Zoom and Teams - S&VC June 2021 Supplement - 0462

Welcome to the JUNE 2021 Guide of

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ZOOM AND TEAMS SYSTEMS FOR HYBRID WORK AND EDUCATION

* INCLUDING AVEO SYSTEMS CRESTRON DELL EPOS LUMENS MAGEWELL MXL MICROPHONES SYNNEX TOA ELECTRONICS SV C ON L I N E.C OM | JU N E 20 21 | S VC 1

ZOOM AND TEAMS

DESIGNING SPACE or those who are designing the modern conference room, Modus VR, a leader in the practical application of advanced Virtual Reality software, debuted a software upgrade with the addition of new Conference Technology objects, features, and partners that specifically address the space planning needs of enterprise technology integrators, designers, architects and customers. The latest additions make it faster and easier for all stakeholders to create conference rooms that precisely match the real layout of a given space in 3D. Designs can be built in real time and complete with A/V equipment, furniture, microphones, cameras and more.

Newly added commercial objects include several products from the ever-expanding Modus VR partners such as Logitech, including their popular Rally series of communications components and Logitech MeetUp, Salamander Designs Unifi Conference Tables, first-ever products from Bose with their VB1, Barco Clickshare and XT Series LED Wall, Avocor E Series Touchscreens and time-saving generic conference cameras, conference microphones and pendants.

New features includes a Camera Field Of View (FOV) Design Assistant. Leveraging the power of VR, this new field-of-view tool allows proper design and deployment of cameras based on room size, table shapes, and other challenging aspects of precision camera placement.

Literally in seconds, all involved can preview locations in real-time and see how cameras will perform best and where they should be placed. An innovative feature is participants can actually see what the camera sees,

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taking into account the camera’s pan, tilt, and zoom settings.

Another new feature is the Modus VR Pixel Pitch Design Assistant.

Previously, deciding and specifying LED video walls was challenging because of the difficulty determining correct pixel pitch. With this tool, users can now quickly verify the screen pitch, the possible positions of viewers, and thereby decide how best to set up the conference room or space. Using a color-coded system, Modus VR software indicates what will be the ideal viewing experience based on the viewer’s location, so the designer can quickly and easily find the best balance of performance and cost for all project stakeholders.

Also in this package, Modus VR announced Speaker Output Visualization that allows users to plan the location of conference room speakers and display the entire speaker coverage pattern visually.

Modus VR software includes unlimited training and support, including support provided remotely in the software itself. Modus VR is licensed on a subscription basis and the platform is enhanced monthly, adding most requested features, and users are always updated with the latest and most robust version. By applying advanced Modus VR technology and inexpensive VR headsets, integrators, designers, space planners and facilities managers can pretest physical equipment/furniture layout, demonstrate the layouts in true dimensions to all stakeholders, and attain consensus buy-in for greater satisfaction and faster decision making. Modus VR also offers a wide range of additional design options including remote designs sessions without VR equipment or the need to meet in person and 3D renderings.

ZOOM AND TEAMS

TEAMS AND WEBINARS icrosoft Teams was released as part of the Office 365 productivity suite in November 2016. Teams is defined as a communication network that brings together chat, audio, video, and file sharing in one place. It’s intended for use by local, remote, and dispersed work groups.

Microsoft has been constantly updating Teams. As demand for communication tools has increased in pandemic, additional features have been introduced across 2020 and into 2021.

Beginning in mid-May Microsoft began rolling out Webinars and PowerPoint Live in Microsoft Teams.

Additionally, Presenter mode will begin to roll out later in May. With these capabilities, users have new ways to deliver polished, professional presentations in meetings of all sizes, from small internal meetings to large customerfacing webinars and events—all from a single application.

These new features will not require purchase of a new license or product; the new capabilities are included in many of the Office and Microsoft 365 plans organizations use today. Microsoft says there are no hidden costs or charges for overage fees with plans that include these capabilities.

Users can organize and hold interactive meetings and webinars for up to 1,000 attendees with Teams. Microsoft says that end-to-end webinar support is as simple as setting up a Teams meeting—including custom registration pages and attendee emails, rich presentation options, host controls, such as the ability to disable attendee chat and video, and post-event reporting to understand participation and to follow up with attendees.

For users who need to reach more than 1,000 attendees, Teams meetings can scale to accommodate a 10,000-person view-only broadcast experience. During this time of increased remote work, Microsoft expanded the attendee limit to 20,000 through the end of 2021.

With PowerPoint Live and Presenter mode in Microsoft Teams, anyone can deliver more impactful and engaging presentations to show up in a more polished and professional way.

By bringing together Microsoft’s rich history with presenter experiences in PowerPoint and the collaboration power of Teams, presenters can feel more confident and capable during online presentations. Users can view upcoming slides, notes, meeting chat, and the audience in a single view while presenting.

Meanwhile, attendees can personalize their experience by privately navigating the content at their own pace or using high contrast mode and screen readers to make content accessible. Coming soon, slide translation capabilities allow attendees to select their native language and automatically have slides translated for them—without changing the view for other attendees.

