Systems Contractor News - June 2024

By Carolyn Heinze

SYSTEMS CHECK

J. PESCATORE

‘Intelligence’ Can Be Artificially Overrated

My first attempt to use the self-checkout lane at a grocery store went poorly. It was so long ago that I don’t remember all the specifics, but I’m certain there was no weighing of fruits, scanning of coupons, or anything else extraordinary about my purchase. And yet, somehow the simple four-step process—scan it, bag it, pay for it, leave—was marred by technology that failed to work properly. By the time the transaction was complete, I was sufficiently annoyed to the point that it would literally be years before I would attempt another pass through the gauntlet of the self-checkout area.

These days, I will happily trot to the oasis of cashier-free kiosks. In some stores, I actually prefer it. But that initial experience with self-checkout technology left a lasting negative impression.

Which brings us to artificial intelligence.

I was fact checking an article for a past issue of SCN and double-checked a quote from someone. Turned out the writer had attributed the quote to the wrong person—and then it turned out that he used ChatGPT to assist with his research and it had incorrectly attributed that quote.

Since then, I’ve been more of a skeptic than Dana Scully. Though I admit I’m making progress: I asked ChatGPT to identify characters in modern pop culture who are difficult to convince, which is how I settled on the good doctor from The X-Files in the previous sentence. However, another option ChatGPT gave me was Sherlock Holmes, who was created in the late 1800s. Sure, the character is regularly reintroduced to audiences through various entertainment projects, but does that make him modern? My skepticism remains.

Obviously, the use of GenAI in the content creation business is evolving.

ChatGPT is a type of generative AI (GenAI) that can create text and images, even audio and video, based on the questions you ask it. We don’t use ChatGPT to write stories at SCN . I think it’s unethical—and it’s already been shown to be inaccurate. In fact, Future (the company that owns SCN ) does not allow the use of AI tools to generate or update articles, not even first drafts. I’m really glad we agree on this.

Last August, Amanda Barrett, VP for standards and inclusion at the Associated Press (AP), declared its staff doesn’t use ChatGPT to “create publishable content.” But on May 10, the organization updated its use of GenAI to allow for experimentation. Barrett said it is now allowing AI to “suggest” headlines, as well as “supply” automated summaries of articles written by AP journalists (read: create publishable content).

Obviously, the use of GenAI in the content creation business is evolving. To be fair, GenAI can be a useful tool for providing background information or generating terms on a particular topic. It can also be helpful with transcriptions, translations, and even grammar. There are workflow efficiencies inherent in the use of GenAI tools that can’t be denied, and those efficiencies don’t stop at the newsroom door.

Last fall, Mary Mesaglio, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, an international research and consulting firm, argued that GenAI is “evolving from being our tools to becoming our teammates,” and predicted it will “be a workforce partner for 90% of companies worldwide” by next year. Not sure I’m ready to hang around the break room with ChatGPT on a Monday morning and talk about how the Miami Dolphins did on Sunday—particularly since its last update was in January 2022. Perhaps we can collectively agree to hold off on the anthropomorphizing for a bit longer.

If we avoid issues of editorial integrity, there’s plenty of work for GenAI to do behind the scenes for content creators, including those who work in Pro AV. But ChatGPT offers a potential starting point, not a finished product. Brainstorming buddy? Sure. Credible source you’d find in a bibliography? Not quite yet.

CONTENT

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

Senior Content Manager Wayne Cavadi

Contributors James Careless, Steve Greenblatt, Peter Hansen, Carolyn Heinze, Rob Voorhees

Art Editors Rob Crossland, Efrain Hernandez-Mendoza

Production Managers Nicole Schilling, Heather Tatrow

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NAB 2024: 5 Sentiments from the Show Floor

By Mark J. Pescatore

With 2024 NAB Show in the books, it’s time for little reflection. Yes, there was the usual batch of new products, and you couldn’t escape discussions of NDI or ST 2110. Here are a few observations from my travels across the show floor.

1) LVCC construction created a challenging environment.

The Las Vegas Convention Center has big plans for modernizing its facility. Apparently, it’s a $600 million renovation, with work continuing through 2025. Last year, the South Hall was out of commission. This year, the North Hall was under construction, which meant a longer commute to the West Hall (which isn’t a short walk in the first place).

In the not-too-distant future, we’ll all be able to look back and chuckle about these crazy construction years as we admire the updated digs. But for 2024, that construction created an undeniably disjointed show floor experience. I think the NAB made the most of a tricky venue layout, but I do not envy their planning around further disruption next year, when the Central Hall will supposedly be off limits.

2) AI is almost … ordinary?

Artificial intelligence is going to remain an important and controversial topic in the Pro AV industry and beyond for years. It was certainly a topic of conversation in many of the NAB educational sessions. And yet, you almost wouldn’t know it from the way it’s been adopted by dozens of manufacturers.

As I was doing research for an article on new PTZ cameras at NAB (see page 10), I noticed how AI was just casually mentioned in a list of features. These companies are incorporating sophisticated AI-based tracking technologies into their products, and yet it seems almost as commonplace as an XLR input. And then there are companies like Perifery, which is using AI to create “contextual association” for media assets. Basically, its AI is creating its own metadata and making it easier for clients to find content.

All of this is varying degrees of amazing. AI is already being used to improve audio and video presentations as well as streamline mundane tasks. While companies certainly need to consider some sort of AI strategy, we don’t need an industry evangelist trying to convince manufacturers and end users of the benefits of this technology. We’re already sold.

3) Video walls are stealing the spotlight. Last year, I was admittedly surprised at the number of exhibitors touting video walls at NAB Show. Displays (both large and small) have always had a place at the show, but the emphasis on video walls continues to grow.

For example, in the FOR-A booth, Alfalite was promoting its AlfaArt digital art solution, which displays original, moving artwork on large-format LED displays. Planar was also demonstrating its Planar CarbonLight CLI Flex Series, a curved LED that can be outfitted with TSI touchscreen technology.

Why the emphasis on the big screens? Simply put, Absen’s Stephanie Carten said the company saw a need in the market. Broadcasters are using big screens in conference rooms as well as studios, and the company brought several models to serve both purposes, including the Absenicon X Series, a microLED display product family that comes in 21:9 and 16:9 aspect ratios in various sizes and with optional touchscreen capabilities.

SiliconCore launched its XR LED Display, which boasts a 1.2mm pixel pitch and 240 Hz frame rate, at the show. The company is targeting virtual production with the new display. Guy Russell, VP of sales, western region, said the production industry has really moved toward virtual production since the pandemic, which also helps explain the increased presence of video walls at NAB Show. Between broadcasters, content creators, and even corporate attendees, video walls are only going to get more real estate on the show floor in the future.

4) Diversified is orchestrating a big move.

I had to congratulate Diversified CEO Eric Hutto, who joined the company in early 2022, for essentially taking over the West Hall. Not only was the company one of the sponsors of the Connect Zone, which hosted educational sessions throughout the show, but the company demonstrated its new service offering, Intelligent Orchestration. Built from the ground up, it’s a vendor-agnostic cloud production environment designed to deliver secure decentralized production, streamline workflows, and, as you’d expect, product integration. You should probably start planning some time for a product demonstration at InfoComm now.

5) Innovation is still in fashion. I’m always looking for cool new products in the exhibit hall, and 2024 NAB Show did not disappoint. I was very impressed with Artimo, a free-roaming robotic camera system for broadcast studios from Ross Video. It allows an extensive range of movements, from ground-level to overhead angles, so you can deliver those dynamic moving camera images without a jib. Plus, its integrated LiDAR sensing technology offers intelligent navigation around the studio.

Riedel showed its new Ref Cam. Developed in-house, it features a Sony lens and sensor in a tiny—and I mean tiny—headset. They told me the system is already in use for training. I’m wondering when we’re going to see it in use in prime time.

Riedel has created the new Ref Cam.

Planar was one of several video wall manufacturers exhibiting across the show floor.

Diversified is developing its new Intelligent Orchestration offering.

New PTZs at NAB 2024

New Cameras Offer AI-Based Tracking and More

By Mark J. Pescatore

There was a whole lot of new panning, tilting, and zooming going on at 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas in April, and it’s likely to continue this month at InfoComm (also at the Las Vegas Convention Center). Several manufacturers announced new PTZ camera models that promise better workflows, more responsive operation, and AI-assisted tracking.

NDI is not a standard feature found in all PTZ cameras, but it’s getting pretty close. In fact, a few days after NAB, Bolin Technology announced a new partnership with NDI. The PTZ manufacturer has incorporated NDI in 10 models across its PTZ camera line, as well as its KBD-1020N PTZ controller and EG40N decoder. Meanwhile, PTZOptics announced its Move SE camera was upgraded to be NDI|HX native. The company is providing a free upgrade to existing customers via a firmware update—and is offering a refund to customers who had previously purchased an NDI license.

At the BirdDog booth, it was all about the fit and finish of its new X1 (Full HD) and X1 Ultra (UHD) PTZs. Talk about great features. The tally light borders the entire lens housing, so there’s never a question which camera is live. Then there’s NDI|HX2 and NDI|HX3 support as well as an integrated NDI|HX decoder for confidence

monitoring or prompter. Toss in AI-based tracking and Ethernet with PoE and Wi-Fi connectivity options, too. But the big reveal was an e-Ink label on the camera body, which provides an easy way to identify cameras and more without gaffer’s tape.

Two new PTZs at the Datavideo booth, the PTC-285 and PTC-305, both deliver 4K60 images and include auto-tracking technology that’s designed to avoid jerky camera moves. Plus, both cameras are compatible with ONVIF Profile S, a protocol that transmits audio and video, as well as PTZ camera control signals, into video production systems produced by several manufacturers, thus promoting interoperability between brands. The PTC-305 offers 20x optical zoom, while the PTC-285 offers 12x optical zoom. Both cameras are also available with HDBaseT support (PTC-305T and PTC-285T). In related news, Datavideo’s recent upgrade of its SHOWCAST 100 4K Production Studio adds AI technology to customize and control auto-tracking cameras.

JVC Professional Video was definitely playing the long game at NAB—its KY-PZ540 PTZ features 40x optical zoom in 1080p/60 using the company’s Variable Scan Mapping technology. With a 1 1/8-inch CMOS image sensor, it also delivers 4K60 imagery with 20x optical zoom. Designed for event and sports facilities, as well as megachurches and other large venues, it includes extensive I/O options (including USB UVC for videoconferencing) and features built-in

NDI|HX3. Plus, it supports SRT for REMI production, and offers simultaneous NDI, SRT, and RMPS output for high-quality streaming output to popular CDNs. One of the rare new models without NDI is the CV612 PTZ from Marshall Electronics. Available in black or white, the Full HD camera features a HD CMOS sensor, 12x optical zoom, and AI-powered auto tracking. Marshall is targeting the worship and education markets, as well as livestreaming, with the CV612, which offers simultaneous 3G-SDI, HDMI, and USB-C outputs, plus PoE+ and various control interfaces.

OBSBOT made a big splash with a small PTZ. The new Tail Air may fit in your suit jacket pocket, but it’s

BirdDog CEO Dan Miall showcased the new X1 Ultra PTZ camera at NAB 2024.

Telycam co-founder Jenny Liu unveiled the Explore PTZ (yes, it’s available in other colors).

SCN content director Mark J. Pescatore holds the new OBSBOT Tail Air,a tiny PTZ that’s packed with professional features.

JVC’s Edgar Shane (left) and Craig Yanagi show off the new KY-PZ540 PTZ camera with 40x optical zoom.

packed with features. It delivers 4K30 or 1080p/60 imagery and 4x zoom. Integrated Gesture Control 2.0 allows the talent to control the shooting process, including zoom, the AI-based auto tracking, and start/stop recording with specific hand motions. You can even purchase a Smart Remote Controller, which resembles a micro-CCU and controls up to three Tail Air cameras via Bluetooth. OBSBOT’s Kevin Liu said the unit is designed for low-cost streaming in schools and corporate environments. It offers livestream support for several platforms as well as NDI|HX3.

Specifically targeting education and corporate video markets, Panasonic’s new AW-UE30 PTZ camera delivers 4K30 imagery and features a 20x optical zoom and a 74.1-degree field of view. Part of the Premium Series, it supports the SRT streaming protocol, among others, as well as NDI|HX2. A new direct drive motor system is designed for quiet, responsive operation. Panasonic’s Jim Jensen, senior category owner, PTZs, said the new camera “fills a really nice niche for us.”

Sony unveiled its BRC-AM7, a compact PTZ equipped with an integrated lens and Exmor RS CMOS image sensor that supports 4K60 and 4K HDR imagery. The camera offers 20x optical zoom and includes Sony’s AI-based PTZ Auto Framing technology for advanced tracking of on-screen talent. Its newly developed brushless motor offers quiet and (very) fast movement. Designed for live events, sports, and broadcasting, the BRC-AM7 supports PoE++ and is compatible with the FreeD protocol for AR and VR applications. It also sports extensive connectivity ports, including 12G-SDI and HDMI outputs, 3G-SDI monitor output, 3.5mm stereo input, and two XLR connectors.

Considering Telycam was one of a select group of NDI 6 beta testers, it comes as no surprise that its new Explore SE PTZ has NDI Bridge embedded for seamless integration with cloud production environments. The camera is also certified by Brainstorm for its InfinitySet AR/VR solutions and supports the FreeD protocol, too. Jenny Liu, co-founder and head of

marketing and sales at Telycam, noted the new camera’s AI-based tracking capabilities, but the camera also boasts 4K60 resolution, 30x optical zoom, PoE++, and extensive connectivity options including 12G-SDI with genlock.

