Installation November 2015 Digital Edition

Issue 185 / November 2015

AV INTEGRATION IN A NETWORKED WORLD

www.installation-international.com

SWITCHED-ON STADIUMS Why today’s fans need converged networks p22

Bigger and better p20 Interview: CEO’s plans for Crestron Strong projections p30 Fighting back against flatpanels End multi-app misery! p34 The rise of third-party control

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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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Cover image: Rogers Arena, courtesy of Optocore

A sister title to SCN

Paddy Baker, Editor pbaker@nbmedia.com @install8ion

don’t always remember when I initially come across new buzzphrases, so let the record state that I first heard the expression ‘software-defined everything’ on 16 October 2015 at the Sahara Showcase. It came up in the keynote presentation by Terry Hughes of AppCarousel – a company that builds ‘walled garden’ app stores for companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, H-P and, yes, Sahara.

What does it mean? According to one online resource, “with software-defined everything, the computing infrastructure is virtualised and delivered as a service”. So we’re in the same (virtual) ballpark as cloud computing, software as a service and so on. SDE apparently also sits alongside a number of terms (software-defined networking, computing, storage and so on) collectively known as software-defined anything or SDx – amusingly described by another tech website as “an important yet ambiguous term”.

‘The key point is that software is becoming increasingly important’ But the key point is that, as we’ve remarked upon before in these pages, software is becoming increasingly important – in the world of AV and everywhere else. And as this happens, hardware becomes less significant – and, as Terry remarked in his keynote, value is increasingly delivered in software updates over time rather than being concentrated into the day-one functionality.

I find it simultaneously interesting, exciting and frustrating that there are these large IT trends – the Internet of Things is another one – where the potential is obviously huge but the precise applications, and implications, remain a little hazy. And in the IT world, the future is never easy to predict: for instance, as Terry pointed out, when the Android app store was launched, some commentators thought it was too little, too late – believing that the market had been sewn up by the two top players, Apple and BlackBerry. Now Android leads the field.

But what’s clear is that, as an industry, we ignore these technologies at our peril. We need to understand them better, engage with the ideas they generate and tease out the opportunities they offer. That’s one reason why I welcome ISE’s decision to make specific efforts to attract IT professionals during ISE 2016 – something that will also be reflected in the ISE Daily, which I am pleased to say I will once again be editing.

I was doing the sums recently and worked out that this is my 100th issue of Installation. As I reach this milestone, it’s exciting that our industry is as vibrant and full of potential as it ever was.

Stand by for updates.

Driving the Creation of Knowledge

www.cynap.net

03 Install185 Welcome_Final.indd 1

Presentation. Collaboration. Knowledge Sharing.

20/10/2015 10:39

04 CONTENTS

November 2015

News & Data 06 Analysis Growth in 8K TV shipments expected Cloud DVR services opening new video service options 10 Regional Voices: Belgium 12 Industry Moves

People 14 Opinion Rob Lane on the soaring demand for videoconferencing installations Rob Muddiman answers integrator’s IP technology questions Gareth Collyer reveals how the install business has changed for loudspeaker manufacturers 20 Interview CEO Randy Klein discusses how Crestron drives growth through innovation

20

Features 22 Stadiums What are the benefits of stadiums deploying truly converged AV and IT networks?

30 Projectors How has the growing prevalence of flatpanel displays impacted projection technology?

34 Control systems The increase in smart device control apps has created a market for standalone, third-party solutions

22

Solutions 38 Grand National Assembly, Ankara One of the few debating chambers in the world to have a localised audio system 40 Nickelodeon Store, London Harnessing AV to create a brand experience 42 Odeon cinema, Liverpool Transparent DAMOC drinks coolers provide an eye-catching point of sale experience for cinemagoers 44 Solutions in Brief Featuring Allen & Heath iLive digital systems in Polish Philharmonic Hall, a projection mapping spectacle at London’s Sea Life Centre, and X2O Media visual communications systems helping passengers at Toronto train stations

40

Technology 47 New Products Including Polycom, Kramer, Active Audio and VTRON 50 Demo of the Month Audinate’s long-awaited Dante Via software 52 Showcase Furniture and mounts

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47 16/10/2015 10:42

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06 ANALYSIS

November 2015

China to drive global uptake of 8K TVs

By Steve Montgomery

T

he advent of 8K broadcasting in Japan for the 2020 Olympics is expected to spur a new round of resolution increases, even though shipments have not yet started in commercial volumes.

Annual shipments of 8K ultra-high definition resolution (7680 x 4320 pixels) TVs are expected to reach 911,000 worldwide by 2019. The 65in screen size, which has by far the highest volume in production, will account for almost 80% of shipments.

“The biggest inhibitor will be consumer screen size preferences,” said Paul Gray, principal analyst for IHS. “8K requires a very large screen.

The average screen size in the TV market has grown by an inch each year over the past decade, but it is still a long haul before sizes over 70in become commonplace.

“We can be confident that a combination of enhanced local panel production and consumers eager for the latest technology will make China the driving factor in 8K television growth.”

8K TV shipment forecast by region 1000 900 800

Japan

700

North America

600

Western Europe

500

Eastern Europe

400

China

300

Asia Pacific

200

Latin America MEA

100 0

2016*

2017*

2018*

2019*

Source: IHS

www.ihs.com

* = forecast

ISE attendance figures mirror market growth

By Paddy Baker

A

ttendance figures released by Integrated Systems Events for the ISE 2015 show reflect growth in the overall AV and integrated systems market, said ISE managing director Mike Blackman at the organisation’s press conference last month.

If one discounts the attendance from the Netherlands, the greatest number of attendees were from the UK (7,461), Germany (6,940), Belgium (3,474) and France (2,979). “We’re seeing we’re doing very well in France, a lot more than we’ve done is the past, so we’re finally cracking that market,” he said.

Blackman drew a parallel between market growth in the industry and visitor numbers at the show in these territories. “Our attendance in the Netherlands has gone up by about 15% over the previous year – Germany has gone up by 8% and UK by 13%, so we’re seeing general growth in the key markets [reflected] in our attendance as well.”

He continued: “In other countries where they were suffering in the past years, like Italy and Spain, we’re seeing again growth – those markets are starting to come up again,

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ISE attendance in selected countries – 2014-15 percentage change 25 20 15 10 5 0 Russia

Italy

Germany

-5

United Kingdom

Netherlands

France

Spain

-10 -15 -20

Source: Integrated Systems Events certainly in their attendance at ISE – we hope that’s a reflection of where the industry’s going.” Italy and Spain saw 5% and 20% growth in their respective visitor numbers.

A notable exception to the upward trend was

Russia, where attendee numbers fell 14% to 913.

www.iseurope.org

16/10/2015 11:31

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08 ANALYSIS

November 2015

Challenges for consumer video services market

By Steve Montgomery

A

cross the globe, consumers are watching record amounts of video as the number of screens within homes continues to rise, encompassing TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones.

While pay TV’s strength and source of revenues is linear broadcast TV, a substantial and growing portion of consumption is on-demand.

Despite initial fears that the digital video recorder (DVR) would damage the television industry, this device has proven to be a benefit, allowing consumers to avoid missing programmes and increasing content volume by shifting consumption to more convenient times.

The transformation of today’s DVR services from TV-connected devices to a cloud-based infrastructure offers new opportunities across the entire media value chain, from the content provider and pay TV service provider through to the subscriber.

Cloud DVR opens up new video service options, including dynamic advertising and interactive services. Combined with greater flexibility and enhanced service features, this new area of innovation represents a potential transformation of video services and the way that content is consumed.

Consumers’ weekly time spent viewing content on TV (%) 25

20

Video-on-Demand DVR

15

Internet Video DVD/Blu-ray

10

Broadcast TV

5

0

2010

2014

Source: Parks Associates

www.parksassociates.com

Significant opportunity for IP CCTV in retail

By Paddy Baker

C

overt CCTV in retail is well established, with the vast majority of retailers either using it currently or wanting to introduce it; however, only about one in six can access live recorded footage. Additionally, two-thirds (66%) of the market is operating analogue technology – indicating that installers and integrators still have an opportunity to create awareness among retailers of the benefits of IP technology.

These figures come from the latest annual Centre for Retail Research survey into the use of CCTV in retail – commissioned by network video company Axis Communications – which attracted 664 responses from retailers in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

The report found that 58.5% of retailers currently use covert CCTV; of those not doing so, 70.1% (29.1% of the total) want to start using it in the future. While only 17.6% of respondents are able to access live recordings, 66% would

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Use of covert CCTV in retail

58.5%

29.1%

Currently using covert CCTV

Want to start using covert CCTV

13.4% No wish to start

Source: Centre for Retail Research like to use mobile access.

The study highlights the industry’s increasing reliance on CCTV to control stock loss. A significant 82.7% of retailers said that CCTV reduces losses; 29.7% are using fraud analytics

to help improve their security, with another 58.7% planning to in the future.

www.axis.com

15/10/2015 16:28

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10 REGIONAL VOICES

November 2015

BELGIUM

A mixed picture emerges in our latest country survey

T

hough a relatively small country (it has a population of 11.2 million), Belgium is a good bellwether for the EU as a whole, as it is so strongly integrated into the eurozone economy – with 80% of its trade being with fellow member states. However, it would be wrong to think of it as a homogeneous whole – there are marked economic differences between the regions of Flanders (home to familiar names such as Barco, Audioprof and PVS) and Wallonia, and the capital, Brussels.

Turning to our survey results: nearly all respondents felt that general levels of confidence in the Belgian installation sector are the same as six months ago. But on a more positive note, nearly all were expecting their revenue to increase over the next 12 months, with many expecting a figure of more than 5%.

Vertical market sectors identified as showing the strongest growth potential over the coming year include sports venues, corporate and performing arts venues. Of the nine verticals we asked about, only houses of worship showed an overall negative trend prediction.

When we asked about issues of concern, no single answer predominated. The issues that were most cited will be familiar to regular readers of our country surveys: clients going for lowest price rather than best value; being undercut by competitors; and falling margins. Also cited as concerns were credit terms/cashflow issues, and poorly qualified newcomers distorting the market. As one wrote: “We specialise in videomapping content and implementation on site.

Inexperienced newcomers are making cheaper

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projections. There are mistakes […which] the client comes to us to change, but they don’t understand that we are expensive because organisation and good hardware cost.”

When we asked for advice they would give manufacturers entering the market, one respondent said: “Please perform your R&D in a professional way, rather then selling a black box which gives the early adopters a headache. For this reason I find ‘firmware updates’ a dangerous given. Too many manufacturers count on the fact that they will deal with the problems once the integrator is exploring them. This one of the most annoying issues in our system integrator world.”

In terms of advice to integrators, one respondent made the point that clients tend to think in terms of large concepts such as smart

1.1%

GDP annual growth, 2015 Source: European Commission

buildings, so integrators should offer total solutions rather than attempting to specialise.

Taking these results as a whole, it’s hard to summarise the mood of our survey pool. Growth is expected in nearly all sectors, and revenues are expected to rise – but confidence is flat, and numerous concerns, many of them financial, are playing on people’s minds. It seems that the mood of the country’s installation sector is as diverse as its overall economic picture.

Predicted trends in key vertical markets

GREATEST INCREASE Sports venues Corporate Performing arts venues Digital signage Education Museums/visitor attractions Retail Bars, clubs, restaurants Worship DECREASE

16/10/2015 11:33

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12

INDUSTRY MOVES

November 2015

Powersoft announces new-look sales force Two key appointments part of an expansion strategy by the manufacturer

n Atlona

Garth Lobban

has been promoted to the position of director of marketing at Atlona. He joined the company in 2014 as senior marketing manager. In his new role, Lobban will oversee all aspects of the company’s marketing department, with a focus on the development and execution of marketing strategy and the improvement of sales tools to increase brand awareness.

www.atlona.com n digiLED

Randy Green

has been named general manager for the Americas following the creation of digiLED America. He will lead the growth of digiLED sales in North America, adding to the company’s existing network of rental and integration partners.

www.digiled.com

n Elation Professional

Dennis Scipio and Nancy de Lang

S

tefano Previtali (pictured left) and Fabio Lanini have joined the sales team at Powersoft. Previtali takes on the role of regional account manager, EMEA, with responsibility for Touring and Install, while Lanini is new sales account multimedia solutions, responsible for the DEVA product line.

According to the company’s Pro Audio Business Unit manager, Luca Giorgi: “This is part of an expansion strategy which will give us valuable new resources as the new season gets underway.”

Previtali joins from InMusic where he represented its huge pro brand portfolio in more than 20 countries. Territorially, his new

role will encompass most of the European territories, while Karl Kahlau will retain Germany, Scandinavia and some related countries.

Lanini’s background is in the PC board industry with widespread experience in the US. He said: “Co-ordinating the sales and inherent developments that arise from entering a new market represents a real challenge. In the long run DEVA will prove to have been just the beginning, and as we expand the sales pipeline further into export markets, we aim to satisfy high demands of mass production with other solutions.”

www.powersoft-audio.com

www.ampetronic.com www.listentech.com Audiologic has enhanced its relationship with Shure Distribution UK (SDUK), gaining exclusivity for certain SDUK Systems Group products and designated Shure Pro Audio Reseller status for the installation channel.

