Installation September 2015 Digital Edition

Issue 183 / September 2015

AV INTEGRATION IN A NETWORKED WORLD

www.installation-international.com

BAFTA, London, 29 September - see p22 for details

Going it alone p20

Andy Fliss on the newly independent tvONE

What’s stopping you? p32 Barriers to adopting audio over IP Devices and desires p38

Impact of consumer kit on smart home market

DOC-ING STATIONS DU

NDAN

C

Y <> RE

<> RE

The inexorable rise of telemedicine p26 DU

CY

TESTED

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01 Install183 Front Cover_Final.indd 1

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WELCOME 03

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

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A

Online ISSN: 2052-2401

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Paddy Baker, Editor pbaker@nbmedia.com @install8ion

s I was reading Ian McMurray’s excellent feature on telemedicine in this issue (page 26), a thought struck me: why isn’t this more widely available right now? After all, as Ian points out, all the factors are there: levels of demand are high, and will only rise as the population ages; and in the UK at least, health service managers are looking for ways to improve efficiency, and have funds available at a local level to try them out.

Meanwhile, doctors’ surgeries typically field a barrage of calls when they open each morning, and appointments may not be available for days; hospital accident and emergency departments become swamped with less important cases, and some were stretched almost to breaking point last winter. In addition, the process of onward referrals from doctors’ surgeries to clinical experts is often laborious and delay-ridden.

‘Telemedicine can bridge the physical gap between clinician and patient and increase convenience for one or both parties’ It would be wrong to suggest that the National Health Service hasn’t looked to technology to address these issues: for a few years now, it has run a 24-hour telephone service, staffed by nurses and doctors, dispensing non-urgent medical advice. However, it seems that making access to healthcare services easier makes demand go up, rather than down. When the original phone service NHS Direct handed over to its successor NHS 111 two years ago, it had been handling 4.4 million calls a year; the figure has now risen to a staggering 15.4 million.

So, why don’t we see more telemedicine currently? Perhaps part of the problem is that if a doctor, whether a general practitioner, a clinical specialist or a hospital doctor, is seeing a constant stream of patients during his or her working day, they are already working to their maximum capacity, and don’t see the need to change how they interact with their patients; but it’s the public, scrambling for the opportunity to get in front of them, who are paying the price in terms of waiting lists, travel and on-the-day delays.

Telemedicine can certainly help to facilitate access to specialist services – bridging the physical gap between clinician and patient and increasing convenience for one or both parties. The bigger challenge, though, is for a customer-focused approach that puts the patient at the heart of the process and looks to minimise the delays between each stage. Fortunately, such approaches are being discussed within some parts of the NHS. We can only hope – for the good of patients as well as from professional self-interest – that the opportunities that telemedicine affords are understood and taken into account during these discussions.

21/08/2015 16:17

04 CONTENTS

September 2015

News & Data 06 Analysis IoT to transform the internet Lighting control market set for growth 10 Regional Voices: Norway 12 Industry Moves

People 14 Opinion Rob Lane on the potential for AR Pakedge’s Benson Chan offers his vision of the networked future Kevin Kelly discusses the opportunities presented by camera drones 20 Interview tvONE’s Andy Fliss on life after Nortek

20

Features 26 Telemedicine This fast-growing AV market shows no sign of ailing

32 Audio over IP

What’s holding back networking in the built environment and how can the rate of adoption be increased?

38 Smart Homes The availability of consumer smart home devices is affecting the custom install market, but is it a threat or an opportunity?

Solutions

26

42 Oman and Qatar Pavilions, Expo 2015, Milan Both countries have embraced technology to create striking installations 44 King’s & Jesus Colleges, Cambridge New audio solutions have extended the use of facilities in two historic buildings 46 Solutions in Brief Including Bose at KidZania, Symetrix DSP for Pacha, and L-Acoustics takes to the stage

22

Technology

24

49 New Products Including Dynacord, Sharp, Inter-M and Symetrix

52 Showcase Amplifiers

Also inside 22 InstallFutures Plan your day at this must-attend event

24 Show Preview IBC 2015

04 Install183 Contents_Final.indd 1

42 21/08/2015 15:14

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06 ANALYSIS

September 2015

IoT to transform the internet

By Steve Montgomery

F

or most of its lifespan, the internet has primarily been used to transmit information between machines and humans. Developments in radio technology and falling component costs now make it viable for machine-tomachine communication.

Juniper Research has examined the Internet of Things (IoT) and its implication on the internet.

Heralded as having the potential to make a profound impact on both society as well as businesses, the IoT is expected to revolutionise most consumer, industrial and public services markets, including homes, consumer devices, vehicles, healthcare, retail, buildings, agriculture, street lighting and metering.

“We expect IoT devices to number 38.5 billion in 2020, rising from 13.4 billion in 2015, having a profound effect on the evolution of the internet,” said Steffen Sorrell, Juniper senior analyst. “The internet can be looked upon in terms of different stages of evolution given that, while the basic concept remains the same, its scope has proven itself to be hugely dynamic.”

Total IoT installed base (billions of devices)

2020*

45 40 35

Other devices

30 25

2015

20

Consumer devices

15 10 5 0

Source: Juniper Research

www.juniperresearch.com

* = forecast

Leyard set for global expansion following acquisition of Planar

By Joanne Ruddock

F

ollowing the news last month that Chinese high-end indoor LED firm Leyard Optoelectronic had purchased Planar Systems, Futuresource has considered how this will affect the global videowall market.

M&A activity in the LED sector was strongly referenced in the last Futuresource global videowall report, which explored the adoption rates of technologies in the tiled display market.

It highlighted the current approach to narrow pixel pitch (NPP) LED from major videowall vendors with most adopting a low risk OEM/ODM strategy, sourcing from Chinese suppliers.

“Many in the industry expected M&A activity from international videowall vendors looking to control their upstream LED supply chain, not the other way round with Chinese vendors looking to build a more international footprint,” commented Futuresource’s Chris McIntyre-Brown, associate director of displays & broadcast equipment.

“The move grants Leyard access to a brand with a long pedigree, high brand recognition and solid reputation in the tiled display category. It provides access to a skilled channel, predominantly in North America but also wider

06 Install183 Analysis_Final.indd 1

Planar Systems income statement June 2014–June 2015 ($m) 60 53.6

55.8

50

40

Total revenue

49.2 43.9

42.5

Gross profit

30

20

10

10.7

Jun 2014

13.7

Sept 2014

14.4

Dec 2014

12.2

Mar 2015

11.4

Jun 2015

Source: Planar Systems/Yahoo Finance into global markets, along with a route into the niche but lucrative control room vertical.”

In 2014 Leyard Optoelectronic achieved over 40% share of the NPP LED market but it was relatively confined to its domestic market and just LED. While still very much in its infancy, the NPP LED category has generated a huge amount of

interest in the past two years as a disruptive large surface display technology. Indeed, by 2019 Futuresource Consulting has forecasted that NPP will account for 31% of total videowall value and 15% of volume (sqm).

www.futuresource-consulting.com

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08 ANALYSIS

September 2015

Lighting control market set for growth

By Steve Montgomery

I

ncreasingly, regulations around the world are calling for the adoption of lighting controls and are encouraging more advanced control systems to minimise energy consumption.

While all lighting control systems still function at their core to dim or shut off unnecessary lights, today’s systems also provide non-energy benefits that are potentially more valuable to building owners and managers, including improved monitoring and maintenance, enhanced occupant experience and space utilisation visualisations.

A wider variety and number of control systems are installed. Building energy codes requiring occupancy sensors and photosensors provide the opportunity for upgrading to a more comprehensive control system.

According to a new report from Navigant Research, global networked lighting controls revenue is expected to grow from $2.2 billion in 2015 to $4.8 billion in 2024.

Large, traditional lighting companies have begun offering a range of control products, and established building controls companies are expanding to include lighting controls within building-wide control systems.

Networked lighting control revenue by building type, world markets ($100million) 50 45 40 35

Retail

30

Education

25

Healthcare

20

Hotels & Restaurants

15

Institutional/ Assembly

10

Other

5 0

2015*

2016*

2017*

2018*

2019*

2020*

2021*

2022*

2023*

2024*

Source: Navigant Research

www.navigant.com

* = forecast

Demand for AMOLED materials expected to surge

By Joanne Ruddock

T

he overall consumption of active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) materials is forecast to surge in the second half of 2015, as LG Display, the leader in the white organic light-emitting diode (WOLED) panel market, increases the production of WOLED TV panels.

In the first half of 2015, the WOLED organic materials market reached $58 million; however, in the second half of the year the market is forecast to increase nearly threefold, reaching $165 million. The WOLED organic materials market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 79% from 2014 to 2019, according to IHS. “Although the WOLED organic materials market is still at a fledgling state, it will grow considerably in tandem with a rise in WOLED panel production, beginning in the second half of 2015,” said Kihyun Kim, senior analyst for display chemical and materials at IHS Technology.

08 Install183 Analysis_Final.indd 1

AMOLED materials market forecast by technology ($million) 2,000

1,500

WOLED Type

1,000

FMM RGB Type 500

0

2014

2015*

2016*

2017*

“Since WOLED technology is mainly used for large-area AMOLED displays, particularly TVs, this rapid growth in the WOLED market will lead the continued growth in the overall AMOLED materials market.”

2018*

2019*

Source: HIS

* = forecast

www.ihs.com

21/08/2015 16:47

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8/18/2015 2:36:48 PM 17/08/15 17:12

10 REGIONAL VOICES

September 2015

NORWAY

Our latest national survey paints a picture of a sector that is holding steady against a national economy that is slowing slightly

N

orway has long been a prosperous nation, its wealth being due in no small measure to natural resources including oil and fisheries. It currently lies sixth in the IMF and World Bank lists of countries with the highest gross domestic product per capita.

One respondent to our survey offered this observation on the current national economic climate: “Things are getting a little slower in Norway at present, probably mainly because of oil rates going down[…] the whole oil business seems to decrease.”

Turning to industry specifics, the Norwegian AV installation market appears strong overall, and quick to respond to new technologies. “The demand in the market is leaning towards the high-end side,” commented one respondent.

“When 4K entered the market, there was an immediate request for it from customers, even when none of their other systems supported it.”

Our respondents were fairly evenly split about the prospects for the sector as a whole: the majority did not foresee a rise in levels of confidence compared with six months ago, while those predicting higher levels were roughly balanced by those predicting lower. However, when asked about their own companies’ fortunes, they were more upbeat, with those predicting a rise forming a distinct majority.

Sectors identified by our survey as showing the strongest growth over the coming year included digital signage, education, and museums and visitor attractions.

We also asked our respondents to choose from a list of half a dozen possible concerns affecting

10 Install183 Regional Voices_Final.indd 1

their company – a mix of financial, market and technological issues. Two of these stood out: clients going for lowest price rather than best value, and falling margins. “There are several players bidding on the largest projects and frame agreements, putting margins under high pressure,” commented a consultant.

When asked what advice respondents would give to companies entering the AV market in the country, prospective manufacturers were advised to “focus on new solutions and quality”, while another respondent stressed the importance of providing good product training for distributors and installers. “Certification becomes more crucial for the larger system integrators,” they said.

A third respondent had a warning on currency fluctuations: “As the krone falls, the prices of

2.2%

GDP annual growth, 2014 Source: World Bank

imported products rise. That should be the main concern of foreign manufacturers exporting to Norway.” (The krone has been falling fairly steadily against the euro for two years or so.)

One of the more noteworthy suggestions for integrators starting up in the Norwegian market was not to try to do too much: “Decide what market you want to enter into. Unless you have 50+ employees, going wide is not a very good idea,” counselled one integrator.

What will be the business trend in the following vertical markets?

GREATEST INCREASE Digital signage Education Museums/visitor attractions Performing arts venues Corporate Retail Sports venues Bars, clubs, restaurants Worship NO CHANGE/DON’T KNOW

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12

INDUSTRY MOVES

September 2015

Global expansion for Pexip

n Clear-Com

Company’s presence is enhanced in the UK, Spain, Brazil and Australia

Hans Chia

has been appointed regional sales manager for south-east Asia.

His responsibilities will include expanding Clear-Com’s market reach in the APAC region by managing and developing local channel partners and championing the company’s range of intercom and connectivity solutions.

www.clearcom.com n Crestron UK

Nick Fichte

Paulo Cardoso

P

exip is growing its global presence by adding staff in several markets. John Harald Grønningen is now head of Pexip Southern Europe, ensuring local support for Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece. He has spent time with NetCom, REC Solar and Tandberg and will be based in Barcelona.

In the UK, Pexip welcomes industry veteran Eddie Clifton, who joins the company from strategic partner Viju Group. Based in Hurst, near London, Clifton’s experience in the videoconferencing and collaboration industries includes strategic director positions for Cisco and Tandberg, and several years’ experience in managing strategic accounts on a global level.

Eddie Clifton

Meanwhile, Paulo Cardoso joins Pexip in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Cardoso brings more than 20 years of experience and joins from Lifesize, where he was country manager overseeing all sales, business development, marketing and operations.

Finally, Mark Bedwani has joined as senior sales engineer in Sydney, Australia.

Bedwani brings more than 20 years of experience in networking and infrastructure, videoconferencing, communications and collaboration. He has spent time with Com Tech and Dimension Data.

www.pexip.com

New Partners Loud Technologies has named V Hypersound & Light as its new distributor in Cyprus for the company’s Mackie and Ampeg brands. Hypersound specialises in professional music and installed sound, with a lengthy history of providing integrated systems solutions for commercial, worship and residential customers. www.hypersound.com.cy www.loudtechinc.com

Symetrix’s full range of DSPs will now be distributed by Awan in India. The systems integrator and distributor also represents numerous other brands including Sennheiser, Televic, Apart Audio and Bose. www.awan.co.in www.symetrix.co

12 Install183 Industry Moves_Final.indd 1

has joined the Residential Business Development team for EMEA at Crestron UK. He brings more than seven years of industry experience covering AV, home automation and networking. He will be based in Crestron’s London Showroom.

