CEDIA Communicates Magazine - Quarter 4 2021 - Americas/Asia Pacific

Q4 2021

CONTENTS

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I AM CEDIA: Vikas Gowrisetty Meet the co-founder of award-winning Indian firm, Awicon

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FIVE-TIME AWARDWINNING HOME See how the team at Global Wave Integration achieved greatness

2022 - PREVIEW 14 ISE All the innovation you can’t afford to

MEET OUR NEW CEO 26 Daryl Friedman introduces himself to

Dimension 20 Another Multi-award-winning home cinema

HDMI Best Practice 32 New Dive into how RP28 changes the design of

miss at the show

the industry

HDMI systems and why

ISE 2022 24 Q&A Mike Blackman Managing Director at ISE talks about what's new

CEDIA Awards Wrap 30 2021 A taste of three virtual awards ceremonies

Minute Tech Read 34 Two The investment in entertainment spaces Podcast Roundup 38 CEDIA Why tech needs a female perspective CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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WELCOME TO THE FINAL EDITION OF CEDIA COMMUNICATES IN 2021 I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you all: I’m Daryl Friedman, the new Global President and CEO of CEDIA. I joined the association at the end of November, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the CEDIA community. I'm looking forward to meeting many of you soon — hopefully in person at ISE 2022. Until then, you can find out a little more about me in this issue or throughout my travels to meet our members.

CONTACT 8475 Nightfall Lane, Fishers, Indiana 46037 USA Email: info@cedia.org Telephone: +1 800.669.5329 Unit 2, Phoenix Park, St Neots Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EP, UK Email: info@cedia.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0)1480 213744 www.cedia.net

SOCIAL

FRONT COVER Global Wave Integration 505 S. Flower St., CA 91052, USA +1 818 451 9866 globalwaveintegration.com

COPYRIGHT All material in Communicates is the copyright of CEDIA and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the association. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content published, CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for any factual errors that may occur. CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors.

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

This issue of CEDIA Communicates is jam-packed full of content that reflects the busy quarter we have had as an association; every part of the business has been firing on all cylinders.

We’ve delivered a number of events and opportunities for you to connect with your industry, in person or online. We hosted nine Tech Summit events across the globe since September, including six successful US events; we awarded the winners of the 2021 CEDIA Awards during a lively virtual ceremony; and, for the first time, we brought you WellCon, a virtual wellness in technology conference (all the content is available in the CEDIA Academy to watch again).

Our certification team — staff and volunteers alike — has been hard at work completing the IST certification: the beta testing is now closed, and the full certification exam is available for booking. A special congratulations to the 26 professionals in the Americas region who passed the exam and thank you for your participation in the beta testing. We’re also looking forward to a busy first quarter of next year for the industry and the association, with ISE 2022 on the horizon.

I hope this issue will provide you with an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved in 2021 and spark excitement for the coming year. The CEDIA Team wishes you all good health and a prosperous 2022.

Daryl Friedman Global President and CEO CEDIA

NEWS IN BRIEF Amanda Beckner is Vice President of Education and Training

CEDIA announces that it has hired Amanda Beckner, CTS, as vice president of education and training.

Beckner has over two decades of experience in association management, learning program development, and the audiovisual industry. As vice president of learning at AVIXA, she led the digital transformation of the association’s curriculum, shepherded three AVIXA certifications and multiple standards to ANSI/ISO 17024 accreditation,

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and built an active global network of over 250 education, certification, and standards volunteers. As president and COO of THE rAVe Agency, she led long-term strategy and operations and oversaw growth of the LAVNCH program into the leading virtual event platform for the audiovisual industry.

“No other individual could be better suited to serve the CEDIA membership in this role,” says Giles Sutton, senior vice president member success and sales of CEDIA. “We’re in the midst of developing training and resources to support stacked certifications; expanding our virtual conference programs; and launching in-person training led by certified volunteer instructors across North America.

Mandy, astonishingly, joins us with a record of smashing success across all these initiatives, and two decades of AV industry experience to boot. She’s a unicorn.”

Gary Kayye, founder of THE rAVe Agency, offers his support as Beckner

transitions to her new role: “Mandy was exactly what THE rAVe Agency needed to manage our growth during the pandemic. Her energy is infectious, and her new role at CEDIA is perfect for her passion for education.”

At CEDIA, Beckner will be charged with the stewardship of CEDIA’s education initiatives, championing the mission of making the association the leading global source of education and certification in the smart home industry. She will oversee curriculum design, content development, delivery, stakeholder engagement, and business strategy for CEDIA education and certification programs.

“The audiovisual community are the world’s global experts on experience and connection,” says Beckner. “It will be my mission to bring the principles of quality, craftsmanship, personalization, and human-centered design that define our industry to bear on all of CEDIA’s education and training programs.”

Powerhouse Alliance

Catch Up with WellCon

In August, CEDIA announced a partnership with the PowerHouse Alliance to expand the availability of CEDIA’s in-person training programs. In Q1 of 2022, PowerHouse Alliance’s 11 distributor members will begin hosting CEDIA Training courses at over 55 locations across the U.S. These three-day trainings will begin with foundational courses that prepare individuals to sit for the CEDIA Cabling & Infrastructure Technician Certification with more advanced trainings that lead to CEDIA Integrated Systems Technician Certification planned as the year progresses.

Under the direction of a CEDIA-certified instructor, participants will engage in handson learning activities that mimic the feel of on-the-job tasks to expand upon the technical knowledge resources gained from the CEDIA Academy. By the time they complete this course, students should be able to safely and effectively follow directions to install, terminate, and verify cabling in both new construction and retrofit environments.

Dennis Holzer, Executive Director of The PowerHouse Alliance says, “Every PowerHouse location will have at least one CEDIA-certified instructor, offering dealers the peace-ofmind that their new hires are learning the right protocols and standards of work to be successful on the job. Apart from extensive hands-on training and a consistent curriculum offered by each PowerHouse member, we will also be attentive to creating training schedules that work for our dealers.”

To learn more about the PowerHouse Alliance and to find out when an in-person training course will be available near you, visit www.powerhousealliance.com.

WellCon, the twoday virtual Well-Tech conference hosted by CEDIA and RePure is now available online.

Aimed at integrators looking to add wellness solutions to their portfolios as well as those interested in expanding their current wellness offerings, WellCon can now be viewed in the CEDIA Academy at cedia. net/wellcon. This gives integrators the chance to catch any or all of the ten sessions delivered by experts over the two stacked days of the conference in their own time and at their own pace.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners CEDIA has named Control4 Co-founders Will West and Eric Smith as the 2021 recipients of the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award. This special award recognizes an individual—or in this case, two individuals—who have exhibited outstanding, creative, innovative, and visionary leadership in the growth and advancement of the residential

technology industry. Nominations are submitted by industry professionals.

“This is the first time we’ve given the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award to two people, but I don’t know how one of them could have received it without the other,” said CEDIA Board Member, Bill Skaer. “I can’t think of two people more deserving of this honor than Will and Eric.”

West and Smith first became acquainted while West was operating a high-end A/V shop and Smith was a computer science student at Brigham Young University. The two have a rich history within the tech industry having launched four companies together over a 15-year period.

“I am honored to be recognized with the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award, but more than that, I am so happy to be receiving this award alongside Eric. He’s brilliant, amazingly hardworking, and is downright passionate about this industry,” said West.

The recording of the CEDIA Awards broadcast where West and Smith were honored with the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award can be found on the CEDIA HQ YouTube.

Will West & Eric Smith

IST Certification Passes We are excited to announce that the new CEDIA Integrated Systems Technician (IST) certification examination is complete and the results are in!

Our warm congratulations go to all 51 of those globally who successfully achieved this new certification, and, in particular, we’d like to give a big shout out to the 26 integrators from the CEDIA Americas region who passed the examination.

Following in the footsteps of the CIT certification, IST will be submitted for accreditation next year from ANSI/ANAB under ISO/ IEC 17024. To support the IST Certification curriculum, integrators can purchase an accompanying book from CEDIA priced from $110 – just go to cedia.net.

Finally, a special mention to all those volunteers on the Certification Commission who are diligently working in the background to make sure these new industry certifications are up to date and meaningful for our community.

Renew your CEDIA Membership Today It’s membership renewals time!

CEDIA is inviting members to maintain all their current benefits of belonging to the association and back CEDIA to increase its work on behalf of the industry through 2022 by renewing their annual membership before Jan. 28, 2022.

“The past two years have shown us the importance and power of connection,” says Amanda Cannon, Member Services Manager. “A CEDIA membership allows you to lean on the shared experience of your peers around the world on the CEDIA Community online forums; network at our inperson and online events; find like-minded professionals in another market; and nurture invaluable relationships that can last a lifetime. We understand that times have changed immensely, but at CEDIA, our commitment to our membership has remained steadfast.”

To renew your CEDIA membership, please visit cedia.net/renew.

Look Back on 2021 CEDIA’s End of Year Webinar was presented virtually to members on Dec. 16.

The video gave members insight into the work of the association, including a financial update and membership report, a look at some of the great events for the industry, including our awards celebrations, and a welcome and look forward to the future from our new Global President and CEO, Daryl Friedman.

If you were unable to attend the meeting, a recording of the video will be available on cedia.net/amm in the new year.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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“We always felt that if we understood the basics of audio, video, and control, we could apply that knowledge across different verticals.

It’s like singing the same song but in a different tune.”

VIKAS GOWRISETTY

I AM C 6

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Vikas Gowrisetty A Q&A with the Co-founder of Awicon Technologies in India – a CEDIA-Awardwinning firm serving both the residential and commercial industries

Tell me a little bit about your background and your current role.

My family has been in the jewelry business for more than 60 years now.

I completed my master's degree in electronics and communications at Temple University in Philadelphia where I also worked as an associate professor for math and chemistry before moving back to India to pursue the ever-growing entrepreneurial opportunities there.

