Sound Tube and Original Syndicate added new hires. D-Tools, Somfy, and Miri Technologies made product enhancements. Sony, Panasonic Projector & Display, and Martin Professional announced new partnerships. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

[What to Know about the 2026 AV/IT Summit]

Get caught up in the busy Pro AV week that was in your Monday fill of Pro AV Newsmakers.

People

Original Syndicate Expands Leadership and Specialist Team 

Original Syndicate (OGS) has strengthened its leadership and specialist capabilities with the appointment of three new team members. Joining the company are Tyler Baum as business development manager, Michael Hernandez as head of production, and Bryan "Bee" Washington as technical operations center operator. They join Monica Vandehei, senior technical producer, and Cassidy Pearsall, senior technical producer, as part of a broader expansion that reflects OGS's continued investment in technical expertise, production excellence and client support as the business enters its next phase of growth.

Baum is focusing on developing strategic partnerships and helping organizations navigate increasingly complex communications technology projects. Drawing on extensive experience across LED volume environments, virtual production and business development, he will work with organizations to identify technology solutions that align with their operational and creative objectives. Hernandez brings extensive experience in creative production, virtual production, and large-scale immersive projects. Having worked across live touring, XR Studios, and the launch of Sphere, he oversees the production systems that support the successful delivery of OGS projects, ensuring teams, workflows, and project execution remain aligned from concept through completion. With more than a decade of broadcast engineering experience supporting global sporting events, major streaming platforms and international broadcasts, Washington plays a key role in monitoring, maintaining, and optimizing technical systems for clients.

Vandehei brings a background spanning live events, virtual production, and creative technology. Having managed complex production environments across theater, fashion, television, and feature film projects, she works closely with clients to align creative ambitions with practical technical solutions from concept through to implementation. Lastly, Pearsall brings expertise across live events, virtual production, cinema technology and systems integration. She now supports clients with workflow development, technical design, and project delivery across a wide range of production and education-focused environments.

SoundTube Expands Customer Design Resources

SoundTube Entertainment welcomed Nelson Lugo as design engineer, further expanding SoundTube's ability to support integrators, consultants, and end users with expert audio system design, product selection, and project support. In his role, Nelson works directly with customers to develop audio system designs, recommend solutions tailored to project requirements, and provide engineering support throughout the design and specification process. His addition reinforces SoundTube's commitment to helping customers deploy high-performance audio systems with confidence while expanding the resources available through the company's Design Services program.

Nelson brings nearly two decades of experience spanning professional audio, technical support, manufacturing, AV integration, and customer-facing engineering roles. Over the past 18 years, he has developed extensive expertise designing, supporting, and implementing professional audio systems from concept through deployment.

Partnerships

Martin Professional Announces Strategic Partnership with the Iconic Royal Albert Hall

Martin Professional has announced a strategic partnership with London’s Royal Albert Hall, creating a closer collaboration between manufacturer and venue that will help shape future lighting technology development. The partnership creates a direct feedback loop between real-world applications and product design, providing Martin with insight from one of the world’s most demanding venues while supporting the Royal Albert Hall’s continued investment in advanced lighting systems across a diverse global program.

The Royal Albert Hall maintains a substantial Martin Professional inventory, comprising MAC Ultra Performance, ELP PAR, MAC Aura XIP, MAC Encore Performance CLD, and MAC Viper Wash DX fixtures in the main auditorium. MAC Ones, ERA 400 Performance CLD, and ELP CL Profiles can be found in a smaller performance space in the building.

Neutrik Group Americas Expands Distribution Reach for NEUTRIK and REAN Brands

Neutrik Group Americas introduced a new channel partnership with DigiKey, an electronic components distributors. This collaboration will expand DigiKey’s customer access to the complete portfolio of NEUTRIK and REAN connectivity solutions across the Americas as well as the global markets.

Through this new reseller relationship, DigiKey will offer both NEUTRIK and REAN brand products, making these solutions more accessible to engineers, integrators, manufacturers, OEMs, and technical buyers who rely on DigiKey’s extensive distribution platform and streamlined purchasing experience.

Panasonic Projector & Display Americas and Illumibot Launch World's First AI-Powered Mobile Projection Fleet

Panasonic Projector & Display Americas launched IllumiBeastin partnership with Illumibot. As part of the fleet of co-branded, AI-powered, projection-enabled Cybertrucks, Panasonic Projector & Display Americas will sponsor the first six IllumiBeasts that bring professional-grade projection mapping directly to brands, venues, events, and audiences anywhere in the United States.

Projection mapping has grown in popularity as organizations look to enhance audience engagement. Historically, projection mapping has been reserved for large-scale productions with significant budgets, specialized technical crews, and fixed venues.

Illumibot aims to transform this landscape with the world's first AI Personalized Projection platform. Designed so users can leverage a smartphone camera and natural language prompts to detect surfaces, generate visuals, and map projections in seconds, the technology helps reduce the need for complex mapping software.

The IllumiBeast powers projection mapping on wheels. Smaller scale projects that couldn’t otherwise benefit from projection mapping due to space, budget, and staffing restrictions receive a comprehensive system that’s fully self-contained, AI-ready, and designed to be operational within minutes, directly to their door.

Each vehicle arrives fully equipped with MEVIX laser projection technology, including the PT-MZ20K, a 20,000-lumen 3LCD WUXGA laser projector that’s ready to deliver large-format, high-impact projection experiences on demand. As the solution’s projection sponsor, MEVIX equips each IllumiBeast with professional-grade projection technology, enabling a mobile projection mapping solution that any brand, event organizer, or venue can access without a production team or a permanent installation.

Sony Electronics, CatchLight Collaborate to Expand Visual Reporting Capacity in Local Newsrooms

CatchLight, the organization investing in the power of images to inform and connect, announced a new strategic equipment initiative with Sony that will put professional camera and video tools directly in the hands of local visual journalists. High-quality visual journalism depends on reliable equipment that can capture clear images, video, and audio in the unpredictable conditions local journalists face every day. With Sony and other collaborators, CatchLight is expanding access to the tools and support local newsrooms need to strengthen their visual capacity and tell deeper, more nuanced stories.

Through the initiative, Sony will provide 24 professional Alpha camera and video kits to select CatchLight Local member newsrooms, including 16 CatchLight Local Fellows and Report for America Corps Members. Each kit includes professional equipment, including full-frame cameras, telephoto zoom lenses, digital shotgun microphones, and external flash with wireless radio control. In addition to equipment kits, Sony will also provide access to Sony Pro Support memberships, technical support representatives, and online training sessions that can be accessed through CatchLight’s learning library.

Products

AIMS Announces Second IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), together with the Video Services Forum (VSF) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), will host the second IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event. Scheduled for Aug. 24–28 at the EBU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the week-long gathering is open to AIMS and VSF member companies and will expand the growing IPMX-certified product ecosystem while introducing formal certification of new capabilities developed as part of the IPMX roadmap.

The Geneva certification event follows a "dirty hands" interoperability session scheduled for July 20–24 at the Matrox Video facility in Montreal, Canada. That members-only session will give AIMS participants hands-on testing of new IPMX developments ahead of the formal certification event, continuing the model of pre-certification interoperability work that has proven effective throughout the IPMX program.

The August event will introduce certification for capabilities that have been in active development prior to the launch of the full realized standard in 2026. These include Host Key Exchange Protocol (HKEP) and HDCP handling for protected content, and the Privacy Encryption Protocol (PEP) security layer, which enables interoperable content encryption across multi-vendor deployments. HEVC and AVC compression profiles, which have seen strong industry interest in enabling efficient transport across existing infrastructure, are also progressing toward certification.

Audio-Technica Introduces 20 Series USB Microphone Control Application

Audio-Technica unveiled its new 20 Series Control Application, a Stream Deck plug-in designed to provide streamlined control of compatible Audio-Technica USB microphones directly from Elgato Stream Deck devices. Developed for streamers, content creators, podcasters, gamers and audio production professionals, the application delivers fast access to essential microphone functions through customizable Stream Deck keys, dials and foot pedals.

Compatible with the Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X, Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP and Audio-Technica AT2040USB microphones, the 20 Series Control Application allows users to mute and unmute microphones instantly, adjust microphone input levels, and, for AT2020USB-XP users, control Automatic Gain Control (AGC) and Noise Reduction (NR) functions directly from the Stream Deck interface.

D-Tools Cloud Release #100 Delivers 66 New Capabilities in Platform History

The new D-Tools Cloud Release #100 delivers 66 improvements, more new capabilities than any release since the platform’s 2018 debut, spanning payments, sales reporting, inventory, and project drawings. Many of the improvements came directly from customer requests, and together they make D-Tools Cloud faster, clearer, and more complete at every stage of the integration business lifecycle.

Some of the new capabilities are Accelerated ACH Deposits, a new next-day funding option in D-Tools Payments; a new QuickBooks Online and Xero filter that shows at a glance which invoices have been pushed to accounting, and which still need to be linked, across Purchase Orders, Change Orders, and Billing, reducing the risk of duplicate or untracked entries; a new Product Tracking Mode lives on the product itself and can be switched individually or in bulk, with a change-guard dialog that protects data integrity by blocking any mode switch while a product has assets or quantities allocated, checked out, or reserved, and explaining why; and the enhanced Interconnect Diagrams module, launched last fall, with more branded, flexible, and production-ready for client-facing documentation.

The Sales Results module receives the largest set of upgrades: a new default “Total” revenue view that combines project, service contract, subscription, and service call revenue without double-counting; new date-range presets; a cleaned-up Lost Opportunities gadget; and a new drill-down Details view exposing the underlying opportunities, service calls, and change orders behind any number. Sales Forecast receives parallel improvements, including clearer labels, an improved 12-month projection window, corrected tooltips, and subscriptions now folded into forecast totals.

Miri Introduces New Platform for NetConnect+ Plans

Miri Technologies is rolling out a new online portal that provides customers and resellers with self-serve management tools and usage analytics for the company's NetConnect+ global mobile data plans. The intuitive Miri Data Platform lets users manage the full lifecycle of NetConnect+ SIM cards and plans themselves, from provisioning new SIMs to usage reporting and billing.

The Miri Data Platform dashboard provides users with full autonomy to control and monitor usage of their purchased NetConnect+ SIM cards. It enables self-activation of new NetConnect+ SIMs while offering at-a-glance views of active SIMs and their associated devices, along with high-level usage information.

Somfy Releases a New Verified Plugin for Q-SYS

Somfy has a new Q-SYS Verified Plugin supporting PoE (Power over Ethernet) shading solutions. As a contributor to the Q-SYS Ecosystem, Somfy collaborated with Q-SYS to create a market-ready control solution that integrates seamless control of Somfy’s intelligent motors into the Q-SYS Full Stack AV Platform.

The Somfy Sonesse PoE Motors Plug-in enables integrators to configure, monitor, and control PoE-powered shading systems directly within Q-SYS Designer Software. By leveraging network-based power and communication, the plugin helps simplify system architecture while supporting reliable and consistent performance.

The solution also allows integrators to align shading control with AV and environmental systems within a unified platform, improving usability, and delivering a more cohesive experience across commercial environments. This plugin complements Somfy’s existing Q-SYS Verified Plugin for Somfy Connect UAI Plus and SDN motors, providing additional flexibility when designing IP-based shading systems alongside AV, lighting, and environmental controls.

Audinate, SMPTE

Audinate Introduces All-New Spanish Language Dante Training Program 

Audinate's new Dante Certification program is now available in Spanish. Designed for today's rapidly evolving AV landscape, this essential update equips professionals with the networking and AVoIP expertise the industry demands, while offering up to 19.75 AVIXA Renewal Units and up to 10.75 CEDIA CEUs.

The updated curriculum reflects the latest developments across the Dante platform. Participants will gain deeper insight into foundational networking concepts such as IP addressing, VLANs, QoS, multicast, and IGMP, as well as Dante-specific topics including network design, Dante Controller, AES67/ST2110 interoperability, Dante Domain Manager, Dante Director, advanced troubleshooting, and more. Courses are offered free of charge for all three levels, and certifications remain valid for three years.

SMPTE Builds IP Skills for the AV and Media Technology Workforce

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is expanding access to practical, industry-focused education that prepares today's AV and technology workforce for increasingly connected production environments. Building on its open-access Standards Library, SMPTE's education offerings help professionals progress from foundational knowledge to real-world IP media implementation. The journey begins with the free, self-paced Essentials of Media over IP (EMIP) course and continues with the instructor-led Understanding SMPTE ST 2110 virtual course, beginning July 21.

Developed in collaboration with EVS, the free Essentials of Media over IP (EMIP) course introduces the fundamentals of IP networking for media. Participants can then continue with Understanding SMPTE ST 2110, where live instruction, demonstrations, and interactive discussions explore the standards, technologies, and workflows used to deploy interoperable IP-based production environments.

Graduates of Understanding SMPTE ST 2110 are eligible to participate in the SMPTE ST 2110 Practical Lab, an immersive hands-on experience developed in collaboration with Lawo. Completion of Understanding SMPTE ST 2110 is required before participating in the Practical Lab, where participants configure, synchronize, test, and troubleshoot interoperable IP media systems using technologies from leading industry partners including Lawo, Arista Networks, Meinberg, Bridge Technologies, Matrox Video, AJA Video Systems, Macnica, Leader Electronics, NVIDIA, Embrionix, and others.

The course is led by Willem Vermost (EBU), Wim Van Roy (Lawo), Gerard Phillips (Arista Networks), Chris Lapp (Cisco), and Leigh Whitcomb (Meinberg). Guest lecturers include Felix Poulin (Radio-Canada), Andreas Hildebrand (Lawo), Olivier Ettlin (Simplexity), Pedro Ferreira (Bisect), Stefan Ledergerber (Simplexity), and François Legrand (Radio-Canada).

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.

It was yet another busy week in Pro AV. Audix, PPDS, and Grass Valley were among those to announce strategic promotions and hires, while WAVIT announced the winners of the 2026 Mary Cook Empowerment Scholarship. And yes, there were two more acquisitions of note.

[Survey Open for SCN Top AV Consultants]

First, CTI made its second acquisition in less than a month, acquiring Texolve Digital of Oakmont, PA. Adding Texolve’s team, which provides broadcast engineering and integration at the highest level, will expand the broadcast media division’s ability to serve clients worldwide.

Next, Legrand acquired Girtz Industries, a provider of custom-engineered modular power enclosures and related services based in Monticello, IN. Girtz Industries’ development and integration of complete power systems support the reliable provision of critical power across datacenter, industrial, and commercial applications. It joins Legrand as a business unit within the company’s Electrical Wiring Systems division led by Ravi Ramanathan. David Girtz, who has served as Girtz Industries’ president and CEO for nearly 40 years, will continue to lead the Girtz business and team, reporting to Ravi.

Now, before InfoComm opens its doors, get caught up with the week that was in your regular dose of Pro AV Newsmakers.

People News

AUDIX Welcomes Eric Reese and Sam Vitali

AUDIX appointed Eric Reese to VP and Sam Vitali to the position of director of sales–European markets.

In his new role within the Videndum Creative Solutions family of brands, Reese oversees all functions at AUDIX, including sales, marketing, product development, and operations. He brings over 26 years of extensive experience in the AV and entertainment industry to his new position. Having started his career as a reliability engineer at Peavey Electronics, his background spans the entire product chain—from manufacturing and designing integrated AVL systems to global business development and channel management.

Vitali oversees sales, marketing, and operations within the EMEA region to ensure the brand is optimally represented and supported across Europe. He brings a wealth of experience across sales, marketing, and operations within the music technology industry. He joins AUDIX following a highly successful tenure at Focusrite.

beyerdynamic Names Jesse Dean Managing Directorof the Americas

beyerdynamic has appointed Jesse Dean as managing director of the Americas. In this role, Dean oversees beyerdynamic's business operations, sales strategy, and brand development across North and South America.

Dean brings more than 25 years of experience across the professional audio, video, creator, and consumer technology industries to beyerdynamic. Throughout his career, he has held a range of leadership roles. Most recently, Dean served as director of business development, Americas at RØDE, where he played a key role in the brand’s expansion across the United States.

Brompton Technology appoints Andrew Beaudet as Head of Sales for the Americas

Brompton Technology welcomed Andrew Beaudet as its new head of sales for the Americas. With almost three decades of experience across the music and digital signage industry, Beaudet found his passion for sales running a distributions company with independent manufacturers.

