Installation May 2015 digital edition by Future PLC

Issue 179 / May 2015

AV INTEGRATION IN A NETWORKED WORLD www.installation-international.com

Prolight + Sound review

Highlights from a busy Frankfurt show p26

Danger signals

Will networking kill off point-to-point? p30

Worth shouting about The rise of VoIP p36

CLICKS AND BRICKS The role of AV within omni-channel retail strategies p40

MORE connectivity MORE ďŹ&#x201A;exibility MORE MEDIORNET

The new MEDIORNET MICRON

www.riedel.net

01 Install179 Front Cover_Final.indd 1

23/04/2015 17:53

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May 2015

Editor’s comment A

Paddy Baker, Editor pbaker@nbmedia.com

ll manner of IT systems, and increasingly AV ones as well, require users to prove who they are. Think for a moment about how many times a day you do this – entering a password or a PIN to prove that you are the person who set up this account, or you are entitled to this level of user access, or you haven’t stolen this ATM card. We’re not supposed to write down passwords or PINs, but we’re supposed to have different ones for everything, which makes them almost impossible to remember without extreme mental gymnastics or some kind of basic cryptography (the key to which we’re not supposed to write down either). Some people swear by password manager software, but ask yourself this: do you trust it not to be hacked; and is it right that

‘Keeping our passwords our memories is unsustainable in an increasingly systemised world’ participation in daily life requires the payment of a monthly premium, which could increase at any time, to a company that is presumably looking for a monopoly one day? It seems that keeping our passwords in our memories is the only truly secure method – but it’s a frustrating one, and arguably unsustainable in an increasingly systemised world. So I was interested to read recently that Paypal is working on biometric verification techniques which could include recognising unique patterns in users’ veins or heartbeats – and could even lead to the development of chips that are injected or ingested into our bodies (the latter kind would contain batteries powered by stomach acids, apparently). There is a certain appeal in this – not least because it involves storing sensitive personal information locally rather than centrally, which makes impossible the covert theft of data from large numbers of users – a nightmare for anyone conducting online transactions. However, the cynic in me sees a couple of potential issues. First, I can’t help thinking that whatever body-based chip we ended up with, we would end up on a constant upgrade path, being forced into buying a bigger and better one every 18 to 24 months. And second, I can think of at least two Hollywood films where the bad guys bypass biometric scanning security systems by simply – and brutally – removing the relevant body part from some poor sucker. Personally, I think I’d rather blurt out all my PIN codes at gunpoint – the old-fashioned way.

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Subscriptions to Installation are free to qualified readers. Register online at www.installation-international.com/subscribe Installation is published 12 times a year by NewBay Media London, 1st Floor, Suncourt House, 18-26 Essex Road, London N1 8LR, England Editorial tel: +44 (0)20 7354 6002 Sales tel: +44 (0)20 7354 6000 Please send press material to ukpressreleases@nbmedia.com Circulation & subscription enquiries Tel: +44 (0)1580 883848 Email: installation.subscriptions@c-cms.com Editor: Paddy Baker pbaker@nbmedia.com

US sales – Executive vice president: Adam Goldstein agoldstein@nbmedia.com

Managing editor: Joanne Ruddock jruddock@nbmedia.com

Production manager: Jason Dowie jdowie@nbmedia.com

Staff writer: Duncan Proctor dproctor@nbmedia.com

Digital content manager: Tim Frost tfrost@nbmedia.com

Head of Design: Jat Garcha jgarcha@nbmedia.com

Publisher: Steve Connolly

Designer: Tom Carpenter tcarpenter@nbmedia.com

Contributors: David Davies, Carl Hayesmore, Rob Lane, Ian McMurray, Steve Montgomery

Sales manager: Gurpreet Purewal gpurewal@nbmedia.com

Special thanks: Adele Phillips, Jan Setterberg, Peter van der Sluijs

Account manager: Peter McCarthy pmccarthy@nbmedia.com © NewBay Media 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission of the copyright owners. Printed by Pensord Press, Wales

Print ISSN: 2050-6104

Online ISSN: 2052-2401

Cover image courtesy of Sharp Europe

NewBay Media is a member of the Periodical Publishers Association

A sister title to SCN

23/04/2015 17:42

04 CONTENTS May 2015

News & Data 06 08 14 22

InstallAwards 2015: First winner revealed Update Appointments Industry Data Demand for AR and VR set to explode

People

Opinion Rob Lane discusses the growing influence of VR Carl Hayesmore on the networking opportunity Interview Inition MD Simon Dutton talks emerging techology

Prolight + Sound: We round up the key news after another frantic Frankfurt

Features

Show Review

Signal Management: Will the rise of IP spell the end for more traditional connectivity technologies? VoIP: For integrators who take the time, VoIP offers a huge opportunity Shops and Shopping Centres: AV is a key tool in encouraging retail customers back onto the high street

Technology 45 48 50

New Products Demo of the Month Electro-Voice X-Line Advance Showcase Audio consoles

20 Solutions 52

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Gothia Towers, Gothenberg This huge hotel complex has invested in a creative voice alarm system 4D Experience, London Eye A new audio system helps to entertain visitors The Ponderosa, Dungiven A refurbished bar and restaurant required an easy-to-use music system

23/04/2015 14:52

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4/13/2015 10:07:36 AM

06 INSTALLAWARDS April 2015

Lifetime Achievement Award for Jeffreys We’re proud to announce the worthy winner of one of the two special accolades at this year’s InstallAwards

t the 2015 InstallAwards, in addition to the judged categories, we are presenting two awards that recognise special contributions made to the industry over several years. These two accolades are the Lifetime Achievement award, which goes to an individual, and the Grand Prix, which is presented to a company or organisation. We’re delighted to announce that the winner of the 2015 InstallAwards Lifetime Achievement award will be Greg Jeffreys (pictured), founder and CEO of Paradigm AV. The award is made in recognition of his industry-leading work within InfoComm International and his contribution to standards and education in the audiovisual industry. As the first president of InfoComm to come from outside North America,

he has helped that organisation to develop its many activities and extend its international reach. When we interviewed him earlier this year for our February issue, he described his time at InfoComm, which lasted five years in various roles, as “my highest professional achievement”, adding: “There was a common purpose, there were no competition issues, it was very successful both financially and operationally, and we had the chance to do good things.” He has also served on the main board and the advisory board of Integrated Systems Europe. However, there is more to Jeffreys’ achievements than organisational leadership – he also contributes significantly to knowledge sharing and education within the industry. A self-taught engineer, he founded his

Paradigm AV, in 1988, initially as a general AV company but specialising in rear-projection from the early 1990s. His extensive experience in the world of projection stood him in good stead in his role as lead writer on the recent Projected Image System Contrast Ratio ANSI/ InfoComm standard, and he is currently moderating a new standard on setting display image size. We asked David Labuskes, executive director and CEO of InfoComm International, for his thoughts on the man. He told us: “Greg Jeffreys has made significant contributions to the world of AV. He has devoted countless hours to improving the industry. From his dedication to developing industry standards, to his leadership

in recrafting InfoComm as a truly global organisation that can meet the needs of the European AV industry and beyond, Greg is an extraordinary leader who makes all of us with the privilege of knowing him strive to be better.” For 2015, the InstallAwards move to a new central London location – the Bloomsbury Ballroom, located in Victoria House on Bloomsbury Square. The night will include a drinks reception, three-course dinner and after party. In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Grand Prix, we will also be presenting Best Project and Star Product Awards across six categories: Audience Venues, Corporate and

Industrial, Education, Hospitality, Residential, and Retail, Transport and Public Space. We will also present the Team of the Year Award, judged from the entries to the six project categories.

www.installawards.com

Tickets for the event, which takes place on 4 June at the Bloomsbury Ballroom, are available now and cost £225 or £1,995 for a table of 10. Visit the website for more details or email jfarnan@nbmedia.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact gpurewal@nbmedia.com or pmccarthy@nbmedia.com.

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23/04/2015 17:17

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4/1/2015 4:39:42 PM

08 UPDATE May 2015

A commanding view Atlas AV has helped to create a impressive AV experience at the Bentley Priory Musuem in Stanmore, UK. The museum focuses on the listed’s building’s role as Headquarters Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Four Epson EB-G6650WU projectors, one EB-G6450WU projector and four ELPLU01 short-throw lenses were installed by Atlas AV in order to highlight the trials, tribulations and triumphs of 1st Baron Dowding and his reign as the commander of RAF Fighter Command. The pre-show title brief, maps and subtitles are all projected onto a semi-transparent gauze that then opens out to a multi-projection film filling the room. The full, high-resolution image wraps itself around the inner walls and ceiling in Dowding’s original office to produce a feeling that visitors are experiencing the battle first-hand.

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The nostalgic presence of Dowding is enhanced by technology that allows original features of the office to ‘come alive’ with control of the house lights and an automatic door. Shadows and reflections are also created using Epson EB-G Series projectors, and together with realistic footstep effects they hauntingly animate the vital work of the secret Dowding System during the Battle of Britain. In addition, the projectors can be rotated vertically by 360º so the museum can easily move the display around the room, giving the internal designers the flexibility to change the exhibition as often as they’d like. www.atlasav.com www.epson.co.uk

23/04/2015 14:57

Enjoy the sound of silence Barco laser phosphor projectors

Noise in working environments can reduce productivity by more than 30%. That’s why Barco created the quietest laser phosphor projectors on the planet. The laser-sharp images and sensational colors they display will do justice to all your content. And their 6,000 lumens of light output empower you to share information on a really big screen for higher productivity. Their filter-free and lampless design frees you from tedious maintenance. And thanks to the laser diodes’ 20,000-hour lifetime, you will sooner need to refurbish your workspace than replace your projector. Available with WXGA or WUXGA resolution, the Barco laser phosphor projectors are not only compact and light, they can be rotated 360° and support portrait mode too. What’s more, they also come with five different lenses – featuring throw ratios from 0.75 to 5.5 – to fit any project. For more info, go to: www.barco.com/businessprojectors

www.barco.com

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4/15/2015 3:33:52 PM

10 UPDATE May 2015

A winning combination

The Crown Casino & Entertainment Complex in Melbourne, Australia once again turned to Powersoft as part of the recent refurbishment of its bar/ nightclub. The Crown has developed a strong partnership with Powersoft over the years, frequently using the manufacturer’s products. For this project, Powersoft DSP K series amplifiers were specified by technology specialists Point of View to drive an EAW system, consisting of QX594 (FOH) and SBK250 (subs), optimised with its proprietary UX8800 DSP platform. In terms of processing, the UX8800 handles the DSP and feeds into Powersoft’s K series touring amplifiers – comprising K2s and K3s.

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A Powersoft K2 drives the passive MF/HF circuits of the two EAW QX594 loudspeakers and a pair of K3s handle the dual LF circuits of the two QX594s. Two Powersoft K3-DSP-AESOP are assigned to control the VLF circuits of the four EAW SBK250 subwoofers, while another pair of K2s run the passive LF/HF circuits of the four EAW Microwedge10 stage foldback system. Finally, a further K2 powers the passive LF/HF circuits of the two JF8 infill loudspeakers. www.powersoft-audio.com

23/04/2015 17:18

Lenses and accessories shown are not included

Introducing Blackmagic URSA, the world’s first user upgradeable 4K digital film camera! Blackmagic URSA is the world’s first high end digital film camera designed to revolutionize workflow on set. Built to handle the ergonomics of large film crews as well as single person use, URSA has everything built in, including a massive 10 inch fold out on set monitor, large user upgradeable Super 35 global shutter 4K image sensor, 12G-SDI and internal dual RAW and ProRes recorders. Super 35 Size Sensor URSA is a true professional digital film camera with a 4K sensor, global shutter and an incredible 12 stops of dynamic range. The wide dynamic range blows away regular video cameras or even high end broadcast cameras, so you get dramatically better images that look like true digital film. The extra large Super 35 size allows for creative shallow depth of field shooting plus RAW and ProRes means you get incredible quality! Dual Recorders Blackmagic URSA features dual recorders so you never need to stop recording to change media. That’s critical if you are shooting an historical event, important interview or where you just cannot stop shooting! Simply load an empty CFast card into the second recorder and when the current card is full, the recording will continue onto the second card, allowing you to change out the full card and keep shooting!

User Upgradeable Sensor Blackmagic URSA features a modular camera turret that can be removed by unscrewing 4 simple bolts! The camera turret includes the sensor, lens mount and lens control connections and can be upgraded in the future when new types of sensors are developed. This means your next camera will be a fraction of the cost of buying a whole new camera! Choose professional PL mount, popular EF mount and more! Built in On Set Monitoring! Say goodbye to bulky on set monitors because you get a massive fold out 10 inch screen built into Blackmagic URSA, making it the world’s biggest viewfinder! The screen is super bright and features an ultra wide viewing angle. URSA also includes two extra 5” touch screens on both sides of the camera showing settings such as format, frame rate, shutter angle plus scopes for checking levels, audio and focus!

Blackmagic URSA EF

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Blackmagic URSA PL

6375*

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4/7/2015 9:50:15 AM

12 UPDATE May 2015

Springing into action

Following an upgrade to the display technology systems at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Delta Media Servers from 7th Sense Design have been in action to celebrate the premiere year of New York Spring Spectacular, starring the Radio City Rockettes. Display features include 11-projector 3D theatre mapping delivering content to the main proscenium arch and additional arches either side of the stage.

An 80ft digital scenery LED wall fed by Delta now runs content at 4:4:4/60fps, giving audiences an immersive stage backdrop. Additional new features include creative LED wall mappings, a passive 3D LED wall, and surface automation tracking all designed to provide the highest performance audiovisual experience as a complement to the real-life theatrics.