I co-founded Awicon Technologies with my childhood friend, Sukumar, and currently look after Technical Design & Business Development, though I tend to wear multiple hats when needed to explore and understand different perspectives.

How did you become interested in technology?

I have been fascinated with technology since I was a child, though it is in stark contrast to what my family has been doing for more than half a century. I used to play around with changing levels on the equalizer for my Sony stereo system to explore different genres of music, and

always wondered how it worked. My childhood fascination towards audio and technology motivated me to pursue this field academically. My master's in electronics and communications helped me strengthen my understanding and gain in-depth knowledge of embedded systems and wireless communication, which form a significant portion of the control system world.

Tell me about Awicon Technologies.

How did the company get started and how has it evolved from its founding?

Well, it all started in 2010—a couple of years after I completed my master's and returned to India. Zigbee was making progress with adoption globally for its lighting controls, and I became more and more fascinated with residential technologies. My childhood friend, Sukumar, and his dad, Mr. Surender Ranga, owned a large electrical and building automation company at the time. Under his mentorship and able guidance, we both started working on developing our in-house Zigbee-based lighting control solution with a mobile app. That was when we started Awicon Technologies!

CEDIA CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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Our residential customers have realized that, apart from delivering these projects with the utmost professionalism, we also treat these projects as if they were our own homes. So, as a good will gesture, we were given opportunities to work on their other ventures like pubs and lounges, schools, and hospitals. One thing led to another which led to more opportunities.

From your experience, how does the Indian market differ from other parts of the world?

“Invest in education and learn from your peers about what works and what doesn’t.”

VIKAS GOWRISETTY

We designed and installed wireless lighting controls for a lot of residential projects for the next few years and gained expertise on lighting control technologies. The more projects we did, the more we realized that residential technology is not just limited to lighting control. So, as part of our evolution as a business and to represent the term “integrator" in its truest sense, we also started offering AV, home cinema, and network and security solutions for residential projects.

God has been kind since our company’s inception.

Our business has grown every year, and we’ve delivered some beautiful technologically enabled homes. We now have projects spanning multiple cities across the country. Over the last two years, we’ve achieved a major milestone of becoming both a finalist and winner in the Integrated Home category at the prestigious CEDIA Awards.

Have you always covered such a wide range of solutions (luxury residential, corporate, health care, education, hospitality)? How does your process and approach differ with each?

Not really! We always felt that if we understood the basics of audio, video, and control, we could work on different applications of it in the above verticals. It’s like singing the same song but in a different tune.

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

India is not just diverse in culture, but it is also far more diverse in technology. We’ve always embraced different technologies and different brands.

Having said that, the Indian population is becoming more tech-savvy every year. Recent surveys report that India’s 1.3 billion people make it the second most populous country in the world, but with an average age of 29, we also have one of the youngest populations globally. Information technology is also one of the largest industries in the country.

Our clients’ understanding of different residential systems has been increasing by the day, and we are being offered more opportunities to integrate technology into homes.

How long have you been a member of CEDIA? What compelled you to join?

I have been associated with CEDIA for nearly five years. My first contact with CEDIA was through a good friend and long-time CEDIA Member, Zohir Ramodiya, who introduced me to Matt Nimmons for an upcoming Advanced Home Cinema Design Workshop in India.

Education and training were my primary reasons for enrolling in a CEDIA membership but since then, I have leveraged various programs such as CEDIA Certification, the CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) program, and the CEDIA Awards.

I also recently offered to be a volunteer for CAP and have been involved in India’s COI Working Group.

Since joining, I have learned structure, documentation, how to build tools to succeed, and most importantly to give back.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this industry?

Invest in education and learn from your peers about what works and what doesn’t. Our industry is exciting and fast-changing and it’s a great place for both new and seasoned professionals to be. But above all, it’s about understanding your clients. Learn about the products and technologies that are available and how they can address your clients’ needs.

twitter.com/vikasgowrisetty in.linkedin.com/in/vikas-gowrisetty-bb839669 awicontech.com

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Audio America Midwest 3085 Commercial Ave Northbrook, IL v60062 847-656-8900 www.goced.com

Davis Distribution 52 Quaker State Road Newell, WV 26050 800-746-5331 www.davisdistribution.com

ECD 4747 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77027 800-392-5156 www.ecdcom.com

KOA CCTV 7306 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Unit 1 North Hollywood, CA 91605 866-606-5229 www.koacctv.com

Mountain West 2889 South 900 West Salt Lake City, UT 84119 801-487-5694 www.mwd1.com

Pioneer Music Company 14915 West 106th Lenexa, KS 66215 800-362-0315 www.pmcav.com

Pro Audio Associates 14 Everberg Road Woburn, MA 01801 800-356-6004 www.proaudioinc.com

Sierra Select 4320 Roseville Road North Highlands, CA 95660 800-793-7334 www.sierraselect.com

Ui Supplies 465 N. Franklin Turnpike Ramsey, NJ 07446 855-326-8958 www.uisupplies.com

Visit www.PowerhouseAlliance.com to locate a Distributor near you! **Vendors: Experience the Power of National Distribution by contacting Dennis Holzer dholzer@powerhousealliance.com or (412) 973-7974.

PROJECT PROFILE

CEDIA’S

GLOBAL AWARD WINNER EARNS ITS TITLE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE Global Wave Integration took home five awards for the Hillsboro Property in the 2021 CEDIA Awards but turning this expansive estate into a home synonymous with a world-class resort was a reward in itself.

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Global Wave Integration deployed a sweeping Crestron experience that made these clients feel as though they were living in a world-class resort.

Fixed between the ocean and an intercoastal highway lies this expansive, luxury estate belonging to a young family with visions of a fully connected, yet easily operable home. To meet these requirements, Global Wave Integration deployed a sweeping Crestron experience that made these clients feel as though they were living in a world-class resort.

It was important for the family and their guests to be able to navigate the home simply and intuitively, so their input throughout the integration process was crucial. After consulting with the homeowners, security team, and house staff, Global Wave Integration created deep layers of functionality, including press-and-holds to display more options and hidden buttons to set scenes so the home could be easily managed in the background at a moment’s notice.

At the core of the exhaustive list of video distribution systems is the Crestron Digital Media NVC with 33 sources and 28 endpoints in the main house, and 16 sources and nine endpoints in the guest house. For audio distribution, a Crestron Sonnex Multi-room Audio System serves 90 discrete audio zones with full source, volume, and EQ control. Also integrated with the Crestron control system is a Lutron HomeWorks QS Lighting System with over 500 unique loads centralized in 16 Lutron Panels. Security inside and outside the home is tight thanks to an IC Realtime Surveillance Camera System featuring 29 marine-grade, top-of-theline IP cameras in the main house and 13 in the guest house.

To keep the luxurious design of the home unscathed, all of the aforementioned technologies had to blend effortlessly into their carefully CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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EQUIPMENT LIST Altronix Assa Abloy Axis Communications Chief Crestron DoorBird Future Automation Holovision Infinias James Loudspeaker JBL Synthesis Josh.AI Leon Leviton Leyard and Planar Lutron Middle Atlantic Origin Acoustics Rosslare Security Samsung Sonance Sony SureCall

curated surroundings. Global Wave Integration made several accommodations in collaboration with the architectural and interior design teams to create air lifts, TV lifts, and invisible speakers that would neatly tuck away the technology while maintaining its integrity.

Some areas of the home presented greater challenges though when it came to being discreet, especially the guest house bar and grill with its wood-panelled walls. Global Wave Integration chose to flush mount 85" and 75" displays into the inlayed panel walls, one of which was hidden behind a diagonal cut piece of art while the other sat behind a big chalkboard.

These disappearing acts were crucial in maintaining a continuous and luxurious feel that Global Wave Integration says met the clients’ highest expectations and wishes.

The judges for the 2021 CEDIA Awards were equally impressed with Global Wave Integration’s performance on this project. The Hillsboro Property earned winning accolades in five categories: Best Integrated Home Level IV, Best Dressed Rack, Best Lighting Solution, Technology Meets Design, and, the highest honor, CEDIA’s 2021 Global Best Integrated Home.

This project received positive sentiments all around. The judges remarked that “everything is impressive, from the documentation to the technical areas, the choice of products and their integration into the decoration.”

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

GLOBAL WAVE INTEGRATION 505 S. Flower St., Burbank, CA 91052, USA +1 818-451-9866 globalwaveintegration.com CEDIA Member since 2012

ISE PRODUCT PREVIEW

2N

2-N620

As the leader in the field of IP intercoms 2N will showcase its new star and the future of intercoms for years to come, the 10” 2N® IP Style. It won the 2021 CE Pro BEST Product Award at CEDIA Expo 2021 and has an outstanding camera, trendy access control and a fine-tuned graphical interface. The company will also introduce the next generation of its bestselling intercom 2N® IP Verso 2.0.

Visitors can also view the wide range of indoor panels with great new features. In addition to answering calls and opening doors, 2N® Indoor View can now be used to control a smart home, arm the house, or call a cab via HTTP commands. You can also try the 2N® Mobile Video - the most reliable service for answering calls from the intercom wherever you are in the world.

Get to grips with the multi-technology IP readers 2N Access Unit, the 2N® Access Commander software and WaveKey. 2n.cz

Artnovion

3-Q200

Siena is the ex-libris of Artnovion, an expansive series of high-concept acoustic panels that set a peak in acoustic design while combining high performance. It is made from sustainable wood and boasts a minimal design, conveying a sense of sobriety as it is tailored to fit in multiple atmospheres as an elegant statement, whether they are home cinemas, living rooms, offices, or even auditoriums.

This range is available in an array of sizes, in wood or lacquered finishes, and comes in a comprehensive line-up of six different products, including Siena Absorber, Siena Surface, Siena Panelling, Siena Ceiling Tile, Siena Bass Trap Wall, and the brand-new Siena Diffuser to demarcate spaces customized by Architects and Interior Designers.