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Presenter mode empowers presenters to customize how their video feed and content appear to the audience. The first of three options, Standout mode, shows the speaker’s video feed as a silhouette in front of the shared content; Reporter mode shows content as a visual aid above the speaker’s shoulder, similar to a news broadcast; and Side-by-side mode shows presenter’s video feed alongside their content as they present.

Standout mode will be available later in May, and Reporter and Side-byside will roll out shortly after.

A webinar is just one touchpoint in customer engagement efforts.

After the event ends, metrics are available to easily access reporting and bring attendee information into your customer relationship management (CRM) applications for lead management and follow-up.

Beginning in May, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing customers can export attendee data directly from Teams to automatically create campaigns and customer journeys for ongoing nurture streams. The Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing integration gives webinar hosts more ways to drive engagement, increase conversion, and build loyalty with your attendees.

Customers including Junior Achievement, Coldwell Banker, and the Consumer Technology Association are using Teams for virtual events—from community building townhalls, to state-of-the-market webinars, to the world’s largest tradeshow.

We know that technology is just one piece of the solution. Microsoft services like the Live Events Assistance Program help customers set up, manage, and deliver events spanning from townhalls to webinars and everything in between. Microsoft Consulting Services for Virtual Events provide strategy and delivery support for organizations that want to move their large conferences and custom events online. Learn more about how to use these new capabilities in Microsoft Teams with this Webinars quick start guide and PowerPoint Live overview.

ZOOM AND TEAMS

ZOOM FROM HOME veryone has a Zoom angle. Now Savant brings its smart home technology to the home office, introducing an integration with Zoom’s audio/video conferencing platform, Zoom Rooms.

With Savant’s Zoom Rooms integration, a Savant Scene and applicable audio/video services can automatically launch each time a meeting is started. For example, at the start of each meeting, lights can dim or brighten based on time of day, shades can be adjusted, background audio can be paused and more—all part of beginning a Zoom meeting. And once the conference has concluded, Savant will return the room to its prior state, automatically restarting music or other programming that had been paused for the meeting.

In addition to Savant Scene integration, Savant’s dedicated Zoom Rooms integration has been designed to leverage the lifelike clarity of a big screen TV and premium loudspeakers along with a variety of cameras and microphone packages from Savant Recommended Partners such as Logitech, Huddly and Beyerdynamic.

“This month, we have added the ability to showcase the Savant and

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Zoom Rooms integration inside Savant’s Virtual Experience Center, which can showcase both a home office environment as well as a larger, commercially scaled deployment,” explained Ian Roberts, Director of Savant’s Education & Customer Experience. “One useful feature we included in the office setting is the full-color, DMX light strip we installed behind the home office display that we set to automatically glow red as a visual reminder whenever the Zoom Rooms user has audio set to mute. Innovative ideas like this will enhance the conferencing experience while creating opportunities for integrators.”

The Zoom Rooms conferencing solution from Savant has numerous potential applications beyond the home office. The company is positioning it as a tool to enhance the remote education experience, helping students better engage with instructors through a more visceral, lifelike experience. Outside work and school hours, gathering with family and friends will become easier and more comfortable using a wide angle camera, high-quality speakers, and a large, high-resolution video display.

The Savant Zoom Rooms integration is available now, including preconfigured camera and speaker packages.

ZOOM AND TEAMS

TEAMS CONNECTED ounded in 1945, Rich Products is a family-owned food company dedicated to bringing creative solutions to industry professionals around the globe. From food service and retail, to in-store bakeries and prepared foods, their goal is to be a trusted partner that helps companies delight their customers and stay competitive, no matter where the market moves.

Operating in more than 100 countries, Rich Products is committed to providing its employees with the tools, technologies, and services that help simplify internal business processes. Thomas Geblein, Solution Architect-Digital Enablement at Rich’s, and his team, set out to standardize on a scalable technology platform that would support and enhance collaboration and productivity across all their global locations.

“The way we work has radically changed due Covid-19. Our associates are dispersed globally, and we have to equip them with the ability to work from anywhere. The world has become our workplace and Crestron provides us with technology solutions that are essential to keep moving forward,” Geblein sums up.

Thomas and his team worked with Veraview LLC to outfit their facility with Crestron UC, room scheduling, and room control technology solutions that would foster a more productive and collaborative working environment.

As a company standardized on Microsoft Teams software, Crestron Flex UC solutions provided Rich’s with a full suite of products designed to facilitate collaboration in every meeting room, along with a consis-

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Products at Work • Crestron Flex Tabletop UC Video Conference System for Microsoft v Rooms UC-M150-T • Crestron Flex Wall Mount UC Video Conference System for Microsoft Teams Software UC-B140-T • Crestron Flex Wall Mount UC Video Conference System for Microsoft Teams Software UC-B160-T • Crestron Flex UC Video Conference System Integrator Kit for Microsoft Teams Software UC-C160-T • MM30 Small Room System for Microsoft Teams UC-MM30-T • Crestron Room Scheduling • Crestron Fusion Monitoring and Scheduling Software • Crestron XiO Cloud Service • 10.1 in. Touch Screen TSW-1060 • 3-Series Room Media Controller RMC3

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ZOOM AND TEAMS tent, simple user experience. With Crestron Flex, associates can join meetings with one-touch and be confident that everyone in the room will be clearly seen and heard.