Panasonic AW-UE30

Sony BRC-AM7

SMPTE Argues for AI Standards

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) has released an Engineering Document that argues for standards for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The report explores the various fields of AI, discusses the impact of AI on the media industry, and considers the ethical implications of AI as well as current technical standardization and regulation efforts.

In an effort to further explore the topic, SMPTE has created a series of webcasts. The first, “Standards in AI,” discusses the development of the document and highlights from the research, and features SMPTE president Renard Jenkins along with AMD’s Fred Walls and the European Broadcasting Union’s Alex Rouxel. Both the document and webcast are available at smpte.org.

AVI-SPL Releases Inaugural ESG Report

AVI-SPL has published its first ESG Performance Report. As an in-depth overview of AVI-SPL’s environmental, social, and governance strategy, the report lays out the company’s sustainable transformation through its materiality analysis, baseline performance, ambitions, and impact goals.

Neoti LED Display Is Pantone Validated

During the 2024 NAB Show, Neoti announced that its new UHD Pro XF+ is the world’s first dvLED display to be named Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone Validated.

Thomas Dlugos, director of sales, OEM, for X-Rite, the parent company for Pantone, said the validations exemplifies Neoti’s strength in color technology. He also emphasized the designation is an objective measurement. “This is not an arbitrary color standard,” he added.

“Color matters,” noted Neoti CEO Derek Myers. “We know it holds immense significance in the modern world. Color fidelity is not just a technical detail. The future relies on preserving the integrity of the content displayed.”

The UHD Pro XF+ features 26-bit color depth, immersive 3D performance without viewing fatigue, and multi-image frame sync. Thanks to its sophisticated color space engine, it achieves pure black levels and gradients at extremely low brightness, making it versatile for even the most demanding ambient light environments. Plus, InfiniteColor technology ensures that true color uniformity is maintained over the life of the display.

Resideo to Acquire Snap One

IThe report is based on global best practices, aligns its initiatives with five of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and discloses metrics set forth by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Boards (SASB) standards. It also highlights vital achievements and stories from 2023 that set the stage for ongoing ESG success.

Available on the company’s website, the 2023 ESG Performance Report is AVI-SPL’s first comprehensive look at how it integrates sustainability initiatives into its business strategy to create short and long-term value. The report establishes AVI-SPL’s stakeholder-informed materiality topics and outlines its plans for improvement across product labor practices and employee engagement, talent development, DEI, cybersecurity, lifecycle management, and climate change.

“AVI-SPL is a responsible steward of our stakeholders’ trust,” said John Zettel, CEO, AVI-SPL. “Our vision is to help people work smarter and live better. ESG is a framework that enables us to achieve that vision and ensure long-term sustainability.”

n mid-April, Resideo announced an agreement to acquire Snap One, a transaction valued at approximately $1.4 billion. When the transaction is completed in the second half of the year, Snap One will integrate into Resideo’s ADI Global Distribution business.

The acquisition will combine Snap One’s capabilities for commercial and residential integrators with ADI’s adjacent security products distribution. The combined company intends to leverage increased opportunities around innovation to drive value for integrators through a pipeline for proprietary products.

“ADI and Snap One are highly complementary businesses and together will meaningfully enhance our strategic and operational capabilities as a significant player in attractive growth categories,” said Jay Geldmacher, president and CEO, Resideo. “The acquisition of Snap One is an exciting step in Resideo’s continued transformation through portfolio optimization, operational enhancements, and structural cost savings actions.”

Neoti’s Derek Myers (left) and Pantone’s Tom Dlugos show off Neoti’s approval certificate.

Sony Cameras Level Up CCS Esports Productions

Esports is definitely in play at CCS Presentation Systems, as the integrator has built an 800-square-foot Esports Demonstration Center at its corporate HQ in Mesa, AZ.

Two new Sony cameras—an SRG-XP1 compact 4K 60P IP POV remote camera and SRG-X120 4K 30P PTZ network camera—are part of the company’s plans to promote esports as an established live event platform. CCS, which will host a major gaming tournament this fall, selected the Sony cameras and installed them last fall.

The Esports Center has seating for a dozen fans and all matches are livestreamed on the CCS Twitch channel. The PTZ camera is mounted above the audience seating, while the remote camera is positioned to capture “down the line” shots between two rows of computer stations.

“Our esports Twitch stream originally only showed the matches in progress and the shoutcasters,” recalled Abe Assad IV, esports lead at CCS. “We also wanted to showcase the center and add

excitement to the matches by cutting to the players and fans periodically. The Sony cams give our gaming productions a more dynamic feel with a choice of multiple angles in incredible image quality.”

CCS is using the SRG-XP1 as a static camera, capturing wide-angle, full room shots that showcase the camera’s field of view (FOV) capabilities. “The camera is only a few feet from the first line of players, but they are easily captured with a naturally framed image,” said Assad. “The farthest players are about 30 feet from the camera and are still discernable at that range.”

The SRG-X120 PTZ has a dual-purpose role, with the CCS team moving it between tight shots and zoom shots throughout the room to include the shoutcasters. “The shoutcaster station is across the entire room from the X120—and when we zoom in for close shots, there’s no difference in quality from the wider shots,” added Assad.

The CCS technology investment mirrors the rapid growth of esports. With esports now attracting

larger audiences and lucrative sponsorships, producers are recognizing the heightened expectations of viewers and advertisers.

“We’re interested in anything that makes our stream more engaging,” said Assad. “The fact that viewers can see the whole room and the players during matches adds to the excitement of play. And, of course, the potential exposure to new customers is a huge plus for us.”

While the new center is a gaming haven for fans and players, it’s a less than ideal situation for capturing content. “It’s low light, with splashes of bright colored lighting placed in the room with zero consideration given to camera sensitivity,” Assad explained. “The Sony cameras reproduce details, shadows, and colors as if they were in ideal studio lighting.”

Sony cameras are helping CCS Presentation Systems to improve the production quality of its live Twitch streams of esports matches.

InfoComm 2024: Time for Pro AV to Get Energized

By Mark J. Pescatore

What happens in Vegas … impacts the entire Pro AV industry. InfoComm 2024 is taking over the Las Vegas Convention Center, with education sessions June 8-14 and the exhibit hall open June 12-14. David Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, the association that produces InfoComm, talked with SCN about the overall health of the industry, AVIXA’s expanding international presence, and expectations for this year’s event.

SCN: On the heels of the pandemic, InfoComm 2022 in Las Vegas had almost 20,000 verified attendees. How was attendance last year in Orlando, and what are your expectations in 2024?

David Labuskes: Well, we’re not able to track verified attendance yet for obvious reasons, but we are able to see some other numbers like registrations to date and hotel room bookings. All of those certainly lead us to expect a great showing. We’d expect that we are definitely back into the realm of the InfoComms that were held before the pandemic. We’re excited about the continued diversity in attendance as well, with a continued showing from countries around the world, channel participants, and end users alike—and a continuing emphasis of diverse and creative minds.

SCN: AI is arguably the biggest buzzword in Pro AV these days, but what will be some of the other hot topics on the trade show floor?

DL: We all do love our buzzwords, don’t we! I’m looking forward to hearing and seeing more innovation in areas like AV and network transport integration and the continued advancements and integration of collaboration within our workflows and customer projects. I think we’re going to see a lot of exciting solutions wrapped around content production and streaming. Great places to hear discussions about all the hot topics: Xchange LIVE and on AVIXA TV.

SCN: AVIXA TV is back—what makes this an important component of InfoComm 2024?

DL: AVIXA TV has undergone significant evolution in recent years, and 2024 is no exception. We’re transitioning from an initiative aimed at extending the reach of in-person events globally to a platform showcasing cutting-edge content

notably virtual production. Partnering with Ross Video, AVIXA TV will showcase accessible solutions at the intersection of Pro AV and broadcast, with an innovative booth design set to bring a classroom, courtroom, and even iconic Las Vegas locations to life right on the show floor. Live streams during InfoComm will be broadcast across major social media platforms including YouTube and LinkedIn, with scheduled episodes airing throughout the event from June 11-14.

SCN: What’s new and different for InfoComm attendees in 2024?

DL: We have a lot of new and exciting things planned for InfoComm 2024, including our event “An Evening at Sphere” on Tuesday, June 11. Sphere is the perfect setting to welcome AV professionals from around the world to InfoComm—the event will leave them energized for the trade show and inspired by the magic created by Pro AV. On June 12, Joe Pham, chairman and CEO of QSC, will deliver the keynote “Everything Has Changed,” which will focus on how the Pro AV industry can capture the opportunities presented by AI.

There will be a lot of new education programming at the show, including our AVoIP Foundations course. After offering a version of this course for two years as an exclusively on-demand offering, we’re happy to offer it as an in-person class with two experts who can take the course even further. Hope Roth and Gain Foster have years of industry experience deploying AVoIP solutions. The instructors are great resources, and an in-person environment will allow learners to delve deeply into the world of AVoIP to get their most pressing questions answered.

We are excited to host the SAVe Certification Workshop on Friday, June 14. This full-day program covers important information on current sustainability issues, a workshop session to identify ways your business can address sustainability goals, and a planning session to turn your ideas into action.

#GALSNGEAR is bringing a two-hour workshop, “Getting the Best from Real People on Camera,” to InfoComm for the first time for AV pros working in content production. This is quickly becoming a must-have skill for many in the industry and will specifically address direct non-professionals such as corporate executives and experts, as well as equipment choices and setups for camera, lighting, and sound.

KUDO captioning and translation services will be available for the education package sessions and the show floor stages—Technology Innovation Stage, Xchange Live, and InfoComm AI Experience Stage.

SCN: What companies are partnering with AVIXA this year to deliver educational content at - InfoComm?

DL: InfoComm has partnered with several exceptional organizations for our education programming, including HETMA, NSCA, Digital Signage Federation, Invidis Consulting, SAVe, and #GALSNGEAR.

HETMA Higher Education Summit takes place Monday, June 10, from 1-5 p.m. and Tuesday, June 11, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and brings together learning technology managers to share their experiences on current topics in leadership and management, in-house integration, and students and AV.

NSCA BizSkills is expanding to a full-day workshop on Tuesday, June 11, from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. with a strategic business curriculum, empowering participants with invaluable insights and tools crucial to enhancing business operations within the Pro AV industry.

The Digital Signage Federation is once again producing the D=SIGN education program on Tuesday, June 11. D=SIGN will cover top-of-mind issues for the digital signage industry, including a primer on AI in digital signage, sustainability practices for digital signage, and content creation for integrators.

Invidis Consulting Market Insights Lunch: Digital Signage Forum will take place from noon-2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, covering the current global outlook for digital signage, trends in North America, and new opportunities on the horizon.

SCN: AVIXA is expanding its international footprint with InfoComm America Latina in 2025. What made you decide to add the new trade show?

DL: Latin America is an amazing hot spot for AV innovation, and the community in that region includes some of those most passionate practitioners of our profession anywhere in the world. Our drive to return InfoComm to that region is perfectly aligned with our motivators on every other continent of the world—to act as a catalyst for market growth and to serve as the hub for the AV profession. That community has waited for a long time to have a place to come together and grow, learn, and conduct business. And I couldn’t be more excited to deliver that place in the form of InfoComm América Latina.

SCN: Is Pro AV past the supply chain issues of recent years, and is it a healthy industry as a whole?

DL: While lingering shocks from pandemic-induced supply chain issues remain, Pro AV has largely recovered. As a result, growth can once again be more equally felt across the market. Macro-economic issues like inflation and interest rates represent headwinds this year, but growth is still expected. Experiential applications for AV technology are at the forefront of this growth, as Sphere exemplifies.

InfoComm 2024 will have extensive educational sessions.

InfoComm 2024: Technologies on Display

By Wayne Cavadi

InfoComm 2024 is heading back to Las Vegas this month. Before the show floor opens at the Las Vegas Convention Center, we turned to several exhibitors and posed the question: What is your company’s main focus at the show this year?

Matt Czyzewski, EVP, AtlasIED

Our main focus at InfoComm 2024 is launching a lineup of new products, including the addition of Danteenabled products to our Atmosphere audio processing and control platform. We’ve had several requests from the industry for this addition, and continually listen to our customers’ feedback to meet their needs. We’re looking forward to introducing these additions and other new products to InfoComm attendees.

Garth Lobban, Director of Marketing, Atlona

We have seen strong business activity in the education vertical over the past few years, and serving our higher ed and K-12 customers has been a top priority for 2024. This will be reflected in our booth in several ways, including how we can handle complex AV systems inside classrooms and support the increasing variety of education applications taking shape, including esports. One of our demos will show how our new CS31 Series of compact matrix switchers can acknowledge incoming emergency messages and mute other systems in the room. We will also demonstrate our support for USB-C signals alongside HDMI signals in the classroom, as well as remote inputs that better support collaboration.

Paul Harris, CEO/CTO, Aurora Multimedia

Aurora’s focus will be the “ReAX Room.” This is a new and better way of implementing room control, audio, and video. Using our new RXT-4DV 4-inch control panel with a Dante/AES67 angular beamforming microphone and 4-watt speaker, we have improved the experience and turned a touchpanel from a nicety to a necessity. The system can vote, raise hands, seat place, hearing assist, language translate, distribute video over IP, and much more. Audio will be evenly distributed at the table as well as mic pickup, creating a speaker and microphone array.