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2-P150

Screen Research designs and manufactures state-of-the-art, high-quality projection screens for every top-class home-cinema application, with unmatched truly acoustic transparency, amazing picture quality, and THX & ISF certified fabrics. At ISE 2022 Screen Research will show the latest masking screen from the flagship X-Mask range with DecorMask.

This solution offers the possibility to completely hide the projection surface with an image of the customer’s choice when not in use and decorates the space with beautiful artwork.

Visitors to the booth will also see the E-Mask, the entry-level masking screen by Screen Research, and the fixed screen FS3 mounting, with white fabric on the left half and on its right half an ALR grey fabric, to demonstrate the impressive results of our ALR fabric in an environment with light.

screenresearch.com

The Siena family by Artnovion is a hybrid, timeless acoustic range and will be on display at ISE.

artnovion.com

Adeo Group – Screen Research

ISE PRODUCT REVIEW >>>

Audinate AV Network Solutions

3-Q50

The company showcases several new products and technologies that expand the Dante audio network ecosystem, and the introduction of Dante AV.

Atlona

5-P300

Atlona will emphasize innovations in three core product areas at ISE 2022; collaboration, signal routing and distribution, and control. The company’s latest innovations are especially viable for meeting and learning spaces, as well as broader enterprise and campus facilities.

Wireless presentation for BYOD/BYOM applications will be a significant focus for the AV industry in 2022, and Atlona will address this with the new AT-WAVE-101 (WAVE-101). ISE 2022 marks the public debut of the WAVE-101, which lets up to four presenters display their content on screen simultaneously in dynamically adaptive layouts. The compact device can be installed discreetly near a display for easy, ad hoc content sharing or used in conjunction with a switcher to enhance a new or existing AV system with wireless, multi-participant BYOD connectivity.

Atlona also will preview its latest OmniStream AV over IP and Velocity AV control innovations.

Dante AVIO adapters allow users to easily connect audio gear, computers, and other devices to a Dante network with no software installation needed. AVIO adaptors are available in a range of USB, XLR, and Bluetooth configurations.

The New Dante AV platform brings the same ease of use and control to video that made Dante Audio the leading audio network solution. A selection of Dante-enabled video-over-IP cameras, encoders, and decoders from Bolin Technology and Patton Electronics will also be showcased.

3-H300 3-H400

Crestron Home takes center stage at ISE 2022. Since it was launched, Crestron Home has continuously evolved to add features, functionality including 10 major software updates, and several native integrations with partner companies. Its commitment to innovation with the Crestron Home platform has garnered several awards, including a CEDIA Best New Product Award this year. Attendees can get a hands-on experience with Crestron Home and see how it can be easily deployed and scaled for any project. To date, over 20,000 projects have been installed with Crestron Home.

Beyond Crestron Home, Crestron will showcase all the latest additions to its product line up including the battery-free Horizon Thermostat, Crestron Home Audio Conferencing, the new line of battery-powered shades, networked power controllers, and its suite of audio solutions including the award-winning DM-NAX. Like so many other companies in this space Crestron has launched these products virtually over the last year, so a show like ISE provides an exciting platform for dealers to view the full Crestron portfolio and the powerful solutions available for their next projects.

crestron.com

Dante Domain Manager (DDM) is server-based network management software that brings the highest level of centralized security, organization, scalability, and control to Dante audio networks.

audinate.com

atlona.com

Crestron

Dante is the world's leading AV-over-IP solution found in over 3,000 products from more than 500 manufacturers. Dante replaces point-topoint analog and digital connections with a standard IP network that delivers completely lossless audio, massive channel counts, and nearinfinite signal routing flexibility.

Cue

3-E200

CUE will present control system for both the residential and commercial market. The company specializes in the automation of family houses, whole office buildings, unique workspaces, different resources, and many more.

For family houses, the main goal is to provide comfort, carefreeness, and security to those who choose us. CUE‘s residential solution offers countless practical functions — automatic blinds, smart control of heating and air-conditioning, automated entryways and gate control, multizone audio and video control, personalized sequence of actions function, lighting automation, and much more. Thanks to the switch panels, you can also control the intruder security systems.

As for the commercial market, CUE offers complete workspace management and resource scheduling ecosystem touchONE — the ultimate solution for every company that wants to work smarter.

cuesystem.com

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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DALI

2-T350

DALI will present its growing range of custom install solutions, based primarily around the DALI PHANTOM series of in-wall and in-ceiling Hi-Fi loudspeakers. At the event, attendees will be able to experience the latest additions to the DALI PHANTOM series: the premium DALI PHANTOM K in-ceiling speakers and rectangular DALI PHANTOM H-R in-wall speakers.

DALI will also be showcasing DALI EQUI — an advanced family of wireless active loudspeakers and products that combine wireless technology and more than 35 years of expertise in speaker design to offer new levels of performance and ease of installation.

With its latest products, DALI is showing commitment to providing best-in-class audio solutions to the CI market, as it expands its network of premium-audio CI partners. dali-speakers.com

Faradite

2-Q300

ELKO EP is one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of electronic equipment for residential, office and industrial automation.

Under the iNELS product brand, we present a wide range of system units and components in two technologies — wireless based on proprietary radio frequency (RF) protocol and wired BUS technology. Thanks to unique iNELS application, it is possible to optionally combine both different technologies into one functional system with one central control allowing you to take advantage of both approaches.

Multi-function lighting control, blinds and shutter operation, heating, cooling and ventilation control, energy consumption management, building security systems, multimedia, intercom, weather station, or universal switching units and appliances control — all in one automated but still controlled by wall controllers, touch panels, mobile app, voice assistance and even smart TV app as an option. This is iNELS by ELKO EP. elkoep.com

2-R470

ISE 2022 will see the introduction of a few products to the Faradite range.

Its KNX presence sensor will be debuted giving KNX integrators a chance to see the new sensor first-hand and find out more about the product's huge list of features.

Visitors will be able to see the complete range of gorgeous TAP finishes as well as the custom engraving that is available on Faradite TAP-5 switches.

Guests to the stand can get hands on with the new Halo light on the TAP Volt Free switches, which dynamically respond to each switch press, as well as sensors from the Motion Sensor 360 range.

Faradite has also committed to be carbon negative for ISE 2022, by offsetting its carbon output for the show. faradite.com

Harman

ELKO

GUDE

3-T450

In addition to its full portfolio of smart power and monitoring solutions, GUDE will present its all-purpose weapon for control, optimization and monitoring of AV installations, the Expert Power Control 8291-1.

Developing this switched and metered AC/DC Power Distribution Unit, GUDE had one thing in mind; to offer a perfect solution for every AV installation. From huddle to conference rooms, theaters, auditoriums, smart homes, yachts or LED walls. The Expert Power Control 8291-1 is an AC/DC Power Distribution Unit (PDU) that combines a smart 19" distribution panel with a high-quality power supply. The remote power switch allows the AV infrastructure to rely on a compact 1 RU solution in order to control and monitor IT and media equipment. gude.info

3-F400

Head to Harman International Industries to experience wall-to-ceiling cinema sound JBL-style. The celebrated American maker will showcase two theater systems: one entry-level and one hi-end. Both setups will exclusively use JBL Synthesis in-wall/in-ceiling loudspeakers and electronics, taking visitors on an aural journey through the JBL Synthesis Custom Loudspeaker (SCL) series.

The entry-level theater’s electronics will comprise the SDA-38 surround processor, the Dante-equipped SDA-7120 power amplifier, and an SA4-D from the DSi 2.0 Series cinema amplifiers line. The hi-end cinema room will engage a trio of SCL-1, four SCL-2, four SCL-5, a pair of SSW-1 and a brace of SSW-2.

As well as demonstrating its two JBL Synthesis-powered cinema systems, Harman International Industries will launch products from ARCAM, JBL Pro, JBL Synthesis, including new outdoor models and additions to architectural speaker ranges.

harmanpro.com

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ISE PRODUCT REVIEW >>>

iRoom iO

2-P100

iRoom, a global Apple-certified manufacturer of Premium iPad Docking and Smart Control Solutions, is set to exhibit its integrated in-wall, on-wall and tabletop iPad docking stations for commercial and residential environments. iRoom’s docking solutions accommodate all current iPad models and sizes and integrate with all major third-party control systems such as Crestron, AMX, Control4, Savant, RTI, Elan, URC and Gira HomeServer. The docking station’s 6-button touch keypad complements the third-party control system and gives the user instant access to control functions such as lights, shades, volume, source select or control macros, independent of the iPad’s control app.

All integrated docking stations feature a Dynamic Sensor Package built-in for room temperature, humidity, light, and air quality (CO2). iRoom’s iPad dashboard gives the user sensor status information at-a-glance. Third-party control systems can use the sensor statuses to trigger thresholdbased alerts or control functions based on threshold.

L-Acoustics Creations

7-Q400

L-Acoustics Creations’ relationship with ISE is a special one. This new division of L-Acoustics, the global leader in premium sound systems for live events and venues, was first announced at ISE 2020 - the last in-person trade shows for a long time. It returns to ISE with a robust project pipeline and a growing network of integrator partners.

L-Acoustics’ credo to “bring the concert home” and elevate home entertainment with unrivalled pro audio sound systems continues to be received with enthusiasm in the marketplace. It will be exhibiting Fiji 2.1 sound system with the new SB10i — there will also be an announcement for the high-end home cinema marketplace. l-acoustics.com

OneAV

iroomsidock.com

5-P600

At ISE 2022, HDANYWHERE will be giving attendees an advance preview of its new media hub + universal control products as part of its plan to take on CI industry behemoths with its audacious, but simple, 3-point manifesto.

1. Appeal to the midmarket for professionally installed unified smart home AV systems.

2. Deliver 80% of the most-used end-user functions at 80% less cost than market leaders.

3. Not let the USA win the entire UK market.

www.purelink.de

Lyngdorf Audio

2-S350

Lyngdorf Audio brings its expertise in home cinema and loudspeakers to custom installation speakers for the first time with a new collection of speakers dedicated for home cinema and the custom installation channel. ISE 2022 will be the first public showing of the new collection, which includes seven models to suit every installation from modern media rooms with discreet in-wall speakers to large, dedicated cinemas with line source speakers and immersive audio.