Rich’s also uses Crestron technology to host culinary events from their production studio. Their Innovation Space—which includes a production studio, townhall conference spaces, an atrium, and specialized kitchen—is equipped with numerous Crestron Flex C-Series UC Video Conference Systems for hosting virtual demonstrations to better serve their customers. To optimize use of their meeting rooms, Thomas and his team implemented the Crestron room scheduling platform.

“Whether it’s a standing weekly catchup meeting or an impromptu brainstorming session, Crestron room scheduling makes it easy for our associates to book the meeting room that will best suit their needs,” explains Geblein. Using any of the illuminated scheduling touch screens, associates can easily locate and reserve the most suitable space in advance or find an unoccupied room for ad hoc meetings.

For some areas in the office, occupancy sensors communicate with the Crestron Fusion monitoring and scheduling system to indicate availability. This technology allows associates to use the company website to locate an available desk while adhering to social distancing. “Crestron occupancy sensors have made it possible for our associates to safely navigate our office, find an open desk, and continue their workday with ease,” explains Geblein.

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ZOOM AND TEAMS

REVIEW

EPOS ADAPT 100 BLUETOOTH HEADSET

By Grant Morgan

had tested and reviewed the excellent enterprise-level EPOS ADAPT 660 Bluetooth headset in 2020, citing its comfort, performance and call clarity.

So, when I had a chance to test a more affordable headset from the new EPOS ADAPT 100 line, I was prepared for a possible drop in quality in some regard. I’m happy to be wrong.

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Over this past month, I’ve been able to use the EPOS ADAPT 165T USB II wired headset in daily work fielding calls, listening to webinars and conference presentations – as well as jamming out to favorite tunes while writing. While the 165T II (the “T” stands for Microsoft Teams compatibility) only cost $90 USD – roughly 20% of the cost of the 660’s – the build and sound quality are remarkably good for a professional headset under $100.

Created to meet the demands of today’s hybrid workplace and Micro-

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soft Teams certified, the ADAPT 165T USB II is a wired, double-sided headset with 3.5 mm jack that plugs into a control unit that provides USB connectivity for your computer. I really liked being able to use both connections depending on the situation– on the go with my phone, or at the office with the USB connection. Both gave clear, static-free calls regardless of location and on the far end all our call receivers said they could hear just as clearly during our tests.

The headset is ambidextrous, letting you wear it with the noise-cancelling microphone on your right or left side. Having two earpads helps make the headset more comfortable than its single-ear counterparts, and during tests it was nice to have the option to switch sides with the mic. Additionally, the headset only weighs 5.1 ounces, making it a lightweight option for long calls and listening sessions.

The speaker earpads rest easy on the ears, and don’t clamp on your head like other headsets. The headband has a soft rubber padding that, while not as comfortable as the deluxe padded headbands on the enterprise-level EPOS headsets, didn’t irritate too much during workday tests. The earpads do not cover up your ears, so be aware that sound leakage can happen if you have the volume up high.

The 165T II’s speakers move up and down instead of having a tra-

ZOOM AND TEAMS ditional adjustable headband – a feature that helped with comfort during long calls as I could easily move an earpiece up or down with one hand. The earpads twist in so you can lay the headset flat on your desk or for storage in the included bag. The headband itself doesn’t have hinges that fold, so the headset can take up some room lengthways in your purse or bag – but fortunately, it lays fairly flat.

The Epos ADAPT 165T USB II is certified Microsoft Teams compatible, and you can access Teams calls with the push of the Teams button on the phone’s control device.

This makes it incredibly easy to start Teams up without having to let go of your mouse or navigate to the app on your PC. The controls also allow you to adjust volume and mute. Unfortunately, if you are using the 3.5mm jack, you lose the functions of the control

device and will have to use the phone or tablet controls for volume/mute/Teams instead.

The EPOS ADAPT 100 line has over 20 variations of quality, affordable headsets, and it’s worth checking them out to see what other options are available. You can find more details at eposaudio. com.

SUMMARY

The EPOS ADAPT 165T USB II headset is affordable and perfect for professionals who are watching their budgets, but don’t want to sacrifice call quality. While there is only passive noise cancelling with this model’s earpads, and you must have a wired connection, we highly recommend the 165T II headset for home and office workers alike. The noise-cancelling microphone quality is superb, and, for the price, the ADAPT 165T USB II headset is a steal.

ZOOM AND TEAMS

PRODUCTS

EPOS EXPAND VISION 3T

This video bar is certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android (MTRoA) and is a simple, intuitive device designed specifically for focus and small meeting rooms of up to seven participants. It includes an integrated camera and Microphone Array Beamforming technology. With intelligent picture framing, enhanced PTZ, voice tracking, and EPOS AI​noise cancellation technology, the experience is designed to be as good as being there in person. Without the need for a PC, users can start meetings with a single touch, and share content wirelessly from their preferred device. A wide angle 4K camera with Sony sensor reduces the need to huddle around a single screen, and modern audio technology makes sure that everyone at the video conference is truly heard. It provides an easy-to-manage solution with automatic software updates and the ability to manage devices remotely.