Duncan Savage, SDUK Systems Group manager said: the move “will ensure that customers receive a high level of expert advice and supported access to our products.” www.audiologic.uk www.shuredistribution.co.uk

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www.elationlighting.com n Nanolumens

FA (Fran) Demis

has been appointed chairman of the board of directors at Nanolumens. A leading ITvisionary, Dramis is the CEO of F. Dramis LLC, a technology consulting and investment firm.

www.nanolumens.com n Pioneer Group

New Partners Listen Technologies has been named as the UK distributor for Ampetronic. The pair have a wellestablished alliance with Listen distributing Ampetronic’s Hearing Loop products in the rapidly growing American market.

have both joined the European team at Elation. Scipio is a key account manager, responsible for managing some of Elation’s most strategically important customers while helping to grow the business. He was previously at German lighting manufacturer SLV. De Lang, meanwhile, has joined as office assistant.

Audioprof, owner of Apart, has acquired a majority share in US-based Community Professional Loudspeakers.

“We are very happy that we can offer a complete range from indoor to outdoor and from small to large fixed install audio solutions,” said Hans Swinnen, chairman of Audioprof Group International. www.audioprofgroupinternational.com www.communitypro.com InFocus has acquired videowall and enterprise collaboration manufacturer Jupiter Systems to complement and expand the InFocus solutions offering, which will now include display processor technology.

Jupiter becomes an InFocus branded product line. www.infocus.com www.jupiter.com

Alice Binney

has been named internal sales executive at Pioneer Group, bolstering its growing educational portfolio. Prior to this, Binney served as inbound team leader at Chancellors, supporting an active sales centre and running an 11-man team.

www.pioneergroup.co.uk n Shure Distribution UK

Nick Smith

has been appointed regional sales manager for the Midlands. Smith joins SDUK from AV installation company Imago Group, where he was a sales manager for six years and greatly expanded the company’s business with its major technology partners.

www.shuredistribution.co.uk

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14 OPINION: ON THE AGENDA

November 2015

Rob Lane

Boom time for commercial AV Has the corporate AV market ever been in such rude health?

A

s I commented in July’s edition of Installation, demand for videoconferencing installations has spiked in recent years, as an increasing number of corporations specify VC tech driven by the demand for collaborative solutions.

Unsurprisingly, the UK’s leading AV distributors and integrators are benefiting from this upturn in conferencing activity, as well as the associated boom in wider corporate AV specification – allowing even companies that don’t engage directly with VC to benefit. But will the boom last and what else is in store?

Strategic research and business consultants Acclaro Growth Partners certainly think so. Last year, it predicted that the commercial AV market is set to become a $114 billion global industry by 2016 – an 11% compound annual growth in demand for AV products and services since 2012 – with further industry growth anticipated.

The Acclaro Growth Partners 2014 Global AV Market Definition and Strategy Study, conducted on behalf of InfoComm International, reckons growth of conferencing, signal management, AV acquisition and delivery equipment, plus streaming media, is the main driver. It is currently the only worldwide study aimed at sizing the commercial AV industry.

Unsurprisingly, increased collaboration is seen as a key reason behind the boom. “The AV industry is strong, thanks to a rebounding economy and a growing need for collaboration,” explained David Labuskes, executive director and CEO for InfoComm International, on release of Acclaro’s findings.

Of course, ‘collaboration’ essentially equates to meeting rooms – from so-called ‘huddle spaces’

14 Install185 Opinion 1_Final.indd 1

to larger conference suites – with VC, touch technology et al coming together to generate the corporate AV boom we’re experiencing. And if these meeting spaces are a barometer for sustained growth in the sector, it certainly looks like the future is rosy.

Sam Baker, group sales director at Steljes, tells me that – based on research by Wainhouse Research, Hoovers, Herman Miller and Futuresource – the UK has a market potential of 4.3 million meeting spaces.

She believes we’re on the cusp of a “revolution” in working practices, with more personal devices in the workplace, a growth in flexible working and increased collaboration solutions and cloud-based tools and services.

She adds: “Obviously, technology will be at the heart of this working revolution, but those that supply and implement the technology will be just as – if not more – influential.”

Wayne Mason, head of group products & marketing, Imago ScanSource, agrees that we’re currently witnessing a corporate AV “explosion” – in the videoconferencing market in particular.

“I’ve been working in and around videoconferencing for 20 years, and things have never been this exciting. Previously, people have talked about a ‘breakthrough year’, but although there have been some spikes allowing us to grow the market, it’s only now we’re seeing an explosion.”

Other key industry players concur, predicting even more lucrative times ahead as the corporate market grows into the evolving technology that’s now available, and the technology responds to this increased demand by evolving still further.

Maverick UK director Simon Fagan confirms

that the adoption of AV technology will “speed up” in the corporate space going forward, thanks, in part, to companies such as Microsoft creating fully integrated platform products. (See last month’s column on Microsoft Surface Hub.) And Jon Dew-Stanley, director of the solutions division at Midwich, sees further integration of IP solutions as key: “In recent years we have seen an increased demand for IP solutions being integrated onto corporate networks, and we anticipate further evolution of this as corporate customers look to become even more efficient at communicating internally and externally.”

Others see touch products as being influential in key changes to the market, with further evolution and growth as a result. “We’re clearly living in a world of touch, but corporate AV solutions must develop in the same way as laptops and smart devices,” explains Shaun Marklew, sales and marketing director at Sahara Presentation Systems. “For instance, there is now the expectation that we can touch large-screen displays just as we do with phones and tablets.

The technology is already here and the AV market is here to guide corporate customers to their perfect solution.”

It’s clear that the market is set for further growth as long as the demand for collaboration solutions and the availability of meeting spaces continues. Those involved with all aspects of corporate AV are all set to benefit. Indeed, it’s hard to argue with Acclaro Growth Partners’ predictions, which may need revising upwards come 2016.

Rob Lane is founder/director of pro AV agency Bigger Boat PR & has worked as a technology and business journalist for over 20 years.

15/10/2015 16:27

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10/20/2015 1:47:51 PM

16 OPINION: ON THE AGENDA

November 2015

Rob Muddiman Questions around IP video

ZeeVee’s recent UK events answered many integrator questions about IP technology

T

he buzz around the integration of networking and traditional AV continues to grow in the European market. While the two have co-existed separately for the last two decades, recent new technology developments have begun to change the perception of how the transition to IP-based video distribution will occur. At ZeeVee’s events last month in Manchester and London, integrators were asking a lot of questions to better understand how to get ahead of the trend, without significant risk. Here is a selection.

What has changed to make video over IP feasible today compared to past efforts?

Two key factors: one is the new technologies, as exemplified by ZeeVee in its ZyPer4k product (pictured), which can send 1080p and up to 4K video uncompressed over a standard 10G IP network. The other factor is the price competiveness of 10G network switches from a wide range of vendors, which is in turn driving down the overall system pricing. Traditional approaches to sending video over an IP network typically used compression to send HD content over a 1Gb network. With 10Gb network switches, each port is engineered to support a constant flow of data 10Gb all at the same time. This is sufficient bandwidth to not only send uncompressed 1080p content with copy protection, it also can handle 4K content at 60fps.

This is more bandwidth than most current AV switchers available today, and costs less per port.

How difficult is it to set up and program IP switches compared to a traditional AV switcher?

16 Install185 Opinion 2_Final.indd 1

The majority of AV matrix switchers require programming of each port (and the device attached) in the software language provided by the vendor. By contrast, the software setup for most Level 3 Managed IP switches is quite fast and easy – similar to how today’s home routers are set up by consumers. For example, instead of programming each port on a switch, the integrator turns on a ‘snooping’ feature in the switch software that automatically senses and installs new devices attached to the network.

One other note – IP network switch ports can be used for either a source or a display, effectively eliminating the input/output matrix limitations of the traditional AV switcher.

What special cabling is needed to support 4K over long distances with IP distribution?

Because the data being sent over these cables are standard IP packets, no additional certification other than the standard Cat6a or standard single/multimode fi bre cables are required. This is different from many of the major brand AV switchers, which use the same cable structure but often require you to use their own brand of cable since the information being sent is not actual IP packets. This means IP cable costs are typically significantly less than the cost of vendor-certified AV cable,

and can be used for data transmission on the network as well.

How much non-video data can be sent over the IP video network?

Some IP solutions, such as ZyPer4K, sport a 1Gb network port that can used to support wireless access point distribution, voice over IP, videoconferencing and data feeds to digital signage players. This is a significant increase from the traditional 100Mb limitation on AV switchers, and opens opportunities for improved designs.

IP-based systems can also be monitored with standard programs such as Remedy, to ensure the devices are online. While the event generated many questions, the adoption of 4K and lower cost 10Gb network switches, most integrators should continue to learn more on how to gain an advantage using the latest IP technology.

Rob Muddiman is EMEA sales director at ZeeVee.

www.zeevee.com

15/10/2015 16:34

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

18 OPINION: ON SITE

November 2015

Gareth Collyer Love me tender

Loudspeaker manufacturers have seen it all, so listen to them

T

he sharp end of the installation business is an environment that, for a loudspeaker manufacturer, has changed beyond all recognition in the last 25 years. There was a time when an installer sourced speakers from one company, amps from another and a network was a 20m coil of cable! These days, with the advent of the ‘total solution’, loudspeaker companies have had to master every possible aspect of the project.

Initial designs, which once fitted onto the back of a cigarette packet, are now generated after hours working on a 3D representation of what is often a complex venue – not to mention the vagaries of the audio network, which demand more time, expertise and software. Once upon a time the computer, networks and suites of design software were the sole territory of the lampies. In the 21st century audio business, especially when it comes to larger sports stadiums, we’ve had to become adept in the black arts of reverberation times, speech Intelligibility and ‘value’ engineering…

We’ve also had to become experts in the entire rigging process, power management and structural engineering. These were all once the province of the installer (now an integrator!) but, more and more, we see the responsibility fall to the speaker manufacturer to sign off the documents and designs needed to finish a project.

All this has led, in my opinion, to an influx into our industry of companies carrying out installation projects that have neither the background in, nor the love for, the audio side of our business. This can lead to sterile projects that lack any imagination and are more about the ‘safe’ option, because that’s how the last bloke did it and nobody complained.

18 Install185 Opinion 3_Final.indd 1

In short, most larger projects from sports stadiums through to festivals and concerts could not these days go ahead without the full working support of the speaker companies, and those companies are having to put boots on the ground in order to achieve the right result.

There is an upside. Speaker system designs have got better as the higher-end loudspeaker suppliers have created proprietary design

‘Most larger projects... could not these days go ahead without the full working support of the speaker companies’

software that will allow for the best possible outcome to be achieved, even before the building is up. This is something the larger companies have had to invest in as we are now on site from day one, and we will be the ones held accountable.

Here’s a prime example from a couple of years ago: I, along with an installer (sorry, integrator), was called back to a venue that we had quoted on six months before. We had, at the time, produced a computer prediction of the proposed system. We sat in front of a committee which proceeded to savage us about how bad our design had been, arguing that they had only bought the system based on those results.

Slightly taken aback, we pointed out that we had not supplied any equipment. We were then told that they had bought a much cheaper system, based on their belief that all speakers are the

same, and that the units they had purchased were mounted in exactly the positions we had specified. All were surprised that the system did not perform the way we had said it would…

Then there was a 40,000-capacity football stadium project that I was involved with a few years ago. Along with an installer (there I go again, sorry, integrator) I had tendered for the project and had proposed a budget in the region of £300,000 to achieve the results they wanted. We lost a chunk of the tender but did maintain the order for networking and amplifiers. The system was signed off by the consultant but, on the first game of the season, I received a call asking me to attend a board meeting at half-time with the directors. On arrival, I was asked why the system they had paid for did not deliver the ‘concert sound’ quality I had put in the original tender. I had to point out that they had in fact not gone with our design and had instead purchased speakers that were only 20% of the cost of the ones we had suggested.

As the premier loudspeaker and electronics manufacturers, like Nexo, raise their game with more comprehensive installation service and support, I’d like to see myths like “all speakers do the same job” debunked for the good of lasting customer satisfaction.

[Nexo would like to point out that no installers or integrators have been harmed during the making of this article.]

Gareth Collyer is UK sales manager of Nexo. He was talking to Phil Ward.

www.nexo-sa.com

15/10/2015 16:32

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10/14/2015 11:49:42 AM 14/10/2015 11:42:25

20 INTERVIEW: RANDY KLEIN, CRESTRON

November 2015

Bigger and better

Paddy Baker talks to the president and CEO of Crestron Electronics, and finds a technology evangelist with a belief in hard work and leading by example The first of October saw the official opening of a new Crestron customer experience centre in Germany. Ulm, which lies between Stuttgart and Munich, was the location of the first of five Crestron office locations to open in the country – Hamburg, Frankfurt, Duisburg and Berlin came later. Moving to a larger facility in Ulm has enabled Crestron to design and install its own infrastructure there from scratch. Crestron Electronics president and CEO Randy Klein flew in for the opening, and I sat down with him and Crestron International CEO Robin van Meeuwen.

You mentioned [at the opening ceremony just now] that Germany will be the engine of growth for Crestron in Europe. What do you see driving that growth, and what will you be doing to achieve it that you’re not doing currently?

Randy Klein: We won’t be doing anything that we’re not doing currently… We have grown and increased each of the 25 years I’ve been here – except for 2008, with the world economic problems, when we declined 7-8%, and we more

20-21 Install185 Interview_Final.indd 1

than made that up the following year.

Our growth has been fuelled primarily through innovation – and I don’t mean just by products but by innovating the company, innovating the processes behind the company, and of course the technology.

We’ve always stepped out there and created useful and purposeful technology solutions. We used to be a control system and touchpanel manufacturer – today, those account for only 10% of our total business. What that statement really means is today we’re in the technology business, not the AV or control system business.

Our business is supplying technology to the enterprise, which means not just a building, but to buildings and campuses.