Building on that knowledge, he branched into digital signage where he worked with major LED display manufacturers. By meeting people in the live events industries and observing their work, he developed a keen understanding of what they deserve from large-format LED displays. During his 10 years working with BARCO in its live event and retail division, the camaraderie of the production teams he worked with left a lasting impression. He brings that same respect and understanding to his new role at Brompton.

Grass Valley Appoints Sam Craig as Vice President, Global Pre-Sales

Grass Valley has appointed Sam Craig as VP, global pre-sales. Craig returns to Grass Valley after serving as VP of advisory services at Diversified and previously spent seven years with the company in a number of leadership role.

In his new role, Craig leads Grass Valley’s global pre-sales organization, working closely with regional teams across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC to strengthen collaboration, align customer engagement strategies, and support continued growth across the Grass Valley Media Universe.

PPDS Names Tom Keefe as new Director of Sales for Philips LED in North America

PPDS has welcomed sales professional and Pro AV ‘veteran’, Tom Keefe, as its new director of sales dvLED North America. Keefe's appointment plays an integral role in PPDS continued growth trajectory and long term ambitions in North America, which includes establishing Philips Professional Displays as the preferred partner for premium indoor and outdoor dvLED projects.

An AVIXA CTS holder, he brings extensive market knowledge and 23 years of experience to the PPDS team, with proven expertise in sales, business development, category management, marketing strategy, brand building, distribution, partner relationship management, and market analysis. His core responsibilities include developing and defining PPDS’ organizational sales structure and executing its go-to-market strategy.

Howdy, Partner

Audinate and Soundtrack Technologies Partner to Streamline Business Music with Dante Integration

Soundtrack Techvologies, a music streaming provider for businesses, announced that its hardware solution, the Soundtrack Player, is now compatible with Audinate’s Dante ecosystem. This strategic integration makes it easier than ever for businesses to deploy professional-grade background music across industry-standard Dante networks.

The collaboration bridges the gap between AV networking and commercial music streaming. By enabling Dante directly on the Soundtrack Player, integrators can now route licensed, high-quality music to any Dante-enabled device—including speakers, amplifiers, and processors—via the local network.

Miri Technologies Partners with Midwich For Distribution in North America

Miri Technologies has expanded the global reach and availability of its products with the signing of a new distribution partnership for the United States and Canada with Midwich. The agreement reinforces Miri's channel partnership strategy for meeting the rapidly growing demand for the X510 dual-cellular bonding router and the new V410 4K live encoder/decoder in the world's largest commercial market.

The Miri X510 router enables resilient internet connectivity anywhere by forging multiple wired and wireless links (including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 4G, 5G and satellite) together to overcome speed limitations and withstand network disruptions even in challenging environments. Powered by Speedify channel bonding technology from Connectify, the X510 bolsters internet connectivity for any type of data and supports use cases ranging from live streaming and remote broadcast contribution to trade shows and disaster response.

WAVIT Announces Recipients of 2026 Mary Cook Empowerment Scholarship

WAVIT (Women in AV/IT) announced the recipients of the 2026 Mary Cook Empowerment Scholarship: Designing the Future. Created in memory of industry pioneer Mary Cook, the scholarship recognizes emerging women leaders in the AV/IT industry who demonstrate passion, leadership potential, and a commitment to advancing their careers in audiovisual technology.

This year marks a significant expansion of the program, with two scholarships awarded for the first time, made possible through the support of sponsoring partner Shure. The scholarship program continues WAVIT’s mission to invest in the next generation of women in AV and honor Mary Cook’s enduring legacy of mentorship, advocacy, and empowerment within the industry.

The 2026 scholarship recipients, Alexa Johnson of IMS Technology Services and Emily Cieslak from TeamPeople, were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants for their enthusiasm, career ambition, and dedication to shaping the future of AV/IT.

Audinate, the creator of Dante AVoIP, has unveiled three new additions to its Dante AVIO Install adapter series: Dante AVIO Install 4-Ch Analog Input, 4-Ch Analog Output, and 2-Ch In/2-Ch Out Analog adapters, all featuring dual switched Ethernet ports that allow up to four units to share a single network drop via daisy chaining.

[InfoComm 2026 Product Watch: Broadcast AV Takes Center Stage]

Designed for AV integration, Dante AVIO Install adapters provide a compact, cost-effective way to convert analog audio to Dante for both new and existing installations. Euroblock terminals support the fixed wiring that permanent installations demand, while an included bracket and Dante AVIO ClickGrid system give integrators the flexibility to mount adapters wherever they are needed under shelves, on rack rails, or secured to posts.

"By combining higher channel density and daisy chain functionality, the latest Dante AVIO Install adapters give integrators an economical path to converting analog endpoints to Dante at scale," said said Jonathan Bailey, lead product manager at Audinate. "They reduce the number of adapters, switch ports, and long cable runs required across an installation, and fit directly into the Dante workflows and tools integrators already know."

The new models allow for higher channel density when connecting to amplifiers, line mixers, DSPs, and other analog installed AV equipment, reducing the number of adapters needed to convert multiple channels to Dante or handle bidirectional audio at a single endpoint. They are suited to applications ranging from single conference rooms and classrooms to audio distribution across buildings, campuses, and zones with centralized device management.

By sharing a single network drop across up to four adapters, the new daisy chaining functionality significantly reduces the number of switch ports and cable runs required across an installation. This lowers overall network infrastructure costs and makes it easier and more cost-effective to deploy multiple adapters as systems grow.

As part of the Dante platform, all Dante AVIO Install adapters work with familiar Dante tools. Audio routing and configuration are handled in Dante Controller, while Dante Director and Dante Domain Manager add advanced capabilities including remote monitoring, logging and alerts, user access control, and more.

Consider the expectations of your clients officially raised.

The continuing convergence of broadcast and Pro AV technologies means corporate, education, and other verticals want broadcast-quality productions—as do their audiences—coupled with systems that are more user-friendly and a lot less expensive than traditional broadcast studios. So, what technologies are driving the next phase of convergence?

From the integrator's perspective, Ben Dandola-Grubb, VP of technical integration for Verrex, said the next phase of convergence will be driven by technologies that blend high-end AV hardware with software-centric, IP-based workflows. "We’re seeing clients pair advanced cameras and professional audio with IP standards like Dante, NDI, and SRT, while simple tools like OBS and Stream Deck controllers make sophisticated graphics accessible to everyone," he explained. "As these ecosystems mature, the shift toward full AVoIP—eventually including ST 2110 and IMPX—will accelerate even faster."

For Will Waters, principal product manager for Audinate, the most significant driver is a shift toward software-defined media platforms, which can be seen increasingly in universities, enterprises, and media organizations. "Organizations are moving away from fixed, device-centric systems toward environments where routing, processing, and control are implemented in software," he said. "This abstraction allows workflows to be deployed across on-premises infrastructure, virtualized environments, and cloud services using consistent management and security models."

To that end, KVM will also have a part to play in the next chapter of convergence. Anna Kozel, VP of marketing for VuWall | G&D, said technologies like KVM over IP are "enabling operators to access and manage video and data workflows more flexibly across facilities and remote locations. At the same time, centralized management platforms are becoming critical, allowing teams to control video walls, sources, and KVM systems through a single intuitive interface."

Security is also a major driver, Kozel added, particularly in government and enterprise environments where secure remote access, encryption, and compliance with standards like Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) and Common Criteria are essential. "Ultimately, convergence is about operational flexibility, bringing AV, IT, and broadcast workflows together on a shared, scalable infrastructure," she said.

Emphasis on Infrastructure

Sebastian Mucha, MultiDyne's executive VP of sales and strategy, said IPMX is accelerating convergence by “bringing broadcast-grade IP transport into Pro AV without the complexity traditionally associated with ST 2110. This lowers the barrier to entry for high-performance IP systems.”

Distributed workflows—where processing happens closer to the source, rather than centralized control rooms—is another trend. “This aligns with both Pro AV scalability and broadcast remote production models. Plus, cloud is increasingly used for orchestration, monitoring, and workflow management,” Mucha explained.

Jonathan Lyth, product director for enterprise media at Grass Valley, agrees that software-defined production and hybrid cloud will be key drivers. "Instead of tying specific functions to fixed hardware, teams can use the same production capabilities across different events and locations, scaling them up or down as needed," Lyth offered. "This makes it far easier to produce more content without rebuilding systems each time or buying infrastructure to cover occasional peak events."

With software as a driving force, IP networking will (not surprisingly) continue to play a huge role in convergence. "Moving video workflows from the world of baseband into IP is opening new doors, especially as more timing-aware technology surfaces, and high-bandwidth, managed IP equipment becomes easier and more cost-efficient to set up and maintain," said Abe Abt, senior product consultant for AJA Video Systems. "Tools have come down substantially in price, and we’ll continue to see more of this in the years to come."

"As everything moves to an IP infrastructure, the next 'phase' is software-defined workflows all running on COTS servers either on prem, in data centers, or in the public cloud, eliminating bespoke hardware," added Rick Seegull, SVP of technology and business development for Riedel Communications. "These innovations will promote true interoperability between vendors’ software within the broadcast, Pro AV, and IT systems, having all software access the media directly in memory and enabling seamless communication across multi-vendor environments. By supporting open standards and flexible architectures, they allow customers to select best-of-breed components while building scalable, future-ready workflows."

A Place for AI

AI will play a role, Lyth acknowledged, but he said its early impact will be largely focused on reducing day-to-day workloads, rather than changing how Pro AV content is created. "Tasks like system monitoring, tagging content, preparing clips, and checking quality control can increasingly be automated, helping teams to deliver more frequent productions more reliably, making live production easier to repeat and manage at scale," he said.

According to Abt, some live sports networks are already using AI to quickly produce highlight reels for distribution on social media platforms. "AI is another emerging technology that both industries are just beginning to explore, and it's already showing a lot of promise for enhancing media asset management and the setup and configuration of live productions," he added.

While Waters said AI and automation will support monitoring, diagnostics, provisioning, and content management, their value depends on a strong foundation of software and management. "For decision-makers, convergence means applying IT and platform thinking to media operations. Prioritizing vendors that offer flexible deployment models, open APIs, and systems proven at scale helps create ecosystems that balance usability, control, and long-term sustainability," he said.

Michael Bergeron, Panasonic's senior category manager–advanced video production technology, believes the challenge with technologies such as cloud or AI is determining where each has its maximum benefit. "We tried cloud everywhere in the early 2020s," he recalled, "and it stuck in places where scalability was required or where rarely used assets needed to be delivered—cases in which on-prem support of the same functionality might be cost prohibitive. We may see a similar shakedown with AI. GenAI content is still too easily recognized as such, but AI with a human operator is a force multiplier."

AVT Question: Please share insights into how your company’s products and solutions help ensure interoperability and connectivity not only on the day of deployment but also on Day 2 and beyond.

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

Interoperability and connectivity are crucial to how AV professionals design modern systems, as audio and video must move reliably across diverse devices, environments, and architectures.

As AV over IP has matured, Audinate’s products address the growing complexity of connecting large numbers of devices across shared networks. Rather than relying on inconsistently applied open standards or manufacturer-specific standards, Audinate provides a fully supported transport platform that allows products from over 700 manufacturers to communicate consistently. This gives integrators the flexibility to choose the best products for each application while avoiding the limitations of single-vendor systems that can lead to compatibility issues.

Interoperability today also depends on how well AV systems coexist with IT infrastructure. Audinate’s solutions offer visibility into Dante device status, traffic, and performance. Through centralized management, control, and a unified API, IT teams can monitor Dante AV endpoints alongside other networked systems, gaining a clearer, more cohesive view across sites. This simplifies management, improves troubleshooting, and supports closer alignment between AV and IT teams.

Scalability is another critical aspect of interoperability. Products built on Dante deliver consistent performance with backward compatibility, whether deployed in small, single-room systems or across an entire campus or enterprise. They route audio and video flexibly across the network while maintaining synchronization, reliability, and control.

By combining manufacturer-agnostic interoperability, robust management, and scalable design, Audinate’s solutions help ensure connectivity that works without friction, every day, at any scale.

Title: VP of Video Applications

Company: Audinate

Location: New York City

Overtime: While he loves the museums and live music New York City has to offer, Johnson and his wife are adventurers who have a love of travel. He also is a car-driving enthusiast.

Why You Need to Know Him: Johnson founded Iris, a cloud-native platform for professional camera control. Since Audinate acquired the company, he now leads the Iris business unit and helps shape video product strategy across the Dante platform.

Noah Johnson has had quite a ride up the Pro AV ladder in a short time. From his earliest business venture with LiveControl to Iris and to its eventual acquisition by Audinate, Johnson has been helping to build cloud-native software that is revolutionizing camera control in remote and live production.

From a young age, Johnson was always an entrepreneur. He started companies as soon as he was able, with a little company in high school and then creating a SaaS business in college that aggregated events for campuses.

He transitioned into the Pro AV world with LiveControl, which still operates today. LiveControl installed PTZ cameras into different venues like live music, education, and worship environments; instead of bringing a full crew in each time, a remote operator and Johnson's LiveControl team would handle full camera control, as well as live switching and production.

Which led to Iris. Johnson was just 29 when he started Iris, which he said was enabling a consumer-facing version of camera control that was rebuilt from the ground up. “It’s essentially an operating system for cameras," said Johnson. "Think about getting into a car with CarPlay, it takes over the screen and lets you use apps like Spotify or Apple Maps in a really intuitive way. Iris works the same way for cameras.”

Johnson first met with Audinate at IBC, shortly after his honeymoon began (which he joked did not go over well with his new bride at the time). “At first we were talking about how we might integrate,” Johnson said. “It turned out there were a few areas where our products fit together quite naturally. It wasn’t something I expected, but the partnership evolved organically from there.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Well, perhaps not yet, but with Iris and Audinate as one, the AV world is getting a taste of what the two are capable of doing together. Now, Johnson has transitioned from CEO to VP of video applications. His day-to-day has changed a bit, but he keeps him very busy.

"On one side, I think about products holistically across various different verticals that we're working on at Audinate," Johnson explained. "But my main day-to-day is GM of the Iris business unit. So, I'm thinking about a lot of the same things that I was before: How do we drive OEM growth? How do we drive revenue? How do we improve the product and our strategy? But it's different in that I have access to resources and knowledge and deep insights into the industry that I simply did not have before."

It didn't take long for Johnson to experience what many aspire to call an entire career. That is not lost on him, and he imparts this wisdom to the future of Pro AV.

"Start by solving the first problem," Johnson advised. "It's just about starting. I think that's really important. I also wouldn't be afraid to be different. If you have an idea—that usually stems from some type of problem or insight that you have, and that means more people have it. Pull on that thread, voice your opinion, and follow that, because being different is actually good."

Audinate has launched Dante Preset Creator. A companion to Dante Controller, Dante Preset Creator is a free online tool to help users configure network settings prior to setting up hardware.

When hardware is available and ready for configuration, presets generated by Dante Preset Creator can be imported into Dante Controller and applied to the network. Settings can be applied selectively, ensuring any existing configuration changes are maintained.

“The ability to plan ahead without access to the equipment makes on-site setup a much smoother process,” said Laurence Crew, product manager at Audinate. “Dante Preset Creator delivers capabilities that Dante users have been asking for. We’re pleased to offer this new online tool free for the Dante community.”

Dante Preset Creator is available now and is free for all users at GetDante.com. The associated application, Dante Controller, is also free and available for download for Mac OS or PC.

Audinate has launched Dante Director Professional, a comprehensive web-based management solution designed for remote management of any size AV installation from 50 devices to many thousands. The software solution addresses the growing challenge of maintaining distributed AV infrastructure at scale by providing centralized monitoring, management, and security authentication capabilities.

[Dante: Under Control]

"Organizations are deploying both large and widespread Dante-enabled AV systems at unprecedented scale," said Laurence Crew, product manager at Audinate. "Dante Director Professional gives technical teams the tools they need to manage these distributed networks efficiently while maintaining the security and reliability that mission-critical communication systems demand."