Picture: MSG

Ken Showler, systems engineer at 7thSense commented: “The New York Spring Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall is an incredible mix of theatrical performance, dance, story and technology. Our system refresh will prepare the theatre for years to come.” www.7thsensedesign.com

New Partners Karma AV has been appointed as the UK distributor for power component manufacturer Torus Power. The agreement covers both the residential and commercial markets and will see Karma AV selling and supporting Torus’s toroidal power isolation products to local dealers and integrators across the United Kingdom. www.karma-av.co.uk www.toruspower.com

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Renkus-Heinz has announced the appointment of Schallertech Design and Technology as its new distribution partner in Colombia. Schallertech, one of the leading technology providers in South America, is active in the residential and commercial sectors, including systems design and installations in business, government and education . www.renkus-heinz.com www.schallertech.com

Williams Sound has expanded its international presence with the appointment of CUK Audio as its distribution partner in the UK and Ireland. Founded in 2005, CUK Audio offers services including system design, system modelling, rack builds, product customisation, DSP programming and user interface design. www.cuk-audio.com www.williamssound.com

Onelan has named EET Europarts as its new pan-Nordic distributor. “We needed to strengthen our distribution in the Nordic countries and we believe that EET Europarts´ ambitious and determined strategy in our business… will be very successful,” said Frank Trossen, head of sales Central & Northern Europe at Onelan. www.eeteuroparts.com www.onelan.com

23/04/2015 15:15

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3/20/2015 2:05:04 PM 18-03-15 11:52

14 APPOINTMENTS May 2015

SOMMER CABLE

EYEVIS

Sommer Cable launches in America New CEO appointed to head US subsidiary

artin Ucik has been named CEO of Sommer Cable America, a new subsidiary of Sommer Cable GmbH. Ucik, who holds degrees in both electrical engineering and business, heads the north American Sommer team. He will supervise all Sommer Cable sales, marketing and support activities in the US, Canada and Mexico while retaining a role as strategic business consultant with his former employer plus24. Rainer Blanck, CEO of Sommer Cable, said: “Over the years we’ve worked with Martin and several other distribution partners in the US. When we decided to open our own North American subsidiary we chose Martin as CEO because as a dual German/American citizen and with

MEYER SOUND

Asia presence expanded

his extensive experience in building successful distribution businesses in Germany and the US, he was the ideal candidate.” Ucik added: “After working with Sommer for many years, and specifically with US distributor plus24 since 2002, I have been offered this exciting opportunity to put my 35 years of industry and management experience in service of a great company and its American customers.” The new subsidiary is based in Santa Rosa, California and means most of Sommer’s 12,000+ products can be delivered within 5-10 business days to any US customers.

www.sommercable.com

OUTLINE

Business development manager joins team

Two new faces will help to drive growth in the region

Luca Giaroli fills new position

Meyer Sound has announced two new hires in the Asia-Pacific region. Tim Boot has joined as business development manager, Asia-Pacific, while John Zhang is now sales manager, China and Korea. A 25-year veteran in audio, video and acoustical design, Boot will be responsible for connecting Meyer Sound technology with architects, AV consultants, sound designers, systems integrators and acousticians throughout the region. Bilingual in English and Mandarin, Zhang brings 15 years of sales experience in the global AV industry, including prior highlevel positions with Shanghai Media Group, Micronas (USA) and Philips Electronics. He will be based in Beijing.

As part of a global expansion initiative, Outline has named Luca Giaroli business development manager. He will be responsible for building sales, imaging and branding, as well as field training and education initiatives for Outline’s professional sound reinforcement programmes. Giaroli, who joins from distributor Audiosales, said: “I will be hitting the road to meet with our distributors; engage customers; speak with sound engineers and technicians; organise events to showcase our proprietary technologies; spend time with friends and fans of Outline to gain new perspectives and insights; and assess our competitors to identify how we can further enhance Outline’s market presence, position and performance.”

www.meyersound.com

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www.outline.it

Max Heydayat has joined eyevis in the role of director of sales of the DACH area. Prior to this he was in charge of the German subsidiary of Swedish EG Electronics AB in Frankfurt. He will be tasked with securing key projects, establishing and extending the distributor network as well as establishing and supervising key-accounts in the DACH area.

www.eyevis.de

MARTIN AUDIO Lee Stein has been appointed vice president, North America at Martin Audio. He brings over 18 years of industry management, sales and marketing experience, including roles with Avid Technology and Sennheiser.

www.martin-audio.com

MEDIALEASE Stuart Fenwick is the latest addition to the sales team at Medialease. Fenwick has held management roles in the European production technology industry for over 20 years.

www.medialease.com

MILESTONE Benjamin Low is now VP sales, APAC at Milestone. He will be based out of the company’s office in Singapore and will focus on working with the Asia-Pacific Milestone sales personnel and partner ecosystem of distributors, installers, solution partners and camera manufacturers.

www.milestonesys.com

PEERLESS-AV Stuart Robson-Frisby has been named director of business development for EMEA at Peerless-AV. With over 10 years’ industry experience in business negotiation, channel and end user sales management, he will be responsible for helping to identify and secure new business opportunities in key vertical sectors throughout EMEA.

www.peerless-av.com

23/04/2015 15:17

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Reflect on the future: todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s D20.

The D20 amplifier is the forward thinking choice for realizing mid size solutions. All controlled via the intuitive user interfaces and remote network. Incorporating four truly independent channels, DSP capabilities for comprehensive loudspeaker management, switchable filter functions, two 16-band equalizers and up to 10 seconds of delay. Future ready. Available now.

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4/21/2015 3:38:04 PM

16 OPINION: ON THE AGENDA May 2015

Rob Lane

Limitless applications Following the F8 Oculus Rift update, how is VR’s influence growing?

wrote about Facebook’s March 2014 acquisition of Oculus Rift in a previous edition, looking at whether the $2 billion (£1.3 billion) deal would be a game-changer for virtual reality. More than a year on, and following Facebook’s latest F8 conference, in late March, how has the social networking company influenced what’s happening in VR, and how is the technology informing what’s happening in the commercial installation market and further afield? The F8 developer conference was attended by over 3,000 app developers and talk during and after was dominated by Oculus Rift. The gaming industry has, unsurprisingly, been getting very excited about Rift and VR headsets in general, but this isn’t what’s floating Facebook supremo Mark Zuckerberg’s virtual boat. His comments that he sees Rift as “a platform for many other experiences” and a “new communication platform” are on the money – all $2 billion of it! Sure, gaming apps will continue to have a part to play, but VR has got so much more to offer, and it isn’t hard to imagine how installations will be enhanced by Rift in more sober environments such as boardrooms. Disappointingly for Facebook users, Zuckerberg is yet to set a timeframe on availability of Rift. However, further afield, VR (and its cousin AR) have not been out of the news since last March’s acquisition. As a result, more clients are requesting a virtual reality component as part of their installations, and an increasing number of integrators are upping their VR skillsets in an attempt to steal a march on the competition. We’d already seen a number of installationbased uses for Rift, several before Facebook splashed the cash. These include Arcstream AV’s

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Peugeot 308 experiential tour, Holovis’ RideView simulation, Cross Design Group’s viewing of museum artefacts and INITION’s VR fashion catwalk for Topshop. More recently, in early April, INITION worked with Westfield shopping centres to use Oculus Rift to showcase the future of retail. Shoppers were able to experience Rift and a three-minute 360º immersive interactive experience, which also utilised a Leap Motion sensor to allow users to move in three different ‘dreamscape worlds’. In the same month, Chronicles VR staged a new museum-based VR experience for the Great North Museum in Newcastle. Users explored a virtual tour of a Greek villa, inspecting virtual artefacts that were also on display in the museum, and getting an understanding of how they would have looked in their original setting. Across the pond during April’s New York Auto Show, Toyota’s ‘Distracted Driving Simulator’ placed punters behind the wheel of a real Corolla LE Eco, with a Rift headset driving sim interacting with the steering wheel and a pair of headphones. Two virtual passengers bombarded users with commentary and requests to check out text messages, to the accompanying loud music, and users had to avoid various distractions. Away from the commercial installation market, but doubtless influenced by Oculus Rift’s Facebook-led ubiquity (it was initially a Google Glass-based project), and food for thought for integrators, PatientVR has been designed to help frontline healthcare providers understand what patients are going through. Trialing at Torbay Hospital, it comprises a demo video filmed using two GoPros attached to the

head of the ‘patient’. Footage from a further seven GoPros was stitched together to produce a 360º viewpoint of the surroundings. Rift-wearing health professionals are able to look all around them and zoom in and out, in order to get a feel for the situation from the patient’s perspective and ultimately report back on what he or she thinks of the patient’s state of mind. It’s hard to disagree with Mark Zuckerberg’s statement that Oculus Rift can be a platform for “many other experiences” when you consider how it has been used thus far. A year on from the Facebook acquisition and we’re still just scraping the surface of VR’s potential. Rob Lane is founder/director of PR/marketing agency Bigger Boat PR Ltd, journalist and columnist. He’s perfectly happy in his own reality.

23/04/2015 15:18

X-LINE ADVANCE Forward-thinking line-array design starts here. The result of rigorous R&D, the introduction of the new X-Line Advance family sees Electro-Voice push the parameters of line-array performance to the next level. X-Line Advance utilizes state-of-the-art EVengineered components and incorporates a range of innovative new features, all of which work together to surpass the capabilities of other line arrays, and all in a significantly more compact, flexible, and quickerto-set-up package.

KEY FEATURES: • An unprecedented performance-to-size ratio for installed and concert sound applications. • Advanced audio quality and control via a host of new and exclusive EVengineered technologies, including next-generation Hydra wave-shaping devices, high-output transducers, and proprietary FIR-Drive optimization. • New-look EV industrial design and new Integrated Rigging System combine streamlined appearance with simplified setup.

The first wave of X-Line Advance products includes two full-range elements (X1-212/90 & X2-212/90) and the X12-128 — the most powerful subwoofer EV has ever developed.

Designed, engineered, and tested for ultimate reliability by Electro-Voice in the USA. Learn more at: www.electrovoice.com/X-LineAdvance

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4/8/2015 10:17:14 AM

18 OPINION: ON THE AGENDA May 2015

Carl Hayesmore

Convergence spells opportunity Understanding surveillance and access control will open doors for installers

V systems, access control systems and surveillance are joining voice telephony and computer data on the Ethernet cables and WiFi connections that run through every office and many homes. The IP network is evolving into the central nervous system of every premises. Installers who understand networking and have experience in any one of these major domains have an entry ticket into all three.

Market characteristics AV is often a ‘champagne sale’ – customers fall in love with the idea of large screens in reception areas and/or store windows. While the AV world doesn’t necessarily fully understand IP it is learning fast and becoming savvy. There is a lot of terminology associated with AV and video transmission, and AV resellers are good at using this to present themselves as experts, especially with customers that speak the same ‘language’. Surveillance by contrast is normally a ‘grudge purchase’, and customers often introduce or enhance it either in response to an incident or under pressure from insurers or their endcustomers. Though there are certainly big players, most security installers are smaller companies that have been around for a long time and are quite set in their ways, and the transition to IP is taking them a long time. Not all have made the move to IP and this is leading to manufacturers introducing products that ‘dumb down’ IP. This approach can result in users inheriting separate networks for just one section of a building’s system. Access control is today a major component of intelligent building management systems,

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and includes among other things tailgating and people counting, visitor management, and time and attendance management. It can have security aspects to it, but can also monitor dwell time, footfall, resource utilisation and other aspects of a building’s use. Endpoints can include biometric sensors, cameras and card readers, which can be integrated with face recognition or other security software. Access control has essentially always been computer based – so these resellers are probably the furthest up the technology curve. For the IT channel, understanding the technology is the easy part: ‘it’s all data’. Once you understand IP it is no longer necessary to have someone focused on one discipline. What will come as a shock is the need to climb a ladder to install some of these systems. Computers, printers, phones and other endpoints tend to live at floor level. AV, access control and surveillance guys are well used to hanging equipment at height in obscure corners of buildings.

Cameras converge A great example of the way convergence can work to the benefit of the customer and the installer alike is the installation of cameras. IP-based cameras are being fitted for all sorts of reasons, including training, security and the monitoring of assets like digital signage for maintenance purposes. Advances in camera technology are making it easier to apply one camera to multiple applications. Modern standard IP cameras are normally 1080p, a great improvement on analogue VGA cameras. Often, with suitable control software and security interlocks, the same camera that is trained on the

lecturer in a training session can be redirected around the room for security when the building is unoccupied, and can also be pointed at digital signage in the area to monitor its performance. Even higher-resolution cameras, such as 4K, allow a wider field of view to be covered without sacrificing detail. This means that fewer cameras are required to cover a specific space or area. Installers should always think beyond the installation in hand, and look at what uses a camera might potentially be put to in the future. Taken by itself, a request for quotation (RFQ) to replace the cameras in a suite of training rooms is very straightforward, and the decision is likely to be heavily influenced by price. However, by exploring further and anticipating potential future needs the installer can give himself a non-pricebased differentiator on the first RFQ. This one-off project then becomes the start of a long-term relationship. Carl Hayesmore is technical sales manager, networks/IP at Midwich. www.midwich.com

23/04/2015 15:35

EXPERIENCE TRUE-COLLABORATION™ Getting actual work done during meetings has never been easier.

MEET SMARTER When collaborating feels easier, there’s no limit to what your team can accomplish—in real time. That’s the VIA experience. With any laptop or mobile device, VIA turns your meeting room or huddle space into a secure, wireless environment with unlimited creative possibilities.

Stream Full HD Video

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For further product information, please visit us at www.True-Collaboration.com For your local Kramer office: Tel +44(0)1296 3300111 I info@kramerelectronics.co.uk I www.kramerelectronics.co.uk

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4/22/2015 2:43:03 PM

20 INTERVIEW: SIMON DUTTON, INITION May 2015

‘Technology is the catalyst’ With a track record spanning over 13 years and hundreds of installations, Inition is known for leveraging new technologies before they go mainstream. We talk to its managing director about the company ethos, its Demo Studio, and his views on VR and future technologies How best would you describe Inition to AV integrators? Inition is a production company with a difference. Based in Shoreditch in east London, we specialise in the development of immersive,

installation-based experiences, and we aim to bring great content to new technology platforms including 3D printing, 3D scanning, augmented reality and virtual reality, holographics and haptics, motion capture and 3D 360º filming.

How does your Demo Studio work? How does it help you to innovate, and what do clients get out of it? The Inition Demo Studio is home to our range of cutting-edge technology as well as a selection of the latest award-winning interactive installations produced by our in-house team. Additionally, it supports the consultancy and technology-agnostic sales area of the business because we’re able to host live demonstrations of our products, including high-end 3D printers and scanners, motion-capture systems, haptics and unique visualisation displays. The Demo Studio is used to host hands-on immersive meetings, enabling our clients to explore and, crucially, experience what has been achieved before, what can be accomplished now, and what they can expect for the future, using a multitude of technologies such as virtual or augmented reality as the delivery platform. We also host a regular series of events, including showcases for popular festivals like Digital Shoreditch and London Technology Week, as well as our own sector-based events, and also Reality Tech Tuesdays.