The range includes discreet in-wall speakers, both single and bi-amped, in-ceiling speakers with rotating tweeters, stackable line source speakers and powerful woofers.

Dedicated in-wall speakers come complete with easy-toinstall integrated brackets and discreet bezel-less metal mesh grills.

Lyngdorf Audio made its mark in the custom installation channel with its award-winning multichannel processors, the MP-40 and MP-60 2.1, which set new standards for immersive audio. Now Lyngdorf Audio offers speakers which match perfectly with their advanced electronics providing a complete solution for media rooms and home cinemas alike. steinwaylyngdorf.com

At the core of the manifesto is HDA’s need to take uControl to the next level and expand their product portfolio beyond the traditional video matrix systems they are known for.

Be sure to pay HDA a visit on booth 5-P600.

Pulse-Eight

2-J445

Pulse-Eight are a multi-award winning, industry-leading manufacturer and developer of Video and Audio Control and Distribution systems. The company will be showcasing its award-winning video and audio distribution products and complementary range of accessories at the show. These include industry favorites such as the neo:X+ video and audio matrix as well as the ProAmp8, a unique power amplifier that allows 5.1 “home theater” audio alongside a multi-room whole-house distributed audio system all in one box.

Pulse-Eight will also be demonstrating their latest AV over IP solution, OneIP. OneIP does what it says on the tin. One unit, endless deployments. However, unlike other AV over IP products on the market, OneIP works as either a transmitter or receiver. This bidirectional functionality allows flexibility of hardware placement and simple content management within a network. pulse-eight.com

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RAKO

2-N600

Marking its 20th anniversary, Rako will begin its celebrations in style at ISE, showing the latest wired and wireless lighting control innovations.

Headlining will be the Modular WKMOD and RK-MOD keypads for wired and wireless systems. Capable of accommodating up to 12 push buttons in a variety of lighting, shading and audio control configurations, the Modular range offers unrivalled customization and a premium finish. All keypads are also fully programmable with Rako’s Rasoft Pro software.

Also on display will be Rako’s featurerich HUB interface which now offers increased functionality and simplified third party integration with Crestron Home, Elan and Silent Gliss. Another highlight will be the wired and wireless keypads from Rako’s classically elegant EOS range, which feature an attractive, screwless design with different finishes to suit.

Rako will be sharing more insights and practical information on its supply partnership with QMotion UK which makes integrating wireless blind control with Rako lighting control quicker, easier and more efficient, including training, sales, technical support and additional window treatment offerings. rakocontrols.com

Savant

2-R350

This year’s booth focuses on collaborations, artificial intelligence and user interfaces. Lighting has always been a significant element of any Savant house and this year, it will be announcing integrations with DMX and Lutron’s QSX processor utilizing LEAP API. Together with the full software suite of lighting products and latest Inception range of shades, integrators have even more options when creating perfect lighting scenes for any time of the day.

Artificial Intelligence plays an everincreasing role within Savant homes, with the latest range of door entry and security camera solutions on demonstration on the booth, whilst its latest networking AI offers integrators and customers a more intuitive experience when setting up and using the Savant platform.

Sony

With solutions designed to facilitate creative collaboration, flexibility and interesting experiences, Sony’s presence at ISE 2022 is set to inspire visitors and integrators looking to cater to the post-pandemic customer demand for cutting-edge ways to connect people with each other and their brand.

Visitors to the Sony booth at ISE 2022 will have the opportunity to speak with Sony experts about key trends and industry challenges such as hybrid working and learning environments, and improved quality in content sharing and collaboration with advanced AV technologies across corporate, education, and retail sectors. They will also experience the latest portfolio of products and solutions in person, with the chance to demo newer products for the first time since their announcement, including an impressive Crystal LED installation, the 100" and 32" 4K BRAVIA Professional Displays, as well as the most recently launched 3CLD business projectors, the VPL-FHZ80 and VPL-FHZ85. sony.com

There will be many new user interfaces on display in Europe for the first time, as well as the latest wired and wireless solutions and new WISA bookshelf speakers supplying the entertainment. savant.com

Sound United

Snap One

2-M200

Snap One will bring its full portfolio of connected solutions to ISE 2022 for the first time since rebranding from SnapAV + Control4 in 2021. With products in every major category of AV and an expanding range of support programs customized to meet the needs of EMEA Partners, Snap One will demo its latest solutions in control, networking, lighting, remote management, audio, surveillance and more.

ISE provides Snap One with an exciting opportunity to communicate its unique value proposition to the broadest range of current and new customers across the world. It aspires to be the one partner that integrators depend on by providing the products and support they need to be successful. At ISE, Snap One plans to debut several new and exciting solutions for the market, as well as feature must-have products from many of its brands including Control4, Araknis, Binary, Episode, Luma, OvrC, Pakedge, Strong, and Triad. snapone.com

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2-R420

2-S350

Sound United holds an award-winning portfolio of audio brands that deliver industry-leading home theater and personal audio listening experiences for a wide range of consumers. Dedicated to artfully reproducing audio for listeners and enthusiasts, Sound United offers a unique approach to bringing home theater and music to life with brands as Denon®, Marantz®, Polk Audio, Bowers & Wilkins, Definitive Technology, and Classé Audio.

The Sound United stand promises to be one of the highlights at ISE 2022. With active demonstrations guiding you through the complete Sound United portfolio offering various solutions in high-end and custom installation audio, and mid-tier markets that cover loudspeakers, sound bars, AV receivers, wireless multiroom music systems and amplifiers.

Yet more than a portfolio of leading audio brands, Sound United is a passion movement, whose products are made by people, driven to innovate, as we pursue perfection in audio.

What you’ll hear is unparalleled quality, as we remain steadfast and focused on our mission: Bringing joy to the world through sound. bowerswilkins.com

<<< ISE PRODUCT REVIEW

Stealth Acoustics

2-Q400

Stealth’s LineaResponse invisible indoor and StingRay outdoor product families offer speaker models designed for many applications. Both utilize Stealth’s proprietary FidelityGlass™ radiating diaphragm technology which allows the LineaResponse speakers to be invisibly installed in walls and ceilings and the StingRay speakers to be completely water tight for an outdoor speaker like no other.

LineaResponse LRX Series completely invisible, high-performance speakers are ideal for home theater surround sound and ATMOS systems as well as stereo listening.

Additionally, the LRg Series models include whole home, stereo input/dual tweeter, and subwoofer systems.

Creating great sounding outdoor speakers that can take on nature’s toughest elements is no easy task, but with the StingRay line of environmentally durable speakers and subwoofers, Stealth Acoustics has done just that! Capitalizing on the benefits of the FidelityGlass™ radiating diaphragm technology, StingRay speakers can achieve an industry leading IP68 waterproof rating. With a fully sealed design that prevents water, dust particles, and pests from getting inside and an operating temperature range of 0° – 150° F, StingRay speakers are at home in any climate. stealthacoustics.com

Trinnov Audio

2-R760 2-R420

SurgeX, a leader in power protection, diagnostic intelligence, remote monitoring and cloud solutions, will unveil its latest innovations to create a solid power foundation for AV and IT system installations. The multi-functional Squid power management device will be the major highlight at the show, bringing together industry-leading surge protection technology with remote analytics and management into one unique, space-saving unit. Squid provides a professional, intelligent and versatile power foundation by combining both AC and DC outlets with SurgeX’s patented Multi-Stage surge protection, power conditioning, power management and analytical software.

Trinnov Audio will showcase its complete range of Altitude AV Processors and latest Amplitude16 Power Amplifier. The French manufacturer will be back in force at the show, with two booths. On Booth 2-R760 we will be displaying all our products in a static configuration. Just around the corner, on Booth 2-R420, Trinnov will contribute to an exclusive 4K HDR and 11.4.6 Immersive Sound demonstration with partners and co-exhibitors Sony, Waterfall, HTE, Xtrem Screen, and Real Cables.

The cinema room, designed and built by HTE according to the latest CEDIA recommended practices, will host nine seats and deliver the best possible audio and video experience. Video will be delivered by a Sony VPL-GTZ380, a 10,000 lm laser 4K projector onto a 2.40 screen from Xtrem Screen. The 17 loudspeakers and 4 subwoofers from the Waterfall Audio Pro Custom series will be driven by a Trinnov Altitude32-1624, taking advantage of our unique calibration and immersive sound decoding capabilities. Power amplification will be provided by Waterfall and Trinnov.

2-R420

Waterfall Audio will be exhibiting the RS700-WATERFALL AUDIO SPECIAL EDITION — incorporating luxury materials for a breathtaking experience.

Admire the design: solid brushed aluminium front plates and discover this “one of a kind” amplifier packed with 5 exclusive Technologies, driven by its proprietary DSP, the RS700 will enhance music and films with unmatched performance.

Developed thanks to more than 5 years of research and development, the purpose of the RS700-WATERFALL AUDIO SPECIAL EDITION is to offer the best performance with perfect control of all the parameters in total safety. waterfallaudio.com

5-P600

surgex.com

trinnov.com

Waterfall Audio

SurgeX

Z-Wave Alliance

2-Q200

ISE attendees should be sure to stop to check out the latest Z-Waveintegrated devices from leading manufacturers within the Z-Wave Alliance.

With a product ecosystem of over 3,500+ certified and interoperable products that are backwards- and forwards-compatible, the Z-Wave Alliance continues to expand its member base solidifying Z-Wave as the standard protocol for wireless smart home automation. Z-Wave Alliance members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security.

Z-Wave Alliance is thrilled to join members at ISE 2022 as we continue to see growing conversation around interoperability and the future of IoT. z-wavealliance.org

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ANOTHER DIMENSION

How Boutique AV designed a project so unique and powerful, it can only be described as otherworldly

M

elbourne, Australian technology integration company, Boutique AV, was approached by a music-loving client who lived on a two-week fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) rotating schedule as part of his profession. The time away made this nomad yearn for a sanctuary that combined his favorite things: music and family.