Dante Director Professional delivers an easily accessible solution that enables IT and AV teams across campuses, office buildings, and global facilities to monitor device health, diagnose issues remotely, and ensure systems remain operational without requiring on-site presence. The enterprise-focused management platform for Dante devices, including remote management, enhanced security, scalability, system integration, and ongoing data retention.

From campus-wide large university installations to worldwide corporate deployments, early adopters of Dante Director Professional have reported better insight into their Dante networks. "At Rutgers University-New Brunswick, we support close to 300 general-purpose classes and learning environments across four campuses spread over 12 miles, and Dante Director Professional is an invaluable tool for remote monitoring and diagnosis of our AV systems,” said Ed Rebert, AV systems manager at Rutgers.

January in the Pro AV industry is alive and well. Before ISE 2026 kicks off, there were a flurry of big moves from Disguise, Daktronics, Chyron, Custom Channels, and many more.

[SCN's ISE Insiders 2026]

It was a hectic week of new hires, promotions, and partnerships. Get caught up below in your weekly Pro AV Newsmakers rundown.

People News

Analog Way Appoints Jeff Singer as Chief Marketing Officer

Analog Way appointed Jeff Singer as chief marketing officer (CMO). In this worldwide role, Singer leads Analog Way’s global marketing strategy with a strong focus on go-to-market execution, sales enablement, and ownership of the company’s product roadmap and product definition. Drawing on his extensive experience in technical product marketing and a customer-centric approach, he will also contribute to elevating the user experience across all customer touchpoints, ensuring consistent value throughout the customer journey.

With over 30 years of experience in global marketing and product launches, Singer has led go-to-market and demand generation strategies for technology-driven organizations worldwide. He previously served as executive director of global product marketing at Crestron Electronics, where he developed and led the positioning of strategic platforms across global markets.

Chyron Strengthens Support in Sports Venues

Chyron promoted Owen Seaton to VP, venue solutions. Seaton brings a wealth of expertise to the role, including both customer perspective and deep knowledge of venue display control technology. Based on input from end users and buyers as well as his own experience, Seaton contributes vital guidance to roadmaps for Chyron products.

Seaton is backed by a strong and growing team of technical, support and creative services professionals. Over the past two fiscal years, these teams of experts have consistently grown at 90% year-over-year on average.

Custom Channels Names René Arnold Senior Director of Partnerships

Custom Channels has appointed René Arnold to the position of senior director of partnerships. Arnold drives the company’s channel sales growth and deepen its integration into the commercial AV ecosystem by reaching more enterprise customers through trusted AV and IT partners.

Arnold comes to Custom Channels from audio and visual business solutions provider Rockbot, where she served as senior manager of the partner program. Prior to Rockbot, she was an account manager at AVI Systems (now Fortè). Prior to Forté, Arnold got her start in the commercial AV industry at PTG (Promotion Technology Group), where she developed a strong appreciation for the benefits of joining together music and digital signage. Arnold also credits her time there for providing her with a solid understanding of how to best support partners and their needs.

Daktronics Hires Thomas Welling to AV Channel Partner Team

Daktronics has hired Thomas Welling as an account executive in the company’s AV channel partner sales team with a focus on expanding AV market growth in the Southeastern United States. Welling began this full-time position in 2025 to proactively meet with clients to understand their project requirements and propose effective AV solutions to meet those needs.

Welling brings previous Daktronics sales internship experience and a degree in Sport and Entertainment Management to this role. This includes experience representing Daktronics at industry conferences and customer demonstrations.

OpenDrives Appoints Trevor Morgan as CEO

On the heels of investment news, OpenDrives promoted long-time chief operating officer, Trevor Morgan, to chief executive officer. Morgan has led a multi-year operational and strategic transformation of the business and brings deep experience in data management and SaaS across both early-stage companies and Fortune 500 enterprises, including Cisco and Capital One.

OpenDrives ended last week with the announcement of an add-on investment to its previous funding rounds led by IAG Capital Partners. The new capital will support OpenDrives’ continued strategic market growth as it expands its software platform across media, sports, and enterprise video production teams worldwide.

Panoptec Technologies Holding Strengthens Group Leadership

Guntermann & Drunck GmbH (G&D) made key leadership appointments at Panoptec Technologies Holding, the group uniting G&D, VuWall, and Tritec under a shared strategic and technological framework. Mark Schmidt has been appointed chief technology officer (CTO) of Panoptec Technologies Holding, and Alena Lombartová has joined the organization as chief financial officer (CFO).

Schmidt has been with VuWall since its early European expansion in 2014 and most recently served as the company’s CTO, where he played a central role in shaping its technology roadmap, security initiatives, and platform strategy. In his new role, he focuses on aligning R&D efforts across the group, leveraging synergies between engineering teams, and accelerating the execution of Panoptec’s shared innovation roadmap.

Lombartová joins Panoptec as Group CFO, bringing international experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, and operational governance within technology-driven organizations. Previously serving as CFO at Leyard Europe, she brings extensive experience and deep expertise in the AV industry to her new role.

StreamGuys Names VP of Digital Sales and Strategy and New EVP of Technology

StreamGuys appointed Dara Kalvort as VP of digital sales and strategy and promoted Eduardo Martinez to EVP of technology. Kalvort leads the company’s sales efforts for the StreamGuys Ad Network, growing digital audio revenue through relationships with agencies and brands. The move creates new revenue opportunities for publishers while giving brands access to highly targeted, premium digital audio audiences. Martinez, who spent nearly two decades at StreamGuys, previously served as VP of technology, leading R&D and helping bring many of the company’s core products to market. In his new role as EVP of Technology, he mentors and guides technical operational teams across the company.

Partnership and Events

Audinate Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Dante

2026 will mark the 20th anniversary of Dante, celebrating two decades of innovation and AV excellence that have transformed professional audio and video distribution worldwide. Originally developed to simplify the complexity of digital audio networking, Dante has grown from a bold idea into the de facto standard for AV over IP. Today, Dante is trusted by manufacturers, integrators, and end users across multiple environments, including live sound, commercial installations, education, and broadcast.

“Twenty years ago, Dante didn’t just solve a technical challenge. It redefined what was possible for AV,” said Aidan Williams, chief executive officer at Audinate. “What began as a better way to move high-quality audio reliably and easily over IP has become a platform that underpins today’s AV systems. This milestone validates our vision, the sustained collaboration of our partners, and the depth and commitment of the global Dante community.”

Dante has continuously evolved to meet the needs of a rapidly changing AV landscape. From enabling plug-and-play audio networking to expanding into video, control, and cloud-based management, Dante has ushered in an era in which AV systems are more flexible, software-driven, and network-centric than ever before.

Updates for AES Show Nashville 2026

AES Show Nashville 2026 will deliver a tightly curated three-day technical program, Friday, Oct. 30- Sunday, Nov, 1, paired with a two-day exhibition taking place Saturday and Sunday, designed to bring together audio professionals, technologists, creators, and educators for in-depth learning, discovery, and connection.

The exhibit floor will serve as a central hub for activity throughout the weekend and will feature the AES Main Stage, home to the opening ceremony, the show’s main keynote, and a dynamic schedule of interviews, insights, and appearances from industry leaders and “famous friends” across music, media, and technology.

Advanced Systems Group and Nu·Studio Announce Exclusive Partnership

Advanced Systems Group (ASG) announced an exclusive partnership with Nu·Studio, the company behind the first modular, portable studio designed for immersive audiovisual production. Under the agreement, ASG will serve as the exclusive reseller of Nu·Studio, bringing the platform to market through its global sales, installation, and service infrastructure.

Nu·Studio is a studio infrastructure designed to be adaptable as technology, standards, and workflows evolve. Built as a modular, reconfigurable acoustic control room, it allows for integrated audiovisual workflows with a portable, non-permanent framework that installs in days and can be relocated or reconfigured as needs change.

The partnership brings together Nu·Studio’s modular studio environment with ASG’s 28 years of experience in end-to-end sales, installation, training, and long-term service for media production environments worldwide.

Bergamot Asset Management Acquires 50% Stake in Augspurger and Professional Audio Design

Bergamot Asset Management has acquired a 50% stake in Augspurger and Professional Audio Design and Malekpour Design Partners. The three companies will operate under the newly created Augspurger Holdco, a new parent company created in partnership with Bergamot and Dave Malekpour, founder and president of the group.

The partnership, which was completed prior to Thanksgiving after several months of due diligence, combines Bergamot’s capital investment and operational leadership with Malekpour’s entrepreneurial vision, positioning Augspurger for new growth and operational efficiencies while maintaining its reputation for "craftsmanship, performance, and design excellence."

Disguise, ASB GlassFloor Partner

Disguise and ASB GlassFloor announced a strategic partnership that turns the arena floor into a fully customizable interactive digital surface. This will enable coaches to visualize ball tracking data as well as players’ live positions, movement speed and performance metrics right on the playing surface, allowing teams to win more matches. The technology will also enable more venues to become multi-purpose entertainment spaces by offering augmented reality (AR) floor experiences, such as interactive games, to fans and advertisers at halftime.

ASB GlassFloor’s operational system for the digital court, GLASSCOURT OS, feeds directly into Disguise’s servers. Adopting the Disguise environment means that, on top of the GLASSCOURT OS solutions, ASB GlassFloor now enables all venues to use the most state-of-the-art media servers in the industry to directly feed interactive content to the floor.

As part of the partnership, the Disguise platform will be used exclusively on all ASB Arena and Event Services floors, as well as ASB GlassFloor sports courts and activations, including the NBA All Star Weekend, FIBA Basketball Champions League Final 4 and the EuroLeague, and the company’s facility in Orlando, the ASB Athletes Lab. Developed in collaboration with the NBA, the Athletes Lab will be used to showcase the technology and allow teams and clients to see the immersive sports solution in action, as well as acting as a testing ground for future innovation. Disguise and ASB GlassFloor will also provide three full-sized, portable event rental basketball courts that will see usage at marquee sports events across the United States and Europe this year.

Playback Distribution Announces New Distribution Partnership with Vicoustic for U.S. and Canada

Playback Distribution was appointed U.S. and Canadian distributor of Vicoustic. The partnership is poised to strengthen Vicoustic’s presence in North America by targeting key growth opportunities in the Hi-Fi, residential custom integration, and pro audio markets, and uplevel the customer experience by streamlining the process from project design to fulfillment.

Founded in 2007 in Portugal, where every product is designed and manufactured to this day, Vicoustic is known for high-performance acoustic treatment that blend technical rigor with sustainable and stunning design. The company has maintained a strong presence in North America for over a decade, delivering acoustic solutions that span professional audio, hi-fi and home cinema, residential CI, and more.

“The SoundTube Showdown” Training Experience Scheduled in Kansas City

SoundTube Entertainment is hosting The SoundTube Showdown, a two-day immersive training event taking place Feb. 18–20, 2026, in the Kansas City area. Designed to move beyond the traditional classroom seminar, the SoundTube Showdown blends in-depth technical training, certification credits, and high-value networking into a dynamic, game-inspired experience where every participant walks away a winner.

The event builds on SoundTube’s Tubey Training program, named for the brand’s squeeze-ball mascot, Tubey, and transforms it into a competitive, high-energy learning environment focused on real-world AV solutions and system design.

Pro AV Around the World

LEA Professional’s commercial audio technology catalog is set to reach more Australian customers in 2026 through a new distribution partnership with Jands, one of Australia’s leading AV distributors. The Jands team has been providing technology solutions to its customers since 1970. Thanks to Generation AV, LEA Professional’s APAC manufacturer’s representative and authorized sales partner, Jands, and LEA Professional, the partnership came together.

In any modern AV system, it’s very likely that you’ve used Dante to connect and send audio and video between hardware and software devices. Dante has become the most widely used AV over IP platform for installed AV, studio, and live event professionals.

Built using standard networking hardware and Cat 6 cabling, Dante networks send low-latency, multi-channel audio and video signals between devices and software applications. Dante is now included in more than 4,000 products from more than 600 manufacturers, which makes it incredibly easy to connect devices across multiple manufacturers.

Start with the Basics

At the heart of all Dante systems is the free Dante Controller application. This tool enables the creation of connections between Dante devices. The devices themselves then remember where to send and receive signals after disconnecting Dante Controller from your network. This is the default configuration type of many Dante networks and is referred to as an “unmanaged” Dante network.

Dante Controller includes several troubleshooting features that allow you to probe your network to detect issues in switches, cables, clock settings, bit depth, and more. Dante Controller is actively maintained and updated to introduce new features, resolve user issues, and provide compatibility with evolving technology.

As Dante networks grow, become more complex, and require additional levels of security, administration, and control, additional software has been created to solve more complex control needs. Dante Director and Dante Domain Manager (DDM) are designed to provide administration-level oversight, organization, security, management, and control.

The first level of control provided by Dante Director and DDM is the ability to organize large networks into logical groupings. Organization can be by room, region or space, and is not dependent upon the underlying network hardware infrastructure. This provides a basis in which admins can organize devices logically, making the establishment of proper signal routes reliable.

For example, in school deployment, the auditorium system can be separated from systems running in the classrooms. This constrains the routing of signals within each “domain” and prevents any unintentional signals between unrelated areas of the network.

Step Up Security and Access

The second, and often most important facet, is the control and security of user access. In complex systems, there are likely many required users of AV systems—admins and end users at all skill levels. With a management application, admins can control who has access to each domain and require authentication to view or make any changes to the Dante network. This ensures only identified users can make subscription changes, login to the server, and ensures a consistent, predictable network configuration.

Dante Director provides a third facet of control, which is the ability to remotely access, monitor, and manage a network. Because Dante Director is a SaaS application, once configured, an entire Dante network can be accessed from any location with internet access, even on a mobile phone.

In typical unmanaged networks, Dante Controller must be connected directly to a switch on the network to manage those devices. With Director, Dante Controller can now be used from anywhere because all control signals are routed through a SaaS platform, making network management, diagnosis, and control even easier.

Finally, the Dante Managed API enables administrators to build innovative custom integrations, control surfaces, and tools. This could be the integration of Dante into third-party control and monitoring applications, the creation of simplified control surfaces, or even the integration of new bleeding-edge technology. For example, an admin may choose to build a simplified interface that enables switching between multiple devices within a room—lavalier mics to podium mics, for example—giving simple, yet powerful access to inexperienced users.

So, what does all this mean if you’re designing an entirely new AV system? Whether you’re an integrator or the end user, specifying the inclusion of servers and services that you’ll need from the outset will serve you well. For example, most large deployments will benefit significantly from including a server in original budget estimates and proposals.

Get even more insights: Download SCN's Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV.

Do you have legacy AV equipment that is still earning its keep? Does your organization have a combination of hardware and software from different manufacturers, and does interoperability sometimes pose an issue? Is your AV/IT department full speed ahead with AV over IP, the cloud, and AI-enabled systems?

No matter which end of the AV or IT spectrum your systems reside, these 25 industry thought leaders share insights into the transition to IP, trends in The State of AV/IT today, and predictions for the next few years.

CATHERINE KOUTSARIS
Product Marketing Manager at Matrox Video

For many organizations, the biggest hesitation in modernizing AV systems is the belief that moving forward means ripping everything out and starting from scratch. In reality, most end users don’t need or want to replace entire systems. What’s more practical and sustainable is keeping the elements that still work well and bridging them with newer technologies. This approach reduces staff retraining and avoids waste. Teams can then evolve at their own pace.

That’s where interoperability comes in. Today’s AV/IT environments often resemble technology islands—ecosystems that work well independently but don’t always communicate with one another. End users may value their existing cameras or video walls, but when new requirements emerge, incompatibility becomes a real obstacle. AV gateway products are a great way to bridge between older systems and newer technology, allowing both to be used in the same installation.

Standards-based solutions provide the clearest path forward. Open standards like IPMX and SMPTE ST 2110 make it possible to mix equipment from multiple manufacturers and reduce the risk of vendor lock-in. In practice, this can mean running day-to-day conferencing over a corporate 1GbE network while seamlessly shifting to a 10GbE broadcast workflow for high-end production—all with the same underlying infrastructure. Organizations gain freedom from vendor lock-in and proprietary constraints.

The advice for end users is to focus on flexibility. Prioritize systems that integrate with what you already have and embrace open standards. This approach ensures that today’s investments remain relevant, while giving you the freedom to adopt new technologies and build AI-over-IP systems that can grow with you on your own terms.

