Located just west of Oklahoma City, Yukon is known for its strong school system. Football plays a central role in the community, making the Yukon High School football stadium an important gathering place for students, families, and residents throughout the region. When Yukon Public Schools wanted to enhance the fan experience at its high school football stadium by extending audio coverage beyond the main stadium bowl, it turned to LEA Professional as the solution.

[Course Correction]

The project required audio distribution to three concession stand areas, the visitor stands, and the wellness building while integrating seamlessly with the stadium’s existing infrastructure. District staff contacted Chris Tower, president of Video Reality, to recommend amplifier upgrades. Having worked with LEA Professional products for years, Tower recommended Connect Series amplifiers for their flexibility, reliability, ease of programming, and overall value.

“This was an upgrade and expansion to the current system, so maintaining reliability and simplifying deployment were both important factors,” said Chris Stephens, general manager at Video Reality. “We needed a solution that could efficiently distribute audio to multiple locations throughout the stadium complex, and I knew LEA amplifiers were well-suited for the job.”

Video Reality installed several Dante-enabled Connect Series 702D and Connect Series 704D amplifiers to power the stadium complex. The CS702D is a 2-channel amplifier with 700 watts per channel, and the 4-channel CS704D also provides 700 watts per channel. All Connect Series amplifiers are professional-grade, IoT-enabled smart amplifiers suitable for installations of any size, while Dante-enabled models add 96 kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity. They support both Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z, selectable per channel, eliminating the need for separate amplifiers to handle different speaker impedances, streamlining installations, and reducing equipment costs. The Connect Series also includes 96kHz DSP as a standard feature, providing a range of benefits that greatly enhance audio performance and system versatility.

Video Reality designed the system using Dante to streamline signal distribution across the campus, enabling efficient transport of low-latency audio between multiple locations with minimal infrastructure complexity. The CS704D amplifier powers loudspeakers covering the visitor seating area, while some of the CS702D amplifiers power loudspeakers at each concession stand. Additional CS702D amplifiers were installed in the Wellness Building to power loudspeakers throughout the facility.

The upgraded system has delivered dependable performance throughout the stadium complex, providing seamless audio coverage for spectators, athletes, and staff. For them, the system is transparent and “just works.”

“LEA has long been a go-to amplifier line for us because of the flexibility in options, reliability, and ease of programming,” said Stephens. “Bottom line is that we trust the company and its products.”

Extron recently introduced its new NetPA Ultra FX Series. These eight and four-channel configurable output audio power amplifiers include Dante connectivity and audio DSP. Dante connectivity makes it easy to distribute audio from a centralized location to decentralized remote amplifiers throughout a facility, building, or campus using standard network hardware. Integrated audio DSP allows any NetPA Ultra FX amplifier to operate as a complete endpoint with dynamics processing and filters.

[Sustainability: How Far Has Pro AV Come?]

The NetPA Ultra FX Series is software configurable to support large systems with multiple speaker types by simultaneously driving 8 ohm, 4 ohm, 70 volt, and 100 volt loads. For maximum flexibility, the total power of two adjacent channels is shared, delivering up to 800 watts per single channel, according to model and system requirements. The series also features Extron InstaWake technology, offering the ability to return to full power from standby in under 50 milliseconds to ensure no part of the audio is ever cut off.

“As soon as the XPA Ultra FX amplifiers were introduced, we started getting requests for Dante versions,” said Casey Hall, chief marketing officer for Extron. “These amplifiers provide our customers with the high-powered, networked audio solutions they need now.”

With a new design, network audio support, and audio signal processing, the NetPA Ultra FX amplifier is designed for networked, multi‑zone applications requiring mixed speaker types and power levels.

Daktronics has expanded its on‑premises digital signage portfolio with a see‑through LED window displays. With applications spanning retail stores, convenience stores, gas stations, quick‑serve restaurants, and shopping center environments, the solution is intended to replace static window clings and posters with flexible digital content that can be updated quickly to match promotions, dayparts, and seasonal campaigns.

[The Art of Digital Signage]

Designed for interior, window‑facing installation, see‑through LED window displays allow businesses to deliver bright, exterior‑facing digital messaging through storefront glass while preserving natural light, visibility and an open in‑store experience. See‑through LED window displays are available in window‑friendly portrait formats designed to fit common storefront applications. Standard sizes include 55‑inch and 70‑inch displays, allowing businesses to select the right scale for their space and messaging needs.

“For many brick-and-mortar businesses, the storefront window is one of the most underused communication spaces,” said Bill Hadsell, product manager, solutions development, at Daktronics. “See‑through LED window displays are purpose‑built for that space, helping brands influence customers before they walk in while maintaining a positive in-store experience by allowing daylight to shine through it.”

Displays can be installed as individual units or connected side by side to create a wider digital canvas across larger window areas, providing flexibility for different storefront layouts without changing the core system. Content is scheduled and managed using Venus Control Suite, Daktronics centralized digital signage software, allowing operators to update messaging across one or multiple locations without reprinting signage. This flexibility supports timely promotions, limited‑time offers and consistent brand messaging across distributed retail and restaurant networks.

Jabra expanded its Evolve3 range with three new additions designed to deliver consistent call quality across desk-based, open-office, and hybrid or flexible workstyles. The new Evolve3 65 Flex, Evolve3 65, and Evolve3 45 provide professional voice pickup, in-call ANC, and audio optimized for AI-powered collaboration tools to a broader range of users.

[Pescatore: Studies Show Workers Conflicted on Hybrid]

“The way people work has changed dramatically, but many companies are still trying to solve every communication challenge with the same headset,” said Calum MacDougall, president at Jabra. “Desk-based callers, open-office professionals and hybrid workers all face different communication demands and design requirements. When audio performance doesn’t match how people work, it becomes harder to deliver a consistent call experience across the workforce, which impacts both conversations and AI tools increasingly built around voice.”

The new models include a compact, foldable boomless design for hybrid workers and two boom-arm versions optimized for in-office workers in noisy environments, helping organizations better match headset choice to how people actually work.

As voice becomes a more important input not just for meetings but also for AI tools such as speech-to-text, meeting summaries, and other voice-powered workflows, inconsistent voice pickup becomes both a communication issue and a productivity barrier. The expanded Evolve3 range addresses this challenge with purpose-built headset options for different workstyles, delivering more consistent audio performance across the workforce for both human collaboration and AI-powered conversations.

While each model is tailored to specific work environments, all three share the same foundation of Jabra ClearVoice technology and in-call ANC for precise voice pickup to support professional call performance and concentration. Built for business, all models offer secure Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity and centralized device management through Jabra Plus Management and Jabra Xpress, enabling easy deployment and management at scale.

Here is a closer look at each new model.

• Jabra Evolve3 65 Flex: Built for professionals moving between locations and shared workspaces who need professional audio performance in a more portable design. Features a foldable, mic arm-free design with enhanced outdoor voice pickup and Adaptive ANC for professional call quality on the move.
• Jabra Evolve3 65: Built for professionals working in busy open-office environments who need a higher level of concentration support. It provides advanced noise cancellation with Adaptive ANC and 3-mic voice pickup technology for professionals who need deep focus in shared spaces, while maintaining clear voice pickup during calls.
• Jabra Evolve3 45: The lightest on-ear headset in the Evolve3 range, built for professionals who spend most of their day at a desk either in the office or at home. It prioritizes lightweight comfort, simple usability and reliable call clarity for frequent conversations and fatigue-free wear.

Talk to enough people in the AV industry, and you will find broad agreement on one thing: the word AI has been stretched so far it has lost most of its meaning. Automation gets called AI. Rule-based alerting gets called AI. A chatbot bolted onto a monitoring dashboard gets called AI. The enthusiasm is understandable since the technology is genuinely moving fast, but the labeling has gotten ahead of reality, and the industry knows it.

But let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. We should question inflated claims, but we should also be willing to recognize where AI can genuinely add value. Especially when it comes to operational intelligence, because the accountability gap between AV, IT, and the network is exactly where AI delivers.

Platforms Everywhere, But the Complete Picture is Missing

InfoComm 2026 made clear that the industry has moved on from boxes. A decade ago, the conversation was about whether AV over IP would work. Today, the question is how platforms work together. Every major vendor now has a management layer: room control platforms, audio networking platforms, collaboration platforms, AV management platforms. The market has answered the device fragmentation problem of the last decade by building around software and platforms rather than hardware and point products. That is the right direction.

A New Problem Has Been Created

Each platform sees its own slice of the environment. The collaboration platform knows whether the call is live. The control system knows whether the display is on. The audio platform knows whether the DSP is responding. The network switch knows whether the port is up. But none of them, individually, can tell you why the room is not working. Craig Durr, Chief Analyst and founder of The Collab Collective, put it plainly after walking the InfoComm floor: the single-pane-of-glass pitch, he observed, usually just aggregates noise into one place. That is the "phantomization" problem in a sentence.

The Accountability Gap

When something fails in a converged AV environment, the investigation must cross platform boundaries that no single tool was designed to span. IT owns the network. AV owns the experience. The collaboration platform vendor owns their stack. When something fails, the executive audience does not care which layer caused the issue. They only know the stream glitched, the room did not work, or the CEO could not be heard.

That gap, the space between platforms where operational problems live, is the specific challenge that AI in AV needs to address to be worth the name. Not AI that adds a feature to an existing platform. AI that sits above the platforms and reasons across all of them. Durr's observation from the show floor cuts to it directly: "Monitoring was never the job. Resolution is."

What the Network Sees

The network is the connective tissue between every platform in the room. It is also the layer that most operational AI in AV does not cover. Magic in the room, boring on the network. That is still the goal. But boring depends on active intelligence, not passive infrastructure.

The root cause of an AV failure is often not in the device layer at all. It is upstream: a VLAN misconfiguration, a port that dropped, a Quality of Service (QoS) policy that changed. Even though every platform reports green, the room does not work. Without network-layer visibility, the investigation stays manual, and the blame game thrives.

That is one of the reasons NETGEAR partners with companies like Utelogy, Providius, XYTE, and NetSpeek. We believe network-layer visibility belongs inside the AI's operational context, not alongside it. These kinds of platforms are going to use an AI-native AV operations product to treat the network as a first-class data source.

The industry solved device fragmentation by moving to platforms. That was the right answer to the right problem. The next problem is both holistic and operational: how do you manage an environment that no single platform can fully see? That is the question AI in AV should be answering. When it does, it earns its name.

Christie projectors are helping tell the story of Canada’s national game at Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame. Specified by Audio Video Design and installed by Christie partner Applied Electronics, the projectors light up the screens in the Tim Horton’s Theatre and the TSN Theatre. They augment a previous installation of GS Series projectors in the National Bank World of Hockey Zone.

[AV Distribution That’s Above Par]

With the existing projectors in the TSN Theatre and Tim Horton’s Theatre nearing end-of-life, Rodney Joffe, owner, Audio Visual Design, worked closely with Christie to demonstrate how its projectors could be a fit for the Hall. “The demonstration at the Hockey Hall of Fame was impressive,” said Joffe. “On top of the presentation, Christie’s history of quality, service, and sales follow-up made these projectors a great fit for the Hall.”

An M 4K15 RGB pure laser projector was selected for the 125-seat TSN Theatre, which screens the family-friendly hockey adventure “Little Big Shot.” Part of the M 4K RGB Series, the compact, highly energy-efficient M 4K15 RGB offers 15,750 lumens, premium color reproduction and 4K UHD resolution for vibrant, true-to-life visuals.

In the Tim Horton’s Theatre, a 4K860-iS Inspire Series 8,500-lumen 4K UHD laser projector lights up the screen in this 120-seat space, which displays archival footage, including Stanley Cup championship highlight reels. Three blended GS Series laser projectors enhance the World of Hockey Zone, the largest dedicated exhibit area within the Hall, with over 20,000 lumens of brightness.

Joffe worked closely with Christie to optimize projector placement and settings to ensure seamless integration with the entire AV system. “The support from the Christie team was instrumental in the successful completion of this project,” he said.

“We value the opportunity to collaborate with Christie and Audio Visual Design on a project of this significance,” said Mike Dalton, VPof the audiovisual systems division at Applied Electronics. “Together, we’ve delivered a reliable, high-quality projection solution that not only supports the Hall’s mission to engage, educate, and inspire visitors through powerful visual storytelling, but also enhances how visitors engage with the history and excitement of the game."

Palmer Digital Group (PDG) unveiled a new PDG 22OCBSM Order Confirmation Enclosure. The standalone solution enhances digital signage menu boards by bringing digital order confirmation capabilities to quick-service restaurant (QSR) drive-thru lanes.

[The Art of Digital Signage]

Designed and manufactured entirely in-house at PDG's Illinois headquarters, the new enclosure integrates an LG 22XE1J-B high-bright outdoor display with a speaker, microphone, and camera into a compact standalone structure. The system allows customers to view their orders in real time without requiring a complete digital menu board replacement, offering QSR operators an affordable path toward modernizing existing drive-thru lanes.

Unlike traditional speaker posts that rely solely on audio communication, the PDG 22OCBSM adds an integrated visual confirmation display directly at the ordering position, eliminating the need for customers to look elsewhere to verify their orders. The enclosure also creates opportunities for restaurants to promote limited-time offers, seasonal menu items, and other messaging while customers place their orders.

The new enclosure supports LG's 22XE1J-B outdoor display, one of the few high-bright 22-inch commercial displays available for exterior applications. Lewis noted that the display size offers an ideal balance of visibility and enclosure footprint, ensuring order details remain clear and easy to read without creating an oversized structure.

"The new Order Confirmation Enclosure is another example of how we're evolving our outdoor digital menu board portfolio to solve real customer challenges," Lewis added. "Whether a restaurant is taking its first step into digital ordering or expanding an existing deployment, we've designed a solution that's durable, flexible, and easy to integrate into virtually any drive-thru environment."

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Jim Kidwell, Principal Product Marketing Manager at Audinate

From boardrooms to live concert arenas, AV-over-IP has brought incredible flexibility to AV systems in almost every application. Now that cloud-based solutions have come to the AV world, the decision about when and how to use them should be part of the discussion. Multiple companies, including Audinate with Dante Director and Dante Director Professional, now offer management and monitoring applications that provide superior insights into AV networks, in effect elevating AV systems into the professional IT space. These management solutions are worth considering, as they offer new capabilities for remote device management that can positively affect your daily customer service and support.

Where the cloud is still evolving is the full adoption of production-based workflows hosted entirely in the cloud. Mature solutions for professional broadcast, such as Grass Valley’s AMPP, can provide a fully realized cloud-based broadcast production environment with hardware connectivity, including Dante audio.

Moving production environments into the cloud is a bit of an internal accounting shift for many organizations. It may no longer include as much capital expenditure up front, but will have higher operational expenses as you utilize cloud production systems. This is a shift that can have real financial benefits, as you only pay for the systems when you are actively using them. So, with some up-front budgetary planning, organizations can effectively shift their accounting and make systems more cost-effective and flexible when needed.

A few weeks ago, while doing some research, I came across a Harvard Business Review article titled “Welcome to the Experience Economy” by B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore.

Turns out I was reading an article authored in 1998.

In technology terms, 1998 feels like another world. Before smartphones. Before cloud collaboration. Before hybrid work. And certainly, before AI became part of the daily operating vocabulary of almost every organization.

Yet what struck me was not how outdated the article felt, but how relevant its underlying logic of value still was.

The article explored two ideas that feel particularly important to this moment.

The first is the progression of economic value—from commodities, to goods, to services, and ultimately to experiences. As markets mature, each layer of value becomes more vulnerable to standardization and commoditization. What was once differentiated becomes easier to compare. So the opportunity for value has to keep moving upward, toward experiences that are more personal, more memorable, more relevant, and harder to reduce to a line item.

The second idea is more commercial, but just as important. Pine and Gilmore argue that companies reveal a great deal about the business they are really in by what they actually charge for. I think the end-user version of that question is equally important: if what we charge for reveals what we value, then what are you actually willing (and able) to pay for?

Those two ideas stayed with me because I believe they ask uncomfortable questions of the enterprise collaboration space in this moment.

The Experience Proposition

For years, the AV and collaboration industry has spoken the language of experience; moving from products to solutions, from systems to services, from rooms to outcomes, and from technology to workplace experience.

Yet, if we are honest, we have moved further in the opposite direction. We talked about outcomes, but optimized for standards. We talked about workplace experience, but bought and sold around equipment, deployment, support, and refresh. We talked about delivering strategic value while creating efficient operational and commercial models.

There were, of course, valid reasons for those strategies at the time. As standardization became the dominant operating principle of enterprise AV, the goal was to create confidence that had been lost in these spaces in the past.

From a user standpoint, could people walk into a room and know what to do? Would the call connect? Would content share? And from a management standpoint, could support teams manage hundreds or thousands of spaces without being overwhelmed by variation?

Personalization, Adaptability, and Differentiation

Today’s AI age, however, makes that contradiction much harder to ignore. While AI can certainly further accelerate commoditization—making the familiar easier, faster, and cheaper to deliver—it also offers the potential for incredible new levels of personalization, adaptability, and differentiation.

Pine and Gilmore’s article reminds us of something uncomfortable. In the experience economy, consistency is not the highest form of value; it is the foundation on which higher value can be created.

Consistency may prevent disappointment, but it is not inspiring. It does not exceed expectations. It does not create the energy, memory, momentum, or meaningful differentiation that anchor exceptional experiences and outcomes.

A reliable room prevents failure.

A remarkable meeting creates value because people came together.

So, if we are talking about “experience” in enterprise collaboration, what experience are we really pursuing? Is it simply reliability and predictability? Or is it, indeed, can it become something far more connected to the purpose of gathering itself?

Let’s stay with that for a moment.

When we borrow the word “experience,” it is easy to imagine theatre, hospitality, immersive design, or event production. Great events are designed around attention, energy, resonance, memory, and motivation to act. They take enormous amounts of preparation and planning, but deliver returns to justify that effort.

Most enterprise meetings will never justify months of planning or event-level production, nor should they. They operate at a different scale. But the objective is not as different as we might think. Our events brethren understand something enterprise collaboration often underplays: just bringing people together is not enough.