The client and his wife requested a bespoke audio system as loud as a rock concert that wouldn’t compromise audio fidelity.

Boutique AV had a few ideas in mind and demonstrated to the couple some of the finest speaker brands and models on the market. To everyone’s surprise, none of the examples were able to live up to the clients’ high expectations and it was evident that the solution for this home was unlikely to be found within the traditional HiFi industry.

Boutique AV called in a few manufacturers for their suggestions on professional monitors and took the clients on a trip to the studios in Australia that housed them. After a thorough demonstration, the clients decided on the PMC MB3 XBD-A, a speaker capable of achieving 129dB SPL at 1m with no noticeable distortion. Boutique AV says these particular

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“It was evident that the solution for this home was unlikely to be found within the traditional HiFi industry.”

monitors “truly need to be heard in order to appreciate the level of energy that passes through your entire body when they’re playing.”

Knowing how much the clients appreciated music, Boutique AV drew their attention to how amazing the quality of live concerts can be through remastered Blu-ray with HD audio. They chose a Sony VPL-VW590ES to project onto a 130" acoustically transparent woven screen to create a stunning 4K image with adequate output for a fully lightcontrolled environment. To top it off, PMC made to order a center channel version of their IB2S monitor to use for the left and right speakers.

To really make the room come to life, the design and creative team met with each member of the family to come up with a vision for a space that would reflect everyone. The brief was to combine 80s rock with futuristic and visually exciting elements. The team designed two, full height 43RU equipment racks side by side into the airlock to house the backend equipment, and a front stage that features two main monitors and a turntable in front of the main listening position.

Four columns and arches complement the room's three ceiling coffers, while in between, stretched fabric panels on a framing

system adjust their depth or easily remove for servicing.

For the lighting elements, Boutique AV pitched a creative stage lighting environment to be designed in a discreet and modern way that would conceal the fixtures on the ceiling.

The pitch completely blew the clients away, and the team got to work installing approximately 340m of pixel mapped LED strips containing 60 pixels per meter into the room. This professional event lighting system is capable of performing “sound-to-light” shows where the lighting reacts to the music in real-time, and “video-to-light” shows where the lighting mirrors or expands based on the content projected onto the screen.

“It’s an experience like nothing we have ever created in a residence, let alone seen before,” remarked Boutique AV. “Our clients are still astounded by our design and creativity.”

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“It’s an experience like nothing we have ever created in a residence, let alone seen.”

EQUIPMENT LIST Anthem APC Apple Cool Automation Domotz Foztel IsoTek Monitor Audio Oppo PMC

Project Audio Rotel RTI Smart Voice Sonifex Sony SVS Ubiquiti Windows PC

BOUTIQUE AV Unit 18/137-145 Rooks Rd, Nunawading Melbourne, VIC 3131 – Austraila +61 1300 933 933 boutiqueav.com.au CEDIA Member since 2015

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AV Industry Gets Ready to ‘Rise Up. Reimagine. Ignite the

ISE returns in February with a vibrant and inspiring edition taking place at its new home, the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía. Regarded as the destination for world-class brands to showcase the latest technologies in residential and pro AV, Mike Blackman Managing Director at ISE, talks about what’s new for ISE 2022 and how the show floor is shaping up…

It’s been a while since we experienced a full ISE show — what can we expect from this much-anticipated edition?

ISE Managing Director, Mike Blackman

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Our slogan is ‘Rise Up. Reimagine.

Reignite the Future.’ — which ideally captures the intentions of ISE 2022. As an in-person event, we are uniquely placed to bring all elements of the industry together under one roof, to inspire, and to provide a great platform to build back after the impact of the last 18+ months.

In the build-up to our return to Barcelona, along with our co-owners CEDIA and AVIXA, we have worked hard to ensure that ISE 2022 offers the industry a truly worthwhile experience — showcasing innovation, becoming inspired by some of the brightest in the business, and most importantly, meeting up after so many difficult months apart. It is a fantastic mix of booths with great new solutions for integrators alongside conferences and education sessions to inspire and inform, and, of course, lots of opportunities for meeting people and networking.

We are delighted that we already have 700+ exhibitors confirming their presence at ISE 2022, including Crestron, KNX, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony, and we

expect more to confirm imminently. And of course, all set in the wonderful city of Barcelona!

For many, this will be their first visit to ISE in its new home at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via. What is the impact of having a bigger venue?

Barcelona is one of the world’s most dynamic tech and start-up hub cities in the world, so we are excited to call this our new home. The Fira de Barcelona Gran Via provides more space, which is required to facilitate the growth of ISE. This has allowed us to redesign the show floor, which will feature six Technology Zones, set out over five spacious halls. These zones group together exhibitors in the major technology areas, making it simpler for delegates to plan their visit and find and compare the wide variety of solutions they need for their integration projects.

What will be the show highlights for residential AV pros?

The Residential & Smart Building Zone is a must visit! The combined Residential & Smart Building Zone is our strongest-ever offering

Future’ at ISE 2022

CEDIA Education at ISE 2022 Once again, CEDIA is hosting an extensive professional development program at ISE, with courses available in both Spanish and English. A range of technical workshops, business lessons, and future-gazing courses are available to attend, with the All-Access Pass—the best way to digest all the content you could want! You will also be able to take two-day ISF training and four-day HAA calibration training.

For ISE 2022, attendees will also have the opportunity to take CEDIA Certification exams at the show, including—for the first time—the all-new Cabling & Infrastructure Technician (CIT) certification.

Full details on the available courses can be found in the brochure distributed with this issue, or click here in our digital magazine.

Registration is now open, book your ticket here: iseurope.org/register.php

in this fast-moving area of AV technology and features over 80 exhibitors at the cutting edge. Presenting show partner, KNX, will be showcasing its member companies here and taking part in the Smart Building Conference, which takes place on Monday, Jan. 31. You can also browse the booths from Artcoustic, Bang & Olufsen, Basalte, Bowers & Wilkins, Snap One, Gira, Krix, Jung, Monitor Audio, Stealth Acoustics, Storm Audio, Z-Wave Alliance, and many more.

Six Technology Zones NEW: Residential & Smart Building (Hall 2) – newly combined zones NEW: Unified Comms & Education Technology (Hall 2) — newly combined zones Multi-Technology Zone (Halls 3 and 5) Digital Signage & DooH (Hall 6) Audio (Hall 7) NEW: Lighting & Staging (Hall 7) — featuring special Lighting Demo Zone

The Audio Zone in Hall 7 is another mustvisit destination to hear about the latest audio innovations. Solutions on display will include signal processing and transport, immersive spatial audio, and the cutting edge of loudspeaker design. At present, over 140 exhibitors are booked into this zone, including Adam Hall, Audac, Bose Professional, d&b audiotechnik, Equipson, L-Acoustics, Martin Audio, Meyer Sound, Renkus Heinz, and more.

In addition, ISE 2022 will feature the ISE Sound Xperience in partnership with the Eventos Filmax Cinema Gran Vía complex.

The location is just a few feet away from the Gran Via and is a dedicated cinema complex of twelve uniquely configured listening rooms to showcase audio with depth, accuracy and pin-point clarity.

And don’t miss the brand-new Discovery Zone, highlighting 40 companies exhibiting for the first time.

What opportunities will there be for professional development?

The headline opportunity for residential integrators will be the extensive CEDIA professional development program which will cover all the bases for visitors seeking to

advance their skills and grow their knowledge.

ISE 2022 will also provide plenty of opportunities with a five-day, multilanguage conference program. There will be paid-for conferences as well as freeto-access content, like the daily keynote sessions hosted by futurist Amelia Kallman.

There will also be Spanish content in the AV Experience Zone while the Catalan Pavilion, in association with ACCIO, promises a great experience for visitors from the local region.

For students, AV Career Day will be back on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Supported by CEDIA, AVIXA and ISE, this initiative showcases career opportunities throughout the AV industry.

We can’t wait! Any final words for those who haven’t yet registered?

With all elements of the residential and commercial AV industry under one roof, ISE provides a fantastic opportunity for visitors to experience the solutions that can create truly immersive experiences, transform the customer journey, enable hybrid working, and deliver memorable events. We are working hard to ensure the trip to Barcelona will be very worthwhile, and we can’t wait to reconnect with everyone again.

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SPOTLIGHT Q&A

DARYL FRIEDMAN 26

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

CEDIA has seen several different CEO leadership styles – how would you describe yours?

First and foremost, I am a firm believer that leadership needs to be inclusive, especially here at CEDIA. Our organization is responsible for ensuring that our education programs, certifications, events, and initiatives meet the varying needs of a broad, widely distributed group of lifelong learners and technologists. Supporting folks where they are in terms of skills, specializations and resources will be a priority of mine.

Also, I’m coming into an organization with tremendous knowledge on the staff, and I want to tap into that. I want to learn from my fellow CEDIA colleagues and our members who have worked to make the home technology sector what it is today. In return, I can offer my own considerable management and association experience. I plan to be transparent and collaborative, and I look forward to open communication and growth with the team.

Tell us about your journey into association work, from a background in music and communications.

Well, my first job in nonprofit arts was as an usher for the local symphony (I was 15). My journey continued in academia when I found a passion for nonprofit management. After earning my master's in Arts Management, I was hired as an executive at Wolf Trap, the National Park for the Performing Arts.

There, I had the opportunity to support the arts and music while also managing communications, partnerships, government relations, and nonprofit operations.

After over a decade, the GRAMMYs opened a chapter in Washington, and they needed someone with both government relations and music industry experience. I fit that bill.

What many people don’t realize is that the GRAMMYs—the Recording Academy—is an association of creative and technical professionals that make music. It’s not just the big show that rolls around once a year — it also encompasses 364 other days when the organization does what a trade association does: supporting and representing its members.

Over the past 18 years, I have stood by the technicians, musicians, and artists who make up that community.