Genelec has appointed Prase as its Italian distributor for AV install and home audio products. MidiWare will continue to distribute Genelec’s professional line of products. “The Prase team is a perfect complement to MidiWare, helping to increase our brand presence in Italy,” said Jarmo Masko, international sales manager for Genelec. www.genelec.com www.prase.it Tehran-based Shidco has been appointed to handle distribution for Powersoft in Iran. Shidco has already carried out local demoes and featured Powersoft products in concerts and religious programmes. www.powersoft.it

www.crestron.eu n GLP

Søren Storm

has been named sales director for Asia-Pacific at GLP. Storm, who has worked in the industry for 18 years, including time at Martin Professional and Robe, will be responsible for sales across the entire region. He will be based in Singapore.

www.glp.de n Lawo

Robert Charles ‘Chas’ Rowden

has been appointed to head up strategic sales within Lawo’s global team. With 30 years’ experience in senior sales roles within television live-to-air broadcast, film/video postproduction, music production and radio, Rowden has a wide-ranging knowledge of broadcast and media production industries.

www.lawo.com n Lyntec

Dan Nguyen

has taken up the role of vice president of engineering at power control solution provider Lyntec.

Prior to this he was the design engineer and chief architect of LynTec’s patent-pending Remote Power Control (RPC) platform for the company’s motorised circuit breaker and relay electrical control panels.

www.lyntec.com

19/08/2015 15:35

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6/15/2015 11:30:23 AM

14 OPINION: ON THE AGENDA

September 2015

Rob Lane

Reality-checking AR Augmented reality remains something of a novelty, but things are set to change

A

lmost year ago, I reported on how AR, while a lot of fun, was struggling to grow from its fun, experiential beginnings. So, 12 months on, have things progressed?

In case you’ve been living in a cave, AR can be described as augmenting and enhancing the real world with additional layers of digital information (usually less than 25%, proportionately), typically via tablets, smartphones and increasingly VR goggles, where AR meets VR – so-called mixed reality. AR can either be 2D, with labels or infographics appearing on top of the real world, or 3D where objects are placed into real-world scenes.

So far so fun, but until now AR hasn’t really given integrators much to work with. There are only so many insides of a car you can view with an iPad before getting tech fatigue. Even marketing gurus have struggled to come up with many applications.

One groundbreaking marketing campaign was recently showcased by Pepsi, on a bus shelter in London – demonstrating how AR could be set to revolutionise print and billboard advertising.

Pepsi’s Unbelievable Bus Shelter utilised AR in a way not seen before, with lions appearing to run towards the shelter, giant robots and various other augmented surprises.

For the installation industry, of course, there’s room for the practical and the playful – depending on the nature of the installation – but again, AR is yet to make a sizable impact, perhaps due to the restrictions imposed by the size and impracticalities of tablet and smartphone, the AR developers’ weapons of choice.

This could all be set to change. Microsoft, Google and Facebook are all currently ramping up their AR smarts, and the likes of Sony (with its developer

14 Install183 Opinion 1_Final.indd 1

pre-order of SmartEyeGlass), HTS and Samsung are also coming to the fore. HoloLens, Google Glass 2 (and the Google-backed Magic Leap – more later) and the next-gen Oculus Rift will all add AR to their armoury, providing developers with more tools for their virtual sandbox and providing integrators with more sophisticated ways of adding AR to their offer.

Google has applied to the US Patent and Trademark Office for a new technology set to allow users to get information regarding objects within their line of sight – AR, in other words. Google Glass was always an AR tool, of course, but it sounds as if Google is looking to turn up the dial for its second-generation product.

Microsoft has been making a big play for AR, as part of its HoloLens headset offering (supposedly shipping to developers in the next 12 months).

Interestingly, the company has been careful to distance HoloLens from being categorised as either VR and AR, preferring to use the phrase ‘mixed reality’, and ‘hologram’ – although it’s debatable whether or not seeing things floating before your eyes when wearing VR goggles is holographic.

However, this tactic has certainly cemented HoloLens as the augmented reality VR goggles, which probably explains Facebook and Google pushing their own AR functionality.

Microsoft recently released a video revealing what it will be like to wear HoloLens, using its partnership with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Ohio as a showcase for the technology and, in particular, its AR aspirations. It is said to be transforming the way human anatomy is taught to doctors, with the video showing medical students wearing HoloLens viewing the various layers of the human body.

It has been reported that a second Oculus Rift product is being developed by Facebook, also offering mixed reality. Developed with help from Leap Motion, the new device will apparently be able to display content in 3D and in 360º, as a ‘manipulative hologram’ (there’s that word again!). Users will be able to create their own digital workspace and operate it in mid (virtual) air. So perhaps more ‘responsive AR’ than ‘manipulative hologram’, but it’s only semantics.

Google is working with Qualcomm and film production company Legendary Entertainment on secretive start-up Magic Leap (which released a fun video showcasing some of its possibilities earlier this year). The three companies have pumped $542 million into Magic Leap, which recently allowed developers to sign up to its forthcoming SDK with this enticing blurb: “Imagine being able to generate images indistinguishable from real objects and then being able to place those images seamlessly into the real world…” Certainly sounds like AR! So, the future looks rosy for AR, and developers and integrators should reap the benefits going forward. According to B2B News Network, Tim Merel, MD at leading AR advisory firm Digi-Capital, AR is set to spawn “a host of uses nobody has thought of yet” and forecasts $150 billion revenue for VR/AR by 2020, with AR-based business bagging around $120 billion of the total. Hopefully this will lead to augmented profits for all…

Rob Lane is founder/director of PR/marketing agency Bigger Boat PR Ltd and a technology journalist & columnist. He’s fond of a big dollop of old-fashioned reality.

19/08/2015 15:43

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23/06/2015 13:17 6/23/2015 1:26:32 PM

16 OPINION: ON THE AGENDA

September 2015

Benson Chan

A vision of the networked future Networks must be intelligent, robust and secure to cope with future demands

T

he network has fast become the ‘fourth utility’ in commercial spaces – behind electricity, gas and water. A wide variety of devices, including computers, tablets, telephones, mobiles, printers and security systems, are all connected to the internet in order to facilitate quick and efficient communication. Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone services are becoming more and more common, as are videoconference services like Skype or Blue Jeans. Users no longer require a hard connection to printers but can instead send information wirelessly, from mobile devices or fixed stations. Security systems and cameras provide cloud-based services, remotely accessible by installers to ensure the smooth running of different platforms. With each passing day, more and more ‘connected’ products and internet-delivered services come into the marketplace. Now we are seeing ‘connected’ appliances such as fire alarms, coffee machines and even lighting and thermostats.

Reliance on the internet to perform even the most basic business functions highlights the demand for always-on convenience, but as communications, security, Internet of Things and automation become more prevalent, the data traffic generated on the office network will be tremendous and require even more attention.

In order to accommodate this need, integrators have turned to remote management systems, like Pakedge’s BakPak, in order to improve service, crisis management and out-of-hours monitoring and control. However, such resources have limited success if the network is sub-par.

A commercial network must be scalable to handle the multitude of future devices,

16 Install183 Opinion 2_Final.indd 1

many not even envisioned yet, that will soon require connections. Networks must be intelligent enough to sense and prioritise latency sensitive content, such as streaming and video calls, while being robust enough to handle multiple types of activities simultaneously, such as VoIP, internet surfing and network printing. More importantly, in the case of built-up cities like London, New York and Paris with high density of homes, offices and people, with manifold active wireless networks, AV networks will need to be able to operate in a high interference environment while also remaining secure.

Challenges for manufacturers Faced with the challenges of the BYOD phenomenon and the ever-growing popularity of connected devices, manufacturers of network solutions must provide integrators with solutions that address the underlying IP network technology trends and the importance of the role of networks in the future workplace environment. They must translate this knowledge into training programmes in order to support those working in the AV/IT arena.

They must move beyond creating disparate network components and become integrated solutions specialists.

Platforms such as our own Pakedge Connect+ (pictured) are designed to answer this need; delivering a carefully integrated choice of switches, routers, wireless power management and software technologies, designed specifically to work with each other to deliver seamless, scalable and reliable networking performance.

These platforms leverage individual device

information and have features that complement one another to optimise network performance.

This is something that individual devices on multi-vendor networks cannot do. Network platforms are the future of networked solutions, as they provide superior stability and peerless performance.

Systems integrators and consultants too must also become adept at communicating and educating their clients on the importance of a good network. Why is this important?

The network is the foundation for all things connected. Just as a weak foundation will undermine an entire building, a weak network foundation will undermine the devices connected to it. Oftentimes, clients believe poor operational performance is due to the device, not knowing the implications of a poorly designed or constructed network. The market needs to work to design and build strong network foundations for their clients through the selection and specification of robust, commercial-grade and purpose-built technology for AV/IT networks.

Benson Chan is VP of business development at Pakedge Device & Software.

www.pakedge.com

21/08/2015 15:06

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20.07.15 7/20/2015 1:47:43 14:38 PM

18 OPINION: ON THE HORIZON

September 2015

Kevin Kelly Verticals take off

Why camera drones represent the next great sales opportunity for the pro-AV industry

R

ecent industry studies forecast that over the next five years, drones will be used by 40% of all businesses and that by 2024, the commercial drone market will grow to represent 12% of the $98 billion total market. Dealers looking to capitalise on this enormous commercial sales opportunity, which also promises to pull through additional sales of traditional AV and IT components, should include camera drones into their product mix. The sales of drones are set to take off as more and more vertical market end users come to realise the enormous benefits they bring to their businesses. The simple truth is that more companies in virtually every vertical market will utilise the exciting and convenient tools that camera drones have to offer.

‘It all adds up to selling a small, or large, command and control solution with every drone’

Camera drones are a strategic and costeffective way to capture aerial photography in the form of digital video. The agricultural industry, for example, is an early adopter of drones to assist in daily life. Camera drones offer farmers valuable data to determine irrigation needs and help plan harvesting. Covering expansive distances, camera drones enable the private use of technology on people’s own land.

Collecting data via remote control saves the

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farmer time, as it essentially replaces the action of getting into a pick-up truck and traversing the land. The use of camera drones also proves to be more cost-effective overall, as farmers can more accurately determine the required levels of fertiliser use, eliminating waste.

Beyond agricultural use, first responders are also adopting drones as a means to monitor dangerous situations in real time. Law enforcement, local police and firefighters will likely use aerial photography and cinematography to monitor potentially life-threatening situations like fires, floods, or traffic accidents. In case of a natural disaster, law enforcers may deploy multiple drones at once to assist in search-andrescue initiatives. This is a more effective way to search for missing people, or to warn others to stay away from dangerous areas.

them on developing their content transmission and storage, along with specific component addons and command and control that is applicable to a specific vertical market. It all adds up to selling a small, or large, command and control solution with every drone in addition to video content editing and storage equipment. With numerous camera, content transmission and command and control options, dealers will have the opportunity to specify unique solutions that provide meaningful solutions to end-users and profits to the dealership.

Ongoing awareness Drones promote immediate and ongoing awareness, so that first responders can safely and effectively monitor a situation.

Educators are also adopting drones to enhance security efforts. Higher education facilities such as universities are purchasing multiple drones to act as an extension of their campus security systems. Drones provide more accurate and widespread coverage, and will help security officers to keep university students safe. K-12 environments are bound to follow, maximising the security in schools across the US. The applications are endless, and customisable drone solutions are on the horizon.

Once an end-user decides to purchase a camera drone, dealers have an opportunity to work with

Kevin Kelly is president, COO and owner of Stampede, North America’s oldest and largest high value-added distributor of pro-AV solutions.

In 2014, he pioneered unmanned aerial vehicles and drone-based video systems with the launch of a UAV product line that is now the largest and broadest in the pro-AV industry.

Kelly will be speaking at InstallFutures on 29 September at BAFTA in London about the potential of drones in the AV sector, and the regulatory and safety issues that need to be addressed. See page 24 for more details.

www.stampedeglobal.com

19/08/2015 15:45

for

listen | understand | inform | design | supply for more information on Shure速 and Q-Sys速 solutions T 01279 635 681 | E ForShure@audiologic.uk

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8/21/2015 6:02:33 PM

20 INTERVIEW: ANDY FLISS, TVONE

September 2015

One direction

What does the future hold for tvONE now that it has bought itself out of the Nortek group? Paddy Baker spoke to the company’s sales and marketing VP to find out

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few days after Nortek announced that it was rolling Gefen into Core Brands, the news broke that tvONE, which had previously merged with Gefen and Magenta, had undergone a management buyout from Nortek. The new executive team consists of tvONE CFO David Van Horn, CTO David Reynaga and sales and marketing VP Andy Fliss, with continued active involvement of EMEA and international sales director Frithjof Becker, and chief of technology Richard Mallet. We spoke to Andy Fliss on the day that the MBO was announced.

What was the reason for the MBO? The reason is that Nortek has been in the process of consolidating their audio-video business. Their Core Brands effort has lived on its own for the last several years, while Gefen and tvONE have been going on a different track. Gefen is a crossover brand, where it had the ability to work in parallel with the Core Brands effort, whereas tvONE has ended up as an orphan. We couldn’t really fit with the Nortek plans to consolidate; we didn’t fit with how they run the business – through distribution, less direct than we do. We didn’t

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have the ability to create a strong profile within a $3 billion company like Nortek. But it created a great opportunity where Nortek was fully in favour of us taking this company out of the mix and working it on our own, in the ways it deserves.

‘It’s a daunting responsibility but a tremendous level of freedom’

What do you think tvONE will be able to do now that it couldn’t do before – or will do be able to do differently?

There were some pretty substantive restrictions on how we managed inventory and what the expectations for sales turns were.

In the commercial world a product remains viable for a number of years, whereas in the consumer world in six months there needs to be a new product name, or some other

change or innovation. Our inventories were expected to turn the same way retail sales might turn. We were not able to live under that environment.

In the US in particular, there’s this just-intime inventory requirement where nobody stocks products, you have to be able to ship and deliver. In the Nortek world we really couldn’t keep the inventory to be able to supply product at a moment’s notice. So now we’ll have the ability to service our customers better from that standpoint.