So, in meeting or learning environments, the future question should not only be whether the technology simply equips the meeting. It should be whether the environment, and the experience it creates, actually increases the value of gathering.

Here’s an analogy that may help picture one example of that potential future more tangibly.

A great Executive Assistant (EA) is, in many ways, an experience enabler. They anticipate and proactively prepare. They understand context and act in response. They remove friction before it appears. They recall individual preferences and priorities, and add small but resonant touches. They help executives show up better than they would have otherwise.

Great EAs create exceptional experiences because they consistently exceed others' expectations in how well they proactively enable better outcomes.

An AI-Powered Collaboration?

So what if, powered by the increasingly intelligent and human-aware technology capabilities of AI, collaboration environments were architected in the future to behave less like passive containers and more like spaces equipped with trusted and proactive executive assistants?

What if they understood the purpose of the meeting? What if they could sense signals, understand initial objectives, help adjust the room to the activity, leverage and react to real-time context, quickly assemble additional supporting data or reach out to additional parties to contribute. To take collaboration infrastructure from merely operational enablement to something more.

Would that be something worth paying for?

To be clear, I am not suggesting completely abandoning the commoditisation-driven path overnight in a market still struggling to break free of that. But it cannot be the only path.

The actionable path ahead is not only about how your organization completely rewrites the foundations of every RFP (yet). But it is about more actively thinking about how you create some permissions, incentives, structures, and rewards that allow the market to explore something more valuable with you.

The more practical short-term opportunity is to run two collaboration strategies at once. Keep optimizing what is known, though with a new eye to future risk mitigation and objectives. But in parallel, begin to create another protected lane that enables you to actively explore what is becoming possible.

>> That may begin with a pilot, a different partner conversation, or a small proof of concept.

>> It may mean exploring ways to effectively understand and measure meeting impact and outcome.

>> Perhaps creating a shared risk/reward model that allows both customer and provider to baseline, refine, and prove it before the proposition is fully mature.

>> It may also mean broadening the voices in the strategy & planning room beyond traditional collaboration technology stakeholders to include voices who understand the likes of human behaviour, learning, culture, facilitation, organizational change, and how people actually create value together.

The right balances will be specific to your role, your organization’s structures, and ultimately your organization’s ability to embrace AI transformation generally and the “future of collaboration” opportunity specifically. But foundationally, there must be a recognition that organizations cannot procure their way into that future of collaboration if their processes only reward the commoditized providers they already know how to compare.

The question in this moment is not whether your organization can yet deliver the remarkable meeting of the future today. It is whether the decisions being made today increase your ability to pursue it tomorrow. That future will not be defined only by what AI technically makes possible. It will be defined by what organizations decide is worth valuing.

Perhaps that is why a nearly 30-year-old article still matters. It reminds us that technology may keep changing the tools, but value still returns to something deeply human: what people notice, what they remember, what they trust, what helps them, and what they believe was worth more than just what it costs.

For the enterprise collaboration space, generally, AI now forces a choice. Either collaboration becomes even more commoditised as the market gets faster, more automated, and easier to compare. Or the industry, in part at least, led by end-user organizations prepared to value something more, truly redefines its definition of experience around the outcomes people actually gather to create.

That is the move from pursuing reliable rooms to enabling remarkable meetings!

Not simply better spaces, but better reasons to believe that gathering was worth it.

Bose Professional has officially launched its ShowTime STS118E.This installation-grade 18inch subwoofer, which took home our sister publication, SVC's , Best of Show at InfoComm 2026, is designed to deliver deep, immersive bass for Bose Professional systems in indoor or outdoor environments. Built for permanent installations and performance-driven spaces, ShowTime STS118E provides the low frequency impact required for music-forward and high-energy applications—while remaining easy to specify, install, and integrate.

[Can an Online Music Creation Platform Fulfill Rock Star Dreams?]

Designed to match the scale and voicing of high-output Bose Professional loudspeaker systems such as AMU, AMM, and Forum, ShowTime STS118E provides the controlled low-end required to expand system capability without adding complexity. From venues that need more impact to outdoor spaces that demand reliability, STS118E integrates naturally with Bose Professional platforms, allowing designers to maintain control, consistency, and predictability.

“ShowTime STS118E gives our customers an easy way to add serious low-frequency energy to the systems they already trust,” said John Maier, CEO of Bose Professional. “It expands our clients’ existing installations in a way that feels seamless, working effortlessly with our loudspeakers, processors, and amplifiers so designers can scale performance without rethinking their entire platform.”

The 18-inch low-frequency driver delivers high-output bass, while the installation-grade enclosure supports both ground-stacked and suspended deployment. Integrated suspension points and removable feet provide flexibility to accommodate layout, sightlines, and mounting requirements. A universal pole cup accepts both 35 mm poles and M20-threaded poles for secure top-box mounting when needed.

ShowTime STS118E features IP55 outdoor-rated construction for use in exposed and partially exposed environments. Available in black or white finish options, the enclosure integrates cleanly into a wide range of architectural and performance spaces.

Ohio’s Liberty Collective is an 18,000-square-foot entertainment complex designed to bring people together. The facility features five distinct restaurant concepts spread across two floors, along with a coffee and breakfast bar, an ice cream shop, and three bars, including a 30-tap self-pour beer wall. Setting the tone aurally is a must and Liberty Collective’s system is almost entirely used for background music. AtlasIED’s Atmosphere platform came to mind immediately for a recent upgrade.

[AV Distribution That’s Above Par]

The owners were working with Tom Kaper, owner of TECServices, to design and deploy the multitude of video displays throughout the building. Kaper contacted local integrator iCOMM Communications to help with the audio system. The building is approximately 160 feet long and 100 feet wide, with a very high ceiling and a large open area between the two floors. The architecture made audio intelligibility very challenging.

AtlasIED had the answer.

In turn, iCOMM Communications contacted Andy Black, McFadden Sales’ territory sales manager for Southwest Ohio and Kentucky, to assist with the AtlasIED installation. McFadden Sales has represented Pr AV and audio technology brands since its founding in 1938, building long-term partnerships with manufacturers such as AtlasIED.

“[Liberty Collective's] larger than similar concepts and incorporates outdoor space," said Black. "The inside design was gorgeous, but very acoustically challenging. A lot of work went into the design phase to come up with an audio solution that would suit the architecture.”

An Atmosphere AZM8 was well-suited for the venue’s needs. The AZM8 is an eight-zone digital signal processor and the heart of an Atmosphere audio control system. A built-in message player, virtual wall controllers, learning ambient noise sensing, Tilter Filter, auto-gain, GPIO, room combine, and more make the AZM8 a processing powerhouse. Two zones (east/west) were configured on each floor, while outside, separate zones were created for each side of the building.

Programming is simple via an on-board web interface optimized for common use cases. The control interface is device-agnostic, responsive, and meticulously designed to deliver an ideal user experience without sacrificing design freedom. In addition to Ethernet, built-in Wi-Fi allows tablets and other control devices to connect directly to the AZM8 via rights-based access.

A combination of the 800-watt DPA804, 1200-watt DPA1202, 2400-watt DPA2402, and 4800-watt HPA4202 amplifiers powers the loudspeakers installed throughout the venue. AtlasIED’s multiple-channel amplifiers are engineered to support 25V/70V/100V distributed systems as well as low impedance systems, making them versatile for a wide range of installations.

The building has garage doors that can open during warm weather, so wind inside the building can be considerable, making pendant loudspeakers problematic. Instead, iCOMM Communications proposed installing surface-mount loudspeakers much closer to the listeners to reduce intelligibility issues. After exploring options, Ken Sargent, owner of iCOMM Communications and self-proclaimed longtime AtlasIED fan, chose the AtlasIED 2-way SM82T loudspeakers based on their sound quality and commercial-grade durability. The largest of the SM Series at 16½ inches tall, the 30-watt loudspeaker features a high-efficiency woofer and 1-inch high-frequency compression drivers.

Outside, 12 AtlasIED AS-8T loudspeakers were mounted on light poles surrounding the volleyball courts, and “they sound great.” The AS-8T is a two-way, compact surface-mount loudspeaker that delivers a consistent, accurate broadband frequency response, both on- and off-axis. Equipped with a low-insertion-loss 60W transformer for 70V or 100V distributed applications, the durable, scuff-resistant, high-impact ABS enclosure with UV inhibitor is weather-resistant (IP55) for consistent performance in adverse conditions.

ALA20T column line-array loudspeakers flank the enormous, 25-foot-wide LED video screen that dominates the wall behind one of the bars. The 66-inch tall loudspeakers combine 20 3-inch full-range drivers and six 3/4-inch high-frequency tweeters, delivering maximum pattern control performance in a minimum footprint and making them ideal for applications that require exceptional speech intelligibility.

Newly completed, the entertainment venue has already proved to be a hit in the community, thanks in part to the superior sound Atmosphere delivers. By mounting the SM82T loudspeakers at the proper intervals and locations throughout the building’s interior, iCOMM Communications overcame the venue’s acoustic challenges.

"With a product catalog as extensive as AtlasIED's, it's fantastic to have a wide selection of high-quality indoor and outdoor loudspeakers. The audio experience is exceptional both inside and out," said Sargent. "AtlasIED's products are reliable, and their team is very knowledgeable. If someone doesn't know the answer to a question, they will find it out quickly. I truly enjoy working with them."

Situational awareness across defense, public safety, and emergency response operations is built on one critical resource: timely access to accurate visual information. Whether it is an unmanned aircraft surveying a contested environment, a helicopter supporting search-and-rescue operations, or a drone monitoring the spread of a wildfire, video has become one of the most valuable sources of operational intelligence.

But raw video alone is not enough. The value of video lies in how quickly it can be delivered, processed, interpreted, and acted upon. Behind every mission-critical video feed is a complex ecosystem of technologies responsible for encoding, transporting, transcoding, and displaying video across networks that may be bandwidth-constrained, unreliable, or contested. This increases the need for edge-based technologies, which operate directly in the field, closest to where events are unfolding, where timely situational awareness is most critical and connectivity to centralized processing or analysis cannot always be guaranteed.

As missions become more complex and the number of video sources continues to grow, the industry is increasingly turning to AI to help transform video from a passive stream of imagery into actionable insight. When applied correctly, AI enhances existing video workflows; enabling more accurate interpretation, reducing cognitive load on operators, and helping teams focus on the information that matters most.

A Growing Role

Video has become central to modern defense and civilian operations, which increasingly rely on edge‑based personnel to process and act on real‑time video insights even when connectivity to central systems is limited.

In military and defense operations, full-motion video from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), manned aircraft, and ground-based systems provides commanders with real-time insight into evolving situations. These feeds allow teams to monitor troop movements, identify potential threats, and coordinate responses across multiple operational units. At the edge, forward‑deployed teams, UAV operators, and tactical analysts rely on immediate, locally processed video to make rapid decisions under dynamic and high‑risk conditions.

Public safety agencies rely on similar capabilities. Police departments integrate video from helicopters, drones, fixed surveillance systems, and body‑worn cameras to support investigations and real‑time incident management in the field. Fire departments increasingly deploy aerial drones during wildfire response to assess fire behavior, track fire lines, and identify potential risks to firefighters on the ground. Search-and-rescue teams also use aerial video to expand coverage across vast terrain, monitoring these feeds for visual clues that might otherwise go unnoticed from the ground.

What these scenarios share is a reliance on real-time video transport and edge-based processing. Video must move quickly and securely from the field to command and tactical operations centers (TOCs), often across multiple networks and systems. The workflows behind these operations must accommodate different video formats, varying bandwidth availability, and multiple viewing destinations simultaneously.

Video encoders compress and prepare feeds for transmission. Transcoders adapt those streams to different network conditions or viewing platforms. Players and visualization systems allow operators to view, analyze, and share information in real time.

These components work together to ensure that decision makers receive the video they need when they need it. However, as the number of video sources grows, so does the complexity of processing and interpreting them—and in environments where connectivity may be intermittent or constrained, edge processing can make the difference between receiving actionable information in seconds versus minutes.

Video Overload

Operators working in mission-critical environments are often tasked with monitoring multiple video feeds simultaneously. In some operations centers, teams may oversee dozens of live streams at once. During field operations, where fewer video feeds are typically available, the reduced number of video feeds create increased pressure on quick, yet accurate, decision making.

This is where AI is starting to play a bigger role. AI can analyze visual data in real time as well as identify objects or activities, so teams can make faster decisions or use the information later to spot patterns and support investigations. AI-powered video analysis introduces several capabilities that significantly improve how mission-critical video is used.

Object Detection and Recognition: One of the most widely used video-based AI capabilities is object detection using computer vision algorithms. AI models can automatically identify and classify objects within a video stream, such as vehicles, individuals, vessels, or aircraft. Instead of reviewing entire recordings, analysts can quickly locate moments where specific events occurred.

AI‑enabled video analysis enhances mission-critical operations across defense, public safety, and search-and-rescue by rapidly identifying key elements within live or recorded imagery. For example, in military reconnaissance, automated detection can flag even hard-to-see vehicle movement within a surveillance zone, eliminating the need to manually scan hours of footage. During wildfire response, the same capabilities help identify hotspots, vehicles, or structures, giving incident commanders faster insight into emerging risks. For search-and-rescue teams, AI can highlight potential human figures in aerial imagery, dramatically reducing search time in sea rescues, difficult terrain, or other low‑visibility environments.

Metadata Enrichment: AI also enhances video workflows through a process called structured observation management (SOM), which generates additional metadata such as image chips of detected objects, timestamps, geographic coordinates, or movement vectors. When combined with traditional video metadata, it creates a richer data environment that allows operators to search, filter, and analyze video more effectively.

Pattern Recognition and Behavioral Analysis (GEOINT AI): Geospatial intelligence artificial intelligence (GEOINT AI) is the National Geospatial Agency's term for utilizing SOM to enable analysis of patterns and behaviors within geospatial data, including video. For example, a vehicle repeatedly circling a location or an object moving against expected traffic patterns may indicate a situation that requires closer investigation. These capabilities are particularly valuable in large-scale monitoring operations where the environment is constantly changing.

Balancing AI with Security

Another important shift in mission-critical video workflows is the movement of AI processing closer to the edge. In many deployments, this intelligence runs directly on field-deployed encoding systems mounted on vehicles, aircraft, or portable command units.

Rugged edge devices, such as the Haivision Kraken X1 Rugged video processing appliance, illustrate how modern video encoders are increasingly designed not only to encode and transport video reliably, but also to support processing capabilities that help reduce bandwidth requirements and accelerate situational insight. This approach reduces network load while enabling faster insights for operators.

By performing object detection before transmission, systems can prioritize sending only the most relevant information. In many cases, full-motion video no longer needs to traverse constrained networks. Instead, detections, including cropped images of detected objects and metadata, are transmitted to inform which streams should be prioritized for further review.

Despite the clear benefits of AI in video workflows, security remains a primary concern in many mission-critical environments. Defense organizations and public safety agencies often operate under strict requirements governing how information is processed, transmitted, and stored.

The good news is that modern AI implementations do not require data to leave secure environments. AI models can be deployed locally within trusted infrastructure, whether in mobile edge devices, tactical systems, or secured data centers, ensuring sensitive video content remains within controlled networks.

Additionally, AI processing can occur without the need to permanently store video. Systems can analyze incoming footage in real time to generate operational metadata, then discard the raw frames once processing is complete. This approach allows organizations to extract AI-driven insights while reducing data duplication and maintaining strict control over sensitive information.

Encryption, authentication, and secure video transport protocols remain essential components of these workflows. AI should enhance operational capabilities without introducing new vulnerabilities.

Operational Intelligence

The role of video in mission-critical operations will only continue to grow. As drones, sensors, and connected systems become more widely deployed, the volume of available visual data will expand dramatically.

AI will play a key role in helping organizations manage this scale. Rather than simply delivering video from point A to point B, modern video workflows are evolving into intelligent systems capable of analyzing, prioritizing, and contextualizing visual information.

The goal is not to replace human expertise, but to ensure that operators receive the right information at the right moment. In high-stakes environments where decisions must be made quickly, that difference can be critical. By combining real-time video transport with AI-driven analysis, mission-critical organizations are moving closer to a future where situational awareness is not limited by the volume of available data but enhanced by it.

There are plenty of wired and wireless lavalier microphone options on the market, but sometimes properly micing your on-screen talent is not an option. For example, maybe you have to "walk and talk" with that busy executive, or perhaps you happened upon a sidewalk performer and want to capture some footage. Your only option is to point your phone and shoot, but you'd rather not rely on your phone's built-in mic.

Scenarios like these and plenty more create an extensive menu of use cases for Shure's new MV88-USBC stereo microphone, which is clearly targeting the content creator market. The compact mic is about 1 inch long and attached to a hinge that allows 90 degrees of movement. The hinge is connected to a rectangle base with an integrated USB-C connector, so it plugs directly into the port on the bottom of your phone. (The previous MV88+ model requires a cable.) A small green LED on the base serves as the power indicator.

Once I connected the mic, I immediately started shaking the setup like a maraca. However, the USB-C connector created a secure fit, so I have no reports of flying microphones. The MV88 actually fit more tightly on my Galaxy A14 phone than my iPhone. That said, there are no magnets or clips to keep the unit in place, so try not to treat your setup like a percussion rattle. Also, be prepared to adjust your phone mount/tripod/stabilizer/selfie stick to accommodate its position at the bottom of your phone.

The MV88 also includes a custom carry case that bears a striking resemblance to an oversized mesh windscreen. Speaking of windscreens, the MV88’s windscreen is the size of a golf ball, but it protects the mic equally from all sides, which is important because of the various pickup patterns it offers.

A stereo pickup allows you adjust the pattern in 15-degree increments from a tight, shotgun-esque 60 degrees to a wide open 135 degrees. The mono cardioid, mono bidirectional, and raw mid-side settings don’t allow for pickup pattern adjustments, though there are plenty of other ways to make changes through Shure’s MOTIV Audio or MOTIV Video apps.

For example, you can select processing modes for speech, singing, acoustic, band, and flat. There are other adjustments within these modes as well, such as gain (up to 36dB), auto level (I used that instead with no complaints), high pass filter, and more. If you find exactly what you like, you can save a preset or just lock the settings.