RICHARD JONKER
Vice President Marketing and Business Development at NETGEAR Enterprise

The most successful organizations are shifting their mindset from, “What AV equipment do we need?” to, “How can we create experiences that drive business results?” This approach means your AV investments should solve specific business challenges rather than simply upgrade hardware.

The proof is in your meeting rooms. Setup time has dropped from seven frustrating minutes to under twenty seconds. This translates to improved productivity and employee satisfaction.

Behind the shifting mindset are four key technologies reshaping how you’ll interact with AV systems: AV over IP, cloud solutions, artificial intelligence, and extended reality (XR/AR). These represent fundamental changes, creating practical benefits for organizations willing to evolve.

AV over IP leads this transformation by using your IP network infrastructure instead of dedicated AV cabling. This means you get to benefit from all the advantages of the network world: easier scaling when adding endpoints like speakers, microphones, or displays; when you need remote troubleshooting by IT teams without the need for room visits; better integration with existing security tools; and the flexibility to reconfigure spaces as needs change.

As your AV systems become networked, artificial intelligence transforms infrastructure management through automated configuration and intelligent power optimization. However, connectivity introduces security vulnerabilities requiring proactive protection. Modern solutions now integrate AI-driven network simplification with built-in cybersecurity capabilities, creating inherently secure, intelligent systems that adapt to threats while simplifying operations.

At NETGEAR, we believe that organizations investing in these transitions today—and focusing on experiences that solve specific business challenges—are positioning themselves for significant advantages as the market evolves.

SAM SABET
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Shure

The simple answer for any customer looking to invest in new AV technologies today, whether for upgrading or otherwise, is to consider a flexible, adaptable platform. Today’s AV world is characterized by rapid and constant changes. These changes are evident both in the environment—workspaces, collaboration modes, and the balance between RTO and remote work—and in features and technologies such as AI, feature deployment speed, and processing power.

When choosing a platform, it’s imperative to keep in mind the ease of adaptability to evolving changes. Consider the flexibility of configuration and provisioning, as well as the longevity of the platform. Shure’s ecosystem of MXA and collaboration solutions, supported by software infrastructure like ShureCloud and our advanced DSP and AI algorithms, provides a perfect platform. It can automatically adapt and grow with our end users’ needs.

EMMA EAGLE
Manager of Marketing at Hall Research

When it comes to evolving AV systems, whether you’re replacing legacy gear or updating something relatively new, the key is to plan for what’s next—not just what’s now. AV and IT are no longer separate worlds. Your AV strategy should be as scalable, secure, and manageable as the rest of your IT infrastructure.

Don’t get stuck on spec sheets. Instead, ask: Will this system grow with us? Can it integrate with cloud platforms? Is it simple enough that anyone can use it without frustration? Because at the end of the day, simplicity drives adoption, and adoption drives ROI.

The next few years will bring even more AV over IP, smarter automation through AI, tighter cybersecurity requirements, and an increased demand for sustainable solutions. Organizations that embrace these shifts will be in the best position to maximize both their technology and their people.

My advice? Evolve with intention. Choose solutions that are scalable, secure, and user-friendly. That’s how you future-proof your AV/IT investments.

MAX RITCHER
Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing at Insta360

The AV/IT industry is at a turning point..

We’re moving from static, hardware-first setups to flexible, cloud-connected ecosystems that are easier to manage and adapt to how people really work. Three forces are driving this shift: the cloud, AI, and interoperability.

Cloud platforms now sit at the center of modern AV, making it possible for IT teams to monitor and update systems across campuses or offices from one place. This reduces complexity and takes the burden off on-site staff.

AI adds another layer, turning AV from something reactive into something proactive. We’ve seen this in the evolution of Insta360’s enterprise tools. We came from humble (yet ambitious!) origins with the Link AI webcam. This was our first entry into the industry, already sporting smart tracking. We’ve now moved onto the Connect video bar for larger rooms, and our latest release, Insta360 Wave. As an AI speakerphone, we’ve crafted something that is adaptive and resilient, designed to work together with our other products as a seamless experience.

But none of this potential can be unlocked without interoperability. Proprietary systems have long slowed progress by creating silos and forcing users into narrow ecosystems. That’s why open standards matter. By supporting initiatives like OpenAV Cloud and pushing for shared APIs, the industry can break down barriers, give organizations more choice, and ensure systems can grow together instead of being locked in.

The convergence of cloud, AI, and interoperability is shaping the future of AV. We’re beyond just releasing flashy tech for its own sake. We’re building smarter, more reliable systems that actually make work easier and more connected for everyone.

OLIVER VAN CAMP
Product Director, Meeting Experience at Barco ClickShare

Today’s meeting room technology must do more than connect devices; it needs to enable seamless, inclusive collaboration for all meeting room users. That’s why Barco ClickShare and Microsoft are re-imagining hybrid collaboration through smarter, more human-centric meeting experiences.

ClickShare provides a secure, scalable meeting room system that lets room participants conference, collaborate, and present with just one click, with no technical hassle, no cables, and no delays. Intuitive and easy to use, ClickShare ensures the meeting experience is consistent and seamless across any space—from huddle rooms to large boardrooms—and is designed around how people truly work.

In a Microsoft Teams environment, this experience becomes more intelligent and user-friendly. AI-powered features like speaker recognition, automatic camera framing, and smart content sharing create meetings that feel more natural and engaging, whether participants are in the room or remote.

AI is now doing even more to support the flow of work. Features like speaker attribution (knowing who’s speaking), facilitator agent (a virtual assistant capturing next steps and deadlines), and interpreter agent (allowing everyone to speak in their native language) benefit both in-room and remote participants. These tools help overcome proximity barriers, reduce administrative tasks, minimize miscommunication, and integrate smoothly into everyday workflows—even as they are still emerging.

ClickShare brings wireless collaboration solutions into the meeting room, empowering companies to run AI applications locally and in real time via the ClickShare Base Units. This unlocks smarter, faster interactions—from live speaker recognition and automatic camera framing to translation and real-time note-taking—enhancing every interaction to keep users productive, engaged, and focused. Together, ClickShare and Microsoft are redefining hybrid meetings: secure, smart, scalable, and made for people.

RYAN WALLENBERG
AIMS Member and Vice President of Engineering at Cobalt Digital

Whether AV systems are for rich experiences in venues or for managing signals on campuses like businesses or universities, they often involve equipment from different tech categories. For example, in many organizations it is not rare to see mixtures of two or all three of the following things: media processing equipment, signal extension and switching equipment, and IT department equipment.

There are many factors that have made it possible to accomplish any task that previously required hardwired cables to be achievable using packetized IP. The most challenging thing left to overcome while migrating from hardwired cables to IP is dealing with mixing different equipment types, equipment classes, and vendor solutions with interfaces such as HDMI.

The two most important things that have happened to address this final challenge is the emergence of open standards and specifications—such as SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, NMOS, and IPMX—and the emergence of IP-to-IP gateway converters of many types to help deal with conversions of media profiles within the media options of the standards and between different media and protocols including proprietary options.

End users looking to evolve legacy or even newer AV systems should consider IPMX-compliant solutions that offer smooth plug-and-play integration. An optimized hybrid infrastructure will leverage interoperability for high-quality audio, video, and data for SMPTE ST 2110 transport across common networks. Organizations should be able to add capabilities at their own pace while avoiding vendor lock-in and giving them the flexibility to build infrastructures that grow with them. Several vendors have always offered modular and standards-based technologies that adapt to real-world challenges, and they are now embracing IPMX integration.

SKYLER BOWDEN
Senior Marketing Manager at Mersive

In today’s hype-heavy tech climate, AI gets most of the headlines. Promises of 10x productivity and AI-driven transformation abound—but for AV/IT professionals managing real systems, real spaces, and real users, it’s essential to cut through the noise.

The truth? AI will shape the future of collaboration—but it won’t fix broken workflows or magically modernize outdated AV infrastructure. Productivity gains only happen when technology is aligned with how people actually work, connect, and communicate. This is especially true in education, healthcare, and enterprise environments, where every decision has to balance performance, cost, security, and usability.

What’s often overlooked in the rush to optimize is a critical factor: the human experience. Meaningful technology doesn’t just improve business outcomes; it impacts how people feel about their work. When meetings are more efficient and tools actually support connection instead of complicating it, your teams regain focus, time, and energy. That’s where real value emerges: better engagement, clearer communication, and a healthier work-life balance.

The most exciting AI potential isn’t about replacing people; it’s about revealing insights. Meeting analytics can surface engagement trends, highlight contributor impact, and track follow-ups so no one flies blind. Instead of attributing all tasks to the in-room device, imagine a system that accurately reflects every participant’s input and commitments—remote or on-site.

So what’s the takeaway? Don’t get distracted by magic wands. Invest in technology that is secure, scalable, and user-friendly—solutions that create space for the innovation your teams are primed to deliver. Then, let AI help you fine-tune how your teams meet, share, and succeed—without forcing in one-size-fits-all tech that misses the mark on deeper challenges like process gaps. AI will naturally optimize efficiency, but not overnight and not without an intimate understanding of how your teams do their best work.

BLAKE ABIG
Director of National Sales at Full Compass Systems

In my role, I spend much of my time listening to colleges, universities, and corporations as they rethink how their AV systems support teaching and collaboration. One of the most common concerns I hear is that rooms feel inconsistent. A professor might walk into one classroom and everything works smoothly, then step into another and struggle to get the system started. The same frustration shows up in corporate offices. Consistency is one of the simplest ways to improve user confidence and adoption.

Another challenge customers raise is the pressure on lean support teams. Higher ed IT groups may be responsible for hundreds of classrooms, while corporate AV staff cover global meeting spaces. I often hear, “We can’t be everywhere at once.” This is where centralized, cloud-based monitoring really makes a difference. When teams can see issues in real time and push updates remotely, they spend less time firefighting and more time enabling productivity.

Clients are also curious about how artificial intelligence fits in. What I tell them is that AI works best when it disappears into the background. Cameras that automatically follow a presenter, microphones that remove noise, and live captions that improve accessibility all make the experience smoother without adding complexity.

Finally, one theme that comes up again and again is equity for remote participants. Whether it is a student joining from home or a colleague dialing in from another office, people expect to be seen and heard clearly. That is no longer optional; it is the baseline.

The most successful AV strategies I see are the ones that put people first. When systems are reliable, intuitive, and supportive of everyone in the room and beyond, the technology simply enables better outcomes.

MITCH RAUCH
U.S. Sales Director at Powersoft

As AV systems grow more complex and distributed, spanning corporate campuses, higher education institutions, and dynamic multi-use facilities, the role of the integrator is evolving just as quickly. Success in today’s audiovisual environments requires more than just great sound and video; it also depends on smooth, seamless integration with the broader IT infrastructure.

Legacy rack rooms and point-to-point signal paths are giving way to decentralized, IP-based infrastructures. AV-over-IP is no longer a trend—but the very foundation. In this environment, amplifiers are active, networked components capable of intelligent signal routing, system synchronization, and real-time control. As a result, integrators are becoming more involved in network design, such as IP addressing, VLANs, QoS, and switch configuration, which are as essential as gain structure and speaker coverage.

Cloud integration is accelerating the evolution of network-based devices. Remote monitoring and system management capabilities are quickly becoming indispensable. Whether diagnosing issues, pushing firmware updates, or fine-tuning performance from a distance, cloud connectivity empowers integrators to deliver faster, more efficient support, often before the client even notices a problem. The shift to cloud integration can save time, reduce site visits, and pave the way for recurring service models.

Through these advancements, our mission at Powersoft remains to deliver transparent, intelligible audio without distraction. We’ve embraced this evolution with platforms like Unica and Nota 142. Both Unica and Nota 142 are purpose built for decentralized, IT-friendly environments, and combine robust performance with smart design and native cloud connectivity. Unica and Nota 142 highlight our commitment to helping integrators meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s demands by bridging the worlds of AV and IT with powerful, future-ready solutions.

JAKUB KOLACZ
Manager Product and Commercialization, Business Communication at Sennheiser

As AV systems become increasingly networked, end users are grappling with how to evolve their environments without creating disruption. Legacy software, fragmented device tools, and rising IT security expectations often slow progress—yet the demand for simpler, more scalable management is only growing.

Now is the time for end users to prepare for this new era of AV/IT convergence. The priority is ease of deployment and configuration. Complex setup processes not only consume valuable IT/AV resources but also increase the risk of errors. Solutions that enable devices to be onboarded quickly, with minimal dependencies, free teams to focus on higher-value tasks.

Next, interoperability and centralization are key. While many organizations still rely on a patchwork of vendor-specific tools, the future lies in platforms that embrace open standards and integration. By consolidating device management into a single, standardized platform, teams gain a clearer view of their systems and reduce friction across locations and departments.

Security remains non-negotiable. With AV fully part of the enterprise IT landscape, encryption, authentication, and role-based access are essential to protect both data and devices.

Finally, consider ongoing performance. Management shouldn’t stop at installation. Proactive monitoring, real-time alerts, and predictive maintenance help teams spot issues before they escalate, keeping collaboration spaces available and reliable.

IT and AV pros should consider feature-rich, cloud-based device management platforms offering them all of the above services and more, with room to scale as systems become even more complex in the future. Providing a centralized hub for devices ensures not only improved on-site or remote management, but also the ability to react quickly to any issues at the time they occur.

Looking ahead, the convergence of AV and IT will continue to accelerate. End users who prioritize simplicity, interoperability, and proactive management today will be best placed to evolve their systems tomorrow, without sacrificing security or reliability.

ART WEEKS
Project Manager at ZeeVee by Kramer

We’re at an inflection point where both integrators and end users are rethinking AV system design. The old rack-full-of-boxes model is giving way to multi-function components that combine switching, DSP, and control. The motivation isn’t just fewer devices; it’s lower total cost of ownership over the life of a system.

By consolidating functions, projects install faster, take up less rack space, draw less power, and reduce the number of potential failure points. That translates to fewer service calls, easier remote management, and reduced labor costs across the system lifecycle. Realistically, integrators can save thousands per room, per year, while giving clients a cleaner, more reliable experience. It also helps projects get approved faster because decision makers can see long-term savings rather than just the upfront price tag.

At the same time, high-performance environments—like large lecture halls or mission-critical control rooms—are pushing adoption of AVoIP. End users want ultra-low latency and the flexibility to scale on standard networks. Today, that often means choosing between 1Gb and 10Gb deployments, but we’re seeing more forward-thinking firms pre-install CAT-6a cabling even when starting at 1Gb. That future-proofs the space, making it easier and cheaper to upgrade when higher bandwidth is needed.

In short, the state of AV/IT today is about simplification without compromise, and the next few years will be defined by scalable networked video paired with systems designed to reduce complexity, cost, and risk.

JOHN KRUSE
Senior Field Solutions Architect at ViewSonic

The convergence of AV and IT is reshaping how organizations design and manage their technology ecosystems. For end users modernizing legacy systems—or even optimizing newer ones—the goal is no longer just to add AV, but to create connected, intelligent environments that align with enterprise IT strategies.

There are a number of important considerations that go into achieving this. First, interoperability is foundational. Proprietary silos, especially technology-based ones, are becoming less viable, so end users should prioritize solutions certified across major platforms—Teams, Zoom, Google Meet—and integrate these with control systems to ensure long-term flexibility.

The second consideration is keeping the cloud as your control layer. Cloud-enabled management is shifting from optional to essential. Remote monitoring, analytics, and centralized updates improve uptime, lower service costs, and scale across campuses and enterprises.

Third, consider that AI is moving mainstream. AI features are already raising user expectations—from camera framing and noise suppression to predictive diagnostics. The differentiator in the coming years will be how seamlessly these features enhance collaboration and reduce friction.

Fourth, remember that budgets are tight, so sustainability and ROI are under more scrutiny than ever. End users should look for solutions that extend product lifecycles through firmware updates, modular upgrades, and energy efficiency instead of requiring rip-and-replace strategies.

And finally, as AV lives fully on the network, alignment with corporate IT security standards is critical. Device-level protections and encrypted data handling must be built in—not bolted on.

The state of AV/IT today is one of acceleration—driven by interoperability, cloud-first management, and AI intelligence. End users who embrace openness, scalability, and sustainability will not only protect their investments but also position their organizations for smarter, more adaptable experiences in the years ahead.