What are Reality Tech Tuesdays? Reality Tech Tuesdays occur on (most) first Tuesdays of the month and are a great opportunity for interested parties – such as Installation readers – to drop in and explore all the latest interactive projects created by the team at Inition as well as the range of cuttingedge technologies for professional applications.

Simon Dutton – a brief biography Simon Dutton’s 28-year career began as an infantry officer in the British Army where he held a variety of operational and staff appointments During his army career he attended the Advanced Information Systems course at the Military College of Science and went on to manage a number of military IS projects He left the armed forces in 2006 and joined Parity Solutions before becoming managing director of both Inition and sister company Golden Square in January 2015. All three companies, and parent SuperCommunications, are part of Parity plc

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Regarding sector-based networking events – such as the recently reported Future of Retail – what’s the idea behind these and what’s coming up? To continue developing partnerships across the broad range of industries we work in, we host sector-specific events which align complementary services and products. In April we hosted ‘Integrating Emerging Technologies in AEC’ for professionals within the architecture, engineering and construction sectors, which featured presentations, thought discussions and live demonstrations of just how our technology could be integrated into these fields. We’re always on the lookout for new event ideas and potential new relationships, so if you would like to partner with us please get in touch!

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INTERVIEW: SIMON DUTTON, INITION 21

May 2015

As well as working with integrators, Inition also works with agencies, direct with end clients and also your parent company SuperCommunications. Where does Inition see its client base? We have traditionally produced class-leading work across a number of verticals, but now under the banner of SuperCommunications we have been able to significantly expand our capability and, with it, our client base. We offer a unique blend of creative talent underpinned by a high level of technical expertise, consultancy and data solutions.

What does SuperCommunications do, and how does Inition work with it? To stay ahead, businesses must become ‘tech brands’. SuperCommunications has a unique

‘Eventually, what we will see is the coming together of VR, gestural technology and augmented reality’

blend of skills to help businesses leverage technology to streamline internal execution and engage customers emotionally with maximum reach and depth. We do this through a combination of big thinking, technology skills, internal change and creativity. There is no doubt that the approach to technology across all sectors is changing at a very fast rate – ‘do or die’ has never been a more prescient mantra. Fluid and engaging customer experience, together with a seamless union of the online and offline and a strong data-driven culture, constitutes the ‘holy grail’. That’s where technology is the catalyst and driving engine. However, technology alone is rarely the answer. We also have a team of talented IT, content, production and post-production specialists behind us, so we are able to offer great and engaging content.

Inition is seen by many as a champion of virtual reality and 3D printing technology. Is this a fair representation and can you explain how the company grew this reputation? Inition has always been an early adopter of new technology, which has historically enabled us to build ground-breaking experience-delivering work before anyone else. VR and 3D printing have recently exploded in their popularity and have captured everyone’s imagination; however, they’re just two of the areas we work in and,

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as such, we’re always well placed to offer customers the ‘next big thing’ in emerging tech.

What’s your view of the multi-touch market, in terms of what’s best suited for installers? We recently installed a multi-touch table (a 55in MultiTouch by MultiTaction) in our Demo Studio. The key to multi-touch products is in the application. As people are now used to touch interfaces in tablets and smartphones, largeform touch displays have a standard to live up to. The functionality therefore has to be enhanced by the content delivered. Combining content with marker recognition provides additional potential, which can broaden how people perceive the benefits of display technologies.

What’s your opinion of Oculus Rift and the other VR headsets, and how do you see them fitting in to future installations and dovetailing with other technologies? Oculus is a starting point – a very good one. Now that VR is ‘on trend’ we’re beginning to see more impressive headsets enter the market, which makes us genuinely excited about the future of the technology. Sony’s Morpheus, Samsung’s Gear VR and the HTC/Valve Vive headset are just a handful of the other headsets either out at present or close to release showing there is genuine interest from the industry’s biggest names. There’s a range of ways we see these technologies evolving in the immediate future and three to five years beyond that. Eventually, what we will see is the coming together of VR, gestural technology and augmented reality and the development of all-in-one, singular devices, which capture the best of each. The user will be offered a more intuitive interactive experience, whether by viewing virtual content overlaid onto the real world, or something entirely virtual that’s based on the physical dimensions of their surrounds, enabling them to explore a virtual space organically, without the worry of injuring themselves. In terms of installations, we see smartphonebased Google Cardboard-type devices becoming hugely popular, massively expanding the accessibility of the medium and, by proxy, a brand’s exposure. This depends largely on what brands want to get out of developing a VR experience: do they want the exclusivity of an in-store experience that demands an in-person presence on location, or do they want something more mobile, that has a wider reach? We think the most ground-breaking installations, however, will be on location as they will involve cuttingedge tech that most people don’t have access to in their own homes.

What new innovations for existing tech are around the corner and what can we expect to see in terms of installation experiences? The new product we’re most excited about within the display sector is the Transparent OLED Technology from Planar. The company has a brilliant 55in unit, which has a small footprint and amazing wow factor. Indeed, the deployment potentials will be really exciting which is why, as a result, we think the take-up will be immense. More portable and usable offerings from Microsoft by way of its HoloLens are promising, but until that is released, the R6 from Osterhout Development Group is the next best thing. Being portable, wireless, with a long battery life and high-quality lenses and functionality, it means the wearable technology market is starting to take off.

Inition is a finalist in next month’s InstallAwards – Retail, Transport and Public Space category – for the South Bank Tower HD Projection. Why did you put forward this particular project? We were commissioned by L3 Creative Projects to deliver a unique panoramic installation that would bring the stunning penthouse views of CIT’s luxury, still-in-construction South Bank Tower to the state-of-the-art marketing suite situated at ground level. We succeeded in creating a stunning experience that exceeded client expectations. By seamlessly blending together 10 Full HD projectors and synchronous 10-channel playback, the vista, seen through windows in the ground floor marketing suite, gives prospective buyers a realistic, 360º panoramic representation of what they might expect to see from the high-value premium apartments on the upper levels – the view is truly remarkable.

Finally, what up-and-coming technology is likely to set installers’ pulses racing in 2015 and beyond? This is the kind of critical market intelligence we give to our customers. Anyone who’s interested in knowing which technologies we think will take off in the future is invited to visit us for a chat to see if we can find a good fit for their individual needs. Broadly though, we foresee head-worn AR devices and experiences, Kinect2driven interactive videowalls, 360º 3D filmed and rendered VR experiences, print while you wait and faster 3D printing. To register for Reality Tech Tuesdays, visit www.inition.co.uk/reality-tech-tuesdays2015-inition/

www.initiion.co.uk

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22 INDUSTRY DATA May 2015

Real appeal Technology, usability and content will combine for augmented and virtual reality systems, causing an explosion in demand, writes Steve Montgomery The augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) markets are expanding rapidly. “Among the three categories of devices defined by ABI Research – standalone, mobilereliant and tethered – mobile-reliant devices like the Samsung Gear VR will see the most success early, while tethered devices like the Oculus Rift and standalone devices such as those manufactured by ODG for industrial applications will need more time to mature before establishing a large user base,” comments Eric Abbruzzese, research analyst. Head-mounted displays will be the prevailing formfactor for both AR and VR devices, but AR will see a wide range of interface mechanisms as the technology progresses into more applications. Virtual reality will be most popular in the gaming market, while augmented reality will be most successful in the enterprise market, for applications in logistics, engineering and automotive. Sectors such as education, travel and design are served well by both AR and VR, and success depends more on specific needs than general application.

Device categories, world market share 2020 (forecast)

Standalone 0.05% AR Smart Glasses 32% Tethered 31% Mobile Reliant 37%

www.abiresearch.com

Total units, world forecast 60 50

55 million

Million

Predicted number of AR/VR devices in 2020, up from 3 million in 2015

30 20 10 0 2014

2015*

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2016*

2017*

2018*

2019*

2020*

Source: www.abiresearch.com *=Forecast

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24 INDUSTRY DATA May 2015

Work in progress The nature of work continues to evolve, driven by technological innovation and social trends, and now has an ‘anywhere, anytime’ culture, discovers Steve Montgomery The modern workplace is changing at a frightening pace. Employers need to face up to shifting demands of workers, changes to how and where people work, employees working later into life and more fluid relationships with staff or contractors. Changing demographics and new ways of working are all impacting the office environment. The trend is certainly to work locally, from home or from a distance, and increasingly new office buildings don’t have enough desks for all the notional employees an organisation has,” says David Fairs, a partner at KPMG, which commissioned the report. “The model that suited senior management when they worked their way through an organisation several years ago is

no longer sufficient to engage young people coming from school or university. The world of work is currently where medicine was in the 17th century.” “Many businesses are looking for that edge, but most are only prepared to adopt things that are tried and tested,” he adds. “The brave at heart will be those who embrace and adapt to this new world.” www.raconteur.net

Which technologies have, or will have, the most impact on the way we work?

Past 5 Years E-mail

45%

Smartphones

44%

Social Media

26%

Web Browsers

23% Cloud Computing Desktop Apps

Next 5 Years

21% 17%

Cloud Computing and Storage

Tablets

25%

Mobile Apps

25%

Web Collabration Tools

Wearable Technology

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31%

Social Media

Content Management Systems

14%

39%

Smartphones

Videoconference Tools

16%

40%

23%

68%

of graduates belie ve virtual networks will resu lt in greater employee engage ment and higher productivi ty

20% 17%

Source: www.raconteur.net

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26 SHOW REVIEW: PROLIGHT + SOUND May 2015

There was plenty to see on the busy Harman stand

Not quiet in the western halls Once again, Prolight + Sound drew large numbers of visitors and was the venue for numerous product launches. Here’s our whistle-stop tour around the halls of Frankfurt Messe LINE ARRAYS Adamson introduced the S-Series sub-compact line array system. The S10 is a two-way, full range enclosure for mid-size venues, with a maximum SPL of 141.3dB. It features Adamson’s patent-pending Controlled Summation Technology, a design method that increases the usable frequency range while reducing interference. The S119 subwoofer has a lightweight, longexcursion, 19in ND19 Kevlar neodymium driver utilising Adamson’s Advanced Cone Architecture, and a 5in voice coil for power handling. It is mounted in a front-loaded enclosure, designed to reproduce clean, musical low-frequency information. Alcons Audio demoed two new pro-ribbon line array systems, the largeformat LR28 and the compact LR16.2. The LR28 is the result of five years of development, with the last two years dedicated to beta testing for the ‘proof of concept’. This has led to another two patents pending along with the four existing patents. “We

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have found ways of getting even more SPL out of the driver, even though we were already above the industry standard for array speakers,” said Alcons founder Tom Back. The LR16.2 features a symmetrical acoustic layout with three-way component configuration and a precise pattern control in both horizontal and vertical planes. It offers “hi-fi sound quality at concert SPLs”, according to Back.

One of two new pro-ribbon line arrays from Alcons

Electro-Voice debuted the X-Line Advance line array family – see Demo of the Month (page 48). Meyer Sound launched the LEOPARD compact linear line array speaker. The selfpowered speaker is said to deliver the audio capabilities

of the LEO family but at a fraction of the weight. Suggested installation applications include theatre, worship and live performance installations. Each LEOPARD loudspeaker is optimised for an array of six cabinets or longer, with default low-mid array compensation providing outof-the-box simplicity.

OTHER SPEAKERS Amadeus unveiled a first concept version of the its Philharmonia speakers, designed for recording studios as well as residential hi-fi use. The speakers had their genesis when the manufacturer worked with architect Jean Nouvel to design speakers for the 5.1 surround studios housed within the newly opened Philharmonie de Paris. Bernard Byk, co-founder and CEO of Amadeus, said: “Combining innovation and timeless beauty, this system embodies the knowhow, the creativity and the values on which we have been building our history for more than 35 years.” EAW debuted the Redline family of powered speakers,

consisting of two powered, two-way models – the RL12 (12in) and RL15 (15in) – along with the RL18S 18in powered subwoofer. RL12 and RL15 are said to offer consistent directivity via Beamwidth-Matched crossovers on 90º x 60º user-rotatable horns. Fouraperture ports provide massive bass support with no turbulence. The selfpowered loudspeakers feature 1,250W of fanless, Class D, power factor corrected amplification. Funktion-One launched the Evolution Series with the ground-stacked Evolution 6E and 7E models. Both are fully horn-loaded with 15in mid-bass, 10in Funktion-One signature midrange and a 1.4in compression driver solely for frequencies above 4kHz. The 7E has a 30º horizontal dispersion angle, and three placed side by side can cover crowd sizes up to around 2,500 people. The 6E has the same cabinet height and width as the Evo 7E but a wider 45º horizontal dispersion. Company founder Tony Andrews commented: “We’ve found a way of

delivering more intensity without distortion.” JBL Professional introduced the Intellivox HP-DS130 active beamshaping loudspeaker array: 1.3m high with an output capability of 105dB at 30m and a frequency response that extends to 18kHz. The horizontal dispersion is 100º and the typical throw is around 25m. An unusual new product from K-array was the Owl KW8 – a self-powered moving-head speaker which includes a coaxial 8in transducer and a builtin camera. It can direct sound flexibly from a single point, providing up to 500W of power, and can store scenes for later recall. “The flexibility of the Owl offers an almost limitless number of solutions and in some cases reduces the amount of speakers required for one installation,” said K-array senior product specialist Francesco Maffei. L-Acoustics launched the X Series of coaxial speakers. The X15 is the most powerful in the series, with ‘exceptional’ power in beam width and acoustic

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isolation, and 40° x 60° directivity. Integrated risers allow it to go from 35° to 55º. The X12, which can cover multiple applications, has an ellipsoid directivity of 90° x 60°, while the X8 live monitor features a high SPL and extended bandwidth for operation at FOH position or in control rooms. New from Martin Audio was the CDD series of installation speakers – see Product of the Month, page 45. Nexo unveiled the ID Series of super-compact loudspeaker cabinets, which offer high SPL output with variable directivity, so that sound can be beamed into difficult spaces. The ID24 full-range compact speaker comes in three versions: the ID24i installation model, the ID24t for touring and AV applications, and the customconfigurable ID24c. Each features twin 4in drivers in a V formation, together with an HF compression driver, offering preset directivity options. They can all be mounted vertically or horizontally and have a user-rotatable horn, accessed via a switch on the rear panel. Two low-profile subwoofers – the ID S110 (with a single 10in driver) and ID S210 (with two 10in drivers) – complete the series. Renkus-Heinz showed the latest iteration of its beam-steering speakers – Iconyx Gen5, which features faster steering, more robust networking and TCP/IP control from third-party devices. Also on show was RHAON II System Manager software, rewritten so that some operations are 200% faster; and UniBeam technology, which enables asymmetric beam shaping and, according to sales and

marketing VP Rik Kirby, is “faster, cheaper and better” than what has gone before.