I had the opportunity to test the MV88 at InfoComm 2026. There were two “creator pods” outside the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, so I claimed one for myself about 30 minutes before the show floor opened. It was a somewhat noisy area, as other people were already in the area and background music was playing. I stowed my glasses (ring lights really don’t like the bespectacled standing so close) and shot a short SCN promo, which I later posted on LinkedIn.

First, I’m not here to knock the iPhone’s built-in microphone. At close range, it did an acceptable job, though the background noise (particularly the music) was much louder than I’d like. Once past that “control” version, I tried the MV88 in stereo (60 degrees) and cardioid. For me, the cardioid setting delivered the best results, delivering the most natural sound for my voice while minimizing background noise. That said, the high end was noticeably crisp in those close quarters.

I did another test in a quiet upstairs hallway. A colleague held my phone while I walked about 12 feet away and started talking. The audio was clear, sure, but it sounded like I was about 12 feet away. However, at about 6 feet, the audio was significantly better. Did it sound like I was wearing a lav? Of course not—let’s not expect miracles from a 1-inch mic that's priced at $159.

The test that surprised me the most was the mono bi-directional mode. A colleague and I had a conversation about 4 feet away from each other, with the mic between us. The pickup was great, even when she moved around a bit. If you have off-screen commentators (and you’re shooting in 9:16 mode), this mic can capture the conversation clearly.

The MV88-USBC is not going to replace your wireless lavs or your handheld—and it's not designed to. Instead, it's going to be your go-to mic when your phone's built-in mic won't cut it and when other mics aren't convenient. It's well built and compact enough to take up permanent residence in your production bag, but it's so versatile that you may have a hard time putting it away.

Get your free copy of SCN's Integration Guide to House of Worship.

Volunteer-Friendly AV

A new production environment for Tennessee’s RockPoint Church Chattanooga serves as the backdrop for a conversation with integrators about the importance of balancing needs with budgets and long-term scalability for houses of worship. Plus, learn how RockPoint has embraced its new, volunteer-centered workflow to create a seamless experience for both in-person and online audiences.

At Issue

Industry experts from Absen, AtlasIED, LynTec, and Riedel discuss how the use of volunteer crews impacts house of worship AV design and product selection.

Download the Integration Guide to House of Worship.

Read the July issue of Systems Contractor News.

Celebrity Cruises has completed a major premium entertainment technology upgrade aboard Celebrity Solstice, installing a new Martin Professional lighting system as part of the ship’s extensive 45-day dry dock modernization. The project replaced the onboard theater’s original MAC 700 lights fixtures after nearly two decades of service with the newly released MAC Encore Two.

[Riedel Hits the Open Seas with Royal Caribbean]

As the first ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice-class fleet, the vessel underwent a comprehensive refurbishment as part of Celebrity Cruises’ broader fleet modernization initiative, which included upgrades to accommodations, public spaces and onboard entertainment facilities. The ship’s theater hosts multiple productions every day, with lighting systems operating for six to eight hours continuously and supporting three to four performances daily. Because cruise ship environments place unique demands on technical systems, reliability and serviceability were key considerations throughout the specification process.

The upgraded rig is anchored by MAC Encore Two fixtures to support the next generation of onboard entertainment, with Celebrity Cruises receiving the very first units produced and delivered from the factory. MAC Aura XIP fixtures were also selected to complement the Encore Two profile fixtures and provide additional creative flexibility throughout the theater. Together, the system delivers improved brightness, color consistency and effects capabilities while maintaining the reliability required for continuous operation at sea.

For an in-depth look at the installation, and to hear from those involved, watch the video below.

Coastal Source launched its 1000 Series Bollards. This new 1000 Series delivers outdoor audio performance through enhanced fidelity, increased power handling, deeper bass response, and unmatched environmental durability. Designed with flexibility for integrators in mind, the 1000 Series offers six configurable module options and multiple installation methods, including landscape, hardscape, and partially buried applications. Integrators can easily tailor system performance and aesthetics to suit a wide range of residential and commercial outdoor environments.

[How the San Diego Padres Route More Than 430 Audio Channels to 200-Plus Different Destinations]

"The 1000 Series represents a major milestone for Coastal Source and for outdoor audio as a category," said Franco D’Ascanio, CEO of Coastal Source. "We challenged ourselves to create a system that delivers the emotional impact, clarity, and dynamic range people expect from premium indoor listening environments while maintaining the durability required for the outdoors. The result is a platform that elevates every outdoor entertainment experience."

Leveraging technology developed for the company’s flagship 12.0 Line Source Bollard, the 1000 series incorporates a weatherized ribbon tweeter that delivers exceptional detail, clarity, and dynamic range across the listening spectrum. Combined with advanced acoustic suspension architecture and force-canceling bass technology, the system produces powerful low-frequency performance, natural vocal reproduction, and remarkable musical accuracy.

The series features sealed elliptical enclosures constructed from Coastal Source's proprietary color-through rotomolded composite material. Engineered to withstand harsh coastal conditions, the enclosure provides superior protection against moisture, UV exposure, temperature extremes, and corrosion while maintaining a refined architectural appearance.

The platform integrates seamlessly with Coastal Source's patented Plug+Play ecosystem and Uni-Connect cabling technology, enabling faster installation, simplified expansion, and long-term system reliability.

Engineered for demanding outdoor environments and designed to deliver extraordinary listening experiences, the 1000 Series Bollards provide dealers, designers, and homeowners with a powerful new solution for premium outdoor entertainment. Combining exceptional sound quality, architectural flexibility, and Coastal Source's legendary durability, the 1000 Series establishes a new benchmark for outdoor loudspeaker performance.

In case you missed it, Haivision Play ISR Premium was recently introduced. The new enhanced version of the Play ISR software-based, low-latency video player delivers advanced ISR video analysis, collaboration, and situational awareness capabilities for mission-critical operations.

[Convergence: What's Next?]

“Haivision Play ISR Premium gives ISR analysts the advanced tools they need to quickly understand, collaborate, and act on time-sensitive video intelligence,” said Brian Henry, president at Haivision MCS. “As part of Haivision’s growing ISR ecosystem, Play ISR Premium helps users improve situational awareness and make faster, more confident operational decisions in mission-critical environments.”

Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) professionals in defense, public safety, and security operations, Play ISR enables users to view full-motion video (FMV) and embedded key-length-value (KLV) metadata in real-time. With Play ISR Premium, Haivision is expanding its AI-enabled ISR video ecosystem to deliver powerful processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) tools.

As ISR teams manage growing volumes of live video and metadata in increasingly time-sensitive operational environments, organizations require more efficient tools to review, analyze, and act on vital information. Purpose-built for tactical ISR analysts, systems engineers, and operational teams, Play ISR Premium features interactive mapping, annotation, recording, and collaboration capabilities designed to support faster operational assessment and more informed decision-making.

Designed for ISR teams that require rapid video review, collaborative analysis, and streamlined access to essential ISR data, Play ISR Premium introduces a comprehensive set of advanced operational capabilities, including interactive mapping, advanced annotations, integrated recording tools, zoom and pan controls, advanced timeline, and snapshot capture.

Play ISR Premium is part of Haivision’s AI-enabled ISR video ecosystem, which includes the Makito video encoder series for streaming from platforms and sensors, Kraken X1 Rugged for real-time AI-powered video processing, and the Kobra video operations platform for tactical operations and situational awareness.

At its headquarters in Rockleigh, NJ, Crestron operates its Crestron Technical Institute (CTI), a hands-on training facility where integrators, engineers, and technology professionals learn to install, configure, and deploy Crestron systems at a professional level. As a refresh cycle approached to address outdated displays and aging mounts, the new environment needed to demonstrate what a modern AV deployment can deliver. What Crestron’s infrastructure team built, with the Chief Tempo flat panel in-wall mount system at its center, not only delivered on that goal, but added a training room where the technology itself became part of the lesson.

[Crestron and Creating a Culture of Collaboration]

The training rooms had last been updated roughly 10 years prior, with a pair of 86-inch displays and two 65-inch screens on traditional articulating wall mounts. The plan for the next chapter of the interactive, hands-on CTI courses called for five 98-inch LG CreateBoard touchscreens capable of supporting simultaneous input from multiple users at once. At that size and weight, traditional articulating mounts weren’t built for the job. Any flex or movement degrades the touch experience, and for a room designed to demonstrate precision AV, that wasn’t something the team could work around.

Two additional requirements shaped the install. First, Crestron wanted its DM NVX AV over IP solutions visible to students rather than hidden behind the displays, staged in dedicated accessory boxes beside each screen so trainees could see the infrastructure they’d be specifying in the field. That meant accommodating an unconventional three-box configuration per position. Second, the team needed easy serviceability.

Chief’s Tempo was selected for all 10 display positions across three classrooms. It keeps large displays tight to the wall, eliminates flex during touch interaction, and provides built-in service access without needing to remove the display.

“When you’re training the people who install AV systems for a living, the room itself sets the standard,” said Alex Villiard, principal infrastructure engineer, training, Crestron. “We needed mounting that could handle 98-inch touchpanels without any movement, support a custom layout that put the infrastructure on display, and let us get in and out for service without turning it into a project. The Chief Tempo flat panel in-wall mount system gave us the flexibility to build something that doesn’t exist as a standard configuration."

Making the DM NVX AV over IP platform visible has had a real instructional effect. The exposed Crestron solutions generate conversations in the room, where students ask about the hardware they’re looking at and get hands-on context for systems they’ll be specifying in the field.

“The Crestron Technical Institute is where our customers come to learn how to build with our systems,” added Villiard. “The touch experience is exactly what it should be, the infrastructure is visible and purposeful, and we can service everything without taking the room offline. That’s the environment we wanted to build.”

“What Crestron built in those training rooms is exactly what Chief mounts are designed to enable, a professional installation where the mounting solution supports the experience rather than limiting it,” said Dorian Haro, product manager, Legrand | AV. “Tempo was the right fit because it solved three distinct problems at once: stability for large-format touch displays, serviceability for a high-use environment, and the flexibility to support a custom layout that served a real instructional purpose. That’s the kind of deployment Chief is built for.”

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Jonathan Gryckiewicz, Business Development Director, Cloud Solutions at Ross Video

Cloud-based AV is reshaping how organizations produce, manage, and distribute video content. One of the biggest trends driving adoption is the convergence of traditional Pro AV with broadcast-quality production. Companies now expect executive town halls, virtual events, and internal communications to deliver the same polished experience audiences see in professional broadcasts. Cloud-enabled workflows help organizations achieve this by supporting remote production, centralized control, and scalable collaboration across teams and locations.

Another major trend is the shift from hardware-focused systems to workflow-focused environments. Modern AV strategies are less about purchasing standalone equipment and more about building flexible ecosystems that integrate production, automation, streaming, and content management. Cloud infrastructure allows organizations to scale resources as needed, reduce reliance on large, on-premises systems, and deploy updates or new capabilities more efficiently.

The benefits are significant. Cloud-based AV environments improve operational flexibility, enable remote collaboration, and help organizations respond faster to changing production demands. IP-based and software-defined workflows also support scalability, allowing companies to expand capabilities without rebuilding entire infrastructures. For many organizations, this can lower long-term operational costs while improving agility and system resilience.

However, there are important cautions. Cloud AV depends heavily on reliable network infrastructure, bandwidth, and cybersecurity. Without proper planning, organizations can face latency, interoperability, or reliability issues that impact live productions and user experience. Vendor lock-in is another growing concern, making open standards and interoperable platforms increasingly important when evaluating long-term AV strategies.

Ultimately, successful cloud AV adoption requires more than simply moving technology online. Organizations that focus on workflow design, scalability, and long-term operational strategy will be best positioned to maximize the benefits of cloud-based production and collaboration.

Zynchro System is harnessing the power of AI at the core of technical development while at the same time delivering its new AI assistant, Zyvo, to aid customers with content creation and campaign management.

[An AI Future]

Zynchro’s digital signage business's latest update delivers enhanced integrations with a full range of partners including android platforms CE Labs, Bluefin, Sony Aitrios, Placer.ai, and IRT for 8k content, as well as continued support for BrightSign and Elgato Stream Deck. Importantly, a manager of a digital signage network trained on the creation, management, and reporting features of Zynchro can seamlessly manage a vast and varied array of mixed platforms in the field. Retailers are currently running a variety of digital signage hardware in massive nationwide signage networks, all managed cohesively and simultaneously using only the Zynchro CMS.

“Saving time and money, essentially maximizing the monetization of their digital signage investments, is the most important metric for our customers,” stated Jose Behar, Zynchro CEO. “So, we are pleased to introduce Zyvo, a custom AI assistant that provides step-by-step instructions in campaign development and improved efficiencies at all levels within the application.”

Zyvo analyzes campaign results and delivers AI summaries of ideas and next steps based on performance. Clear and actionable reporting on key metrics enable brand managers to quickly and effortlessly make adjustments for significant improvements to bottom-line ROI.

Another example of augmented capabilities in monetization for Zynchro customers is found in a recent partnership with Placer.ai. Placer.ai delivers place-based data driven by interaction from customers’ cell phones. Location data is stored in the cloud and analyzed as part of a dynamic and robust Zynchro reporting tool further allowing network managers to optimize decision-making. Advanced location analytics deliver data tied to individual player performance, customer interaction with signage, and more, unlocking deep insights for enterprise-level optimization.

One week after the news of two brand new CEOs at Adder Technology and Epiphan Video, M&W Pro Audio introduced a new CEO of its own. There were also strategic appointments from Chyron, Korbyt, Visionarty, and Hai Robotics, while NSCA welcome new executive leadership to its board.

[The SCN July Issue Is Here: Dive Into an AI Future]

Missed it? Don't worry. As always, get caught up on the week that was in your Monday dose of Pro AV Newsmakers.

Chyron Strengthens Middle East Presence with Appointment of Ahmed Magd

Chyron recently appointed Ahmed Magd as sales director for the Middle East. Magd comes to Chyron with a strong leadership and live video production background, including previous senior commercial roles at Riedel Communications, Clear-Com, and Al Masa IT Distribution. His experience encompasses distributor and reseller management, key client relationships, and cross-border business development initiatives.

With almost two decades of experience in broadcast and media technology, Magd is responsible for driving Chyron's growth strategy across the Middle East, strengthening relationships with customers and partners, and helping broadcasters leverage Chyron's solutions for graphics, sports production, newsroom operations, and live content creation. Magd has a strong reputation for driving business growth, expanding partner ecosystems, and establishing market leadership in highly competitive environments.

Hai Robotics Expands Americas Leadership

Hai Robotics has appointed two senior executives to its Americas leadership team: Alan Berstein as general manager, Latin America (LATAM) and Paul Pendleton as VP of delivery.

Berstein leads Hai Robotics' growth and expansion strategy throughout Latin America while strengthening support for customers and partners across the region. He is responsible for building and scaling the regional team, expanding market presence, and ensuring customers have access to the resources and expertise needed to maximize the value of their automation investments.

Pendleton leads the end-to-end delivery of Hai Robotics' warehouse automation deployments across the Americas, overseeing delivery strategy, execution, talent development, customer satisfaction, and operational performance. Pendleton joins Hai Robotics with extensive experience leading large-scale automation programs and complex industrial projects for enterprise customers

TJ Waldorf Appointed SVP of Marketing at Korbyt

Korbyt appointed TJ Waldorf as SVP of Marketing. He brings more than two decades of experience leading go-to-market strategy for high-growth SaaS organizations, including leadership roles with several private equity-backed enterprise SaaS companies.

Most recently, Waldorf served as CMO at 1WorldSync, where he helped triple annual recurring revenue (ARR), expand the company’s global marketing organization and played a key role in its acquisition by Syndigo. Throughout his career, he has led marketing transformations, product launches and revenue growth initiatives across enterprise technology companies.

M&W Pro Audio Names Phillip Bunch as Chief Executive Officer

M&W Pro Audio has appointed Phil Bunch as chief executive officer. Bunch brings extensive professional audio manufacturing, operations, executive leadership, and global supply chain experience to the company. Bunch joined M&W Pro Audio immediately prior to the company's worldwide debut at the recent InfoComm trade show in Las Vegas, where M&W introduced its first two products, the D24 and D32 digital mixers. SCN covered the company's arrival here: Pro AV Newsmakers: Introducing M&W Pro Audio.

Prior to stepping into the new role at M&W Pro Audio, Bunch previously served for eight years as VP of global operations at Tectonic Audio Labs. He was previously the longtime president of Phase Group, where he has been responsible for overseeing the company's operations across its QA and engineering services, automation, supply chain management, and procurement divisions. Additionally, Bunch has held senior leadership positions at Eastech and Esoteric Audio, overseeing engineering, product development, manufacturing, quality, procurement, and global supply chain organizations throughout Asia and North America.

NSCA Welcomes New Leadership

NSCA announced the election of new officers to its board of directors for 2026-2027. Shedan Maghzi, strategic advisor at Avidex and current NSCA treasurer, assumed the role of president on July 1, 2026.

Maghzi replaces Dale Bottcher, who is chief revenue officer at AVI-SPL. Bottcher will serve as NSCA’s immediate past president, replacing Dan Schmidtendorff, president and CEO at Communication Company.

Don Mastro, chief revenue officer at FORTÉ and current NSCA secretary, will become NSCA vice president; Chris Wasp Jr., CEO at Ronco, will be named NSCA treasurer. Christina De Bono, president at ClearTech Media, will return to her role as NSCA secretary after most recently serving as NSCA vice president.

As Wasp Jr. leaves the board to join the executive team, and Laurie MacKeigan, president at Backman Vidcom, steps down after fulfilling her three-year term, two new board members joined for the 2026-2027 term: Dawn Cagliano, president at IVCi and 2026 SCN Hall of Famer, and Brandon Conick, COO at CTI. It was originally announced during the 2026 Business and Leadership Conference that Valley Communications Systems CEO Michael Tremble would join the board of directors, but a series of mergers and acquisitions forced NSCA’s Leadership Development Committee to develop a new plan. Tremble will remain co-chair of NSCA’s Business and Leadership Conference Planning Committee.