Steven Barlow, President,

DVIGear

We will showcase our expanding range of DisplayNet DN-300 Series products at InfoComm with the addition of several new models. These products will provide breakthrough performance and value not available with other AVoIP products.

Ken Frommert, President, ENCO

We will showcase our real-time Qimera virtual production system with an emphasis on its AR, VR, and XR capabilities powered by Unreal Engine. We’ll provide visitors to our booth with insights on how its all-inone package can support a variety of use cases. One example is how corporate clients can apply AR graphics for their video productions and leverage the entire ecosystem for their internal communications as well as external streams.

Dan Holland, Marketing Manager, IHSE USA

As system designers walk the fine line between accessibility and security, they have found keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switching to be an effective means to streamline data access, while maintaining an important level of security and data quality. IHSE plans to demonstrate how our Display Management Systems (DMS) can be tailored to suit each individual user or user team. DMS enables a simpler and more cost-effective solution for sharing common computer and server access more securely—while changing computer access on the fly— resulting in timely access to information without the need of network technicians.

Spiro Plagakis, VP of Product Management, Matrox Video

At InfoComm 2024, we’ll demonstrate our comprehensive portfolio of products, including Matrox Extio 3 secure, high-performance IP KVM extenders; KMLync multi-monitor KVM switching over IP; Matrox Maevex encoders and decoders for ultra-low latency streaming and recording; and Matrox LUMA Pro graphics cards for creating IP-based video walls. These technologies enhance operator efficiency, enable collaboration over IP, and support responsive decision-making in networked IP-based control rooms, live production environments, and other

mission-critical settings. We’ll also showcase the latest updates to ConvertIP IPMX/ST 2110-ready encoders/decoders and converters, as well as ConductIP signal routing software for video production. New technologies include the Mura distributed video wall appliance and Vion, a nextgeneration IP video gateway. Booth visitors will discover how Matrox AVoIP products enable greater interoperability, cost efficiency, and scalability in Pro AV/IT environments. Focusing on the value of open standards in enabling AVoIP workflows, we’ll highlight the impact of IPMX support in our ConvertIP product line.

Paul Richards, CRO, PTZOptics and HuddleCamHD

At this year’s InfoComm, our primary focus is showcasing how to control multiple cameras from anywhere with The Hive. We’re excited to demonstrate how our new platform enhances remote production by offering seamless camera integration, advanced autotracking, and real-time collaboration designed for any environment. We will also demonstrate the advanced dual-camera auto-tracking capabilities of the SimplTrack3, highlighting how effortlessly it can track subjects in motion.

Sean Bowman, Associate VP, North America, Shure

At this year’s show, our main focus is twofold: showcasing our cutting-edge solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible in audio, while building strong relationships with attendees, exhibitors, and industry professionals. Our goal is to demonstrate the unique features and advantages our products deliver for our customers, with the aim of fostering long-term collaborations with industry stakeholders.

Michael Wiener, CEO and Founder, Vanguard LED Displays

Our main focus will be our groundbreaking Infinity Controller, which will control the functioning of all our LED displays at InfoComm in a way that attendees will be able to see the inner workings of a complex control system. The Infinity Controller uses a card/ chassis system that Vanguard invented that allows for the optimal optimization of any size LED display system.

By Peter Hansen

Good growth continues. The surprising slowdown recorded for February, when the AV Sales Index (AVI-S) dropped from 60.7 to 53.4, looks more like a blip than ever.

In March, the AVI-S immediately rebounded to 61.8, a strong growth level that was actually the highest in a year. The strength continued in April, with the AVI-S measuring 61.6—essentially the same as in March. This level is well above the no-net change mark of 50, meaning that the Pro AV industry is expanding at a strong rate. To add more context, 61.6 is also the level that the AVI-S measured in 2019.

In the wider economy, the news was mixed. For the EU, revisions to their 2023 4th quarter GDP numbers shaved enough off to tip the Eurozone into back-to-back quarters of decline for the second half of 2023 (sometimes referred to as a “technical

April Numbers Reinforce March Positivity

recession”). On the other hand, Q1 growth came in solid, with annualized expansion of 1.2%. This growth was enough to recover from the back-to-back quarters of contraction.

In the United States, Q1 GDP was disappointing. Though it was faster than the Eurozone expansion at 1.6%, it was also below the expected 2.4%. When adding in news of a little labor market weakness, the momentum is gaining for the U.S. Federal Reserve Board to shift interest rates lower to support economic expansion.

For Pro AV, the employment news was positive. The AVI-E (AV Employment Index) improved 2.1 points from its March level, rising to 58.7. While this is lower than the AVI-S, it’s the highest result since November 2023. That said, this isn’t a particularly high result for the AVI-E.

The AVI-E has been somewhat subdued so far in 2024 (though still growing), and the current level is still a little shy of what would be normal in pre-

pandemic times. In wider employment news, there is increasing worry that the remarkable and sustained strength of so many global labor markets is beginning to subside. The U.S. labor force added 175,000 jobs against an expectation of 240,000.

If you’re going to miss an expectation, it’s always good to miss a high one like 240,000. But it’s nonetheless a signal that the remarkable run of post-COVID labor market expansion is running out of steam. Assuming that’s true, the challenge now is for the Federal Reserve Board to manage interest rates to get jobs and economic growth to settle in around where it is now, with inflation at target, too.

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. For more information about joining the AVIXA Insights Community, visit www.avixa.org/AVIP.

Peter Hansen is an economist at AVIXA.

Content Creation for Everyone

Carousel’s Parker Offers Advice for Better Digital Signage Deployments

By Mark J. Pescatore

SCN: Why did you decide to create Tightrope Media Systems and the Carousel Digital Signage solution?

JJ Parker: The seeds of the company and its vision were planted in 1996 when I was working for a K-12 school district. One of my responsibilities was to train teachers about how to use their video bulletin board system. It was obvious that the tools used to create and manage messages at that time were not built for teachers. These were tools built for IT specialists and multimedia designers, and it was unfair to expect teachers to navigate that learning curve. That sent us on a mission to create better software for teachers and other everyday users.

SCN: Currently, what are your most popular verticals?

JJP: True to our founding story, Carousel Digital Signage remains very strong in education. We consistently announce deployments with higher education and K-12 customers, and we support the education vertical in diverse ways. One example is our Social and Emotional Learning Collection of content templates for K-12 schools, which provides district administrators with the content and guidance to raise awareness, communicate procedures, and build healthy habits. Carousel also has a strong presence in the corporate market. Our Carousel Cloud platform is built for communicating over widely distributed environments.

SCN: Why is a template-based solution so important to client success?

JJP: Template-based content creation empowers many users across the organization. The ease of use makes it possible for everyone to contribute content to the network. One of Carousel’s strengths is how it limits content creation in ways that ensure the network still adheres to the organization’s branding guidelines and standards. Users can’t just select any

font or color they please. Templating empowers simple content creation while maintaining consistency across the organization.

SCN: How do content zones, RSS feeds, and other content features allow users to enhance their messaging?

JJP: We like to say that the best digital signage CMS is one that you never have to touch. Naturally, that’s not always the reality, but the ability to take in a variety of data feeds that automatically populate on the network eliminates the process of manually retyping that information. We prefer that computers share data instead of requiring manual intervention. The use of shared zones, feeds, and other data sources allows the customer’s digital signage to stay up to date without people maintaining it. And we all know timely, relevant, and fresh content is what creates a truly successful digital signage network.

SCN: Do you have any general rules on determining the number of screens and locations of those screens for digital signage deployments across a campus?

JJP: Put the screens where the people are. Areas with high foot traffic are typically preferred, but the real art is placing screens in areas where people gather and wait. The audience should have time to consume the information on the screen. Someone rushing to a destination is not going to stop and absorb the content. We look to cafeterias, lobbies, waiting rooms, and large gathering spaces as ideal targets versus focusing strictly on high-traffic, high-movement areas.

SCN: How can customers choose the right media player for their digital signage deployments?

JJP: We have seen many media players comes and go over our 25 years in the digital signage business, ranging from high-end Windows players to very low-cost Android sticks. We have remained focused on media players that offer long-term stability. Network player maintenance can add up quickly when you are using $20 sticks that aren’t built for sustainability. The upfront cost may be lower, but in the long run those costs escalate because there is a need to replace power supplies often and occasionally replace the actual media players. While we support a variety of media players, we feel that Apple TV and BrightSign players represent the best long-term solutions for performance and total cost of ownership.

JJ Parker

Position: Co-Founder and CEO

Company: Carousel Digital Signage

Overtime: When he’s not building companies, you can find him playing tennis, rock climbing, flying airplanes, or hanging out with his three kids.

SCN: What is Carousel Cloud and how does it keep content secure?

JJP: Carousel Cloud is a SaaS solution, and we host and run everything in a typical SaaS configuration. There are a few ways that we keep data secure that differentiate us from other signage companies. We are SOC 2-compliant, which means that we meet requirements for safeguarding customer data based on criteria for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. It was a widely accepted, standards-based framework in the IT industry. Carousel Cloud’s architecture also segregates data, which means that our customers’ data is not comingling. Each customer has its own server instance, database, and data storage. A lot of SaaS companies operate with shared databases and storage.

SCN: Is Carousel looking to expand into digital menu boards and other digital signage applications?

JJP: We are increasingly winning corporate communications business in the retail and restaurant business. This is more back-of-house and breakroom content for employees, and not necessarily consumer-facing. One of our biggest recent wins in this space is with a regional McDonalds chain in Pennsylvania, and we are doing pilots with other QSR chains. Our education customers also use Carousel Cloud for indoor digital menu boards in cafeterias.

SCN: What's next for digital signage?

JJP: It’s no longer about just reaching people in the physical workplace or on the school campus. Hybrid lifestyles mean everyone is not always in the facility or on campus. How do we reach them elsewhere? We have been building features into the Carousel Cloud platform that break beyond the facility’s walls and communicate the same message to smart phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. One way we are doing this is with our new Carousel Daily service, which allows organizations to streamline communications to audiences within an app. That app includes external URLs within a digital signage feed, guiding viewers to essential destinations for tasks such as training completion, video viewing, and other urgent matters, for example. The goal is to reach people where they are and change how users engage with an organization’s content.

PEOPLE EXECUTIVE Q&A

AV-Tech’s Thrasher Offers Hybrid Workspace Advice

By Mark J. Pescatore

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

Bill Thrasher: I have been with AV-Tech for 15 years. I’m currently the COO, overseeing all sales and operations of the business. My experience in the AV industry extends over 27 years, having grown up immersed in it and involved in every aspect of the industry and its various vertices.

SCN: What advice do you give clients to help them achieve meeting equity?

BT: To achieve meeting equity, I advise clients to prioritize audio optimization, as it’s crucial for communication, and to understand that while budget constraints may lead to simpler video setups, investing in advanced systems can enhance the experience significantly.

SCN: Are huddle rooms still a thing—and if so, how have they evolved?

BT: Huddle rooms continue to be highly utilized, evolving to serve as private offices or for dual-screen

applications, enhancing functionality for copresentations and data examination, with multiscreen setups becoming essential.

SCN: Is the 21:9 display trend still growing?

BT: Regarding the 21:9 display trend, I personally find it lacking due to the need for larger displays to accommodate the reduced content space, suggesting that a 32:9 or dual 16:9 setup provides a better experience without compromising room functionality.

SCN: I know we tend to focus on technology, but how important is the furniture to your workplace hybrid solutions?

BT: Furniture plays a critical role in workplace hybrid solutions, often prioritized at the expense of AV system functionality, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing form and function in these environments.

SCN: AI is the buzzword these days, but what do most clients get wrong about the technology?

BT: Many clients misunderstand AI technology, often expecting a single solution to suffice indefinitely, not aligning IT and AV teams, which can lead to operational challenges and overlook the essential human element in AV tech.

SCN: When it comes to live events, how has AV-Tech Media Solutions dealt with the recent challenges of hiring and retaining talent?

BT: To address hiring and talent retention challenges for live events,

Bill Thrasher

Position: COO

Company: AV-Tech

Media Solutions

Overtime: In my limited spare time, I am a passionate college football and baseball fan. I own a furniture restoration store called Re-PURPOSED-Full Furniture and Finishes in Holly Springs, GA, and I am a former Marine.

AV-Tech Media Solutions focuses on developing internal talent, staffing flexibility based on event and client needs, and relying on a robust pool of contract experts.

SCN: Has the live event market slowed down or is it continuing its post-pandemic surge?

BT: The live event market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the demand for in-person experiences and the significant role of production value, indicating continued expansion in this sector.

SCN: Sustainable Pro AV solutions: Mostly a must-have or just a nice-to-have for your clients?

BT: Sustainability in Pro AV solutions is not always a priority for our clients, with initiatives sometimes sidelined despite improvements in products that incorporate sustainable features and design.

SCN: You get approached by a potential new client to upgrade their corporate space for their hybrid workforce. What are the first questions you ask and why?

BT: When approached by a potential new client for upgrading their corporate space, I would ask what they aim to achieve with the technology to understand their expectations for connected experiences and inquire about their budget.

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

BT: The next big trend in the Pro AV industry is the increasing separation from IT, despite ongoing synergies, as AV requires unique expertise in upgrade support and implementation that IT teams may not fully accommodate.