CONSOLES/NETWORKING Cadac launched the CDC six, a compact console which it described as “the fastest, most intuitive user interface and highest possible audio performance of any audio mixing console available”. Continuing the trend away from menu-based operation established in its stablemate the CDC eight, its user interface is accessed from a 23.5in touchscreen. “We are not playing games here,” said brand development manager Richard Ferriday. DiGiCo launched an entry-level compact console, the SD21. It is based on the larger SD7 – using the same algorithms as an SD7 as well as Stealth Digital Processing technology and a core FPGA. The control surface has two multitouch touchscreens along with 20 touch-sensitive faders as well as touch-sensitive encoders, which change colour according to assigned functions. RCF followed its entry into the analogue mixer market at last year’s Prolight + Sound with the launch of its first digital mixers. Described by RCF chairman Arturo Vicari as “a mixer made by musicians for musicians”, the TM18 and TM08 are small devices that use a tablet as the control surface, and contain various effects and plug-ins built-in. Soundcraft extended its Vi console series with launch of the Vi5000 and Vi7000 models. Intended to replace the Vi4 and Vi6 consoles, the new models offer optional 96kHz processing,

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Nexo’s Rémi Vaucher at the launch of the ID24 compact speaker

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28 SHOW REVIEW: PROLIGHT + SOUND May 2015

and upgraded channel counts. As part of a joint initiative with Shure, the new consoles feature native monitoring and control of the ULX-D and QLX-D digital wireless systems. Yamaha launched the TF series of consoles, aimed at small to medium-sized applications. The series comprises three models, the TF5, TF3 and TF1, which feature 33, 25 and 17 motorised faders along (respectively) with 32, 24 or 16 rear-panel analogue inputs. The series has numerous ease-of-use features including extensive use of colours to ease navigation, and keyboard entry for channel naming. The event also saw the European show debut of the company’s flagship RIVAGE PM10 console.

OTHER AUDIO New from Apart was the PCR3000RMKIII, a multisource CD/USB/ SD-card music player with integrated FM RDS and DAB+ tuners as well

features include more flexible DSP band pass filtering, selectable input sensitivity and remote power trigger operation. d&b audiotechnik introduced the fourchannel, 2RU D20 amplifier. Each 1,600W channel has two 16-band equalisers which feature parametric, notch, shelving and asymmetric filters and up to 10 seconds of delay. The amplifier’s DSP capability means that external system processors are not required. The user interface has a colour touchscreen along with a rotary encoder; an integrated web interface can be used with a browser and can be controlled using the d&b R1 Remote control software V2 (PC or Mac). The D20 is suitable for use with smaller d&b loudspeaker models such as the E-Series and T-Series. New from dbx was the DriveRack VENU360 Loudspeaker Management System, which enables a speaker system to be precisely optimised for

Nils-Peter Keller, director of Yamaha’s pro audio division, unveils the TF console series

as an internal Bluetooth receiver. It features multiple independent analogue outputs, coaxial and optical digital output for the CD/ USB/SD player and an RS-232 port for use with integrated control systems. Crown Audio launched the XLS DriveCore 2 Series of two-channel power amplifiers, which combine high power output with ‘exceptional’ energy efficiency. Upgraded

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sound quality. Succeeding the DriveRack 260, the VENU360 adds features including mobile device control, additional input channels, improved DSP and easier operation. It also offers dbx’s Advanced Feedback Suppression, which automatically detects and removes feedbackcausing frequencies. Lab.gruppen used PL+S to preview Lake Controller v6.4. This release will

contain a number of new features designed to enable faster and more accurate optimisation of complex, large-scale sound reinforcement systems. Users will be able to store and recall individual EQ overlays to modules and groups in Lake Controller, so that any given speaker preset can be augmented with EQ overlay additions. This allows fast modification of a preset to compensate for the number of boxes in an array or for variations in system throw distance. Optocore launched the M Series of MADI modules: the M8 with four MADI ports and the M12 with eight. They both have dual BNC or duplex fibre, two SANE ports and two Optocore highspeed fibre uplinks. They can work as stand-alone routers with single-channel non-blocking matrix and can be integrated with any other Optocore interface. Optocore believes that the resurgence of interest in the MADI format springs from its interoperability between manufacturers, high performance, low latency and no need for special network equipment. Sennheiser’s PL+S focus was on microphones. Its AVX wireless microphone systems for video features a receiver that plugs directly into the XLR socket of a camera, where it automatically pairs with the microphone and switches on when the camera does. The system automatically adjusts audio levels and transmits in the licence-free 1.9GHz range.

LIGHTING AND VIDEO Avolites launched the Arena lighting console, which offers “more live control than ever before”, according to managing director Steve Warren. With

its large control surface, the console is aimed at theatres, larger venues and festivals. Alongside the main display, a second touchscreen provides an additional workspace window, also labelling the adjacent macro buttons

via DMX or an on-board digital display. Fog, haze or a combination of both can be deployed, thanks to a specially formulated fluid. The separate base can be installed in a convenient remote location and holds up to 10 litres of fluid to

Barco demonstrated its HD media servers by mapping and projecting onto this complex shape

and rotary pots. Six LCD ensure uninterrupted use screens display electronic during busy nights. legends for 30 faders, Robe launched 10 new for speedy access to products at the show. playbacks, fixtures and Perhaps the most popular palettes. Arena can process was the BMFL Blade, which 16 DMX universes, with adds framing shutters to eight physical DMX outputs, the company’s powerful and this can be further large-venue moving light expanded with Titan Net series. Other highlights Processors for up to included the new super64 universes. bright LED Strobe, the DL4 At the Barco stand we LED range of moving lights were given a demonstration and the CycPix 12 and of the company’s new HD CycBar 15 fixtures. media servers. Designed New from SGM the both for fixed installations G-1 Beam moving head. and rental markets, they This operates rapidly in enable complex shapes every movement and to be mapped quickly and provides intense mid-air easily. They can also work beam effects through with scans of the venue, a high-power white LED so that any restrictions on light source and a colour projector locations can be wheel as well as a gobo included within the design, wheel. The results are sightlines checked from high contrast and extreme any angle, and audience brightness – 61,910 lux at areas set so that obscuring a 3m distance. IP65-rated shadows are not cast. The and maintenance-free, it timeline tool enables an can be operated either entire event to be modelled off the mains or battery within the software. driven, with 10 to 12-hour Martin Professional operation in typical use. was showing a number The G-1 is equipped with of products for the club a 2.8˚ fixed beam angle, market, including the new but it can deliver an Martin Rush Club Smoke aperture zoom adjustable Dual. This hybrid fog and down to 0.3˚. haze machine features six heads www.pls.messefrankfurt.com across three zones

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30 TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: SIGNAL MANAGEMENT May 2015

Key Points n Networks have many advantages – flexibility, scalability and controllability are among them n For zero-latency, high-quality video, point-to-point is still preferred

Making the connection It was in 1978 that TCP/IP was split into TCP and IP. Since then, Internet Protocol has transformed every industry – including the AV industry. Ian McMurray asks whether its inexorable rise will see more traditional connectivity technologies disappear

nyone who has been around the technology industry for a while cannot help but marvel at how it’s developed – processor performance, memory capacity, graphical user interfaces, miniaturisation and so on. But perhaps greater than all of these is connectivity. It’s really not that long since hooking up a VDU to a computer seemed like black magic.

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Now, we take for granted that pretty much anything will ‘talk’ to anything – and however we want it to do so. Back in the day, though, just about any connection was strictly point-to-point. Today, however, Cisco estimates that around 100 “things” are being connected to the internet every second. By 2020, the company believes, that will be 250 things/ second as the Industrial Internet/

Internet of Things becomes a reality. Cisco’s website has a counter to illustrate the phenomenon of how many things are currently connected: at the time of writing, it was 15,174,647,730. That’s a lot of things.

Connectivity paradigms of yesteryear It would be easy to believe, then, that network connections will

n HDBaseT 2.0 blurs the distinction, to some extent, between point-to-point and networking n As ever: the application determines the most appropriate connection technology

become ubiquitous and that there will be no place for the connectivity paradigms of yesteryear – and that will apply equally to the audiovisual industry, not least because networks bring with them significant advantages. “Practically speaking,” says Tony Dowzall, president of Gefen, “in an IP-based AV distribution system there is no need to run new cabling. In addition, the IT professional

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FEATURE: SIGNAL MANAGEMENT 31

May 2015

HDBaseT 2.0

At ISE this year, the HDBaseT Alliance announced availability to members of the Compliance Test Specification for Spec 2.0 of the HDBaseT standard, providing them with a formal framework to certify their complying products in an ever-growing ecosystem, for increased interoperability among current and future HDBaseT products. The Alliance noted that the first Spec 2.0-compliant chipset was released to the market in June 2014, and the first Spec 2.0 products are already being introduced to the market. Spec 2.0 features new functionalities such as multistreaming, daisy-chaining, USB 2.0 support and fibre as a transmission medium.

The need to connect multiple rooms and buildings, and to move video and audio over long distances, meant Crestron’s refurbishment of the WTO conference centre was network-based

can then control most aspects of the system over their existing infrastructure. The IP system is more scalable with the addition of new sources and displays being as simple as connecting a network cable to the existing LAN. For audiovisual integrators this is a lot more challenging; thus, we see our role as making AV and IP integration easier. To this end, Gefen introduced its Syner-G software suite, being implemented on all new and some existing products. Among other features, it eliminates the previously challenging situation

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either across campus or around the world. It enables BYOD distribution: streaming enables easy transmission to or from a wide variety of devices including tablets and smartphones. And it delivers broad access to rooms: you can easily add streaming inputs or outputs to link any room to any other.” Ease of expansion and lower cost are the primary benefits that Thomas Tang, president of Apantac, sees. “The beauty of the network is that it is really easy to expand,” he emphasises. “By using off-the-shelf IP switches, it is usually less expensive, and when the customer or installer wants to expand inputs/outputs, they can either buy a larger switch or cascade multiple switches together.” For Brian Davies, AMX European technical director, it’s all about flexibility. “Networking overcomes the physical limitations of point-topoint systems,” he points out, “such as maximum cable run distance and matrix size limitations.” Andy Fliss, director of marketing at TV One, sees similar benefits – but also a downside. “The primary

‘The primary benefit of networked solutions is the ability to expand the system by simply adding onto the network’ Andy Fliss, TV One

of locating a device amid a sea of similar IP addresses. It’s designed to lend valuable intuitive configuration options to the AV integrator working on a network.” Stijn Ooms, EMEA product manager at Crestron, warms to the theme. “Networking has countless benefits,” he says. “It gives you a cheap infrastructure: streaming leverages the IT infrastructure which can reduce the overall expense. It gives you limitless distance: the existing infrastructure can often be used to facilitate unlimited distribution,

benefit of networked solutions is the ability to expand the system by simply adding onto the network,” he says. “Infrastructure and technology staff can be shared across numerous services, which can save money. However, video usually needs to be compressed to provide adequate performance. This isn’t always acceptable or practical.”

What’s not to like? Lower cost, facilitation of control, scalability, simplicity of incorporating BYOD, flexibility: what’s not to like about

networking? The advantages and benefits seem to be compelling – so much so that it’s hard to imagine any other way of getting devices to talk to each other. Not so, it seems. Networking doesn’t have it all its own way. “Point-to-point and what we call multipoint-to-multipoint are both useful configurations when talking about AV installations,” believes Micha Risling, chair of the HDBaseT Alliance’s Marketing Committee. “When it was first launched, HDBaseT supported point-to-point installations. With the launch of Spec 2.0 in 2013, HDBaseT can now support multipoint-to-multipoint configurations that open up a realm of possibilities for installers and integrators.” “In some cases, there simply isn’t the need for a multipoint-tomultipoint set-up,” he continues. “Point-to-point is, by definition, a simpler, and as such cheaper, configuration. Any failure or error in a point-to-point network is also easier to pinpoint, as there are fewer elements in the installation.” “Point-to-point provides extremely reliable signal transfer,” adds Davies. “If the correct installation principles are followed, then a positive outcome can be assured. Network-based applications can be affected by external issues outside of the control of, and unforeseen by, the installer. These issues can be introduced by others long after the installation is complete and can lead to poor performance and result in negative views of the technology and/or installation company in the eyes of the end-user.” “Currently, with the bandwidth of available video over network solutions being insufficient to pass the highest common resolutions without some form of compression, any application that requires 100% of the source signal information to be present at the display would be impossible to replace,” he continues. “This situation will become more apparent as the demands of bandwidth increase due to the adoption of more demanding video resolutions such as 4K and above.”

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32 FEATURE: SIGNAL MANAGEMENT May 2015

That’s the point to which Fliss alluded – performance of video over the network – and it’s a recurring theme when the industry discusses the relative merits of point-to-point as compared with networking.

Patently inappropriate Ooms provides a simple example of an environment in which networking is patently inappropriate. “When the presenter is in the same room as the display, point-

quality,” he says. “Also, using streaming for every input/output will quickly overwhelm most existing infrastructure – just one uncompressed 4K signal is about 10 Gbps.” Many presenters can, perhaps, live with a little latency and a reduction in quality – but, as Fliss points out, there are AV applications that can’t. “Point-to-point is still the preferred approach for AV

‘Right now, all technology roads appear to lead to more and more solutions leveraging Ethernet as a common data transfer tool’ Brian Davies, AMX

to-point uncompressed delivery is best because it introduces no latency and maintains the best

content transmissions today, due to its guaranteed and higher performance,” he thinks. “Point-to-

point connections are more reliable, don’t suffer from network latency and don’t exhibit interrupted streams. They also don’t require video compression, which is considered a serious negative in many applications including medical, live events, military and engineering.” “The future of AV lies intricately interwoven with IP,” says Dowzall. “However, we see examples in which networking may not be the ideal solution. A dedicated line is by definition more robust and reliable for its single purpose without the need for additional infrastructure to ensure its operation. Obviously, any venue in which a network is not already implemented is off limits. For example, in retail environments, we are experiencing networked source players providing content to videowalls in a point-to-point configuration. It simply depends on the environment.” Tang makes some interesting points. “You have to bear in mind

that not all point-to-point is created equal,” he maintains. “Some have distance limitations; some use compression algorithms; and some do not compress the signals. However, I believe point-to-point will always remain the simplest, most reliable and highest quality installation method.” “When using networking/IP-based products, there are several potential issues,” he carries on. “First: the signal is usually compressed, whether lossless or not, and will contribute to more latency. Second: a different set of expertise is required to configure network switches and, often, installers that are IT-savvy demand higher salaries. A third point to remember is that security may be a concern in some organisations. And lastly, there are potential headaches for an integrator if different departments within an organisation need to be involved at the customer site – the age-old story of video versus IT departments.”