I’ve been working to manage member

engagement, drive member advocacy, and oversee government and industry relations while collaborating closely with the board of trustees. I have a few more grey hairs today than I did as that teenage usher, but my personal mission has actually stayed the same: to work in nonprofit organizations that support those who use their unique skills to improve our lives.

CEDIA is a different industry than the one you are coming from. What drew you in?

Really, I’ve always worked with technical professionals. A lot of people think of Recording Academy members in terms of our most famous GRAMMY winners — like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé — but a large percentage of the members are technicians and behind-the-scenes experts. These are my people. I love to represent folks who use their technical expertise to make people's lives better.

That mission drew me to CEDIA. This is an incredibly important moment for CEDIA. All the most important aspects of our lives — work, learning, entertainment, family life — are more centered around the home than they have been at any time since the industrial revolution. It’s become the hub of modern life, and it’s time to treat it as such. CEDIA is the organization to help us transition to a life focused on the home. The opportunities that lie ahead for home technology professionals are boundless. It’s my job — my proud and profound responsibility — to foster a business environment where they can capitalize on that opportunity and thrive.

How has your previous experience at the recording academy prepared you to lead an organization like CEDIA? In my tenure with the Recording Academy, I’ve had the opportunity to run every division except the television awards program. I’ve been immersed in every aspect of the traditional trade association, from advocacy to industry relations, to membership, to governance. I feel confident that my experience in forming trade relationships, advocating for members, and serving as an executive for the Recording Academy has prepared me to lead. My previous work as a communications professional also prepared me to effectively tell the CEDIA story to a broader audience. The work done by CEDIA and its members is critical, especially now, and I want to shout about it from the mountaintops.

How do you plan to get up to speed in this new industry?

I’ll be spending the first 90 days of my time at CEDIA on a listening tour, meeting members and other industry stakeholders, and hearing all about their needs and challenges, what CEDIA is doing well, what we can improve on, and more. In addition to these conversations, I want to embark on a major qualitative and quantitative research project with existing and prospective members to help us understand what value people see in CEDIA membership and how we can enhance that value. Hearing first-hand from the industry will be integral in planning what’s next, new, and better for our programs.

CEDIA’s mission, to me, is to support our members in using the unique home technology and skills of our integrators to improve people’s lives at home.

Coming from an association, why do you think these groups are still relevant in today’s market?

Organizations like CEDIA are truly indispensable. There’s no other way that a group of competitors in any industry can coalesce around common ideas and goals, unless they can be bound by an association that represents them in their entirety. In addition to this unity, CEDIA is able to provide opportunities that members, especially business owners, otherwise might not have the time or resources for. We’re able to step in and provide educational curricula, standards and best practices, certification, advocacy and government relations, networking, and other programs while our members handle their business. The role of associations is becoming even more clear as time goes on: advocacy, education, recognition, and celebration of innovation. They provide an incredible value to any industry that has one.

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What do you believe CEDIA’s mission is? As an association, what does it owe its members?

CEDIA’s mission, to me, is to support our members and the industry at large.

To celebrate, champion and advocate for the integrator. And to provide the educational opportunities that support current players in the channel as well as developing the next generation and ensuring the workforce of the future.

But it’s still early in my tenure, and I hope my listening tour will provide more insights about how we can be of even greater service.

What is your top priority as CEO? CEDIA needs an actionable strategic plan for the next three to five years. My top priority will be to chart a course for the industry that CEDIA can lead. Creating that plan will require the input of CEDIA’s elected leadership, professional staff, members, and industry stakeholders. This is an inflection point: people have realized the central role their homes will play in their lives, and they’re primed to make significant investments.

We have this once-in-a-generation moment of opportunity before us; we must take full advantage of it.

With whom will you be working closely?

I’ll be working closely with both the professional staff and the Board, (as the elected representatives of CEDIA’s 4,000 members). I’ll also be reaching out to key stakeholders across the industry to ensure that our strategic plan truly aligns with the business needs of the community.

What is your vision for CEDIA’s future in the industry?

First, I want everyone who works in the industry to appreciate the value of CEDIA. If you’re in the home technology industry, you should want to be a CEDIA member.

Secondly, I want to nurture an improved environment for our members to do business, including any legislation that the industry needs to protect its interests.

Finally, I want the public to understand the need for this industry, and the value of certification and professionalism in the trade. When you invite someone into your home, you want the best trained, most qualified person possible. We need to make sure that the general public identifies CEDIA certification as that gold standard. We also need to steward our education, training, and certification programs to produce those qualified professionals, and shore up a vibrant, diverse workforce pipeline to meet the

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This is an incredibly important moment for CEDIA. All the most important aspects of our lives — work, learning, entertainment, family life — are more centered around the home than they have been at any time since the industrial revolution. demand for certified professionals we’re aiming to generate.

Where do you think CEDIA has the greatest growth opportunity?

The industry is blossoming. We have an opportunity to grow our membership exponentially. What better business to be in than home technology, which is on the cusp of an explosion? That means that, in addition to bringing potential members into the CEDIA community, we also have workforce development to do. Within that, we need to make a concerted effort to increase the diversity of the industry. That’s an issue we had to face head-on at the Recording Academy.

I learned an enormous amount from membership and workforce development diversity initiatives there that I hope to be able to apply at CEDIA. There’s also enormous potential for our education and certification programs to grow. We want to make sure people understand the value of using a certified integrator. Right now, many of our customers don’t even know that’s an option. We want them to think of it as a requirement.

What do you think CEDIA’s greatest challenge is?

First, we have to clarify and communicate the value of the organization to our own industry. CEDIA has so much to offer at every level of custom integration value chain. We need to make sure all of our members and potential members recognize that value proposition.

Second, we need to make the industry’s customers more aware of the skills, services, and value of the profession — more aware of the profession full stop,

really. People interested in a smart home should know that there are professional services available to help them — that in fact, a true smart home experience is unattainable without the help of a professional integrator. CEDIA should be synonymous with the smart home; anyone looking to make improvements to their home environment should be thinking about hiring a CEDIA member.

How would you characterize CEDIA’s greatest strengths as an organization?

We have a dedicated elected board, a talented professional staff, and the resources to educate professionals, end users, and allied trades. We can grow the workforce, increase industry awareness, and educate stakeholders, including architects, builders, interior designers — anyone in the industry. I want to build on this strength — I think we can do even better — but the critical foundation is there.

Looking ahead – a year from now — how will you know you’ve had a successful first year as CEO? I will feel successful when we have a strategic plan that’s aligned with the industry’s needs and capitalizes on this historic moment where the home has become an essential technology hub; when we’ve built a much greater awareness of CEDIA’s importance as a member organization, and strengthened its value proposition to anyone in the industry; and finally, when we’ve built far better awareness among anyone interested in increasing technology in their own homes — when CEDIA is the first name they think of.

Being a CEDIA member means being a part of a community of professionals who share a common passion for technology.

It also means being able to tap into education, certification, events, and more that can supercharge your career.

Connect & Renew before January 28, 2022

cedia.net/renew.

THE 2021 Illuminate AROUND THE WORLD CEDIA announced the winners of the 2021 CEDIA Awards in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA regions during three virtual ceremonies held on Nov. 11.

While the CEDIA Awards typically take place in a single location in each of CEDIA’s three regions, this year, their digital format allowed them to be enjoyed around the world. The Nov. 11 ceremonies also had all the fixings of an in-person show, including formal wear, cocktails, and music to set the scene.

Of the three regions, the APAC show was the first to kick off, hosted by Paul Skelton, CEDIA’s Regional Development Consultant. Dressed in a suit that he jokes was “tighter than last year,” Skelton announced a total of 12 winning projects across four main categories.

Accompanying each announcement was a display of pictures and a brief description of the project. Winners also had the chance to deliver an acceptance speech and show off their trophies as they normally would.

In front of an enthusiastic in-person audience of 375 industry professionals

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and a global audience watching via live stream, the CEDIA Awards in the EMEA region proved to be an enjoyable and exciting night for all, especially the winning CEDIA members from France, India, Portugal, South Africa, and the UK. The prestigious black-tie event kicked off with a drinks reception before guests were ushered into the Illuminate at the Science Museum for a threecourse dinner with dramatic views over London as the backdrop for the night.

The Americas show, hosted by Giles Sutton, CEDIA’s Senior Vice President Member Success and Sales, and bartended by Meredith Barry took viewers on a trip back to the 1980s, when both the Internet and CEDIA began. The lively ceremony honored 14 winning projects across six main categories. Some of the night’s winners even took home multiple trophies, like global-award-winning firm, Global

Wave Integration for the Hillsboro Property.

The APAC, EMEA, and Americas awards presentations also gave a nod to a few individuals who have made an impact in the home technology industry, including the 2021 Volunteers of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. The 2021 Volunteers of the Year, Mal Fisher, Matt Manalis, Mark Warburton, and Mike Ranpura were recognized across four categories for their essential contributions to association programs over the past year. Control4 founders, Will West and Eric Smith received CEDIA’s Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest honors an individual can receive—for their innovative and visionary leadership in the technology design and installation industry.