DN-300 Series

The Ultimate AVoIP Platform

The Future of AV Distribution is Here

The DisplayNet DN-300 Series delivers an unprecedented level of AVoIP performance, versatility and reliability— at a price point that defines a new industry benchmark for value. Based on the latest SDVoE technology, the DN-300 Series provides 4K/60 (4:4:4) video distribution with limitless scalability, zero-frame latency and zero image artifacts.

These units offer unique features that provide system designers with exceptional versatility:

 Switchable Transmitter /  Receiver operation

 Dual (copper /  fiber) network interfaces

 Auxiliary H.264/5 video output streams

 Powerful network security features

 Silent, fanless operation

 PoE+ support

 Long Range: 100 meters (copper), 30KM (optical)

 Versatile KVM Routing

 DN-300: full-bandwidth USB 2.0 routing

 DN-300H: USB HID device instant switching

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

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

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sales@dvigear.com

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By Steve Greenblatt

AAI’s Impact in Pro AV

How Can You Put It to Work for Your Business?

rtificial intelligence has become a buzzword within the AV industry as well as the world at large, but its meaning and importance can vary depending on the audience. Whether or not it has already been realized, AI is not just hype or a passing fad. Its influence is significant and will continue to grow and impact all people, businesses, and workflows as either a tool, threat, or opportunity.

For many, ChatGPT is their understanding of AI because of the publicity it has received, accessibility it offers, and value it has demonstrated to just about everyone in recent years. But while it seems like a recent breakthrough to the general population, the truth is that AI has existed for decades.

Learning Lessons

There are many forms and sources of AI, some of which we have been commonly implementing. Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant are examples of AI that have already become mainstream; however, they have been unable to demonstrate the power, flexibility, and value that are readily attainable with current AI-powered chatbots.

According to management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, AI is a machine's ability to perform cognitive functions we normally associate with the human mind, such as reasoning, learning, and problem solving. Underneath the heading of AI is machine learning, which is comprised of algorithms that process large sets of data or inputs to make predictions and recommendations without specific instructions. Examples of these are facial recognition, product recommendations, and predictive text and autocorrection.

Further specializing within machine learning is deep learning and then generative AI. Generative AI is what most people refer to when they speak about AI because of ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, DALL-E, Claude, and popular tools. (Note, GPT stands for generative pre-trained transformer, a model designed to generate human-like text in response to a prompt and the behind-the-scenes driver for many AI tools.)

Harnessing the Power

Can AV professionals harness the power of AI within their organizations? Beyond its impact in advancing product development to include more client-centric capabilities and benefits, AI offers the opportunity to propel businesses by simplifying

routine tasks, reducing the effort of creating content or developing coding, and improving efficiency. Each of these improves outcomes by saving time and/or increasing productivity.

In today’s business climate—and especially in small businesses—most teams are lean, with each member wearing multiple hats and working hard to keep up with the demands of their primary focus and secondary responsibilities. Having a way to reduce the time spent on any activity would be a benefit, especially those tasks that are highly time consuming, don’t require their expertise, and/or are low payoff.

The use of AI may not be a requirement, but it can be a distinct competitive advantage or superpower for those who embrace it.

This is where AI can be a valuable tool. Used effectively, AI can amplify productivity, reduce busy work, and/or streamline processes while being a cost-effective alternative to increasing expenses or billable hours, outsourcing, or allowing tasks to go undone. The challenge is to understand how to implement AI effectively, where it can make the biggest impact, and invest the time and money into determining how to apply it.

Choose Your Task

For a tool like ChatGPT, time must be invested to understand the prompts that will produce the best outcome in the least amount of time. Also, let’s remember that AI is good but far from perfect. Therefore, the work it produces, while very impressive, must be checked for accuracy and should be adjusted for personalization and style to avoid being inauthentic.

When it comes to software applications that leverage AI, it’s critical to refine and prioritize a specific list of tasks and search for a tool that

satisfies them, rather than being sold a solution that provides a lot of capabilities that don’t address critical needs. Using multiple applications that are focused on serving a specific role can be more effective than seeking an all-or-nothing solution.

Where do you start? I suggest you determine the tasks that are tedious or time consuming, not your area of strength, or don’t require your involvement. Here are some common answers:

• Meeting notetaking

• Transcription

• Writing code

• Research (alternative to Google)

• Generating content ideas or outlines

• Crafting email messages

• Creating social media posts

• Appointment scheduling

• Sending reminders and follow-up

Prioritizing this list in order of most to least impactful will provide direction on where to apply AI and how it can offer the most value.

Competitive Advantage

AI is not ready to replace a person or eliminate jobs; however, those who do not adopt AI will be replaced by those who do. This holds true for someone in any role. While some may view AI as cutting corners, cheating, or avoiding work, learning to use AI is a skill that will lead to creating leverage and identifying value, followed by developing a mastery that results in increased efficiency and greater results. Following this formula will result in a distinct advantage over those who resist, avoid, or don’t invest in the adoption of AI.

At the moment, the use of AI may not be a requirement, but it can be a distinct competitive advantage or superpower for those who embrace it. Just like when computing and the internet first arrived on the business landscape, early adopters struggled and felt the pains of change at first. Then, once they harnessed the power of these tools and realized the competitive advantage that they offered, they reaped the benefits.

AI presents the same opportunity. Learning to use and apply AI to your needs will provide value in both the short and long term, as long as it is thought of properly and used effectively with a hands-on approach. AI is not going to do the work for you. But it is going to help you get more done in less time and with greater efficiency.

Steve Greenblatt, CTS, is the founder of Control Concepts, which provides specialized software and services for the Pro AV industry. Contact him at steveg@controlconcepts.net.

PEOPLE NEWSMAKERS

Adam Hall Group Expands Integrated Systems Team

The ADAM HALL GROUP is further expanding its Adam Hall Integrated Systems division.

CHRISTIAN LATZELSBERGER was appointed as head of sales and is responsible for shaping the strategic direction and overseeing the sales division of Adam Hall Integrated Systems. Supporting him in the DACH region is Uli Golka, who serves as technical support engineer, integrated systems. Product management is handled by senior product manager, GABRIEL ALONSO CALVILLO, while JENS WERNER assumes the role of junior product manager. The rapidly growing AV business segment of the Adam Hall Group will be led by CHRISTINE GERHARDT as its marketing manager.

Latzelsberger brings more than 30 years of experience in the AV, broadcast, and pro audio industries, most recently serving as global intercom senior product manager for Bosch Security and Safety Systems. He is focused on prioritizing the expansion of the AV integrator network and fostering extended cooperation with technology partners. Before joining the Adam Hall Integrated Systems division, Golka worked for the Adam Hall Group for more than 10 years as sales representative for Northern Germany.

Calvillo leads the product management team of the Adam Hall Integrated Systems division and works together with Werner, whose primarily responsible for the installation area of the Adam Hall Group brand, LD Systems. Previously serving as senior event marketing manager, Gerhardt spearheaded the strategic planning and execution of the Adam Hall Group’s global trade fair appearances as well as the development of new event formats for various customer groups.

LECTROSONICS has appointed JAMIE CRISWELL as Northeast U.S. sales and market development representative and ETHAN DAYTON as technical services manager. In his new role, Criswell is the sales and technical representative for all Lectrosonics customers in the region, including users, designers, and resellers, as well as acting as a marketing and development liaison. He has previous sales roles with Alesis, Harman, and Sennheiser. Dayton manages the customer service

and parts and repair departments. He began his career as a part-time camera operator in Colorado and quickly transitioned to technical services manager.

ASHLY AUDIO has appointed JAY BLOUT as the new national sales manager-retail. Blout brings more than 20 years of experience in sales leadership roles, and has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive growth and cultivate strong relationships with retail partners. In his new role, Blout is responsible for leading Ashly Audio’s retail sales initiatives across the nation, leveraging his expertise to expand market presence and drive revenue growth.

ATLONA continues to ramp up its training program with the hiring of DAN WILLIAMS as regional technical specialist and trainer. Williams brings more than 20 years of AV systems design and technical engineering experience to the newly formed role, which primarily focuses on training Atlona partners in various forms. His AV pedigree has seen him take on mostly customer-facing roles that benefited from his technical knowledge, expertly guiding integrators, consultants, and occasionally end users through the systems design journey.

D&B GROUP appointed MELANIE STEGEMANN as its new VP of brand and corporate communications. With more than 15 years of experience in brand, public relations, and marketing roles, she plays a key role in d&b’s management team, ensuring the group’s brand vision comes to life through engaging messaging and creative content across all channels, both internally and externally. Before joining d&b, Stegemann spent nine years in various senior brand roles at Zumtobel Group, including her most recent position as head of brand marketing.

EASTERN ACOUSTIC WORKS (EAW) recently promoted JAMES BAMLETT to senior director of APAC and EMEA sales. In his new role, Bamlett is responsible for adding new distributors and managing the existing sales channel in the APAC (Asia Pacific) and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) regions. He joined EAW almost 25 years ago, starting in a product specialist role before transitioning to sales.

AUDIO-TECHNICA is expanding its team dedicated to the broadcast and production market. Longtime A-T employee GARY DIXON was promoted to the newly created position of U.S. director, broadcast business development. Additionally, Dixon’s team will be supported by the following new appointments: BEN COCHRAN (engineering and technology advisor) and BRENT CHAMBERLIN (broadcast sales engineer). This team has the combined focus and responsibility for the sales, strategy, support, and product development for the broadcast division.

AVPRO GLOBAL appointed MIKE “SPARKY” DETMER as COO. Detmer, who first joined AVPro Global as a consultant in 2023, leads the company’s growth and global business go-to-market teams, including sales, marketing, customer service, training, technical support, and new business acquisition and development. The company also appointed CHRIS KANE as VP of North American (NA) residential sales. Kane oversees business development initiatives including streamlining sales processes by unifying the AVPro brand portfolio under one experienced manager.

BARBARA BARRY, new lead for the sports division, and RUSTY WAGNER, sales division, have joined SNA DISPLAYS. Barry joins with an extensive career in collegiate and pro sports digital signage, having supported organizations such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Baltimore Orioles, Tennessee Titans, Orlando City Soccer Club, Arizona State University, and Penn State University. Wagner brings 25 years of AV industry experience, most recently from AVI Systems where he was responsible for building and coaching sales teams. His focus at SNA Displays is serving existing client accounts and growing new business in the Central United States.

Ethan Dayton

Jamie Criswell

Jay Blout

Gary Dixon

Ben Cochran

Brent Chamberlain

Chris Kane

Barbara Barry

Rusty Wagner

Mike “Sparky” Detmer

Dan Williams

Melanie Stegemann

James Bamlett

VISIONARY has appointed ROBERT (BOB) JACOBS as technical support engineer. In his new role, Jacobs is expanding the company’s in-house customer service and technical support operations, ensuring integrators receive expert guidance and assistance throughout their projects. Prior to joining Visionary, Jacobs served as an AV designer engineer and worked closely with Visionary’s technology. Jacobs supports Visionary’s customers through technical support and troubleshooting, systems design and integration, and technical training.

GRASS VALLEY has appointed MARK GARDNER as VP of sales for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. Bringing 25 years of experience to his new role, Gardner is driving growth across the EMEA region, working closely with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and helping clients navigate their way through current industry challenges.

CECOCECO, an innovator in the lighting and display industry, has appointed DANNY KIM to the role of senior client engagement. Kim joins CECOCECO from PLANNET, where he was a technology architect and an industry visionary leader. With more than 20 years of experience in technology environments, particularly in audiovisual and business development, Kim has distinguished himself as a key player in the tech industry.

LISTEN TECHNOLOGIES has promoted MIKEY SHAFFER to senior sales director. In this role, Shaffer leads the Listen Technologies sales team and is the primary liaison for dealer channels, regional sales managers, independent manufacturers’ sales representatives, and distributors in North America. Shaffer joined Listen Technologies in 2016 and has held marketing, vertical market, and regional sales roles within the organization.

RTI appointed BEN MAHONEY as the company’s new global training manager. In this new role, Mahoney leads online and in-person training and education initiatives for RTI’s commercial and residential market segments. Mahoney brings 20 years of training and leadership experience to RTI, including roles at Control4 and ClearOne. Most recently, he was director of education at Nice North America, leading development programs across all Nice business units.

WHYREBOOT has appointed NATHAN HOLMES as its new director of operations. Holmes brings a wealth of experience in the technology and education sectors, having previously held significant roles at Snap One and Access Networks. As the former senior manager of education for Snap One, Holmes played a crucial role in integrating the Access Networks Education Department into the Snap One organization and creating the Managed Services Educational department.

Robert (Bob) Jacobs

Mark Gardner

Danny Kim

Ben Mahoney

Mikey Shaffer

Nathan Holmes

Making the Case for Managed Services

By James Careless

In a world where customers expect their AV systems to be always available, managed services make sense. Often provided by the integrator who installed their equipment, managed services mean 24/7 support for these systems, both to prevent problems through remote monitoring and regular servicing, as well as fixing problems quickly and economically when they occur.

“An effective managed service must enable customers to outsource day-to-day support responsibility while applying a continuous improvement approach,” explained Karen Klosinski, AVI-SPL’s VP of products and solutions.

“With AVI-SPL Enterprise Managed Services, we assume full responsibility for as-is environments, assess the current maturity level, and apply technology, business intelligence, and deep industry expertise to transform environments into simple-to-use, supportable, scalable, and secure business communication platforms.”

to Customers

A Levelled Approach

As with most kinds of paid customer support, AV managed services are offered in a range of levels.