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34 FEATURE: SIGNAL MANAGEMENT May 2015

Multipoint-to-multipoint But, as Risling explains, point-topoint need not only be about one device communicating with one other device. “In any set-up where you have many sources and/or displays, multipoint-to-multipoint brings several advantages over a point-topoint configuration,” he declares. “HDBaseT Spec 2.0 allows for daisy-chaining, which means that the same source can be fed to several displays daisy-chained 100m apart from each other. There’s no need to duplicate sources, or to locate them next to each display. This is particularly useful for digital signage.” “And,” he continues, “HDBaseT Spec 2.0 also allows for multistreaming, which means that the same or different sources can be fed to different displays, once all are connected to a switch or matrix. Again, there is no need to place the sources next to each display, or duplicate them. This is particularly useful for corporate usage, residential set-ups, or videowalls. In any set-up of several displays and several sources, this can save both equipment and labour expenses when compared with setting up several point-topoint installations. In addition, control and management are centralised, saving maintenance and management expenses.” As with any technology, then, the best and most appropriate choice is determined by the application – a point made clearly by David Jones, international sales manager at Lightware. “Both technologies have their place in our industry and both have their drawbacks,” he asserts.

Case Study

Scalability is key for French hospital Toulouse University Hospital, the Pierre Paul Riquet Centre in Toulouse Purpan, and the Cancer Institute Toulouse Oncopole are now equipped with Crestron technologies in their operating rooms. Integrator Abaques created a solution that delivers visualisation, archiving and remote broadcast of surgeries carried out in the operating rooms. The main challenge was to provide seamless convergence between the IT systems, communication tools and the professional audiovisual solutions. The operating theatres were equipped with either DMMD8x8 or DM-MD16x16 switchers. Each operating room featured Crestron TSW-1050 touchscreens. Remote assistance rooms are equipped with Crestron MPC-M10-W, providing simple management and displaying video and audio intercommunication with the appropriate operating room. The auditoria are equipped with Crestron CP3 3-Series Control Systems, allowing complete control of the room and its own resources, plus the management of the broadcasts of AV streaming and videoconferencing flows. According to the customer’s network manager, the scalability of the system was vitally important in order to secure the organisation’s investment for the future.

“For example, standard routing and extension architectures are often found in very round numbers – 16 x 16, 32 x 32 for example – whereas most of the streaming devices can be sent through a standard network switch to create application specific sizes such as 3 x 59, 13 x 2 and so on. This is a clear advantage of needing less hardware and therefore potentially less cost with an IP-based solution.” “Conversely,” he goes on, “the uncompressed and real-time transmission provided by the physical point-to-point solutions means no loss of signal quality and, with a Lightware system for example, zero frame delay whether routing, extending or both. Applications in the defence or military market or those where frame delay is simply unacceptable, such as rental or live events, are unlikely to be replaced, even in the mid- to longer term.”

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“Let’s also not forget that, for whatever reason, IP-based video transmission is usually a step or two behind the data-rate requirements of the latest AV signals,” adds Jones. “For example, 10Gb Ethernet is now becoming a standard, whereas DP1.2 and HDMI 2.0 require double the throughput. Whether that trend will continue is anybody’s guess – but there are always applications requiring the latest technology and the highest bandwidth, and at the moment, point-to-point transmission tends to be the best way to guarantee this.” Ooms agrees: “Choosing between these technologies is about making trade-offs between bandwidth, quality and latency. New streaming technologies help soften these choices, but at the same time, resolutions are constantly increasing and there is increasing talk of additional colour depth and dynamic range – all of which adds even more bandwidth demand to the equation. So long as there is demand for high-quality, lowlatency video there will continue to be a market for point-to-point video distribution products. The beauty of a product like Crestron DigitalMedia is that it lets you specify between

streaming and point-to-point on an input-by-input and output-byoutput basis, rather than for an entire installation all at once.” Today, then, the two approaches – point-to-point and networking – happily co-exist, each bringing application-specific benefits. But surely, eventually, the irresistible force of IP networks will prove – well, irresistible? “The performance of both point-to-point and networking technologies will increase, but I can’t see the dynamic between the two changing,” responds Fliss. “Point-to-point transmissions are likely to be enhanced by the accelerating adoption of fibre optics – with its exceptional bandwidth and potentially very long range. On the networking side, within five years we should see full implementations of H.265 compression and highperformance codecs to manage the data. We will also have access to AVB technology, which will help to manage network traffic for optimising AV.” Davies doesn’t entirely agree. “Almost all technologies become less relevant over time and HDBaseT is no exception,” he answers. “Right now, all technology

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FEATURE: SIGNAL MANAGEMENT 35

May 2015

roads appear to lead to more and more solutions leveraging Ethernet as a common data transfer tool – but who knows if this will remain the truth in the future given the speed of technological change and the continual appetite for more bandwidth? It’s likely that the next leap in video distribution technology will be driven by technology advances in the consumer space being leveraged by manufacturers to provide professional solutions, as has been the case with HDMI.” Tang, however, sees something of an issue with HDMI source devices. “As far as I know, there is no off-the-shelf ASIC for networking products,” he says. “Once an ASIC is available, then we will start to see the landscape shifting. However, there is a large enough installed base currently and several major display manufacturers have adopted HDBaseT technology. With all of the non-conforming HDMI source devices on the market, HDBaseT has done a very good job

of handling the spectrum of quality that is out there.”

More innovation “Gefen has always been a huge supporter of HDBaseT,” smiles Dowzall, “especially with its ability to extend uncompressed high-quality audio and video over large distances. We think we will continue to see more innovation in this technology which will ensure its relevance and usage in the integrator’s toolkit.” Fliss, however, is less convinced. “HDBaseT will determine its own destiny,” he says. “Through HDBaseT, the market has been trained to accept mediocrity for the sake of being able to handle proprietary HDCP encryption. Everyone has become accustomed to digital noise and inconsistent signals. Its less-than-impressive performance makes networked AV more acceptable and has given networking a better chance of taking over.”

The last word goes to Lightware’s Jones. “I don’t see a great difference in the next three years,” he discloses. “People have been talking about the convergence of AV and IT for a long time now and, assuming they were to converge, we would expect streaming technologies to take over. What we have found over the past few years is that most IT managers wouldn’t allow AV to be on the same network as IT anyway. Given the large bandwidths required in encoding multiple streams of Full HD or higher, this is probably a good decision. So, if we assume that we are looking at two separate networks anyway, why not just run uncompressed where the bandwidth on day one is the same as on day 1,000 and will encounter no delay? As IP-based technologies become more mature and as the market develops, I would expect the balance to tip eventually – but certainly not in the next three to five years.”

Welcome to a world of inﬁnite possibility

There are those in the industry who believe that the days of pointto-point are numbered and that networking will, sooner rather than later, carry all before it. It seems, though, that that’s not the case, and that the legacy technology still has a significant part to play – although the HDBaseT Alliance’s role may be critical. Almost half a century ago, all we had was the black magic of point-to-point. Despite the no less mystical charms of IP networks, point-to-point looks as if it will persist for some time. Who knew, back then, that we were inventing the future?

www.amx.com www.apantac.com www.crestron.eu www.gefen.com www.hdbaset.org www.lightware.eu www.tvone.com

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36 TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: VOIP May 2015

Key Points n Transition from analogue intercom and paging to VoIP-based systems continues apace n Corporate, education and healthcare are among the sectors driving demand

Verging on the big time? The widescale adoption of voice telephony systems in sectors such as corporate and education has fuelled the recent surge of interest in VoIP. But as David Davies discovers, there is some way to go yet before integrators will be in a position to fully optimise the resulting opportunities

he advent of accessible networking technologies and their potential for delivering easy, effective signal distribution has understandably come to dominate the debate surrounding audio in the built environment over the last few years. But this has perhaps come at the price of overshadowing another, quieter revolution: that of the transition from traditional analogue to VoIP (voice over IP) technologies for the delivery of intercom and paging. The inspiration to take another look at VoIP was provided by Biamp’s announcement at ISE in February regarding its introduction of a training programme focusing on VoIP certification. Targeted at AV industry professionals, the scheme is designed to help participants build a foundation in VoIP and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), the communications protocol that is used for the signalling

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and controlling of multimedia communication sessions. Integrators who pass through the course will, says Biamp, “gain the necessary tools and knowledge to design, integrate and troubleshoot

not understanding the technology or resisting the technology will hurt the business.” But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need to ask a few crucial questions concerning the specific origins of this trend…

‘Traditionally the available VoIP training was designed for IT professionals, and was either lengthy, brand-specific, expensive – or all of the above’ Martin Bonsoir, Biamp Systems

Biamp products with VoIP telephony systems”. Such a development necessarily assumes that there is a pressing need for VoIP expertise among the integrator community. Holger Stoltze, senior product manager at Revolabs, certainly doesn’t seem to be in any doubt: “VoIP is taking over;

Why VoIP… why now? Martin Bonsoir, EMEIA applications engineering manager for Biamp Systems, makes it clear that the present explosion in interest is actually a fairly recent phenomenon. “VoIP technology has grown immensely over the last few years, becoming quite common in

n Emerging markets represent a particular opportunity for integrators and manufacturers n Integration with IT systems can be complex, meaning that specific training in VoIP is advisable

multiple audio solutions such as distance conferencing and paging, across a variety of segments from healthcare to education to corporate business,” he says. HB Communications has a heritage in designing, building and supporting AV communications environments that stretches back to 1946. The firm’s vice president Northeast, Simon Davis CTS-D, also pinpoints corporate, education and healthcare as the market’s primary drivers. “VoIP provides significant benefits and improvements over a traditional analogue voice system, with increased intelligibility, greater bandwidth and better signal-tonoise ratio. With all that it offers, VoIP technology is here to stay.” Patti Gunnell, entertainment solutions manager, North America at Riedel Communications, highlights the role of entertainment in contributing to VoIP’s ascendancy, observing: “More productions are done remotely

23/04/2015 12:20

that require communication between multiple sites that are not necessarily in close proximity to each other. The production occurs in a central location and is distributed to other locations where communications to those locations are necessary.” Domenico Gambino, VP sales for Barix, believes the trend towards using the aforementioned SIP protocol has helped to bring cohesion to this area of the market. SIP, says Gambino, is “very much a reliable standard and has been adopted by most of the traditional communication system solutions from companies like Cisco and Avaya”.

Clear-Com, remarks that “it’s critical that integrators build their knowledge of VoIP, to keep pace with increasingly tech-savvy users who are looking to implement the latest VoIP technologies into their working environments to minimise their downtime, maximise productivity, and make full use of their high-capacity IP networks”. Bonsoir adds: “Since AV integrators implement these systems, there is a distinct need for systems integrators to be trained and knowledgeable in VoIP, which is a complex technology and not one that is easy to master or gain comprehensive training in.”

‘VoIP is taking over; not understanding the technology or resisting the technology will hurt the business’ Holger Stoltze, Revolabs

It stands to reason that steadily increasing bandwidth has been – and will continue to be – a primary enabler here. Meanwhile, Davis implies that integrators might also be well advised to think about VoIP on a geographical basis. “If we look specifically at the emerging markets, where they often have the benefit of leapfrogging over older technology, there is significant VoIP opportunity,” he says. “Even in locations where the adoption of VoIP may face possible obstacles (for example, government-owned utilities and replacing or augmenting this lost revenue stream) the technology available that quickly connects people and locations is needed. Ultimately, the technology will win out and the adoption will continue.”

Specifically, making the most of VoIP has “necessitated us to train our technicians and Q/A engineers on the methodology of successfully deploying and setting up VoIP telephony cards within a DSP frame and on our clients’ networks,” says Davis. For those seeking to work in this area, the rise of VoIP has also meant getting to grips with a region of technology hitherto often geared towards personnel from the IT side of the fence. “The actual connection between the two VoIP devices is straightforward,” says Gunnell. “The challenge with VoIP lies with the IT department(s) of the end-user. The problem is with the firewalls and the nature of their corporate network

Learning curve Given this trajectory, Stephen Sandford, product manager at

Clear-Com’s LQ two-channel products

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38 FEATURE: VOIP May 2015

and security policies…” Thus the education required is “more about establishing and maintaining a flexible IT environment”.

Standalone vs integrated Once integrators have acquired the necessary expertise, they can look to make the most of demand for VoIP capability as part of both standalone and integrated, multipurpose systems – dependent, in many cases, on application type. “Standalone solutions are still very attractive for proprietary systems where security is a topic (for example, fire safety, evacuation) or governmental applications (police, eavesdropping) are involved, as well as for very small installations where a fully integrated system is too expensive, notably in residential applications and small businesses,” says Gambino. “On the other hand, integrated solutions offer interoperability benefits that are becoming increasingly evident with the diffusion of freeware VoIP systems.” HB Communications, observes Davis, “sees about 95% VoIP integration into larger systems versus standalone systems. Our experience is that the smaller, standalone VoIP installations – that are often found in huddle spaces – are typically deployed by telephony or network engineers if they have the knowledge. The equipment that is used in standalone installations is a commodity, which means there’s a potentially wider pool of knowledgeable people who can deploy these. “Yet”, he adds, “there is potential for these smaller spaces to be

Revolabs’ FLX UC 1000 SIP conference phone offers USB audio capabilities to support any computer-based collaboration in a conference room

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picked up by more AV integrators as, increasingly, more manufacturers offer standalone VoIP solutions specific to this space.” Certainly, there is no shortage of solutions that make VoIP integration more approachable by AV professionals. For example, Riedel offers VoIP connectivity between its various intercom systems based on the SIP protocol, while the range of relevant offerings highlighted by Barix runs the gamut from IC Paging (intercom and paging for hospitality, entertainment and retail) to the AMX Schoolview solution (including Barix VoIP audio devices and delivering fully integrated bellschedule management combined with security and building management/automation features). Biamp’s VoIP product offering now includes items for distance conferencing and paging systems, among them the Tesira AVB DSPs with design capabilities for systems integrating VoIP or considering adding VoIP in future phases. ClearCom’s solutions in this area include the Eclipse-HX Digital Intercom Matrix IP connections and the LQ two-channel products, while Revolabs’ latest product, the FLX UC 1000 SIP conference phone, supports not only conference room-ready audio for VoIP calls, but also offers USB audio capabilities to support any computer-based collaboration in a conference room.