PAUL HARRIS
CEO at Aurora Multimedia

For end-users looking to evolve their AV systems, I recommend attending industry trade shows like InfoComm, ISE, and NAB, among others, which provide a neutral platform to explore new technologies. Ignore the marketing, and what size booth, and who throws the best parties. Do not be a “zombie” tradeshow walker either. That is where you walk aimlessly and get sucked in by the pretty shows people put on, but miss what is right in front of you that can make a difference. Dealer and distributor local shows can work well, just understand the limitations and combine them with other research, as many of these shows will only show you what they sell and are aligned with, leaving out many other brands and new technologies.

If you really want to do what is right for your company, due diligence is everything. Talk directly with a variety of manufacturers and test the products yourself to see if they meet your requirements. Nothing is better than a good old-fashioned shootout between brands, especially if the end user is in control of it to make sure everything is on a proper playing field. All manufacturers are guilty of making their products sound as good as possible. That is simply marketing at its best or worst, for that matter.

Ask questions like what makes your technology better than the competition, what is your warranty, where is it made, what is the life span of the product, do you make the product (yeah, many companies just slap their name on OEM and pretend it is theirs, support, education, TAA compliant, and roadmap. Don’t fall into the AI trap where companies make it sound exciting from a buzzword. See that it really does what they say, regardless of the tag line. At the end of the day, you are solving a problem, and it does not matter what fancy wrapper it comes in; does it simply do what is advertised, and does it do it well?

ADAM SOWERS
Senior Manager, Business Development at Sony Electronics

As organizations evolve their AV systems, the integration of interoperability, cloud solutions, and AI is paramount. AV systems aren’t just about hardware anymore; now, it’s all about being open, smart, and working together seamlessly. Even the newest legacy systems must catch up with the demands of hybrid work, smarter buildings, and AI-powered experiences. How would this actually get done? By embracing interoperability.

For anyone choosing platforms, I’d recommend looking for those that support open architectures and APIs. This is because open systems make it much easier for all your devices and services to communicate with each other. Think of it this way: By choosing solutions that can grow and adapt, you’re making sure your tech keeps up with the times as best as possible and is set up to evolve as quickly as possible. If you haven’t yet, check out initiatives like OpenAV Cloud, of which Sony Electronics is a member, to help you stay ahead.

Additionally, we’re all aware of the impact AI is starting to have. For example, virtual assistants and service bots are not just for demos anymore. Tools like predictive maintenance and smart troubleshooting mean less downtime and happier users. Virtual attendants can automate routines, personalize rooms, and manage schedules with minimal fuss.

Over the next few years, the efforts to unite disparate systems to create holistic solutions will finally come together. To prepare for that, think about going for modular, cloud-native solutions that are ready for AI and can grow with your evolution path. And partner with brands—like Sony—that believe in interoperability and open standards.

NICOLE CORBIN
Vice President of Product at Utelogy Corporation

As AV and IT continue to converge, the future belongs to organizations that embrace interoperability, automation, and intelligent systems. From cloud control platforms to AI-driven workflows, the industry is moving into an era where your technology estate shouldn’t just be about how it’s managed, but about how it’s orchestrated (ideally remotely and automatically).

Legacy and even modern AV systems weren’t designed to support the kind of dynamic, scalable, and data-driven operations today’s enterprises demand, but that’s changing fast.

At Utelogy, we’re seeing end users evolve by connecting AI agents across their IT/AV environments to support services that manage device health, power scheduling, room utilization, and even energy-saving measures. But these agents need a toolkit to work—a platform that provides control, telemetry, configuration, and automation in real-time. That’s where the Utelogy Platform comes in, delivering innovations like Agentic AI on our MCP Server to solve these challenges.

Agentic AI brings a conversational interface to the heart of AV/UC operations. Issue a command like, “Restart all devices in Building B with recent alert history,” and the system not only executes it, but recommends how to turn that action into a self-healing event going forward. This is AI for productivity, not just novelty.

Our advice? Don’t be afraid to integrate. Whether you’re managing a few rooms or thousands of devices across campuses and continents, the right tools let you reduce manual effort, increase uptime, and make smarter decisions using the data you already have.

In the coming years, the winners won’t just be those who adopt the newest tech, but those who build agile, interoperable systems that allow humans and machines to work together. The future of AV/IT isn’t siloed; it’s smart, connected, and cloud-enabled.

JATAN SHAH
President at QSC

My advice to end users looking to evolve their AV systems is to focus on flexibility, scalability, and intelligence. Technology is moving quickly, and the most future-ready solutions are those that adapt as your needs change while simplifying day-to-day experiences.

One of the biggest shifts in the industry is the move toward full integration of AV, IT, and building systems. AV is no longer a standalone function; it’s becoming deeply embedded in the workplace and experiential design. This means organizations should seek out open platforms that can seamlessly integrate into broader ecosystems rather than locking into closed or siloed technologies.

Another important trend is the rise of AI and data-driven automation. Instead of just enabling meetings or presentations, AI is becoming the eyes and ears of the room, driving context-aware actions like presenter tracking, speaker detection, and intelligent room adjustments. This shift makes technology more intuitive, reduces friction for end users, and helps deliver consistent, high-quality experiences.

Scalability also plays a critical role. End users should think not only about solving today’s challenges, but also about whether their AV approach can expand across multiple spaces or campuses while continuing to deliver measurable outcomes. Collecting and analyzing data from connected systems will become essential for optimizing utilization, proving ROI, and informing future planning.

Ultimately, the future of AV/IT is about creating smarter, more connected environments that support collaboration and innovation. By prioritizing open, data-driven platforms, organizations can ensure they’re not just keeping up with change but actively shaping spaces that are efficient, adaptive, and human-centered.

KATHRYN TAUB
Senior Product Marketing Manager at Audinate

Over the past decade, AV over IP has become central to professional systems, with nearly every major manufacturer offering networked products. And yet, interoperability across brands remains uneven, and customers expect systems that are easy to deploy, adaptable, and capable of integrating devices from different vendors.

The main challenge is that many products are built on unique implementations that work within a single brand but don’t extend beyond it. Such closed systems may be reliable, but hinder specialized features, gradual upgrades, or integration with existing investments. Open standards offer a pathway toward compatibility, but progress is slow and adoption is uneven, usually limited to basic transport of media across the network. Licensable platform solutions have become a widely adopted alternative. Backed by dedicated engineering teams, they extend beyond basic transport to provide APIs, stronger security, monitoring, and cloud-based tools that work consistently across multiple manufacturers.

Interoperability is what ensures AV-over-IP systems meet expectations in practice. Reliable audio and video depend on devices working together without added latency or quality loss, regardless of brand. As networks grow from single rooms to campuses, interoperability allows them to scale without fragmentation or costly redesigns. Shared APIs and common control frameworks make management practical by giving integrators the visibility they need to simplify support. Security underscores the same point: A system is only as strong as its weakest device, and without network-wide encryption or access control, interoperability is incomplete. Systems must balance performance and flexibility so they can meet the distinct demands of any environment.

The future of AV over IP depends on interoperability. With common protocols, consistent testing, and manufacturer-agnostic design, the industry can build networks that scale and adapt with ease. Interoperability safeguards current investments while opening the door to the innovation and growth that will define the next generation of AV systems.

BRAD HINTZE
Executive Vice President of Global Marketing at Crestron

Ultimately, convergence is all about scale. While organizations grow and their services expand, every system has to evolve to support new demands. This doesn’t mean simply upgrading individual components; instead, it requires a strategic approach and selecting platforms that are built on scalable standards that can grow with an organization over time. This scalability isn’t enough on its own, though. The platforms must also offer flexibility to accommodate a diverse range of spaces and room configurations to address smaller huddle rooms and multifunctional boardrooms alike. When choosing solutions that balance both of these components, organizations can future-proof their environments while maintaining consistency and performance.

Just as important is the user experience, as the expectations of end users are rising rapidly.

Today’s employees walk into a room with a clear vision for how they want the space to operate. Basic connectivity and audiovisual capabilities are no longer sufficient. Organizations must enable people to use the room with an easy-to-use system that offers AI features such as transcription and notetaking—just like they have come to expect from their individual workspaces.

Success lies in selecting technologies that scale with your organization while enhancing the experience of every individual who interacts
with them.

KEITH YANKE
Vice President of Product & Solutions Marketing at Sharp Imaging
& Information Company of America

The AV/IT landscape is rapidly evolving, shaped by AI, cloud interoperability, and new display technology. For end-users upgrading legacy or newer AV systems, it’s important to consider scalability, security, and sustainability.

AI is transforming display intelligence. From content triggering based on audience behavior to predictive diagnostics and remote monitoring, AI makes systems smarter, more responsive, and easier to manage. Paired with cloud-based management, AV networks can be centrally controlled, ensuring updates are applied, standards upheld, and devices remain secure throughout their lifecycle.

As systems grow more interconnected, interoperability introduces both opportunity and risk—making security foundational. AV systems must be designed with lifecycle security in mind, including firmware and software support beyond deployment. With that, manufacturers will be expected to maintain robust protocols throughout a product’s life.

As display technologies evolve alongside AI and cloud, LED displays continue to gain momentum with chip-on-board (COB) and smaller pixel pitch options becoming more affordable. When paired with cloud-driven control, LED provides scalable, high-performance displays that integrate seamlessly into AV/IT ecosystems.

Immersive experiences—from simulation to projection mapping—are expanding as AI simplifies both content creation and the mapping process. Tasks that once required niche expertise now have easier learning curves, making immersive environments more accessible to broader markets and applications. Combined with cloud-based platforms, interoperable AV systems can deliver these experiences in ways that are seamless, adaptable, and scalable.

Sustainability has also become a decisive purchasing driver. Beyond efficient hardware, cloud interoperability supports smarter lifecycle management—optimizing usage, reducing waste, and extending product longevity. Combined with durable displays, this proves that performance and sustainability can align.

Looking ahead, AV/IT systems will be defined by their ability to adapt, connect, and contribute to intelligent, secure, and sustainable workplaces across industries.

EFFI GOLDSTEIN
President of the HDBaseT Alliance

Whether upgrading legacy installations or enhancing newer deployments, end users would be best served by adopting a strategy centered around proven, reliable standards.

Modern AV systems are expensive, and organizations need to be sure that today’s investment will support tomorrow’s requirements. Building on established protocols like HDBaseT helps teams avoid getting locked into a single vendor’s ecosystem, resulting in greater and faster access to equipment than when relying on one source. This flexibility is especially important when it comes to maintenance, replacement, and time-sensitive system expansion.

Another key factor that must be taken into consideration is maintaining full functionality of the interfaces being used. For example, USB-C has become ubiquitous in modern devices, but not all connectivity solutions support the same bandwidth, creating hidden bottlenecks. For example, when connecting a USB 3.0 camera, you don’t want it to be downgraded to USB 2.0 because a system’s connectivity infrastructure can’t handle the higher data rates. Quality standards ensure your investment performs at the level it was intended to.

An additional advantage of standards-based systems is their ability to support upgrades in stages rather than being forced into complete overhauls. HDBaseT’s backward compatibility means you can reuse existing components and upgrade others as needs evolve incrementally—all while staying within budget. This offers dual benefits: It’s more economically friendly for the organization, and it supports sustainability initiatives by extending equipment lifecycles.

PETRO SHIMONISHI
Director of New Business Development at Panasonic Projector and Display Americas

AV/IT convergence not only poses an opportunity to streamline workflows, but it also exposes the need for flexible, interoperable, and easy-to-use solutions. Delivering end-to-end workflow solutions is essential to empowering AV professionals to focus on what matters: creating shared experiences. Effective, efficient workflows allow users to deliver stronger results with fewer resources to maximize the value of AV systems.

We’ll continue to see more integrations between hardware and software providers to streamline workflows and give customers the ability to design, create, and manage applications with more ease than ever before. For instance, at Panasonic Projector and Display Americas, we recently partnered with XTEN-AV to develop an integration that allows AV professionals to specify the correct lens for their Panasonic projector. Corporate AV/IT teams can confidently create system designs, reducing guesswork and speeding installation of interchangeable lens projectors.

Another market trend we anticipate will continue is the evolution of simplicity in installations. Universities upgrading lecture halls or other spaces often require additional hardware to manage streaming, content sharing, and network integration. This can increase system complexity, which becomes challenging for tight spaces. Panasonic’s displays and projectors feature SDM card slots and our partnership with Matrox Video gives AV professionals the freedom to choose the AVoIP standard that best meets their needs, with a clean system design that’s flexible for the future.

The migration of AV system workflows to the cloud is accelerating. This transition will help power seamless, engaging content as siloed, proprietary systems inhibit integration and innovation. As a founding member of OpenAV Cloud, Panasonic aims to accelerate this transition by supporting OpenAPI standards and working with the association to create a cloud-to-cloud communication standard that drives easy, cross-platform collaboration.

JOE ANDRULIS
Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Biamp

AI continues to transform the audiovisual landscape, integrating into both legacy and contemporary AV systems. For end users, this ongoing evolution represents an unprecedented opportunity to enhance meeting experiences while also simplifying system management and support.

Beyond traditional configuration and provisioning, AI is fundamentally reshaping how end users experience corporate meetings of all types, whether participants are in person, remote, or in a hybrid setting. The most remarkable aspect of this transformation is its invisibility. Participants benefit from sophisticated, AI-driven enhancements without ever sensing the technology working behind the scenes. This seamless integration is crucial for creating truly effective meeting environments that prioritize simplicity, speed, and unwavering reliability.

Modern conferencing solutions exemplify this invisible intelligence. All-in-one conferencing bars, for example, demonstrate how AI can elevate user experiences through intelligent features such as beamtracking technology, which actively monitors and intelligently mixes conversations to ensure remote participants feel fully engaged. Coupled with AI-powered noise reduction algorithms, these systems deliver crystal-clear voice reproduction that eliminates distractions and maintains professional communication standards.

Visual intelligence further enhances the experience through electronic pan-tilt-zoom cameras paired with auto-framing technology, ensuring all participants remain perfectly positioned regardless of their location or movement. This technology keeps everyone front and center, creating an inclusive environment where physical location becomes irrelevant to participation quality.

The impact of AI also extends into operational excellence, benefiting end users in other ways they may not realize. For technical support teams, AI provides unprecedented insights into system performance, enabling rapid problem identification and resolution. This enables support teams to implement predictive capabilities to address potential issues before they impact end users, transforming reactive support into proactive system optimization. This paradigm shift ensures that mundane technical issues are resolved automatically, while more complex challenges are anticipated and prevented, creating a seamless, uninterrupted meeting experience for all participants.

OMER BROOKSTEIN, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Xyte

For enterprise end users looking to evolve their AV systems, the most important step is ensuring a foundation that’s open and adaptable. Proprietary silos slow innovation and increase costs, while open APIs provide the flexibility to integrate best-in-class solutions and scale as needs change. That’s why OpenAV Cloud—an industry initiative focused on standardizing open, cloud-based APIs and fostering cross-platform collaboration—is so critical.

The value of choosing an OpenAV solution is clear: It delivers vendor-neutral flexibility, easier integrations and scalability, and faster support and troubleshooting—all while future-proofing AV/IT investments with the backing of industry leaders. With this foundation in place, enterprises can not only streamline today’s operations but also prepare for the intelligent automation that’s rapidly reshaping the industry.

The real opportunity today, however, lies in how AI will transform the way AV systems are supported, maintained, and experienced. AI-powered teammates are emerging as a force multiplier for IT and AV teams.

Autonomous issue resolution means that if a microphone drops mid-call, AI detects it and reboots or reroutes before users notice. With proactive scheduling and monitoring, AI forecasts failures from usage patterns and environmental data, then books service windows automatically. Context-aware support in hybrid meetings allows AI to adjust audio, cameras, and layouts to match participants and context. And finally, with self-service for end users, employees can resolve minor issues with AI-guided instructions, reducing IT workload.

AI in enterprise AV isn’t about replacing humans; it’s about augmenting teams with intelligent assistants that deliver resilience, efficiency, and better user experiences. Future-ready AV means building for both interoperability and intelligence—without one, the other cannot succeed. And with AI teammates stepping in to resolve issues, anticipate needs, and empower users, organizations that embrace this shift now will set the pace for the entire industry.