Germany has always been a great market for us – look around here, look at the innovation, look at the confidence – and we don’t consider it will be different as we apply and develop our current strategies.

Robin van Meeuwen: The business is equally spread out across the whole of Germany. As well

as this head office, we have four other offices with their own training and demonstration facilities.

We’ve refocused our sales teams. In the past in the sales team, everyone was doing a bit of everything. Now we’ve got people who are dedicated on the channel and on end-user development. That focus will help us grow our business in Germany. And we’re doing that everywhere across the world – we’re generating the business for the channel.

Randy, you said that growth comes from innovation. Does it get easier or harder to innovate as time goes on?

Again, innovation applies to every aspect of your business. It’s not just a product – we have to innovate the processes, the systems and the methodologies that we apply to every part of our business. Our HR department has to be innovative to attract new people. Our facilities department has to be innovative – looking at one facility versus another.

The bottom line is – nothing gets easier. If

15/10/2015 16:37

www.installation-international.com

A brief biography n Randy Klein started as a sales associate in an AV dealership in Salt Lake City, Utah, before becoming an independent manufacturer’s representative n He joined Crestron in 1990 to lead the sales organisation. At the time Crestron employed just 100 people, compared with more than 3,000 today n He was appointed to the role of president and CEO of Crestron Electronics in 2014 when company founder George Feldstein (1941-2014) retired

it’s easier, you’re probably not doing it right. It is harder, but it’s always accomplishable. It’s harder because of two factors: one, we stretch: we stretch more and longer than most or many or all.

Two, the time demands: everything is compressed, it’s faster, quicker – the time to market, the time to satisfaction – everything is quicker.

What are the main market drivers – the external factors, that you’re looking to address in the commercial market?

When I started out it in this business some 35 years ago, it was simple AV, and AV was an unknown, it went to luxury – and today it’s a commonplace item in everyday lives.

The technology that we create today is not only commonplace in today’s buildings and enterprises, it’s required.

You can’t have a meeting without technology as you’d be having it in a vacuum – you wouldn’t be able to collaborate, you wouldn’t be able to distribute, you wouldn’t be able to bring in other people or other media, you wouldn’t be able to run the environment of the building and be responsible for all aspects of the building – not just AV but energy, security, and everything it takes to run, manage and monitor not just the building, but the enterprise. The driving factor is that requirement and the ability to serve it, and serve it quickly.

And on the residential side?

The residential side is a different animal.

There are a lot of big companies – telephone companies, big security companies. We’re not those companies; we’re not racing to the bottom. We’re a high-end luxury brand, and those customers will always look to a company that can provide solutions that are reliable, dependable and provide value at the same time – and they’ll look for somebody they can depend on. That will continue to drive the residential business today.

Can you characterise different regional markets? Are there differences in what the customers are looking for?

RvM: In some countries we have a very big public

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INTERVIEW: RANDY KLEIN, CRESTRON sector, in others our biggest market is financial, in others it’s residential. In the Middle East a big chunk of our turnover is in education, and in France it’s mostly private sector; in the UK we have a lot of residential, a lot of financial sector.

So it just depends, market to market.

That’s the verticals. But customer expectations – the demands for the technology to do certain things – are almost identical everywhere.

Is there a sense of ‘this technology is big in America now, so it will be big in Europe soon’?

RvM: Yes – it’s quicker now. Whatever’s hot in America – it used to take six months, sometimes two years [to take off in Europe], now it’s almost instantaneous.

RK: The world is a big place. Europe is different than the US, the Middle East is different than Asia, there will always be cultural divides and political differences. The one bridge that seems common across the world is technology. It’s the one thing that universally people can agree on. You can’t find any culture, any society that says ‘I don’t want a cellphone’. Then there’s that wonderful thing called the internet – there are no boundaries. We happen to be in a very fortunate position to be in the technology sector.

‘We’re in the technology business, not the AV or control system business’

Do you have any key principles that have guided you through your career – either in terms of your own career progression or managing others?

There’s a few of them. There’s not one that’s number one, except for the number one – and that’s hard work. If you work hard then you set a good example and others work hard. Nothing replaces hard work. There’s not one person or company that has had long-term, sustained success that wasn’t through hard work.

As an individual, I try to lead by a few guiding principles. One is to lead by example – now everybody says that, but saying it and doing it are really two different things. I have never asked anyone to do anything that I haven’t or wouldn’t do myself – and if I haven’t done it myself I challenge myself to do it.

Finally, there’s the one that I call balance. You have to have the courage, and the resources and the will to always try new things – but it’s very easy to try too much. You should never try something at the expense of everything. You should always keep one foot in the future, one in

21

the current – as you move forward you’ll leave a little of the current behind, but just a little. But the keyword is the right amount – not too much, not too little. As the leader of the company that’s really my primary responsibility – to determine the priorities, determine the measurements of the amounts of the things we should do.

That must be a judgement call to a great extent…

It is, but I’m very lucky: I have a lot of experience, I work very hard and I have a lot of good people around me who either validate or help change the decisions I make.

What’s on the horizon for Crestron?

We’re in a fantastic industry and a fantastic age of nothing but opportunity. There isn’t one industry or one period of time when you could stand up and say that the opportunities are so limitless compared to how they’ve been over recent years.

This is a great time and a great industry to be in.

As a company, we are very strong and positioned very well. I couldn’t be more happy about how we’re structured and positioned. From a financial standpoint we’re very happy, and from an overall roadmap provision standpoint where we’re going to go over the coming years.

I won’t give you my exact plans, as I assume my competitors are reading your magazine too.

But when people ask me ‘where is Crestron five years from today?”… People say, ‘We’re going to be doing this’ – but I find it difficult to make those kinds of statements. In a high-technology field, things change quickly. So whatever we say, we have to be able to adapt, and be dynamic, and agile and flexible – and we are.

So if I could say [what we’ll be doing in five years] without hesitation and be categorically right, I would have a crystal ball – and I probably wouldn’t be here talking to you, I’d be somewhere else and I’d be really rich.

The bottom line is, it’s a simple answer. My only direction and drive and wish for the company is to be a bigger and better company. And we will be – we have been every year. And we have to have both of those accomplishments: we can’t be bigger without being better, we can’t be better without being bigger.

When we achieve our objectives every year I’m always criticised for not being as happy as I should be. I am happy, but I’m never satisfied – I always know there’s more, that’s just a deepdown belief I’ve always had.

So what’s next for Crestron? Bigger and better. And I can say unequivocally I’ll have the same group of people – like my associate there [gestures to Robin] – around me for many years to come.

www.crestron.eu

15/10/2015 16:37

22 BUSINESS FEATURE: STADIUMS

November 2015

The audio system at Rogers Place Arena, home to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League, is managed via an Optocore fibre optic digital audio network

All set for the networking superhighway?

Key Points n New or refurbished venues are taking greater advantage of fibre or Cat6a technology to implement unified network environments n Many stadiums, particularly those with a focus on sports, are also working to enhance their WiFi connectivity as fans seek uninterrupted access to content on their smartphones n Convergence requires effective co-operation between AV and IT personnel during a time when some feel the power-base is shifting in favour of the latter

Greater convergence between AV and IT infrastructures has been a recurring topic of conversation for several years, and in many ways stadiums could be said to be at the forefront of the trend. But what are the rewards – and restrictions – of deploying truly converged network environments, asks David Davies?

I

n 2015, no one would dispute the benefits of incorporating a sophisticated network infrastructure into a new-build or refurbished venue. But what remain the subject of rather more intense debate are the practicality and desirability of carrying many different data types within the same network environment.

The buzzword here, of course, is ‘convergence’, and while its application might vary considerably, there seems little doubt that it has been occurring for some time now. “With the latest advancements of IP and the underlying Ethernet technology, the technological prerequisites for supporting different services demanding of high performance and quality of service on the

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same network infrastructure are now available,” says Andreas Hildebrand, senior product manager at Ravenna networking technology developer ALC NetworX. “The AES67 standard for high-performance audio distribution and AVB extensions for Ethernet infrastructure are just two prominent examples of available standards and technologies to support convergence in this field.”

Stadiums’ diverse data requirements – not to mention their traditional status as technological trendsetters – would logically lead many observers to expect them to be among the first candidates for fully converged networks. The anecdotes relayed to Installation by interviewees for this article indicate that this is the case,

but also underline the many different factors that must be taken into account to make such complex environments work successfully, not least prioritisation and synchronisation issues. In particular, the increasing expectation that fans will have access to high-quality video both on stadium screens and their own smartphones is adding significantly to bandwidth demands.

No wonder, then, that successful collaboration between stadium project stakeholders – most importantly AV and IT personnel – may be the most critical component of all. As Audinate regional manager of global support services Kieran Walsh remarks: “Convergence is a concept. The decision to wield the concept

16/10/2015 12:06

successfully or otherwise is what makes an instance concrete.”

Design decisions Reduced maintenance and support requirements, and greater costefficiency (when implemented correctly!) are among the most salient reasons to seek a converged set-up. And while the infrastructural implications will vary considerably depending on whether it’s a new or a refurbished stadium, some design principles are universal.

Ramon Pankert is product manager at real-time networking specialist Riedel Communications, which has used solutions including its integrated media signal distribution and processing product MediorNet Compact to bring a unified approach to venues such as that operated by FC Union Berlin. Convergence, says Pankert, “leads to much less cabling, along with time and cost savings while refurbishing or building a stadium.

Once installed, agile technical infrastructures allow stadium owners to accommodate different types of events and grow their business.”

Data types that AV and IT teams might wish to run along the same cabled infrastructure include IT, comms, PA/VA, scoreboard content, CCTV, video for replay and IPTV. Ensuring there is sufficient bandwidth is one obvious essential -– but so too are maximising reliability and minimising latency.

“Most of the data services typically deployed in modern stadium installations require not just higher bandwidth, but also quality of service guarantees and precise timing distribution,” confirms Hildebrand.

Different solutions will have varying requirements. For example, deciding to implement Audio/Video Bridging would likely mean a complete renewal of an existing network infrastructure, since AVB requires specific network switching technology. “But even if the decision is made to run the services on Layer 3, it may require an upgrade of existing network equipment as some of the older gear may not be capable of supporting the required quality of service parameters or packet processing and forwarding demands.”

Furthermore, it may be necessary

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to introduce network equipment with an awareness of PTP (Precision Time Protocol). Originally published in the IEEE 1588-2002 standard, but then revised in 2008, PTP is used to synchronise clocks throughout a computer network. With PTP, synchronisation and management are achieved via the exchange of messages across the communications medium. Correctly implemented, PTP-compliant technology can “guarantee the tight synchronisation requirements of most of the real-time media services,” says Hildebrand.

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Packet prioritisation By general agreement, it is the video requirements of a stadium that are currently presenting the most significant challenges to networking infrastructure. Exterity is one of the leading names in this area and has implemented IP video solutions in a variety of major venues, including Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and Olympique de Marseilles’ Stade Vélodrome. Among its client base, CEO Colin Farquhar confirms the overwhelming trend towards convergence, noting: “We are very used to seeing our customers almost using a single network infrastructure to deliver all their content – and therefore not making a distinction between IP video systems, telephony systems, etc.”

With such converged networks, it may be that “virtually segmenting the network infrastructure is less of a requirement” – although packet prioritisation will be needed for priority communications and messaging. “It really comes down to good practice on the network side and simple quality of service measures,” says Farquhar.

“Certain data types can be prioritised and forwarded to the network so they get there first. For instance, two-way real-time telephony is clearly something that needs to be prioritised ahead of some other data types.”

Despite its own burgeoning interests in stadium video, Farquhar acknowledges that video content itself is not necessarily among the chief network priorities. “Important though it is, the reality is that for the general operation of a stadium a bit of delay or a flicker in the corner of the screen is not as relevant as

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24 FEATURE: STADIUMS

November 2015

Riedel MediorNet Compact and RockNet solutions were chosen for An der Alten Försterei, the home of FC Union Berlin

the telephone call to say that something is happening somewhere in the stadium.”

Video vision ZeeVee is another company that is well placed to chart the evolution of stadium video. The US-based provider has lately been making industry waves with its ZyPer4K system, which allows the distribution of uncompressed control, audio and video data, with resolutions up to and including 4K supported. Its reliance on 10Gb networks means that it is consequently restricted to either fibre or Cat6a infrastructure.

“Most, but not all, existing venues are heavily wired with either coax or Cat5 twisted pair solutions – neither of which can be used for 10Gb. So we are finding that only those venues recently constructed or renovated have made the move to either fibre or Cat6a infrastructure,” says Danny Barr, vice president new product business development at ZeeVee. The longer distance requirements of stadiums and reduced material costs (“on a par with shielded twisted pair,” notes Barr) mean that fibre is particularly prevalent in new or upgraded venues. “New buildings usually put fibre everywhere, since it’s so much more convenient and cheaper than copper,” says Marc Brunke, founder and general manager of optical networking technology specialist Optocore.

“Refurbishments are likely to get even more

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fibre, since it is much easier to put fibre into an existing wall than copper.”

In the case of ZeeVee, this shift towards fibre translates to a rapidly growing market – particularly in venues used for sports, where there is greater requirement for low-latency video distribution to both large-scale displays and screens located in hospitality boxes and suites.

Barr explains: “Our ZyPer4K distribution system lives on a 10Gb network and can quite easily co-exist on the same network switches

‘Convergence is a concept.