DELL TEAMS MONITORS

In a February launch, Dell claimed to create the world’s first videoconferencing monitors certified for Microsoft Teams. A key feature of these three large-format monitors is a dedicated Microsoft Teams button. The button will let Microsoft Teams users quickly launch the app to make and receive video calls. Hands-free commands will also be supported through Cortana and the built-in microphone.

The monitors each include a 5-megapixel pop-up infrared camera, which supports facial recognition with Windows Hello. Dell also bundles a noise-canceling microphone and dual 5-watt integrated speakers. A built-in mode reduces blue light emissions. Models include a 24-inch (FHD) version, a 27-inch (QHD) model, and a curved 34-inch (WQHD) model.

LUMENS VC-B30U

The Lumens VC-B30U Zoom-certified USB PTZ camera, supports live streaming with high quality imaging supported with a Sony 1/2.8-inch image sensor that will help engage every audience. The VC-B30U is compatible with Barco’s ClickShare conferencing systems and supports USB 3.0 and HDMI video output.

The camera comes with HDMI and 12x optical zoom. The panoramic viewing angle is 72 degrees. Wide range Pan/ Tilt/Zoom support Pan angle from -100° to +100°; tilting angle from -30° to +30°. There are several color options available, black and white. This USB camera can work effectively for videoconferencing, distance learning, trainings and live streaming. In a corporate environment, the camera is best suited for medium to small sized meeting rooms. The camera also claims the best warranty in the industry.

TOA LENUBIO

The LENUBIO (AM-CF1) integrated audio collaboration system, the latest cutting edge meetingIO series product from TOA, is a professional steerable microphone array system with integrated stereo soundbar. As such, AM-CF1 is an all-in-one conferencing solution for small to medium-size conference spaces. Built-in AEC (Acoustic Echo Cancellation), ANC (Ambient Noise Cancellation), and EQ maximize performance. Connectivity includes USB ports for direct integration with computers and webcams, Bluetooth, codec input/output, and stereo audio input/output. LED indicators identify presenter location and microphone gain level. Available in black and white with PoE+ operation or power supply.

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PRODUCTS

ZOOM AND TEAMS

MARSHALL ELECTRONICS + MXL MICROPHONES

This combo is a complete audiovisual solution for virtual education applications. Since the classroom has gone virtual, Marshall and MXL have re-introduced a range of user friendly, high-performing cameras and microphones for remote use. These include the Marshall CV503-U3 camera and MXL’s AC-44 microphone. Using capture device drivers already built into Mac, PC, laptop and Linux systems, the Marshall CV503-U3 camera is software agnostic and integrates into any video conference, streaming, or computer video capture soft codecs. It features a wide-angle 2.8mm lens producing a 90° horizontal angle-of-view. MXL’s AC-44 microphone is ideal for a classroom, lecture hall, or remote settings, allowing students to actively listen and participate throughout a lesson. With its three capsule design and 180˚ pickup arc, educators can rest assured pristine audio is being captured. Additional USB solutions include the CV610-UB HD PTZ camera and the MXL AC-404 and AC-360 microphones.

MXL AC-44

The MXL AC-44 utilizes the company’s three-capsule boundary design to enhance direct sounds while mitigating noise and echoes in any workspace. The microphone has a 180-degree cardioid pickup pattern, focusing on sound sources in front of the microphone and eliminating unwanted noise from the back. This gives the AC-44 flexibility between working in a single-user workspace, a medium huddle space, or larger spaces, such as classrooms and medical facilities. Designed with an all-metal frame and durable metal grill, the AC-44 is built to withstand daily use rigors in any work environment. Powered by a simple USB-C connection, the mic offers plug-and-play functionality without the need to install any extra drivers. It can be used with Mac and PCs as well as tablets and mobile devices.

Mira Connect™

AV Control Made Easy for Partners and End Users Video conferencing is one piece of the puzzle...

Integrate with your preferred AV equipment and easily deliver more value with a unified user experience.

POWERFUL — Intuitive control of video conferencing systems (Zoom Rooms®, Cisco®, Poly®), audio DSPs, video switchers, displays, projectors, cameras, TV tuners, lighting, AV receivers, and more.

TIME-SAVING — No programming

required for setup. Easily show your clients their customized UI before purchasing any equipment.

FLEXIBLE — Use your preferred AV

equipment. Built-in touchless control feature for users’ own personal devices (no app to download).

SUPPORTABLE — Manage remotely and eliminate costly site visits.

Contact Aveo today to schedule a demo. https://aveosystems.com/contact-us Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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ZOOM AND TEAMS CRESTRON FLEX PHONES

PRODUCTS

The Crestron Flex Phones lineup features one-touch Teams accessibility to offer quick meeting experiences so users can access any meeting, share notes, and collaborate directly from the dedicated Crestron Flex device. By handling all audio, video, and content sharing, the Crestron Flex Phones frees other devices, like a laptop or PC, to be used as productivity tools during a meeting, fostering a collaboration experience that is more fruitful and less frustrating. This minimizes inefficient task switching, streamlines ad hoc communication, and allows users to segment their schedule and workload more effectively. Crestron Flex Phones feature oversized touchscreen displays (8- and 10-inch HD options) and omnidirectional microphone array with 360-degree audio pickup, and come in video-enabled versions with 1080p camera or audio-only options. Built-in support for Teams allows users to simply plug the device into a PoE cable, sign in, and get started. Technology managers can scale deployment and management with integrated cloud management and monitoring with Crestron XiO Cloud Service, and embedded occupancy sensors supporting a range of 6.5 feet allow for the capture of meeting-space data and usage analytics. Crestron Flex Phones combine high-quality audio and videoconferencing capabilities with one-touch connectivity and enterprise-grade security. They are designed for home or office, rotating “hot desk” stations popular in hybrid workplaces, or conference rooms.