“First line support is mostly geared towards taking the problem report in and coordinating getting somebody on site,” said Richard Mebane, VP of operations with Verrex, which offers AV integration services and managed services. “We have a second line of support that is more advanced, which provides next steps and troubleshooting to our customers’ AV staff to fix problems themselves.

“All this support is backed up by our project engineers, because the majority of our support is for AV systems that we installed,” he continued. “So, the project engineers who engineered the system can be brought into the mix to resolve problems.”

At the PSNI Global Alliance, its latest managed services offering is a network operations center (NOC) service, which is available to and through any of the organization’s Certified Solution Providers. It includes Tier 1-3 support as well as 24/7 access.

“We also offer monitoring services which include equipment monitoring, self-healing, room usage statistics, and more,” added Steve Riley, PSNI’s

From left, Karen Klosinski, Richard Mebane, Steve Riley, and Shawn Fernandez

Managed services offer a win-win for integrators and their customers, but it’s not always the easiest sell.

director of global professional services. “This service partnership enables organizations to ensure security, stability, and longevity across their AV and IT operational landscape. Our NOC service provides PSNI Certified Solution Providers the ability to proactively monitor their clients’ systems and provide remote resolution for networked hardware and offers advanced analytics and custom reporting.”

Reducing Truck Rolls

It is the ability of AV integrators to monitor, manage, and troubleshoot their customers’ AV equipment/ systems remotely that makes managed services economically viable. “Coming out of the IP networking space, I would say that remote monitoring is critically important,” Mebane said. “You can’t do managed services without it.”

While Klosinski agreed that remote monitoring and management are core to any managed service solution, they’re not the only management practices that matter. “To have a meaningful impact on reliability and user experience, proactive and preventative measures are required,” she said. “With both proactive and preventative strategies in place, we can solve today’s problems while gaining insight into predicting and avoiding tomorrow’s impact. We may reduce the number of truck rolls and we’ll surely improve reliability and reduce operating cost.”

Reducing truck rolls matters—sending technicians to a site costs money that, inevitably, the customer will end up paying for one way or another.

“Remote monitoring does limit truck rolls,” said Shawn Fernandez, VP of business development with Solutionz, which introduced its Solutionz RMM remote monitoring and management platform last year. “To be able to go in remotely to a device and be able to reboot it, troubleshoot it, or send it code can solve problems from a distance and limits the amount of truck rolls that are usually required.”

In fact, the reduction in truck rolls made possible by remote monitoring is nothing short of impressive. “The statistics say that up to 40% of truck rolls can be solved remotely through remediation efforts and proper troubleshooting techniques,” Riley told SCN. “Not only can these

“I would say that remote monitoring is critically important. You can’t do managed services without it.”

Richard Mebane, Verrex

issues likely be resolved remotely, but in the cases where they cannot, remote troubleshooting can ensure that a technician with the proper skillset is being sent to resolve the issue, because they have been properly informed of the issue.”

The best part: In most cases, no new

infrastructure is required at the customer’s site to enable remote monitoring. “That is one of the benefits of a managed service like AVI-SPL’s Enterprise Managed Services,” said Klosinski. “We provide all the management applications and infrastructure required for asset tracking,

BUSINESS MANAGED SERVICES

monitoring, ticketing, and reporting. Customers need only establish a remote connection with a communications application installed in a virtual server environment.”

Then there’s the caveat: Providing managed service to AV customers does come with costs attached for the AV integrator that offers them. Beyond the required equipment to support this service, there are also staffing considerations.

“In most cases, you can count on needing one on-site technician per $250K in annual revenue in the service department,” Riley estimated. “A coordinator will be required to answer the phone and own the service ticket from its creation through closure—and again, depending on volume, this individual would also own the calendar and would be responsible for dispatching technicians as needed.”

‘Win-Win’ Proposition AV managed services are a true “win-win” proposition for customers and integrators alike. For AV customers, paying a monthly fee for managed services maximizes the availability of their facilities. Not only does this justify their AV investments, but it ensures their usage on a daily basis, providing their business with the many advantages that on-tap AV has to offer.

“It helps the end customer to get the most out of their AV spaces,” Riley said. “Keeping AV systems working takes regular maintenance, in addition to responding to service requests as they will, most likely, occur at the most inopportune moments. The aim of our NOC is to provide a fully managed support service for use by our Certified Solution Providers and the rollouts they are involved in, ensuring maximum uptime in system performance for enterprise customers, coupled with Tier 3 dispatch support through PSNI’s 250-plus locations worldwide.”

Managed services also help customers get the most mileage out of their AV systems, just as regular oil changes and other scheduled services keep cars on the road longer. This is why AVI-SPL strives to provide services and solutions “for all stages of the technology life cycle,” Klosinski said. “Managed services enable us to help our customers realize the business value of their technology investments.”

Offering managed services is good for integrators as well, because it provides them with a regular revenue stream after the initial AV installations are complete. “I think it’s significant and should progress to being more significant,” said Mebane. “Probably about 18% of our revenue is recurring and we keep trying to inch that up.”

“Managed service agreements hit your P&L [Profit and Loss] as deferred revenue, meaning it spreads the funds evenly across the coverage term,” Riley explained. “Also known as recurring revenue, this provides the integrator with a consistent stream of revenue throughout the year

that can be counted on from quarter to quarter. For us, the benefits are twofold, with our Certified Solution Providers benefiting directly from PSNI’s worldwide resources and their clients having ongoing support no matter their location. This service brings a strong foil to our offering, which, in turn, helps the company to grow.”

Not An Easy Sell?

There’s just one dark cloud in the blue skies of managed services: the reluctance of some customers to commit to regular payments.

“It’s not as easy to sell managed services in the AV space as it is in the IP networking, where they understand its benefits,” Mebane explained. “In the IP world, when even a part of your network goes down, a whole lot of people are impacted in a whole lot of ways—whereas in the AV world, where a customer has 50 huddle rooms, if one goes down, it’s not that big a deal.”

Another challenge in selling managed services is that customers can live without support until something goes wrong. “It’s not like the software world where everything’s turned into subscriptions and you need to write a check every year just to keep your service running or your software running,” Mebane added.

Riley argued a lack of understanding on the part of customers has a “great effect” on the ability to sell managed services. To address this, managed services sales teams need resources, such as a resource guide, complete with frequently asked questions, common objections, and pricing examples.

“Basically, everything a salesperson would need

to know,” Riley added. “Often, service agreements are put at the end of the contract—and by doing this it makes the agreement feel optional. Put the service agreement as your first line item. Be proud of it. Be ready to talk about it.”

Again, there is some good news: There is growing interest and adoption of managed services among AV customers. “In many ways, this is directly related to the migration to cloud-based collaboration technologies during the pandemic,” said Klosinski. “Organizations were able to quickly migrate to cloud-based collaboration platforms at that time, but many were not able to keep up with the IT staff demands and the learning curves that resulted. Our Enterprise Managed Service is a direct result of this demand, providing both 24/7 remote management and on-site dispatch when required for a more comprehensive approach.”

As for the future of managed services? Although none of the experts interviewed for this article expect their revenues to surpass money earned from actual AV installations, they do see managed services as a vital part of any AV integrator’s total cash flow. “If you get 5-10% of the project sales in managed services, that's good,” Mebane noted.

“I don’t think there’s any limit, and that revenue from managed services is going to be very, very important for us as we go forward,” added Fernandez. “I think we have a lot of organizations looking to outsource more so than ever before. It is also a lot easier to sell wider into an existing customer organization than it is to go find new clients, and so I think there’s a lot of managed services that can be added to our portfolio that can be an important part of the bottom line.”

The Solutionz RMM remote monitoring and management platform offers proactive monitoring, analytics, and alerts.

Integrators and AI

The Future of Pro AV Is Already Here

By Carolyn Heinze

The hype around generative AI is recent, but Pro AV has been applying smart technology and artificial intelligence for a while. What has members of this industry excited is how quickly these systems are evolving, as well as their potential to revolutionize not only the end user experience but how systems are designed and deployed as well.

In the hybrid meeting environment, for example, smart cameras and audio processing technology are leveraging AI to improve conferencing. “If we talk about intelligent edge devices, pretty much there isn’t a single manufacturer that is building any kind of conference room technology where AI isn’t a central part of how the camera is framing the image and composing what we view,” noted Julian Phillips, SVP of global workplace solutions and managing director of the AVI-SPL Experience Technology Group (XTG). “Thanks to AI-driven audio processing, meetings are no longer interrupted by the sound of crinkling papers and tapping pens. With AI, now we have the ability to

isolate a lot of those noises and concentrate on the real conversation that’s going on.”

Phillips believes that Pro AV is well-positioned to leverage artificial intelligence—more so than others in the tech space. “I think the sooner that we in the AV industry understand the advantages that we have, we will create the next big surge of growth,” he said. This is because for AI to be trained well, it requires solid data. AV professionals are experts in deploying cameras and microphones—what Phillips argues are among the most powerful sensors out there, capable of capturing, processing, and analyzing rich data in real time. “We know about camera technology. We know about microphones. We also know how to network them,” Phillips said. “It’s a natural advantage we have that puts us in a very powerful position.”

For example, imagine an industrial manufacturer that wishes to streamline its production process. By analyzing video feeds, AI could suggest how to cut costs while at the same time speed up operations. 3D augmented and virtual reality models can assist clients in visualizing how these modifications would

look on a practical level.

“And guess what? When that [new] factory is built, just think about all the AV that’s going to be in there—the cameras and microphones watching what’s going on, ingesting information, analyzing it, and spitting it out onto large visual displays or [into] control rooms that are monitoring the way the factory is run,” Phillips illustrated.

The Sales Pitch

The hype surrounding AI makes it difficult for customers to determine how this technology can actually help them. Christopher Pennell, industry principal at research firm Frost & Sullivan, noted that the organizations his company works with are trying to understand how AI can solve their business challenges. This means AV integrators should focus on selling solutions rather than specific technology.

“It’s not trying to sell AI per se,” Pennel offered. “It’s trying to understand the challenge that the customer is trying to use AI to address.”

In some cases, AI may be the best way to resolve these issues—while in others, it may be overkill. AV integrators can play a key role in helping their customers navigate this landscape. “The cost may put a client off doing something, or it might just be that it over-engineers the solution [and] locks down a client to a certain approach that they might not want in two or three years,” Pennel said.

AI also has a role in expediting an AV integrator’s internal functions. Keith Yandell, VP of innovation at AVI Systems, noted that his organization is exploring how AI can help project teams draft proposals faster. “The scope is an all-important piece of our business: It puts a fence around responsibilities,” Yandell said. “[We’re] leaning on AI—Copilot and other tools—to help us write a scope quickly and work with our customer to understand the job at hand, get it underway, and get it done.”

Managed services is one area where Yandell sees the demand for AI-driven solutions gaining traction, particularly when it comes to monitoring and management. “When a device triggers some kind of alert, how much automation can we have around sending queries to that device to get a better idea of what’s failing so that we can solve the problem sooner?” he asked. “That’s where, on the

From left, Julian Phillips, Christopher Pennell, Keith Yandell, Sam Kennedy, David Martin, and TJ Adams

managed services side, AI is becoming attractive to our customers.”

Keep It Secure

The problem with public, cloud-based AI tools is that they’re public. That means the data these solutions are trained on is available to anyone. If an AV firm is using these systems to generate proposals, it’s potentially sharing its intellectual property with the competition, Yandell noted.

For this reason, organizations across every industry need to define clear parameters for good security hygiene as it applies to AI. Phillips argued the best way to do this is to bring AI in-house and establish rules for data governance and security

without restricting users to the point where they go rogue. “You’ve got to enable people to experiment with this stuff,” he said, “but make people aware of the obligations they have with regards to security.”

There are also the legalities to consider, noted Sam Kennedy, senior director of product marketing at Crestron. “Certain AI programs that can identify an individual speaker—literally putting a name to a face—are illegal in some U.S. states and global jurisdictions,” he said.

Ethics is another area of concern. Should employers really be using AI to discern what moods meeting participants are in—and then save that information for future reference? And how well can artificial intelligence differentiate between real

“You’ve got to enable people to experiment with this stuff, but make people aware of the obligations they have with regards to security.”

Julian Phillips, AVI-SPL XTG

anger, sarcasm, or simply kidding around?

“This is why an AI program—especially those that are generative or meant to act as a virtual assistant— should default to ‘opt-in,’” Kennedy said. In other words, the system won’t capture this data unless participants allow it to.

The same could be said for conferencing platforms that allow users to create personal voice profiles that are then automatically recognized by the system and stored by the platform developer. “I think the most interesting question is: Are you willing, as a participant in corporate life, to sign up for being a trusted participant?” challenged David Martin, co-founder and CTO at Nureva. “Those are the types of questions that will be facing all of us as we move forward with these types of technologies.”

For TJ Adams, VP of systems product strategy and development at Q-SYS, the issues related to AI security in Pro AV should be an ongoing conversation. “We need to keep talking about this as cultural norms evolve alongside our AI technology adoption journey,” he said. He acknowledged that there may be no easy answers to questions, for example, about privacy and the treatment of user data—at least not yet. “However, if we stay watchful, empathetic, and ethical, we can handle it with integrity together.”