Visionary Appoints Phillip Cordell as VP of Marketing

Visionary Solutions appointed Phillip Cordell as VP of marketing, a newly created position established to support the company's continued growth and expand its investment in digital content, customer education, and brand development. Cordell brings a combination of audiovisual industry expertise and creative storytelling experience to the role. He spent more than 13 years in AV integration, advancing from field technician to vice president of technical operations at M3 Technology Group, where he led engineering, installation and technical support teams. Following the sale of his stake in the company in 2020, Cordell founded HiPhi Productions, producing films, television, and digital content that has generated more than 50 million social media views.

As VP of marketing, Cordell leads Visionary's marketing strategy, brand development, and digital content initiatives while expanding the company's educational resources for partners, integrators and end users. His production background will support the development of online training programs, technical education, product demonstrations and multimedia content designed to accelerate adoption of Visionary's growing portfolio, including the recently introduced nexAV We-Cosystem.

Company News

Compare, Explore, and Decide with cavlo Compares at Seattle Tech Expo

cavlo is introducing a new feature at this year's cavlo Seattle Tech Expo, giving attendees an entirely new way to experience audiovisual technology. Debuting October 21–22 at the Lynnwood Event Center, cavlo Compares is a hands-on product evaluation experience designed to help integrators, consultants, end users and technology professionals compare similar technologies in a neutral environment and determine which solutions best fit their own applications.

Developed in partnership with Coherent Design, cavlo Compares moves beyond traditional product demonstrations by allowing attendees to interact with multiple solutions within the same product category, all under the same conditions, so they can evaluate products based on their own priorities and project requirements.

Coherent Design will oversee the on-site evaluation process to ensure every participating manufacturer is presented fairly and consistently. Products will be displayed using standardized conditions, allowing attendees to compare features, performance, usability and functionality without influence.

LEA Professional Announces New Partnership with AVL Alliance

LEA Professional announced a new partnership with AVL Alliance, a Rocky Mountain region-based manufacturer’s representative. This partnership will bring LEA Professional’s extensive technology catalog to customers throughout Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of Texas.

AVL Alliance brings over 25 years of experience in live production and integration to the partnership. Through this partnership, AVL Alliance will represent LEA Professional’s Network Connect series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity.

Learning environments have endured a seismic shift over the past five years, as classroom and instructional models were transformed first through necessity and subsequently through new behaviors and preferences born through change. AV technology has played a substantial role along the way, from bringing physical and remote learners together through UC platforms to enhancing collaboration through streamlined connectivity and control technologies.

AI-based technologies have increasingly played a role in this changing classroom technology landscape, with beamforming microphones and camera tracking technology among the first to make a difference in our evolving education environments. Today, they have become powerful tools to help expand access to spoken word content across languages and models in real time with on-demand subsequent access just as easy (and expected) for the learners to access.

We’ve all become accustomed to live tools on our phones that can caption the words of the person in front of us, including real-time translations, and even re-speaking those words in a language we best understand. These capabilities (and much more) are possible today to help learning become more accessible, efficient, and comprehensible.

Besides all the “magic” AI can bring to maximize learning and understanding, there are also regulations that have been increasing at federal, state, and local levels regarding accessibility. For example, “WCAG 2.1 Level AA” codifies the Department of Justice’s final rule on ADA Title II with respect to online content for public entities, including K-12 districts and public universities. So, in many situations, captioning is required, not just helpful.

Diversity Abounds

The community that makes up an education student body has evolved over the decades. Today, you’ll find students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds as international as any United Nations event. With that comes all manner of hearing abilities and languages—but that doesn’t mean any of those languages are what’s being spoken in the room.

Add to that the art of multitasking by many of today's students, where they slice their time in the classroom (if they’re in a room with others at all) across multiple activities and devices while lectures and classmate conversations unfold. Like me, some prefer to read transcripts rather than watch a video or listen to an audio recording; they may be a faster reader or their setting may just be more conducive to reading a transcript rather than experiencing a lecture in real time.

These are the dynamics that have propelled AI captioning or translation from advantageous to must-have. When evaluating these valuable solutions, buyers should consider aspects such as flexible pricing, ease of setup, accuracy, latency, allowance for custom word libraries, word filtering and substitution, automated indication of speaker change, automated punctuation insertion, a documented API for automation, file-based access to transcripts and sidecar files (used for adding captions to videos), and a live data feed to get captions and translation out to other platforms and systems. That’s quite a list, but they all matter when it comes to performance.

The better AI captioning systems add a grammar filter to know the right spelling (for example, “they’re,” “their,” or “there”), with latencies of three to four seconds for native captions. An additional second or two is acceptable for translations. The field of translation is evolving rapidly and getting better at managing word-order differences between languages.

Voice fingerprinting is also coming along fast. At first, in file-based material, a system could identify someone's voice in isolation so that the AI could ID the voice. It had time to process the file and provide their name along with their captioned words. Now, it’s possible to do this in real time with live captions as people speak, thanks to high-speed GPU processing.

One of the easiest ways to make spoken word content easier for folks in the classroom to absorb and retain is with a caption video display. Tech by companies such as ENCO makes this simple, with a local NUC-type PC running totally on-prem, using no internet, taking a local in-room mic feed, and displaying text captions on a video monitor of any size in real time.

Further, those captions can be sent to mobile sites or apps or other devices and recorded as text transcripts. After all, it's just data. Then, those transcripts can be married with video or audio recordings of the sessions later, making them highly searchable for students who want to go back and review targeted material again. All this can happen while allowing the instructors to upload custom word libraries, so the AI systems have a leg up on knowing about complex or uniquely spelled words and technical jargon.

This same technology is available today to support students who may not speak the native tongue. In some cases, you might need an Internet connection for live translations, but more companies are providing entire on-prem live translation capabilities as well. Users can even display both the in-room language captions and various other live transitions on the same screens or on other screens or devices in the room. (And don’t forget those multi-lingual transcripts.)

Keep in mind that many students also learn remotely. Today's technology can deliver these same live captions to where they learn, while still originating from the room where the little NUC computer resides. However, those captions and translations require relay through a public web server following standard datasec/cybersecurity policies. They can also be passed onto streaming encoders to feed streaming CDNs, a method traditionally closer to the proven CEA-608/708 closed captions that broadcasters use.

The Third Rail

Captions and transcripts are very much the “third rail” of content. When coupled with audio and video (live or recorded), they can be the gateway to identifying essential nuggets of information within hours of long recordings. Searchable transcripts can quickly return results—and with the right content management system, users can instantly link to the point in a recording where something specific was mentioned.

While smaller institutions might need an in-room, off-network portable caption cart for occasional captioning and translation needs, what if there are dozens of rooms that require captions? Not a problem—remember, it's all just data.

A central cluster of campus servers can feed classrooms around a connected campus, employing useful signal routing capabilities such as audio over IP to get in-room audio to the central servers. The same infrastructure can bring the caption text data back to the room to show on a video monitor via a tiny Raspberry Pi or similar small computer, with its web browser looking back to the proper server.

You can also bank transcripts from all the sessions, allowing students to access them later (based on user authentication controls, since not everyone has access to every class). An overall “conductor” application can oversee when sessions are routed to a caption engine where the captions and transcripts can be accessed.

The ability to caption speakers isn’t limited to the lecturer up front, of course, as ceiling-mount or other additional microphones can capture student questions and comments that inevitably take place. Some caption systems can even label the speakers, for example, as "lecturer" and "student."

When learning is paramount, the best educational environments make available the course material and dialogues in as many ways as the learner can absorb. AI tools are there to help make this highly affordable, flexible, and deployable across a variety of situations, buildings, technical environments, and other requirements.

Universities are under increasing pressure to deliver consistent, technology-enabled learning experiences across multiple campuses, often while managing growing AV estates with limited IT resources. For Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina in Colombia, a historic institution founded in 1893, addressing these challenges became a priority. It responded by launching RAUDA, an ambitious initiative designed to centralize and standardize audiovisual infrastructure across its campus network. The school turned to Kramer to do both.

[UNLV Immerses Higher-Ed AV/IT Professionals in Virtual Reality]

With locations in Bogotá, Pereira, and Valledupar, the university had developed a diverse AV landscape over time, designed to support both in-person and hybrid learning for undergraduate and graduate students across a wide array of disciplines. Relying on a mix of technologies, including classroom touchscreens and commercial displays in halls and reception areas, the systems were managed independently. This fragmented approach made it difficult to maintain consistency across learning environments and shared spaces, along with limited visibility into system performance and slowed response times when issues arose.

To address this, the university launched RAUDA. The goal was not only to improve day-to-day operations, but also to enable more consistent experiences for both faculty and students. Working with system integrator Merge, Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina implemented the first phase of the RAUDA project by deploying a centralized AV over IP architecture across its sites. Classrooms, auditoriums, meeting spaces, and digital signage endpoints were connected into a unified network, allowing content to be distributed and managed more flexibly across locations.

An array of Kramer solutions were selected. These included Kramer KDS-EN7 encoders and KDS-DEC7 decoders for content distribution; VIA GO 3 devices for wireless presentation and collaboration; KC Virtual Brain 5 and Panta Rhei for system management, monitoring, and control; VSM on Cloud for centralized, cloud-based management; a dedicated network infrastructure built around NETGEAR M4250 switches, and TP-583TXR units for transmission support.

“Kramer gave us the ability to centralize and simplify AV management across campuses while delivering a more reliable and consistent experience for users,” said César Andrés Rodríguez Ángel, national director of technological innovation at Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina.

The impact has been felt both operationally and from a user experience perspective. Centralized control has helped streamline support workflows and reduce incident response times, while delivering more consistent and reliable AV performance across campuses. According to the university, this has translated into improved availability of learning spaces and a smoother experience for both staff and students.

The new infrastructure has also unlocked additional capabilities, particularly in the area of digital signage. The university can now manage and update content in real time across high-traffic areas, supporting more agile and targeted communication with students and visitors.

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Kelly Harlin, Director of Solutions Marketing and Commercialization at Sharp Imaging & Information Company of America

The cloud is fundamentally changing the AV landscape, shifting it from hardware-heavy setups to more flexible, software-driven platforms. As organizations adopt hybrid ways of working, AV has become essential to making collaboration feel seamless—whether people are in the office or working remotely. Cloud-based AV makes it easier to connect through video conferencing, shared content, and real-time collaboration tools, helping teams stay engaged and productive from anywhere.

One of the biggest advantages of cloud-based AV is how easily it scales. Organizations can roll out and manage AV across multiple locations without the need for large, upfront hardware investments. They can also adjust capacity as their needs change. With centralized, remote management, IT teams can monitor systems, push updates, and troubleshoot issues from anywhere, reducing downtime and lowering operational overhead.

We are also seeing that innovation drives faster adoption. Technologies like AV-over-IP and cloud-managed platforms are bringing AV and IT closer together, allowing systems to run on standard networks and integrate more easily with business applications. AI is adding another layer of intelligence, powering smarter cameras, better audio, and meeting spaces that can configure themselves. At the same time, open APIs are making it easier to build more connected, data-driven ecosystems.

As digital transformation continues to accelerate, cloud-based AV is evolving beyond a supporting tool into something much more strategic, helping organizations innovate, improve engagement, and better support how people work today.

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Daniel Renne, Director of Emerging Technologies and Projects at Hall Technologies

Cloud-connected AV is rapidly shifting from a hardware-centric model to a data-centric ecosystem. Historically, the AV industry has lacked meaningful operational intelligence because most devices functioned as isolated endpoints with limited telemetry, analytics, or centralized visibility. As organizations continue adopting hybrid work, distributed campuses, and enterprise-wide collaboration standards, that model is no longer sustainable.

The next evolution of AV in the cloud is not simply remote management; it is intelligent data aggregation. Manufacturers and technology providers should be designing AV and IoT-enabled devices that securely capture operational, environmental, and usage data and route that information into centralized cloud platforms and data warehouses. Once data context exists at scale, organizations can apply AI and advanced analytics to uncover trends that were previously invisible.

The benefits are significant. End users gain deeper insight into room utilization, user behavior, technology adoption, and recurring integration issues. IT teams can proactively identify failures before they impact meetings—while also optimizing lifecycle planning, reducing downtime, and making more informed infrastructure investments. Cloud intelligence also creates opportunities for predictive maintenance, energy efficiency, and more personalized user experiences across enterprise environments.

However, organizations should approach cloud-connected AV strategically. Data governance, cybersecurity, and privacy must remain foundational considerations. Increased connectivity also introduces additional operational costs related to cloud infrastructure, storage, and ongoing device management. The industry must ensure that the value of data intelligence outweighs the complexity and cost associated with collecting and securing it.

Ultimately, AV in the cloud should not just connect devices; it should create actionable intelligence.

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Jakub Kolacz, Manager of Product Management Software at Sennheiser

The shift to AV in the cloud reflects both a technological and operational evolution—one where systems are no longer treated as isolated room-based setups but as part of a broader, networked ecosystem. The defining trend is the move to centralized, cloud-based management platforms that provide continuous visibility into device health, configuration, and performance across multiple locations.

A key benefit of cloud platforms is the ability to remotely configure, monitor, and diagnose systems, allowing AV and IT teams to manage deployments proactively. For audio specifically, this means maintaining consistent performance by tracking device health, RF conditions, and firmware alignment from a unified interface. This is especially valuable in hybrid work scenarios, where the expectation is that every meeting delivers a reliable, high-quality experience regardless of location.

At the same time, centralized data unlocks deeper insights into usage patterns, fault trends, and environmental factors, informing better system design and ongoing optimization. Over time, this data foundation supports more advanced capabilities, including AI-driven monitoring and automated corrective actions, shifting teams toward oversight and governance rather than manual intervention.

That said, this transition comes with some important considerations. As AV systems become true network endpoints, they inherit IT-level requirements for security and compliance. Network stability is critical, and without it, the benefits of cloud management diminish. There is also a need for closer alignment between AV and IT teams, as shared ownership of systems can create complexities if responsibilities and workflows are not clearly defined.

Ultimately, cloud-based AV marks a shift from managing individual devices to managing system intelligence—but success depends on balancing innovation with infrastructure.

For more than a decade, AV Technology and Systems Contractor News have joined forces to deliver a full day of hot-topic panels, peer networking, and intimate conversations with vendors at the AV/IT Summit.

If you are a CTO, CIO, AV/IT director, consultant, or integrator, the AV/IT Summit on Aug. 5, 2026, in Times Square, is the must-attend event of the summer.

Space is truly limited, so apply now.

Check out the video below and learn why SCN’s Mark Pescatore and AVT’s Cindy Davis think you need to register to attend.

Designed to Engage, Inform, and Inspire

Our keynote, "The AI Moment for the Collaborative Workplace," delivered by Byron Tarry, founder and chief transformation officer of NΞXXT, is sure to inspire you and challenge your assumptions of AI in the workplace. Tarry will explore how analytics, automation, and intelligent agents can anchor the digital layer of a space, offering the ability to generate insight, optimize performance, and increasingly collaborate with the people who use it.

Pain Points 2026: Bring yours and get answers!

Designing the Modern Higher Ed Classroom: Moderated by HETMA's Joe Way

Broadcast-Level AV for Enterprise and Higher Ed: What you need to know to get started and level up.

The Consultant’s Roundtable: Learn how they can help your organization plan, design, deploy, and manage AV and IT infrastructure solutions—and, of course, simplify the process.

The State of Collaboration: We discuss the new collaboration space and the drivers for high-quality solutions.

The Great AI Debate: We discuss how AI is truly impacting Pro AV.

Better Every Year

“Each year I have been involved with the AV/IT Summit, it gets better and better,” said Cindy Davis, content director for AV Technology. “Last year, we introduced the Pain Points session, and it was so much fun. Attendees bring their top AV/IT pain points, and our panel of experts and other attendees attempt to solve them.”

On a more serious note, our panels cover some of the most important topics in the AV/IT industry today. There’s plenty of networking time to talk further with our speakers, your peers, and the AV/IT Summit vendors to share ideas.

You might think that stating that space is limited is a marketing ploy, but it’s not; we can only accept a limited number of people. Attendees must qualify to attend, so register today!

We look forward to seeing you at the AV/IT Summit!

Brompton Technology’s Tessera LED processors were at the heart of the revival of the American Psycho musical, which ran at London’s Almeida Theatre. Based on Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 cult novel, the production brings satire and high-energy 80s pop aesthetics to life through an LED floor that is central to the show’s visual storytelling. The system, comprising ROE Black Marble 4 panels powered by Brompton’s Tessera SX40 processors, was supplied and integrated by Universal Pixels. Installation was led by Dom Coppola and Scott James of Universal Pixels, with final configuration by Matt Morris.

[dvLED Explained]

The production features set design by Es Devlin and video design by Finn Ross of FRAY Studio, with lighting by Jon Clark. Rather than a conventional upstage LED wall, the creative team opted for a full LED floor, a decision that allowed performers to become light sources themselves, lit from beneath, creating an immersive and psychologically intense visual environment. The floor incorporates a drop, slide, and lift mechanism, enabling set pieces to be pre-loaded and deployed rapidly within the Almeida’s intimate space.

The requirements set by the creative team were stringent: An LED floor that was capable of 10-bit color, which was non-negotiable. “We were able to utilize our ROE Black Marble 4 on Brompton, which was the perfect product for this," explained James Paul, theater lead at Universal Pixels. "The LED panels needed to be incredibly bright, as they were the only light source in the room at some moments, creating an impressive visual effect. The product also needed to be flush at the edges so the thrust stage looked as clean and sharp as possible, allowing the audience to sit close to the stage.”

Durability was equally critical. The cast’s demanding choreography, combined with the constant movement of scenic pieces across the floor, required a surface that could withstand heavy use without deterioration. The ROE Black Marble 4’s hardwearing matte tile surface proved ideal for the job. The processing setup, two 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors and four XD 10G data distribution units with full processor and cable redundancy, reflected how integral the LED floor was to every aspect of the production.

Having worked on both the original 2013 Almeida production and the 2016 Broadway run, video designer Finn Ross was determined that this revival would look entirely different: A complete visual overhaul to reflect both a new political moment and a more stripped-back, performer-led approach to the storytelling.