CRESTRON FLEX MM

This is a compact 7-inch touchscreen audio and video conferencing solution that is an easy to use, manage, and deploy tabletop meeting and collaboration system.

With native Microsoft Teams or Zoom Rooms software, Crestron Flex MM is ideal for newly converted or dedicated small workspaces in the corporate office and the home office. Crestron Flex MM is an extension of the Crestron Flex M-Series, bringing tabletop video conferencing to small spaces while delivering one-touch connectivity and enterprise-grade security. The system natively supports Microsoft Teams or Zoom Rooms, supports a 10-foot mic pick-up range and an ultra wide-angle HD camera with 150° diagonal field of view, and can be remotely provisioned, controlled, and managed. It comes with three different options, including the audio conference-only for Microsoft Teams, the video conferencing models for Microsoft Teams, and the Zoom Rooms option.

SYNNEX POLY-CERTIFIED MICROSOFT TEAMS SOLUTIONS

Poly’s Microsoft Teams certified solutions are designed to operate at the forefront of hybrid working. The SYNNEX COLLABSolv team is ready to help outfit installations with Poly pro-grade audio and video products that deliver quality Microsoft Teams experiences – wherever people are working from. The solutions are scalable from the Poly Studio X30 and X50 Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android for smaller meeting spaces to the Poly G-Series Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows that support larger rooms and allow for room AV integrations. For more information on Poly solutions certified for Microsoft Teams, please reach out to the SYNNEX COLLABSolv team.

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PRODUCTS

ZOOM AND TEAMS

AVEO SYSTEMS MIRA CONNECT CONTROL SYSTEM

Mira Connect is an easy-to-set-up and easy-to-use smart audiovisual touchscreen and control system for conference rooms, huddle spaces, lecture halls, and other spaces. No programming is required, as each touchscreen is easily configured through the secure, cloud-based management platform called Mira Portal. A consistent and intuitive user interface is created automatically based on the equipment in the room. In addition to controlling Zoom Rooms, Poly, and Cisco video codecs, and for Microsoft Teams and other soft codecs, Mira Connect controls the rest of the room through support for a wide range of AV products from a variety of manufacturers. Mira Connect offers one-touch audio and video dialing; easy content sharing from multiple video sources; integration with Office 365 Calendar for one-touch dialing of upcoming meetings; volume and muting control; display, projector, and camera control; TV tuner control; Lutron lighting control; scheduled room power-off, and more. Support teams can manage and control their rooms remotely through Mira Portal. Room participants can use Mira Connect’s patent-pending, touchless AV control feature to control the room from their personal devices—without having to download any application. Mira Connect is available in tabletop and wall-mountable formats.

MAGEWELL USB CAPTURE PLUS

Magewell USB Capture Plus video capture devices help Zoom and Teams users look their best by effortlessly bringing higher-quality camera and screen sharing sources into conferencing software. Available with HDMI, SDI, or DVI inputs, the USB Capture Plus devices enable Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, and Linux computers to capture highquality AV signals through a USB 3.0 interface. Driver-free installation and automatic input format detection enable true plug-and-play operation, letting users get started quickly without needing IT assistance.

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ZOOM AND TEAMS

OPEN MIC

THE WORK ANYWHERE WORLD How organizations can thrive on camera

By Barbara Spicek

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hile many industries entertained the idea of work from home – or work from anywhere – for years, the global pandemic in 2020 pushed many toward full-fledged adoption of the model overnight. After months of upgrading webcams and microphones, fine-tuning computer settings, and many updates from software providers, most workers fell into a comfortable rhythm of being on camera.

The world no longer allowed for folks to be “camera shy” or “not good on video.” Instead, we saw the vast majority of telecommuters transform into on-camera professionals. That 99 percent of these interactions take place within the vacuums of private meetings is actually a boon. Digital boardroom meetings and work sessions have seen individuals hone the craft of being present on live video. People have now had excellent practice for the on-screen presence necessary in live video production.

The broadcast industry has also embraced the shift to web conference participation. Today, highquality productions don’t think twice about adding in remote callers via video call platforms. Zoom, Teams, Skype, Discord, and others are all considered standard tools in today’s broadcast playbook. In 2020 and 2021 we’ve seen news, sports, reality television, talk show programming, and more all utilize remote callers to craft engaging content. The audience’s reaction to this has been vast acceptance, and the use of the technology has become settled. You can expect it will stay in the broadcast repertoire for years to come.

These points, of course, lead us to the role systems contractors will be asked to play when it comes to adding video conferencing technologies to new workflows. Education, corporate, house of worship, music, comedy, and others have all used the new capabilities offered by remote participation during the pandemic to keep their businesses working effectively. And as individuals have become accustomed to the shift, there will be an expectation that such offerings remain in place long term.