STEPHANE TREMBLAY
President of the SDVoE Alliance

Today, we’re recognizing that many integrators, IT managers, and end users are seeking solutions that deliver high-quality performance without requiring a complete rip and replace of existing infrastructure. As a result, AV over IP has emerged as a viable solution. By shifting AV distribution onto standard Ethernet networks, it enables organizations to harness the power of their current infrastructure while unlocking new levels of flexibility, scalability, and reliability. Unlike traditional systems that often depend on proprietary hardware and cabling, AV over IP integrates seamlessly into IT environments.

A key advantage of AV over IP, and particularly Software-Defined Video over Ethernet (SDVoE), is its ability to deliver high-performance video and audio with the reliability and interoperability that IT teams expect. With SDVoE technology, audiovisual functions become software-defined, meaning updates, enhancements, and even new features can be deployed through firmware rather than hardware replacement. A software-based approach offers significant future proofing, delaying obsolescence and protecting investments. In an era where supply chain disruptions and budget pressures remain real challenges, that flexibility matters.

Higher education, corporate facilities, houses of worship, and other verticals need standardized, interoperable solutions that scale to large spaces without compromising user experience. In higher education, for instance, AV over IP enables classrooms, lecture halls, and collaborative spaces to run on a consistent backbone, easing IT management and improving reliability.

Looking ahead, AV and IT continue to converge more closely. AV is no longer siloed, but treated as another service on the network, and is subject to the same demands for uptime, security, and scalability. Ethernet’s continued evolution, coupled with AV over IP’s flexibility, suggests that over the next few years, organizations will increasingly standardize on 10G Ethernet backbones. As a result, AV systems will become more reliable, interoperable, and adaptable to future needs, ensuring end users can keep pace with changing expectations without constant reinvestment.

Like many rural school districts around the world, the educational systems in certain areas of the Netherlands are facing major challenges. Three schools in the town of Sneek made the decision to find a new way to confront these challenges. They wanted to find a way to share resources between the three schools without disrupting timetables, and without requiring students to travel to different campuses. With the help of Dante AV, this was ultimately achieved.

[Enabling Immersive Classrooms]

The teachers envisioned a Virtual Campus with an immersive classroom design, one that could transform the traditional remote learning experience from a flat computer interaction into something that felt natural and connected for both students and teachers. What’s more, “We wanted technology, but without feeling the technology or being aware of the technology,” said Thorba Wierstra, geography teacher and IT policy officer at Bogerman, one of the three schools in the Zuid-West Fryslân municipality. “We wanted to find new technology to use not because it's technology, but because we wanted a better way for our students to learn, for us to be better teachers, and to make things possible that were not possible before.”

The vision was for each of the three classrooms to be equipped with interconnected screens, all positioned relative to each room’s perspective, to give the feeling of one joined-up classroom for all. This setup would allow students to see their teacher and peers across multiple locations as if they were all in the same room, breaking down the barriers of physical distance and enabling students to collaborate and interact in real time.

To achieve the sense of location immersion, Shure ceiling microphones capture the sound in each location, while small AIDA point-of-view cameras capture the students from distinct locations at the proper physical angle, and Audac soundbars placed under each screen provide localized, directional sound.

To deliver the immersive classroom experience with this structure, the layout critically needed to be supported by precise audio and video synchronization and imperceptible latency. This had been a long-term challenge for the project: real-time interaction through cameras, microphones, and screens had to be seamless and natural, especially over the distances between the schools in which each classroom was located. NFGD was challenged with delivering a system that could achieve a latency of under 4 milliseconds, the level of performance essential for maintaining the flow of conversation and collaboration in a classroom setting, where even slight delays can disrupt learning. For NFGD, the solution was obvious: Dante AV Ultra.

Dante AV Ultra ensured natural, smooth, and perfectly synced communication between locations. Its precise synchronization of audio and video streams ensures that teachers’ voices and movements are perfectly aligned, regardless of the distance between locations.

With the Virtual Campus in place across all three schools and shared lessons regularly taking place, the project has been a complete success. “It was not possible to justify supporting a curriculum or paying a teacher when only five or six students signed up in a district,” said Wierstra. “Once we connected the schools and brought them together, we can now offer a smaller course, expand to 20 or more students, and have one teacher teaching all of them.”

Get all the details in the video case study below.

The Pro AV news wire certainly kept bust last week. Bose Professional and AVPro Global made strategic appointments, Legrand | AV opened a new facility, and Dante and SoundTube have new trainings that can earn you credits.

[The Return of the SCN Halloween Candy Showdown]

Get caught up with what you missed!

People News

AVPro Global Establishes Expert Advisory Board

AVPro Global appointed Wally Whinna as the inaugural member of its expert advisory board, an assemblage of industry leaders who provide strategic insights and recommend solutions for advancing AVPro’s growth and market impact. The advisory board will convene quarterly, offering guidance on emerging trends and supporting AVPro’s expansion in both residential and commercial audio/video connectivity and control sectors, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of innovation and customer needs.

Whinna’s extensive expertise in customer acquisition and retention, channel development, and industry partnerships will help guide AVPro’s efforts to deepen market reach, cement dealer relationships, and deliver greater value to customers across AVPro’s balanced portfolio of connectivity and control brands. This appointment marks a significant step in strengthening AVPro’s leadership team and advancing its vision to be recognized as the best AV signal distribution and control products and services company.

Bose Professional Announces Key Leadership Promotions

Bose Professional has promoted of Matt Calhoun to chief operating officer and Shawn Watts to VP of product.

Calhoun has been a driving force at Bose Professional for over two decades, helping shape the company’s identity and guiding its transformation into a fully independent business. As COO, Calhoun oversees global operations and continue to lead initiatives that enhance speed, efficiency, and customer impact.

Watts brings over seven years of experience at Bose Professional, along with a unique perspective shaped by his time as both a customer and a competitor. He will oversee product strategy, development, and lifecycle management across the company’s expanding portfolio.

THE rAVe Agency Appoints Morgan Lawrence as President

THE rAVe Agency promoted Morgan Lawrence, APR, to president. Lawrence, who previously served as director of communications, brings more than a decade of strategic communications and leadership experience to her new role. She is instrumental in driving the agency’s long-term strategy and positioning it for growth.

Lawrence joined THE rAVe Agency six years ago to help Gary Kayye launch rAVe [STORYTELLING], the agency’s strategic communications division. With over 12 years of experience spanning agency and in-house roles, Lawrence brings a strategic vision and customer-first approach to everything she does.

Company News

ASB GlassFloor Launches AES to Scale LED Sports Floors Globally

ASB GlassFloor has officially launched ASB Arena and Event Services AG (AES), a subsidiary established in Zug, Switzerland. With 30 million Euro in equity funding secured to accelerate its global growth, AES is set to scale the international expansion of ASB GlassFloor.

AES will introduce a flexible long-term rental solution, making the ASB LumiFlex LED Courts more accessible. Building on this, AES will specialize in commercializing, servicing, and operating the LED ASB LumiFlex courts for clients within the sports and events industry, establishing the floor as a powerful revenue-generating marketing platform. Additionally, AES will operate its own inventory of mobile LumiFlex floors, executing rental events and running designated event locations. To complement these operations, the company has developed an integrated software ecosystem, with a forthcoming app store, that will host value-add applications ranging from fan activations to educational content to coaching tools.

Legrand | AV Celebrates Grand Opening of New Headquarters in Minnetonka

Legrand | AV officially opened the doors of its new headquarters in Minnetonka, MN, on Oct. 1. The opening of the new location marks a major milestone in the company's growth and commitment to invention, collaboration, and community. The new headquarters, located at 10900 Red Circle Drive in Minnetonka, joins multiple functions into a single location, offering a flexible and sustainable workplace designed to foster innovation and growth.

The 98,000-square-foot facility features abundant natural light, open and flexible workspaces, and integrated Legrand | AV technologies throughout, including lighting, outlets, motion detectors, AV solutions, and infrastructure systems. Nearly all existing furniture was reused or sourced as high-quality pre-owned pieces, minimizing waste and underscoring the company's focus on responsible design. Highlights of the new facility include collaborative design, sustainable practices, and integration of Legrand technologies.

The headquarters will bring together key teams across marketing, sales, product management, engineering, finance, IT, customer care, technical support, and operations.

LynTec and SSRC Announce Strategic Partnership

LynTec announced a new partnership with SSRC, a custom manufacturer of theatrical, entertainment, and broadcast products. Under the terms of the agreement, LynTec will now offer select SSRC products, including the BAL, SL, and H/L V Connector Strips, as well as a variety of outlet boxes, company switches, transfer panels, and cable management hardware. This collaboration establishes LynTec as a comprehensive one-stop-shop for power and distribution systems, making it easier and more efficient for systems integrators to purchase the equipment needed to complete projects in the entertainment and arts industries.

The partnership is designed to meet the needs of systems integrators working on new construction projects for schools and churches, as well as on projects for performing arts centers and media outlets. This allows integrators to source a complete package of power control and distribution equipment from a single purchase order, reducing time spent on vendor management and streamlining the entire workflow. The collaboration leverages the strengths of both companies — LynTec's expertise in power control and SSRC's specialization in custom distribution — to provide a comprehensive solution that delivers power from the building's main supply all the way to the light fixtures.

Nureva Granted Another US Patent for Its Microphone Mist Technology

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued an additional patent for the Nureva's Microphone Mist technology. This patent acknowledges Nureva’s unique approach to amplifying the voice of a presenter while simultaneously providing full-room microphone pickup in both meeting and learning spaces. The result of this approach is greater in-room intelligibility of a presenter’s voice while everyone in the room is still heard clearly by remote participants. Full-room pickup also ensures that all aspects of a meeting or learning session are accurately captured for recording purposes or use with AI agents.

U.S. patent 12,342,137 discloses the ability to simultaneously use a discrete microphone for voice amplification and a microphone array for whole-room pickup within the same conferencing session. With this unique hybrid capability enabled by Microphone Mist technology, an instructor or a presenter using a wireless microphone can have their voice amplified through the Nureva audio system’s speakers for those in the room while, at the same time, their voice is sent to remote participants via common UC&C platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom. In-room voices continue to be captured by the array, so everyone is heard remotely. Key to this, echo cancellation remains active for both the remote participants’ speech and the presenter’s amplified speech from the in-room speakers, preserving the simplicity of full-room array pickup for conferencing, lecture capture and meeting recording, while boosting presenter clarity in the space.

PowerHouse Alliance Adds of AWALL

The PowerHouse Alliance has added AWALL to its product lineup. AWALL MicroLED displays and products are now available to dealers through all 70-plus PowerHouse Alliance distributor member locations across the United States.

The addition of AWALL builds on the PowerHouse Alliance’s mission to equip dealers with a broad, balanced mix of top-tier brands across every category. By continually expanding its vendor roster, PowerHouse gives integrators the flexibility to meet client needs with solutions that deliver proven performance and long-term reliability—whether in a single-family home, multi-dwelling unit, or large-scale commercial space.

AWALL is setting a new standard for cinematic immersion with its MicroLED High Grey technology, delivering 115% NTSC color accuracy, pitch-black contrast, and ultra-bright 1,200-nit visuals that look stunning in any light. With sizes from 75-162 inches and custom options up to 300 inches, AWALL fits a wide range of applications—from luxury home theaters and stylish media rooms to boutique hospitality spaces, corporate lobbies, and executive conference rooms. All models are TÜV-certified for eye comfort, IP65-rated for durability, and engineered for fast, two-person installation in under two hours. Combining elite-tier performance with accessible pricing, AWALL makes high-end MicroLED display technology more attainable than ever for dealers and their clients.

Ultimate Ears Pro Is Now a Reseller for dB Check Pro

Fellow manufacturers of in-ear monitors, Sensaphonics and Ultimate Ears Pro, have announced that Ultimate Ears Pro is now a reseller for dB Check Pro, the brand agnostic tool for calculating the sound pressure levels reaching the ears of end users of in-ear monitors (IEMs) and headphones.

dB Check Pro, developed by custom-fit in-ear monitors, earplugs and pro audio electronics manufacturer Sensaphonics, is the only device on the market that provides IEM and headphone end users with calculated at-ear real-time and average sound pressure level estimates (dBA SPL) of both monitoring level and measured stage/environmental noise. The unit also calculates safe listening durations based on NIOSH and OSHA guidelines, empowering users to make informed decisions about their listening habits.

Education

Audinate Launches Completely Revamped Dante Training Program

Audinate has released its all-new Third Edition Training for Dante Certification Levels 1, 2, and 3. Designed for today’s fast-evolving AV landscape, this essential update equips professionals with networking and AVoIP expertise, while offering up to 19.75 AVIXA Renewal Units (RUs). Hundreds of thousands of AV professionals have participated in Dante training, underscoring Dante Certification’s importance in showcasing technical expertise and driving the global shift to AVoIP.

Participants will gain deeper insights into foundational networking concepts, including IP addressing, VLANs, QoS, and multicast, as well as advanced Dante-specific topics such as system design, cloud-based production, the latest AES67/SMPTE ST2110 integration with Dante controller, enhancements to Dante AV, and expert-level troubleshooting.

Participants can earn AVIXA RUs for CTS, CTS-D, CTS-I, and ANP upon certification (Level 1: 5.5 RUs, Level 2: eight RUs, and Level 3: 6.25 RUs). Courses are offered free of charge for all three levels, and certifications remain valid for three years.

Bogen Communications Launches Bogen University

Welcome to Bogen University, a new online education initiative designed to empower end users, dealers and partners with free, on-demand training. Bogen University was established by Bogen Communications to help shape the industry’s future, delivering professional-grade education to all and removing barriers of experience or resources.

Bogen University’s eLearning platform provides industry professionals with 24/7 access to interactive training that can be completed at any time and from anywhere. Whether a new professional embarking on a journey with Bogen Communications products or an experienced industry veteran seeking to sharpen their expertise, the platform offers guided tutorials ranging from quick-start basics to in-depth product knowledge. The courses remain available for review whenever a refresher is needed, and the eLearning app offers convenient access to learning on the go via the App Store or Google Play. By combining flexibility, depth and zero cost, Bogen University highlights the company’s commitment to equipping the industry with the knowledge and confidence necessary to deliver high-quality audio and communications solutions.

Bogen University’s current courses include the Nyquist C4000 Quick Start Guide to Installation and Basic Configuration, the Nyquist C4000 IP-Based Paging and Audio Distribution System, the Nyquist E7000 IP-Based Communications System, and the Nyquist Appliance Standalone Configuration and Operation. Beyond the Nyquist platform, Bogen University offers courses covering the Platinum Series Amplifiers with an overview of new public address amplifiers and the Multicom 2000 analog intercom solution for schools. In addition to on-demand courses, Bogen University offers free monthly webinars led by Scott T. Hepler, Bogen Communications’ national training manager.

SoundTube Now Offers CTS, CTS-D & ANP Credits for Training

SoundTube Entertainment's training programs is now officially eligible for AVIXA Renewal Units (RUs), providing integrators and AV professionals with a new pathway to maintain their Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Certified Technology Specialist Designer (CTS-D^®) credentials.

At SoundTube’s Kansas City headquarters, participants in the SoundTube 101 (also known as “Tubey Training”) sessions can now earn three (3) CTS or three (3) CTS-D RUs (depending on which credential applies) and three (3) ANP (AVIXA’s Audiovisual Network Professional training) RUs.

This means attendees can walk away with up to six total Renewal Units in a single visit, supporting ongoing professional development across both technology and allied disciplines.

In addition, SoundTube will soon expand its training access online. A new course titled “Speaking Loudspeakers” will be hosted through the AVIXA portal, offering one CTS or one CTS-D RU upon completion. This portal-based credit is separate from SoundTube’s in-person or virtual warehouse sessions, making it easier for AV professionals worldwide to engage with SoundTube’s expertise.

Get your free copy of SCN's Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV.

Dante: Under Control

Dante offers different tools to solve more complex control needs. Audinate’s Jim Kidwell provides a primer on the differences between Dante Controller, Dante Director, and Dante Domain Manager to help you find the right solution for your next Pro AV install.

At Issue

Industry experts from ADTECHNO, AJA Video Systems, Audio-Technica, and Cobalt Digital discuss the most compelling selling points for a Dante-based networked solution.

Download the Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV.

Read the September issue of Systems Contractor News.