The other thing is that working for a public company is a tremendous burden on personnel resources. We essentially should be able to turn on a dime because of our size: we should be able to come up with a new product – generate it, create it, put it out in the world – very quickly. As an independent company we’ll be able to make those decisions much quicker and be able to respond to customers’ needs much quicker – and offer a more personalised service.

Did you have some source of external finance for the MBO? There wasn’t any external financing, there

21/08/2015 16:04

www.installation-international.com

A brief biography n Andy Fliss’s first role in the AV industry was as director of sales for integrator Audio Visual Associates n As national marketing manager for Samsung Electronics, he helped to introduce large flatpanel displays to the US market n He joined Magenta Research in January 2012 as US director of sales, and the following year became director of sales and marketing with tvONE are no outside investors. Everything has been handled and adopted, and all liabilities have been assumed, by the management team that bought out the company.

So you’re not answerable to anybody else – the buck stops with you guys?

Exactly right. It’s a daunting responsibility but a tremendous measure of freedom. We don’t have to get our budgets approved or directed by outside concerns that don’t know the business. We’re using the same information – our revenues versus our expenditures – but we can set their own priorities as opposed to being directed as to how we set them.

Will there be any changes to tvONE’s UK operation?

Operationally there shouldn’t be any changes.

The production facility is going to stay where it is in Margate, our R&D facility will stay where it is in Maidenhead – those things are not going to change. We don’t expect any personnel changes at this point – we’ve had them already – and so now it’s time just to really knuckle down and start getting to work.

We’re trying to change the culture a little bit overall to make it more open and communicative, and to use that to rebuild our morale. You know, this has been a tough couple years with all the changes. We’ll finally get on some stable ground and be able to rebuild our internal culture. We’re going to work very hard to communicate with our staff and our customers about what’s happening with the company.

And we’ve already begun that. Our staff members are very happy with what they’re seeing in our openness, and hopefully that will serve us well.

On the subject of merging with other companies… under Nortek, tvONE and Magenta were merged. Is that process complete?

The process has been complete for some time but Magenta still exists as a separate

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INTERVIEW: ANDY FLISS, TVONE corporate entity. Everything’s under tvONE and everything gets routed through tvONE, customers pay tvONE, the products are developed and maintained by tvONE – so for all intents and purposes other than some tax technicalities we’ve been one company for quite some time. I could have answered that in a word!

And in terms of overlapping product ranges, that all been sorted out?

Things are pretty well clarified. I guess the biggest change was the HDBaseT products that tvONE had been focused on. We’ve really come to rely on the Magenta-branded products for most of those solutions – that’s the only one out there that’s something that was a big overlap. The companies, although they have the same customer base, provided a different set of solutions right from the beginning. Video processing, scaling, videowalls, that was all tvONE, Magenta was large system switching and extension – so they had a pretty clear difference right from the start.

‘Everybody in this management team has been an employee and has lived through all this’

So how are you personally feeling about this – what’s your mood?

I am stoked! I am so excited. It’s a fantastic opportunity in so many ways – some ways that I can talk about now, others where we’re going to drive change and make a whole different impression on the marketplace in a short period of time. tvONE’s got a great name in the marketplace, but we’ve stayed the same while the market has changed.

Now we’re through all that, we can start marching ahead to a new and exciting future that is very necessary in this marketplace; and so that’s what we’re doing, that’s why I’m excited.

Our staff is excited too – they just feel it’s great because the world has opened up to them and they have something fresh. What’s most important is we know them, because we are them. Everybody in this management team has been an employee and has lived through all this. We’ve lived through all the pain together, so it pulls us together in much more of a family, much more of a team environment than in the past.

21

Am I right in thinking that Nortek was a hands-off owner of tvONE for a while, then became more involved later?

Magenta bought tvONE more than a year before we saw any changes in our world. There was an effort early on to merge the sales efforts of Magenta and tvONE, but just in its own right as two separate companies working together. In the middle or the third quarter of 2012 Nortek changed their business model and tried to leverage all of the activities of each company into one great machine; they tried to consolidate resources that were managed independently, like buying power and warehousing and shipping. They started doing that in third quarter of 2012 and I think an implementation started at the beginning of 2013. By Q3 2013 Gefen was set to take over the two companies and make one company out of all three – called the Gefen Pro AV Group – then it was split up again in the second quarter of 2014. Gefen withdrew from it and tvONE and Magenta went to march on from Q2 2014, and this is where we were up until today.

Are there any downsides to being an independent again? For instance, you mentioned things like buying power – does this mean that as a smaller company you won’t have the buying power that you had under the Nortek umbrella?

There’s probably some of that. For example, we were in a single buying contract with some large silicon distributors; we were able to use that heavier buying power to leverage prices down. So I think from a supplier standpoint we might have a little bit of a change, but what’s very important about that for us is that we’re not a high-volume producer – so when your supplier price changes it doesn’t have the huge effect it might have if you were a consumer products company. I don’t think we’ll be too badly impacted.

There was never a positive influence by the Nortek changes in our logistics world so we won’t lose anything there. They never completed the process of merging the computer systems, they never completed the process of warehousing and distribution – they’re probably still working on it! So there won’t be any negative impact of losing that because it never really happened.

Thanks very much, Andy – and I’m looking forward to hearing your news in the coming months.

Thank you – I’m looking forward to delivering it!

www.tvone.com

21/08/2015 16:04

22 INSTALLFUTURES

September 2015

Kevin Kelly

Justin O’Connor

Roland Dreesden

Peter Glaettli

Roland Hemming

Colin Messenger

Ben Pain

Matthew Thompson

David Willrich

Jon Berry

One day to fix your future Our inaugural InstallFutures conference at the end of this month will be packed with insights to help you set your company’s strategic direction

O

ur inaugural InstallFutures conference, which takes place in London on 29 September, is set to take a multifaceted look at how the installed AV industry will evolve over the coming years – and how businesses should develop their strategies accordingly. Some of the newest and most exciting technologies – including drones and the Internet of Things – will be presented, with the presenters quizzed by a panel of experienced integrators and consultants, to determine which sectors and applications offer the greatest potential. Presenters and panellists at these Technology Showcases will include Kevin Kelly, president and COO of US integrator Stampede; Justin O’Connor, product manager at Biamp; and Roland Dreesden, managing director of Reflex AV. With the AV industry offering more different technologies than ever before, competition for AV and IT budgets is intense. In the conference Keynote, The Shape of Things to Come, Colin Messenger, senior analyst at Futuresource

Free tickets!

We’re giving away free InstallFutures tickets to the first FIVE readers to request one. Simply email pbaker@ nbmedia.com with the subject line ‘Free InstallFutures ticket’. Offer closes on 4 September.

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Consulting, will draw from a range of research findings to show how emerging technologies are likely to impact on various install markets.

When an industry is in a period of transition, it can be hard to get a clear picture of where all the different trends are leading. Which existing technologies, platforms and standards have real longevity, and which will be superseded? In Transformational Technologies… or ShortTerm Solutions?, a panel of industry experts – including Studer CTO Peter Glaettli and leading audio consultant Roland Hemming – will debate this thorny question.

We will also present feature panels where end-users and integrators will discuss what the next few years hold for them. What issues will have a bearing on the way they work?

What will their customers be demanding? What implications will that have for the technologies that they supply and the way they supply them?

One of the participants in End-User Panel: The Way Forward will be Ben Pain from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, who comments: “I’m looking forward to learning about what developments in technology are expected to impact on what I do and the way I could do it.

I’m looking to find ways that it can enhance the human and collaborative elements of technology.”

Also on the panel will be Matthew Thompson,

Sponsor

head of AV at the Royal College of Surgeons.

Meanwhile, the panel session Integrator Insight: How Best to Achieve 2020 Vision? will feature David Willrich, founder of DJW, and Jon Berry, sales and installations director at RG Jones Sound Engineering.

It all adds up to a thought-provoking day of strategic insights. Why not add your voice to the debate? Don’t miss InstallFutures on 29 September.

www.installfutures.com

Sponsorship A number of sponsorship opportunities are available: contact Gurpreet Purewal on gpurewal@nbmedia.com or Peter McCarthy on pmccarthy@nbmedia.com

Join us at BAFTA InstallFutures takes place on Tuesday 29 September at BAFTA in London. Registration begins at 9:00 and the conference finishes at 4:45. n To buy tickets, go to www.installfutures.com or email Georgia Blake on gblake@nbmedia.com to book your space now.

24/08/2015 10:15

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07/08/2015 10:50:39 10/08/2015 09:39

24 SHOW PREVIEW: IBC 2015

September 2015

What?

IBC 2015 Where?

Amsterdam RAI When?

Conference 10-14 September Exhibition 11-15 September

Making waves A host of new kit is preparing to make its debut at the annual electronic media and entertainment show, including a number of world firsts

A

s the great and the good of the content creation market prepare to descend on Amsterdam for IBC 2015, we round up what will be of interest to the Installation reader in the halls of the RAI. The world’s first three-stream uncompressed 4K60 media server will take centre stage on the AV Stumpfl stand. Using a single custom engineered RAID 10 system, Wings Engine Raw is capable of delivering a constant data stream of three-channels of true 4K (4096 x 2304 pixels) uncompressed video content at 60fps plus up to 16 text and picture layers, and up to 24 uncompressed audio streams. The server removes the need to convert content into any intermediate codec format. Content can include native picture sequences such as TGA or TIFF and even instant PNG image format processing.

Wings Engine Raw is capable of processing and delivering video content at the full 4:4:4 colour sampling, ensuring high quality and colour accuracy. It hosts the new WingsRX render core engine, which has been developed and optimised for premium picture quality applications.

In another world first, Bel-Digital will be unveiling the first Dante audio monitor at IBC. The BM-A1-64DANTE (pictured above), which provides audible monitoring as well as visual signal strength indication, is designed to provide a simple way of monitoring the audio present in Dante networks. It provides a visual indication of signal strength on all 64 selected Dante channels.

Each channel can also be audibly monitored, or the operator can combine up to 16 channels to provide a unique stereo monitor mix. Housed in a rugged, compact 1U rack chassis, the BM-A1-

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64DANTE features a redundant power supply as standard and offers full audio redundancy over a Gigabit Ethernet network.

Clear-Com will be demonstrating the latest additions to its LQ Series. The new LQ-R devices can provide either four or eight ports per rack unit, while the compact LQ throw-down devices offer two ports of connectivity. The LQ-R devices have the option of either eight four-wire connections, four two-wire connections, or four two-wire and four four-wire connections in a single unit. The two-wire option is both Clear-Com and RTS TW compatible. A maximum of six LQ IP interfaces can be linked together in any two- or four-wire combination.

Dan Dugan Sound Design will demonstrate three new products for management of live mics in unscripted talking situations – the Dugan Model M, Dugan Model N and Dugan Model K. The Dugan Models M and N are automatic microphone mixers, designed to work in conjunction with standard audio mixing consoles. The Model M has MADI I/O, both optical and copper, and the Model N has Dante I/O, primary and secondary. Both models provide 32 channels of Dugan auto-mixing at 96K or 64 channels at 48K, and are PoE capable.

The Dugan Model K is a tactile control panel for all networkable Dugan products. It gives the user physical buttons for controlling a system so operators can have their eyes on the production and their fingers on the keys.

New from IHSE is the Draco ultra DP KVM extender, which uses Lightweight Image Coding technology developed in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute to ensure image quality at the highest video resolutions while maintaining colour accuracy (Deep Color ready). The extender allows the operation of CPUs from a remotely located workstation including DisplayPort monitor,

keyboard and pointing device over a pair of fibre cables. Transfer of fully digital video is supported in 4K resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 and 3840 x 2160 at a real 60Hz refresh rate and full colour depth (24-bit, 4:4:4). The KVM extender also supports audio transmission via the DisplayPort interface. This eliminates the need for additional audio modules, enabling playback of the audio signal on monitors with integrated loudspeakers.

Roland’s OHRCA M-5000C digital mixing console (pictured below) will make its European debut at IBC. Measuring under 74cm in width and weighing just 32kg, the compact M-5000C offers the flexibility and power of the M-5000 but in a smaller footprint – making it the suitable for touring, broadcast, theatre and live performance.

It also uses the same OHRCA platform as the

M-5000 as well as offering a 96kHz sampling rate, a 72-bit summing bus, newly designed discrete analogue circuitry and redundant power supply.

The ENC-400 H.264 fanless video encoder and recorder will be on the Teracue stand. The core of the ENC-400 is the dual-channel H.264 encoding and recording engine. It can deliver multiple streams in multiple bitrates and protocols to multiple destinations. The built-in frame synchroniser ensures stable signal processing.

Both inputs provide loopthrough outputs and can be used for redundancy switching or as sources for two individual encodings.

Trilogy Communications will feature its new VoiceFlow communication unit (VCU) and Gemini II distributed matrix intercom system at IBC 2015. Highly advanced IP capabilities and tight integration with existing intercom systems feature prominently in both products. The Gemini II distributed matrix intercom system doubles the channel capacity of the current product range, making it suitable for integrating legacy analogue and IP communications.

www.ibc.org

19/08/2015 15:47

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26 BUSINESS FEATURE: TELEMEDICINE

September 2015

Saville was appointed to deploy and implement a wide-ranging solution for the Durham and Darlington NHS Trust

Key Points n The telemedicine market is established and growing, and its continued growth seems assured n Healthcare providers do not need convincing on the RoI of telemedicine: that’s what’s driving the market

A positive diagnosis

n Applications range from simple one-to-one video links through multi-site collaboration to comprehensive integrated systems n There are real opportunities for integrators: the challenge is to choose which one

Telemedicine isn’t the generic name for widely watched TV shows about the lives and loves of doctors and nurses: it’s perhaps one of the fastest-growing AV markets. Ian McMurray gives the subject a thorough examination

A

ccording to a United Nations report, the number of people aged 60 and over will more than double between now and 2050 – from 841 million in 2013 to over two billion in 35 years’ time. It expects that, by 2047, there will be a greater number of older people than children for the first time. In healthcare terms, that is the proverbial ticking time-bomb; it’s estimated that caring for the elderly is four times as expensive as it is for those who are younger, and that the elderly consume between 40% and 50% of healthcare resources.