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Thus, we need to consider how best to bring these tools – such as Zoom and Teams – into our AV systems most effectively. Let’s look at a few considerations.

• Meetings will continue to be held differently, even as people return to physical office spaces. Even in a post-pandemic world, the ability to ensure everyone who wants to access a meeting can access a meeting is critical. Breakout spaces, huddle rooms, and the conference room should all be considered when thinking about how they will enable the hybrid environment of on-site and remote participants. A video conferencing application is the first step, but it must be surrounded by highquality AV offerings: PTZ cameras, professional audio input and output, and the proper in-room display.

• Adding a live production system to the workflow makes sense for those hosting larger meetings, providing training or HRrelated activities, conducting marketing outreach, or just wanting

ZOOM AND TEAMS to bring an incredibly high level of production value to their video activities. A live production system brings in multiple video sources seamlessly, provides native integration with platforms such as Zoom and Teams, and can broadcast out to any number of platforms. A live production system is the best way to bring in a video call – or multiple video callers – with a high level of sophistication and impressive production quality.

• The move to AV-over-IP here is a must. The ability to send multiple video and audio signals over standard 1 gig networks is the true enabler in connecting all of these spaces and platforms. A free-to-use platform such as NDI has been adopted by many major players. NDI also offers native integration with Zoom, Teams, and other systems.

• While there may be the need to bring in some new tools, the ability to adapt current systems also exists. Currently owned HDMI and SDI video sources – such as existing video cameras – can be converted to IP signals. That means many existing setups can be quickly adapted to be more flexible and effective as we use more video offerings.

• The ability to add all devices – such as our mobile devices – is also a must. Finding solutions offering software and mobile applications that can quickly bring in video from web conferencing services

The world no longer allowed for folks to be camera shy or not good on video.

Instead, we saw the vast majority of telecommuters transform into on-camera professionals. regardless of device means even more individuals can participate in collaboration.

The value of these systems is clear. And while it may at first seem like a large ask to bring all of these components together, there are systems on the market right now that can more effectively and efficiently bring video conferencing tools into all aspects of an organization’s video.

Contractors should seek out a manufacturer that is innovating in live video systems that offer such capabilities. By partnering together long term, contractors can ensure end-users have support no matter what use comes up in the near-term or the long-term world of work from anywhere.

Barbara Spicek is President of NewTek Global

www.toaelectronics.com

LENUBIO

INTEGRATED AUDIO COLLABORATION SYSTEM

AM-1

REAL-TIME STEERING ARRAY MICROPHONE

meetingIO Series

CONFERENCING MADE SIMPLE

ZOOM AND TEAMS

OPEN MIC

AUDIO MATTERS

By Chris Regan

n the spring of 2020, as schools began to shut down and shift to full-time remote education, I received a call from a college friend who now leads a K-12 school. He was pouring over manufacturer websites and blogs researching audio and video equipment for classrooms that now needed Zoom and streaming. Should he buy this microphone or that one? How will the teacher hear remote students ask questions? Can he use a laptop camera for the video stream to save money? He was understandably panicked by the sudden necessity of finding the budget for a comprehensive project on a very short timeline.

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I explained to him the basics of a good A/V streaming system for classrooms and sent him a few local system integrator contacts to help him properly design and install what he needed to keep his school running and on budget. As I hung up the phone, I realized that similar conversations were happening worldwide, and would be for some time.

While businesses, higher-ed institutions, and many churches had added streaming A/V capabilities over the years as that technology matured, most schools had not.

As professional audio manufacturers, I wondered how we would play a role in this trend not only through the pandemic, but into the future where streaming and remote education would remain an important part of a school’s technology investment.

Speaking with peers in PAMA and across the industry, it was clear that with performance venues closed, certain product categories like large line array speaker systems would be challenged, but the demand for microphones, video capture, and IP streaming systems was soaring.

Manufacturers struggled to keep pace with demand no one could have possibly forecast. Products that were normally on hand for a year or more were suddenly backordered for months. Manufacturers would need

to re-think their product mix and adapt to accommodate products to support remote education. And aside from updating product roadmaps and supply chains, we would need to emphasize the critical nature of good quality audio for streaming education.

For example, when a student is streaming a class on a laptop, they are most likely listening to the audio over laptop speakers or headphones.

Laptop speakers are inherently limited in their audio quality due to their size, and multiple-hour headphone sessions can be fatiguing. As a result, audience tune-out is very real, and on live streams it’s more pronounced than in person. A student can close a laptop a lot easier than they can stand up and walk out of a classroom. Capturing the best quality audio becomes critical to retention.

Manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of remote audio systems in a variety of ways. Pendant and ceiling-installed microphone systems previously marketed to high end conference rooms are now deploying to classrooms and smaller businesses in greater numbers. With the added advantages of no additional equipment to interface, no batteries to keep charged, and little to no user training. USB Audio enabled microphones – once a home recording studio or podcast product – are now a common fixture in home offices, companies, and classrooms alike. DECTbased wireless microphone systems and other products optimized for frequency response in speech applications have been successful in education as well.