To this end, the LED floor represented both a creative and technical breakthrough for the show. “Rather than working with the usual upstage LED wall, it was quite satisfying to do away with that and have the actors stand on the LED floor instead,” he explained. “Working with a lighting designer like Jon Clark, who isn’t afraid to use just a few lights or let people actually be the light source, was exciting. You have these moments where people have this incredible glow lifting them from underneath, reinforced by something that can produce a solid, reliable color that you can key in with lights."

The intimacy of the Almeida placed particular demands on color precision. With audiences seated close to the stage, the absence of any visual artifacts was vital. As Ross explained, LED walls in theaters, which are not typically bright, are a difficult thing to make work because they like to be bright. “Having features like PureTone keeps the color range but also allows you to use the wall at a much lower level," he added. "Being able to work in 10-bit was really helpful, too. Because the audience is just so close, there’s nowhere to hide when people are close to the pixels, and because we were working in a lot of block colors and gradients, having that color information was invaluable.”

The content itself, displayed on the LED floor, was built around a strict visual language developed by Ross and set designer Es Devlin; a system combining block text, gradients, and analogue noise interference. Noise textures were locked tightly to the music using drum stems from the show’s electronic dance score, with frames advancing on the beat. Luma mattes shaped the stage around performers, and at key dramatic moments a white noise blood splatter erupts beneath a character. Art-Net control over the Brompton processors allowed smooth, dynamic level changes throughout, with the production ultimately driving the floor to full brightness for the show’s climax, a first for Ross in a theatre environment.

For Universal Pixels, Brompton’s reliability and support made it the natural choice for a production where failure was not an option. “Reliability and fast support is critical when working on theatre productions,” said Paul. “For shows like this where the screen is integral to the storytelling, we have nowhere to hide. With long gradients spanning the entire length of the screen, we were able to avoid banding due to 10-bit color and utilizing features like Dark Magic and Extended Bit Depth to give us perfectly smooth gradients.”

"American Psycho is a perfect example of what's possible when LED technology is pushed beyond its conventional use in theatre,” concluded Patrick Goodden, technical sales manager (U.K. and Ireland) at Brompton Technology. “The creative team's decision to put the screen on the floor rather than the wall, and use the full range of brightness in such an intimate space, speaks to a growing confidence in what Tessera processing can deliver. We're proud to be part of productions that treat LED as a genuine storytelling tool."

Opened to the public in 2004, As-Syafaah Mosque in Sembawang, Singapore has completed a renovation to modernize video distribution across its four-story facility. The upgrade streamlines daily operations throughout the main prayer halls, women’s prayer area, 17 classrooms, and a basement overflow space. It also improves streaming and recording for Friday prayers to accommodate a growing congregation and ensure a more inclusive worship experience. All of this was completed within one month to avoid disrupting the mosque’s daily operations.

[Video Wall Brings MLK’s Vision to Life at Atlanta's King Center]

The solution integrates Extron AV technologies for AV signal switching, scaling, and distribution over shielded twisted pair cabling, enabling 4K video routing and delivery to 14 displays and 10 projectors across reception areas, prayer halls, classrooms, and the main auditorium.

“Extron was chosen for their established brand, fantastic support, and local repair center," said Alan Hong, sales and project manager, Maxxmedia International. "Extron products have been successfully deployed at many mosques around Singapore and are well known for their reliability, ease of use, and performance.”

To support the needs of all worshippers, As-Syafaah uses an Extron SMP 351 H.264 Streaming Media Processor with Dual Recording LinkLicense enhancement to stream and record sermons, including Friday prayers. Streams are distributed to monitors throughout the mosque and recordings are accessible online. Extron TouchLink Pro touchpanels and IPCP Pro control processors provide intuitive system control for non-technical staff, including video layouts, picture-in-picture, PTZ camera control, routing, and audio preset switching.

Additionally, the team selected an Extron DXP HD 4K PLUS high-performance 4K/60 HDMI matrix switcher, DVS 605 scaler with seamless switching, DTP HD DA 4K 330 distribution amplifiers, and DTP HDMI 4K 330 transmitters and receivers to perform AV signal switching, scaling, and distribution over shielded twisted pair cable throughout the expansive mosque’s four levels.

The new installation at As-Syafaah has been very well received. Staff appreciate the user-friendly GUI, which they find highly intuitive, and report a significant improvement in the daily flow of operations. They also value the peace of mind that comes with Extron’s reliability and support.

The AV system upgrade at As-Syafaah has transformed the mosque into a modern, highly functional space for religious and community activities. Through the seamless integration of Extron products, the mosque now benefits from an advanced, user-friendly AV solution that elevates its programs and services. This project showcases the capability of Extron technology to provide reliable, high-performance AV systems designed to meet the unique demands of religious centers.

Crowne Plaza Adelaide Mawson Lakes officially opened as northern Adelaide’s first premium full-service hotel. Anchored by a dramatic 46-foot-high atrium, the hotel offers four purpose‑built conference and event spaces totaling 4,758 square feet, including the Shoalhaven Ballroom and pre-function areas, supporting up to 250 guests. Integration firm Corporate Initiatives designed and deployed a venue-wide audiovisual system centered on JBL Professional loudspeakers and Crown amplifiers.

[4 Opportunities in 2026 for Pro AV Integrators in Hospitality]

Combining contemporary hospitality spaces with integrated event infrastructure, the hotel was built to support a wide range of corporate meetings, functions, and social gatherings while allowing staff to manage the majority of AV requirements internally without dedicated on-site technicians. The installation spans more than 80 loudspeakers across reception, lobby spaces, restaurants, bars, conference facilities, public amenities and recreational areas, creating a consistent audio experience throughout the property while maintaining operational simplicity for hotel staff.

“Music creates an emotional connection,” said Faisal Sayed, general manager of Corporate Initiatives. “It sets the tone, energy and mood in every space. It supports the brand experience, activates areas commercially and helps deliver seamless conferencing. A good sound system is fundamental.”

A venue‑wide JBL Professional audio solution, powered by Crown amplifiers, were deployed throughout the reception, lobby, bar, restaurant, atrium, balcony, gymnasium, elevators and function spaces. 14 JBL Control 16 ceiling loudspeakers installed throughout reception, lobby and amenities areas, while 25 JBL Control 18C/T loudspeakers support ballroom spaces, the gymnasium and additional high-traffic zones. Three JBL Control 24CT loudspeakers provide coverage within elevator areas, and 20 JBL Control 65 pendant speakers selected for the hotel’s bar, restaurant and reception environments. 20 JBL SLP14 surface mount loudspeakers deployed throughout the balcony and the venue’s 14-meter-high atrium space, while four JBL 8128 in-ceiling loudspeakers support select gym and reception areas. The system is powered throughout by Crown amplifiers, providing centralized control, reliable operation and scalable zone management.

“We’re working closely with IHG on standardizing audiovisual platforms across its hotels,” said Gayan Dias, strategic relationships manager at Corporate Initiatives. “JBL offers the versatility we need, from indoor to outdoor applications, and when paired with Crown amplifiers, it provides the zoning sophistication and reliability hotels require.”

One of the hotel’s primary goals was to create conference and function spaces that could operate independently without requiring extensive external AV support. The integrated system allows guests to host presentations, meetings and events using built-in microphones, displays and sound reinforcement already configured within the venue.

“Most clients only need a microphone, a lectern, and a screen,” said Amy Davies, director of marketing and sales at Crowne Plaza Adelaide Mawson Lakes. “What sets our spaces apart is that all the technology is already there. Guests can host professional events without bringing in external AV or additional equipment.”

The project also emphasized the role of background music in shaping guest experience across hospitality environments. Different playlists, voicing profiles and volume levels were configured for specific spaces throughout the hotel, allowing audio to adapt naturally between dining, conferencing and social settings.

According to Nick Screen, VP and GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC, hospitality venues increasingly require systems that balance audio performance with operational simplicity. “Hotels today need AV systems that are powerful and flexible, but also intuitive for non-technical staff,” said Screen. “A unified ecosystem like JBL and Crown allows venues such as Crowne Plaza Adelaide Mawson Lakes to move seamlessly between conferencing, events and social settings while maintaining a consistent guest experience.”

More than a year after opening, Crowne Plaza Adelaide Mawson Lakes continues to expand its appeal beyond business travelers, attracting sports groups, leisure guests and private events. With integrated JBL Professional loudspeakers and Crown amplifiers supporting conferencing, hospitality and public spaces throughout the property, the hotel has established a flexible AV foundation capable of adapting to evolving operational and guest demands.

Powersoft unveiled MM-Force and Spixel at InfoComm 2026. These two transducer technologies were developed for OEM loudspeaker manufacturers and specialized audio applications requiring compact form factors, high power efficiency, and advanced system integration capabilities.

[What's the Buzz? How InfoComm Has Changed in Five Years]

MM-Force is a low-frequency transducer platform available in 8-inch and 10-inch formats engineered for compact subwoofer applications where installation depth, weight and vibration control are critical design constraints. Based on Powersoft’s high-motor-strength and moving-magnet technologies, MM-Force combines an ultra-shallow profile of less than 70mm with inertially balanced moving parts to minimize vibration during operation. MM-Force is intended for OEM integration in flush-mount architectural loudspeakers, compact portable systems, automotive audio systems and outdoor loudspeaker applications requiring high environmental protection ratings.

MM-Force incorporates a moving magnet topology that reduces the amount of neodymium required compared to conventional moving coil loudspeakers, while maintaining high motor strength and output capability. The design also enables low resistive losses and improved power efficiency when paired with Powersoft Class-D amplification platforms.

Spixel is a compact 2.5-inch full-range transducer platform developed for applications requiring high SPL performance and extended frequency response in the upper bass range from minimal enclosure volumes. Derived from the same high-motor-strength design principles used in Powersoft’s IPAL technology platform, Spixel extends the company’s transducer development into compact full-range applications.

Designed for OEM loudspeaker manufacturers and custom-integrated systems, Spixel supports applications including point-source loudspeakers, line arrays, portable systems and wave-field synthesis speaker matrices. Spixel is available in both 4-ohm and 100-ohm configurations and delivers frequency response down to 100 Hz from a compact 2.5-inch format. Spixel also integrates onboard identification and monitoring technologies through native AnyMATE and SpeakerMATE support, enabling loudspeaker identification, status monitoring and visual diagnostics without requiring additional external hardware or increased system complexity.

“MM-Force and Spixel were developed to help OEM partners address system design challenges related to size, efficiency and integration while achieving higher performance in increasingly constrained physical spaces,” said Mitch Rauch, U.S. sales director for Powersoft. “Both platforms are designed to simplify deployment and maintain system reliability across a wide range of professional audio applications.”

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Lital Grossman, Executive Director for OpenAV Cloud

The cloud has transformed nearly every corner of enterprise technology. CRM, HR, finance, communications—all managed remotely, integrated seamlessly, and accessible from anywhere. It is now AV’s turn. But unlike those industries, AV is arriving at this moment carrying decades of proprietary infrastructure and siloed thinking.

The opportunity is significant. Cloud-connected AV means IT and facilities teams can monitor device health across hundreds of rooms from a single dashboard, respond to issues before they disrupt a meeting, automate workflows based on room status, and integrate AV systems with the scheduling, collaboration, and security platforms already running the enterprise. For end users, this translates to fewer disruptions, more reliable spaces, and technology that behaves like the rest of the IT stack—predictable, manageable, and scalable.

But the shift comes with real cautions. Not all cloud AV is created equal. Many vendors have moved infrastructure to the cloud while keeping their APIs closed, their data inaccessible, and their ecosystems locked. Organizations risk trading one form of dependency for another—swapping on-premise silos for cloud-based ones.

Security is another consideration that cannot be overstated. AV devices are increasingly IP-connected endpoints, and they need to be treated as such—with proper authentication, encrypted communication, role-based access, and documented protocols that IT and security teams can actually evaluate.

The path forward is openness. Cloud AV that exposes consistent, secure, read-write APIs gives organizations real choice—the ability to integrate best-of-breed solutions, build unified management layers, and avoid lock-in entirely.

The cloud moment for AV is here; the question is whether the industry will seize it openly, or simply rebuild the same walls in a new place.

Working on behalf of Harris County and the NFL's Houston Texans, and alongside technical consultants WJHW, LD Systems installed a new Fulcrum Acoustic bowl audio system at NRG Stadium, or Houston Stadium as it was called for the 2026 World Cup. Up to 72,220 fans per game gathered for soccer’s most awaited tournament, where Houston Stadium hosted seven matches with nine international teams across June and early July.

[8.5 MILLION Pixels Power World Cup Fan Festival]

LD Systems integrated the venue’s original audio requirements stadium-wide in 2002 and has provided its technical maintenance and production support for every major event since. The new system is based on a large-scale deployment of weather-resistant Fulcrum loudspeakers, ensuring reliable operation whether the stadium’s roof is open or closed. All loudspeaker enclosures are now able to withstand potential exposure to environmental challenges in what has become the largest World Cup in history.

The main bowl (situated on the venue’s ‘super truss’), concourses, and support spaces utilize a total of 1,194 Fulcrum loudspeakers comprising AHC443 high-output horn-loaded arrays, CS218LWR dual 18-inch weather-resistant subwoofers, and various other models including CX1226-MT200, CX1226, CX1595, CX826-MT120, FH1566 and FH1595. The overall system weight has been reduced by 40% compared to the previous rig.

The LD Systems team, including project manager Michael Keefe and project engineer Anthony DiDonato, had six months to remove the old system and install the full, site-wide upgrade, yet bowl system tuning was completed in just six hours over a single day.

“We added eight subwoofer arrays (four per side) to enhance low-frequency performance, and the sonic results have exceeded expectation; we’ve actually had to turn them down,” said LD Systems sales engineer, Kevin Broussard. “The system now delivers clearer highs, much better vocal intelligibility, and a powerful low-end that you can physically feel, and feedback on the venue’s new sound capabilities has shifted dramatically.”

System amplification is provided by Powersoft Unica amplifiers serving the main seating bowl and concourse systems, and Crown DCI amplifiers are dedicated to clubs, back-of-house, and ancillary spaces. LD Systems has also installed a new control system and network backbone across the building. The primary mixing platform is a Yamaha Rivage PM5, and wireless audio is supported by Shure Axient wireless microphones.

The audio infrastructure is managed through a Q-SYS platform featuring Core 5200 processors operating in a redundant configuration for mission-critical system reliability, and the Core 610 processors service the suite-level audio systems.

“One of the biggest improvements during this entire upgrade was adding dedicated audio to over 260 suites," Broussard concluded. "Previously, the suites relied on spill from the bowl or delayed TV audio, which could lag by up to four seconds. Now, every suite has its own speaker system, control panel, and multiple selectable sources: bowl audio, TV audio, radio, postgame feeds, and Bluetooth.”

Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Divine Wisdom, stands in the district of West London. While the cathedral’s domed roof and arched windows draws hundreds of visitors each week, its original sound system was no longer fit for purpose. Renkus-Heinz UBX16 loudspeakers were installed to modernize the cathedral.

[London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art Goes Virtual... Production]

Week after week, congregants reported difficulty hearing clearly. While it could provide low-level background music for visitors during the day, the system performed poorly when used for speech during services, producing muddy and unintelligible results. System integrators API Sound & Visual, who specialize in the design and installation of AV systems for houses of worship, heritage buildings, community spaces, and commercial buildings, worked closely with distributors CUK Group to start from scratch and design a new, dedicated speech system that delivers clarity from front to back, while respecting the space and its architectural limitations.

Stephen Neath, sales director at API Sound & Visual, explained that in a space of the scale of Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, dominated by hard marble surfaces, sound reflects endlessly. "It was imperative that the system was highly directional, focusing audio precisely where people are seated; otherwise, the spoken word would simply be lost,” he said.

To meet these goals, two Renkus-Heinz UBX16 loudspeakers were installed as the main left and right sources, chosen for their precise vertical pattern control. Their beams were aimed to cross approximately two-thirds of the way down the nave to provide primary coverage. To ensure even horizontal dispersion, two powerful but compact UBX8 loudspeakers were positioned on the left and right sides and aimed outward. An additional pair of UBX8s was installed further down the room at the sides as delay fills, reinforcing the main system and maintaining clarity and level consistency for attendees towards the rear.

Guided by CUK Group, compact Powersoft amplification was specified to pair effectively with the loudspeakers, enabling a tidy rack installation while providing greater flexibility for system tuning and overall performance. Control is handled via a single-button wall panel with a small display, allowing preset “scenes” to be selected so the system is automatically configured. This ensures that, during services, staff can focus entirely on worship.

“API approached us for design ideas in this unique space,” explained James Lawford, live sound channel manager at CUK Group. “We carried out a 2D direct sound simulation using EASE Focus to check coverage and dispersion from the main loudspeakers. This allowed us to confirm the placement of the delays and ensure the system would cover the entire space.”

Prior to installation, a system demonstration was held for key cathedral staff, allowing them to hear the results first-hand. “The difference was immediately obvious,” added Neath. “The new system was a million times better than what they were used to.”

The cathedral’s extensive marble surfaces meant direct drilling was not an option. The previous system had been mounted using wooden backings fixed into the grout rather than the marble itself, and this approach was carefully reused for the new installation. Another challenge presented by the marble was in cabling, however, the installation progressed smoothly overall. The loudspeakers’ black casing also helped blend discreetly with the cathedral’s detailing, minimizing overall visual impact and preserving the unique aesthetics.

Where complaints about poor audibility had once been a weekly occurrence, the response has since been overwhelmingly positive, with worshippers able to hear clearly throughout the space, without compromising its historic character.

“The project is a credit to API’s careful installation process, and the predictable, high-quality results that can be achieved using Renkus-Heinz UBX Series loudspeakers, even in highly reverberant environments,” concluded Lawford. The result is a system that finally allows the spoken word to be heard as intended, restoring clarity, enhancing engagement, and ensuring the cathedral can continue to serve its community with confidence.

SoundTube Entertainment has released its U.S.-made CM62-BGM-II-US and IPD-CM62-BGM-II-US in-ceiling loudspeakers. These new audio solutions provide consultants and integrators with readily available TAA- and BAA-compliant audio solutions for projects requiring domestic sourcing.

[Made in the USA?]