We are all living longer – thanks, paradoxically, to improved healthcare.

At the same time, there is not a government in the world that is not challenged by the escalating cost of healthcare. The amount the US spends on healthcare – over $3 trillion – would, if it were a country, make it the world’s fifth biggest economy. In the UK, the National Health Service’s annual budget is just under £100 billion.

Those are the numbers that are at the heart of, and driving the growth in, telemedicine around the world. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the growth in the number of doctors has not kept pace with the growth in the numbers of those needing them.

The final piece of the puzzle “The idea of remote care has been around for years and, slowly and surely, technology has

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been drawn into the delivery of care,” says Ewan Marshall, co-founder and CEO of SpeakSet, whose product is designed to be “the most accessible video calling system in the world” and which is claimed to save £2,500 per patient per year. “As 90% of healthcare is delivered in a face-to-face interaction between patient and care worker, video consultations are the final piece of the care puzzle. Even in just the last few years, we have seen an explosive growth in the use of telemedicine and I only expect this to increase.

The time for telemedicine is now.”

‘We need to use technology to provide access to healthcare and improve outcomes while eliminating unnecessary costs’ Roger Downey, GlobalMed

According to Marshall, as little as a 1% saving in time spent face-to-face represents a saving to the UK’s NHS of £200 million.

“Telemedicine has been widely used in the UK for a number of years,” agrees Andrew Graley, director of healthcare, government and education, EMEA at Polycom, “especially in more

remote areas where distance and availability is challenging. With the improvement in networks – in terms of both availability and speed – and a decrease in price, this technology can be implemented more cost-effectively than ever before in an increasing number of locations to bring about a higher standard of patient care.”

“We’re seeing an increasing demand for a smaller number of practitioners to provide care to a larger number of patients, without an increase in the budget,” says Richard Middleton, country manager for the UK and Ireland at Lifesize.

“Another major factor behind growth is how accessible equipment to support telemedicine has become. It can be accessed using everyday technology such as on tablets, mobiles and laptops. Additionally, with the increase in video quality over the past four to five years, it is now possible for practitioners to review PACS [picture archiving and communication system] images over a telemedicine link, enabling teams to review patients fully from remote locations.”

“We need to use technology to provide access to healthcare and improve outcomes while eliminating unnecessary costs – although in the US, there are unique obstacles that need to be overcome,” believes Roger Downey, communications manager at US-based GlobalMed, whose company provides integrated solutions that include telemedicine stations, connected medical devices and software.

21/08/2015 12:20

‘Telemedicine’, it seems, covers a diverse range of applications and disciplines – and, confusingly, as Michael Roach, UK business manager for healthcare at Involve Visual Collaboration points out, is also known as telehealth, teleassessment, teleconsultation and telemonitoring – each a subtly different implementation of the principle. According to Roach, his companies – Involve and Immedicare, a unique joint venture with Airedale NHS Foundation trust – have helped reduce A&E attendance and admission rates from care homes by as much as 45% and 37% respectively, using their virtually enabled clinical assessment service.

Highly segmented Roach also talks about telemedicine systems specifically adapted for applications such as stroke, burns, paediatrics and GP-based services that his company provides – and Mark Noble, vice president, strategic marketing at video collaboration company Vidyo, sees a similar picture.

“The telemedicine market is a highly segmented market, almost on a specialty by specialty basis,” he says. “Some segments, like telestroke, telebehavioural health and even teleICU to some extent, are mature and widely adopted across major health systems. Other segments, like ambulatory video visits, are not as mature but have tremendous momentum and a great deal of focus.”

Downey also notes the opportunity for confusion. “You need to make the distinction between telemedicine and telehealth as we use the terms in the US,” he says. “Telemedicine here involves the real-time interactive consults between a patient in one location and a physician in another via secure videoconferencing.

“Telehealth,” he goes on, “has two meanings. It has been frequently used as an umbrella term for a wide range of connected health which would include telemedicine, as well as remote patient monitoring and teleICU. But more recently, it has come to mean direct-to-

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consumer medicine – a telephone conversation with a physician for a fee, providing services for minor, common ailments that can be diagnosed without an examination.”

Industry commentators are unanimous, though: yes, telemedicine can markedly improve efficiency and save substantial costs – but it is universally driven by the need to improve patient care.

“Healthcare organisations today are looking for solutions that improve communications and collaboration across the entire healthcare delivery system for better decision-making, project management, efficiency, costsavings and productivity,” notes Graley. “Therefore, technologies such as unified communications continue to be in high demand within this sector.”

Collaboration is certainly key.

“In every healthcare facility, the multidisciplinary team – MDT rooms are always fully booked,” Roach points out. “Clinicians and specialists from various locations have a significant need to share not just opinions, but also information in the form of patient notes, X-rays, medical images, microscopy and so on. Appropriate telemedicine systems can greatly facilitate that.”

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Because G&D don’t just provide systems, we deliver solutions. KVM solutions that are tailor-made to meet your specific needs.

Our broad portfolio allows us to combine products and systems to cover any application. Our expertise in all areas ensures your G&D solution is right for you in every way – from design to planning, from installation to technical support.

Videoconferencing with doctors?

Inevitably, much of the focus in telemedicine is on communication via video – either collaboration between healthcare professionals, or the facilitation of physician/ patient interaction. For an integrator with existing experience and expertise in the field, it may seem like an interesting market to pursue. But: is it no more than videoconferencing with white coats and stethoscopes?

Unsurprisingly, the answer is ‘yes’ – and ‘no’.

“They’re totally different,” insists Marshall. “Corporate videoconferencing is designed for two businesses or employees to work together. Telemedicine is a very different beast, simply due to the nature of the clinician/patient relationship. Each side has very different needs to the other. One

G&D’s KVM systems have a proven reputation for long lasting usability and reliability. But that’s not all that keeps us ahead.

Versatility also plays its part in keeping us in front. For instance, we offer systems for a wide range of different video standards – digital or analog – with bandwidths up to 4K (incl. Full HD, 2K and Ultra HD).

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21/08/201516:24 12:20 18/08/2015

28 FEATURE: TELEMEDICINE is at home; the other is at work. One is laying bare their deepest problems; the other is being professional. The packages that work will be ones that cater to the specific use case of each individual.”

“Videoconferencing is just one part of the overall solution when it comes to telemedicine,” says Middleton. “The solution needs to combine videoconferencing technology with email and other methods of communication and remote monitoring tools to allow doctors to assess, diagnose, treat and monitor patients remotely, rather than having to see them in person.”

“For a doctor to develop a diagnosis, conversation with the patient goes only so far,” adds Downey. “He or she needs objective information from a physical examination, and to get that you need the medical devices that would normally be used if the patient were present in the doctor’s office. That’s how telemedicine distinguishes itself from videoconferencing.”

Their points are amplified by Vidyo’s Noble.

“The telemedicine space is very broad and video communications is a small, albeit important, component,” he explains. “One goal of telemedicine practitioners is to reach the point where the ‘tele’ nomenclature is no longer necessary. From their perspective, they are practicing medicine. From a solution provider’s perspective, our role as an industry is to ensure that care providers have the tools they need to be as effective at a distance as they would be in person, and do so with a workflow that mirrors the in-person workflow as closely as possible so that the care provider doesn’t have to practise differently because of the delivery mechanism.

As a result, we’ve seen the development of a robust ecosystem of products and technologies that can be integrated together, either physically or via APIs, to deliver specific workflows.”

“For manufacturers, it is essential to provide a platform that easily integrates with the ecosystem of healthcare solutions,” he goes on. “For integrators, it is necessary to focus on the workflow and craft solutions that closely mirror the in-person workflow. Combining these two practices will help ensure customers have successful deployments and grow their appetite for enabling more workflows via telemedicine.”

GlobalMed’s Transportable Exam Station includes a control panel to plug in USB medical devices, while a headset can be plugged in to listen to stethoscope audio

Workflow, integration Noble mentions ‘workflow’ and ‘integrated’ – and those are words that crop up regularly in any discussion of telemedicine.

“Workflow is very important to physicians,” confirms Downey. “If it takes too long to set up or doesn’t work all the time, or it takes effort to learn how to use it, the equipment will gather dust in a closet. So ease of use is critical.”

“GlobalMed learned this early on and has continually tried to incorporate medical peripherals to enhance workflow, not impede it,” he says. “We recently launched a telemedicine platform called eNcounter which is intuitive. It begins with a single sign-on by the provider with the patient. eNcounter guides a provider through

Case Study

Vidyo delivers long-distance healthcare Vidyo and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) partnered to add Vidyo’s visual communications and collaboration capabilities to ANTHC’s existing state-wide telehealth network – AFHCAN – and its tConsult softwarebased system. Alaska is home to 700,000 people who are spread out over 660,000 square miles, and thousands of Alaska health care practitioners have the ability to conduct real-time, high-definition video consultations and examinations in more than 200 locations.

Since being deployed state-wide more than a decade ago, tConsult has greatly improved health care delivery in remote regions of Alaska. It has also expanded well beyond its initial concept of improving primary care workflows like specialty clinic referral, post-discharge continuity of care and billing. Now Vidyo capabilities are a core part of the system, with its APIs enabling simple integration and its interoperability allowing it to perform seamlessly over all devices: PCs, Macs, laptops, tablets, smartphones and also with older legacy equipment.

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September 2015

a patient session. Medical devices like an exam camera, digital stethoscope, ECG, ultrasound, vital signs monitor and so on work within the web-based software program and are available at any time by clicking on an icon.”

That apparent level of complexity may be seen as a deterrent, dissuading prospective integrators from even considering entry into the telemedicine market – although, as Noble pointed out, the important thing may not be to provide the complete system, but to offer an underlying platform that enables simple integration with the wider infrastructure.

And perhaps integrators shouldn’t be overly worried.

“We are at the stage of growth where integrators can start to make real differences to the market,” believes SpeakSet’s Marshall.

“There are big gains to be made by offering implementation services on both the patient and the clinician side. You could even bring in traditional call centre approaches to delivering care remotely. Creating packages of a few complementary products for a very specific use case can bring real value to the clinician side of the equation. Ultimately, doctors and nurses do not want to spend their time managing a videoconferencing solution, so offering services around them will always be a winner.”

“Integrators should consider how collaborative technology can play a part in the workflow of the healthcare professional,” asserts Polycom’s Graley. “If teams need to meet together, but are across different hospital campuses, look for room systems that have time-saving and easy-to-use features, such as facial recognition technology

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30 FEATURE: TELEMEDICINE and integrated audio to cancel out background noise outside of the meeting area. Touchscreen controls also help the meeting hosts to quickly set up calls, switch modalities and share information.”

For those in the UK, Involve’s Roach – who has amassed several years of experience in healthcare and technology – has some advice.

Case Study

Telemedicine now ‘natural’ at hospital With over 250,000 patients scattered across rural regions of the UK, from the north of Wales to the Isle of Man, the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England was a natural fit for telemedicine, and it turned to Polycom and the company’s HDX series.

Often, a doctor will need to consult with multiple members of a family at the same time – but they are in different locations. Polycom’s solution enables that. The system also allows doctors to enlist the services of a wide range of specialists via teleconference, without losing valuable time to scheduling and distance.

All medical personnel are trained on the technology and experts now reflexively reach out to associates when a diagnosis presents a challenge: colleague collaboration is, say the doctors, just as important as performing surgeries.

At Alder Hey, telemedicine is now integrated in the everyday clinical practice and connecting with patients and colleagues over video is just as natural as reaching for a stethoscope.

Difficult industry “Knowledge of the industry is vital,” he says. “You need to understand the NHS, and how it works.

Healthcare is a very difficult industry to be in, especially when it comes to technology. You need to understand how specialist devices – medical monitors and so on – interface with the system, even if you don’t plan to do that. You need a solid infrastructure behind you and the support services that are appropriate.

“Yes,” he warns, “you can indeed get away with just selling tin – but the implications for your margin and the value you can provide are significant.”

But while, in the UK, dealing with an organisation of the size and complexity of the NHS may be a deterrent to some, Marshall has some words of encouragement.

“Each region does things differently and

September 2015

tries out different things,” he explains. “There is a definite push towards working with smaller companies that can bring better value. The days of the NHS famously buying and wasting £12 billion on connecting for health are hopefully behind us.”

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The UK’s Saville Audio Visual is an example of an integrator that has seen success in the market. “We are able to deliver a round the clock solution for face-to-face diagnosis and monitoring of stroke patients,” notes David Willie,

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the company’s head of communication and collaboration technologies. “Consultants at home can dial in over video and provide a potentially life-saving service. We’ve also built on our almost 20 years of videoconferencing experience and our partnerships with Polycom, Cisco, Avaya and Lifesize to deliver collaboration installations in NHS trusts across the UK.” “There is,” says Marshall, “a desperation to make healthcare higher quality and more efficient. Health services all over the globe are being stretched due to fast-rising costs and reduced revenue. There is a definite shift towards being more innovative. Even in the last few years, the rise in healthcare embracing new technology has been staggering. Attitudes are shifting and nurses and doctors are being given greater powers to innovate and bring in telemedicine products that they want to use.”

That the telemedicine market represents a substantial – and growing – opportunity in almost every country, given that all are facing similar challenges of improving care while controlling costs, seems unquestionable. Those challenges are increasingly being met by AV technology and infrastructure. The industry is largely agreed that, other than the legislative issues that need to be overcome in the USA, almost nothing can slow its

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progress. An increasingly elderly population will only fuel its growth.

Diverse and challenging The big question is: what kind of opportunity? For the outsider, it is a confusingly diverse market – and a challenging one to understand. For those already in the healthcare market, companies like SpeakSet – which is actively looking to expand its third-party network – represent an opportunity for range extension. GlobalMed is looking to broaden its international footprint, and says it is highly receptive to approaches from integrators.

The likes of Involve have shown that healthcare organisations will always be receptive to value.

‘Classical’ collaboration companies such as Lifesize, Polycom and Vidyo already have demonstrable success in the healthcare market.