Products that enable high quality audio and speech intelligibility will remain in high demand in education. Professional audio manufacturers’ product development cycles will continue to bring improvements in audio quality and ease of use at prices attractive to school budgets. As can be attested by anyone who has sat in on a Zoom meeting with compressed audio dropping in and out, good quality audio matters.

Chris Regan is Co-Founder and President of RF Venue, and Chair of the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance. The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) is the collective voice and forum for the leading manufacturers of professional audio products and the people who use them. You can learn more about PAMA or join an upcoming open session by visiting pamalliance.org

A student can close a laptop a lot easier than they can walk out of a classroom.

Capturing the best quality audio becomes critical to retention.

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THE HYBRID CLASSROOM

By Joe Andrulis, Biamp

chool is back in session, and in person, with a hybrid environment of remote and in-person students. While no one can say what the future holds as far as the pandemic and lingering shutdowns, the horizon for education demands more AV support, whether students are in the classroom or joining remotely.

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For the last decade, the focus had shifted to securing funds to move to a 1:1 model of providing a device for each student, updating projectors and cloud-based interactive displays as they age out, and building a more robust Wi-Fi infrastructure. The pandemic sped up this process seemingly overnight and the return to school is driving it anew.

It’s vital that classrooms become flexible enough to support learning and collaboration experiences on an ad hoc basis both in person and remote. Both modes of learning demand a much more robust AV system design than traditionally has been implemented. However, it can be difficult and research-intensive to identify the optimal AV technology needed to support both in-classroom and remote participants. In either scenario, educators are faced with creating learning environments that engage students in the classroom while keeping them physically separated as needed and ensuring the experience for remote students is clear and equally collaborative.

When thinking about the needs for this new era in education, integrators can look to the corporate market. Comprehensive AV technology, such as that increasingly found in conference rooms today, is key to the audiovisual experience for in-room and remote students and instructors.

These systems have been designed with the goal of ensuring all participants have a voice, no matter where they are located.

Wireless presentation systems play a central role in the contactless aspect; with a wireless room connection and screen sharing capabilities, instructors and students can easily connect to a classroom session from their personal devices whether in the room or online. In addition, when the instructor can use their laptop wirelessly, it allows them to focus on the topic being discussed — not on the room technology.

When choosing a wireless presentation system, it’s imperative that the product is compatible with the UC client the school has chosen — such as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom — while avoiding the costs and the constraints of having a dedicated codec or matrix in the classroom. Likewise, students need to be able to share content from their devices with the instructor and other students. That adds new levels of engagement and lesson immersion that helps students retain information and develop critical thinking skills.

In addition to onscreen collaboration capabilities, another necessary component — perhaps the most essential — is audio. Without solid, intelligible audio, students may fail to master state-mandated standards. Rather than rely on built-in laptop or device audio, which is not suited for an instructor moving around a room, classrooms will require flexible, high performance microphones and speakers. The latest ceiling microphones provide a contactless option that intelligently tracks speakers who are distributed or moving around the room and ensures the instructor and all students are heard no matter how seating is arranged.

In addition, schools will require an audio processor, to eliminate noise and echoes, that is capable of supporting an entire classroom and facilitates connectivity with UC clients for remote students.

A well-designed contactless AV system also considers the installer.

Solutions that can be wired using only common category cable make installs fast and easy. Wireless technology eliminates the need to pull cables around the room. Plus, intelligent beamtracking ceiling microphones require no time to aim or tune.

When evaluating classroom AV, integrators and designers should also pay close attention to how the solution integrates with the school’s UC platform, such as Zoom. When the project is school-wide and consists of multiple classrooms, end-to-end bundled solutions that are certified to integrate with the UC application out of the box will vastly simplify deployment and configuration When a classroom is designed around contactless AV systems that enable both in-person and remote instruction with a uniformly collaborative and high-quality audiovisual experience, students get a leg up on learning and everyone stays safe and can contribute--no matter where they are located.

By Joe Andrulis, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, Biamp

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ZOOM AND TEAMS

INTEGRATION TIP How to Bring HDMI or SDI Sources into Zoom he COVID-19 pandemic has led governments, enterprises and schools all over the world to take precautions such as home isolation and social distancing to ensure the safety of every individual. This has led to surging demand for virtual meetings and remote learning.

Many people using web-based conferencing or collaboration software want to incorporate live HDMI or SDI video sources into their online meetings. Many attendees wish to use a dedicated camera to provide better video quality than a standard webcam, while others may need to share content from other computers or sources. To do this, users need a reliable, low-latency video capture device that is compatible with their computer and operating system, such as macOS or Windows.

This article will walk you through how to bring an HDMI or SDI signal from a video camera into Zoom using a Magewell video capture device.

The workflow for bringing such sources into other software such as Panopto, Skype, GoToMeeting, and Teams is similar.

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STEPS

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Visit the official website of Zoom and download the software, then install it and sign in.

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If you are using one external camera your for Zoom meeting, you can use a Magewell USB Capture external video capture dongle to bring the video signal into Zoom. As shown in the flow chart below, you just connect the camera to the capture device with an HDMI cable, and then connect the capture device to your computer via a USB cable. If you have multiple video sources that you wish to select from or switch between, and are using a desktop computer with an available PCIe slot, a PCIe capture card is recommended. For this example, we are using a four-channel Pro Capture Quad HDMI. The capture card must be installed in the computer’s PCIe slot first, with the corresponding driver – available on our website – installed.