The 2021 winners in CEDIA’s Americas region include:

The 2021 winners in CEDIA’s APAC region include:

The 2021 winners in CEDIA’s EMEA region include:

Best Home Cinema

Best Home Cinema

Best Home Cinema

Level I: Audio Images - “Hidden Gem Cinema” Level II: Audio Images - “Sunshine Theater” Level III: Future Home - “Private Cinema 42”

Best Integrated Home Level I: La Scala - “Every Second Counts” Level II: SmartTouch USA - “Baltimore County” Level III: Admit One Home Systems “Farm on Fox” Level IV: Global Wave Integration “Hillsboro Property”

Best Multiple Dwelling Unit Design TSP Smart Spaces - “Austurhofn Smart Apartments”

Best Showroom Haas Home Technologies - “Haas Showroom and Experience Center”

Subcategories Best Dressed Rack: Global Wave Integration “Hillsboro Property” Best Documentation: Haas Home Technologies – “Haas Showroom” Best Lighting Solution: Global Wave Integration - “Hillsboro Property”

Level II: Wavetrain Cinemas - “Metropolis” Level III: Boutique AV - “Another Dimension”

Best Integrated Home Level I: Bridger Automation Pty Ltd - “Monaco” Level I: Highly Commended: Bridger Automation Pty Ltd - “Cleland” Level II: Bridger Automation Party Ltd - “The Masters Enclave” Level III: Boutique AV - “Embracing Technology” Level IV: Rabone Systems - “New Haven”

Subcategories Best Documentation: AVD Australia Pty Ltd “Ultimate Lifestyle Home” Best Documentation: Highly Commended: Rabone Systems - “New Haven” Best Lighting: New Haven Boutique AV “Another Dimension”

Architectural Winners Life Lived Best at Home: Boutique AV - “Another Dimension” Technology Meets Design: Wavetrain Cinemas - “Metropolis”

Architectural Winners

Level I: Cinema Lusso (UK) – Triangles Level II: Dark Side Of The Room (France) – Number 2 Level III: Macbee (India) – The Camellias

Best Integrated Home Level I: SONA (UK) – Get A Grip Highly Commended: Future Automation Solutions (India) – Shivadh Residence Level II: Awicon (India)– Baymount Loft Level III: Cornflake (UK) – Clink Wharf Highly Commended: GLO AV (UK) – Dulwich Town House

Best Media Room Level I: Cornflake (UK) – Clink Wharf – My Other Home Cinema Room Level II: BNC Technology (South Africa) – The Arabian

Best Multiple Dwelling Unit Design Imperium Building Systems (UK) – Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People

Best Showroom JOOCED (UK) – The Experience

Subcategories Best Dressed Rack: Macbee (India) – The Camellias Highly Commended: SONA (UK) – Get A Grip

Life Lived Best at Home: La Scala - “Every Second Counts”

Best Documentation: Macbee (India) – The Camellias Highly Commended: SONA (UK) – Get A Grip\

Technology Meets Design: Global Wave Integration - “Hillsboro Property”

Best Lighting Solution: Cinema Lusso (UK) – Triangles

Most Innovative Solution

The 2021 Best New Products are:

Consexto (Portugal) - Skyfall

Hardware

Best Hardware

AudioControl: AudioControl CM4-750 Barco: Njord Coastal Source: 12.0 Line Source Bollard Speaker Crestron: Crestron DM NAX™ Josh.ai: Josh Core Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.: Alisse Wall Control Screen Innovations: Zen 2 Sonance: IS15W SurgeX: SurgeX UPS + Isolation Transformer

Software Crestron: Crestron Home™ The 2021 CEDIA Product Hall of Fame inductees are: Auton Dream Machine Kaleidescape Premier System LG OLED Technology Sonos Playbar

Zuma – Lumisonic

Best Software Crestron – Crestron Home

Best Training

Snap One –Professional Certified Network Administrator Training

Best Trade Supplier Gallo Acoustics

The 2021 CEDIA Global winners are:

Life Lived Best at Home Imperium Building Systems (UK) – Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People

Technology Meets Design Best Home Cinema – Global

Dark Side Of The Room (France) – Number 2

Macbee (India) – The Camellias

Best Media Room – Global

BNC Technology (South Africa) – The Arabian

Best Integrated Home – Global

Global Wave Integration – Hillsboro Property

The 2021 CEDIA Awards from all three regions are available to view on CEDIA’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/cediahq.

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3 Key Take-aways from CEDIA & CTA’s New Recommended Practices for HDMI Systems

Walte Zerbe Senior Director of Technology and Standards, CEDIA

T

hanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers and staff, CEDIA and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) recently released the joint best practices document CEDIA/ CTA-RP28 HDMI System Design and Verification Recommended Practice.

This document is free to CEDIA members and should be considered an essential job aid for anyone installing HDMI systems. Within, you can find a deep dive into HDMI devices, connectivity, and functions, including accessible explainers on all the latest features supported by HDMI 2.1.

I strongly recommend downloading it now and reading it cover to cover—but seeing as it weighs in at nearly 70 pages of directly actionable design best practices, testing procedures, references, and tools, you’d be forgiven for wanting some highlights.

Consider this an appetizer, then, of the many take-aways within RP28.

Cooler Features, Trickier Design

HDMI 2.1 has ushered in support for a wide range of features that end customers are really excited about. For instance, High

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Dynamic Range (HDR) dynamic metadata can adjust color and contrast display settings on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis.

With this feature implemented end-to-end in a properly designed and calibrated HDMI system, the infamous season 8 Game of Thrones episode “The Long Night” might even be good, or at least legible. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) syncs the refresh rate of a sink with the refresh rate of a source. Real time interactive content — such as a video game — doesn’t render at a fixed frame rate, so VRR prevents screen tearing in the middle of a high-stakes Call of Duty mission. And of course, HDMI 2.1 is capable of ultra-high-definition video formats up to 10K resolution 60Hz with HDR and 4:4:4 sampling, or 120Hz with HDR and 4:2:2 sampling.

These are specs that directly, substantively impact the customer’s experience, and that they are willing to upgrade media systems to get. They’re also fragile: any weak link in the signal chain can cause these advanced features to falter or fail, resulting in fallback to legacy video modes or even signal loss. The more complex a system is — the more links there are — the greater the likelihood of disruption.

Thanks to new features and passionate consumer interest, HDMI system design requires more expertise than ever.

Protecting Advanced Features from Source to Sink

HDMI has always been famous for its plug-and-play functionality, but not all advanced features are automatically enabled. Customers looking to experience ultra-smooth gameplay due to VRR may not realize that this feature needs to be enabled in the settings of both source and sink. Similarly, many displays don’t support all features on all input ports — integrators will need to pay close attention to which features, such as HDR, are supported on which ports. And of course, all required features must be supported by every link in the signal chain, with full metadata

Thanks to new features and passionate consumer interest, HDMI system design requires more expertise than ever. pass-through. Any manipulation of the signal data, including scaling and processing, can result in loss of HDR if the repeater devices don’t support all the desired formats. If there are multiple displays with varying capabilities, design to the highest resolution and feature set needed and downscale as required at the legacy sinks.

More complex HMDI systems generally require longer cable runs, including repeaters, alternative transport technologies (extenders), and/or active cabling. When using category cable to extend the HDMI signal, including for HDBaseT extension, be aware that HDMI is very sensitive to crosstalk.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables carrying HDMI signals shouldn’t be bundled or pinstriped, especially in the first 20 m (65 ft) of the run, and the conduit fill rate for such cables shouldn’t exceed 40%. RP28 recommends instead using shielded Cat 6A cable or better, which enables bundling and up to 60% conduit fill. Integrators will also need to pay careful attention to the native bandwidth capabilities of whatever extension technologies they’re using — and, if that bandwidth is lower than

the requirements for full resolution and sampling, they’ll need to examine what data rate reduction strategies the technology deploys. Some extenders use pixel bit-depth down-sampling or video compression to offer higher format support at lower bandwidth. These strategies can impact the image quality and HDR functionality — integrators will have to discuss the trade-offs with their clients.

True Lossless Audio Arrives

As more customers are upgrading their media rooms, home cinema, and gaming environments to support lossless Hi-Fi audio, multi-channel surround sound, and object-based audio, the HDMI audio return channel has gotten a muchneeded upgrade as well. The former HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) can now be repurposed to support Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC). eARC is capable of transmitting audio at a frame rate of 768KHz, meaning it’s fully compatible with lossless audio formats, expanded surround sound formats like Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, and objectbased formats like Atmos. Integrators don’t necessarily need all-new Ultra-

High-Speed HDMI 2.1 cables to take advantage of this new feature — though all Ultra High Speed cables will support eARC, any legacy cable labelled “with Ethernet” is also compatible.

Bonus Insight: Planning makes Perfect

The many advances that came with HDMI 2.1 prove that the standard will continue to evolve in ways that are compelling to end users, growing more bandwidth-hungry all the while. Keep the likely need for future upgrades in mind when planning infrastructure and cable runs. No matter what source resolutions and video/audio features are in use at the outset, design upgrade pathways into the infrastructure design, including overspec’ing the bandwidth throughput of your cables and components whenever possible. There is bound to be a shiny new set of features coming online in a year or two, and the system should be ready to support them.

RP28 includes detailed testing procedures for verifying the functionality of HDMI features; bandwidth charts to help you assess system throughput needs; and a design checklist to help ensure you’ve carefully planned every necessary element of the video system.

Free access to recommended practices like this one is one of the most tangible, immediately applicable benefits of CEDIA membership. Now that you’ve had a taste, go get the full meal at cedia.net/standards.

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TWO-MINUTE TECH READ

The Investment in

Entertainment

Spaces

I

have a deep love and appreciation for movies shown in a cinema environment. It all started when I was a kid. What was not to love about this awe-inspiring experience, feeling the bass tremble as Tom Hanks took off in the fated Apollo 13 or getting transported into the vibrant world of Roger Rabbit?

Maybe I’m showing my age, but I’m certainly not alone. My whole generation was captivated by the magic of the movie theater, and mounting numbers of us are investing in re-creating that experience at home.

While the last year has been a challenge on several different levels, it has been a watershed moment for in-home entertainment. Hollywood, Borehamwood, and Bollywood have all been warily tracking the gradual shift towards in-home viewing for several years: streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and Hulu all had significant subscribers pre-2019. The floodgates really opened right before and during the pandemic, though, with the launch of Disney+, Peacock, AppleTV+, HBO Max, and Britbox. The largest of the streaming providers aren’t just providing a platform for playback but making massive investments in original content. It is reported that Netflix will spend $17 billion, Prime Video $11 billion,

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AppleTV+ $6 billion and Hulu $3 billion on content creation in 2021. These spending levels put the streaming providers on par with movie studios, and it shows: Netflix had 35 nominations at the 2021 Oscars.

Cinema-quality content is now available at home, and it’s begging for a theatrical delivery experience.