The decision to wield the concept successfully or otherwise is what makes an instance concrete’ Kieran Walsh, Audinate

and cabling as other core data devices. By utilising the total available bandwidth of any link (10Gb full duplex) and the extremely high bandwidth available on 10Gb network switch backplanes (a 64-port 10Gb switch supports 1.28Tbps on the backplane with ultra-low latency), we are able to provide 1Gb Ethernet

connections at every location where there is a ZyPer4K encoder or decoder. Customers are using this ‘free’ 1Gb connection for things like core IT functions, VoIP telephony implementations, security cameras, video streaming direct to displays, WiFi hot spots, and even separate audio over IP/PA deployments.”

The WiFi consideration cannot be overstated – Barr sites an “explosion of user needs” around wireless access, and he’s certainly not alone.

Alongside substantial expectations of public display video within the venue, many fans also wish to simultaneously enjoy video content via their smartphones. This is particularly relevant to sports, where there is a desire to access material such as instant replays and detailed statistical information as fans watch the action unfold on the pitch or track in front of them.

Farquhar confirms: “The big discussion taking place just now on the video content side is around the capability of the wireless [systems]. Most venues have a reasonable wired infrastructure – and certainly that is the case with regard to the new-builds – but now they want to be able to provide visitors with a range of services and relevant content over the wireless infrastructure.”

Investment in high-density wireless networks that may involve hundreds of access points in a large stadium is therefore rising up the priority list: “If you think that 10,000 people might want to watch a replay of a match then you could be looking at 10,000 x 10Gb of content being delivered from the server infrastructure to all those devices. That is a significant burden on the video distribution infrastructure and the wireless system.”

Converged constraints If more and more data is being run over a unified network, then one inevitable question is ‘which data types won’t join the convergence revolution?’ For Barr, the most obvious candidates are point-of-sale and broadcast networks, where individual service providers’ impulse to maintain separate distribution in the interests of security may override any other considerations.

“I think the main reason for this comes down to security,” says Barr. “It is much less to do with reality/cost as it is generally well accepted that 10Gb (as a 10-year-old platform) is a lot more reliable and cost-effective than proprietary solutions. Many service providers within a stadium/live event venue are on standalone networks that never touch the core venue network – and I don’t see this changing in the short-term.”

However, there is “more acceptance” that at least one element which used to be run firmly on a standalone basis – namely, security cameras – can live on the same network as

16/10/2015 12:06

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26 FEATURE: STADIUMS video and data. And whatever the future, the roll-out of fibre with 10Gb and even 40Gb infrastructures will mean that bandwidth isn’t going to be in short supply: “There is going to be plenty of available bandwidth to allow at least some of these additional networks to converge in the future.”

Optocore has had the ability to transport IT over its AV network technology since 2004, so can certainly be regarded as a convergence trailblazer. Brunke observes that “by using a proper synchronous AV network, you can easily transport an asynchronous IT network ‘on the side’.” That’s not to say there aren’t legitimate reasons for keeping two separate networks – “mainly for security and maintenance. Security means that a virus doesn’t affect your AV performance. Maintenance means that the IT guys and the AV guys do not need to live on the same planet. Of course, it is up to the user/designer to select one or two different networks. We’ve seen both ways happen, and both for good reasons.”

Standards and shared ground Although opinions differ on the extent to which ‘true’ convergence will occur in the short- to mid-term, there is a widespread consensus that

November 2015

Case Study

Exterity supplies powerful video capacity throughout PSV Eindhoven Underlining the extent to which video requirements are now informing stadium infrastructure design, Exterity was recently selected to deploy an enterprise IP-based video system throughout PSV Eindhoven’s Philips Stadium, featuring the ability to transport TV content to locations around the facility as well as training footage to the club and coaching staff.

Colin Farquhar, Exterity As the result of a project that also involved contributions from Intronics, AXIANS and Mansveld, TV content is delivered to 200 end-points around the stadium via the existing IP network. Exterity AvediaStream Encoders are used to encode footage from the stadium’s internal media studio as well as live match footage from OB vans. In addition, Exterity AvediaPlayer Receivers are used to connect any TV screen to the existing IP network.

Control of the system relies on the Exterity AvediaServer, an IP video management system that also acts as the platform upon which customised channels can be created and tailored for delivery to different end-points in the venue. Artio middleware has been utilised to customise the viewing experience in each skybox and business lounge around the venue, enabling greater personalisation of the corporate guests’ environment.

The Exterity AvediaServer also offers a VOD catalogue that enables assets to be played out via custom-created channels, which can include graphics from the media room.

“We are extremely proud to have been chosen by one of Europe’s leading clubs to modernise their video services for players, fans, visitors and more,” says Colin Farquhar, CEO at Exterity.

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28 FEATURE: STADIUMS

November 2015

it will be fuelled by technology with support for recognised standards. It is this element that will arguably give project leaders the final boost in confidence to press ahead with these more complex network environments.

With reference to the philosophy whereby data is “converged or separate based upon logical decisions, rather than physical cabling”, Audinate’s Kieran Walsh points to Dante’s accommodation of standards-based ‘logical’ networking. “It uses UDP/IP at the transport layer, and this is predominantly UDP unicast IP for media payload,” he says. “Non-routable multicast address ranges are used for clocking (very low – borderline negligible) and user selected multicast media payload (default mode is unicast – there is no automatic multicast mode). Furthermore, IGMP version 3 is implemented to allow multicast pruning where deemed necessary. Due to the time-critical nature of this service, DSCP is implemented. This short description contains all the information needed by a suitably qualified network architect to build a Dante network that can exist with any other IP-standards based data traffic.”

The need for standards-based technology should also be perceived in the context of a changing power structure within venue projects.

Case Study

Tripleplay signage and IPTV solution pays for itself at Rotherham United’s stadium Following its move to a new stadium in 2012, English Football League Championship club Rotherham United saw an opportunity to improve the match day experience and open up new revenue streams via a digital signage and IPTV system.

After a recommendation from Derby County FC, Rotherham United engaged Tripleplay to deliver content to around 40 screens in the stadium shop, staff offices, reception, corporate suites and concourse and also to the iLED Media jumbo screen at the (perhaps confusingly named) AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Since implementation Rotherham United has worked with Tripleplay to improve the system, adopting new features as they become available and expanding as it becomes possible.

Not only has the system delivered the improved fan experience Rotherham United desired thanks to a combination of pre-scheduled content, advertising and live TV, it has achieved a return on investment too.

Steve Coakley, Rotherham United commercial director, said: “In the first 12 months of using the Tripleplay system we brought in five-figure revenues from advertising on the screens, providing us with a vital source of income that has never been available to us before.”

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Peter McCarthy +44 (0) 20 7354 6000 pmccarthy@nbmedia.com

Michael Nicholson +44 (0) 7823 777 528 michael@weareoutput.co.uk

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FEATURE: STADIUMS 29

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Plenty would concur with Barr’s assertion that “IT decision-makers are now taking ownership of the entire infrastructure and they are only comfortable with solutions that can co-exist on standard equipment. Video distribution solutions must look and smell like IT, and most importantly behave like IT, to finally realise the dream of true convergence.”

As this implies, the meeting of AV and IT technology is only one part of the equation – one must also address the convergence of the respective personnel. Putting aside the issue of who has the greatest influence, it is now increasingly common for the AV and IT infrastructures to fall under the scope of the overall electrical contract for a venue upgrade – and consequently “consulting teams are engaging their AV and IT specialists at earlier stages”, notes Walsh.

This paves the way for multiple benefits, including “effective financial optimisation of a project” and “centralised purchasing to make the obvious cost-efficiencies inherent in that approach”. Walsh adds: “As AV consultants become more aware that their IT colleagues can assist in this process, and as both develop a mutual understanding of the other’s descriptions of technical requirements, system

integration tenders can be managed to ensure capital expenditure and labour costs are assigned to the suppliers and contractors best placed to make the optimal use of resources.”

‘Video distribution solutions must look and smell like IT, and most importantly behave like IT, to finally realise the dream of true convergence’ Danny Barr, ZeeVee

Immediate outlook It is evident we are in a period of transition, and even when the lay of the land does become clearer there are obvious reasons for caution when planning such complex network environments. As Peter Rieck, key account & distribution manager from professional cable and connection technology specialist Sommer Cable, remarks: “High-grade infrastructure components like network switches for real-time

audio and video applications – certainly not our cables! – are still rather expensive. This might be a possible reason for the distinction between real-time and timing-uncritical networking.

Security aspects must always be heeded, no matter if we are dealing with one large network or several smaller ones. The bigger the network, the higher the efforts for the safety planning and administration will be.”

Nonetheless, it is clear that – to paraphrase Walsh’s terminology – convergence is increasingly moving from concept to reality. As fibre becomes more prevalent and the tools available to manage complex networks grow in sophistication, expect a unified approach to be adopted widely not just in world-status venues like stadiums – but also theatres, music venues, corporate facilities and many other kinds of installed environments.

www.audinate.com www.exterity.com www.optocore.com www.ravenna-network.com www.riedel.net www.sommercable.com www.tripleplay-services.com www.zeevee.com

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www.auroramm.com Aurora Multimedia Corp. | Morganville, NJ, USA | +1 732-591-5800 | sales@auroramm.com

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30 FEATURE: PROJECTORS

November 2015

The Huai’an Planning Museum in China has deployed 48 Digital Projection E-Vision 6500 projectors to create an immersive visitor attraction

Key Points n Projection delivers versatility, ease of installation and cost-effectiveness for all but the smallest screen sizes

A bright future “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” Mark Twain famously wrote. Ian McMurray finds out whether there has been similar exaggeration regarding the destiny of projection technology

O

nce upon a time, in a land far away, a large technology company bet hundreds of millions of dollars that flatpanel displays could never achieve the same image quality that was possible with projection, and that projection TVs were therefore the future. They lost the bet through making something of a schoolboy error: they underestimated the creativity, ingenuity and sheer will-to-win of Asian engineers.

Fast-forward a decade or so, and flatpanel displays are everywhere – delivering image quality that was once unthinkable. And yet: the projector market has proven to be exceptionally resilient. Not just resilient, in fact, but thriving.

It turns out, there are many reasons why that’s the case.

Resilience “Projection technology continues to be able to address challenging installation briefs while offering value for money,” says Colin Boyle, product marketing specialist, projectors at Canon Europe. “Additionally, there is everimproving technology in the sector, with brightness and resolution increasing while new technologies emerge. For example, in the last year Canon has announced offerings in the portable projectors market along with WiFienabled and ultra-short throw projectors – and, more recently, our move into 4K projection. This

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provides a more versatile option for installations than flatpanel displays.”

“Some people just replace the projector they have with a newer version and don’t want to change all the cabling to another location,” believes Bram Dieryckx, director of product management for projection at Barco. “Some meeting rooms have a projection screen that is lowered in front of a window when people want to project. Others want bigger screens than the current affordable flatpanel display sizes.”

‘Projection technology continues to be able to address challenging installation briefs while offering value for money’ Colin Boyle, Canon Europe

“Typically projectors are more flexible than flat screen displays because the size of the image projected can be adjusted to meet the needs of the customer and tailored to specific applications,” adds Damien Weissenburger, head of corporate and education solutions at Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “For large rooms which require large screens – more than 75in –

n Logistical constraints – such as delivery to site – will often preclude the use of large flatpanel displays, opening the way for projectors n Solid-state illumination (SSI) has eliminated the historically high cost of ownership of projectors n High brightness and short throw projectors are proving highly resilient against competition from flatpanels or a more flexible format – that is, something other than 16:9 – projection remains the main technology. Projectors often provide a more affordable and flexible solution which can appeal to budget-conscious AV managers.”

Versatility, affordability, ease of installation are all contributing to projection’s longevity – even as flatpanel displays are getting larger and, in theory, displacing what would previously have been projection installations. But projectors have an important advantage here too.

Size is important “It’s important that customers have a choice between flatpanels and projectors, and we offer them that choice,” says Guy Phelps, head of retail sales at NEC Display Solutions. “In terms of physical installation, for instance, projectors can offer a more practicable display solution.

As an example, it would be a lot easier to get an installation projector up stairs or into a lift compared to a 98in flatpanel.”

You would think that a modular solution comprising multiple smaller flatpanel displays – in other words, a videowall – would alleviate that problem. Not necessarily, according to Phelps.

“With a videowall, you have to consider the impact of even the thinnest of bezels on the content being shown,” he says. “It would be unlikely that a videowall would be appropriate in a boardroom environment, where spreadsheets

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FEATURE: PROJECTORS

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and key data will be shown. A projector is a lot more flexible and can achieve much larger bezel-less images. In addition, with a zoom lens, a projector can also offer a mix of image sizes within its focal range, thus making it more useful for rooms with dividers.”

There is, again, the issue of affordability. Of course, there are parts of the projector market that will always remain highly immune to incursion by flatpanel displays: high brightness comes immediately to mind.

“Without a doubt, flatpanels are creeping into smaller-screen projection applications and taking market share,” declares Mark Wadsworth, international marketing manager at Digital Projection. “This has not impacted Digital Projection up to this point – given the high light output and performance of our projection solutions. Even our lowest-cost projectors are typically employed where solutions for larger screens and higher-quality performances are demanded by the client. The majority of our projection solutions are 5,000 lumens and above. Given the lumen power we offer in our product line, nearly all of the applications where our projectors are employed are for screens that are much larger than 90in diagonal.”

Recent phenomenon It’s not just high brightness, though. A phenomenon of recent times has been the rise in popularity of short throw projectors.