You can then connect cameras or other video sources to the card via HDMI cables, as shown

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Once you have logged into Zoom, go into the Settings panel, and click Video. You will find all available Magewell capture sources (such as USB Capture HDMI or Pro Capture Quad HDMI) in the pulldown Camera list, and if you are using a multi-channel card for multiple sources, each available channel is listed separately for you to choose from. The software detects the Magewell video capture devices automatically, and you can preview the source when the channel is selected for display.

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On the Audio settings page, you can choose your desired speakers and microphone according to your meeting environment and needs. Audio from your Magewell capture device can be selected by choosing the device and corresponding video channel on the Microphone pull-down menu.

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After choosing your video and audio device, you can return to the Zoom home page to start a new meeting or join one.

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The audio and video detection window will appear, enabling you to confirm you are using the correct video source and to do a final test to ensure everything works great.

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Your selected source will appear on the conferencing screen. If you wish to switch to a difference source in a multi-channel configuration, click the up-pointing arrow next to the “Stop Video” icon at the bottom of the page, and you can then select the source you wish to make live.

In addition, Zoom is already compatible with NDI. Users can open the NDI Virtual Input software released by NewTek, select an NDI video stream in the LAN and then select NewTek NDI Video in the “Settings-Video-Camera” drop-down option of Zoom to display the NDI stream on the current screen. in. With NDI Virtual Input, NDI video streams in the LAN are recognized as a webcam that can be recognized by Zoom, thereby reducing the complexity of the setup. NDI Virtual Input is compatible with mainstream software such as Google Hangouts, GoToMeeting, and Skype.

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Creating an aggregate audio device in Audio MIDI Setup.

HOW TO GET HIGH(ER) QUALITY ZOOM AUDIO Improve Zoom Audio with ZoomAudioDevice and ProTools

by Steve La Cerra orking online from home and trying to route decentquality audio in real time to my students is proving quite the challenge. I’ve been meeting with them using either Blackboard Collaborate or Zoom. Blackboard Collaborate provides a secure means of meeting, though the audio is pretty rough.

Using Zoom, the audio is better, but neither of the systems is going to win any awards.

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So we figure out workarounds…

One way of improving the audio quality is by using two separate audio interfaces: one for Pro Tools and another for the Mac OS. Outputs from the Pro Tools interface are physically patched into the Mac OS interface, enabling a Pro Tools session to route into the Mac’s audio system, which then feeds Blackboard Collaborate.

I then create a “voiceover microphone” for the audio stream by adding an aux track in Pro Tools and assigning a live microphone to the input

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Above: Pro Tools I/O Setup shows the default outputs for a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface Left: This Pro Tools track is assigned to multiple outputs.

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of that aux track. This gives me the ability to comment on, or explain, something that I’m demonstrating in Pro Tools. It’s convoluted but it works. That same signal path works with Zoom, as well.

The second solution via Zoom requires more prep, also works well, and sounds a little bit better (though far from great). The problem with Zoom is that there’s no way of changing its default sample rate of 48 kHz —which is fine if your session happens to be at 48 kHz and sucks if it’s not.

One of my colleagues shared a document from Final Final V2 describing how to route Pro Tools into Zoom using a single interface (you can find it here.). The key to getting Zoom to run at other sample rates is in creating an aggregate audio device for the Mac OS that will enable Pro Tools to route audio to multiple destinations at the same time.

The document describes the process in detail, but there are a couple of important points. You’ll need to ensure that ZoomAudioDevice is installed on your Mac (this is the software audio path into Zoom). You then use Apple’s Audio MIDI Setup utility to create an aggregate audio device that includes your interface and ZoomAudioDevice. The aggregate device will be recognized by the Mac OS and Pro Tools.

The caveat here is to make sure that when you create this new aggregate device, you add your audio interface to it first so that it becomes the clock source. Once that’s established, you can add ZoomAudioDevice, and the sample rate in Zoom will follow the sample rate for the Pro Tools session —so you won’t need to hear a 44.1 kHz session played back at 48 kHz. In Pro Tools, set the Playback Engine to the aggregate device (not to ZoomAudioDevice), then default the I/O settings while making note of the last available output. This is the output that will feed audio to Zoom.

In the example below, those are Outs 3-4.

Normally, your Pro Tools tracks would be assigned to the outputs called “Out 1-2” (or something similar) so you can hear them through the interface. A trick that some people don’t know is that if you hold down the Control key while clicking on the PT output menu, you can assign a track to multiple outputs simultaneously.

When you have done that successfully, you will notice a small “+” sign next to the PT output label, indicating that the track has been assigned to multiple outputs. You’ll be able to hear your outgoing Pro Tools session via headphones or speakers while also feeding the Pro Tools audio to the participants of the meeting.

Besides spending many weekends on the road at front of house, Steve La Cerra is an audio educator; over the last month he has been figuring out ways to get higher-quality audio into Zoom sessions and incorporate Blackboard Collaborate.

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