Training initiatives The emergence of these new requirements, and the inevitable crossover with IT departments, has meant an increasing interest among integrators in specific training programmes. Biamp is among the manufacturers to have responded, with the aforementioned initiative: a product-agnostic VoIP online training course. “We see that VoIP is only going to become more widely adopted, phasing out analogue

VoIP: a systems integrator advises

Simon Davis CTS-D, vice president Northeast, HB Communications: “Adopt VoIP whenever and wherever possible. When designing a room for a client, if there’s a VoIP infrastructure in place for audio then there’s no reason to not utilise it and benefit from it. Keeping the solution in the digital domain is key; there is no reason not to fully embrace VoIP. “We’ve all seen that our client base is changing. Previously we dealt with directors of visual technology and facilities managers, but this has shifted over to the IT departments. Understanding the network and having network engineers on staff is critical to designing and implementing a VoIP solution. Don’t be afraid to rely on your manufacturer partners to augment this knowledge and training base. If there is training that can expand your engineers’ knowledge base, take advantage of it. “Once you have a strong manufacturer partner, understand the premise behind VoIP, and how to speak ‘IT’, then VoIP systems are straightforward. They’re the future.” telephony across the world, and there is a training gap,” says Bonsoir. “The adoption of and the training around VoIP will happen more quickly in some regions. There will be countries that will join the adoption party later, but they will eventually get there. For Biamp, VoIP has become such an integral part of our daily lives that we consider it one of the core technologies for any new member of our applications engineering team to possess. We see this expectation becoming more common with the integrators and installers we speak with.” HB Communications has a significant pedigree in this area; it is a Cisco and Polycom business video partner at the highest level on the video side, while Biamp is its ‘go-topartner’ for DSP audio solutions. Integrators would be well advised to heed Davis’ guidance on audio, video and their incorporation into corporate applications. “There can be a tendency to get too caught up in the video side of AV – it’s more obvious and the technology introduced stimulates our more favoured sense of sight,” says Davis. “But keep in mind that a video call without audio does no one any good (unless they read lips), while an audio call without video can still be productive and meaningful. Audio isn’t important, it’s critical, and the adoption of

audio-promoting technology like VoIP will continue to impact and shape how we communicate.”

Practical approach Alongside training and highly specific understanding of customer requirements, it stands to reason that access to demonstrations will help further the transition to VoIP. As Sandford remarks: “Product demos on real networks are very important in the whole process of switching to a new technology, and they can help show the benefits and expose the pitfalls that help the integrator make the jump from theory to real-world applications.” Continuing convergence around SIP will help integrators overcome one of the great and obvious hurdles – compatibility between different VoIP equipment. But while blanket compatibility may be some way off, it’s evident that for integrators willing to take the time, a command of VoIP technology can do much to further their interests in the corporate world and beyond.

www.barix.com www.biamp.com www.clearcom.com www.hbcommunications.com www.revolabs.com www.riedel.net

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40 BUSINESS FEATURE: SHOPS AND SHOPPING CENTRES May 2015

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Key Points

AV is used widely to draw customers to shops and shopping centres. Steve Montgomery assesses the methods and tools retailers and brands employ to encourage buyers

etail shops and shopping centres are awash with large screens and AV technology as retailers compete against each other and online stores. Screens can act as a shop window; drawing people in from the street or displaying a wider range of products inside a store than can be shown on the floor. Display technology makes products more attractive, helps retailers capture customer interest and drives sales. “We are increasingly asked to provide a retail solution combining security equipment and traditional AV. Heat mapping and

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people counting is being used to ensure the most vibrant displays are placed in the busiest part of the store. Demographic information allows in-store advertising to be targeted more appropriately according to the shoppers’ likely needs,” points out Tom Gibson, product marketing specialist at Panasonic Visual System Solutions. In today’s online, interactive and instantresponse world, shoppers expect stores to be an extension of their connected network. “Society is moving towards a different dynamic: mobile connectivity is embedded in the younger generation’s

daily lives and they expect to see dynamic content everywhere they look,” says Michael Bailly, product planning and marketing director, Sharp Europe. “Large-format display is part of that mix, however retailers need great content to wow their customers. If they create something new and interactive they’ll be rewarded with great response. By controlling content and creating something that extra bit special, retailers can transform their displays into an entertainment system.” Gibson agrees: “In our experience, interactivity does pull people in. We’ve installed interactive floor

displays within quick-service restaurants that entertain children while food is being prepared. We unveiled a VR mirror that suggests appropriate clothes and make-up depending on your skin tone. This type of technology will inevitably find its way on to the high street.” Shopping centre owners have a slightly different perspective, believes Guy Phelps, retail sales, NEC Display Solutions. “They need to offer a modern, high-tech environment to attract high-profile retail tenants and persuade people to leave the comfort of their homes where a retail purchase is just a few

n AV technology is being used by brick-and-mortar stores in their fight for customers n Shops need to combine all forms of communication, both online and in-store, to fully engage with customers n Brands are well positioned to create the emotional link to start the shopping experience n AV systems are being considered earlier in the planning phase, but integrators are still left with little time to install

clicks away. It necessitates a unique offering requiring a customer-led approach. Making the centre a digital destination in its own right is imperative in enabling retailers and consumers

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42 FEATURE: SHOPS AND SHOPPING CENTRES May 2015

to engage on a level which generates a more personalised shopping experience.”

Interactive exploits The key throughout is engagement. Robin Critchley, operations director at digital media group Beaver Group, remarks: “As in-store technology becomes more prevalent, so too does the technology used by individuals. Their experience on web and mobile devices is expected to translate into the experience in store leading to an increased expectation of digital interaction. Twitter feeds, customer feedback, live events and dynamic promotions are all tools that create great customer experience.” Bailly agrees: “People are passive, and often find posters or large displays easy to ignore. However the use of WiFi, Miracast and NFC technology allows interactivity between the consumers’ mobile devices and a display or even with a server after registration. Collaborative solutions that allow interactivity between devices are a definite trend.” The utopia, says Phelps, is “for customers to be able to make purchases wherever, whenever and however they choose, but this will not be achieved until the retailer operates with an effective omni-channel strategy.” The use of multiple communication methods has been effectively demonstrated by Samsung in its Galaxy smartphone promotions. Paul Childerhouse, director at DOOH specialist Pioneer Group, was involved in the project: “All material and data is uploaded to a database and those assets

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used across mobile, web and in-store digital signage campaigns. It is a highly efficient way of ensuring that content is up-to-date; it can be deployed within a few minutes of its creation.” New technologies, such as iBeacon, are likely to evolve over the coming years and Bluetooth can be used to interact with individual shoppers. “This can intelligently target individual shoppers, advising them of offers at their favourite restaurant or when new lines are in stock. Two-way communication is a big focus and is being used to improve the customer experience,” says Chris Ault, reseller account manager, LG Electronics UK. However some technologies that were expected to become more prominent have not. Ault continues: “Gesture display has not achieved significant uptake. It is tricky to engage with, less accurate and often doesn’t seem to be working, making users feel uncomfortable. Other concepts: augmented reality, product lift sensors and virtual assistants

Case Study

Audi pop-up shop in Westfield shopping centre

There is a trend for pop-up shops where retailers that are traditionally based away from the high street, such as ecommerce sites, take a physical store for a limited amount of time and promote it through social media. AV is used to draw attention to these new outlets through bright window displays and captivating digital technology within. HSquared was recently involved in such a project for Audi at the Westfield Stratford shopping centre in London. “The store was designed to promote the new Audi A3 e-tron car and used a wide spread of digital technology: immersive Oculus Rift headsets for virtual test-drives, smartphone apps to control the demo model’s functions and download documentation, iPad information and car-configuration, lecterns, 2D and 3D augmented reality and localised sound showers,” explains HSquared director Kevin Higgs. “Naturally a large videowall explained the concepts and delivered impact, positioned to be viewable outside.” National communications manager for Audi UK, Sarah Cox, said: “It’s an innovative way to interact with an innovative car and one which spearheads another new foray for the Audi philosophy of Vorsprung durch Technik.” capture the attention of shoppers from first glance at the store, so high-bright displays are being placed in windows. Phelps explains: “Retailers not wishing to obscure the view into the store are opting for ‘next to window’ displays; still viewable out of hours and attracting attention from passers-by but offering

‘Collaborative solutions that allow interactivity between devices are a definite trend’ Michael Bailly, Sharp Europe

are few and far between, clearly not becoming a significant method of enticing customers.”

Attention seeking The physical face of shops is changing as new displays become available. With competition on the high street, retailers need to

a potentially cheaper alternative requiring lower brightness and easier installation on a wall.” Brand-led advertising is influencing the market, not least within shops and shopping centres. “Millenials expect to be reached through all channels prior to making a decision and

that is largely the role and benefit that brands can bring to the equation,” points out Nathan Remmes, VP of marketing and business development at Nanolumens. “They are well-placed to create that emotive link directly with the customer online that draws them to the shops and continues with local interaction.” Whether funding comes from the chain, shopping centre or brand owner is largely irrelevant to integrators, although it is likely to affect the planning and fulfilment process and especially timescales. The average refresh-cycle of a shop is five to seven years and high-cost items are expected to last and look up-to-date throughout, although smaller screens and specialist campaign systems will come and go on a shorter cycle. Critchley: “Digital technology is regularly built into the first design of new builds; it was previously left as a secondor third-phase addition. Our input can be provided

at an early stage, helping with planning and overall design. Of course, there are still many cases where digital is being added to existing stores or locations with installation work occurring out of hours. But, in any scenario, with proper planning and resource management almost anything is possible.” Retail deployments of AV systems are fruitful to system integrators, but they are complex. With the right skillsets and an eye for developments in the market, pro-AV companies can offer added value to shops, shopping centres and brands that enhance and promote the brickand-mortar shopping environment.

www.beavergroup.com www.hsquaredltd.co.uk www.lg.com www.nanolumens.com www.nec-display-solutions.com business.panasonic.eu www.pioneergroup.co.uk www.sharp.eu

23/04/2015 12:21

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4/13/2015 10:23:27 AM

TECHNOLOGY Kit you need to know about

Martin Audio

New Products p45

Demo of the Month: Electro-Voice X-Line Advance

CDD Series

It’s… A new dedicated installation loudspeaker range, comprising six two-way full-range coaxial speakers, plus subwoofers. What’s different? The CDD Series features Martin Audio’s new Coaxial Differential Dispersion technology, which offers improved coverage across larger areas than conventional coaxial speakers. Details: Named after its new patent-pending transducer design technology, the CDD Series is designed to bring ‘MLA-like’ consistency of audience coverage to the smaller spaces of the AV installation market. The range consists of six full-range cabinets ranging from the 5in CDD5 to the 15in CDD15, and four subwoofers that go from a 1 x 12in to a 2 x 18in model. Suggested applications include bars, nightclubs, public spaces, houses of worship and general AV installations. The majority of the cabinets are made of UPM Formi, a composite material that combines wood fibre and polypropylene to provide stiffness, internal damping and mouldability. Because they are moulded, they have a rounded design which also enables them to be mounted close to walls and ceilings. The speakers can be operated in either horizontal or vertical orientation: the coaxial driver can be rotated by removing a screwless protective grille. Coaxial Differential Dispersion technology is said to overcome the weaknesses of conventional two-way systems at the crossover point between the low-frequency

This Month

driver and the high-frequency horn, and also the tendency of coaxial speakers to beam at high frequencies. It does this by use of fixed and moving waveguides which shape the wavefront and control the dispersion pattern of the high frequencies, without interfering with low-frequency generation. The result is a more rectangular coverage pattern, with more consistent coverage front to back, but wide horizontal dispersion close up. This means that in some cases fewer speakers are required for even coverage across a space. The speakers are available in black or white as standard, with custom colours available to order. Managing director Luke Ireland describes the CDD range as “a significant landmark in Martin Audio’s history”, adding: “More importantly our customers are being offered a vastly superior product at a price that’s significantly less than our current AQ range that CDD is replacing. It’s not often that superior technology and performance are offered so competitively, but that’s another reason why we expect big things for CDD in the installed sound market.”

p48

Showcase:

Audio consoles p50

f o t c u Prod nth o m e h t

Available: Late June

www.martin-audio.com

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23/04/2015 17:21

46 TECHNOLOGY: NEW PRODUCTS May 2015

Clear-Com Agent-IC

It’s… a mobile app that gives users of Eclipse-HX Matrix intercom systems remote access from an iPhone or iPad over 3G, 4G or WiFi/IP networks. What’s different? Agent-IC adds a new dimension to the Eclipse-HX system, extending the reach of the system to provide global, on-demand access to Eclipse resources. It provides a simple intercom panel to connect teams in remote locations, or crew spread across wide areas for live events, using their portable handheld devices. Details: Users of iPhones or iPads running iOS 8.0 or later can install the app directly from the App Store. Accessing the app requires authorisation and system pre-configuration from the broadcaster’s system administrator using Eclipse-HX. Managed under central administration control from the host Eclipse-HX system, Agent-IC is fully featured with point-to-point calling, point-to-multi-point group calling, partyline, PTT, local crosspoint audio level control and notification functions. Access to the host Eclipse-HX matrix is secure, using UserID/password and audio encryption. Available: Now www.clearcom.com

eyevis

EYE-LCD-5500-XSN-LD-FX-700, EYE-LCD-4700-USN-LD-FX It’s… two new display solutions for permanently installed modular videowalls. What’s different? The displays are said to offer a cost-efficient product concept, price flexibility and professional, high-quality features. Details: The EYE-LCD-5500-XSN-LD-FX-700 55in display, which has a small bezel of only 3.5mm and a screen brightness of 700cd/sqm, provides an alternative to the 500-nit version for locations with bright ambient light conditions. The fan-free 47in LCD EYE-LCD-4700-USN-LD-FX has a bezel of only 4.9mm. Both displays promise high screen brightness and colour reproduction thanks to direct LED backlighting and 10-bit colour processing. For videowalls up to 500in screen diagonal, the displays can be equipped with an infrared multitouch surface with up to 32 simultaneous touch points. Available: Now www.eyevis.de