“We have seen uplift in the use of projectors, often with a relatively short throw distance,” asserts Hartmut Kulessa, marketing manager, projector products at Panasonic Visual System Solutions. “I think that Panasonic fuelled this trend a couple of years ago by developing lenses with 0.8:1 throw ratio, which still comes with the

Combining soundscapes with 360° Barco projection, the new Energy Education and Experience Center in Aurich, Germany delivers a compelling visitor experience

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31

Case Study

Visitors immersed by Digital Projection A new commercial and tourist complex in Kunming, the capital of Yunan Province in China, features an immersive dome measuring 28m long, 15m wide and 4.8m high.

It uses 14 edge-blended Digital Projection HIGHlite Laser projectors to illuminate the huge surface area with 10 projectors used on the perimeter and four on the cap to immerse visitors in stunning natural scenery from the surrounding areas.

The video content runs in a 15-minute loop and operates 12 hours a day. For this reason, the venue needed projectors with a long-life light source to ensure smooth running of the attraction.

The HIGHlite Laser was chosen due to its 20,000 hours of illumination and associated reduction in maintenance and downtime costs when compared with traditional lamp-based projectors. The projectors also had to be flexible enough to be mounted in a variety of extreme orientations, which aren’t possible with traditional lamp-based projectors. comfort and flexibility of a small shift and zoom range, which is vital for easing planning and installation.

“It is a fact,” he continues, “that the core projection market from 10 years ago, such as meeting rooms or classrooms, is today often equipped with flatpanel displays. On the other hand projection technology, which has been evolving with higher brightness, greater efficiency and products capable of long running hours at moderate cost, has moved into new markets such as museums, exhibitions and even outdoor advertising.”

Vivitek too has achieved success with its

ultra-short throw projector offering, notes the company’s product marketing manager EMEA, Julia Lin – and its functionality is enhanced by the availability of interactivity.

Certainly, the advent of solid-state illumination (SSI) that Kulessa alludes to – whether LED or laser or a combination of the two – has done a great deal to redress the imbalance in cost of ownership between flatpanels and projectors. It has also meant that maintenance in hard-to-reach places – high on an auditorium ceiling, for example – is no longer an issue.

Unique benefits Projectors also bring other benefits that flat screens cannot replicate.

“If redundancy is important – “the show must go on” – then stacking projectors is a solution,” notes Phelps. “If multiple projectors are stacked with an overlapping image, in the unlikely event of a projector failure, you will still have an image from the second projector. If a screen fails, it fails…

“And then,” he goes on, “laser projectors can be used in any axis, enabling an image to be projected vertically up or down for unlimited creativity – for example, floor projection where people can continue to walk over the image without touching anything.”

Wadsworth warms to the theme of the possibilities that projection technology brings.

“Projectors are ideally suited to situations where images need to be displayed on irregularshaped surfaces such as building facades, or in live events where large, bright images are required,” he explains. “If the application requires

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32 FEATURE: PROJECTORS content displayed on a curved or irregular surface, flatpanels and videowalls do not provide a solution.”

Boyle sees similar creative possibilities. “As exhibitions look increasingly towards more immersive experiences, there has been a shift towards using projection in more creative ways,” he says. “At this year’s Expo Milano, a Canon XEED WUX6000 was used to deliver a 360º projection onto a sculptural centrepiece [see Installation September 2015]. The effect was a visually immersive installation that could be viewed from all angles.”

It becomes apparent in talking to the industry that a projector can do almost anything a flatpanel display can do – but that the converse is not the case. Projection is disadvantaged only in smaller rooms with smaller screen sizes, in environments with uncontrollable high ambient light, and where line of sight is a consideration (and even the latter is now largely addressed by short throw projectors).

‘For large rooms which require large screens, projection remains the main technology’ Damien Weissenburger, Sony

Staying relevant Projection technology continues to evolve and develop in resolution, in ease of use, in cost of ownership – and in connectivity.

“On the projector inputs side, we now see HDMI, DisplayPort and HDBaseT,” points out Dieryckx. “This has made things easier from an installation point of view compared to the old analogue RGB cables.

Control of projectors over a network has also become very important.”

And, yes, developments in brightness too: at the IBC Big Screen Experience last year, Christie showcased a 70,000-lumen 6-laser digital cinema projector.

Twelve Panasonic DZ21K projectors were used as part of the celebration of Hampton Court’s 500th birthday

November 2015

Solid-state illumination

One of the primary disadvantages of projection technology was always its use of a lamp for illumination. This would last, on average, 3,000 hours, begin to lose brightness from day one and be expensive to replace. Solid-state illumination (SSI) sees lasers and/or LEDs replace traditional lamps as the light source for projectors. SSI illumination lifetime is typically rated at 20,000-30,000 hours, power consumption is substantially reduced and inconveniences like allowing the projector to cool down are eliminated. SSI has been a significant contributor to ensuring the continuing vibrancy of the projector market.

Representative of manufacturers’ aggressive plans to keep projection relevant and competitive is Panasonic. “This year, we will be introducing high frame rate video reproduction with frame interpolation technology in both lamp and laser projection,” says Kulessa.

“After progressively increasing the still picture resolution, with 4K kicking in this year, we will now also be working on the best and sharpest reproduction of moving pictures. We also have strong plans to introduce more innovative lenses like the DLE030, which is the only exchangeable UST lens on the market. We want to expand this concept into higher brightness areas and 3-chip DLP projectors. We are also planning to have shorter throw exchangeable lenses for LCD installation projectors.”

Commentators are agreed: the future for projection does indeed look bright.

“Keeping step with the demands of customers will be key,” avers Weissenberger.

“Ensuring that projection technology is straightforward to install, priced reasonably, and provides excellent quality imagery will secure projectors’ place in the market for the foreseeable future.”

“The projection market will continue to grow and continue to innovate,” adds Wadsworth.

“Flatpanels and LED walls have their space in the market, but ultimately they aren’t in a position to completely replace projection.”

Most cost effective “The fact is that projectors stack up favourably on cost per square centimetre basis,” adds Lin. “It might be a cliché, but size does matter. When

it comes to large venues such as boardrooms, lecture halls and auditoriums and beyond, a bigger screen size is a must. Projection is the most cost-effective way of accommodating the viewing needs of sizeable audiences.”

‘In terms of physical installation, projectors can offer a more practicable display solution’ Guy Phelps, NEC

There was a time when projectors were, in effect, the only show in town if you wanted to deliver anything other than a moderately small image. Those days are long gone, and many of the installation slots that projectors would once have filled are now occupied by flatpanel displays.

For screen sizes above around 70in, though, projection remains the de facto technology of choice because it is more cost-effective, more flexible and more practicable. What is perhaps surprising is just how many large-screen applications there are – and how that number seems to be growing. According to Futuresource Consulting, worldwide shipments of projectors in 2014 were up over 8% compared with the prior year, with over 8 million units sold.

Perhaps the real schoolboy error was perpetrated by those who foretold the long, slow death of projection. No, it never did become a mainstream TV technology – but that’s not the point. That predicted death didn’t happen and, by all accounts, it won’t.

www.barco.com www.canon-europe.com www.digitalprojection.com www.nec-display-solutions.com www.panasonic.net www.sony-europe.com www.vivitek.eu

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34 TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: CONTROL SYSTEMS

November 2015

The AV industry already has the tools, understanding and experience to create complex, multi-faceted control systems

Key Points n Rather than a multitude of IR handsets, users are now faced with a multitude of apps to control several devices in a system n Independent developers and established control systems vendors are responding with single-app GUIs for multi-device, multi-vendor systems

One app to rule them all?

n A single app can act as both integrator/ administrator management and user operation surfaces through restrictions to specific functions n The Internet of Things will expand the potential to integrate control and proactive management of devices throughout smart buildings n The potential for AV integrators to seize the initiative and offer solutions to the industry is immense

Most devices are now supplied with a smart device control app. But how can users manage several different ones in a single system? Steve Montgomery explores the market for standalone, third-party solutions

T

he proliferation of AV technology in commercial and domestic environments brought with it an increase in the number of individual remote control handsets needed to access and control devices – leading to coffee-table and desktop clutter and user confusion. Independent companies such as AMX, Crestron and Control4 evolved by developing third-party control systems that were able to integrate devices from different vendors and provide a single, coherent and largely intuitive user interface for each complete system. These companies grew and were successful in providing a simple solution to a widespread problem.

That situation is now at risk of repeating itself as individual manufacturers now offer smart device control mechanisms that are based on apps to operate their products. Instead of a multitude of remote controls, users now have to operate a multitude of apps on their smartphones or tablets. “With more and more app-based products on the market, the problem of too many remotes in a room has simply moved,” says Michael Jarl Christensen, co-owner

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and CSO at Neets. “Instead of having five remotes for controlling the AV system, users now have five different apps, each with multiple control layers, to figure out how to use and when. It’s still not intuitive for the user. Individual apps may be, but that certainly isn’t the case when it’s the full room you need to control.”

‘With more and more appbased products on the market, the problem of too many remotes in a room has simply moved’ Michael Jarl Christensen, Neets

As in the past however, new third-party vendors are beginning to emerge to solve this problem. Existing control system manufacturers, too, are shifting their emphasis. Control surfaces

are now available that enable system integrators to replace several individual apps with one customised user interface; in much the same way that touch controllers did in the past. “As manufacturers attempt to create ‘Apple-like’ environments for their own system, where they ‘own’ the environment, they lack the functions that users actually need over a complete system.

A third-party control system, like Neets, is an ideal solution to provide the prime user interface that incorporates all device functionality in one place,” says Christensen.

Another example is iViewer from CommandFusion. “iViewer works with any Ethernet-controllable hardware on the market.

It directly controls network addressable AV gear, and can integrate with any control system hardware available today to provide a fully customisable control interface,” explains Aaron Green of CommandFusion. “It supports all Ethernet communication methods including TCP client/server, UDP unicast/multicast/broadcast, HTTP/HTTPS to provide simultaneous control of multiple devices directly from a smart device,

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36 FEATURE: CONTROL SYSTEMS without requiring any other hardware. With additional gateway devices, other transports such as IR, RS232 and contact closure can be added to the single user interface. The result is a much cleaner and simpler interface for the user. The next phase of development of this tool will be an online GUI creation tool that allows designers to produce interface apps without the need for graphics or programming knowledge and allows remote access and modification. This will extend the potential for complex control systems to be constructed by the design community even further.”

This type of solution is attractive to most market sectors served by the AV community, from homes through corporate boardrooms to houses of worship and large conference centres. “The education and corporate markets benefit due to the number of devices that require control, but every install market, from performance venues through conference centres to cruise ships, will have multiple applications.

In my opinion, though, the domestic market will see the biggest growth potential,” believes Ian Thomas, install specialist at Allen & Heath.

“Driven by the Internet of Things, smart buildings will become full of connected devices all requiring some form of control and interaction. Once the control system hardware reduces to a price point which the average consumer can afford, the mass market will be open for these products and the floodgates will open. Initial equipment uptake will generally be for devices that require simple switching and transport or those devices which the end-user interacts with. However, by utilising various user permissions, system parameters such as room equalisation, lighting presets or projector calibration can be accessed by the installer/integrator.”

Two-level approach This two-level approach is a major benefit to the industry, allowing integrators and administrators to use the same control system as ultimately used by the end-user, whether in home or commercial locations. “Configurable apps can be extremely powerful. The devices we control usually have a pre-defined set of functions, which makes it possible to offer an administrator a set of options and allow them to turn on what they need and disable everything else,” explains Patrick Murray of Controlhaus Systems Design.

“With a single application serving both aspects of operation, the integrator can design and prove more of the user interface for a varied set of component devices during the integration phase, leading to fewer changes in the final look-andfeel of the interface.”

The major benefit to end-users remains the ability for the control interface to be customised to their requirements and preferences. In each

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November 2015

Neets argues that third-party control system manufacturers are ideally placed to provide a user interface that incorporates all device functionality

individual application the control buttons most frequently used can be elevated through the menu levels and linked to others, to make individual scenes or responses that require multicomponent settings possible with a single homescreen switch. However, the ability to achieve this across the full spectrum of devices requires agreement and co-operation within, and between, several industries – and that is not yet in place.

‘Smart buildings will become full of connected devices all requiring some form of control and interaction’ Ian Thomas, Allen & Heath

“The ability to control any IP-enabled device from a single controller using a new app still requires the vendor to participate and make information available and to commit to a common standard. Until that happens, sophisticated wholeenterprise control from a single device will not be achieved and the technology will remain a niche application centred around single product and consenting manufacturers’ equipment, not the industry-wide solution we all desire,” says Stijn Ooms, director of technology for Crestron. “It is not just for AV components but additional devices that are associated with building control: intelligent lighting, HVAC, blinds, room-booking systems and energy harvesting. We are making progress with standards like CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) but need that full commitment.”

The potential of independent, multi-device control platforms extends way beyond the current appeal of integrated control from a single device. IP-based communication between controller and devices allows device status information to be collected and acted upon, enabling device and system maintenance to be made more efficient. It can also be linked to room-booking facilities so that in addition to automated preparation of equipment prior to an event, rooms can be automatically reallocated whenever there is an equipment failure – meaning that expensive executive time is not lost discovering equipment faults in-situ.

Detailed usage analysis further allows better and more efficient management and control of buildings.

Personalisation is also an attractive option.

Crestron’s PinPoint location technology identifies the location of individual users; at home, in the car and at work, and aligns their requirements accordingly in conjunction with Fusion energy management software. “The Internet of Things is already suggesting extensive possibilities for proactive management of building facilities through very granular monitoring and control of devices,” explains Ooms.