As procurement requirements increasingly favor American-made products for federal, military, education, corporate, and other regulated environments, SoundTube's latest loudspeakers enable AV professionals to meet compliance requirements without compromising audio performance, installation efficiency, or networked audio capabilities.

Manufactured in SoundTube's Lenexa, KS facility as part of the company's Made in America initiative, the new 6.5-inch coaxial ceiling speakers are built on SoundTube's proven CM62 platform. The CM62-BGM-II-US is a passive background music loudspeaker, while the IPD-CM62-BGM-II-US incorporates SoundTube's Dante-enabled IPD technology, delivering networked audio, power, monitoring, and control over a single Ethernet connection.

"Over the past year, we've seen a noticeable increase in projects where TAA and BAA compliance are specified from the outset," said Peter Melvin, VP at SoundTube. "Consultants and integrators are looking for American-made solutions that don't require tradeoffs in sound quality, network capabilities, or installation simplicity. With these products readily available, we're giving our partners the confidence to specify compliant solutions that perform as well as the projects demand."

AI capabilities in the AV industry are obviously accelerating rapidly—and with them comes a series of challenges. These include considerations around ethics and transparency about how AI is used, as well as training to ensure that teams across multiple parts of every business are using AI in a responsible way.

While the industry continues to navigate those challenges, it’s important to have some kind of formal accountability framework to keep everyone on the same page. Unfortunately, those frameworks have lagged behind the speed of development of AI tools.

That’s why we were really pleased to see the introduction of a new standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 42001 is the world’s first AI management system standard, and it provides valuable guidance for the fast moving world of AI deployment.

What is ISO 42001?

According to the ISO, the standard is designed to “set out a structured way to manage risks and opportunities associated with AI, balancing innovation with governance.” It specifies the requirements for an organization to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) within organizations.

ISO 42001 supports businesses as they consider what they need when rolling out AI. It covers whatever AI tools are being used, as well as how best to manage AI projects, including the assessment and mitigation of risks.

The ISO outlines its target users for 42001 as organizations "providing or utilizing AI-based products or services" and its objective as making sure those organizations have the guidance they need to use AI responsibly and effectively, even while the technology continues to evolve.

Consider all this, we felt it was important for Pleneo to follow the standards set out by ISO 42001, and were pleased to be the first device manufacturer in AV and unified communications to achieve the certification laid out by the standard. But why is it important that not just us but the wider industry adheres to standardization like this? And how does it actually keep companies, particularly tech companies, accountable?

Responsibility and Compliance

One of the biggest considerations for AI adoption is making sure that you’re using tools in line with regulations and in the most responsible way. There are a lot of ethical concerns over the data that’s used to train neural networks and models. If data is from an unverifiable source, there might be issues around ownership or biases being embedded into a final product or service. This unverifiable data is what stops people from trusting many AI products, as does the environmental impact of large AI applications.

The governance around how you use and manage data in your systems also ties into the correct use of AI. The ethical and responsible considerations aside, any organization using AI must be compliant with regulations and legal requirements. As the technology continues to be rolled out, there’s only going to be more regulations on the way.

The ISO 42001 framework, and its adoption of the PDCA—or Plan-Do-Check-Act—methodology ensure that companies are continually reviewing their use of AI data across their business to make sure they’re in line and compliant. For Pleneo in particular, the certification validates the approach we’ve taken to embedding AI technologies within our platforms. We’re not leaning on larger datasets available to public-facing AI tools but are instead processing intelligence locally.

It’s this data processing that the ISO 42001 standard addresses. We know that our use of AI reduces cloud dependency and preserves privacy. And with this standard, we’re able to demonstrate to our users a responsibility with our AI adoption, and that they can trust our AI tools in the same way as any other products in our lineup. Trust is going to be key for the entire industry as AI adoption continues.

Guidance and Opportunity

Businesses across all industries are appointing AI evangelists within their ranks. The AV industry is no different. Regardless of whether they’re new hires or people taking on the mantle within existing roles, many are working with AI for the first time. ISO 42001 provides those people, and organizations more widely, with practical guidance on how to deploy AI in many different ways, and how to mitigate AI-specific risks effectively when they arise.

Handling these sorts of issues more easily opens the door to innovation. Less time spent handling risks means more time taking advantage of the opportunities that AI presents across things like product and service development. That’s what is possible with the right framework in place thanks to the standards outlined by ISO 42001.

For the Pro AV sector, and for modern workspaces in particular, AI is influencing how meetings are prioritized, interpreted, and experienced. Oversight of the technology needs to extend beyond data protection to the integrity and predictability of automated decision making itself.

Formal governance standards like those from ISO will set mature platforms apart from experimental implementations. This is what ensures that intelligent meeting environments are viewed not as emerging technology, but as reliable, accountable enterprise systems.

Extron AV switching and control helped transform a Highland Community College (HCC) distance learning classroom into a dynamic esports hub. The HCC team envisioned a facility capable of hosting weekend-long tournaments with high schools in the local area. These tournaments would give students a hands-on experience competing in an esports environment. The room also needed to foster teamwork, collaboration, and a strong sense of community between players and coaches.

[Course Correction]

The presentation needed the capability to switch seamlessly between gaming stations and send the signals to large screen displays. To achieve this, the athletic director and coaches relied on Extron AV technologies to build a presentation system capable of 4K scaling while maintaining uninterrupted signal integrity.

“We have Extron products on our campus that have remained powered on for over 12 years and that we still use every day,” said Michael Gunderson, information technology services support specialist, media systems, with HCC. “The durability, features, and simplicity of Extron products makes all the difference in keeping our esports center running smoothly.”

Extron’s DTP CrossPoint 84 4K matrix switcher, which is at the heart of the AV system, distributes content from PCs and gaming systems to spectator viewing displays. Extron DTP Series wallplate transmitters were also used to position input connections in convenient locations. HCC has a well-established relationship with Extron and relies on the manufacturer's proven track-record of delivering high-quality, reliable products and industry-leading support.

For advanced signal routing and real-time switching between gaming systems and displays, the DTP CrossPoint 84 4K provides everything HCC needs without signal lag or delays. This improves coordination during team play, allowing coaches to analyze each player’s development. Engineered for flexibility, the DTP series products make it easy to connect devices, ensuring reliable signal routing with little to no cable clutter throughout the facility. Thanks to Extron AV technology, HCC’s esports facility has become a vibrant hub that empowers students to compete and engage with one another.

The new esports facility is a big hit across campus and amongst outside guests. Students enjoy high-quality audio and visuals during practice sessions and tournaments, while coaches focus on improving team coordination and player development. Extron’s reliable, high-performance technology lets players and coaches compete and train in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. HCC has made Extron products its first choice when considering upgrades to the new esports facility.

The World Cup has filled venues across the United States, with major cities taking part in outdoor fan festivals, bringing the action to hundreds of thousands of more soccer fans. Unilumin helped bring one experience to life, deploying two large-scale LED installations at FIFA Fan Festival Dallas, including a custom 16.4-foot Interactive LED Sphere and the Main Stage LED display at Dos Equis Pavilion. Together, the installations deliver more than 8.5 million pixels of immersive visual experiences for fans throughout the festival.

[Estadio Banorte Stadium Is Now the World’s Largest 10G SDVoE AV over IP Network]

Developed in collaboration with AMS Events, the Interactive LED Sphere combines large-scale LED technology with fan participation to create an immersive experience that invites visitors to become part of the display itself. Designed as a giant illuminated soccer ball, the sphere serves as a centerpiece attraction where fans can scan a QR code, upload a photo, and watch as their image appears on the massive LED display in near real time. The result is an engaging and shareable experience that celebrates the excitement, energy, and global community surrounding the world’s most popular sport.

Located within FIFA Fan Festival Dallas at Fair Park, the Interactive LED Sphere is positioned to engage fans from around the world in an environment designed to accommodate up to 35,000 visitors at a time, creating a highly visible and shareable destination within one of the tournament’s premier fan celebrations. The sphere features 3.9mm outdoor LED technology, weighs approximately 13,000 pounds, and contains approximately 3.7 million pixels. Construction, integration, testing, and commissioning required seven days to complete prior to opening.

Beyond the Interactive LED Sphere, Unilumin, which partnered with AMS Events, also supplied the LED display for the festival’s Main Stage at Dos Equis Pavilion within Fair Park. Measuring 46x26 feet, the URMIII 3.9mm outdoor LED wall delivers a resolution of 2912×1664 and more than 4.8 million pixels, providing a stunning visual backdrop for live programming and fan experiences throughout the event.

Orlando Science Center has unveiled its newly renovated eight-story dome theater, The Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities, featuring a Christie RGB pure laser projection system that transforms the former IMAX venue into a versatile immersive theater with 8K content for educational programming, giant-screen presentations, live planetarium experiences, and special events. Christie partner SSIA Technologies consulted and installed the systems.

[Increase Engagement, Reduce Waste]

At the heart of the installation are eight Christie Griffyn 4K35-RGB projectors configured in a full-dome projection system that delivers bright, high-resolution imagery across the theater's newly resurfaced dome. The Dome also includes an inset Christie CP4435-RGB pure laser cinema projector for 3D science, nature and space movies.

"One of our primary goals was to replace our aging film projection system with the best solution available for our guests," said Stephen Holt, VP of facilities and exhibits, Orlando Science Center. "Working with our consultant and project partners, we identified a state-of-the-art projection and audio solution that would allow us to create immersive experiences for years to come. The result is a venue that can support everything from live planetarium shows and giant-screen films to educational programming and special events."

"We were tasked with delivering a solution that met stringent requirements for resolution, brightness, image quality, and overall performance," said George Barnett, co-CEO and founder at SSIA Technologies. "The Christie Griffyn projectors enabled us to achieve those goals while overcoming the physical constraints of an existing IMAX theater. The combination of image quality, reliability, and flexibility made them an ideal fit for this application."

Installing the projection system presented unique challenges. Four Griffyn projectors and the CP4435-RGB cinema projector were housed within the theater's existing projection gallery, while four additional Griffyn units required custom placement at the front of the dome to ensure complete image coverage. The installation team also worked within tight physical spaces while coordinating with ongoing construction activities throughout the renovation.

Despite those challenges, the project was completed in time for the theater's public opening.

The renovated theater seats more than 300 guests and serves as a multipurpose immersive venue rather than a traditional planetarium. While astronomy programming remains an important part of the theater's mission, the upgraded projection system enables a much broader range of educational and entertainment experiences.

The Science Center also invested heavily in content creation as part of the project, ensuring visitors would immediately experience the full capabilities of the new venue.

"Technology is only as good as the content it presents," said Annette Sotheran-Barnett, co-CEO/founder at SSIA Technologies. “Orlando Science Center recognized that from the beginning. They made content development a priority, creating experiences that showcase both the technology and the stories being told. When audiences see real-time astronomy visualizations and immersive fulldome content running on this system, they immediately understand what's possible."

One highlight is an introductory dome presentation, custom-produced by SSIA, which showcases the projection and audio systems while offering visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the technology powering the experience.

"Any time that presentation is running, I find myself stopping to watch it," added Holt. "It highlights the effort that went into creating the dome experience and showcases the incredible range of content that can be presented in the space. It leaves guests excited about what they're about to see."

Beyond singing along to Neil Sedaka in the car, my friend has never been musically inclined. And yet, now he's a published songwriter.

He sent me a link and there it was, a Christmas song. It wasn't him singing, but it was a fully composed song. He wrote the lyrics and a prompt, and an online AI service built his musical vision.

I gotta try this, I thought. Finally, a chance to repair my relationship with AI. Between bad headshots and warped action figures, my AI experiments over the past couple of years, while fun, would probably not land in the win column.

I've always wanted to record music, but I was impeded by my musical limitations. Writing lyrics isn't the problem, and I could carry a tune in a bucket in my younger days. But my drumming is elementary at best, my keyboard work is weak on a good day, and I'm guessing at least two guitar manufacturers would gladly pay me to admit publicly that I don't use their gear. So, to make my rock star dreams a reality, I'd need a band, some sort of recording studio, and a substantial budget to pay for all of that.

Scratch that plan. Enter AI.

First, I needed a song. I've had a song title floating around my subconscious for a while, so I sat down and wrote "Rockin' Chair" in about 20 minutes. If you study the lyrics, you can pick up the subtext of getting older and the loss of youth. But mostly it's an invitation to get busy on the front porch. (Hey, this is rock 'n' roll, not a sewing circle.)

Then, on a lazy Saturday, I went to the Suno website on my personal laptop. It took a few minutes to register, a few minutes more to write a prompt, and maybe two minutes to type in the lyrics. So, let's say I invested about 30 minutes in the process.

Suno spit out several versions of my song in less than a minute. And they were good.

Oh, the cadence was off, and none of them sounded exactly like how I "heard" the song in my head. However, every version had a good beat, background vocals, solid instrument work, and all the spit and polish you'd expect from a hit single.

I literally closed my browser and walked away. Didn't even look at it for more than a week. Honestly, I needed to process what had just happened. In seconds, AI had made my song a reality. I hadn't even plugged in my amp.

At this stage of my life, I have no illusions of becoming a musical sensation. If everything goes right, maybe I'll make tens of cents in royalties from "Rockin' Chair" over the next decade, which will not even cover the cost to use the service for a month. Oh, you can get a taste for free, but if you want to tweak your song and avoid copyright issues, you'll need to spend some money.

But that's not the point, is it? The point is a guy who can only play a few chords on a guitar could publish a toe-tapping tune in less time than it took to write the lyrics.

That said, this is AI, which means it has to learn how to do all this, no doubt using data (read: songs) produced by copyrighted artists. Remember, AI is not about soul, it's about statistical patterns. Essentially, my song is a kernel of creativity wrapped in a cocoon of predictive chunks and synthesized production.

So, is Suno a shortcut? You bet. Does that make it less of a song? I'm not sure. After all, we've been listening to songs built around music samples for decades. One could argue that AI is the next step in that sort of musical evolution. And I have it on good authority that Nashville music pros are using Suno to quickly produce demos (and save a lot of money in the process).

I'm not ready to equate machine learning to inspiration. But I'll say this: I think "Rockin' Chair" is a good song—and without AI, it would have never existed beyond my notepad. Rock on.

Technology leadership does not only mean asking an industry for better products or faster roadmaps. Sometimes it means looking back at the assumptions that have served us well, and asking whether they still serve the future we now need to build.

One of those assumptions in the AV industry is standardization.

For years, standardization has been one of the most important operating principles in enterprise AV and collaboration. It has helped organizations scale, reduce complexity, improve supportability, control cost, and create more consistent user experiences. Indeed, I spent more than a decade leading an organization that built its value proposition on the principle of Scale, Standardization, Simplification, & Speed.

We all know our industry's journey. There was a time when AV-enabled spaces were relatively few. Organizations invested only in the most important rooms. Bespoke design was possible because the volume was manageable.

Then the world changed.

Collaboration became more central to how organizations worked. Video became normal. Hybrid work expanded the pressure on meeting environments. Costs came down. Expectations went up. The challenge was no longer a handful of premium rooms. It was tens, hundreds, or thousands of spaces. In that reality, standardization was not only logical. It was a rational and required response to scale.

We have seen similar patterns in other industries. Local, highly human-scale models gave way to larger systems built around consistency, efficiency, and scale. Then, disruptive digital platforms introduced a third possibility: combining scale with greater personalization and relevance. We all know those stories, from Amazon to Netflix and beyond.

I believe that moment has arrived for our industry!

Change in an Era of AI

There will always be a place for highly customized spaces: executive environments, boardrooms, innovation labs, teaching studios, immersive rooms, command centres, and other spaces where deeper tailoring is justified. But for the broader enterprise estate, the old trade-off between scale and personalized fit is going to change in an AI era. Not because AI is a magic wand, but because it is relevant to addressing the very frictions that standardization was designed to manage.

We know that in the past, more capability meant more complexity. More flexibility meant more support burden. More customization meant more cost and inconsistency. That was not practical, which is why we simplified and standardized. Simplified room types, user interfaces, and feature sets. Exactly what was required to make the overall experience usable and manageable.

But there is a difference between simplifying because users have simple needs, and simplifying because our legacy systems and workflows could not manage complexity.

And that distinction matters.

Meeting and learning spaces were not simplified because users all wanted the same experience, but because more capability created too much friction to justify otherwise. So we designed interfaces to meet the lowest common user denominator. And in turn, we answered the needs of the supporting stakeholders as well, because the cost of variation was too high.

That made sense, but it also created a hidden effect. One of the hidden risks of standardization is that it does not only standardize solutions, it can standardize imagination. Over time, the constraints of a model become so familiar that we stop seeing them as constraints.

But what if some of those assumptions were actually just necessary coping mechanisms? Did we standardize because it represented the best possible experience, or because variation was too difficult to deliver, support, govern, or evolve?

That is not a criticism of the past, but a challenge for the future. It is not that we built the wrong rooms in the past. It is that in a new AI reality, the game itself has changed.

And that is what makes this new era so difficult.

Decisions in a Period of Unparalleled Uncertainty

End-user AV technology managers are being asked to make decisions in a period of unparalleled uncertainty, yet with traditional inertia. The investment decisions being asked of them today are expected to serve organizations for years ahead, yet they are being made in a reality where AI will change workflows, user expectations, interface models, support structures, and the role of the physical workplace itself in ways we cannot yet fully imagine.

That is a hard position to be in. It is easy to say “be more innovative, evolved, prepared” from the outside. It is much harder to put your name to decisions when the crystal ball is murkier than ever, and the consequences of getting it wrong may become visible sooner than ever.

So, the practical question is not whether every future capability is ready to deploy tomorrow. The better question is whether today’s standards, partner relationships, and decision criteria are preparing your organization to take advantage of that future potential or constraining it.

I do not believe the future is a pendulum swing from standardization back to customization. The better proposition is that the very definition of standards needs to evolve to create an entirely new paradigm.

Consider that historically, a room standard meant a fixed room type, equipment package, UI, capability set, and lifecycle expectation. A comprehensively defined answer built heavily upon the realities of traditional physical construction and real estate lifecycles.

In the next model, a standard may need to become more than just a defined answer. It may need to become more of a foundation.