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Apex Liviau S Liviau S offers the same audio functionality as the recently release Liviau R but with enhanced video and lighting capabilities for bars, clubs, retail and corporate applications. The S model features a fully integrated DMX controller for powerful lighting control. As well as architectural lighting, up to 16 intelligent lighting devices may be controlled. In addition, Video Scheduler enables scheduling and playback of video and other formats from stored sources. Available July. www.apex-liviau.com

NEC NC1201L NEC’s new digital cinema laser projector is designed for boothless cinema scenarios with up to 12m screen width, due to its compact, low-noise design, flexibility, and the powerful integrated media server. The one-box solution features an integrated NP90MS02 cinema server, with 2TB net capacity, fast upload of movies via USB 3.0 or Gigabit Ethernet possible during playback, and support for playing movies directly from Network Attached Storage. The laser has a typical lifetime of 20,000 hours. Available autumn. www.nec-display-solutions.com

Vision AV Techconnect HDMIW7 and W20 These two wireless products transmit HDMI at up to 1080p with 3D – with no compression and no latency. They use standard 5GHz WiFi bands. The HDMIW7 has a 7m range and the transmitter comes in dongle form for plugging into laptops for meeting room and classroom use. The HDMIW20 has a 20m range and comes with an integrated HDMI switcher. Its remote control can also be used at either end to switch input. Available June. www.visionaudiovisual.com

Vivitek DX813, DW814 Vivitek has added the DX813 and DW814 to its multimedia projector range. The native-XGA DX813 features an energyefficient lamp lasting up to 7,000 hours (in dynamic eco mode). The DW814 offers WXGA resolution with a maximum of WUXGA (1920 x 1200). Both units are audio ready with an internal audio speaker and plenty of audio-in/out ports for connection to a variety of external AV devices. Available now. www.vivitek.eu

23/04/2015 15:25

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11/11/2014 15:08

48 TECHNOLOGY: DEMO OF THE MONTH May 2015

Back with a vengeance Paddy Baker gets up close to Electro-Voice’s new X-Line Advance series of line arrays

lectro-Voice hasn’t launched a line array since 2008, having focused its efforts in installation speakers primarily on the ZLX series. So we were delighted to be invited to visit the company’s European HQ in Straubing, Germany, to hear a demo of the X-Line Advance a couple of weeks before Prolight + Sound. E-V talked to its customers when setting out to design its next generation of line arrays. The message came back that they wanted something that was louder than the previous generation, but also smaller and lighter. The result is the X-Line Advance, which at launch comprises three speaker models: the X1-212/90, the X2-212/90 and the X12-128 subwoofer. Smaller cabinet The X1 is designed for clubs, entertainment venues and houses of worship, while the X2 is for larger venues, stadiums and touring. The models are outwardly similar – they are two-way speakers with basically the same cabinet – but the HF drivers, woofers and Hydra waveguides are specific to each model. Making the cabinet smaller prompted the move from a three-way to a twoway configuration, but, explained global product manager Guillermo Wabi, this also makes it harder to produce low frequencies. The E-V engineering team therefore added two large ports on the side of the cabinet, to allow the woofer greater motion. However,

48 Install179Demo_Final.indd 1

this approach runs the risk of generating unwanted resonance; through prototyping (including the use of 3D printers) and testing, and the use of a bulk moulding compound that is stronger than the wood of the cabinet, this phenomenon was avoided. To improve mid-range coupling, the engineering team created the Mid-Band Hydra – a multi-aperture waveguide that effectively converts the acoustic behaviour of the 12in woofer into that of a double line of four 3in point sources. Additionally, ElectroVoice is, said Wabi, one of the few manufacturers that produces its own transducers. The woofer transducers have been designed specifically for line array performance: rather than creating equal amounts of sound energy across the frequency spectrum, these have been built to boost the midrange because acoustical coupling will “build the low frequency for you, for free”. Turning to the HF end: on the X1, the 2in ND2R ringexit titanium compression drivers are coupled to a wavefront-shaping circular Hydra (WCH), to provide uniform pattern control and an extended linear response, while the X2, which features 3in titanium drivers, uses a pair of Advanced PDH Pin Diffraction Hydras for a similar result. “We can pinpoint the audio where we want it and not lose energy,” he said. “The ND6A with Pin Diffraction Hydra creates a much flatter planar wave

The demo provided a side-by-side comparison of the X-Line Advance (centre cluster) with the XLD (left) and XLC (right) ranges

than previous models, with a more even distribution of energy.” The X1 and X2, which have peak SPLs of 143dB and 146dB respectively, can be combined with the X12128 subwoofer, which is the most powerful sub that E-V has ever produced. A dual 18in system, it produces a maximum SPL of 141dB continuous (147dB peak). It has been designed to provide an acoustic match to the X1 and X2. The X-Line Advance also comes with the LAPS software package (Line Array Prediction Software), which assists with array configuration, rigging and coverage. Protecting the system Electro-Voice is mandating that the X1 is to be used with the company’s FIR Drive DSP – which provides FIR EQ, brickwall crossovers, phase correction, anticipation ‘look-ahead’ limiters, and thermal limiters, all in the same software suite. Said Wabi: “We know what the performance of our voice

coils is, and we know the point where a 1dB change can produce a 50ºC temperature change and destroy the voice coil. Our thermal limiter protects our system.” X2 is required to use E-V’s DSP and also its TG7 amplifier. Wabi explained that feedback from tours in the past was that the company’s line arrays did not sound consistent from show to show. On investigation, it turned out that the poor ones were the ones that were using other manufacturers’ DSP and amps. “So we’re taking that control back.” Reaction to this announcement has been predominantly positive, he added. So, what did it sound like? The demo took place in a large, mostly empty room with a 9m ceiling and space for around 1,000 chairs. The system demonstrated consisted of six X2 cabinets left and right, sometimes augmented by two X12 subs each side. We were encouraged to stand up – as the sound had been

optimised at a height of 1.6m, and to walk around to appreciate the 90º horizontal dispersion. We were played a wide variety of music, from light jazz to heavy rock, all of which the system reproduced accurately and powerfully. Of particular note were an indie rock song where every guitar chord made my chest rattle, and a track with a reggae bassline where I swear I could feel my heart dropping inside my body. The demo also included a side-by-side comparison with the older XLC and XLD line arrays. I could detect a slight difference between the sound of these and the smaller, newer models, but I couldn’t choose a favourite. One could argue that Electro-Voice has waited longer than it should have done to update its line array offering, but as Wabi said: “We’re back with a vengeance – and this is only the beginning!” www.electro-voice.com

23/04/2015 17:51

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4/24/2015 9:39:58 AM

50 TECHNOLOGY: SHOWCASE May 2015

Audio consoles

Our round-up of recently launched audio consoles shows they appeal to a broader range of users, with usability, input and output scalability and futureproofing the chief areas of focus, writes Duncan Proctor

Roland delivers adaptability with new operating platform Roland’s M-5000 live digital mixing console is based on a new operating platform that provides more adaptability to individual workflow. The name of the OHRCA platform stands for Open; High Resolution; and Configurable Architecture. These three concepts combine and adapt to meet the needs of the application and the operator by delivering 128 freely definable audio paths, an extremely flexible user interface, expandable protocols and multipleformat I/O choices. A key component of the M-5000 is that its internal architecture is not fixed to any configuration, which allows it to be freely defined within a range of 128 input or output channels, so the operator can ‘build’ a console to suit the application. The network options are equally versatile. In addition to two REAC (Roland Ethernet Audio Communication) ports, the M-5000 has two expansion card slots to support a range of system configurations and audio transport protocols such as Dante, MADI, Waves SoundGrid and other formats. The back panel includes 16 x 16 analogue I/Os; 4 x 4 AES/EBUs; a 16 x 16 USB audio interface; connection for control via an iPad, connected or wireless; and control ports including footswitches, GP I/O, RS-232C and MIDI. This enables the console to see up to 300 inputs and 296 outputs, all at 96kHz. The control surface emphasises user assignability with the 12in colour

touchscreen encompassing 28 channel faders in four groups, multifunctional knobs and buttons and an entire user-assignable section.

All-in-one desk from Lawo The Lawo mc236 is an all-in-one mixing desk with a comprehensive feature set that covers broadcast, theatre, house of worship, live and install applications. This flexibility is combined with impressive sound quality and Lawograde mic preamps. It is available with 16, 24 and 40 faders and integrated I/O and is suited to permanent installations with limited space. The layer concept with its reveal feature allows users to handle large productions without the need for dozens of faders. The powerful DSP micro-core with internal 512 x 512 port audio matrix is natively equipped with Ravenna/AES67 technology, allowing the mc236 to integrate into IP infrastructures and making it more

50-51 Install179 Showcase_Final.indd 1

futureproof. The console has up to 496 channels and up to three 21.5in Full HD touchscreens. The breakdown of inputs/outputs is 32 mic/ line inputs and 32 line outputs, eight digital AES3 inputs and outputs, one MADI and three Ravenna/AES67. www.lawo.com

www.roland.com

App controllability from Allen & Heath’s compact solution The Qu-Pac digital mixer from Allen & Heath is an ultra-compact solution, available freestanding or rack mounted, that targets schools, hotels, bars, theme parks and cruise ships. The mixer has the advantage of being controllable via iPad app, but a built-in high-resolution 5in touchscreen provides a backup if the WiFi signal drops out. Connectivity and scalability comes through 16 mono inputs, three stereo inputs and 12 mix outputs on the rear panel, which can be expanded to 38 in/28 out by remote AudioRacks over Cat5. The wide array of possible applications puts a greater emphasis on flexibility and ease of use and the installer can set up a custom ‘Qu-Control’ screen to give non-technical users a simple interface without unnecessary additional features. The compact size makes the Qu-Pac suitable for use in confined spaces and where audio systems need to be discreet. Permission settings allow different levels of access for different users and provides security if the system is left unattended. www.allen-heath.com

23/04/2015 11:57

TECHNOLOGY: SHOWCASE 51

May 2015

DiGiCo brings routing flexibility and future update potential DiGiCo’s SD11 offers routing flexibility and has an optical fibre interface to communicate with a large number of I/O devices. The I/O racks use studio-quality preamps and the digital audio engine uses DiGiCo’s Stealth Technology to provide an internal 40-bit floating point sampling rate resolution that provides great audio quality and a large amount of headroom. To process the audio, DiGiCo uses an FPGA chip, which provides power and flexibility allowing the system to be quickly reconfigured for different applications. It also means DiGiCo can release updates with new features and has the ability to increase the power of the consoles, ensuring it is futureproof. Using the three different software applications that can be installed in the system, the SD11 covers a broad section of the installation market including broadcast and theatre applications. All members of the SD series can connect with all versions of DiGiCo Racks, providing the installer with great flexibility in type, size and connectivity of I/O. www.digico.biz

CDC offers surface configurations and low latency processing CDC eight is Cadac’s flagship digital live sound console designed specifically for concert touring and fixed installation. Cadac has taken a new approach to the user interface, which has resulted in a less menu-dependent console accessed via 24in HD anti-glare touchscreens. Additionally, there is a 6in LCD touchscreen for system control. The CDC eight is available in two surface configurations; the dual-screen 32-fader console and a smaller single-screen 16-fader version. They are identical in capacity and capability but offer a choice of console footprint to fit the application. Also included is a proprietary DSP mix platform and FPGA processing technology with low latency (sub 0.4 millisecond) and multiple surface options. www.cadac-sound.com

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Yamaha combines Dante networking with auto-mixing capability Yamaha’s QL5 digital mixing console from the QL series delivers the audio quality, processing power and flexibility of the CL series to applications where space and budget are prime considerations. The QL5 features 32 inputs and 16 outputs in a 828.4mm wide chassis, and 64 mono and eight stereo input channels, making it ideal for small to medium-sized installations. However, on-board Dante networking allows it to be integrated into bigger systems with Yamaha’s R-series I/O units and CL series consoles. Up to eight R-series units can be controlled by a QL console, offering a possible 256 input sources. The QL series comes with Dan Dugan’s auto-mixing capability, making it suitable for multiple-microphone applications.

The Port to Port facility gives CL series mixers access to the on-board connections of QL consoles, allowing them to be used as external I/O and for scalable audio solutions to be created. Auto Gain Compensation can be applied to the QL series head amps as well as R-series I/O units, allowing two or more QL and CL series consoles to share inputs without fear of unexpected level changes. www.yamahaproaudio.com

Stagetec’s personalised mixing console The Stagetec Polaris Evolution is a networkbased console, which allows a split DSP power across multiple users, meaning multiple independent users can share one DSP. It is fully touchscreen integrated with a modern and flexible graphic user interface and claims to be the first fully personalised mixing platform. The system can be expanded and used in different locations and in broadcast and theatre simultaneously. The controller distribution can be scaled for the production; for example, the three units and 16 faders can be used one day for three shows with 16 faders and the next day one show with 48 faders, allowing flexibility and scalability. New features for this console are

Audiomixing 3.0 and Integration of Object based 3D audio applications; it also has plug-and-play capability and the operating software facilitates a fast learning curve. The GUI can be set up with different access levels for different users, and the audio over IP supports Dante/AES67.

www.stagetec.com/en

Soundcraft’s expanded functionality for two The Soundcraft Vi3000 features 36 faders, 24 mono/stereo busses and a black screen panel with four Vistonics II touchscreen interfaces, which means it can be used by two engineers at the same time. Rear connectivity is extensive with a full complement of analogue and digital inputs and outputs as well as MIDI, USB, Ethernet, DVI out, and Dante/MADI record feed outputs. The console also has two expansion bays that can be fitted with MADI Stagebox cards to connect multiple Soundcraft Stagebox input expander modules.