BUSINESS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI in Pro AV: Here and Now

By Carolyn Heinze

22Miles

22Miles has introduced three solutions that leverage artificial intelligence: the AI Assistant chat interface for wayfinding or delivering product information to consumers; AI Backoffice, an internal-facing tool organizations can use so employees can access corporate information based on their roles and authorizations; and AI Command, a backend CMS interface that lets users edit content and execute digital signage commands quickly. According to Tomer Mann, chief revenue officer and global enterprise lead, these tools are built on a “walled garden” model, which means they leverage only the customer’s data. This results in more accurate responses, as well as a more secure environment. “We train it to be really responsive to that individual client’s needs,” he said.

Crestron

Crestron’s 1 Beyond cameras come equipped with AI-directed tracking and framing. For larger, high occupancy spaces, up to 12 1 Beyond cameras can leverage Crestron Automate VX, which is a visual AI-driven, voice-activated speaker tracking system. Crestron's senior director of product marketing, Sam Kennedy, explained that visual AI auto-frames the individual who is speaking and centers the frame, even if they move away from the microphone that has been sending location data. “This frees collaborators to move naturally around the room as they speak—an

especially common occurrence in longer meetings—without participants having to concern themselves with staying in the frame,” he explained. “This is where the AI solution shines, since it’s able to discern between slight movements, where no reframing is necessary, and larger moves.”

Hailo

An “edge-focused” chipmaker, Hailo produces AI processors that render smart devices capable of performing tasks such as object detection and segmentation in real time. Because the technology operates at the edge, it decreases challenges associated with network latency. This is important for Pro AV, argued Avi Baum, co-founder and CTO, because of the rich data that is captured by multiple cameras and microphones. “Our [solution] was designed with edge in mind—it’s not like we’ve transitioned the technology from cloud to edge,” explained Baum. “The ability to do advanced analytics or process this amount of data very close to its source is favorable if you want to be able to address the full capacity of that data. Edge AI enables us to do it on the fly—the indexing, the filtering, and all the analysis that is needed. It allows us to address the full content without losing anything.”

Jabra

Released last year, Jabra’s AI-driven PanaCast 50 videobar delivers a panoramic 180-degree field of view via a 4K multi-camera array, and voice detection and intelligent algorithms eliminate echoes and static noise. Its Intelligent Meeting Rooms Experiences offer features such as

Virtual Director, Intelligent Zoom, and Dynamic Composition, which all work in conjunction to create meeting equity. Joshua Blalock, chief video evangelist, said that at the end of last year, the manufacturer issued what it calls a value pack, a firmware update that introduced these new features.

“That’s an important part of our value proposition—you’re purchasing a premium device up front, but the value is unwrapped and over time,” he added.

Nureva

Nureva’s Microphone Mist technology powers its family of audioconferencing solutions. Designed for meeting and learning environments, this platform enables intelligent sound targeting, position-based gain control, and echo cancellation with the goal of delivering clear speech intelligibility. At the core are thousands of virtual microphones —individual audio pickup points that result when two or more mics work in conjunction to capture sound in a zone. Nureva’s solutions are self-contained and operate at the edge, eliminating the need to send signals to the cloud for processing. “The foundation of our Microphone Mist technology is really elegant algorithms created by developers who have a really strong understanding of acoustics,” said James Rempel, director of product management.

Perifery

Perifery has developed an AI-powered conversational interface to simplify

media asset management. The Intelligent Content Engine (ICE) lets users manage, organize, and curate audio files, documents, images, and videos by simply talking to it, and will examine and catalog every file within its scope, whether or not traditional metadata is attached to the asset. “By leveraging AI agents and advanced machine learning models across a wide variety of media content types, it empowers users to have intuitive interactions with media storage by using natural language requests,” said Jason Perr, CTO of M&E solutions. “In effect, users can now speak directly with their content to achieve the next evolution of media content management, and finally go beyond metadata.”

Q-SYS

Following Q-SYS’ acquisition of AI-driven camera automation software developer Seervision, it released the Q-SYS VisionSuite. These solutions combine to deliver a better hybrid meeting experience for all participants whether they’re on site or remote, thanks to features such as AI-driven presenter tracking and audio-based multi-camera switching. “Imagine a scenario where the camera not only recognizes individuals but also distinguishes between them, ensuring seamless tracking and coverage—that’s precisely what Q-SYS VisionSuite enables,” explained TJ Adams, VP of systems product strategy and development. “By acting as a co-pilot, AI should empower teams to deliver more consistent and elevated experiences across projects, leveraging automation to optimize system setups, provide valuable usage statistics and analysis, and a simplified user experience.”

Out of Sight Sound

In-Ceiling Speakers Help Deliver More Equitable Experiences

By Wayne Cavadi

What you thought you knew about inceiling speakers yesterday is not what you know about in-ceiling speakers today. The hybrid world—whether it is solutions (like videobars) or features (like AI)—continues to evolve as we push toward a more equitable space for both the in-person and remote experience. The same is true for restaurants or retail environments that require uniform audio delivery throughout, whether it is for background music or emergency notifications.

Hearing what needs to be heard is important to everyone’s experience, but we don’t necessarily want to see obtrusive devices delivering said audio. So, what are we looking for with the latest in-ceiling microphone technology?

“There are a multitude of uses for ceiling speakers in the professional market,” explained Nalle Magnusson, product manager at Shure.

“Among the most popular uses are meeting rooms, public spaces, and any flexible spaces that require an evenly distributed audio system that is out of sight, but still delivers a good listening experience. The system often provides speech amplification for the meeting room, either from a far-end codec or an in-room microphone system. For other spaces, the ceiling speaker system provides music, evacuation messaging, or similar.”

To Use, Or Not to Use

Why consider in-ceiling speakers in the first place?

“One of their primary advantages is their ability to maintain a clean aesthetic, particularly when visible in-room speakers are not preferred,” said Alexander Zaliauskas, director of product management, speakers, Snap One. “Architects specify ceiling speakers to blend into environments seamlessly, sometimes integrating them with LED lighting fixtures for a cohesive design.”

“In commercial applications, in-ceiling speakers are most often used to achieve uniform sound coverage,” added Tom Oliver, Vanco’s sales director for commercial AV. “That’s a goal for a

wide range of applications, including videoconference rooms, public address, emergency notifications, voice reinforcement, and program audio.”

“Distributed audio systems are probably the biggest segment for these devices—in any space where you want music or any kind of ambient sound everywhere,” added Joel Mulpeter, director of product marketing for Creston.

But in-ceiling speakers are not an ideal solution for every project. According to Paul Harris, Aurora Multimedia’s CEO and CTO, there’s not much use for ceiling speakers in smaller rooms where the display speakers or a soundbar can be utilized. And Magnusson said that in certain situations, it can be difficult to achieve the necessary gain before feedback due to the lack of dispersion control inherent in a ceiling speaker system. “In these cases, a point-source/directional speaker or line array system may be necessary thanks to their much more precise audio dispersion,” he said. When it comes to conferencing and massive spaces, in-ceiling speakers are best for larger meeting rooms and paging speakers. But there are still some challenges. “The construction and

Magnusson offered a number of questions to consider: “Is the room suitable for an in-ceiling system? Is there space above the ceiling to easily install and pull cables? Should it run on 70V, LoZ, or be networked? Can the speakers be placed to minimize reflections from the walls? How will the room be used? In-room microphone system amplification? Far-end amplification? Music? Only by fully understanding these requirements can you design a suitable system.”

“Intelligibility, uniformity, and user experience are the most important factors,” opined Oliver. “The AVIXA Audio Coverage Uniformity Standard offers a great foundation for in-ceiling loudspeaker system design.”

And don’t forget the customer. “Qualifying the customer and asking the right questions are crucial steps in identifying the best solution for your customer,” said Zaliauskas. “Factors such as budget, performance expectations, room layout, aesthetic considerations, and intended usage all play pivotal roles in determining the most suitable in-ceiling products among the myriad of options available.”

Can you consider in-ceiling speakers for outdoor locations, such as restaurant patios? “If the client prefers them, why not?” Mulpeter said. “We’re seeing more outdoor spaces that function as ‘rooms’ unto themselves, and if a space has a permanent ceiling, there’s no reason why a weather-resistant device can’t go into that ceiling. We designed many of our audio products to handle marine deployments as a baseline for durability, reliability, and weather resistance—if the gear can handle the rigors of the open ocean, it can handle a patio.”

“Intelligibility, uniformity, and user experience are the most important factors.” Tom Oliver, Vanco

aesthetic of some spaces isn’t conducive to in-ceiling speakers. If the ceilings are extremely high, or the space has an industrial design with exposed rafters, you may want to opt for in-wall, wall-mounted, or pendant speakers instead,” Oliver added. “You also have to consider bleedthrough to adjacent spaces—though with the right speaker or backbox design, you can overcome that issue.”

Design Considerations

Once the decision is made to go with in-ceiling speakers, plotting the design is imperative to achieve optimal audio and clarity—or as Mulpeter said, it takes “planning, planning, and more planning.”

“Some in-ceiling speakers can be mounted in a pendant enclosure for outdoor and other applications,” Oliver added. “Of course, you must be certain the enclosure is appropriately rated for outdoor use in your local environment. Most regions in North American need IP65-rated gear to resist typical weather and particle exposure.”

On the Network?

How about networking an in-ceiling speaker system? Simply put, it depends. Oliver said the ROI of networked speakers is directly related to the size and complexity of the project. “If you’re creating a sound system for a large stadium, networked audio can dramatically simplify distribution,” Oliver said. “For a sports bar or conference room, probably not.”

Nalle Magnusson

Tom Oliver

Paul Harris

Joel Mulpeter

Alexander Zaliauskas

IN-CEILING SPEAKERS TECHNOLOGY

“In commercial installations, particularly large-scale ones, networked speakers have experienced rapid adoption,” said Zaliauskas. “This is primarily due to the scalability and advanced audio routing capabilities offered by audio-over-IP systems. These networked solutions streamline audio distribution and management, making them well-suited for complex commercial environments where flexibility and control are paramount.”

“Networked audio allows the addition of an incredible range of sources, from streaming to pro audio connections to physical media,” Mulpeter added. “The ability to scale up and send flawless audio at longer distances without sacrificing quality is another huge factor.”

For paging or fire safety systems, networked

audio can be very useful to monitor individual speakers and “the amplification can be segmented and powered from the switch,” Harris said. “It also allows for zone/speaker specific notification—and if the speaker has a microphone feature, it can even become a two-way intercom. For a conference room, it’s not as necessary—but with the right solution, it can simplify installation, as the audio would be distributed by Dante/AES67 and eliminate the need for an amplifier mounted somewhere in the room.”

The Sub Routine

As more corporate venues and meeting spaces look toward a complete, comprehensive sound system, some installations feature a subwoofer with the in-ceiling speakers. While more of a luxury than necessity, most of our experts agreed there is a place for one in the right environment.

“The ‘whys’ of an in-ceiling sub are often related to pure practicality—the client’s office is a glass box, for example,” Mulpeter explained. “Or perhaps they’re retrofitting an old building in London or Boston with thick masonry walls. In any case, sound mitigation will probably be a big consideration. Those low frequencies can travel

long distances, and the folks in the office above yours don’t want to hear the Death Star exploding.”

“It’s essential to recognize that no single speaker can fully reproduce the entire audio spectrum with optimal effectiveness,” noted Zaliauskas. “Ceiling speakers, for instance, have a limited cone area, impacting the extent of bass reproduction they can achieve. While digital signal processing [DSP] and other tools can enhance perceived bass through psychoacoustic techniques, there are scenarios where supplementing with a subwoofer becomes necessary to meet customer expectations in terms of performance.”

But not all experts are fans of ceiling-based subwoofers. While Harris said a subwoofer can add liveliness to music or movies, one isn’t necessary for unified communications, as speech doesn’t require the very low frequencies of a subwoofer. “Personally, a subwoofer in a ceiling is a poor choice, as the low frequencies are more likely to make things rattle in the ceiling and the vibrations are more likely to travel to other rooms,” he added. There are plenty of in-ceiling speakers out there for a wide array of use cases. Let us help you get started in finding the right one with the following manufacturers.

Many in-ceiling speakers, like the Extron SF 26Xs recently installed at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore, are designed to blend into the environment.

TECHNOLOGY IN-CEILING SPEAKERS

AtlasIED IsoFlare Series

The AtlasIED IsoFlare Series of premium ceiling loudspeakers are ideal for luxury hotels, casinos, high-end restaurants and bars, retail spaces, and corporate facilities. Its point-source technology provides a natural and accurate soundstage, accurate and linear response, and consistent broadband directivity. The series consists of seven models, including blind mount models in 4, 6, and 8-inch sizes, a 4-inch low profile model, an 8-inch subwoofer, and two pre-install models. The loudspeakers offer an edgeless grille design in either square or round with black and white options. For quick and secure installation, the IsoFlare Series incorporates a patented toolless dog leg mounting mechanism on all models.

Aurora Multimedia SKR-22T-XFR

This lightweight speaker delivers clear sound with fidelity not normally found on typical ceiling speakers. Its ability to reproduce a 180-degree sound field allows the use of only one speaker in a room for mono operation. Installation is quick, as well as less costly and less messy, as there is no cutting of ceiling tiles or back boxes to mount. Just drop the tile into a 2x2 ceiling grid, connect the speaker wire, and you are done. For 4x2 ceiling grids, just cut the tile in half and add a standard ceiling divider. With a full range of audio, presenters sound clear and presentation material is produced without missing the lows or the highs compared to typical 5-inch round ceiling speakers.