September opened with a flurry of Pro AV moves. There were a lot of new people in new places, partnerships, and road shows announced. As always, let's start with a couple of acquisitions.

Just weeks after announcing the completion of the 26North Partners acquisition of AVI-SPL, the company has now acquired CCS Presentation Systems Southwest (CCS Southwest), an audiovisual design and systems integration firm headquartered in Mesa, AZ. CCS has a 34-year history of serving customers in the Arizona market with a focus on continuously optimizing communications and collaboration solutions for the modern workplace and campus. While CCS has capabilities and locations across the United States, AVI-SPL has only acquired CCS Southwest, the operating entity serving Arizona. Read the full details in our coverage here.

Following the sale of CCS Southwest and the retirement of founder John Godbout, the CCS Presentation Systems headquarters is moving to Houston, TX, and will be led by the new owners of the CCS brand, Ben and Elizabeth Pickrel.

One day later, Ross Video made headlines, acquiring LAMA, a developer of audio production software known for its innovative live mixing solutions. You can find out what you need to know in our coverage here.

Now, on with the show.

People Movers

People News

AVIXA Welcomes José Aragón as Chief Financial Officer

AVIXA appointed José Aragón as the chief financial officer. In this role, he will lead the association’s financial growth strategy.

Aragón most recently held the position of VP of finance, networks, and studios at A+E Global Media, a multinational media company. During his tenure, he led several transformative initiatives, including serving as a key finance partner for the company's digital growth strategy. Prior to his role at A+E Global Media, Aragón was the VP of finance for Sony Pictures Entertainment, TV Production. He has also held executive finance positions at Univision and NBCUniversal.

Christie Appoints Jim Hallas as VP, Product Management

Christie has appointed Jim Hallas as VP, product management. Hallas will lead the company’s display product strategy and display product lines while aligning customers’ needs with the company’s innovation and capabilities to support the company’s long-term strategic vision to maintain its position as a trusted partner worldwide.

Most recently, Hallas served as business and engineering manager for the DLP Cinema, Pro AV, and Industrial Group at TI, where his team pioneered the HEP pixel technology and holds five patents for various technology innovations.

DMF Lighting Appoints Charlie Derk as Senior Director of Product Strategy 

DMF Lighting has appointed Charlie Derk as senior director of product strategy. In this new role, Derk will lead DMF’s product roadmap and innovation strategy, driving the continued development of lighting solutions designed to elevate performance, aesthetics.

With more than 25 years of experience in the luxury residential and architectural lighting industries, Derk brings a blend of engineering expertise, market insight, and customer-driven innovation. He has held leadership positions at Legrand (where he was most recently VP of strategy for Legrand’s Building Control Systems division), Crestron Electronics, Doherty Design Group, and Lutron Electronics, where he was instrumental in shaping product portfolios and introducing advanced lighting control and automated shading solutions.

Telos Alliance Welcomes Jeff Williams as Director of Western US Sales

Telos Alliance welcomed Jeff Williams to the position of director of Western U.S. sales. Williams brings four decades of radio and broadcast experience, plus a family legacy in broadcast and pro audio, to support customers across the Western United States.

Williams began his career in broadcasting at age 16, working with Shotgun Tom Kelly, and followed with roles at San Diego’s KFMB, Boston’s WRKO, and leadership positions with Gannett, Jacor, Clear Channel, and Knight Broadcasting. Since 2015, he has been general manager and owner of Yellowtec USA.

Dante Partners

Dante Is Everywhere

There were several partnerships made with Audinate's Dante platform last week. Here is a quick rundown of who is now Dante-enabled.

AVer's Pro AV cameras will come with Dante Ready licensing. Dante Ready is a licensing program that allows manufacturers to ship their Pro AV products with Dante installed but not activated, so that Dante functionality, such as a channel of Dante AV-H video, can be activated on site whenever it’s needed, offering flexibility and scalability for AV over IP systems. With this integration, AVer’s professional AV cameras offer customers the ability to access Dante AV-H, which is a powerful technology that delivers smooth, high-quality, low-latency video over standard networks. Users simply enter a license key to unlock the functionality, with no hardware change required.

The Freedman Group, parent company of renowned professional audio brands RØDE, Mackie, and newly acquired Lectrosonics, has announced a new partnership with fellow Sydney-based technology leader Audinate. The agreement will see the integration of Audinate’s powerful Dante platform integrated into a suite of next-generation products across The Freedman Group’s portfolio, unlocking advanced networking capabilities for creators and professionals worldwide.

Grass Valley announced a new partnership with Audinate that brings native Dante audio integration into AMPP. With this update, production teams can manage Dante audio streams directly within AMPP without additional hardware. The integration supports up to 128x128 bidirectional channels with latency as low as 1ms, making it easier to scale professional IP audio across cloud, on-prem, or hybrid workflows. The move also introduces a flexible licensing model for Dante I/O, available hourly or monthly, giving broadcasters and event producers a cost-effective way to deploy professional audio networking for anything from short-term projects to enterprise-scale operations.

New Partnerships

Partnerships

Gotham Audio Custom Cables and Cable Stock Now Available in North and South America

Gotham Audio is now available throughout North and South America distributed by Audio Collective Group. Built for professional recording studios, live performance venues, broadcast facilities, post-production houses, and high-end home audio, Gotham Audio offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of premium cabling in the industry—spanning microphone, instrument, studio, digital audio, speaker, video, hybrid, and custom solutions.

Known for Swiss engineering and built upon Reussen Shielding Technology, Gotham cables are built for noise rejection, clarity, and signal transmission in every commercial and residential install.

PlayBox Neo U.S. Partners with AI-Media

PlayBox Neo has partnered with AI-Media to integrate advanced automated captioning, translation, and voice translation solutions directly into the PlayBox Neo broadcast playout ecosystem. Broadcasters, government organizations, universities, and corporate AV facilities now have access to cost-effective, broadcast-quality captioning and multi-lingual voice services, which expands their audience reach while staying compliant with accessibility regulations. They can easily deploy professional-grade captions and multilingual translation at broadcast quality without incurring additional staffing or infrastructure costs.

Through the U.S.-based partnership, PlayBox Neo customers gain access to AI-Media’s ALTA 2110 IP broadcast encoder and LEXI Text, an automated captioning solution that delivers same-language and translated captions with broadcast-grade accuracy and ultra-low latency. The solution also includes LEXI Recorded for pre-recorded content, enabling captions to be produced in less than half the program’s runtime. To ensure high accuracy, AI-Media applies its customized Topic Models, which recognize speakers’ names, industry terminology, and brand-specific language.

In addition to captioning, AI-Media’s new LEXI Voice adds real-time translated voice output. With LEXI Voice, PlayBox Neo customers can provide multilingual viewing experiences across both live and on-demand content. These solutions integrate seamlessly with all PlayBox Neo products, making them accessible to every organization using PlayBox Neo technology.

Pro AV Around the Globe

Pro AV Around the Globe

HARMAN Professional Solutions announced the appointment of Freevox as the distributor of its AMX video and control solutions in France. This new agreement builds on Freevox’s existing role distributing HARMAN Professional’s audio brands, including JBL Professional, BSS, Crown, Soundcraft, Lexicon, and dbx.

PPDS announced a new strategic distribution partnership with FVC, expanding its reach and strengthening its presence across the Middle East and parts of North Africa. Under this new agreement, FVC will represent and distribute the full PPDS portfolio of Philips Professional Displays, including the latest digital signage, direct view LED displays, and professional TVs, delivering world class AV solutions to customers across a wide range of verticals.

New Locations

New Digs

AV Stumpfl celebrated the opening of its new production hall at its headquarters in Wallern an der Trattnach, Austria, together with its entire team during this year’s summer family festival. The new facility adds 23,680 square feet (2,200 square meters) of production space, effectively doubling the company’s production capacity. Last year, AV Stumpfl invested in new equipment for a second production line and welcomed 20 new team members. Until now, this team was spread across various parts of the company building, which proved inefficient. With the new production hall, workflows can now be organized much more effectively.

USSI Global opened a new repair and logistics complex in Suntree, FL. The new facility is allowing the company to expand beyond its warranty business and add broadcast headend and production equipment to its catalog of repair services. Located about 15 miles north of the company’s Melbourne headquarters, the new repair complex is allowing USSI Global to consolidate three logistics centers into one. Anthony Morelli, president and CEO, USSI Global, said the company is already seeing improved operational efficiencies.

Road Shows

Hit the Road, Pro AV Style

JBL Professional launched its 2025 Installed Audio Roadshow, a coast-to-coast tour showcasing the brand’s most trusted commercial audio solutions in real-world environments. From September through November 2025, the roadshow will make 30 stops nationwide, offering AV integrators, consultants, system designers, and facility managers an opportunity to experience JBL sound in the region where they work with their customers. The JBL Installed Audio Roadshow will kick off in Los Angeles and visit major markets including San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Miami, among many others.

The JBL Installed Audio Roadshow delivers application-specific demonstrations that highlight clarity, coverage, and control across hospitality venues, retail spaces, schools, houses of worship, and entertainment environments. Each stop will feature the latest solutions, along with insights into system design best practices, guided walkthroughs, hands-on product exploration, and networking with industry professionals.

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Sennheiser announced the remaining dates for its 2025 Connect & Collaborate Roadshow, including events this fall and early winter. Following a spring and summer of successful stops, Sennheiser will continue its North American tour with visits to Washington, D.C. on September 9, Toronto, Ontario on September 16, and New York City on October 21.

The roadshow is designed for end users, distributors, consultants, integrators, and resellers, providing hands-on training for designing and deploying business communications solutions in meeting spaces and lecture halls. The events will feature live demonstrations of Sennheiser’s TeamConnect (TC) family of products, such as the TC Bars and the TC Ceiling Medium microphone with beamforming technology and TruVoiceLift. Sennheiser technical experts will be on hand to offer practical advice, while partners including Q-SYS, NETGEAR, Lightware, Planar, and Audinate will participate in select locations to highlight seamless integration. Attendees may also earn up to 5.5 AVIXA CTS RU credits by engaging in qualifying sessions.

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Sony Electronics’ Professional Display Solutions group is once again embarking on an interactive technology road show across North America from September 2025 through March 2026. Attendees to the AV Tech Expo will be immersed in the company’s range of Pro AV offerings, including professional BRAVIA displays, the direct view Crystal LED display, AI-enabled PTZ cameras, and device provisioning and management solutions. They will also get a first-hand glimpse at upcoming technology, before it comes to market. Additionally, the company’s knowledgeable product experts will be available to answer questions and demonstrate the latest innovations for a number of professional verticals and applications.

You can catch the show here:

• New York, NY | Sept. 24-25, 2025
• Boston, MA | Oct. 21, 2025
• Los Angeles, CA | Oct. 28 & 29, 2025 
• Fort Lauderdale, FL| Nov. 12, 2025
• Chicagoland Area, IL | Jan. 14, 2026
• Plano, TX | Jan. 21, 2026 
• Toronto, ON | Feb. 2026
• San Diego, CA | Mar. 2026

Welcome to the Alliance

Join the Club

Stage Precision has joined the OpenAV Cloud. The OpenAV Cloud fosters interoperability through open APIs and shared protocols, ensuring that AV systems, tools and platforms can communicate seamlessly across brands, disciplines and geographies. By becoming part of the OpenAV Cloud community, Stage Precision is reinforcing its long-standing mission of delivering customers true freedom of choice, flexibility and system integration without lock-in.

Telos Alliance, Jünger Audio, and TVU Networks unveiled a new collaboration to integrate Telos Alliance’s portfolio of cloud‑enabled audio solutions directly into TVU Networks’ MediaMesh platform, delivering next‑generation audio capabilities for broadcasters and content creators worldwide. In today’s ever-evolving broadcast landscape, audience expectations are rising, and cloud production is quickly becoming the new standard. With the integration of the Telos Alliance and Jünger Audio audio-handling tools with MediaMesh, TVU Network’s clients will gain the direct ability to automate complex audio workflows, ensure consistent, high‑quality audio, and leverage AI to ease manual workloads.

Hitomi Broadcast joined the Grass Valley Alliance, delivering native MatchBox Software solutions for the AMPP ecosystem. This strategic partnership addresses one of broadcasters' primary concerns about migrating to software-based production: maintaining precise timing and synchronization throughout complex virtualized workflows.

The integration brings Hitomi's trusted timing measurement capabilities directly into AMPP environments through MatchBox Software Analyser, MatchBox Probe, and MatchBox Renderer applications. MatchBox Software solutions operate entirely within AMPP's virtualized infrastructure, enabling engineers to position timing measurement probes throughout their broadcast chain without signal conversion or external routing. This provides true end-to-end visibility, allowing broadcasters to monitor timing at multiple points from a centralized web interface whilst maintaining the same millisecond-accurate measurements that broadcast professionals rely on worldwide.

It was another busy week in Pro AV. Audinate has a new chief platform officer, dBTechnologies and TAG Video Solutions welcomed new positions, and Shure microphones took the stage to Stand Up to Cancer.

That and more await in this week's newsmakers rundown.

[AVIXA Forecast: Will Pro AV Revenue Grow Through 2030?]

People News

TJ Adams Joins Audinate as Chief Platform Officer

Audinate appointed TJ Adams to the newly created position of chief platform officer. Adams joins Audinate from QSC, where he was SVP, Q-SYS product strategy and was instrumental in the development of the Q-SYS platform. He previously held engineering, sales, and product management roles at Biamp and SITA (formerly Com-Net Software).

In his new role, Adams will lead Audinate’s platform strategy to deliver an interoperable audio, video, control, and management platform. Building on an established and strong foundation across the millions of Dante-enabled devices in the field, Adams will lead Audinate’s initiatives to deliver cohesive platform software, products and service offerings for designers, integrators and users of AV systems across a wide spectrum of vertical markets & applications.

Bogen Communications Celebrates the Retirement of John Minnick

Bogen Communications celebrated the career of VP John Minnick on July 8, 2025, recognizing his lasting contributions to both the company and the broader audiovisual industry. As part of the celebration and in honor of his legacy of leadership and innovation the company announced the dedication of the John Minnick Engineering Center. The newly christened engineering center is based in the company’s Orlando office.

Minnick joined Bogen 12 years ago as VP of engineering. In his time with the company he initiated the development of new products that transformed Bogen’s technology portfolio and significantly enhanced its competitive position in the market. Under his leadership, Bogen’s Nyquist IP-based paging and intercom systems were developed and introduced. As a result of his efforts Nyquist grew rapidly, eventually outpacing legacy system sales and helping to establish Bogen Communications as a leader in IP-based audio solutions.

dBTechnologies Welcomes Scott Thompson

dBTechnologies USA has appointed Scott Thompson as Western U.S. regional sales manager, bringing more than two decades of experience in the pro audio and music industry to the role.

Thompson most recently served as VP of sales at The Music Link, where he managed more than $20M in worldwide sales across multiple channels, supported a global distributor network, and oversaw the successful launch of a European 3PL warehouse that expanded the company’s international footprint. He also held leadership roles at Córdoba Music Group, driving both domestic and international sales efforts for the Córdoba and Guild brands during a pivotal period of growth.

Before transitioning fully into sales leadership, Thompson worked as an independent audio engineer for nearly a decade, giving him hands-on insight into the technical demands of sound reinforcement. A lifelong musician, he has remained deeply connected to the creative side of the industry, a perspective that continues to shape his collaborative and solutions-focused approach to sales and client support.

TAG Strengthens Regional Presence with Appointment of Oliver Gappa

TAG Video Systems has named Oliver Gappa as sales director for DACH, MENA, and Eastern Europe. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Gappa will focus on supporting TAG’s customers and partners with solutions that deliver agility, reliability, and long-term value in their operations.

Gappa’s career spans both established enterprises and fast-growing startups, giving him a unique perspective on the evolving needs of the media landscape. Most recently, he served as sales director EMEA at Ateliere, leading SaaS-driven growth initiatives for live production and content delivery solutions. Under his previous leadership roles at LucidLink, Telestream, and Rohde & Schwarz, he expanded regional presence, built reseller networks, and managed multimillion-dollar revenues while cultivating long-term customer relationships.

Company News

AVIXA and IATSE Training Trust Fund Celebrate 15-year Partnership

AVIXA and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Training Trust Fund (IATSE TTF) are thrilled to celebrate 15 years of a remarkable partnership. This collaboration has been instrumental in driving the professionalism of the AV industry through consistent efforts and a shared belief in the power of education.