Throughout the pandemic, we also saw big studios like Warner Brothers and Disney adopt a hybrid release strategy offering tentpole movies as part of subscription services as well as in traditional theaters.

Reports stated that half of HBO Max subscribers tuned into Wonder Woman 1984 on its Christmas Day release. Once consumers got a taste of watching movies at home right as they release — for the same price or cheaper than going to the theater — they got hooked.

As a result, the future of entertainment spaces in the home is getting a huge and much needed boost. A recent Parks Associates survey found that 56 percent of households now have a smart TV, but as more content becomes available, homeowners are going to be looking for ways to continue to upgrade their spaces.

For example, take advent of virtual watch parties. Axios reported on the watch party trend in October 2021, sharing that Internet companies are leaning into new services that add a social component to the otherwise isolated experience of staying home in front

Ian Bryant CEDIA Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships

I personally think this is only the beginning of the home theater’s reinvention, and a lot more innovation will emerge in the next several years.

of a screen. Disney, an early leader of the trend, launched GroupWatch in 2020. Over the summer, Apple announced SharePlay, a live contentsharing feature via FaceTime, Netflix Party relaunched as "TeleParty." HBO Max launched a group watch party tool in conjunction with Snapchat in September 2021. As this trend takes hold, it’s easy to imagine that people might add conferencing features to their viewing spaces to make the experience more communal.

I personally think this only the beginning of the home theater’s reinvention, and a lot more innovation will emerge in the next several years.

Entertainment rooms will go beyond viewing and watch parties to offer a fully immersive experience that’s not just for movies: they will be optimized for concerts, exercise, video games, and so much more. Integrators are poised to design these entertainment rooms as multi-use spaces. If you’re unsure where to start, I would suggest talking to CEDIA Propel Partner Immersive Gyms. Charles and his team have a deep understanding of the technology and space needs for these types of projects.

These multiuse spaces are only

going to get more sophisticated.

Already, we’re seeing early iterations of holodeck rooms that offer 3D projection mapping. Combining the trends of immersive entertainment and “watch party” communal consumption, it’s not hard to imagine that these spaces could change the way we collaborate and work from home as well. Why couldn’t a space with builtin conferencing capabilities that can transform into a movie set, racetrack, or hiking trail, also transform into boardroom? Innovation in the residential market is bound to cross over into new applications that we can only now begin to glimpse.

The future for home entertainment spaces is brighter than it has been for years, something every integrator should capitalize on. CEDIA offers an abundant catalogue of resources for those looking to design entertainment spaces that will dazzle and delight.

From hands-on training to best practice documents and whitepapers, and even the CEDIA Designer tool for home cinemas and media rooms, tap into these CEDIA member benefits to ensure that your next project brings these entertainment experiences to life for your clients.

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SUPPORT CEDIA AND

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“The work presenting and then writing course content for CEDIA led directly to industry awards for us in 2017 and 2018 — one for volunteering and one for a project that was directly influenced by everything I’d learned!”

Owen Maddock, Cinema Works, UK

THE INDUSTRY CEDIA is your trade association, built by members to serve the membership, and we need your help.

We rely on volunteers to share their know-how and to work with other members and CEDIA staff in shaping the future of the industry by setting and maintaining standards, creating resources and introducing new initiatives.

It’s a hugely rewarding way to put something back into the industry and volunteering is valued immensely by CEDIA and the membership. It's also a fantastic way to demonstrate your leadership and authority, share your expertise with peers and help raise the standard of knowledge and understanding across our industry for the good of our industry, and beyond our industry to architects, interior designers and property developers.

We’re always looking for volunteers and subject matter experts to present training courses as part of our professional development program at Integrated Systems

Europe which for the first-time will be held in Barcelona in 2022 (Feb. 1-4).

This program regularly attracts over 800 attendees from dozens of countries. We run more training courses over the duration of the show than at any other time anywhere else in EMEA. In 2022, we anticipate the demand to be bigger than ever.

We also need this same support for our CEDIA Education program throughout the year. CEDIA training is being delivered inperson and online throughout 2022 and we want to make sure we have the most qualified, capable and experienced thought leaders from our industry taking these courses.

But we can’t deliver any of these programs without you. We need your ideas, your knowledge and your commitment. We invite you to be part of taking CEDIA forward into the future.

Please get in touch with our Education Manager, Aneta Armova-Levin (alevin@ cedia.org) for more details or if you have any questions about what you can bring to CEDIA.

“When you’re standing in a room full of 50 RIBA architects who are there to listen to you, you know that it would never have never been possible without CEDIA’s COI program and the opportunities to present that it provides.”

Mike Ranpura, Smart Life AV, UK

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Jessica Guyon CEDIA Content Manager

THE CEDIA PODCAST:

Why Technology Needs a Female Perspective

I

Technology has long been a field slow to gain female traction, but the skills and attributes women possess are a vital cog in the wheel.

n honor of Women in Consumer Electronics month in October, CEDIA hosted an all-female group of guests on the CEDIA Podcast. The conversation hosted by Walt Zerbe, CEDIA’s Senior Director of Technology & Standards and co-hosted by Jessica Guyon, CEDIA’s Content Manager, welcomed Amanda Wildman of TruMedia, Heather Sidorowicz of Southtown AV, Jaime Restrepo of Restrepo Innovations, and Wendy Griffiths, CEDIA's Vice President of Member Engagement and Global Development.

The conversation began with everyone’s origin stories in the tech world—all of which span nearly two decades or more. Restrepo originally began working in IT on the commercial side of the business in 2005 before transitioning to home automation.

Sidorowicz essentially grew up in her father’s HiFi shop in the mid-80s and admits she was the least likely of her siblings to get involved, but today acts as President of the company. Wildman says TruMedia started as a satellite installation business before she and her husband decided to take the leap into the residential A/V world in 2014. Griffiths says she used to organize the National

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Left to right from top: Heather Sidorowicz, Wendy Griffiths, Amanda Wildman, Jessica Guyon & Jaime Restrepo

While the group agreed that female inclusion has seen vast improvement in non-traditional fields like technology, there remains work to be done.

Music Show in Wembley and worked primarily in professional audio before finding her way to CEDIA some 20 years ago. With such rich career histories, these women have witnessed a complete evolution in the technology, professionals, and clients that make up the CI industry.

Restrepo says that today’s clients are savvier than ever, which can be both a good and bad thing. Sometimes they know exactly what they want which can make her job easier while other times they request something that is simply impossible given their circumstances. Through in-depth conversations with clients, she is able to peel back the layers on what is possible based on their home, lifestyle, and budget to create a solution best suited for them.

Sidorowicz has found that the professionals in the industry have become significantly more accepting of women than in decades past. She recalled an instance at a trade show where a representative bypassed her to speak with her father, assuming she wouldn’t know what she was talking about. Today, she is happy to report that these instances are far less common, whether she adorns her Southtown AV badge or a press badge at trade shows.

Wildman says she still encounters the occasional mistreatment from male clients.

During one particular project, the male homeowner asked if Wildman was sure the house wouldn’t “blow up” from the technology she installed. The condescending comment stuck with her, but the best revenge has been her work performing flawlessly for her clients.

While the group agreed that female inclusion has seen vast improvement in non-traditional fields like technology, there remains work to be done. Sidorowicz emphasized the importance of hiring women—even ones who aspire to start a family. Women have an incredible ability to multitask, she says, and allowing them the flexibility to raise children and build a career empowers them and creates a sense of loyalty within a company.

Wildman finds that women possess a sharp eye for detail, which is evident in the number of DIY projects they take on. She says to look to these women as potential hires because they will be the ones to ensure a project is neat and organized the first time around.

The group ended the conversation with a nod to the supportive men in the industry, including their own husbands, who champion them to strive for their career goals and raise their voice on important issues because a truly inclusive industry requires action from everyone.

A truly inclusive industry requires action from everyone.

Want to learn more?

Check out this and all past podcasts at cedia.net/podcast

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THE LAST 5% WISDOM FROM OUR MEMBERS (AND SOME OTHERS, TOO) “The toughest part of a job? Sometimes it’s the last 5%.” – Anon.

I teach my clients my own bad behavior sometimes. If it’s me against another integrator, and the client wants a demo over the weekend, I’ll often give them a demo over the weekend. I’m guilty of not switching off enough but I know it’s my own fault because I’ve taught my clients to expect it.

Christiaan Beukes of Sphere Custom and Twisted Pear on The CEDIA Podcast

When I speak to architects and interior designers, I often quote Dr. Claudia Miller from the University of Texas who, in her thesis, wrote that ‘design professionals and architects have the greatest ability to improve clients’ health more than doctors.’

Linda Kafka, Founder of LivABLE Environments and the LivABLE Design Summit, The CEDIA Podcast

I’ve had the pleasure of talking to some of the best acoustical engineers in the world and all of them agree on one thing: small room acoustics are harder than big room acoustics.

Dave Pedigo, CEO of Auralex Acoustics, The CEDIA Podcast

The future of automation is proactive assistance, and proactive assistance is going to require a huge amount of sensors around a building to feed that AI with the information it needs to make decisions. Expect in the future that our work will be a lot of architectural integration of a wide variety of sensors.

Peter Aylett, The CEDIA Tech Council

I fear that the metaverse will be nothing more than a shopping mall on our head. Perhaps we’ll have more control over the content but not initially.

Rich Green, The CEDIA Tech Council

Okay... #avtweeps I just found this!!! A recording on a MiniDisc from CEDIA 2001!!! Wanted to show my wife what a MiniDisc was and this turned up?!?! I'm so listening to this tomorrow!

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A tweet from jrb audio/video, inc.

certification NOW MORE RELEVANT THAN EVER We’ve updated the program, so now your CEDIA Certification means that you’re absolutely at the top of your field in the integration industry. It’s a mark that tells the world you’re the best at what you do.

Learn more about the new CIT (Cabling and Infrastructure Technician) and IST (Integrated Systems Technician) certifications at cedia.net/certification.