“Polycom has been working with healthcare organisations for over 20 years,” says Graley. “This sector of business has constantly embraced technology to help deliver its objectives – patient care. The use of audiovisual solutions will continue to grow for acute care use in hospitals, as well as for hospital management, administration, medical education and patient services. We will see an even bigger increase in the use of collaborative solutions for providing

31

services in primary and secondary care – those delivered in the community, sometimes directly to the patient’s home.”

For many integrators, providing collaboration systems to hospitals, clinics and care homes will be a relatively straightforward move. More sophisticated systems, however, that map clinical workflows and that perhaps see the integration of specialist equipment, will doubtless be more challenging – but also, potentially, more rewarding.

It is very apparent, though, that what healthcare providers value as much as innovation and RoI – whatever the AV solution – are suppliers who can understand their needs, provide the training and support to ensure straightforward installation, deployment and operation and “make it easy”, and who can be relied upon. From that point of view, at least, telemedicine isn’t so very different after all.

www.globalmed.com www.involve.vc www.lifesize.com www.polycom.com www.saville-av.com www.speakset.com www.vidyo.com

23/04/15 10:44

21/08/2015 12:20

32 BUSINESS FEATURE: AUDIO OVER IP

September 2015

Key Points

How can we drive the uptake of networking?

n Survey respondents indicated that less than 50% of their projects during the last 12 months used audio networking n Among vendors, a myriad of different technologies and enduring questions about interoperability at a practical project level are widely thought to be holding back adoption n Corporate, transportation and HoW applications are registering encouraging take-up of networked audio

A recent survey co-organised by Installation suggests that audio networking is still only finding its way into a minority of installations. David Davies asks leading vendors about the factors they think are currently holding back networking in the built environment – and what steps can be taken to increase the rate of adoption

T

he survey of leading sound engineers and hire companies contained in the annual PSNLive supplement produced by sister magazine PSNEurope has consistently revealed what might most kindly be described as a fluctuating outlook on the topic of audio networking. While this year’s results did witness a surge in the number of respondents expecting it to impact significantly on their workflows, previous years have revealed sharply contrasting views about specific applications and technologies.

But if this survey only offered a ‘surface’ overview, a new investigation initiated by Installation in partnership with Dante media networking specialist Audinate and Roland

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Hemming’s RH Consulting offers a far more in-depth investigation. A full report on the results can be found in the August 2015 issue of Installation and online at http://bit.ly/1K7c23N, but several results stand out and bear repeating: for example, among those surveyed less than 50% of their projects during the last 12 months used audio networking. Meanwhile, client requests – rather than the inherent short- and long-term benefits – were determined to be the greatest single factor that would prompt those not using audio networking to make the switch.

That’s not to say the survey doesn’t contain many positive responses – a project sector question reveals an encouraging spread of projects ranging from education to theatre to

houses of worship – and there is plenty of good news for Audinate, whose Dante technology’s market profile looks evermore secure with each passing month. But important concerns about the rate of adoption do remain, so Installation decided to speak to vendors about the reasons they feel networking is currently falling short of expectations – and whether this is something that can be resolved anytime soon.

Factors holding back adoption Although emphases among manufacturers’ responses are the subject of variation, many concur that there are several primary factors currently providing a barrier to wider implementation of audio networking – chiefly

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34 FEATURE: AUDIO OVER IP perceived complexity and insufficient background knowledge and awareness.

“IP networks have been capable of carrying high-quality, low latency audio for many years, but it seems that fear caused by a lack of understanding has held people back,” says Pieter Schillebeeckx, product director at TSL Products.

“The fear of precious audio packets sharing the same network as internet traffic – a highly unlikely scenario in the real world – has slowed widespread adaptation. Confidence levels, however, have started to rise as evermore audioover-IP-based products are becoming available.”

Frank Frederiksen, managing director of Barix, also highlights the fear of the unknown alongside the cost of bringing networking to older installations. “If an older analogue system is already installed, it is likely too expensive to redo all wiring for IP if the system features do not absolutely require an IP system,” he says. “[In addition], IP systems are still viewed to some degree as a bit exotic and complex by many, which is likely scaring some away.”

‘IP networks have been capable of carrying high-quality, lowlatency audio for many years, but it seems that fear caused by a lack of understanding has held people back’ Pieter Schillebeeckx, TSL Products

Like many others interviewed for this piece, Trevor Donarski – product line manager, software and tools for Bose Professional – believes things are slowly moving in the direction of networked audio, but identifies two primary schools of thought in the industry at this time. “There are those who have done jobs with networked audio and are comfortable [with it] and know that it’s simple, flexible and makes the job easier to upgrade – and then there are those waiting on the sidelines who think it’s too complicated or, even worse, not ready for prime-time due to incompatible standards.”

For Donarski and many others, availability of training and the passage of time are likely to be fundamental factors in affecting widespread change. As to quite how much time will be needed… well, that old adage about pieces of string does spring inescapably to mind.

Reasons to implement networking As mentioned in the introduction, client requests constitute the factor most likely to encourage

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those not using audio networking to undertake the transition (accounting for 21% of responses), followed by better education about the benefits (17%), networking being made easier/quicker (16%), networking becoming cheaper (15%), and a better choice of products (13%).

In general, manufacturer responses concur with the need to provide accessible, easyto-implement networked solutions whose advantages over traditional point-to-point connectivity can be explained simply and swiftly.

“It is important to make solutions that are easy to understand and install, thereby removing the mystery of IP,” says Frederiksen. “Secondly, the solutions must be affordable as they will always be compared with an analogue system.

For the industry in general, we must be better in educating customers about the advantages IP brings in terms of functionality, maintenance and future enhancement options. It is clearly the future, but if [industry players] are not good enough to communicate the benefits of the solutions they will not be adopted.”

Standardisation between different technologies – thereby guaranteeing increased interoperability – is widely regarded as a big piece of the puzzle in terms of making networking easier and quicker. The impact of the Audio/Video Bridging (AVB) and latterly Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) standards projects requires no elaboration at this point, while several vendors allude enthusiastically to AES67, which effectively provides an interoperability meeting point between existing networking solutions.

“The key to widespread adoption of any new technology is standardisation,” maintains Schillebeeckx. “In the case of AES67, ever since its publication [in September 2013] we have seen an increased level of activity by a large number of manufacturers.”

For James Gordon, CEO of audio console group AudioTonix and MD of DiGiCo, “one of the challenges for customers looking at the AoIP market is the number of possible solutions with no clear winner. Hopefully this will reduce and the arrival of AES67 as an approved standard should help.”

Changing the conversation Meanwhile, there is a general feeling that less generic conversation about networking per se would be useful to the consumer and enduser. Instead, there might be greater value to be extracted from more talk about specific applications and case studies where networking has been shown to have a positive impact.

“Keep in mind that any installation that does not meet the needs of the end user efficiently or effectively is what should be avoided,” says Justin O’Connor, product manager, audio

September 2015

products for Biamp Systems. “Not keeping this as the main objective, and allowing only budget constraints to determine which of the end users’ needs will be addressed, will result in a poor fixed installation – regardless of whether it is networked or not.”

‘IP systems are still viewed to some degree as a bit exotic and complex by many, which is likely scaring some away’ Frank Frederiksen, Barix

“Our goal isn’t necessarily to accelerate networking usage for the sake of promoting audio networking, but to help bring high-quality products and techniques that truly help our customers and their businesses,” says Donarski.

Having said that, “from what we have seen, networked audio can save time and bring flexibility and futureproofing to even basic installations”.

“I don’t think we view networking as a cause to advance, but instead as another example of how we give our business partners the tools and flexibility to develop solutions that bring value to their customers,” says Erik Tarkiainen, vice president of global marketing, at Harman Professional.

Nonetheless, the domino effect will surely exert itself as more compliant devices emerge onto the market. “Adoption will be driven by the multiplicative factors of the network effect,” continues Tarkiainen. “The more devices that support networking, the more value to the network, which leads to more adoption, which leads to cost efficiencies that come with scale.”

Vinnie Macri, product marketing manager for Clear-Com, observes: “As the progression of products that are easy to use over an IT network continues from manufacturers, and those manufacturers who embrace standardised audio networking protocols continue and that control interoperability between devices happens, the possibility for wider acceptance may come.

The decision will always be based on application and workflow.”

Outlook for convergence It stands to reason that increased convergence among networking technologies – such as that heralded by AES67 – will make integrators and end users feel more confident about investing. Commercial realities, however, mean that this is far from straightforward, so for the

21/08/2015 16:19

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36 FEATURE: AUDIO OVER IP foreseeable future manufacturers will be obliged to accommodate as many different networking techniques as is practically possible.

“We support multiple networking protocols because each has their strengths in certain situations,” says Tarkiainen. “If the market converges on one or two, that’s fine with us, but we also have the R&D resources to fully support multiple protocols, which to this point has been what our customers have asked of us.”

Specific application-oriented requirements relating to factors including latency and synchronisation are also regarded as a further challenge to convergence. Additionally, says Frederiksen, standardisation “normally means increased overheads and complexity on top of the basic protocol (TCP/IP); on top of that it often also means increased cost in terms of licences or even proprietary components. Many applications do not need the added benefit that comes with these standards, and therefore will not carry the cost of implementing them either.

On the other hand the most basic protocol cannot satisfy all the requirements in any applications and all markets either.”

Despite these issues and the relative youth of the AoIP market, “consolidation can be expected, and thereby also a reduced number of

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network technologies. However, reaching only a couple is not within close reach.”

Growth applications As O’Connor very reasonably observes: “There are certain applications where networked solutions provide tremendous technical and cost benefits, as well as applications in which networked audio is more of a ‘nice to have’.”

Nonetheless, he goes on to cite the corporate environment, transportation, railway facilities and healthcare centres as among those applications in which networked architecture is “best served” – in short, those where multiple buildings may be involved and there is a need to ensure superlative communications and connectivity between them. Thinking along similar lines, Donarksi suggests that “houses of worship are starting to realise the power of networked audio for distribution to multiple rooms, sites and cameras”.

On behalf of Harman, Tarkiainen points to “solid growth in sales of networked systems and networkable technologies in the mid-tier and retail sectors, and these systems are typically deployed in education, corporate, government and retail/hospitality. Each sector has different cost/benefit/use-case expectations from

September 2015

networked audio systems, and for each we try to provide a tailored solution.”

Such case studies that can cogently and coherently explain the benefits of networked audio will undoubtedly help more integrators and consultants to join the fray. But the fact that there is still a shortfall in adoption should give cause for concern after nearly a decade of increasingly fevered debate. Alongside talking up these new technologies, it may be that there are ample grounds for a concerted focus on a rather more old-school technique – namely that of ‘outreach’ in the form of seminars, roadshows and workshops at leading trade shows such as ISE. Because without this kind of sustained connection between vendors and customers, audio networking will never live up its full potential.

www.audinate.com www.audiotonix.com www.barix.com www.biamp.com www.bose.com www.clearcom.com www.harmanpro.com www.rhconsulting.eu www.tslproducts.com

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38 TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: SMART HOMES There is an opportunity for professional integrators in larger houses that require a more extensive integration of lighting, security and control systems

September 2015

Key Points n Not just the domain of small start-ups, larger companies like Panasonic and Apple are entering the personalised control device market n An abundance of separate devices leads to multi-control or multi-app scenarios making it complicated to perform simple tasks n Many devices are unable to communicate with more established control systems, making them unusable in larger installations n With careful selection, installers can add new and unique features to their installations and benefit from expanded contracts with homeowners

The smart choice Does the abundance of new consumer-level smart home devices spell a threat to the professional custom install market or an opportunity, asks Steve Montgomery?

T

here has recently been an enormous increase in the launch of home and personal monitoring and control devices. Connected through home WiFi hubs or mobile networks to personal smart devices, they can provide home control and security as well as personal health and activity monitoring of individuals, and track family members and possessions.

Many of these devices have been developed by small start-up companies, some funded by crowdfunding schemes, and have steadily grown in stature. With the rise in the Internet of Things bringing intelligence and networking to even the humblest home appliance, we are likely to experience more of these novel applications in the future.

The market has now caught the attention of large manufacturers and internet specialists.

Google acquired Nest in 2014, Apple introduced the Healthkit and Homekit developer platforms earlier this year to enable engineers to create apps and devices. Panasonic has recently launched a complete home networking system aimed at giving consumers the ability to remotely check their home and property.

With so many simple-to-use, DIY devices

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available, will the professional custom installation market be adversely affected as homeowners add control and security to their smartphone apps themselves?

Tim Greenbank, of home installation company Cornflake, thinks not: “We always welcome well thought-out new devices and technologies to

‘it’s not until [customers] have discovered for themselves the limitations of low- or mid-level systems that they understand why high-end systems exist’ David Webster, RGB Comms

the marketplace. This is a very exciting time for smart home technologies when finally these sorts of solutions are becoming viable for the average user and, beyond that, they are actually proving useful. The majority of devices are designed with the average home in mind.

What this means for devices such as Nest is that they are designed for a small or second home, and cover only three or four rooms. The logic they employ therefore is based around this, as opposed to much larger homes in which integrators are active. It’s quite common for us to have 10 IP cameras around a property whereas Canary and Piper are all-in-one solutions measuring all manner of metrics such as temperature, humidity and intrusion but only for one particular room.

“Also consumer-level devices can create momentum that can push more established players to up their game, especially in the integration realm. Security has always been paramount for our clients so smarter, more intuitive solutions from the consumer end of the market can be a refreshing addition to tried and tested methods. So yes, we always consider these elements to be opportunities rather than threats. Sometimes we can take an idea or strategy and use our existing technology to achieve the same result.”

David Webster, chief technology officer at RGB Communications, agrees: “Without doubt this is an opportunity. Either custom installation integrators will benefit from

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40 FEATURE: SMART HOMES

September 2015

Panasonic has recently launched a complete home networking system allowing users to remotely check their home and property

being able to offer lower-cost solutions to a much larger customer base or they will gain more business at the high end as customers who have gained a taste of what is possible with consumer-grade installations migrate upwards. As with so many things, customers only truly appreciate the value of a solution if they have experienced the problem, so it’s not until they have discovered for themselves the limitations of low- or mid-level systems that they understand why high-end systems exist and what they can do for them.”