The physical infrastructure, network requirements, security model, platform architecture, interoperability principles, and support processes may still need to be standardized. But above that foundation, the experience layer must become increasingly adaptive and digitally agile. One that can behave and equip users differently for a project review than for executive alignment. Differently for training than for ideation.

The room may be physically the same. The experience may not be.

That is the new possibility. The emergence of standardized infrastructure with adaptive experience.

That is how we can truly serve diverse users, activities, and outcomes, while leveraging that diversity as the very reason we convene people in the first place. All the reasons that were not possible in the past are eroding before our eyes.

Embrace that concept, and it frankly changes the role and importance of the end-user AV technology manager. The job is no longer simply to define the right room standards and defend them over a five-year lifecycle. Rather, the job is to build the conditions through which collaboration environments can evolve as capability, user expectation, organizational need, and AI-enabled possibility change around them. It is to recognize that we cannot deliver tomorrow’s adaptive collaboration expectations through models built around yesterday’s static propositions.

So the next leadership question is not simply “what can we standardize?”

It is “what should our standards enable?”

That is a very different question.

Manage and Mitigate Opportunities and Risks

Of course, I am not suggesting we all just embrace AI enthusiasm and unbridled optimism. But as in any time of change and lack of clarity, it means developing a strategy to manage and mitigate both the opportunities and risks ahead.

That strategy will, of course, not look the same for every organization. A global bank, university, healthcare provider, government agency, technology company, law firm, and manufacturer will each have different collaboration realities. But here are a few universal questions you might ask of your current standards to catalyze the mindset shifts we all need to embrace.

>> Which current standards still deliver value because they improve reliability, consistency, security, supportability, or user confidence?

>> Which exists because variation was historically too difficult to manage?

>> What infrastructure truly needs to remain fixed and physical, and what could become more flexible and digital?

>> Where might today’s standards, even unintentionally, limit tomorrow’s capability?

A “medium meeting room” is not a meeting purpose. A classroom is not automatically a learning experience. As we move from an era of equipping rooms to enabling outcomes, true leadership will be about understanding what people are actually trying to achieve in these spaces: deciding, creating, teaching, selling, learning, aligning, innovating, or responding to change. Understanding those patterns will become the critical capability in enabling spaces to adapt to real-time context and application.

Of course, that should change conversations with the supply chain: vendors, integrators, consultants, and service providers. They should not only be challenged on what they can deliver today, but on their vision of the future, and how they can help you prepare for it. In an AI era, the value of a partner may increasingly depend less on whether they can deliver an agreed standard today and more on how they can help that standard evolve tomorrow.

The risk of not making these sorts of foundational adjustments is not just technical debt, financial write-off, or user dissatisfaction. If collaboration is becoming the critical infrastructure of innovation, then the cost of rigidity becomes a constraint on organizational speed. A room standard anchored in yesterday's thinking that cannot evolve may slow more than a technology refresh. It may slow how quickly an organization can embrace the new ways of working of an AI age. And that should be a critical concern for every organization.

Across the industry, we need to embrace the fact that the game has changed. The constraint set is changing. The expectations of users, teams, and organizations are changing faster than traditional meeting room lifecycles were ever designed to absorb. So if that old model treated standards as fixed answers, the next model should treat them as adaptive foundations. The goal is not to choose between consistency and personalization. It is to create the conditions where consistency, governance, supportability, and scale can coexist with far greater human relevance, flexibility, and transformative future capability.

The industry can build products. Vendors can develop platforms. Integrators can deliver systems. Consultants can advise. But end users live in the real organizational context. They know the workflows, constraints, cultures, frustrations, security realities, support burdens, and business priorities that determine whether technology creates value and impact, or merely fills rooms.

So, whether you are an end-user Collaboration Enablement leader, or wherever else you might sit in the industry, I leave you to consider this.

Will the next “standard” you develop be anchored on a room type at all? Or might it be based upon the foundational principle of adaptability itself?

And if that is indeed the case, what might need to change in you, your team, and your organization to make that a reality?

Holt Renfrew recently expanded its investment in premium audio with a second deployment of 1 SOUND solutions at its flagship Toronto location. Holt Renfrew partnered once again with GAV MGMT to elevate the in-store experience through thoughtfully integrated sound.

[More in Store]

Located at 50 Bloor Street East in Toronto, the project focused on creating a refined audio environment that complemented the retailer's luxury atmosphere while maintaining the clean architectural vision developed by STUDIO PAOLO FERRARI. The objective was to deliver clear, full-range sound with balanced low-frequency support and consistent coverage throughout the space without drawing attention to the technology itself.

After upgrading Holt Renfrew's experiential floor with a premium 1 SOUND system, the retailer experienced stronger sales and events during the first month following the installation. Encouraged by those results, the decision was made to continue investing in premium audio by upgrading another floor of the store.

The second installation became part of a larger initiative to create a more immersive shopping experience throughout the flagship location, recognizing that carefully designed sound contributes meaningfully to the way customers experience a luxury retail environment. Luxury retail presents unique design challenges. Every element of the customer experience is intentional, requiring technology to enhance the environment without competing with it visually. GAV MGMT approached the project with equal attention to acoustic performance and architectural integration.

The design process began with a detailed evaluation of the floor's layout, customer circulation, ceiling conditions, merchandising zones, and acoustic characteristics. Using 1 SOUND's Auralis prediction and 3D design software, the team modeled loudspeaker coverage before installation, allowing placement to be optimized for consistent performance while preserving the store's refined aesthetic.

Rather than forcing a standard loudspeaker layout into the space, the system was designed specifically around the architecture and customer journey. The distributed audio system utilizes 1 SOUND Cannon C5i loudspeakers paired with MiniSUB5 subwoofers to create a balanced listening experience across the retail floor. By combining column-mounted loudspeakers and ceiling mounted MiniSUB5 subwoofers extending only five inches below the ceiling, GAV MGMT created a system that delivers articulate music playback, controlled low-frequency support, and even coverage throughout the space while remaining visually unobtrusive.

The result is an audio environment that feels natural and is sonically intelligible rather than distracting. Music remains clear, warm, and consistent from one department to the next, contributing to the atmosphere without overwhelming conversation or competing with the luxury shopping experience.

Within Holt Renfrew, audio serves a purpose beyond background music. It helps shape how customers perceive the environment, how long they remain engaged within the space, and how the overall brand experience is delivered. By integrating premium sound seamlessly into the architecture, GAV MGMT created an environment where technology supports the retail experience without becoming its focus.

Hennepin Arts, the non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the historic theaters of downtown Minneapolis, has completed a major audio upgrade at the State Theatre. Designed and installed by Audio Logic Systems, the new d&b audiotechnik KSL-Series line array system replaces the theat’s aging, unsupported audio system, catapulting the 1921 "pleasure palace" into the modern era with pristine audio quality, improved sightlines, and unmatched efficiency.

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The 2,181-seat State Theatre hosts a varied mix of Broadway touring productions, concerts, and comedy acts. Because its decades-old audio system had aged out, the venue needed a solution that would meet the expectations of today's audiences and touring acts.

"Audiences are accustomed to the sound quality and experience at the bigger shows they attend, and we don't want to lag behind," explained explained Merritt Benton, head sound engineer at the State Theatre. "When management asked if the investment was necessary, I emphasized that the new system was rider-friendly. d&b sounds incredible, and in the touring music world, it’s what you see most often. It's the wish list PA for touring folks.”

Addressing the State Theatre’s unique architectural acoustics was a primary challenge. According to John Simshauser, director of operations and design at Audio Logic Systems it is essentially three distinct acoustic spaces in one: the main floor, a typical balcony, and a very deep, 50-foot under-balcony space. "The broadband directivity provided by KSL-Series, really cleaned up the room by providing better control in the 90 to 400Hz range, a common problem zone for theatres like this," he said. "We chose to implement d&b's ArrayProcessing, to ensure every seat in the house had the same tonal balance and sonic experience. This mitigated some of the tuning and carving we might otherwise need to do and were able to seamlessly manage those three different zones. The KSL’s incredible rear rejection also cleared up the room’s 250Hz low-mid buildup that hit the performers' microphones on stage.”

In addition to sonic improvements, Audio Logic Systems also achieved critical practical victories. By relying on the precise modelling of d&b’s ArrayCalc, software the team was able to fly the new line arrays five feet higher than the previous system, drastically improving sightlines for patrons on the outer sides of the theatre. Furthermore, the efficiency of the d&b amplification recovered valuable real estate, considering the theater used six, 44-space amp racks to power the previous system.

The environmental adaptability of the system also proved to be a major advantage in Minnesota's fluctuating climate. "Here in Minnesota, when the doors open, the humidity in the room can swing by as much as twelve points,” Benton shared. “In the past, I would reach for a 31-band EQ to tame the highs. Now, I just update the temperature and humidity control in the R1 Remote Control, and it adjusts the frequencies right back into place. Fixing this on the array, rather than the console was a fun, new concept for me.”

As part of this comprehensive audio overhaul for Hennepin Arts, Audio Logic Systems also installed a new d&b audiotechnik system at the nearby Pantages Theatre. Opened in 1916, the intimate 1,014-seat venue required a system with ample power and exceptional pattern control, utilizing fewer amplifier channels. Audio Logic Systems deployed the new d&b CCL (Compact Cardioid Line array) system that features broadband directivity control while only utilizing a single amp channel.

Since the installation at the State Theatre, acts ranging from comedians like Chelsea Handler to musicians like Raye and SatchVai have performed in the upgraded room. "There are always happy faces and handshakes at the end of the day, which is as good as you can get in the rock and roll world," Benton concluded. "Our PA is miles and miles ahead of what it used to be.”

The story of Mic Drop starts inside the former West Hollywood home of Larrabee Studios, the legendary recording space founded by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. For Mic Drop founders Leo and Oliver Kremer, a professional musician himself, that history was more than just trivia—it was a technical mandate. To bring their vision of a hip, modern karaoke bar into fruition, the Kremer brothers teamed up with the engineers at Pineapple Audio to create a technical backbone powered by the Sennheiser EW-DX digital wireless system.

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Having formerly acted as the bass player for Third Eye Blind, Kremer understood the value of high-quality audio and wanted to kill off the thin, distorted sound that usually defines a night of karaoke. He envisioned "Art Disco"—a vibe that’s equal parts 1920s glamour and 1970s glitz.

The project was a massively intricate undertaking. With 30 wireless channels running at the same time across 13 private suites and a main stage, Matt Edgar of audio visual consultant Pineapple Audio noted that the main hurdle of integration was delivering acoustic separation while keeping that high-end studio feel across a 6,000-square-foot floor plan.

"We were intentional about preserving the building's integrity," Edgar explained. "Each room acts as its own controlled environment. Our goal was to minimize bleed between suites while maximizing clarity. We wanted guests to get the same performance they'd expect in a professional studio, no matter where they are in the venue." The EW-DX was the only piece of technology considered to properly bring the vision to life. The system features an ultra-low 1.9 ms latency, which is the difference between a singer feeling "in the pocket" or feeling a distracting delay in their monitors.

Managing 30 channels in the middle of West Hollywood has the potential to become an RF nightmare. Edgar’s team handled this by utilizing Sennheiser’s Wireless Systems Manager (WSM) software to perform floor-by-floor environmental scans. By mapping the RF floor and using a centralized receiver setup, they assigned frequencies with surgical precision.

"The EW-DX system uses an equidistant frequency grid," said Edgar. "It makes coordination way simpler because it gives us consistent audio across every channel without intermodulation risks. We used Sennheiser Control Cockpit for the initial naming and network setup, but now we handle the ongoing management through remote monitoring." On the operational side, Mic Drop uses CHG 70N network-enabled chargers. When a group leaves a suite, the handhelds go right back into the docks to top off the BA 70 rechargeable batteries. This allows the staff to monitor battery health from the front desk, ensuring that no guest is ever interrupted by a dead battery.

At Mic Drop, the gear is part of the art. The venue uses bespoke, gold-plated Sennheiser microphones that stand out against the burgundy and midnight blue walls. These aren't just for show; they’re the primary connection between the singer and the stage. "The microphone is the ultimate touchpoint," Oliver Kremer said. "You feel the weight. You feel the power the second you grab it. It changes how you perform."

That love for the hardware is even built into the ceiling. The room’s centerpiece is a functioning disco ball sculpted as a 30,000-tile replica of the Sennheiser e 835 mic dubbed the “Macrophone.” As Leo Kremer put it, "We debated altering the design but ultimately decided that it had to be an exact replica. It’s eye catching, it's elevated, and it's super fun. That’s Mic Drop to a tee."

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Steven Hoenig, Senior Director, Portfolio Expansion Program Management at Legrand | AV

The shift to cloud-managed AV isn’t just a technology upgrade; it’s a fundamental rethinking of how AV/IT teams operate. For institutions and organizations managing dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of spaces, the traditional break-fix model has a ceiling. Cloud platforms remove that ceiling.

The clearest benefit is visibility. Cloud-managed infrastructure lets you see early warning signs—unusual power draw, devices going offline, and patterns that precede failure—before anyone picks up the phone. That shift from reactive to proactive fundamentally changes what a small AV/IT team can manage effectively.

Scalability follows naturally. A team of three shouldn’t be limited to what three people can physically touch. Remote power management, automated monitoring, and developer-accessible APIs scale reach far beyond headcount. Automation handles the routine; staff focus on work that requires human judgment.

Energy management is underappreciated. Scheduled power-down routines for high-draw equipment during off-hours yield meaningful consumption reductions—relevant for any organization with sustainability commitments or operating cost pressures.

The cautions are worth noting. Network reliability becomes foundational; monitoring is only as good as your connectivity. Data security and access control require deliberate architecture, especially in sensitive environments. And cloud management without an operational framework generates a lot of data with no clear use for it.

The organizations getting the most out of AV in the cloud aren’t just using new tools; they’re redefining what their teams are capable of.

New amplifiers, line switches, racks, and user interfaces are now ensuring crisp audio and venue flexibility at Petco Park. Daktronics recently completed an audio control system upgrade with the San Diego Padres. The overall project makes it possible to route more than 430 audio channels to over 200 different destinations in the ballpark for the 2026 season.

[LED University: Daktronics Lights Up College Scoreboards]

“This upgrade represents a significant step forward in how we deliver the game experience at Petco Park, ensuring our fans can clearly hear and feel the energy from every seat,” said Erik Meyer, Padres VP of broadcasting and entertainment. “Through our partnership with Daktronics, we’ve implemented a best-in-class system that gives us precise directional and locational audio control so we can tailor sound throughout the ballpark. Our enhanced game presentation creates an engaging and memorable experience for everyone who walks through the gates.”

The project began with a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) upgrade with redundant Q-SYS enterprise servers from QSC. This open architecture platform allows for multi-channel, multi-destination audio processing and distribution. This upgrade includes multiple pieces of audio equipment and software preparations, including 80 in-bowl amplifiers; 15 back-of-house amplifiers; 26 NETGEAR AV line switches; fully-isolated analog backup system for all in-bowl amplifiers; Yamaha DM7-EX mixing console; 14 new control racks built on site, integrated with 12 existing racks; and 24 user interfaces.

Installation of new Dynacord IPX and IX amplifiers included more than 350 amplifier-speaker terminations to ensure everything was operational and fully functional.

“This project was a large undertaking that our team was able to complete in nine weeks, all while making sure the existing system was operational up until three weeks before the start of the season,” noted Doug Dodge, Daktronics audio field engineer. “We were able to fully install and complete the programming of the system in this short window with the entire audio team executing multiple phases both on- and off-site leading up to a successful first event.”

Daktronics in-house programming provided monitoring, control and alerts from all audio system components with custom plugins for interfacing with USP battery backups, amplifier room temp sensors, loudspeaker complex impedance and existing legacy audio hardware. The team also created 24 user interfaces to ensure control flexibility for the Padres and their team from touchscreen interfaces in clubs, restaurants and monitoring stations throughout the venue.

June came to a scorching hot close with Pro AV personnel announcements and partnership news, and that momentum has carried over to July. We had a Broadcast AV acquisition, while Adder, Ampetronic | Listen Technologies, Epiphan Video, and FOR-A made strategic appointments and hires, while Visionary, Chryon, and Owl Labs offer new trainings and services.

[The SCN July Issue Is Here: Dive Into an AI Future]

In acquisition news, Broadcast Solutions GmbH, a systems integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast media industry, is acquiring BFE Studio und Medien Systeme GmbH. This transaction is expanding its service portfolio to include in-depth expertise in the areas of studio and production technology, media IT, control center and control room systems, and customized hardware and software development.

As an independent company and an established brand with offices in Mainz and Vienna, BFE will become part of the Broadcast Solutions Group. The existing shareholders, Martin Dempf and Sven Hesselbach, will continue to jointly manage the company as managing directors. Peter Dinkel and Doris Hartl will continue to lead BFE in Vienna as managing directors. Customers and partners will not experience any changes to their points of contact, ongoing projects or services.

Now, make that cup of coffee, sit back, and get caught up on the week that was in your Monday dose of Pro AV Newsmakers.

Neil Hillier Appointed CEO to Lead Next Chapter at Adder

Adder Technology has appointed Neil Hillier as chief executive officer as part of a planned leadership transition and strengthened executive structure designed to support Adder’s continued growth, innovation, and global expansion. Additionally, Adder appointed: Paul Allen to chief financial officer; Jamie Adkin to VP of global sales; and Duncan Miller to VP global marketing and customer experience to bring together marketing, customer experience, and professional services and support.

Hillier succeeds Adrian Dickens, who transitions to the role of founder and executive chair following 42 years leading the business, with Nigel Dickens moving to Emeritus CTO. Hillier’s appointment aligns with the long-term stewardship principles established through the company’s recently announced Employee Ownership Trust.

Since joining the company in 2016, Hillier has played a key role in helping drive more than 70% revenue growth, building on the company’s global market position and helping shape its long-term strategy. With over two decades in the KVM industry, Hillier brings broad leadership experience spanning engineering, technology, operations and commercial management.