“The AV industry is in a great position to lead this technology: we already have the tools, understanding and experience to control complex, multi-faceted systems. It is up to us now to take advantage and extend our role in this sector.”

www.allen-heath.com www.commandfusion.com www.controlhaus.de www.crestron.eu www.neets.dk

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38 SOLUTIONS: GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ANKARA TURKEY

November 2015

There are two speaker systems: a front-facing set of d&b Ti10L line arrays and ceiling clusters of d&b 10S speakers (Picture: Salzbrenner Stagetec Audio Video Mediensystem)

Installed

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Local solutions

Audio n d&b Ti10L line arrays n d&b 10S loudspeakers n d&b D6 amps n EV CPS 8.5 amps n Salzbrenner Stagetec Nexus Gain/Delay Matrix n Salzbrenner Stagetec Nexus Base Stations n Salzbrenner Stagetec C.A.S. 50600 media control system n Salzbrenner Stagetec Polaris Touch mixing console

The Turkish parliament building is one of the few debating chambers in the world to have a localised audio system, capable of pinpointing the location of any of 500 delegates who may be speaking. Tom Bradbury explains how the system came into being

I

t’s a fact that the system made of the human ear and brain is a highly sophisticated one, capable of identifying where sound comes from with amazing accuracy. Using this information, the brain can clearly identify even the slightest change in loudness and thus locate direction.

“This in essence was the challenge presented by the requirements for a new sound system in the Turkish Parliament building Ankara,” explains Tayfun Konuralp, who heads the Ankara office of Atempo, a leading provider of professional audio in Turkey. “With a requirement for a major improvement in intelligibility over the previous installation made in 1996 as a given, the desire was added for any member of the Parliament to be able to easily identify who was speaking and from where, even during the most heated of debates.”

When Atempo first became involved at the start of 2013, Dr Wolfgang Ahnert of Acoustic Design Ahnert (ADA) had already been engaged by the Parliamentary authorities to find a solution. “Dr Ahnert is something of legend in acoustical consulting and design as the inventor of EASE software,” says Konuralp. “We

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anticipated our skill set would be taken to a new level by his proposals and we were not disappointed.”

Addressing the house Put to open tender, Atempo presented a system using a mix of d&b audiotechnik loudspeaker systems. Konarulp explains: “The debating chamber is a fan-shaped auditorium seating 500 parliamentarians with a central main platform from where the speaker of the house manages the sessions. In essence this is a two-system solution: there is a front-facing system of left/ right d&b Ti10Ls so that the platform can address the whole house. The second system is distributed, a set of ceiling clusters, using individually amplified d&b 10S loudspeakers arranged to face downward and in a cross formation to give 360º propagation.”

Also involved in the project was a team from Salzbrenner Stagetec Audio Video Mediensysteme (SSAVM), the systems integration division of Salzbrenner Stagetec Mediagroup. Led by technical co-ordinator Jochen Schulz, the SSAVM team installed a Nexus Gain/Delay Matrix, two Nexus Base

Stations and a C.A.S. 50600 media control system from Stage Tec, another member of the Salzbrenner Stagetec Mediagroup.

The Nexus system’s Level/Delay matrix handles 56 audio output channels that feed dedicated power amplifiers. Connecting the channels to their respective power amplifiers and verifying all connections is a rather timeconsuming exercise, even if there are no cable mix-ups.

Says Konarulp: “The key to this system is the Mediagroup’s Nexus matrix system management that, through programmed time settings, can localise sound to the region of any Parliament member who is talking, relative to the rest of the chamber.”

The Atempo team installed and connected a Polaris Touch mixing console from Salzbrenner.

Due to the long distances within the Parliament building, two Nexus Base Devices were used to provide all the functions requested by the client – one in the control room, the other under the roof next to the power amplifiers, connected via fibre-optic cabling to keep the cost down and to enable error detection in the control room. The Nexus system was connected to the d&b network

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SOLUTIONS: GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ANKARA 39

About the project partners n Acoustic Design Ahnert is one of the companies led

by Dr Wolfgang Ahnert, the inventor of EASE acoustic simulation software n Atempo, which was founded 29 years ago, has three offices in Turkey and works with clients across a broad range of sectors including public sector, conferencing, entertainment, corporate and retail n Salzbrenner Stagetec Audio Video Mediensysteme is the systems integration division of Salzbrenner Stagetec Mediagroup. Collectively, the different divisions cover manufacturing and product development, project engineering and distribution

Head of audio and media Yakup Bayraktar and sound engineer Murat Sahin with the new system (Picture: Salzbrenner Stagetec Audio Video Mediensystem)

to provide connectivity and remote control functionality of the power amplifiers.

Calibration task Calibrating this enormous amount of channels and speakers is a specialist job and was performed by Dr Ahnert, who is the first to admit that using measurement microphones only gets you so far; experience, expert ears, and the capability to compromise reasonably are no less important. Based on the concept developed by Enno Finder of ADA and Dr Ahnert’s instructions, the SSAVM team optimised the frequency response and programmed the Level/Delay matrix, setting the correct levels and delays for every single speaker, depending on its physical location, individually for each of the seven source zones: three for the podium including the president, the speaker desk, the commission and the ministers, and four for the delegates. This way, the sound is loudest and first perceived from the approximate area of the microphone that a representative uses to ask a question or make a comment. Avoiding phase issues and intelligibility problems becomes a real challenge when using 56 speakers spread all over the hall. Nevertheless, it took Schulz only two days to get approval from both Dr Ahnert and the parliament’s authorities.

Status control and error monitoring of the power amplifiers and speakers is handled by a management routine running inside the C.A.S. 50600 Media Control system. This system is also

SSAVM technical co-ordinator Jochen Schulz with some of the Nexus equipment (Picture: Atempo)

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connected to programmable eight-key remote panels, which allow guides to access the sound system’s basic functions from outside the control room. The overall system provides three modes: off (all power amplifiers on standby), visitor mode (access to basic functions via remote panels) and assembly mode (operated from the control room).

Parliament normally goes into recess for three months across the summer but the year of installation coincided with the presidential elections, “which cut install time in half to just six weeks”, explains Konuralp. “We worked almost around the clock, assembling three teams working six- to seven-hour shifts. Fortunately we have strength and depth in our audio teams so all three were in-house staff. Even so that’s a big commitment of resources and we needed every minute of those six weeks.”

“The Ti10L line array systems were commissioned immediately so the inauguration of the President could take place. The more complex testing and commissioning of the 10S based localisation system took place immediately afterwards, in the two-week gap before the official opening of Parliament. At the same time as the localisation system was in test we initiated training sessions for the Parliament’s own technical team.”

That team is led by Yakup Bayraktar, technical manager of the audio department at the Parliament. A former Tonmeister, he has been at the Grand Assembly for 17 years. “The old system had been falling short of modern standards for some time; intelligibility was so poor it could become uncomfortable and tiresome for our members,” he commented.

“The implementation by Atempo of Dr Wolfgang

Ahnert’s recommendation was a very efficient job in terms of execution, especially considering the severe restrictions imposed on time.”

Training and feedback Once the system was up and running, Jochen Schulz and Dominik Stepanek of SSAVM returned to Ankara to provide hands-on training for the 10-strong technical crew. After explaining both the general system overview and each device in detail, another day was spent team working with Enno Finder from ADA to simulate a number of errors, providing troubleshooting tips for the Parliament staff. Stepanek, the Polaris Touch product manager, demonstrated all Polarisrelated subjects during the comprehensive training sessions. He comments: “These sessions not only provide operators with the vital knowhow to use the system in the future – they also provide us with invaluable practical feedback on our products.”

Konuralp concludes: “This is the first and only such audio installation in a debating chamber with localisation in Turkey; in fact such systems are pretty unique as far as we understand, there is one in the Berlin Parliament we know, and maybe one or two others elsewhere. Mr Bayraktar’s team engaged with the process very quickly and soon took control. We have been impressed by their ability to operate what is a complex system, professionally and effectively.”

www.ada-acousticdesign.de www.dbaudio.com www.atempo.com.tr www.salzbrenner.de

16/10/2015 15:22

40 SOLUTIONS: NICKELODEON STORE, LONDON UNITED KINGDOM

The new audio system provides themed music and character support audio across the store

Brand building Nickelodeon’s first retail offering in Europe aims to create an interactive experience for visitors of all ages to enjoy, writes James Christopher

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November 2015

I

n common with other children’s entertainment brands – including one closely associated with a mouse – Nickelodeon has extended its presence into the retail world. After opening five stores in places such as Riyadh, Panama and Honduras, the company launched its first European retail location in May 2015.

Situated in London’s Leicester Square, the heart of one of the world’s prime retail and tourism destinations, the store provides a platform to showcase the global brand and its internationally recognised characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer. Rather than simply offering branded toys and clothes for sale, the store aims to provide a brand experience, featuring activities around the premises – including the chance to meet and greet a life-size SpongeBob costume character.

The job of delivering an immersive audiovisual scheme fell to PAI. Appointed by SmartDesign Group, the South Wales-based systems integrator was tasked with installing an array of AV, sound, lighting, multimedia and interactive elements throughout the multi-level space.

Spanning two floors and covering in excess of 400sqm, the flagship store boasts more

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Installed Video n Samsung DB55D displays n Samsung DB32D monitors n LG commercial displays n Clevertouch S Series 55in touchscreen n Hitachi CP-WX9210 projectors n Hitachi FL-900 UST lens n NEC M402H projectors n BrightSign LS422 networked media players n CleverTouch S Series 55in touchscreen n Pharos control system

Audio n Brightsign LS322 audio devices n Ashly ne8250.10pe 8 x 250W 100VL amplifier n Ashly Protea DSP n Apart MASK6T cabinet loudspeakers than 40 digital displays, a range of short-throw and glass projection, touchscreen technology and audio equipment.

Approaching the store, eyes are drawn to a striking landscape videowall behind the windows on the upper level. Made up of three separate but synchronised videowalls, comprising a total of 24 Samsung screens in 4 x 2 formation, it operates from store opening through to the early hours of the following morning.

Inside a further 21 screens are distributed: a 2 x 2 videowall above the staircase is surrounded by a large frame in Nickelodeon’s famous bright orange, while seven screens make up a vertical screen feature, which connects the two floors and sees vibrant content move up and down. Half a dozen 46in commercial monitors can be found on the first floor, with four 32in models at the point-of-sale areas.

Distribution and control comes via a Pharos system, paired with 26 BrightSign LS422 networked media players supporting 1080p 30 video playback and six LS322 commercial audio devices.

While ultra-short throw projectors broadcast content across walls, other models project bubbles, jellyfish and more across the floor. In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles zone, glass projection is used to display footage

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About the installer n The PAI Group comprises four businesses specialising in the design, installation and support of integrated audio, video, lighting and control solutions n Other well-known retail clients include DFS, Disney, Hard Rock, HSBC, Reiss and Virgin n Recently completed projects include clients such as bowling chain Superbowl, Royal Horseguards Hotel, Arup and Harlech Castle of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo.

Elsewhere a kiosk in the shape of a pineapple – the underwater home of SpongeBob SquarePants – hosts eight iPads featuring a multitude of apps and games. Along with a CleverTouch S Series 55in touchscreen, there are plenty of interactive pause points to keep customers young and old amused.

Full range, two-way loudspeakers, powered by Ashly amplification with built in Protea digital sound processing, provide the themed music and character support audio across the whole store.

PAI’s in-house media and IT teams now manage regular content updates across the store, as instructed by the client.

A 2 x 2 videowall is framed in Nickelodeon’s bright orange branding

www.apart-audio.com www.ashly.com www.brightsign.biz www.cleverproducts.com www.hitachidigitalmedia.com www.lg.com www.nec-display-solutions.com www.paigroup.com www.pharoscontrols.com www.samsung.com

19/10/2015 16:53

42 SOLUTIONS: ODEON CINEMA, LIVERPOOL UNITED KINGDOM

An additional covering on the outer surface makes the LG cooler doors semi-transparent, hides the dark bottles inside when content is playing and improves the colour rendition of the content

The Max factor Transparent drinks coolers are providing an eye-catching solution for Pepsi Max consumers in this cinema foyer, reports Tom Bradbury

P

epsi has enhanced the point of sale experience for customers at the Odeon cinema in Liverpool with three ‘digital at the moment of choice’ (DAMOC) drinks coolers. The eye-catching units were intended to be in place just for the month of August, but thanks to their popularity they have become a permanent installation.

Designed to capture attention and create a talking point among cinemagoers, the units feature transparent display technology – so they look like regular glass doors, until animations run across the three screens. They are located among a group of freestanding coolers in a Pepsi Max-branded area in the cinema foyer.

The full HD coolers have been designed by digital signage solution specialist Focal Media and feature transparent LED-backlit LCD displays from LG Electronics. Creative content was created by ad agency Arnold KLP in collaboration with Focal Media. When no content is being shown, the display is semi-transparent, with the bottles inside clearly visible. When the media plays, the products are obscured, or at times completely hidden, by animated graphics: waves of Pepsi appear from opposite sides (the three doors act as a single display) and crash into each other, a sheet of ice appears and then shatters dramatically, animated Pepsi logos fly and marketing messages are shown. Motion sensors trigger the content when customers approach, and also register each time a door is opened.

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November 2015

The content resides on the DAMOC media player, a custom server designed by Focal Media.

The content is rolled out via Wifi on Focal’s bespoke CMS system, which enables the coolers to display real-time content if desired.

“For customer engagement we can pull in live data directly, for example live goal scorers for Champions League matches or Twitter content tagging Pepsi,” says Kevin Hayes, commercial director of Focal Media.

He continues: “We truly believe in the future of DAMOC displays as an effective customer decision-making tool. Working with LG, we were able to create the bespoke cooler units and the reaction has been phenomenal. It’s so encouraging to see that these displays have remained in place beyond the initial August launch, too.