However there are not always opportunities to upgrade basic systems. He notes: “Customers who have made an investment in consumer products from brands they have selected, like Nest, are not likely to want to discard them and start over again. If manufacturers can provide usable open APIs for their products then technically it is possible to build onto that base. However there are many proprietary systems that will never be suitable for larger system integration and regrettably customers will are not likely to be aware of this before they buy into them.”

Brand recognition Customers receive a constant stream of information from gadget websites, TV programmes and magazines and often decide what to ask for by brand name. Consequently they are not always open to switching to another, unfamiliar device. Well-known brands like Nest and Sonos, for example, are frequently specified by architects, interior designers and builders. “These can be considered to be DIY products and it is hard

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for an installer to make money on them,” thinks Webster. “Yet rather than turn away a determined customer, there is an opportunity to add value by professional installation and extended integration. This do-it-for-me approach is gaining more awareness with customers, who perhaps have discovered that manufacturers are increasingly offering installation services through retailers.”

‘The new generation of discrete home devices and subsystems are interesting and have considerable appeal to the lower end of the market’ Klaas Arnout, Basalte

Some devices have open APIs for third parties to interface with, but often suffer from limitations that make them unsuitable for the professional market. Conversely, manufacturers such as Crestron and Control 4 rapidly identify and leverage products that are suitable for the home integration market, making them available to their architecture and offering installation opportunities for them.

Crestron’s Integrated Partner programme “brings you the best of the best by enabling the world’s leading products to run seamlessly in a Crestron system”, says Stijn Ooms, director of technology for Crestron EMEA. “It allows integrators to access an enormous

range of specialised devices that we do not manufacture ourselves and incorporate them into the Crestron environment. We write drivers and macros from the source APIs and integrators have free access to them, allowing them to create systems that respond through triggers to events detected by these peripheral devices.”

“The new generation of discrete home devices and subsystems are interesting and have considerable appeal to the lower end of the market,” says Klaas Arnout, managing director of Basalte.

“In smaller houses with a limited array of possibilities, the home owner can install devices himself, without specifically needing a qualified system integrator. Larger houses require a more extensive integration of lighting, security and control systems. Here, we believe that a professional integrator is necessary to ensure a qualitative system that is simple to control without an abundance of different apps or controls. Therefore, we develop solutions that help the installer to do this with our multifunction switches and motion detectors for KNX-based home automation.”

The downside of using discrete devices is that homeowners end up with a different control or app for each function – which makes it complicated to carry out even the simplest of tasks, like switching on lights or a home entertainment system. Integrating those exciting products onto a common control bus means that a simple interface can be offered to the user.

This gives the best of both worlds: decentralised control using standalone discrete devices within a centralised control environment that can be extended to incorporate whole-house management. It offers great opportunities for installers to extend the original homeowner’s desire to control their environment and allows them to deliver economical solutions that meet their home automation expectations and aspirations.

Far from posing a threat, these new devices offer professional installers opportunities to deliver value-added services beyond the capabilities of many DIY users. With careful selection of devices that can be integrated into larger home management systems, they can create attractive and personalised home automation systems to fit the lifestyle and expectations of the owner, leading inevitably to future work and expanded opportunities.

www.basalte.be www.cornflake.co.uk www.crestron.com www.panasonic.com www.rgbcomms.co.uk

19/08/2015 16:00

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42 SOLUTIONS: OMAN AND QATAR PAVILIONS, EXPO 2015, MILAN ITALY

September 2015

An interactive food table uses a Sanyo DX10t projector with short-throw lens in the Qatar Pavilion

OF THE MONTH

Food for thought As Expo 2015 provokes debate about producing healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone, Mike Clark steps inside two of the striking pavilions to see how technology is helping to portray their stories

E

xpo 2015, the current universal exhibition running in Milan from 1 May to 31 October 2015, hosts over 140 participating countries; more than 20 million visitors are expected to the 1.1 million square metre exhibition area.

UK company LM Productions was commissioned by City Neon Middle East to provide all the exhibition AV for numerous spectacular multimedia scenes in two of the national Pavilions: Oman and Qatar.

The Qatar pavilion is designed as an interactive journey, at the end of which visitors arrive in a circular theatre forming the central architectural feature of the pavilion and taking its name ‘Al Jefeer’ from the fact that it is shaped like a Jefeer (a traditional Qatari basket).

The theatre consists of a downward spiralling ramp spanning three storeys which allows for continuous visitor flow around the theatre’s centrepiece: an 11m high 3D sculptural form reminiscent of Qatar’s date palms. As visitors walk down the ramp, they are treated to a spectacular show of video, light and sound.

LM Productions maximised the height of the screen and utilised a 3D shape to create an immersive experience. The width of the ramp allows for multiple visitors to either stop and watch or continue walking past, ensuring a smooth flow and minimising the need for queuing outside.

Video and music content is courtesy of Paradigm & Partners, Al Rayyan TV and Qatar’s

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Ministries of Economy and Commerce and of Culture, Arts & Heritage, with animation and editing by LM Productions in collaboration with Westend Studios.

The structure’s complex shape necessitated careful content creation and treatment to ensure the animation and story were visible from all sides. Several techniques were used to achieve this, including multiple versions placed around the structure, and rotation of elements around the trunk. This also enabled video content projected on the entire height of the trunk to crossfade into entirely new environments.

Several 3D spatial ‘tricks’ were used to create the 3D video mapping techniques, such as pushing into the column (creating windows), using negative hollow space (projecting black and showing objects inside the trunk), shrinking panels (shrinking leaves at the top of the canopy), sliding imagery down the spiral panels, and fragmenting and cascading the surface with ‘gravity’ effects.

The high-impact results are obtained with 12 Canon XEED WUX6000 6,000-lumen projectors with RS-IL03WF lenses. The main show features a one-day timeline, with time-lapse effects taking visitors from dawn over the desert, through busy daytime activities on to the sunset of the finale.

Due to the theatre’s unusual descending spiral visitor route, the sound design also involved considerable forethought before and at the drawing board stage, as LMP production

Installed Video n Canon XEED WUX6000 projectors n Optoma DH1008, X306ST, EH7700, DX345, W316ST projectors n Sanyo DXT10 projectors n IIyama 42in and 23in displays n CDS Digital Advertising Displays n U-Touch touchscreens n IIyama T2735MSC-B1 touchscreens n Samsung OM46D-W 46in LED displays n LG 47LV35A 47in videowall displays n Dell monitors n Optoma Chameleon GB200 processor n VBox DS Advanced signage player n Ventuz touch programming

Audio n Outline Eidos 6.5 speakers n HK Audio subwoofers n Delta Infinity solid-state media servers n M-Audio M-Track Eight soundcard n Symetrix Jupiter 4 DSP n Powersoft Ottocanali 4K4 amplifier

Lighting & Lasers n Martin MH2, MH3 and MH5 fixtures n Jands Vista S1 control surface n RTI RGB lasers n Kvant Clubmax 3000 laser n Pangolin QM2000 control systems

21/08/2015 12:21

SOLUTIONS: OMAN AND QATAR PAVILIONS, EXPO 2015, MILAN 43 About the installer n Founded in 1986, Eastbourne-based LM Productions develops innovative interactive solutions for exhibitions and corporate and VIP events n The firm also specialises in large-scale and full-dome projection: its Stratosphere allows video projection to be seen internally and externally simultaneously n The company has produced events ranging from an intimate laser show to spectacular multimedia installations in Europe, North America, the Middle East and the Far East manager Tim Kingsmill explains: “The theatre installation was very challenging, since the continuous spiral ramp way acts as a ‘whispering gallery’ and voices two floors below sound as if they are coming from behind you.”

A number of options were considered, from line arrays to steerable loudspeakers, but, due to the room’s acoustics and rigging limitations, it was decided to go with a relatively large number of compact loudspeakers which could be rigged on the four main supporting columns. A total of 24 super-compact Eidos 6.5 speaker enclosures

by Italian manufacturer Outline were installed and a quartet of self-powered HK Audio Elias 15in subwoofers ensured plenty of beef at the bottom end.

“This solution meant that we had the ability to focus the sound near to the audience as they walked down the theatre’s ramp. Since we created the show’s custom visual and audio content, we were able to have a soundtrack with multiple layers, and carried out the final mix-down and equalisation in the actual theatre environment.”

The sound source, run from the theatre’s Delta Infinity solid-state media servers using an M-Audio M-Track Eight soundcard, is processed via a Symetrix Jupiter 4 DSP unit and power is courtesy of a Powersoft Ottocanali 4K4 eightchannel amplifier.

The theatre’s dynamic visual impact is further enhanced by two 7W RTI RGB lasers, a Kvant Clubmax 3000 laser with three Pangolin QM2000 laser control systems, plus a lighting rig comprising eight Martin MH2 Compact RGBW LED moving head wash lights, four Martin MH3 long-throw narrow beam moving head units and two Martin MH5 compact profile moving head fixtures, controlled by a Jands Vista S1.

The impressive array of video equipment deployed along the Qatar Pavilion’s visitor route includes six Samsung 46in OM46D-W screens built into a custom totem housing, 24 LG 47LV35A screens forming an 8 x 3 videowall and two Optoma W316ST projectors animating the two virtual Hostesses who greet visitors on their arrival. Also featured is a large interactive food table using a Sanyo DXT10 projector with

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In the Oman Pavilion a virtual kitchen merges seamlessly into a real kitchen

short-throw lens, six Iiyama T2735MSC-B1 touchscreens and four U-touch 60in touchscreens, along with two Dell 23in monitors with a custom-built RFID system. In addition, a holographic system enables visitors to flick through a virtual book – thanks to projection via a full HD Optoma DH1008 – and three custom video globes using Optoma X306ST shortthrow projectors explain how the country’s food imports and food security are managed.

Oman Pavilion Water is an extremely precious commodity in both countries and also plays a key role at the Expo – in both virtual and conventional liquid form. In fact it is in one of the most attentiongrabbing scenes in the Oman Pavilion, a virtual reality underwater landscape in the Arabian Sea portraying the marine biodiversity of the waters off the Oman coast. Visitors walk into the scenes and interact with the marine life as sea creatures swim all around them (the visitors see themselves on the area’s huge semi-circular screen). Projected by Optoma ProScene EH7700 projectors, the marine environment is blended by Optoma’s Chameleon GB200 processor.

As well as presenting an oasis of innovation, invention, energy, industry and green technologies, the Oman Pavilion features an aqueduct running alongside the sloping entrance to the pavilion and a spectacular ‘musical water fountain’. This runs regular evening shows created by 36 foam jets and 24 single water jets and controlled by a custombuilt control and distribution system, installed

by LMP technicians. Both were supplied by Indian specialists PremierWorld.

The Oman Pavilion’s video equipment includes a 3m-wide P6 LED screen, 60in U-Touch screen, VBox DS Advanced, Ventuz touch programming, seven 42in IIyama screens and 15 23in models, and six 19in CDS Digital Advertising Displays.

A further two Optoma EH7700 projectors, two

Optoma DX345 and five Sanyo DXT10 projectors with short-throw lenses are used for a number of exhibits.

Highly effective use is made of the four Optoma units, with an installation showing daily life in an Omani kitchen, in which the front part is a real kitchen and the back part high-quality video projections of a lady at work (complete with sound effects) that merges into a real kitchen in a seamless continuation of the set.

This gives the illusion of an Omani lady preparing food for the family. Uncanny results are obtained with the DX345 units, which project just the (talking) faces of a beekeeper and a fisherman on to two mannequins, which cause many a double-take by visitors.

Stephen Harvey, managing director of LM Productions, says: “The projections provide movement and real interest in the pavilions to capture the attention and imagination of visitors.”

http://cpn.canon-europe.com www.crystal-display.com www.dell.com www.hkaudio.com www.iiyama.com www.7thsensedesign.com www.jands.com www.kvantlasers.sk www.lg.com www.lm-productions.com www.martin.com www.m-audio.com www.optoma.com www.outlinearray.com www.pangolin.com www.powersoft-audio.com www.premierworld.com www.raytechnologies.com http://displaysolutions.samsung.com www.panasonic.net/sanyo www.symetrix.co www.u-touch.co.uk www.ventuz.com www.xi-machines.com

21/08/2015 12:21

44 SOLUTIONS: KING’S & JESUS COLLEGES, CAMBRIDGE

September 2015

UNITED KINGDOM

At King’s, K-array slim array speakers were required to be situated in the same positions as the units they replaced

Heritage halls Installed Audio

n K-Array Python KP102, KK52 and Vyper KV50 line array elements n K-Array KMT18P passive subs n K-Array KA84 and KA24 amplifiers n Sennheiser ew335 G3 handheld wireless mic systems n Sennheiser ew322 G3 and ew312 G3 lavalier wireless mic systems n Xilica A1616 DSP unit n Xilica Touch 7SM wall-mounted touchscreen

Even the oldest venues sometimes need to adapt to modern requirements. Here’s how venues at two Cambridge colleges upgraded their audio facilities to cope with a wide range of events. Tom Bradbury reports

T

wo colleges at Cambridge University – King’s College and Jesus College – have invested in new audio systems to expand the capability of two of their most historic buildings. The Great Hall at King’s and the Dining Hall at Jesus have interiors with reverberant acoustics conducive to choirs, not suited to conferences and other events.

This led the respective authorities to upgrade the audio systems, turning to Audiologic and About Sound.

The Great Hall is a Gothic-style building, designed by William Wilkins in the 1820s, seating over 300 people for formal banquets and facilities for conferencing, fine dining and weddings. The Dining Hall dates back even longer, having been at the centre of Jesus College life since its establishment in 1496, and has facilities for a wide variety of events.

Integrator About Sound, led by managing director Matt Dilley, was called in by both colleges to design and install audio systems for the venues. The brief was to put in place systems that could flexibly cater for the different requirements of a variety of events. To provide clearly intelligible speech throughout the venues for presentations and conferences was paramount and there was a further requirement for music playback at receptions, parties or ceremonies.