Ampetronic | Listen Technologies Strengthens Executive Leadership Team

Listen Technologies and Ampetronic have promoted Kevin Jewkes to SVP of global revenue and named Alan Kennedy VP of operations. Jewkes is responsible for Ampetronic | Listen Technologies’ overall sales strategy, sales operations, team leadership, and global go-to-market execution across North America and international markets. He strengthens and grows channel and partnership programs and works with the chief marketing officer and also collaborates with product management to ensure customer and market insights inform product strategy.

Kennedy is responsible for the strategy, performance, and scalability of the organization’s operational engine. He ensures that supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, quality, facilities, and IT operate as a unified system to reliably deliver products, support growth, and meet customer commitments. His background and experience are well-suited to translating company and product strategy into operational architecture that will enable the organization to scale efficiently.

Daktronics Sarah Rose Inducted to IDEA Hall of Fame

Sarah Rose, VP of global services at Daktronics will be honored by the Information Display & Entertainment Association (IDEA) at the 2026 IDEA Conference in Cincinnati, OH. Rose, along with John Adams of The Score, are two long-time fixtures in the sports industry who will be inducted into the IDEA Hall of Fame at a formal ceremony on July 15 during the conference.

Rose leads Daktronics’ global technical and professional services teams. She ensures they are fully equipped to deliver an outstanding customer experience by fostering a learning approach, both internally and externally. Previously, she managed the service teams for large sports venues, rental and staging, and international markets.

She has been a regular IDEA Conference attendee and influencer for more than 25 years. She represented a Daktronics team that received a total of 14 Allied Achievement GMAs and the President’s award in 1999. Her passion and activism for IDEA are always on display, serving on various committees, including Women and Inclusion & Outreach, which introduces high school and college students to careers in the industry.

Epiphan Video Appoints George Birchall as Chief Executive Officer

Epiphan Video has appointed George Birchall as chief executive officer. Birchall, formerly chief commercial officer, succeeds founder Mike Sandler, who will transition into the role of president.

Birchall has played a central role in expanding Epiphan's global commercial operations, deepening partner engagement, and driving the adoption of Epiphan solutions across multiple markets. As CEO, he leads the company's day-to-day operations, strategic growth initiatives, and ongoing investments in innovation.

FOR-A America Expands U.S. Sales Team

FOR-A America has added two regional sales leaders. Both Jaz Wray and Fernando Cruz come with a wealth of experience in SaaS platforms, AI-driven live production technology, and IP-based workflows. Cruz and Wray help advance customers’ vision and success with revived energy and excitement.

Wray’s sales and project management experience extends beyond media and entertainment to telecommunications, working with companies such as NEP, Ross Video, and Barco. Cruz led business development for the Corporate, Education, and Government segments of Sony Professional and Phantom/Vision Research, and most recently drove the global promotion and sales acceleration of SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX solutions for Macnica Americas.

Company News

BirdDog's Entire Product Line Is Now NDI 6.3 Compatible

NDI announced that BirdDog has become the first hardware manufacturer to achieve full NDI 6.3 compatibility across its entire product lineup of cameras, encoders, and decoders. BirdDog hardware now natively supports NDI 6.3’s enhanced discoverability features. Those features include active Discovery Server registration through the new Sender Advertiser APIs, hostname-based device grouping, and real-time property broadcasting. This makes scalable IP video deployments far simpler, especially in segmented enterprise networks where that kind of simplicity has historically been difficult to achieve.

Before NDI 6.3, scaling across subnets was manual and complex. Discovery Server setup, IP tracking, and mDNS limitations made it difficult for sources and receivers to connect across VLANs. NDI 6.3 fixes that at the protocol level. Compatible BirdDog devices now auto-register with a central Discovery Server, route video via unicast, and send real-time status updates, significantly reducing deployment overhead.

Chyron Launches the All-New Chyron Academy:

The all-new Chyron Academy has officially launched, a ground-up redesign of the company’s product-training platform. Built on a fully custom, Chyron-branded learning experience, the new Academy replaces Chyron’s previous training system based on a third-party platform and launches with learning content covering the latest version of PRIME, Chyron’s flagship real-time broadcast graphics platform.

Chyron Academy is designed to serve two audiences at once: Customers and freelancers training on PRIME for the first time, and longtime Chyron users looking to become experts in the platform’s latest capabilities. Over the life of the previous legacy training program, more than 3,700 broadcast professionals registered to train on Chyron products, earning nearly 1,900 belt certifications across PRIME, PAINT, and Click Effects, including more than 60 Certified PRIME Black Belts worldwide. Chyron has transitioned that community to the new platform, migrating more than 950 current learners, along with the full certification history for every learner.

The redesigned Academy centers on a PRIME Belt certification path, taking learners through four levels—Yellow (Designer Basics), Green (Intermediate), Blue (Advanced), and Black (Expert)—with earned badges and completion dates appearing on each learner’s dashboard as a visual record of skill mastery. Every course module pairs a demo with a hands-on, full-screen simulation, so learners practice real PRIME workflows, such as building a lower-third graphic step by step, rather than passively watching video. An animated progress dial fills as learners complete demos, simulations, and quizzes, with a belt certification awarded automatically at 100% completion. Learners can enroll and move through the belt levels at their own pace. The program is suitable for individual learners, or supervisors or instructors can monitor the progress of their teams. The platform launches with five published PRIME courses spanning roughly 150 hands-on lessons, demos, simulations, and quizzes combined.

Owl Labs Launches Owl 360 Services

Owl Labs recently introduced Owl 360 Services, its first subscription service built to meet the needs of IT administrators. As organizations look to support hybrid work with deeper video enablement across more spaces, Owl 360 Services delivers three subscription tiers, offering dedicated support, centralized device management, proactive insights, and warranty coverage scaled to the size and complexity of the deployment.

The newly launched, highest-value Enterprise tier delivers a premium channel partner-only offering with advanced analytics, dedicated account management, and four-year warranty coverage, while the Enhanced tier will follow soon in Q3 with advanced analytics, dashboards, and API integrations. Every Owl Labs device is enrolled in the Core tier at no additional costs, giving all customers built-in analytics from the start. All three tiers provide unique insights, including talk-time insights, meeting duration tracking, visibility into the most frequently used devices and rooms, bulk deployment capabilities, reliable update management, and improved device tracking.

PlexusAV Appoints SINIUS PRO GmbH as New Distribution Partner

PlexusAV appointed SINIUS PRO GmbH as its distribution partner for Germany. The partnership will support PlexusAV’s continued growth in the German market, providing system integrators and AV professionals with access to its high-performance, open-architecture AV over IP solutions based on the IPMX standard.

The announcement follows a meeting at the EAV Group Solution Center in Heilbronn, Germany, bringing together the PlexusAV and SINIUS PRO teams. Through this partnership, SINIUS PRO will provide local market expertise, technical support and access to PlexusAV’s AV over IP solutions for system integrators and AV professionals across Germany.

Screen Innovations and Shade Innovations Unleash AI-Powered Support Agent

Screen Innovations (SI) and Shade Innovations have unveiled ATEN, an AI-powered support assistant built exclusively for its global network of dealers and installers. Named after the ancient Egyptian sun god whose light reached everyone, everywhere, ATEN was designed to provide instant access to SI expertise—anytime, from anywhere. Whether at a desk, on a jobsite, or atop a ladder on a late Sunday evening, dealers and installers can access accurate guidance and answers in seconds through text or voice.

Purpose-built for the custom integration industry, ATEN has been trained on SI's extensive library of product documentation, recorded support calls, installation guides, specifications, technical resources, and support knowledge. ATEN delivers immediate assistance across the company's entire portfolio, including motorized screens, window coverings, Black Diamond, SI Motor Technology, Zigbee and PoE protocols, the SI Ecosystem, drapery solutions, and more.

Visionary Level 1 Technical Training Approved for AVIXA CTS Renewal Units

Visionary Solutions' Level 1 Technical Training has been approved by AVIXA as a CTS Renewal Unit (RU) Provider course. The in-person training program is approved for 3.5 renewal units for CTS, CTS-D, CTS-I and Audiovisual Network Professional (ANP) certifications through May 31, 2028.

Visionary's Level 1 course provides an introduction to Visionary's AV over IP product portfolio and the foundational knowledge required to deploy audiovisual systems. Designed for system integrators, IT professionals, and technical support personnel new to Visionary products, the course covers network configuration, VLite installation and operation, encoder and decoder configuration, deployment best practices, third-party control integration, and system troubleshooting.

Participants gain an understanding of core AV over IP concepts, Visionary's product portfolio and system architecture, network considerations for reliable audiovisual distribution and best practices for system design and deployment. Course participants will learn how to deploy Visionary's solutions in bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments and configure VLANs to separate video and audio traffic across different networks. The hands-on curriculum also covers endpoint configuration and management, troubleshooting techniques and operational workflows commonly encountered in professional AV environments.

For years, many felt that “good enough” in higher education classrooms meant a projector, a screen, and maybe a monitor. But "good enough” doesn’t cut it anymore. Amid enrollment pressures, rising costs, faculty adoption, and shifting expectations for hybrid learning, institutions are rethinking how they approach AV upgrades and installations.

“The baseline functionality of ‘good enough’ has increased and will likely continue to trend upwards,” said Ben Pickrel, president of CCS Presentation Systems. And that baseline of what you need in classrooms has clearly shifted since the pandemic.

“It’s gone from being a nice-to-have to being a need,” said Erin Maher-Moran, IT manager for classroom technology at Johns Hopkins University and chair of the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA). This evolution has been key to changing what is “good enough,” and it’s clear that some of these investments and upgrades are becoming indispensable on campus.

Hybrid Is Not Optional

Based on the comments from the experts who spoke with SCN, hybrid is not optional on campuses. “The demand for hybrid teaching environments have forced schools to invest in a more robust technology package that includes multiple cameras and audio solutions in support of both in person learning and online video calls,” said Pickrel.

And it’s not just installing a single camera pointed at the professor, which is something we saw a lot of interest in early in the pandemic. It’s about understanding that hybrid isn’t just about broadcasting a class or lecture; it’s about engaging with students. “The goal is to make remote students feel like they are in the room, and that means showing and hearing both the professor and the students in the classroom,” Pickrel noted.

One way to address this has been to use multiple cameras that capture both the instructor and the students, along with microphones that support discussion-based learning. “Cameras and tracking systems are getting better, particularly with the implementation of AI," noted Troy Dale Powers, AV systems support lead at Northwestern University and vice chair of HETMA.

Lecture capture also extends the reach of classroom lectures, enabling institutions to reuse and share course content. “Video capability combined with lecture capture systems stretch resources, allowing a professor to teach from one classroom to multiple locations,” Pickrel explained. “More students attending the same class increases the overall tuition dollars without sacrificing the quality of the teaching, along with access to the recorded material.”

An Emphasis on Sound

Sound reinforcement in classrooms is also being treated as a priority and critical need rather than an afterthought as it was in the past. Those who choose to underinvest in classroom audio enhancements risk missing the mark, and students’ learning outcomes can suffer.

“Classroom voice amplification systems are essential to help schools meet the needs of students and instructors,” said Joe da Silva, VP of marketing at Extron. “By distributing sound evenly throughout the room, they ensure that every student hears the instructor’s voice clearly, no matter where they are seated. These professional-grade systems maximize speech intelligibility for students while also reducing vocal strain for instructors, allowing the freedom to move naturally around the classroom.”

Larger campuses are relying on standardization and consistency to support large-scale deployments across multiple rooms. Standardized systems streamline installation and maintenance for integrators, and faculty become more comfortable.

“Well-designed campus AV relies heavily on consistent user experiences from room to room,” da Silva added. “For faculty, a unified interface ensures that every room works the same, allowing instructors to walk in, start teaching, and not be distracted by the technology."

This also allows faculty to focus on delivering content without worrying about not being able to access it if they have trouble using the technology in the room. “The faculty want to be able to concentrate on their content delivery,” said Maher-Moran. “They don’t want to have to worry about walking into a space and having to be like, wait, what is this room like? They want to have the same user experience from room to room.”

This level of standardization also helps lighten the load for campus IT teams supporting hundreds of classrooms. It’s much easier to troubleshoot, in person or remotely, if the rooms are standardized from one to the next.

Touchpanel Importance

One of the most visible elements of the AV system is the control system touchpanel, which faculty frequently interact with directly. “With the interface having such a central role, the quality of the entire AV system is often judged by the experience the user has with the touchpanel,” said da Silva.

The latest and greatest technology—and how complex it is—doesn’t really matter to the faculty if the interface doesn’t make any sense to them. If the interface feels clunky, it will make the system seem unworkable and cause them to avoid engaging with it. “They don’t care how complex the room back end is,” Powers explained. “It doesn’t matter to them, as long as it makes sense on that little touchscreen and they can push a couple of simple buttons and make it work.”

On the flip side, many institutions learn the hard way what doesn’t work for modern classrooms. Complexity is clearly not synonymous with greater impact. Not every room needs every imaginable feature, and many institutions overspend on impressive technology that doesn’t align with needs or faculty comfort levels. Schools have to balance power with usability.

“The goal of any technology integration into a classroom setting is to enhance the learning experience for the students,” Pickrel said. “Proper design principles will balance the need for complex capabilities with an intuitive, easy-to-use control interface, allowing the professors to focus on teaching, not on the technology.”

Avoiding Misalignment

There has often been a misalignment between technology and pedagogy, but Maher-Moran noted that institutions are doing a better job through collaboration with instructional technologists. “It’s much better for us to work with the instructional designers and find out exactly how these instructors are going to be teaching,” she explained.

This also helps avoid a common problem of installing something and hoping people will just use it. The more a system requires support or cheat sheets to use, the less it will be used, and technology that isn’t used is just a wasted line item. That’s why faculty adoption is so critical—without it, even the best-designed systems will fail, even if they work perfectly.

Investing in training will boost instructor confidence and help them discuss elements they may be resistant to. You can also look for internal advocates who can help others use the technology. “Identifying ‘champions’ within the university is an extremely successful method to help drive adoption long after the initial training sessions are done,” added Pickrel.

Looking ahead, industry professionals see a focus on adaptable, flexible classroom design and an increasing reliance on AI integration. Maher-Moran noted that the use of AI will extend beyond its current applications, such as camera tracking, to include system monitoring and room health. She also highlighted that AI-powered learning tools are gaining traction. “Chat agents, AI chat agents are somewhere I think we’re going to see growth,” she predicted.

As it is in many industries, AI is where the next evolution of classroom technology is heading. Potential future applications we could see AI supporting range from syllabus-based Q&As to more complex classroom simulations. “With AI becoming so prevalent in everyday life, I think there’s going to be more of a push to utilize AI tools in classrooms and within our systems,” Maher-Moran said.

Powers agreed but offered a note of caution. “I think the problem is we don’t know what it’s going to look like,” he said. “The AI that we were talking about two years ago isn’t what we’re talking about today.”

Looking for more knowledge about classroom AV? Get your free copy of SCN's Integration Guide to Education.

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: John Kruse, Senior Field Solutions Architect at ViewSonic

Cloud is no longer an emerging concept in Pro AV; it’s becoming the operational backbone for how systems are deployed, managed, and scaled.

For many organizations, the primary benefit is visibility. Cloud-based platforms provide centralized monitoring across rooms, buildings, and global campuses, allowing IT teams to proactively identify issues, push updates, and maintain consistent performance without being physically present. This shift is especially valuable as AV footprints expand and support resources remain constrained.

Scalability is another key advantage. New rooms and devices can be onboarded quickly, configurations can be standardized, and updates can be deployed broadly with minimal disruption. This reduces deployment friction and shortens the time between design and usability.

Cloud also enables better data-driven decisions. Usage analytics, system health metrics, and performance trends give organizations insight into how spaces are actually being used—informing future investments and helping justify budgets with real data. Platforms like ViewSonic’s myViewBoard Manager, for example, reflect this shift by enabling centralized, cloud-based device management and remote control across distributed display environments.

However, moving AV into the cloud is not without considerations. Security and compliance must be addressed up front. AV devices are now part of the broader IT ecosystem, requiring alignment with network policies, authentication standards, and data governance practices. Organizations in regulated industries may face additional scrutiny around where data is stored and how it is transmitted.

There is also a dependency on network reliability. Cloud-managed systems assume consistent connectivity, and outages—whether local or upstream—can impact control, monitoring, or functionality.

Ultimately, cloud in AV is less about convenience and more about operational maturity. Organizations that approach it strategically—balancing scalability with security—will be better positioned to manage growing AV ecosystems with confidence.

AVT Question: Please share insights and trends on AV/IT in the cloud, including the benefits and cautions.

Thought Leader: Petro Shimonishi, Director of New Business Development at Panasonic Projector & Display Americas

The AV industry is undergoing a meaningful transformation, shifting from isolated, hardware-centric systems to open, cloud-connected ecosystems. This evolution is less about moving AV to the cloud and more about extending its capabilities through connectivity, interoperability, and intelligent management.

A defining trend is the move toward open, platform-agnostic systems. As organizations deploy increasingly complex technology stacks, seamless communication across devices is now essential. Historically, proprietary protocols made multi-vendor deployments difficult to manage, which is why industry collaboration is critical. Efforts like the OpenAV Cloud Association are helping drive standardization across device telemetry, cloud-to-cloud communication, security models, and open APIs.

At Panasonic Projector & Display Americas, we’ve embraced this shift as a founding member of the OpenAV Cloud Association and by introducing web-based APIs across our projector and display portfolio. These APIs enable third-party integration and allow external applications to monitor and control devices over IP networks. Through our partnership with XYTE, users gain real-time visibility and remote management.

The benefits of cloud-connected ecosystems are clear: improved system visibility, faster troubleshooting, reduced downtime, and more scalable deployments.

However, there are important considerations. Security and data protection remain top priorities, as connected devices introduce new potential attack surfaces. This is why cloud solutions must incorporate secure communication protocols and rigorous standards such as SOC2 compliance—supported by Panasonic’s ongoing firmware updates and XYTE’s secure cloud infrastructure. Reliability is another concern. That’s why it’s important that Panasonic solutions continue to operate locally, even if the network goes down. Meanwhile, avoiding proprietary lock-in provides long-term flexibility, while clear data policies and total cost visibility support smarter long-term decisions.

Ultimately, cloud-enabled AV should help organizations work smarter and respond faster while staying secure and flexible.