Bluesound Professional BCS300

The BCS300 network streaming ceiling speaker is a patented “all-in” solution. PoE technology enables a single Ethernet cable to deliver both power and network connectivity to the built-in amplifier and audio streamer, while the BluOS platform brings in natively integrated commercially licensed audio streaming services like SOUNDMACHINE and Sirius XM for

Business. Other features include distribution control for dozens of zones and XYTE remote monitoring. As a decentralized solution, it is easy to install new or retrofit into existing systems, while the optional pendant kit quickly converts it to a hanging pendant speaker.

Bose Professional EdgeMax EM180

Bose Professional’s EdgeMax series combines high-fidelity sound with unique directionality to break free of the limitations of the in-ceiling loudspeaker category. EdgeMax sounds like a surface-mount loudspeaker, looks like an in-ceiling loudspeaker, and directs sound asymmetrically into spaces where traditional loudspeakers can’t go. Patented PhaseGuide technology creates a coverage profile unique to Bose speakers. Instead of firing downward in a cone-shaped pattern like traditional ceiling speakers, EdgeMax projects sound into the room to deliver high-quality performance and directionality.

Crestron Saros IC6T

26CT is ideal for applications that require a high-power distributed speaker system. It also features a finely perforated round metal grille (or optional square grille) that attaches magnetically to the baffle.

JBL LCT 81C/TM

The LCT 81C/TM delivers high output and intelligibility for classrooms, offices, paging systems, airports, retail stores, and any place where speech and music clarity are critical. The low-profile speaker features a highly efficient 8-inch dual-cone driver with 1-inch voice coil and high-performance transformer. Its wide 100-degree conical dispersion pattern translates to broader coverage with fewer speakers, and its high 96 dB sensitivity means loud and clear sound even at low tap settings. Because the speaker looks like a ceiling vent, it’s ideal for venues where the architect or visual designer doesn’t want the appearance of a ceiling speaker.

Leon Axis Pro Design Series

Saros speakers are designed to deliver enhanced speech intelligibility and full music reproduction for use in boardrooms, classrooms, restaurants, nightclubs, retail spaces, houses of worship, and convention facilities. Designed for quick and easy installation and years of reliable performance, the Saros IC6T is a two-way in-ceiling speaker featuring a 6.5-inch woofer and wide-dispersion, horn-loaded 1-inch dome tweeter. A built-in 60W multi-tap transformer allows for use with 70V and 100V distributed speaker systems. Power handling at 8 ohms is 125W (program), with a wide frequency response from 50 Hz to 20 kHz (±3 dB).

Extron SoundField XD SF 26CT

The SoundField XD SF 26CT two-way ceiling speaker features an 8-inch-deep composite back can for use in plenum-rated ceiling environments. The driver complement includes a 6.5-inch woofer coupled to a 3/4-inch ferrofluid-cooled dome tweeter. The SF 26CT offers both direct 8 ohm and 70/100V operation with a behind-the-grille, six-position power selector switch. With high impedance taps at 8, 16, 32, and 64 watts, the SF

Leon’s Axis Pro Design Series of in-ceiling speakers offers high-quality performance, flexibility, and design. Combining premium, full-range audio with a discreet aesthetic, Axis Pro Design is ideal for ambient background music, as additional sound reinforcement for distributed audio, or as main speakers in any commercial space. Commercialgrade and UL listed with plenum-rated steel back cans and 70V transformers, Axis Pro Design is available in three models and comes standard with magnetically attached circular grills that can be upgraded to square and custom painted to match any color code or paint swatch.

Lowell ES Series

Lowell’s ES Series in-ceiling speakers offer timesaving, ready-to-install designs. The ES Series features a clean look, enhanced sound, and fast installation in a UL listed product that is well suited for a variety of commercial and institutional applications in drywall, wood, and tile ceilings. Six available models range from 4-8-inch drivers

paired with a transformer for 70V applications. The ES Series ensures excellent intelligibility for speech and full-frequency response for music in a selfcontained package designed with contractors and systems integrators in mind.

Pure Resonance Audio C3

Compact and lightweight, the Pure Resonance Audio C3 3-inch micro commercial ceiling speaker seamlessly blends into ceilings with its recessed design. Equipped with a built-in 70/100V transformer and 8-ohm bypass, these speakers are perfect for diverse business environments like offices, retail stores, restaurants, and hospitality venues. Despite its small footprint, the C3 offers enhanced audio quality, ideal for background music and sound masking. The speaker is quick to install using the included screw-on easy-mounting ring for drop tile ceilings, with optional mounting kits available for drywall or open ceiling applications.

IN-CEILING SPEAKERS TECHNOLOGY

Snap One Triad PDX Series

Triad PDX speakers pair premium audio performance with a simplified installation experience made possible by Push Lock by Swarm technology. The series includes 13 speakers and 19 accessories, including optional custom-colored grilles, rear enclosure, and pre-construction brackets. Triad PDX enhances the listening experience by using high-performance materials and components like carbon fiber, Kevlar, Teteron, dual voice coils, chemically etched metal components, and more. Unique to Triad PDX, the Kevlar infusion into carbon fiber for the woofer creates a premium audio experience.

SoundTube CM-BGM-II-US Series

Shure Microflex MXN5W-C

Microsoft Teams Certified, the Microflex MXN5W-C networked ceiling loudspeaker delivers premium audio performance optimized for voice intelligibility, with a low-profile design for easy installation in drop ceiling configurations. It integrates seamlessly with Shure’s ecosystem of networked hardware and software, including Microflex Advance (MXA) Array Microphones and IntelliMix DSP, to deliver a complete audio solution with AES-256 encryption and enhanced AV conferencing performance.

With Shure Designer System Configuration software, MXN5W-C users can visualize speaker coverage alongside Shure MXA microphones and Shure networked devices for ease of deployment.

SoundTube Entertainment’s series of BAAcompliant in-ceiling speakers includes four models that combine high-performance audio with sleek, modern aesthetics to deliver clear background music. Designed specifically for low and suspended ceilings, SoundTube’s CM-BGM in-ceiling speakers reduce installation time with the SpeedWing constant-tension mounting system. The CM Series incorporates low profile styling and seamless coverage in a one-piece integrated unit. Applying BroadBeam technology, the CM-BGM models greatly expand the coverage area, meaning fewer speakers are needed for full frequency dispersion.

TOA FB-3862CU

Part of the TOA F-Series of high-performance, flush-mount ceiling speakers, the FB-3862CU is a ceiling subwoofer assembly for low-frequency enhancement of distributed loudspeaker systems. A 60W, 70/100V transformer is included, and the bandpass design eliminates the need for a bi-amplified system. The 8-ohm bypass allows for applications using electronic crossovers and dedicated low impedance power amplifiers. The FB-3862CU subwoofer rounds out TOA’s F-Series

premier speaker line to offer a full spectrum sonic experience suitable for retail environments, restaurants, lounges, conference rooms, and any application where music or video content require high-quality sound.

Vanco Beale Street TIC651

The Beale Street TIC651 70/100V architectural speaker is a versatile solution for clear sound in commercial spaces. The 6.5-inch fluted injected poly woofer and 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter produce a frequency range of 48 Hz to 24 kHz and a sensitivity of 89 dB for detailed, accurate sound reproduction.

The TIC651 is outfitted with a butyl rubber surround, patented Sonic Vortex ported transmission line, and magnetic, bezel-less grille for easy integration that preserves room aesthetics. Sonic Vortex technology enables the TIC651 to absorb sound waves and redirect them back into a room, preventing audio bleed in commercial applications where privacy is a prime concern.

Yorkville C165W

The 60W, 6.5-inch C165W is a high-performance ceiling mount loudspeaker. Ideal for any background music or paging system where sound quality is a priority, the speaker is made for louder club or restaurant/retail environments. Featuring an innovative design and employing high-quality materials, the C165W maintains quality performance from a compact ceiling loudspeaker. It contains a coaxial 6.5-inch woofer and 3/4-inch titanium coated tweeter.

Built-in 70V taps at 7.5, 15, 30, or 60W operation means that highfidelity, full-range sound can be achieved over an extremely wide coverage pattern area.

Interviews Untethered

Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit Brings High-End Wireless Audio to Corporate Video

By Mark J. Pescatore

So, you want to make corporate videos with your phone, computer, or DSLR, but the onboard mic won’t cut it—and you don’t want the talent tethered to your gear. Shure has heard your call for help and responded with its MoveMic Two Receiver Kit. Now, your training videos, interviews, and location shoots can feature the audio intelligibility required to share your message.

The MoveMic Two Receiver Kit includes two MoveMic wireless lavalier mics with charging case, the MoveMic receiver, and connecting cables. The wireless mics live in their own charge case, which you charge via a USB-C connection. A small LED outside the case indicates the charge status, and two smaller LEDs indicate the status of the individual mics.

The whole system is stored in a roll bag, which has mesh pockets for the charge case, receiver, and assorted cables and accessories. The roll bag has some light padding that offers some protection, but considering what’s inside, it’s best to handle with care. According to Shure, the mics and receiver can run for up to eight hours, while the case can store up to two full charges as well. It takes less than three hours to charge the case or the receiver. Throughout my tests, I never had an issue with power. The system supports PCM/WAV and AAC for Android, as well as PCM/WAV, MP4, AAC, and ALAC for iOS. Both the mics and receiver offer 50Hz-20kHz frequency response, 24-bit audio, and 48kHz sampling rate, with up to 60 dB gain adjustment.

Mic Basics

The flat black MoveMic is about 2 inches long with windscreen. When you attach the mic with the clip facing out, your clothes hide most of the mic body, so it’s no more noticeable than any other lav.

I installed the windscreen immediately. Yes, you can remove it, but considering it’s made of thin plastic covered with thin foam and snaps in place with more plastic, I’d just set it and forget it. The mic also has an IPX4 rating, so you can record in light rain or snow (no swimming allowed).

Each mic sports one button that handles all the necessary functions—power on/off, mute/unmute, and pairing—and two LEDs use different colors to indicate the various functions. Push the button for a few seconds to turn it on and connect with the receiver. Keep holding it a few seconds more to enter pairing mode.

When the mic is on, one short button press and the mic is muted, while another short press makes

the mic live again. Hold the button for a few seconds to shut off the mic. A red LED stays on as long as the mute is active; otherwise, the lights shut off after a few seconds.

It’s simple enough to pair one or two MoveMics to Shure’s MOTIV Audio app via Bluetooth for audio recordings on your phone. You can also pair with the MOTIV Video app to record videos and even livestream to Facebook or YouTube. That’s right, Shure MoveMic offers dual-channel, direct-to-phone functionality. But here’s the catch: Without the receiver, you are limited to these two apps—and there’s no DSLR connectivity.

Receiver Advantages

About the size of half of a compact cell phone, the MoveMic Receiver offers extensive controls and options. There’s a power button on one side, while the other side includes a USB-C port for phone/computer connectivity and charging, 3.5mm audio out for connection to your DSLR, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for live monitoring. It’s small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, but there’s a built-in cold shoe mount (with a hinge) for easy mounting to your DSLR or camera support system.

The front of the receiver has a small, bright display, as well as a really small, recessed joystick for menu navigation and a red “X” button that lets you back out of various menus. Despite its size, the joystick is surprisingly responsive. The menus allow you to set separate gain levels on each mic, turn noise

reduction on or off, switch recording modes (speech, singing, and flat), change the display names of the mics (very helpful), and even shut off the LEDs on the mics (not something I recommend).

Turn on the receiver and it immediately starts looking for mics, and a small LED above the screen will flash blue until it finds one (or two). Once I paired the mics via Bluetooth, it found them easily and consistently.

But there’s a quirk: After I paired one of the wireless mics with one of the MOTIV apps on my phone to test it, the mic no longer wanted to play nice with the receiver. That’s because the mic stays paired with the app until told otherwise. If you decide to use a mic without the receiver for some quick one-off project, you’ll need to go into the receiver’s devices menu, find the uncooperative mic, and reconnect it.

You will likely need to install firmware updates at some point. Download the Shure Update Utility app to get the latest firmware for all the components of the system. Installation is pretty simple—and you’ll want this software, anyway, to keep all your Shure digital products up to date.

Unfair Testing

As is right and proper, I decided to put the MoveMic Two Receiver Kit in a ridiculous and completely unfair situation to see how well it could perform. And what better place to challenge a wireless microphone system than the middle of the 2024 NAB Show exhibit hall? I interviewed Shure’s associate manager of

Shure’s MoveMic Two Receiver Kit supports two wireless mics, so you can carry on a conversation without sharing a mic.

global media relations, Garrison Krotz, at the company’s booth in the Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center during the show. I also did not turn on the noise reduction to make sure the test was completely unreasonable.

And yet, it wasn’t. I recorded our conversation on my iPhone 15 using the MOTIV Video app. Even with show floor background noise, the interview was clear. Oh, a little noise reduction would have helped, but it was still far better than what you’d get from the mic in your cell phone. And no drops—despite being an area no doubt blanketed with Bluetooth and other wireless activity, I experienced no interference and no lost audio.

I also produced a separate, off-site interview during NAB Show using this system (featuring, ahem, a different company). We were in a hallway outside of a lively reception area, so there was plenty of background noise. Again, I kept the noise reduction off, but I did reduce the background noise a bit in post using Adobe Premiere Rush. I was very pleased with the results.