A key element in both projects was for the equipment to be as invisible as possible and

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that nothing could be done to alter the fabric of the heritage sites. Finally, it was essential that the system was as easy to operate as possible.

Once the college authorities had agreed to the proposals submitted, About Sound turned to Audiologic not only to supply the products they had identified as best fitting the jobs but also to consult in respect of the DSP. At King’s, the existing system occupied three speaker locations (in corners) and the hall’s authorities were insistent that these positions should not be changed. This was not an insurmountable problem in itself but meant that the ‘top table’ area of the hall had to be considered as something of a separate entity.

K-array slim array speakers were chosen as they combine sleek aesthetic design with the capacity to solve critical acoustic demands.

For the main section of the hall, two K-array Python KP102 speakers were placed one above the other to make a discreet 2m column, in each of the three designated locations. Easily coping with the 28m throw, the KP102s brought clear intelligible speech where previously there had been complaint and dissatisfaction. Two smaller KK52 line array speakers were attached to the rear of the main array to serve the top table area (meaning only one installation point on each side) and four ultra-flat Vyper KV50 speakers were placed almost invisibly into the two balcony areas of the hall, which offer additional dining area for the largest events. Two ultra-light

KMT18P passive subs were supplied for use at events that required music playback; these can be added and removed easily. K-array Class D amplifiers (KA84 and KA24) power the system.

The huge extent to which aesthetics played a role in the installation is indicated by the fact that the main speaker arrays were craftsmanpainted by a specialist to match wood panelling in two cases and stone in the other.

Four Sennheiser wireless microphone systems, two handheld (ew335 G3) and two lavalier (ew322 G3) were purchased and these and any further desired audio sources are controlled by a Xilica A1616 DSP unit with Touch 7SM wallmounted touchscreen. This was an area of the project where About Sound consulted closely with Audiologic, which sent a member of its own team to assist on site with programming and commissioning.

About the installer n Cambridge-based About Sound’s customers are churches, cathedrals, concert halls, educational establishments and museums n The company began by developing recording systems for collegiate chapels and cathedrals wishing to webcast their daily sung services n This led to consulting on PA systems in heritage buildings; consequently About Sound has become a specialist installer of high-quality discreet sound systems for sensitive buildings

21/08/2015 12:29

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At Jesus, five pairs of speakers were craftsman-painted and placed discreetly at intervals down the length of the room

More flexibility At Jesus College, the Dining Hall faced similar issues. Speeches were difficult to hear and complaints were very much the order of the day. Whereas the speaker locations at King’s were not negotiable, the situation at Jesus offered more flexibility and the About Sound team took a different approach. At King’s, the speakers needed to throw the audio the length of the hall but here, five pairs of K-array KK52 speakers were craftsman-painted and placed discreetly at intervals down the length of the room, offering a more localised provision.

Powered by K-array KA24 amplifiers, the speakers were angled down for optimum coverage and a KMT18P sub was supplied to help reinforce ceremonial music played at weddings or presentations. Two Sennheiser wireless microphone systems, a handheld (ew335 G3) and a lavalier (ew312 G3) were added and a Xilica Neutrino A0808 DSP unit with touchscreen controls the system.

Matt Dilley, MD of About Sound, comments: “Audiologic’s range of brands catered for pretty much everything we needed for both installations and their setup is

44-45 Install183 Solutions 2_Final.indd 2

efficient and customer-focused. The Xilica DSP was something that we weren’t that familiar with and so we worked closely with a member of their team to fully acquaint ourselves with its functions. Audiologic’s expert gave us a clear understanding of the technology, something that will doubtless assist in future installations – and the clients’ delighted reaction to both projects demonstrates the value of that close relationship.”

Andy Lewis, sales and marketing manager at Audiologic, adds: “These projects are a good illustration of how the building of close relationships with our customers works to the benefit of everyone involved. Where the Xilica DSP was concerned they were on less solid ground so we assigned one of our team to offer some education and insight. This level of consultation is a key part of Audiologic’s holistic approach to providing the best solutions possible for our customers and ultimately, their clients.”

www.aboutsound.co.uk www.audiologic.uk www.k-array.com www.sennheiser.com www.xilica.com.au

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14.08.2015 11:50:50 21/08/2015 12:29

46 SOLUTIONS IN BRIEF

September 2015

UNITED KINGDOM

Bose solution for KidZania London KidZania London, which opened in June, gives children the chance to experience a real-life introduction to the adult world. Bose supplied all of the audio within the miniature city, which was built over the course of a year.

Designed by Bose, and installed by Bose partner PEL Services, the sound system comprises 62 Bose FreeSpace DS40SE loudspeakers in the main concourse areas on the ground and mezzanine floors, with further FreeSpace speakers in the entrance, airport check-in area, aircraft and radio station. In the theatre, where children can put on performances after attending the Acting Academy, there are six RoomMatch Utility speakers, and the clock tower in the central square has another two.

On the Burning Building, where young

www.bose.eu.pro firefighters can practise extinguishing a simulated fire, there are two Bose Panaray 402II loudspeakers. Most of the establishments, including the engineering pit lane, hotel, hospital, supermarket and music studio, are equipped with Bose FreeSpace DS16F loudspeakers with local

volume and input control.

The main system is centrally controlled by Bose ControlSpace ESP-00 DSP engineered sound processors, with Dante-enabled networking, and power from Bose PowerMatch PM8500N amplifiers.

UAE

Triple Symetrix DSP at latest Pacha franchise Pacha Ibiza Dubai, the most recent opening from the global club brand, comprises three main spaces. The ground floor Main Room showcases a restaurant with spectacular live shows; the Red Room on the mezzanine level provides funk and alternative music genres; and the Pacha Ibiza Rooftop is an outdoor lounge concept playing soulful, lounge and deep house sounds.

Home to a number of club ventures over the years, the venue has been completely refurbished both architecturally and acoustically. The sound system is based around d&b audiotechnik V Series, Q Series and White Series speakers covering all the various zones.

Vital components in the system’s operation are

three Symetrix SymNet Radius AEC Dante-enabled DSPs and SymNet xOut 12s output expanders.

Each space has its own SymNet Radius AEC outfitted with selected I/O option cards. These are located in the rooftop and ground floor rack rooms and are all connected via an Ethernetbased Dante digital audio network.

The DSPs are all linked and on the same WiFi network so they can be controlled via a browser.

All the zone controls are accessible through the processors.

www.symetrix.co

LITHUANIA

Nationwide campaign uses Samsung and Signagelive Lietuvos Draudimas, one of the largest insurance providers in the Baltics, has implemented Samsung’s Smart Signage Platform (SSSP) and Signagelive’s cloud-based software, to run and manage a nationwide digital advertising campaign.

The engaging high-resolution content is being shown on a series of ruggedised displays installed in strategic locations in busy shopping malls throughout Lithuania.

The SSSP has been supplied and installed by Hansab, Signagelive’s strategic channel partner in the Baltic region. The installation comprises a combination of 48in and 55in Samsung displays,

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including the DB48D and DB55D models, installed in highly visible locations within malls, such as the main concourse or busy escalators, to catch the attention of passers-by.

Displayed content, created by a third-party media agency, is stored and managed on Signagelive’s cloud-based platform, eliminating the need for onsite media players and storage servers. Content can be pushed out nationally or on a display-by-display basis, depending on the location or the service being promoted.

www.signagelive.com

21/08/2015 16:15

CANADA

Theatre enlarges L-Acoustics footprint To enhance the sound system at the Homburg Theatre in Charlottetown’s Confederation Centre of the Arts, the centre’s management received a $375,000 government grant. This was largely split between adding more loudspeakers to the existing L-Acoustics set-up, and the addition of two DiGiCo mixing consoles.

The system installed in the 1,100-seat venue in 1999 comprised four L-Acoustics ARCS enclosures in a centre cluster, with left and right side stacks of three ARCS, collectively powered by three LA4 amplified controllers. An LA8 drove four stacked SB18 subs, while five compact MTD108a coaxial speakers served as front fills. Two ARCS Wide per side, installed at a later date and powered by a single LA4, covered the upper balcony.

This system has now been supplemented with 20 Kara(i), flown 10 per side on either side of the centre cluster. Four SB18 subs per side are hung next to the new speaker arrays, and these are powered by additional LA8 and LA4X amplifiers, including a new LA8 for the existing centre cluster.

The theatre can now use just the left and right hangs for music and add the centre cluster for speech intelligibility for theatrical productions.

The updated system is rounded out with a DiGiCo SD7T FOH console loaded with the theatre software package, and a DiGiCo SD10 to mix the existing L-Acoustics 112XT wedge monitors.

www.l-acoustics.com

MALAWI

Optoma in solar-powered projection package An Optoma projector is at the heart of a solar-powered projection solution designed to transform the education of marginalised children in Malawi.

With the help of Cambridge-based engineer Chris Moller, onebillion, a not-forprofit developer and publisher of educational apps, has created a solar-powered projection solution that enables Malawian teachers to share material with every child in the class.

Class sizes in Malawi reach 100 pupils on average, and up to 300 pupils in some schools. Additionally, very few schools have mains electricity, and textbooks are scarce and unsuited to the heat and humidity.

The solution uses Optoma’s ultra-mobile LED ML750e projector, installed in a sturdy case with an Apple TV media streamer and an amplified speaker system.

As well as using less energy than traditional lamp-based models, LED projectors show a picture that can be twice the perceived brightness. As Malawian classrooms are kept fairly dark to keep them cool, the 700-lumen brightness of the ML750e is just right.

Weighing 380g, this ultra-mobile HD ready projector has WXGA resolution and incorporates a media player, native Office viewer, built-in speaker and HDMI connectivity.

Projection without a laptop is straightforward using the built-in memory, a microSD card slot or USB connection.

www.optoma.co.uk

46-47 Install183 Solutions In Brief_Final.indd 2

21/08/2015 16:16

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23/06/2015 15:52

TECHNOLOGY

Kit you need to know about This Month

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Dynacord Promatrix 6000 It’s… a complete EN54-certified public address and voice evacuation system for small to midsized sports, leisure and educational venues.

What’s different? Promatrix 6000’s flexible, modular system architecture makes it a complete system solution for small to mediumsized installations. It also provides high sound quality when used for sound reinforcement and background music distribution in venues such as hotel function rooms, restaurants and bars.

Details: The Promatrix 6000 system consists of a controller with DSP functions; a 24-zone router; a two-channel amplifier; a call station; and a call station extension.

Thanks to system-wide four-channel matrix architecture it offers high levels of flexibility.

Individual announcements in any zone do not interrupt music in the other zones. Integration

49 Install183 ProdOfTheMonth_Final.indd 1

n New Products: Including Sharp, Inter-M and Extron p49

n Showcase: Amplifiers p52

of additional audio systems via two of the amplifier’s inputs reduces the total number of required amplifiers and thus lowers total system cost as well as associated operating costs.

‘Basic’ and ‘Expert’ configuration modes ensure ease of use and allow convenient building of complete system architecture. The basic mode is a wizard that provides a step-by-step configuration guide, which makes it possible to program a basic system within 30 minutes. The expert mode is based on the powerful IRIS-Net software and provides almost unlimited system design flexibility for optimising configurations in more complex and challenging applications.

The combination of dynamic source routing

and intelligent amplifier input switching reduces the number of amplifiers required and therefore ensures a lower initial investment. The use of the latest high-efficiency Class D amplifiers, as well as intelligent power-management hardware and software, lead to the lowest possible number of batteries needed at purchase. This also reduces running costs.

Existing Promatrix 4000 installations can be expanded with the Promatrix 6000 system through its system interface.

Available: Now www.dynacord.com

21/08/2015 16:50

50 TECHNOLOGY: NEW PRODUCTS n Extron CCI Pro 700 The CCI Pro 700 is the industry’s first control system user interface optimised for conferencing, collaboration and AV control.

Its compact design includes a 3.5in colour information display, a numeric keypad and backlit buttons. It supports popular software communications platforms, including Microsoft Lync, Skype for Business and Skype and is fully customisable and configurable. www.extron.com n Aten

VM6404H

The VM6404H is the first true 4K seamless matrix switch on the market. The 4 x 4 matrix switch has a scaler, supports 4K@60Hz, HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, provides fast switching, at close to zero seconds, and full playback of 4K content with no latency. It’s designed for situations that require time-critical switching between sources, such as during stage shows, in digital classrooms and conferences. www.aten.com n B-Tech

BT8225

The BT8225 is designed to bring flexibility to medium- to largesized screen installs, with an ultra-slim twin cantilever arm wall mount, tilting interface and three swivel points, allowing quick and easy repositioning of screens as required – whether folded flat to the wall at a depth of just 40mm or at maximum extension. www.btechavmounts.com n Soundcraft Si Impact The Si Impact digital console is now shipping. The 40-input desk offers powerful live sound digital mixing with ViSi iPad control and built-in Stagebox connectivity for I/O expansion. In addition to its live sound components, the Si Impact has a 32-in/32-out USB recording and playback interface that provides easy multitrack recording and playback directly from a DAW. www.soundcraft.com

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September 2015

Sharp Big Pad PN-70SC3

It’s… a 70in entry-level version of the manufacturer’s interactive monitor.

What’s different?

This latest Big Pad panel incorporates Sharp’s UV2A LCD technology, which delivers high contrast, vivid colours and the best possible backlight transmission for a greener and cleaner environmental footprint. Together with the Full HD resolution and anti-glare coatings, this means detailed text and images are displayed clearly and accurately.

Details: Designed for campus and corporate office environments, Big Pad PN-70SC3 enhances engagement by encouraging collaboration. It recognises up to six points of touch contact and allows two people to write

on the screen at the same time using Sharp smart pens. It is also possible to present to and interact with people based in other locations with the optional Touch Display Link software, which can share the Big Pad screen content with up to 50 mobile devices, as well as PCs or Big Pads in other offices within an organisation’s local area network.

Available: Now www.sharp.eu/visualsolutions

Inter-M AOE212N

It’s… an audio-over-IP system designed for transmission of voice, music or audio advertising content, throughout multi-zone buildings, campus-wide, across multiple sites, or globally.