“This particular installation did come with some unique challenges. Due to the dark colour of the Pepsi bottles inside, we added an additional FMLDS-Transplate to the top of the LG transparent displays. This makes the displays semi-transparent while maintaining the true colours of the creative so that the bottles can’t be seen when the content is playing, adding to the surprise of the reveal once the Pepsi splash has cleared from the display.”

Paul Bromley, reseller account manager for LG Electronics UK, adds: “Since the introduction of our transparent screen technology to the market, we have seen the interest in and

About the installer n Dublin-based Focal Media was established in March 2000 as a point-of-sale media provider n Initially specialising in the licensed trade, the company has had long-term contracts with Diageo and Heineken, building a network of some 1,200 static FocalPoint Units across Northern Ireland and Ireland n Over the past few years the company has expanded into digital signage – it covers supply and installation, content creation, and running and managing digital signage networks

Installed Video n Custom LG transparent LCD displays n Focal Media DAMOC media player n Focal Media FMLDS-Transplate use of DAMOC displays become an increasingly hot topic in the digital signage industry. The technology itself works by having two clear sheets of glass which are surrounded by edge lit LEDs. When the media plays, the signal pulses out through the LEDs to take over the display on the screen. One moment, you’re watching a Pepsi-Cola splash on our displays, and the next you’re looking at the real thing, which you can purchase to complete the experience.”

www.focalmedia.com www.lg.com

16/10/2015 11:41

E G A N G I S L A T I G I D E R O M

better! e h t r o f , s s e r your busin o f , u o y r o f , s ur day ISE 2016 – Fo At ISE 2016 visitors will experience the world’s largest gathering of leading digital signage manufacturers and service companies presenting cutting-edge products, technologies and solutions.

Plus, you have the chance to meet and engage with leading DS industry experts in a comprehensive conference programme.

ISE

Find out more and register: www.iseurope.org ISE is a joint venture partnership of

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10/16/2015 1:30:31 PM 16.10.15 12:04

44 SOLUTIONS IN BRIEF

November 2015

POLAND

Philharmonic Hall chooses Allen & Heath

www.allen-heath.com

Allen & Heath iLive digital systems have been installed throughout the new Philharmonic Hall in the Polish city of Szczecin. The building was constructed to replace a smaller concert hall, providing a more modern facility covering 12,000sqm and featuring a symphonic hall, a chamber hall, and several rehearsal suites.

The venue is equipped with five iLive mixing consoles installed by Konsbud Audio. iLive modular control surfaces – two iLive-176s and an iLive-144 – are installed in the larger symphonic hall where the 176 models manage FOH and monitors, while the iLive-144 is installed in an acoustic booth. In the chamber hall, designed for chamber concerts and educational events, there are two iLive-T control surfaces – an iLive-T80 and iLive-T112 – to manage FOH and monitors.

SINGAPORE

Symetrix DSP at core of Cato One of the latest additions to the Singapore bar and restaurant scene has opted for a Symetrix DSP at the centre of its high-end audio infrastructure.

A single Symetrix Jupiter 8 app-based DSP handles audio processing and routing across both the downstairs restaurant at Cato and the upstairs bar. Inputs include a Mac Mini computer and CD player, while two Symetrix ARC-2e wall panels facilitate quick and easy system adjustment. The completed installation also features 10 EAW speakers and a sub in the bar on the second level, and six JBL ceiling speakers in the restaurant. Local installer E&E handled the installation.

Cato music director Arjun Singh and his colleagues are “extremely satisfied with the sound quality” of the system.

www.symetrix.co

UNITED KINGDOM

Projection mapping brings Thames Tideway to life When the Sea Life Centre London Aquarium decided to refurbish its River Thames zone and create a new exhibition on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, a projection mapping spectacle was chosen as the best way to tell the story of this major infrastructure project.

As part of the wider exhibition, two Optoma EH415ST projectors were installed and edge blended with an Avolites Ai S4 media server to create a 4m-wide image onto a 3D map of London. This shows a four-minute film with 3D

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projection-mapped animated content telling the story of London’s development and how and why the Tideway Tunnel project is going ahead.

The video uses sound effects, illustrations and original photographs. Audio is fed through to three speakers over three separate channels, which fills the gallery with sound.

London-based design firm Immersive was commissioned to animate the content with projection mapping, and undertake the installation of the AV equipment.

www.optoma.com

16/10/2015 15:18

ICELAND

PA system exceeds standards at shopping mall Following an overhaul of the PA system at the Smáralind Shopping Mall, one of Iceland’s largest, Speech Transmission Index for Public Address (STIPA) standards have been exceeded and the quality of the old loudspeakers has improved.

This was achieved by deploying Harman’s IDX system, a hardware-software offering that takes Harman audio components and combines them with the information delivery system.

For configurable signal processing, Soundweb London BLU-800s were selected, all of which are served by the IDX controller. There are also three DT-715 paging stations and a DCi8|300 network. The IDX 200 server, which is the system’s core component, provides four channels of simultaneous message playback to different zones and is central to all paging commands as well as hosting message announcements.

www.harman.com

CANADA

X2O Media drives displays on the Union Pearson Express A visual communications system from X2O Media, a Barco company, is driving a network of displays providing information to thousands of travellers on Toronto’s Union Pearson Express, Metrolinx’s new express rail service linking Union Station with Toronto Pearson Airport.

The X2O platform powers approximately 80 display screens across all four stations along the UP Express route. The networked screens display multiple real-time data sources to inform travellers when the next train will arrive and which track will be used, supply up-to-date flight information and provide the latest news and weather.

The integration of X2O technology with the Union Pearson Express messaging system enables authorities to target messages to specific screens and even to specific zones of a screen. UP Express personnel are also able to take over an entire screen for priority messaging as required.

expanding conferencing experiences PVF 4112 Video conferencing furniture The Vogel’s PVF 4112 has been especially designed for the latest video conferencing requirements. The furniture has two 19" rack spaces for horizontal or vertical installation of electronic equipment. A special compartment is created in the centre of the cabinet to place a power socket.

The furniture has an integrated cable inlay system and the display(s) can be mounted at various heights. Together with the Vogel’s Connect-it interface bar and interface display strips you are able to mount single displays from 55" up to 70" or dual displays up to 2x 65".

The furniture is available with special silver aluminum composite or white acrylic glass which give the furniture a luxurious look and feel. Thanks to the slim design and front panel which opens horizontally, the furniture is ideal for use in small rooms.

The cabinet can be locked.

PVF 4112 movie For more information call +31(0)40 2 647 400 or e-mail salesprof@vogels.com

www.vogels.com/professional

www.x20media.com

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16/10/2015 15:18

W NE

CORETIS DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING – CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY –

MADE IN GERMANY

Ease of use

20 x 16 Matrix

AVB – Digital Audio Network

Integrated 4-port AVB switch

GPIO

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7/17/2015 11:58:49 AM 15.06.15 11:26

TECHNOLOGY

Kit you need to know about

PRODUCT OF Pakedge Device & Software THE MONTH WX-1 wireless access point

It’s… an 802.11ac access point that features a 3 x 3 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) radio configuration for up to five times faster connection speed and four times more bandwidth.

What’s different? The WX-1 is designed to guarantee powerful wireless installations in a variety of high-performance applications. It offers a higher channel capacity than n-based APs. With channels up to 80MHz wide the WX-1 is capable of processing up to four times as many signals per channel as other wireless access points.

Details: Designed for bandwidth-intensive multimedia traffic, the WX-1 boasts intelligent features such as TruStream and Pakedge

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Zones which are able to recognise and prioritise latency-sensitive voice and video traffic for seamless performance. The WX-1 also maintains high throughputs at long ranges. This throughput performance is attained through a combination of factors including six internal antennas based on a Pakedge proprietary design, high transmit power radios, as well as SectorMaxx and Fluxx technologies.

The WX-1 also offers versatile mounting options and form factors to simplify installation. The adaptability of the wall/ceiling surface mount and the in-ceiling/in-wall mounting trays conveniently allows integrators to stock only one SKU that can be upgraded as needed.

The WX-1 also includes T-bar brackets for drop-tile ceilings and there is even an outdoor version. Because the WX-1 is PoE+ powered,

the placement of the AP is flexible and not contingent on whether or not an AC power outlet is available.

Initially designed for more challenging residential jobs where wireless reliability is a priority, it is also commercial ready. Plenumrated for fire safety compliance, the WX-1 can also be used in hospitals, schools and medical applications. It also supports RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) servers, which centralise authentication, authorisation and account management for enhanced security.

Available: Now www.pakedge.com

15/10/2015 16:58

48 TECHNOLOGY: NEW PRODUCTS n Active Audio RayOn Rmini Designed to complement other RayOn speakers in smaller spaces, and more specifically as a solution for long corridors in airport terminals and train or underground stations where intelligibility is crucial, RayOn Rmini sports an aluminium enclosure and is EN24-54B compliant, and IP54 and IK08 certified. It can be used in either 100V line or low-impedance modes and uses the DGRC technological principles developed for the highend StepArray active DSP columns. www.activeaudio.fr n B-Tech

System X

The System X range consists of the BT8330 universal menu board mounting system for single-row ceiling or wallmounted installations; the BT8340 universal videowall mounting system for multiple-row ceiling or wallmounted installations; the BT8370 universal videowall stand; and the BT8371 mobile videowall stand (pictured). The range is designed for videowalls, digital signage and menu boards and is also suitable for the broadcast and videoconferencing markets. www.btechavmounts.com n GLP impression X4 L New from GLP is the impression X4 L. Features include the pixel mapping capabilities of its 37 high-power LEDs, as well as the newly redesigned zoom, which delivers ultra-fast operation from 7° to 50° apertures. RGBW quad colour LEDs provide both a broad palette and a crisp high-intensity output, while an inbuilt accessory holder can set an indexed position or rotate continuously. www.glp.de n Taiden

Digital Infrared Wireless Lecturing System Taiden has introduced its first digital infrared lecturing system, designed to provide excellent audio for a teaching environment. Featuring the manufacturer’s proprietary TDIR04 digital infrared processing chip, the TES-5600R digital infrared receiver, the TES-5602 handheld mic (pictured) and TES 5601 pendant mic, the system boasts zero radio interference. Systems in different classrooms will not interfere with each other. www.taiden.com

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November 2015

Polycom

RealPresence Trio It’s… the first smart hub for group collaboration that transforms the three-point conference phone into a voice, content sharing and video system.

What’s different? RealPresence Trio offers high sound quality, acts as a smart hub for group collaboration and brings easy-to-use visual collaboration to spaces that were previously cost prohibitive.

Details: Meetings start quickly with one-touch integration with calendars, while advanced audio performance provides a clear connection.

Participants can easily pair mobile devices or laptops to RealPresence Trio to share content in HD quality. With the addition of a webcam, it becomes a visual collaboration solution that turns any space into a high-powered work hub.

Easy to deploy, RealPresence Trio technology has broad interoperability and deep integration

across multiple UC platforms including Skype for Business and Microsoft Lync, BroadSoft and others.

Also new is RealPresence Centro, the industry’s first collaboration solution purposebuilt to put people at the centre of collaboration.

Polycom’s 360º voice and video technology automatically tracks the speaker, while also showing the entire meeting space on the same screen. The solution offers wireless pairing with many devices and has built-in proximity sensors to enable responsive and intelligent interaction.

Available: Now www.polycom.com

VTRON

Visionpro C-1500, 3D series It’s… two new additions to the Visionpro DLP videowall cube line-up.

What’s different? Visionpro C-1500 is the first super bright LED-lit DLP rearprojection cube with brightness of up to 1,500 ANSI lumens. Visionpro 3D series is a versatile 3D stereoscopic LED-lit DLP rear-projection cube offering fast switching between 2D and 3D. Details: The C-1500 (pictured) offers a wider colour gamut up to 120% NTSC, Automatic Colour and Brightness Management (Auto CBM), meaning the series delivers a vivid image with true colour in high brightness over a long period of operation.

Designed for the highest level of reliability, the Visonpro C-1500 has ultimate redundancy of all critical components for 24/7 control room operations.

Visionpro 3D is based on active shutter 3D technology. The series supports 3D signal source

of 1080p@120Hz with each eye perceiving 60fps that delivers high brightness, flicker-free, jitter-free and stereoscopic 3D images. The 3D series can also display 2D 4K content for failsafe 24/7 control room operations.

Available: Now www.vtron.com

15/10/2015 17:03

TECHNOLOGY: NEW PRODUCTS 49

www.installation-international.com

Kramer

n Caymon CASY

VP-440

The CASY modular 19in rack system consists of a complete product range containing different base frames to which an extensive range of optional modules can be installed.

It is built up around a main chassis, which is available in different sizes, mountings and depths. The system ranges from standard closed and vented blind panels, to connection modules featuring solderless audio, video and data connectivities. www.caymon.be

It’s… a compact ProScale presentation scaler/switcher.

What’s different?

Designed for classrooms, boardrooms and rental applications, the compact VP-440 features four HDMI and two computer graphics video inputs on 15-pin HD connectors.

The unit includes both an HDMI and an HDBaseT output that simultaneously display the same scaled input signal.

Details: The Kramer VP-440 features a wide range of control options: front-panel control via a user-friendly on-screen display, RS232 and contact-closure control; easy-to-use, builtin web pages over Ethernet, and bidirectional RS232 port tunnelling via HDBaseT. The product also features last-connected auto-input switching, giving users plug-anddisplay functionality.

The scaler/switcher has unbalanced analogue stereo inputs for each video input and embedded audio for its HDMI inputs.