Of course, I also wanted to test the noise reduction capabilities of the MoveMic Two Receiver Kit, so I shot a stand-up less than 6 feet from my air conditioner’s outdoor condenser unit. That’s the big piece of equipment that makes the loud rattle-and-hum that is so familiar to those of us who live in South Florida. Shure’s noise reduction technology was nothing short of astounding, dropping the noise to a low hum.

Finally, let’s talk range. Shure noted the MoveMic components have line-of-sight range of up to 100 feet. I positioned one mic more than 50 feet away in another room. It didn’t move and I had no issues. Meanwhile, I took the second microphone outside for a walk. The signal was solid, except when I didn’t follow the rules and strayed too far from line of sight. So, while it won’t work across a football field, it should be fine across a basketball court, though I’d probably keep it in the paint to be safe.

The MoveMic Two Receiver Kit is priced at $499 on the Shure website. If you’re content with only

direct-to-phone connectivity, you can save a little cash and buy two MoveMics for $349.

I don’t think I can stress enough how easy this system is to use. Almost everything about it is intuitive. Honestly, I had already paired the mics and started testing them before I even thought about

reading the user guide. The audio is excellent, the receiver provides customized control through a simple user interface, and you can carry on an on-screen conversation without running wires or sharing a mic. Time to kick the audio quality of your corporate videos up a notch … or two.

The MoveMic Receiver allows you to record from your phone, computer, or DSLR camera.

TECHNOLOGY NEW PRODUCTS

Just Add Power MC-QX

The latest addition to the MaxColor family of videoover-IP innovations, the new MC-QX MaxColor 4K60 tiling and warping transmitter combines the company’s MaxColor technology, 4K network video tiler, and Warp Engine technology. It allows 4K60 source devices to be displayed on a single screen instantly along with source rotation capabilities. Users can simultaneously watch up to four 4K60 video sources in multiple formats, including single-screen, video wall, or tiled video. With the MC-QX warping capability, installers can rotate any source image in a Just Add Power Matrix in 0.1-degree increments in real time with very low latency. The rotated image can then be sent to an unlimited number of receivers in the network, allowing for the creation of massive artistic video walls using a single MC-QX.

Grass Valley Maverik X

Grass Valley’s new Maverik X software-based switcher, powered by AMPP, supports combined uncompressed and compressed inputs and outputs, with full 10-bit UHD HDR workflows, automatic up/ down/cross conversion, and HDR LUT mapping. Available to run on local, hybrid, or cloud compute, Maverik X can be controlled from both fully customizable HTML5 user interfaces operated from PC and tablet devices, in addition to Grass Valley’s modular Maverik switcher panel. Maverik X scales with production needs, allowing the user to define the number of I/Os, M/Es, keyers, DVEs, and replay wipes for any event size. Combined with AMPP workloads, Maverik X can include full multiviewers, audio mixing, graphics, replay, and more—all controllable from a single interface.

PPDS Philips Public LED 5000 Series

Designed to enhance indoor public spaces, the new entry-level Philips Public LED 5000 Series is an ideal solution for replacing existing LCD screens with dvLED. Available in 28 and 44-inch panel sizes, each offers a choice of modules with three different pixel pitches to support an array of viewing distances. With PPDS’ Smart Rotation design, the panels can be installed in either portrait or landscape modes. Installation time has also been reduced compared to conventional LED panels, with pre-wired data and power for a cable-free setup.

Plus, front-facing access keeps potential downtime minimal for troubleshooting and repairs. Delivering up to 500 nit brightness and 150-degree viewing angles (flat screen or concave), the new displays provide optimum visual performance in almost any indoor environment with consistent lighting conditions.

Bogen Combo NQ-S1810WBC

The NQ-S1810WBC Combo Wall Baffle Speaker features an LED message display and a multi-colored flasher for visual messaging and alerting capabilities.

Boasting a blend of functionality and style, the Combo Wall Baffle Speaker features a versatile 12/24-hour clock, a user-definable message display with adjustable brightness that clearly communicates visually to audiences, and programmable strobe flashers to capture people’s attention. The 8-inch speaker provides audio coverage of up to 600 square feet and includes a separate, high-performance MEMS microphone for superior talkback performance. Its PoE connection integrates with existing systems seamlessly for hassle-free setup and instant functionality, eliminating the need for external amplifiers, traditional intercom wiring, or transformer taps.

Teradek Prism Flex Mk II

The newest addition to Teradek’s Prism Series, the Prism Flex Mk II throw-down encoder for live production features a redesigned chassis with improved front panel controls for intuitive operation and superior cooling mechanisms. It also integrates analog audio IFB functionality, enabling seamless talkback communication between devices through the Teradek Core Cloud. The Mk II remains fully compatible with all Prism devices, representing an iterative upgrade that improves the original Flex’s internals and software architecture. The new model offers the same live streaming capabilities as the rest of the Prism line; users

can still seamlessly upload recordings directly to camera-to-cloud platforms like Frame.io and Sony C3P, while also facilitating secure orchestrated video distribution feeds through Teradek’s Core Cloud platform. Supported protocols include SRT, TRT, MPEG-TS, RIST, RTMP, RTSP, HLS, and DASH.

DLINE Audio Interfaces

Three new line-level DLINE audio interfaces—the NA-2I2O-DLINE, NA-2I-DLINE, and NA-2O-DLINE— are designed to connect legacy audio gear to the Dante protocol. The NA-2I2O-DLINE offers two inputs and two outputs, while the NA-2O-DLINE interface offers two outputs and the NA-2I-DLINE offers two inputs. All three PoE-powered products share the same rugged form factor for use anywhere, and their thick rubber protection covers can be removed for mounting. Audio performance is improved with 24 dBu maximum levels for I/O, > 100 dB dynamic range, and > 108 dB signal-tonoise ratio. All three interfaces are AES67 compliant. NEUTRIK’s XLR chassis connectors provide analog inputs and outputs. The etherCON connector, used for Dante connectivity, features a halo light ring for clear status ssignaling and accepts either standard RJ45 connectors or etherCON cable connectors for secure, locking connections.

22Miles Tradeshow AI Assistant

Tradeshow AI Assistant is a custom-trained, conversational AI tool that streamlines event operations and attendee support via a user-friendly chat interface. The solution leverages the 22Miles generative AI solution integrated with the brand’s 3D Wayfinding App and content management capabilities. It offers fast, real-time event information and wayfinding that attendees can interact with naturally in any language. Organizers can deploy the Tradeshow AI Assistant on digital signage, websites, or within the event app—and easily update information throughout the event as needed. For attendees, the Tradeshow AI Assistant supports navigation across large venues and accurately recalls event-related information.

NEW PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY

MSolutions

MS-210WP

A new 4K KVM extender from MSolutions, the MS-210WP reliably transfers uncompressed HDMI and USB signals between client and host machines. For installers, it includes an ultra-compact wall plate transmitter that slims down the profile to a depth of just 1.32 inches. This makes for a cleaner and simpler installation, with more distance between the extender’s electronics and the electrical infrastructure behind the walls. The transmitter is built into a one-gang, Decora-style wall plate opening and is available for standard US/EU plate dimensions. It pairs with a corresponding receiver (the MSR210U2R) to extend 4K@30 4:4:4 video up to 131 feet or 1080p video and lower resolutions up to 230 feet, with pass-through of all HDMI audio formats supported. The transmitter provides two USB 2.0 channels for KVM connectivity of USB-A devices across the link, including cameras, touchscreens, and peripherals.

Peerless-AV Neptune

Peerless-AV has launched its Neptune Full Sun Outdoor Smart TVs. Available in 55 and 65-inch models, the outdoor-rated displays are equipped with a free commercial-grade Outdoor Tilting Wall Mount for simple installations in restaurants, stadiums, and more. Neptune’s high TNI panel technology is built for long-lasting, high-quality usage in direct sun locations. The displays feature 800 nits of light output for bright images even in direct sunlight and an anti-glare treatment to eliminate unwanted reflections. They have an operating temperature range of -22 to 122 degrees. Neptune Outdoor TVs deliver 4K resolution with HDR, and the IPS panel ensures accurate image and color representation from every angle. Plus, using webOS Hub, users can bring content outside, with hundreds of customizable apps available and content from several streaming services to enhance outdoor locations.

Draper StyleLine Fixed Screen

The latest fixed frame projection screen from Draper offers the performance of multiple screen types in a single flexible screen model. The StyleLine Fixed Screen is available up to 12 feet wide with two bezel trim options—5/8 or 3 3/16 inches—and in an edgeless version. The aluminum frame features a back channel for attaching LED backlighting, and both bezels are covered with Veltex, a black, velvety textile that eliminates light reflections from projector overscan. The StyleLine is light and installer-friendly thanks to a quick-connect subframe, hook and loop fabric attachment, and screw-on decorative frame. It also offers up to 1 3/8 inches of horizontal and vertical surface tension adjustability. It is available with a variety of viewing surfaces, including 8K-ready TecVision, which have been certified for color accuracy by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF). FURNITURE MODULAR

By Rob Voorhees

WI Just Don’t Have the Time

3 Strategies for Making Your Schedule More Manageable

hen trying to explain why you aren't doing something, how often do you find yourself saying, "I just don't have the time?" I have used this line many times. However, only recently have I educated myself on how to break out of the cycle.

Time is a resource for all of us. No matter what you do for a career or what your personal responsibilities are, time is one of the most valuable assets you have. It is our duty, and ours alone, to allocate that asset as we see fit.

It’s not a lack of time we have; rather, we make time for things we deem as important to us. Even when it’s something we might not enjoy doing, it is possible for that task to still be important enough that we dedicate time toward it.

For example, do we enjoy taking time off from work to take a sick child to the doctors? No, I do not enjoy that in the least, but I will always do it because the task is important to me. The same can be said for portions of my career in Pro AV.

In 2019, when I was studying to take the CTS, do you think I enjoyed spending my weekends with a textbook and study guides instead of being outside with my family? Of course not. However, I determined that the CTS was important enough that it warranted the time and effort to study, take, and pass.

What I notice is the frequency of which people will say, “I don’t have the time” or “I’m so swamped” or even “I always work so late.” I’m not saying those aren’t viable reasons, because they can be, but I’d like to present you with three ways I have been able to “add” time to my days—while also keeping a clear mind for what’s important.

Avoid Insanity

We all know the definition of insanity at this point. You cannot continue on the same path while expecting some great change to happen. That would be insane, right?

One of the biggest changes that I made to my own life was my schedule. I read that actor Mark Wahlberg wakes up at around 3 a.m. every day. He uses the early morning quiet time for prayer, working out, and setting the stage for the busy day ahead. However, he also noted that he goes to bed earlier, so he is still getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

He adapted his schedule to achieve his goals—and that is precisely why I enjoy going to bed early, waking up early, and generally being at my desk by 6 a.m. most days. I’m a self-proclaimed early bird and I truly believe that I get the worm!

Don’t worry, I’ll never call someone that early, but I definitely knock out the bulk of my emails, reports, and call prep before my daughters even wake up. This allows me to spend my typical workday focused on phone calls, videoconferences, customer visits, etc. You have to be open and willing to change if you expect to see different results.

Reassign Priorities

I am a fantasy football junkie, and one facet of the game is to constantly monitor the waiver wire. This is where you find “free agents” and players that may have been dropped by other teams.

It’s always exciting to snag a player who you think could turn the tables for your season. In fantasy football, you can assign a priority number to each waiver move you are trying to make. If there is a big-name player on waivers, I might assign him the top priority, so I have a better chance of grabbing him. Our careers and personal lives aren’t much different. In our heads, we assign priority numbers to our responsibilities and tasks. Unfortunately, whatever comes in last is usually what doesn’t get done.

Think about the CTS, for example. Why aren’t you taking it? Studying for it is a great first step, but what other priorities are occupying a higher number for you? Maybe it’s your kid’s schedule, work travel, or even your social calendar. If you make the CTS (or anything else for that matter) a higher priority, it’ll get done. For those that say, “I haven’t taken it because I haven’t had the time,” you are really saying, “I haven’t taken it because it is not my top priority.”

Organization Over Everything

I am here to tell you that I hate organizers, those tiny books that are supposed to house your entire life. I’ve

fallen into the trap before—I buy one because I assure myself this will be the gamechanger. It never is. I stay organized in many different ways. My Outlook calendar contains everything, from my daughter’s volleyball schedule to my bill payment schedule. I choose to use Outlook (and my trusty iPhone) as my organizer in one sense of the word.

Outside of that, my organization stems from a combination of my schedule and my priorities. Waking up earlier allows me the quiet time to review my tasks for the day, while prioritizing those tasks helps me get them done orderly and organized. On my worst days, where I feel as though my plate is overflowing, I delegate.

Don’t ever be ashamed of asking for help. I once attended a job interview when I was first starting to break into sales. The interviewer asked how I would react if faced with a deadline that I simply could not meet. I said I would always find a way to do the job— because in my mind, asking for help was a sign of weakness.

Yeah, I was extremely “green” back in those days. Asking for help from your colleagues or superiors shows that you are willing to work as a team, but also that you value the task enough that you are exhausting all options to complete it. Never feel as though you are “swamped,” because there is always a way out of that mindset.

I hope these three steps resonate with you enough that you may be able to identify and possibly even change some of your own personal time traps. Managing your time is always a work in progress, but whether it’s a certification or a new career move, there is always time to achieve it.

Rob Voorhees is a business development manager for Exertis Almo.