Additionally, the Vi3000 can accommodate the Soundcraft Realtime Rack hardware/ software unit that provides access to 74 industry-standard UAD plug-ins. It is also the first Soundcraft console to incorporate a Dante interface as standard. www.soundcraft.com

23/04/2015 11:57

52 SOLUTIONS: GOTHIA TOWERS, GOTHENBERG May 2015

The hotel contains 1,200 rooms within its three towers. Inset: one of the QSC touchscreens in the Upper House, used for controlling BGM across multiple zones

Installed

SWEDEN

No cause for alarm The recently expanded three-towered Swedish hotel sought a voice alarm system able to withstand the daily rigours of this multi-functional complex, writes Duncan Proctor

othia Towers in Gothenburg is one of the biggest hotel complexes in Europe. It consists of 1,200 rooms in three towers connected by a basement floor and two bridge walkways on the 20th floors. The hotel is also part of an exhibition centre and sports arena, making it a popular event location. The hotel’s three towers were built in stages to gradually increase the number of rooms. The smallest and oldest tower was built 20 years ago followed by the centre tower in 2001 – seven new luxury

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floors were added to this during 2013 – and finally in 2014 tower three was completed. The extension of the centre tower is called Upper House and is a separate five-star hotel. ITM Meeting Solutions and Soliflex Svenska were responsible for sound systems and AV equipment in all three towers; ITM focused on video and Soliflex on audio and system programming. The pair were recently invited to work out a method of using the voice alarm system on a daily basis in a more creative way. Claes Gustavsson, MD

at ITM, says: “Fredrik and Jan [Setterberg] at Soliflex have a unique knowledge of audio and system programming which is a necessity to be able to fulfil complex systems such as Hotel Gothia.”

From the ground up Tower one currently lacks a modern evac system but plans are in place for it to get the same Baldwin Boxall voice alarm system as the other structures. However the ground floor reception areas, restaurant and coffee shops are fully integrated in the new systems. They also have a

common background music (BGM) system for the whole area as well as separate music channels for the different restaurants and more located on the ground floor. Jan and Frederik Setterberg got involved in equipment supply as well as the design of the evac system integration with the BGM system in 2011 when the decision was made to build Upper House. Therefore many of the evac loudspeakers had to be upgraded to equipment more suitable for music. The loudspeakers were arranged in different

Audio n Baldwin-Boxall voice alarm system n QSC Q-Sys Core 250i processor n QSC TSC-3 and TSC-8 panels n Shure ULX-D digital wireless system n L-Acoustics ARCS system n L-Acoustics XT speakers

sections so the restaurants, spa sections as well as the local reception, were all able to control their own music selections. The BGM sound system has a loudness function following Fletcher-Munson curves, securing better sound quality at lower sound levels. To control and adjust parameters a Q-Sys Core 250i integrated core DSP unit was installed; the DSP offered the power needed as well as many useful functions included in the software. QSC control panels enable individual control of the BGM system. These

23/04/2015 17:48

SOLUTIONS: GOTHIA TOWERS, GOTHENBERG 53

of the Month panels were installed at selected positions to avoid unauthorised access of the system. The Q-Sys unit is connected to the Baldwin Boxall system, so if an alarm is activated the BGM system is automatically muted. Tower three is the latest addition to Gothia Towers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; completed in late 2014 it takes the room total up to 1,200. The evac system uses an additional Baldwin Boxall system as well as the same type of loudspeakers as Upper House in tower two. The Q-Sys unit in tower two has the processing power needed for tower

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three as well as some spare capacity for future expansion. The restaurant on level 29 in the new tower will also have a conference system consisting of an AV screen, a laptop audio input and three Shure ULX-D digital wireless systems also connected to the voice alarm loudspeakers. The Shure system, which is under the control of the DSP unit, was chosen due to the narrow bandwidth per channel and the AES encryption.

Listening environments In the new parts of the ground floor is the Twentyfour-seven restaurant, which is also included in the new BGM system, and is equipped with higherquality loudspeakers

May 2015

to give guests a better listening environment. Italian restaurant Incontro, also on the ground floor, is to be fitted with a new sound installation and PA system later this year and Soliflex expects to use the same Q-Sys unit for control. The Gallery, located close to the lobby, hosts art exhibitions and can play music suited to whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on display, or the same music as the rest of the lobby when no exhibitions are scheduled. The conference centre also boasts a new PA system designed to reach the 1,500 delegates it holds and can also be used for music performances or a combination of both. The conference centre has a very short reverb time (RT60 = 0.75), giving STI values of about 0.7-0.75.

About the consultant n Soliflex Svenska AB offers system design, consultation, acoustic simulations, programming and project management n Soliflex has experience in racetracks, opera houses and schools and specialises in integrating PA and VA systems n The company also represents Lawo, Klotz and Anchor Audio in Sweden The new sound set-up is an L-Acoustics ARCS system flying above the stage and is complemented by L-Acoustics XT speakers as front fi lls and delays. The music played throughout the hotel comes from the Spotify Enterprise music system. This helps the hotel schedule music suitable for different areas, days of the week and times of day. Although the system uses

internet streaming, the music is cached in the playout device, so if connection is lost it will keep playing for several hours.

www.baldwinboxall.co.uk www.itmab.se www.l-acoustics.com www.shure.co.uk www.soliflex.se www.qsc.com

23/04/2015 17:48

54 SOLUTIONS: COCA-COLA LONDON EYE May 2015

Formerly known as the Millennium Wheel, the Coca-Cola London Eye opened in 2000 and is Europe’s largest cantilevered observation wheel

Installed Audio Picture: Chris Carpenter

UNITED KINGDOM

All ears on the Eye

All d&b audiotechnik n 10A-D two-way speakers n 18A-SUB subwoofers n 8S two-way speakers n B2 subwoofers n D12 two-channel amplifier n D6 two-channel amplifier n R1 control system software

When the time comes for a long-running attraction to get a technology refresh, there can sometimes be a limited opportunity to get the new kit installed. Paddy Baker reports on how a tired audio system was replaced at a key London landmark

t’s not unusual for leading tourist attractions to provide some additional value for their customers, particularly when it comes to keeping them entertained as they wait for the experience that they’ve paid for. This is the rationale behind the 4D Experience at the Coca-Cola London Eye, a free-to-attend cinematic event that has been running at the attraction for a number of years. Described as featuring ‘ground-breaking and spectacular in-theatre effects’, the 4D Experience tells the story of a little girl who is unable to see the sights of London clearly until a seagull shows her the Eye and her father takes her to visit. The narrative is enhanced by 4D elements that include mist, snow, rain, smoke, bubbles and wind effects. These are experienced by up to 200 visitors at a time as they await their trip on the 135m wheel above the UK capital. In 2013 the decision was taken to renovate and update the facility. This involved stripping back the interior of the venue, replacing various displays, adding new interactive effects and replacing and enhancing the audio system. Integrator Southby Productions, which had a history of work at the attraction, was called on to supply and install the audio elements.

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More even coverage The existing audio system had been in place for six years by the time of the refurbishment. Director James Southby explains: “The system – which runs from around 10:00am to 8:30pm every day – was suffering from age and lack of maintenance. There were some reliability issues with drivers on the subs and channels dropping out on the amplifiers.” But the new system wasn’t simply intended to provide a more reliable system; it also provided an opportunity to improve audio fidelity in the attraction. The London Eye team was “looking for a more even, more consistent audio coverage”, explains Southby. For his company’s part, this involved “looking at how big the room is, what the layout is and trying to ensure that the person in the front left corner gets the same experience as the person in the middle. We also did some time alignment to make all of this work, and put in some equalisation.” A complicating factor was that there was only a narrow time window for the work to be carried out. The attraction’s only major shutdown period takes place over two weeks each January – so all the work would have to be done during that period in 2014. Southby chose a system based around

equipment from d&b audiotechnik. “We opted for an xA-Series system, with 10As on the left, right and centre of the screen and supported by 18A-SUBSs and B2 subwoofers from the C-Series for the extended bass requirements of the special effects,” he explains. “For the vital surround system, the unobtrusive 8S loudspeakers from the xS-Series were used.” Amplification is from D6 and D12 amplifiers, with control provided by a d&b R1 control system:

The audience of up to 200 stands on four tiers in the auditorium; the loudspeakers were installed behind the new projection screen

23/04/2015 13:30

SOLUTIONS: 4D EXPERIENCE, LONDON EYE

May 2015

“exactly what was needed for a programme of this type”, says Southby. He continues: “We are mindful that many visitors are small children or possibly wheelchair users so not everyone is at a similar height, unlike a seated auditorium. Steve Jones from d&b audiotechnik Application Support and Education and I created the sound design with these variables in mind.” The main speaker system had to be installed behind the new screen and new cable runs made as the building work progressed. It proved possible to re-use much of the existing speaker cabling. “We were on site for two days of installation and a day of tuning,” remarks Southby. “The room had been acoustically treated during the refit to isolate the sound from other parts of the building; County Hall [the venue’s location] is not only listed but contains organisations that are very separate from each other. In effect we could not be absolutely sure how the room would finally sound as it was effectively being built around us.” One idea for the sound system that was considered but rejected was to have a fully digital audio system, “with playback from a computer server with everything travelling digitally to the rack”, says Southby. However, it

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was realised that “this would have added an extra layer of complexity in a short space of time. So we ended up taking the analogue route, in a dual-redundant configuration, with a second server and most components – apart from speakers, amplifiers and projectors – doubled up.”

One year on

About the integrator n Based in High Wycombe, 50km north-west of London, Southby Productions specialises in live audio, event production and equipment hire n The company became one of the UK’s main d&b audiotechnik installation partners in January 2015

Following a year of continuous playback, Southby had the opportunity to revisit the n Recent installations include St Mary’s, Marylebone and system during the January 2015 shutdown Christ Church Mayfair period. “We were only there a couple of hours. We didn’t have any problems – we went through everything and made sure it was still though, as there’s more than enough level in functioning as it was when we left it, and asked there, and it’s infinitely better than what they them if they had any problems or issues.” had before. They’re all very pleased with it,” he One issue did come to light during this visit: remarks. noise spillage into the hotel situated on the Southby concludes: “The increased audio floors above the 4D Experience. Southby says experience has enhanced the whole performance he encouraged the venue team to take d&b’s as it plays such a big part in delivering the special cardioid subs rather than the omnidirectional effects to the audience. So I’m happy to say models, but the former, with their more we’ve ticked all three of the big boxes: we were controllable output, were deemed unnecessary on time, on budget and the audiences leave with by the client, who believed spillage would not a smile on their faces!” be an issue. In fact, the operators have had to www.dbaudio.com reduce the attraction’s overall SPL slightly on www.southby-productions.co.uk account of this. “I don’t think it’s a problem,

23/04/2015 13:30

56 SOLUTIONS: THE PONDEROSA, DUNGIVEN May 2015

Installed

It is now possible to easily control the music in the kitchen, bar, sunroom, lobby, restrooms and outdoor patio seating area

Audio n ELAN M86 8-source 6-zone controller n ELAN HC 6 system controller n Niles Audio CM 7MP speakers n Niles OS 7.5 indoor/outdoor speakers n Furman power conditioner n ATON IR kit

UNITED KINGDOM

High-up tech At 288m above sea level, this once run-down building has been transformed into a welcoming bar and restaurant with big ambitions, writes Tom Bradbury

fter a complete interior remodel, The Ponderosa, situated on the Glenshane Pass in County Derry/Londonderry, is back in business and aiming to become a mustvisit attraction for Northern Ireland and the island as a whole. At 288m above sea level it is billed as the highest pub on the island of Ireland, and to make the most of this position the owners have invested in a fully automated audio system by ELAN and Niles. In addition to a totally

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new bar, seating area and interior design, the restaurant also received some major behind-thescenes upgrades. What was first intended as a small convenience shop has been turned into a much larger kitchen to accommodate more staff and more guests, while a high-tech ELAN g! music system was installed to offer the management control of 14 speakers in six zones. According to installer Aidan McErlean of AME Electrical: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The owners wanted a simple system

that would let them have precise control over the music in the kitchen, bar, sunroom, lobby, restrooms and outdoor patio seating area, and ELAN g! is the easiest way to do that. We set them up with access to radio, satellite radio and any music they want to bring in themselves, and they can control it all from an iPhone. Plus the main room has a new retractable separation wall, so if a group comes in for a private party they can have their own music separate from the rest of the bar.â&#x20AC;?

About the installer n AME Electrical is a security, AV and electrical installation company based between Belfast and Londonderry/Derry in Northern Ireland n The company specialises in private and commercial installations, including home cinema systems, home automation, electrical contracting and more

AME Electrical kept the job modest in size to meet the required budget, but made sure to use the best products available from Core Brands. In addition to the ELAN g! system and audio controllers, the Ponderosa has 12 Niles in-ceiling speakers and two Niles outdoor loudspeakers. Finally, all rack equipment is protected by a Furman power conditioner to ensure smooth operation and long equipment life. The building where the Ponderosa now stands

has been the site of a restaurant for more than 150 years. The original building structure has now been bought back to life and has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind environment boasting a restaurant, bar and shop, and crystal clear music.

www.ameelectrical.co.uk www.atenhome.com www.corebrands.com www.elanhomesystems.com www.furmansound.com www.nilesaudio.com

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R PLANYOUR MONTH AHEAD

Our pick of what to see, do and discover in the weeks ahead, including InfoCommâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return to the East Coast, InstallAwards in central London, and the future of architecture

f Pick o nth o the m

InstallAwards 2015

Taking place at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London, the 2015 InstallAwards looks set to be even bigger and better than the 2014 event. Tickets are still available for the night, which will celebrate excellence across the pro AV and systems integration marketplace. Contact jfarnan@nbmedia. com for more details. www.installawards.com

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and 370,000 attendees from 110 countries are expected to attend, making the most of the showfloor pavilions, audio

READ

CELEBRATE

The largest pro-AV event in the world returns to Orlando for 2015. Running from 13-19 June, more than 980 exhibitors

The Future of Architecture in 100 Buildings

Marc Kushner Published by TED Books and with stunning photography and stories of architectural wonder from across the globe, The Future of Architecture in 100 Buildings illustrates the rapidly evolving world of architecture in the digital age.

demo rooms, InfoComm University training sessions, behind the scenes tours and networking receptions.

LEARN

InfoComm 2015

Maths, Science & Engineering for Technicians CEDIA

This one-day course starts with basic mathematical and engineering skills and applies them to the world of residential home technology. The class will aim to bring all students to the level required to pass the scientific elements of the EST2 exam.

23/04/2015 18:05

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