It also includes an unbalanced analogue stereo audio output along with its HDMI and HDBaseT outputs.

The VP-440 features PixPerfect, Kramer’s pixel mapping and scaling technology and built in ProcAmp, enabling users to set colour, sharpness, contrast and brightness.

Available: Now www.kramerav.com

Oblong Industries Mezzanine 3 generation Mezzanine visual collaboration solution.

What’s different?

Details: The new workspace supports a variety of screen configurations across multiple walls. The upgrade also brings new remote participation capabilities to enable a more seamless virtual collaboration experience with Mezzanine from any location. Remote participants can connect from anywhere on the internet – no VPN is required. Built-in support for videoconferencing from the web browser

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SH97XAS, R6 9700S Shuttle Computer Handels now offers two turnkey videowall solutions incorporating Matrox C-Series or M-Series multi-display graphics cards in a compact and expandable Shuttle Mini PC. Available in configurations designed for up to six displays or projectors depending on the Matrox graphics card chosen, Shuttle’s Mini PC models SH97XAS (without OS) or R6 9700S (with Windows 10) feature a compact aluminium chassis, highly efficient cooling system, the latest-generation Intel Core processors, up to 32GB of DDR3 memory and space for three hard drives. www.shuttle.eu n RCF HL20 WP The HL20 WP is a compact, wide dispersion, twoway passive line array module. The trapezoidal 21mm Baltic birch plywood cabinet is both weatherproof and fire-resistant thanks to a fire resistant textured coating. Designed for theatres, concert halls or auditoriums, it boasts a maximum SPL of 135dB, a minimum weight of 34kg and 100º x 15º constant directivity coverage angle. www.rcf.it

It’s… the latest-

Mezzanine 3 supports 4K displays and adds BYOD features for iOS and Android platforms, as well as the ability to conference with nonMezzanine systems.

n Shuttle Computer Handels

n SiliconCore FSA system also means there’s no need to manage multiple devices to be seen and heard.

New layout tools enable users to create their own videowall with automated layouts, or mix, match and move content interactively without the need to master a complex switching device or content management system.

Available: Now www.oblong.com

SiliconCore has launched a Front Service Accessible (FSA) LED display system solution. It is compatible with SiliconCore’s complete direct-view LED range, from the Lavender 1.2mm through to the Lily 5.2mm. In addition to the front access ease of installation, other benefits include reduced weight and depth and multiple mounting options, such as curved and creatively shaped displays. www.silicon-core.com

15/10/2015 17:03

50 TECHNOLOGY: DEMO OF THE MONTH

November 2015

or application, rather than within Via.) Connections can be removed by hovering the cursor over them and clicking the ‘X’ that appears. Applications that you don’t want to work with can be hidden from the GUI. Dante Via provides the system master clock, so no Dante hardware is required at all.

“Which puts us into this really cool uncharted territory, because we don’t know how big the market is. The logical assumption is that it’s huge – because it’s a reasonably priced piece of software that lets you connect anything with anything and you don’t have to buy any other hardware – you can just use what you’ve got.”

Use cases

More functionality, less cost Paddy Baker is shown Audinate’s simple yet powerful Dante Via software, which brings Dante functionality to IT networks

T

he premise of Dante Via is very simple: it brings Dante network functionality to any computer, and to any audio device connected to it and any audio applications it is running. Ahead of its release at the end of October, I went to Audinate’s office in Brighton for a demo from Kieran Walsh – EMEA regional manager, global support services.

Dante Via was first demonstrated at InfoComm 2014. As Audinate CEO Lee Ellison explained to us when we interviewed him this summer, it was decided to broaden the appeal of the software by creating a simple-to-use dragand-drop user interface. This is available as an alternative to Dante Controller, which shows a cross-point matrix view of the system.

Via software runs on Windows or Mac (the two versions have identical functionality). The user interface is simple and intuitive: the lefthand side of the screen shows audio sources, the right shows destinations. Sources appear in one of four sections: local audio devices, local applications, Via devices and Dante devices.

Kieran Walsh, Audinate

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Via devices include sources connected to other computers running Via on the same network. These only appear once those other users have given permission for them to be accessed more widely. (On Dante Controller, connections involving devices awaiting permission are marked with a ‘no entry’ symbol.)

Outputs appear under similar headings: local audio outputs (which can be built-in outputs or other software or hardware) and local applications. To connect a source to an output is simply a matter of dragging and dropping its icon on that of the desired destination.

Connecting equipment So, while we’re talking, Walsh connects a a Digidesign Mbox2Pro FireWire box to his Mac via USB, and this appears, correctly named, on the source list. (For a moment I think he’s going to plug in a nearby electric guitar that’s sitting among all the various boxes and files piled up in the small office, but he doesn’t.)

“It’s only showing the built-in output on the receive side, because that’s all I’ve got enabled, but if I add the Mbox,” he says, while dragging and dropping, “I get those channels as well on the output side. So I’ve got complete control over what I’m sending to the network.”

He also starts Spotify, and plays a YouTube video via the Chrome browser: Spotify and Chrome appear as local applications, and appear by default on the built-in output – then he dragsand-drops them onto a connected HDMI device, which starts playing the two audio streams together. (Levels are adjusted within each device

He expounds some possible use cases: setting up a breakout conference room; bridging VoIP soft clients to Skype or WebEx; creating mix channels and talkback channels in a school ‘keyboard lab’ where the pupils are playing virtual instruments; an ad-hoc translation system; and building a rich audio experience, run by non-technical staff, for virtual product showcases in high-end shops and showrooms.

So Via has the potential both to reduce the amount of infrastructure within fixed installation designs – and the cost – and to add extra functionality to existing systems, particularly when there is little or no budget. Walsh is certain that customers will come up with applications that Audinate hasn’t thought of yet.

He continues: “What this does really well is it touches installations that have never had DSP or networked audio. So, for instance, in the pub next door they’ve got a machine running Spotify, some kind of zone mixer, a speaker management system and a bunch of loudspeakers. With Dante Via, you could play Spotify directly into networked-attached speakers, so you could get rid of a lot of those elements. From an installation perspective, you may get the complaint that you’ve made it more complicated by putting everything into software; but from the end-user perspective, it’s hardware that frightens them more – most people are used to using computers these days.”

For Walsh, the key strength of Via is that, because it removes the need for cabling dedicated to specific hardware, it simply makes more things possible, and changes the way you work.

“Because it’s fairly transparent, once you’ve been using it for a while you start taking it for granted – which is always a nice thing about good technology. And when you go back to doing things the old way again, you think: ‘This is hard!’”

www.audinate.com

16/10/2015 11:51

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52 TECHNOLOGY: SHOWCASE

November 2015

FURNITURE AND MOUNTS The latest furniture and mounting solutions cut installation times with a mix of adjustment tools and design considerations, writes Duncan Proctor

Custom-built pods from Unicol Unicol’s Pods on Wheels (POW) are a range of nesting trolleys that can be tailored to the customer’s specific connectivity requirements. The client supplies information on their preferred AV peripherals, PCs and controllers and Unicol custom builds the unit to those requirements.

The units can be nested together when not in use, with five units taking up less than 2m depth. They can also be deployed for individual use or daisy-chained together, and accommodate a variety of display sizes up to 70in. There is secure storage for PCs and additional space at the front of the unit to store cables.

Within the education sector, the pods facilitate group working and can provide either a temporary or portable learning platform without the installation of a full AV system.

Tempest provides remote monitoring The Typhoon enclosure from Tempest is aimed at outdoor video mapping installations as well as rental and staging applications.

It can be used in landscape or portrait orientation, and includes tabletop and ceiling projector mounts, and a wide range of rigging and installation options as standard.

The hydrophobic HEPA filters protect the projectors from salt and oil fog, extending their lifespan. The enclosure also comes with Tempest’s Goldilocks operating system, which is designed to prevent projectors from overheating and condensation damage.

www.unicol.com

Peerless ensures alignment accuracy with reusable spacers The DS-VW755S videowall mount from PeerlessAV has a slim design, only 48mm from the wall, to make it suited to discreet LED display installations. The quick-release mechanism enables access to displays anywhere in the array, particularly for recessed applications. This installer-friendly mechanism helps with ongoing maintenance as well as installation.

To ensure displays in a videowall are correctly aligned there is tool-less micro adjustment at eight points and reusable custom spacers that facilitate accurate mount placement for specific display models. In addition, videowalls can be mounted in either portrait or landscape format.

The included installation app automatically calculates mount positioning and the mount

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extends into a negative tilt position to provide greater access, further aiding installation.

www.peerless-av.com

www.tempest.org

Chief uses tool-free system to reduce install times The Chief SYSAU suspended ceiling projector system comes in pre-assembled sections with a tool-free mount to cut installation time by a third. It includes a suspended adjustable ceiling plate, which allows placement above or below the ceiling tile and accommodates inconsistent T-grids.

It also includes a column system, mount and universal interface for easier lock/unlock at the projector connection. The quick disconnect from interface to projector and interface to mount also provides easy access while maintaining registration.

Centris technology enables fingertip positioning with toolfree lockdown.

www.chiefmfg.com

15/10/2015 17:07

TECHNOLOGY: SHOWCASE 53

www.installation-international.com

edbak brings display precision with open frame design

The VWPOP65-L universal videowall mount from edbak has been specifically designed for fast servicing of recessed or enclosed videowall installations – with the fast release pop-out mechanism allowing full extension of a display out of the videowall. This mechanism can also be adjusted for varying display weights to ensure safe and controlled extension.

Tool-less independent eight-point microadjustment is included for display alignment, and precision dedicated spacers mean on-site calculations and measurements are no longer required.

www.edbak.com

Community delivers assembly options BalancePoint Flyware allows loudspeaker system designers to create planar or isometric arrays using Community’s I Series arrayable loudspeakers and add rear, top or steered subwoofers.

Individual loudspeakers can be aimed during system commissioning, therefore arrays can be quickly assembled on- or offsite. BalancePoint Flyware comes in black and white and complements the I Series loudspeakers’ discreet design.

www.communitypro.com

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ILS balances full integration and modularity The Synergy IM forms part of the new Synergy series of lecterns from ILS, which is a range of flexible presentation systems that can be tailored to different venues and uses such as lecture theatres and event presentations.

The Synergy IM has been designed to be a fully integrated system that is also modular and has space for different options and solutions, including an audio upgrade with VoicePoint speakers for rooms of up 100 people. Synergy lecterns also come with a connectivity panel as standard for laptops using VGA/HDMI/USB connectors.

Synergy IM uses ILS multitouch glass technology, which is a sheet of 6mm safety glass that offers 10-point multitouch capability and integrated 22in Full HD screen. There is also a 10in control panel, and a multifunctional keyboard that can be customised using software that can display different key layouts.

The IM comes as standard with a 10in

control panel, which integrates to the main screen using Windows 10.

www.intelligentlecterns.com

Dual VC display mounting from Vogel’s Vogel’s PVF 4112 videoconferencing mounting solution is a standalone unit for single displays between 55in and 90in and dual displays up to 65in.

The furniture has been combined with Connect-it interface bars and interface display strips. To create a complete videoconferencing solution, users can add a camera and loudspeakers to the PVF’s holders.

The PVF 4112 has a slim design suited for use in small rooms, and the cabinet can be locked to prevent unauthorised access.

The furniture includes two 19in rack spaces and two height-adjustable trays. There is also a compartment in the centre of the cabinet for a power socket, and heightadjustable feet to level the enclosure.

www.vogels.com

15/10/2015 17:07

PLANYOUR MONTH AHEAD

Our pick of what to see, do and discover in the weeks ahead, including InfoComm on tour, AV in Russia and the Science of Sound in Manchester

PICK OF THE MONTH

InfoComm Connections Communications World (CCW), which draws 7,000+ top-level content creation, management and delivery professionals from all over the country and beyond.

www.infocomm.org

VISIT

Picture: Bernard Russell

READ

communications from an IT perspective, and the Exhibit Hall offers IT managers face-to-face time with some of the largest brands in the AV industry.

The New York event will be held on 11-12 November at the Javits Center and will be co-located with NAB’s Content &

ATTEND

InfoComm Connections brings training, products and solutions together for technology managers in higher education, retail, corporate, healthcare, hospitality and entertainment vertical markets.

Education sessions on unified communications and collaboration, AV/IT convergence, and networked AV look at audiovisual

Integrated Systems Russia

Next-Generation Video Coding and Streaming Benny Bing

Science of Sound

Running from 29 to 31 October at the Expocenter, Moscow, IS Russia will welcome more than 11,000 visitors to its eighth edition. The main themes of the 2015 outing include unified collaborative conferencing, digital signage, 3D technology and smart homes. www.isrussia.org

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This book describes next-generation video coding and streaming technologies with a comparative assessment of the strengths and weaknesses. Specific emphasis is placed on the H.265/HEVC video coding standard and adaptive bitrate video streaming.

Part of the Manchester Science Festival 2015, Science of Sound, which takes place on 1 November, allows visitors to experience the sounds of Quarry Bank Mill past and present and discover the science of sound.

Explore the exhibition Aural Looms and take part in activities and workshops across the site. www.manchestersciencefestival.com

15/10/2015 17:08

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9/18/2015 9:32:16 AM

ANDREW DUBOWSKI / SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY

“The more natural the sound, the more perfect the amplification. LEOPARD’s sound is so natural, it fools me into thinking the sound is not really amplified, even though I know it is. That feels like magic.”

Andrew Dubowski, Director of Operations

LEOPARD AND 900-LFC THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE LEO FAMILY Read the full interview at meyersound.com/sfsymphony

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9/21/2015 9:35:18 AM