What’s different? The AOE212N offers bidirectional functionality which means it can operate as either a transmitter or receiver. It creates a distributed audio system by connecting up to eight audio sources to an AOE212N configured as the ‘transmitter’. This unit is then connected to a standard network via Cat5e/6/6e cabling, transmitting both high-quality audio and data (for device switching and RS-232) to up to 60 ‘remote’ amplifier zones/sites over LAN or 20 over WAN. At each remote zone an AOE212N is configured as the ‘receiver’ and is connected to a standard 100V line or low-impedance amplifier.

Details: Said to be ideal for retail outlets, banks, university campuses and other largescale PA/BGM applications, the system connects

via standard TCP/IP to a LAN or WAN, is simple to operate and offers compatibility with a wide range of audio sources.

When used in conjunction with the Inter-M PMU Series amplifiers, the AOE212N is only required as a transmitter device. The PMU amplifiers feature on-board AoIP connectivity and act as both amplifier and audio-overEthernet receiver. Furthermore power is via either AC or DC, allowing for uninterrupted signal broadcast using battery back-up, as well as supporting portable or temporary audio systems in applications such as outdoor events.

The AO212N also provides simultaneous data-over-Ethernet to each channel, allowing for contact-closure device remote control or RS-232 control integration.

Available: Now www.cie-group.com

21/08/2015 15:17

TECHNOLOGY: NEW PRODUCTS

www.installation-international.com

Crestron

n Cabasse Zef13/13tr, 17/17tr

HD-MD4X1/4X2/6X2-4K-E

The Zef13/13tr, 17/17tr two-way custom install speakers utilise Cabasse’s DOM25 tweeter; the ZEF13 (pictured) also features the 13T15AW midrange woofer, while the ZEF17 opts for the 17T15AW midrange woofer, meaning it is capable of producing a wider frequency range. The units can be used indoors or out and are available in black or white. www.cabasse.com www.multi-room.com

It’s… three new 4K/60 HDMI switchers.

What’s different? Each model supports the full gamut of high-resolution signals, up to 4K@60Hz, and provides advanced DigitalMedia EDID management for optimal display, native Crestron control via Ethernet, and a built-in web server for easy configuration from any web browser.

Details: The HD-MD4X1-4K-E (pictured) 4x1 4K HDMI source switcher includes four HDMI inputs and one HDMI output; the HD-MD4X24K-E 4x2 4K HDMI matrix switcher provides four HDMI inputs and two fully independent HDMI outputs; and the HD-MD6X2-4K-E 6x2 4K HDMI switcher features six HDMI inputs and two fully independent HDMI outputs.

All three switchers offer thumbpad control and OLED display for simple control and source selection, all without any programming. Set-up is carried out via the high-visibility front panel OLED display or a web browser. No programming,

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n Polycom VVX 101, VVX 201 tools, or PC are required.

The HD-MD4X1-4K-E and HD-MD4X2-4K-E can be mounted to a wall or other surface anywhere in the room. At just over 1in deep, they can fit easily behind a flatpanel display or under a table, for clean, discreet installation. They can also be placed on a rack shelf, or attached to a single rack rail. The HD-MD6X2-4K-E is housed in a compact 1RU rack mount chassis.

Available: Now www.crestron.com

Polycom has released two new entry-level desktop phones. The VVX 101 is a low-cost solution for small and home offices, lobby areas and shared workspaces.

The VVX 201 (pictured) is designed for organisations of all sizes looking for a cost-effective telephony solution and features two line support and a wide-range of enterprise telephony features. www.polycom.com n URC KNX control module URC has announced a two-way control module (driver) that allows Total Control products to be installed in a KNX environment. The KNX module works with most URC interfaces when using two-way commands, two-way queries, device events and macro control. Additionally it is fully compatible with URC Mobile for iOS and URC Mobile for Android. www.universalremote.com

Symetrix

xIn 4, xOut 4, xIO 4x4 It’s… a trio of Dante I/O devices for audio channel count expansion.

What’s different? The xIn, xOut and xIO options increase a system’s analogue input and/or output channel capacity, resulting in a reduction in overall price per channel.

Details: The xIn 4 is an audio input expander for SymNet Dante-scalable systems featuring four mic/line inputs with +48V DC phantom power. Likewise, the xOut 4 is an audio output expander featuring four line outputs, designed to capitalise on the surplus processing power of a SymNet Edge or Radius DSP to bring overall system costs down.

The third new device, Symetrix xIO 4x4, is an audio input/output expander for SymNet systems sporting four mic/line inputs, including +48V DC phantom power, and four line outputs.

All three devices are configured using SymNet Composer software, thereby eliminating any requirement for hardware DIP switches, front

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panel menus or third-party software. Featuring the performance specifications of SymNet Edge and Radius DSPs, the products come supplied with PoE injectors while rackmount and surfacemount kits are sold separately.

To ensure seamless configuration of the newly released devices, Symetrix has also released an update to its SymNet Composer software.

Version 4.1 expands on the integration of Shure, Audio-Technica, Attero Tech and Stewart Audio products to also include Clockaudio, and its CDT100 mic-to-Dante interface product.

Available: Now www.symetrix.com

n Optoma W515 ProScene

New from Optoma is the 6,000-lumen high-specification WXGA W515 ProScene projector.

Complete with multiple digital connection options as well as an HDBaseT version (W515T), the new model is equipped with a 1.8x zoom and a built-in geometric adjustment feature. This allows the installer to individually adjust each corner of the image to create a perfectly square image – ideal for image stacking, uneven walls or where a projector placement is awkward and needs to be installed at an angle. www.optoma.com

21/08/2015 15:17

52 TECHNOLOGY: SHOWCASE

September 2015

AMPLIFIERS

Manufacturers optimise performance with a combination of software features and operating mode options to meet the needs of installation applications of all sizes, writes Duncan Proctor

d&b’s install first includes advanced user control d&b audiotechnik’s 10D and 30D amplifiers – the company’s first amplifiers designed for permanent installations – incorporate DSP for loudspeaker management, switchable filter functions, remote control capabilities and advanced user-definable control.

The advanced DSP capabilities deliver two 16-band equalisers with parametric, notch, shelving and asymmetric filters, as well as up to 10 seconds of delay for each channel. Both models can use d&b ArrayProcessing, which integrates within the ArrayCalc simulation software. This applies filter algorithms to optimise the tonal (spectral) and level (spatial) performance of the line array column over the audience area.

The 10D and 30D differ only in their output voltage and loudspeaker configurations; both are designed for integration within installed sound reinforcement solutions. Integration within the d&b remote network means that these amplifiers can be combined with other d&b amplifiers through either CAN-Bus or via Ethernet using the OCA protocol.

www.dbaudio.com

Yamaha offers impedance flexibility Yamaha’s multichannel XMV series comprises eight models with varying output power capabilities and flexible in/out connectivity.

The amplifiers are also part of Yamaha’s Commercial Installation Solutions (CIS) range and are suited to use in hotels, cinemas and theatres.

XMV amplifiers can operate in both high and low impedance modes simultaneously, which eliminates the need for additional equipment as well as enabling both 70V and 100V operation for every pair of channels.

The models come equipped with either the YDIF digital audio format, which allows set-up with the use of Ethernet cables, or Dante networking, used for larger venues where longdistance cabling is required. In addition, the newly developed Double Power Mode doubles the output power of selected

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channels to drive speakers with higher output power. Therefore, speakers with varying output capabilities can be powered simultaneously by the same amplifier.

Another feature of the XMV range is a new switching power supply equipped with power factor correction, which ensures harmonic control and decreases the amount of current draw while maintaining the same output power.

www.yamahaproaudio.com

Crown expands networked solutions with high power units Crown’s DCi 4|2400N and DCi 2|2400N power amplifiers, the latest in the DCi Network Series, offer extensive networked system control capabilities in a 2RU form factor.

Both offer direct drive ‘constant voltage’ without the need for a step-up transformer, which produces higher audio quality in distributed audio applications. They have BLUlink compatibility with a low-latency, faulttolerant digital audio bus, capable of routing 256 channels via Cat5e up to 300ft (91m).

www.crownaudio.com

Lab.gruppen adapts with loudness contouring

The two LUCIA 70V amplifiers from Lab. gruppen combine the ability to drive distributed loudspeaker systems with a compact form factor. The LUCIA 120/1-70 and 240/1-70 amplifiers also include built-in DSP, input selection/mixing and configurable GPIO facilities.

LUCIA amplifiers include ADLC (Automatic Dynamic Loudness Contouring), which automatically adapts to the content and level to ensure a better listening experience. This means they are well suited for background music, small constant-voltage distributed systems and applications where the level may vary.

www.labgruppen.com

21/08/2015 16:22

www.installation-international.com

Powersoft adds sound shaping and monitoring options The Ottocanali Series DSP+D from Powersoft supplements the main Ottocanali series, offering a wide range of system control and monitoring functions as well as sound shaping options. The output power reaches 12,000W at 4 ohms over eight channels for low-Z or distributed line systems, in a 2RU. The DSP+D Series has two redundant universal switch mode power supplies for reliability, with power factor correction and patented Smart Rails Management technology reducing power consumption. Flexible routing/ mixing provided by the internal 8 x 8 input/ output matrix allows the user to mix and route analogue and digital I/O. The series is also compatible with Powersoft’s Armonía Pro Audio Suite, which enables users to manipulate advanced DSP features of the system via a single GUI and includes Dante networking.

TECHNOLOGY: SHOWCASE 53

QSC’s SPA series provides remote control capability for corporate environments The SPA2-60 and SPA4-60 from QSC’s SPA amplifier series offer two and four channels of low-Z output bridged to provide 70V or 100V output. The additional channels on the SPA4 enable solutions such as a pair of stereo channels with a single 70V or 100V output, or a Sub/Sat combination.

This series of amplifiers targets the corporate AV market and applications such as boardrooms and conference rooms where multiple speakers are in use. The remote control capabilities are

useful in corporate environments, such as standby mode for fire and safety paging – and for corporate applications, the aesthetics of the amps blend in.

The SPA Series is housed in a half-sized 0.5RU chassis with rack, table and wall mounting options included. It is Energy Star compliant to meet LEED certification in corporate buildings.

www.qsc.com

www.powersoft-audio.com

Electro-Voice meets install needs with tailored solution The Electro-Voice CPS 4.10, part of the Contractor Precision Series of amplifiers, is available in compact 2RU configurations of up to eight channels.

Each model features Phoenix-type I/O connectors, programmable power-on delay and switchable high-pass filters. The applications that the 4.10 targets include cinema, club sound and performance venues.

CPS amplifiers have a Class D design for efficiency, and the optional RCM-810 module enables the inclusion of CPS amps in IRISNet networks (up to 250 devices) as well as Variable Load Drive for independent channel impedance. Using IRIS-Net software, users can monitor and control complex sound systems remotely via computer, tablet or touchpanel through an individual GUI.

www.electrovoice.com

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Kling & Freitag’s D Series optimises performance with speaker presets Kling & Freitag’s K&F D series consists of the K&F D 200:4, 120:4 and 80:4, and is a range designed specifically for installation applications.

The D Series is the only range of amplifiers from Kling & Freitag with all K&F speaker presets. The presets make it simpler for the customer to set up the amplifiers, and with CAFÉ Software it is also easy to configure and monitor all of the amps in a network.

The D series, which is based on models of the same name from Lab.gruppen, includes RPM (rational power management), which means the overall output of the power amps can be flexibly distributed over the different amp channels. Additional features include power factor correction, universal power adapters and various inputs such as Dante, AES and analogue.

The high-performance power amps are based on the newly developed Lake core modules and K&F module presets for optimal performance of loudspeaker systems; in the future they will be able to operate all standard K&F systems.

www.kling-freitag.biz

21/08/2015 16:22

PLANYOUR MONTH AHEAD

Our pick of what to see, do and discover in the weeks ahead, including IBC taking over the Amsterdam RAI, celebrating excellence at the Pro Sound Awards and free HDBaseT training

PICK OF THE MONTH

IBC 2015 READ

Things Revolution’ on 10 September and ‘Cinema 2020: Seeing the Future Business Today’ on 14 September. Meanwhile the showfloor will host the latest innovations from across the industry.

LEARN

The IBC conference take places across five days and hosts over 300 speakers. Themed by day and anchored by keynote sessions, highlights are set to include ‘The Internet of

CELEBRATE

Attracting over 55,000 attendees from more than 170 different countries, IBC’s annual conference and exhibition returns to the Amsterdam RAI from 10 to 15 September.

Pro Sound Awards

HDBaseT Training Academies

Building Your Own Drones

The third annual celebration of excellence across the pro-audio industry takes place at Ministry of Sound on 24 September. Nominations in the Installed Sound category this year include Bose, SSE/L-Acoustics, Tannoy and Polar Audio/Renkus-Heinz.

Tickets are available for £49 from www.prosoundawards.com

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Taking place on 29 September at Dudley Village Hotel this free one-day academy provides all the core knowledge required to specify and install both commercial and CI multi-room AV systems using standard HDMI and the latest HDBaseT 5Play converged signal technologies. The course will also run in Manchester in November.

John Baichtal With drones becoming ever more prominent in pro AV, why not have a go at building your own? Baichtal offers 10 step-by-step projects to guide readers through the basics and on to more challenging concepts, including quadrotor helicopters and waterborne drones.

21/08/2015 16:23

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X-LINE ADVANCE Forward-thinking line-array design starts here.

The result of rigorous R&D, the introduction of the new X-Line Advance family sees Electro-Voice push the parameters of line-array performance to the next level.

X-Line Advance utilizes state-of-the-art EVengineered components and incorporates a range of innovative new features, all of which work together to surpass the capabilities of other line arrays, and all in a significantly more compact, flexible, and quickerto-set-up package.

KEY FEATURES: • An unprecedented performance-to-size ratio for installed and concert sound applications.

• Advanced audio quality and control via a host of new and exclusive EVengineered technologies, including next-generation Hydra wave-shaping devices, high-output transducers, and proprietary FIR-Drive optimization.

• New-look EV industrial design and new Integrated Rigging System combine streamlined appearance with simplified setup.

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

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

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