adjusts the streaming rate to reduce interruptions due to bandwidth issues.

Tested to meet Intel’s certification standards, C2G’s Thunderbolt 4 USB-C cable features high-speed data transfers, 4K video support, and power delivery up to 100W—all from a single connection. It delivers up to 40Gbps to or from a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4-enabled port. It can display up to 8K 60Hz video on a single display or 4K 60Hz video on two displays for low-latency gaming, immersive creation, and simplified productivity—all with high-quality contrast and color depth to see details within photos, videos, and text. When connected to a phone, laptop, or other compatible device, the C2G Thunderbolt 4 USB-C cable delivers up to 100W of charging power to or from the connected device, charges them quickly, and syncs USB-C mobile devices. The 40Gbps C2G Thunderbolt 4 USB-C Cable is available in three lengths and carries a lifetime warranty.

Bogen Communications TPU600-G2

Sony’s new URX-P41D two-channel portable receiver boasts all the key features included in the UWP-D Series, such as improved high sound quality from digital audio processing, NFC Sync for quick and easy setup from receiver to transmitter, and functions such as auto gain mode and output level control, making the job of recording sound even easier. As part of the UWP-D Series, the URX-P41D will work

The TPU600-G2 is a high-powered, Class D amplifier designed for telephone paging applications. Featuring a new hardware design, the TPU600-G2 boasts a small footprint and lightweight design with both wallmount and rack-mount capabilities. The latest addition to Bogen’s TPU Series, it incorporates

next-generation technologies and future-proof design concepts such as a high-power, 600W Class D amplifier that provides higher efficiency amplification with traditional low-noise characteristics, decreased weight, and lower heat dissipation. The TPU600-G2 includes Phoenixstyle plug-in connectors for easy plug-and-play wiring and installation. The TPU Series provides voice-activated muting of music during paging to eliminate the need for manual activation of switches and the use of external relays. The paging channel features automatic output leveling (ALC) as channel input varies, which is particularly important in telephone paging applications.

previous generations), and will be available as a standalone receiver and as part of a new kit, the UWP-D27, which will include two UTX-B40 bodypack transmitters. Key new features include a digital audio interface to improve sound quality, external micro phone input for an additional wired microphone, and a a space diversity reception system to reduce RF signal dropout.

41avnetwork.com // July 2022 // SCN TECHNOLOGY FIBER FLYPACKSCABLES&ROAD CASES You won’t need this... … when you use quiet cooling products from Active Thermal Management Cool off at www.activethermal.com EQUIPMENT FOR SALE INSTALLATION PRODUCTSCAREER MARKETPLACE MODULAR FLOOR BOXES To Advertise in the SYSTEMS CONTRACTOR NEWS CLASSIFIEDS, Contact Zahra Majma at zahra.majma@futurenet.com

Lumens DC132U

Sony URX-P41D

The DC132U USB document camera offers USB plug-and-play functionality. Twist the jointless, flexible gooseneck to any angle to view a document, face the presenter, or angle toward the class for a live videoconference. The DC132U also offers macro focus for close-up image capture of small objects. The camera outputs 1080p or 2K video, with image and video recording up to 30 fps. One-touch auto-tune quickly achieves accurate focus, color balance, and image exposure. The camera offers 8x mechanical zoom and supports up to 16x total zoom via software.

Calculate the True Value

For me it got down to one simple answer: I had something to say, and a book seemed like a great way to get that done. And that’s the first lesson I learned about getting a book published.

Finally, think of your book as a bigger, better business card. Meeting someone at a networking event and later sending them a signed copy of your book says so much more than you had time to say when you meet at an event. It also reminds people of who you are, where you met, and personalizes the meeting by taking the time to send them your book.

Something Different to Say

It’s the ultimate attention getter.

Key Takeaways

In my first book, Keep Swinging , I had something to

Jay B. Myers is the founder and CEO of Interactive Solutions, which was sold to AVI-SPL in Fall 2018.

By telling my story in such a personal manner, my hope was to connect with readers on a totally different level. And it worked! As one reader noted in a recent review of my latest book, it “doesn’t read like a typical business book—very refreshing! You won’t read the same old advice or be lectured with the top ten set of rules found in just about every business or leadership book.”

VIEWPOINT

However, outside of our own experiences with writing books, is there a practical side to writing a book for other AV professionals to consider? Is there a way to really monetize it?

First, being a published author establishes instant credibility and positions you as a “subject matter expert” with clients and prospects. In essence, it positions the author as not just a salesperson but more of a thought leader, which is a powerful competitive differentiator.

but I committed to saying it in a different way. I decided if I was going take the time to write a book, it had to be different from the rest not your regular old business book. So, I made a commit ment to intentionally write my books in the first person. I wanted my readers to feel the emotions that I was feeling at the time I was dealing with all the challenges and obstacles through the years.

Writing a Book Can Help Grow Your Business and Your Career

n Set realistic goals. Everyone wants to be on the New York Times Best Seller list, but very few make it. On average, first-time authors sell around 250 copies of their book, so work on using your book as a marketing tool by giving away copies to customers and prospects at trade shows, conventions, etc.

n Consider self-publishing options. The tradi tional New York publishing world is very difficult to get into, but there are many other options to get your book published. Self-pub lishing and Amazon are easy and affordable options.

Books also deepen the relationship you have, not only with prospects but with existing clients, vendors, and strategic partners. It enhances the relationship and takes it to a whole new level that is very powerful. It builds trust through transparency.

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n Write a book because you have something to say—but make sure you know your audience. Writing a book takes a lot of effort, and you want to make sure there are people out there who want to read it once you’ve written it.

With so many choices out there, make sure your book has a differentiator, so it stands out from the rest.

n Put together an outline for your book, because any credible publisher will want to see it before they will even consider taking on your book. An outline is also useful in keeping on track and focused as you work toward completion.

of meeting business challenges and overcoming adversity. How can you really put a dollar value on that?

et me start by making it clear that I never intended to write a book way back in 2006. For one thing, I majored in marketing in college, not journalism, and never really felt qualified to even think about writing a book—much less actu ally do it. So why do I suggest that AV professionals should even consider taking on such a formidable task? Is it worth the time, effort, and expense it would take to get a book published? Why did I per sonally decide to write a book?

So I learned yet another valuable lesson. With so many choices out there, make sure your book has a differentiator, so it stands out from the rest. Another lesson that I learned is that, as an author, you must know your audience. With all three of my books, I have focused on small business owners and entrepreneurs who I believe appreciate “real world” advice from someone that has been there and done that. I also believe that if my books can offer one piece of advice that helps one small business owner or entrepreneur succeed, then writing them was all worth it.

On a personal note, I have to say I have lost count of how many emails I have received through the years from so many people who have read my books and let me know how inspired they were by our stories

By Jay B. Myers

n Invest in an editor who can not only identify typos but can also help with organization, provide feedback, etc. Using an editor also demonstrates to your publisher that you’re serious about putting out a quality product.