The IATSE Training Trust Fund facilitates training opportunities for IATSE workers to achieve and maintain the skills, ability, and knowledge necessary to meet the ever-changing technologies in the entertainment and exhibition industries.

Looking ahead, AVIXA and IATSE are committed to further enhancing their training programs. AVIXA will be introducing new courses that focus on emerging technologies and innovative practices, further supporting IATSE members by equipping them with innovative skills. Additionally, AVIXA plans to expand its reach by offering more accessible and flexible learning options, ensuring that all IATSE members have the opportunity to benefit from AVIXA’s comprehensive educational resources.

Shure Takes the Stage at Stand Up to Cancer Telecast

Stand Up to Cancer hosted its ninth annual telecast at The Pinnacle in Nashville on August 15. The event featured inspirational performances that helped secure millions of dollars in donations for cancer research. Audio engineers used Shure technology to deliver pristine audio and inspiring messages to more than four million viewers on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX.

For this year's event, audio producer Tom Davis, known for his work on the CMA Awards and CMA Festival, sought product support from Shure. He specifically requested headset mics for the Nashville Community Gospel Choir, who were outfitted with Shure’s new SM39 Cardioid Singing Headset Microphone. Both Davis and Jason Spence, front of house engineer for the telecast, praised the microphones.

Shure microphones captured most of the evening's talent. CeCe Winans, Gavin DeGraw, Joe Jonas, Dan Smyers, Jon Pardi, Brothers Osborne, and Marcus King all used the reliable Shure SM58. Notably, Noah Cyrus performed an emotional duet with Gavin DeGraw on his song “Hero In Our House,” about his mother. Noah used a Nexadyne 8 Supercardioid Capsule while Gavin used an SM58. Marcus King used a Shure Nexadyne 5 for his guitar amplifier cabinet. Shay Mooney and the host microphone, used by Sheryl Crow and others, featured the Shure KSM9 Condenser Vocal Microphone Capsule. Drums were captured using Nexadyne 6 on toms, side snare, and under snare; Nexadyne 2 and Beta 91A on kick drum; and Beta 181/C on hi-hat.

Pro AV Around the Globe

XTEN-AV is set to launch for the Indian markets, at InfoComm India 2025. Known for transforming AV workflows worldwide, XTEN-AV is bringing its innovative platform and its AI agent, XAVIA, to one of the fastest-growing AV markets in the world. For its India debut, XTEN-AV is joining hands with Bisht Price. The distributor has a long track record of introducing new technologies to the market, and its presence across India makes it the right partner to speed up XTEN-AV’s adoption.

The Tykeson Rehearsal Hall at the University of Oregon’s School of Music and Dance is a place where tradition and innovation converge. The hall was designed with meticulous attention to its acoustics, making it ideal for early chamber music performances. With the help of Dante AV, the hall's historic acoustics now meet modern demands.

[Audinate Acquires Iris. Here's What You Need to Know]

Since 2017 the hall’s analog AV system served its purpose of capturing student performances and showcasing the work of musicians. But as the school’s reputation grew and its audience expanded, its analog infrastructure, tied to a single control room, could no longer keep up.

“We were really happy with the quality that we got from all of our analog equipment," said Jasper Walton, recording engineer, University of Oregon School of Music and Dance. "But we weren’t thrilled with the fact that we were tied down to just one place, or that it was a big hassle to run new lines every time you wanted to add or move a control room or a station."

The AV system Tykeson Hall was built around an analog workflow, with all microphones and cameras hardwired to a single control room located in the Bach Festival's boardroom. "We were always competing with space in there," said Walton. "Is this going to be a recording control room where we can put a technician, or is this going to be a place where the executives need to take phone calls and run meetings?”

While this setup worked in the past, it became increasingly restrictive as the school sought to expand its reach. The Oregon Bach Festival brings in hundreds of musicians as well as audiences from across the globe, and demand grew for livestreams and remote access to performances. "Audiences that weren’t able to be here were interested in all of the performances that were happening in this room and all the other places across campus," said Walton.

However, the analog system required all recordings to be funneled into the single control room, where they were digitized for streaming. This meant that performances could only be managed from one inconvenient location, and expanding the system to other parts of the building would require costly and disruptive rewiring.

"Part of the challenge of getting that stuff out to the world and the wider audiences was that the way this building was built and designed - we couldn’t move out of the control room until we could get things on the campus network," he explains.

Going Hybrid

The school tackled its challenges by adopting Dante, a network-based solution that allowed them to integrate their existing analog equipment into a modern, flexible system. By using Dante-enabled encoders and stage boxes, the school was able to transform its analog signals into digital ones that could travel across the campus network. This hybrid approach—bridging analog and digital technologies—not only modernized their system but did so without disrupting the school’s historic spaces. “We were able to move out of the boardroom into a newly created, dedicated, control room in a different room in the building,” Walton said.

At the core of the new system are Yamaha Dante-enabled stage boxes and AJA Dante AV Ultra video encoders. These devices act as bridges, respectively converting analog audio and video signals into Dante-enabled network signals.

"All of the analog microphones are coming in just over XLR cables, into the patch bay," Walton says. "That gets fed into this Yamaha stage box, which converts all the analog audio into Dante network signals we send to the control room over the campus network.”

The Dante AV networked video workflow is equally transformative. "All of the video, coming in over traditional analog SDI cables, comes into the patch bay," he said. These signals are then routed to the AJA Dante AV 4K-T video encoder. “This is the magic box that lets us place our control room wherever we need it. It converts our analog SDI video signal into a Dante AV signal, allowing the signals to travel wherever we need them across the campus network."

A second AJA Ultra decoder located in his office, in a totally separate building, is connected to the same network as the devices in Tykeson Hall and Beall Hall. “The Dante devices are each assigned to their own domains, which we manage with Dante Domain Manager. This allows us to share devices between each building’s domains,” said Walton.

Dante Controller, the software used to route and manage Dante devices, played a fundamental role in simplifying the deployment of this hybrid system. "Dante Controller is the tool that we use to interface with our Dante devices," Walton said. "It’s easy to learn and use, and it makes my job simpler, not more frustrating." The software’s simplicity enabled the school to quickly train student employees in its operation while still offering enough advanced functionality to manage unique setups. "When we add Dante AV to the mix to get video on the network, we don’t need a separate piece of software to manage video flows. Sending video streams to wherever we need them to go is just as simple as routing audio has always been."

The system also includes portable Dante AVIO USB adapters, which allow guest performers and technicians to plug laptops and other devices directly into the network and appear in Dante Controller for simpler routing and management.

The new system has enhanced and simplified how the School of Music and Dance manages its performances. Technicians set up control rooms wherever space was available, managing multiple performances simultaneously across various campus venues. Livestreams bring these events to audiences around the world, while faculty and students gain easy access to recordings for review and archival purposes.

The flexibility of the network-based AV system also opens up exciting possibilities for future workflows. “Currently, we use the second Dante AV decoder as a backup recording of performances in Berwick [Hall]," he says. "Potentially in the future, we are looking at consolidating all recording and streaming of events in our multiple venues into just one control room. This decoder would allow us to pipe the video stream over from Berwick."

Now the school can preserve its investment in analog infrastructure while gaining the flexibility of a modern networked AV system. The need for fixed control rooms was eliminated, and performances can now be managed from anywhere on campus with just a laptop and a network connection.

"We really enjoy the fact that we can now set up a control room or a mixing station or whatever we need, wherever we need it," said Walton. "It’s made life pretty easy."

Audinate has entered into an agreement to acquire Iris Studio, which specializes in AI-powered, cloud-based camera control technology. Audinate and Iris are actively working on integrating future roadmaps to bring Iris functionality to Dante customers.

[INTERVIEW: Zettel Discusses AVI-SPL Acquisition by Private Equity Firm]

Iris offers a control-first video production platform that enables users to seamlessly manage cameras remotely, providing features like AI-driven auto tracking, real-time color correction and cloud recording, all from a single, cloud-based interface. The Iris platform is brand-agnostic and is currently enabled on a wide range of PTZ cameras on the market.

“The addition of Iris to the Dante ecosystem is a major step forward for the Dante platform,” commented Aidan Williams, co-founder and CEO of Audinate. “Combining Iris's broad applicability and cutting-edge remote production capabilities with powerful cloud-based management software like Dante Director will provide significant value for customers managing the millions of Dante-enabled devices in the field today.”

The acquisition of Iris strengthens Audinate’s video platform capabilities while also accelerating its broader vision for interoperable control and management across the AV device ecosystem. Iris enables OEMs with native cloud-based control directly into their devices, allowing users to remotely access, control, manage and monitor devices in real time - without the need for additional hardware. Iris has partnered with 14 different camera manufacturers, including Lumens, PTZOptics, Marshall, BirdDog, Telycam, AIDA, and more. Beyond cameras, the Iris software platform is also applicable to a variety of AV products, including encoders, decoders, vision mixers, and more.

The addition of Iris will bring greater value to Dante customers across a range of markets, including corporate, entertainment, sports, government, houses of worship, broadcast, and education. By combining advanced features like remote PTZ control, AI auto-tracking, color correction, and cloud recording with the capabilities of Dante Studio, AV professionals can deliver more flexible, efficient, and intelligent audio-visual experiences.

Iris’s current employees will join Audinate following transaction completion and will work in collaboration with Audinate’s teams to continue to expand the capabilities of the Iris platform and to integrate its functionality with Dante products.

“At Iris, we set out to rethink AV device control—intelligent, intuitive, and accessible from anywhere,” said Noah Johnson, CEO of Iris. “Partnering with Audinate gives us the scale, reach, and deep AV expertise to accelerate our roadmap and bring our vision to the next level.”

Games Done Quick (GDQ) operates semiannual “speedrunning” marathons for gaming competitors that raise millions for causes like the Prevent Cancer Foundation and Doctors Without Borders. GDQ has honed its events to a well-oiled logistic and technical machine, combining live performances in hotel ballrooms with real-time Twitch streams viewed by millions. With each of these marathons running 24 hours a day—for an entire week straight, Dante AV has helped simplify and elevate their workflows.

[Historic Style, Modern Tech]

However, managing this intricate setup has not always been seamless. “Our primary show is unique in that we have to serve both an online audience, streamed on Twitch.tv, and an in-person audience at a hotel ballroom," Jason Deng, director of technology at GDQ explained. "We also provide CCTV so that anyone staying at the hotel can watch the event on their in-room TVs.”

This dual-delivery setup, coupled with GDQ’s reliance on volunteers to manage critical AV workflows, created challenges that their prior solutions weren’t designed to address. That’s when GDQ turned to Dante AV.

Challenges Solved

Before adopting Dante AV, GDQ relied on a mix of video specifications and connectivity technologies that demanded significant resources and effort to manage. For video transmission, their go-to solution came with notable limitations. “With NDI, we needed to set up a PC in the ballroom and another PC to capture the signal at the hotel’s CCTV location,” Deng said. This configuration required multiple machines and technicians, and it was prone to signal degradation and artifacting if there were any network disruptions.

GDQ also experimented with connectivity technologies such as HDBaseT, but as Deng noted, “We had problems if the signal had to hop through network switches.” The complexity of laying out SDI cabling further compounded the challenges in physical setups, particularly in tight or difficult-to-access areas.

These limitations, combined with the need for user-friendly, reliable systems that volunteers could easily manage, highlighted the need for a more robust, streamlined solution.

A Familiar Face

GDQ’s previous experience with Dante for its audio networking made the transition to Dante AV remarkably smooth. “Most of our audio flow already ran through the Dante platform, so we were quite used to that system,” Deng said. When the opportunity arose to incorporate Dante AV, GDQ deployed a solution that drastically simplified their video workflow: a single AJA Dante AV 4K-T transmitter in the ballroom, and a Dante AV 4K-R receiver at the hotel’s consumption area.

This combination proved to be a match for the fast-paced, visually demanding content of GDQ’s gaming marathons. Based on the Dante AV Ultra codec, these devices deliver 4K60 4:4:4 HDR video with ultra-low latency and visually lossless quality over standard 1GbE networks. They support SDI and HDMI inputs and outputs, which helped GDQ streamline their SDI cabling. Dante AV Ultra audio and video streams are fully time-aligned and individually routable, ensuring flawless synchronization across displays.

“With AJA’s Dante AV-enabled gear, we deployed a single hardware solution—a source in the ballroom and a receiver at the hotel’s consumption area. It was essentially plug-and-play,” Deng said. “We tested it first to make sure it worked, but we didn’t need to set up multiple machines or deal with four or five different pieces of hardware.” The result was a reliable, low-maintenance setup that eliminated the switch-hopping issues and frequent troubleshooting required by their previous workflows. “With Dante AV, when you’re using an unmanaged switch like ours, there are no such issues.”

Volunteer-Friendly and Built for Success

GDQ’s reliance on volunteers to operate its AV systems made ease of use a critical factor in technology selection. “Since this is a charity fundraiser, we rely heavily on volunteers to manage audio and video,” Deng said. “It’s important that we use software and equipment that are volunteer-friendly.”

For that, the team used Dante Controller, a centralized management platform that provides a clear visual interface for routing AV signals. “Dante equipment has been great because Dante Controller provides a one-stop shop where you can see exactly where the signals are going,” Deng said. “It can also be managed remotely by those who know the system, and we can write training documentation for volunteers.” This user-friendly approach not only made the system accessible to volunteers but also reduced GDQ’s reliance on external contractors, helping to keep costs down.

Championship Results: Reliability, Scalability, and Quality

The impact of Dante AV on GDQ’s events has been transformative. One of the most notable outcomes is the reduction in technical overhead. “Before Dante AV, we needed two technicians and three machines to get a signal from the ballroom to the hotel CCTV,” Deng said. “Now, with Dante AV, we only need one technician and a plug-and-play AJA Dante receiver and transceiver.”

In addition to streamlining operations, Dante AV provided 24/7 reliability for the seven-day event. “The image quality was excellent, and it worked 24/7 for the entire event without any signal degradation,” Deng said.

Dante AV’s interoperability and scalability also stood out. The platform integrates seamlessly into the larger Dante ecosystem, enabling GDQ to manage both audio and video signals through the same interface. “Adding Dante AV is a smooth transition whether you’re already in the Dante ecosystem or new to the platform. And with Dante Controller, you can see the signals which makes laying out networking much easier than SDI,” Deng said.

As GDQ continues to refine its technical workflows, Dante AV is poised to play an even larger role. “I’ve been wanting to deploy more Dante AV to the rest of our stack,” Deng said. While bandwidth considerations remain a factor for future expansions, GDQ’s successful deployment of Dante AV for its flagship events demonstrates the platform’s ability to meet demanding professional AV requirements. “Dante AV works for us on many levels,” said Deng. “It’s reliable, easy to use, and eliminates many issues associated with other AV-over-IP technologies.”

InfoComm 2025 is here. Ready for the show floor? Don't worry, we're here to help. AV Network is live in Orlando, bringing you product news all the way through the final day on June 13.

[New Products and InfoComm Insights]

Check out the product launch at the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion, and more from Audinate, Listen Technologies | Ampertronic, LynTec, and Magewell.

Taiwan Excellence Pavilion Showcases AV Innovations from 17 Top Taiwanese Brands

Building on the theme “Where Quality Meets Innovation,” Taiwan Excellence is set to feature an immersive pavilion showcasing breakthrough AV technologies, an exclusive product launch unveiling the latest industry advancements, and two networking happy hour events fostering connections among global innovators. Located at booth 7161, the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion will feature 17 top Taiwanese innovators in smart home integration, AI-powered conferencing, digital signage, Internet of Things (IoT) and more—all designed to amplify connectivity, boost collaboration, and transform content delivery across industries.

On Wednesday, June 11, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) will host a Product Launch & Happy Hour event at 2 p.m. ET.

TAITRA will host a product launch event from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 11. The event will showcase products from AVer Information, BXB Electronics, Delta Electronics, IPEVO, and Lumens. InfoComm 2025 attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance via this link.

Audinate to Address the Evolution of AV over IP

Audinate will highlight new innovations that make it easier than ever to design and deploy future-ready AV solutions at booth 3311. Making its debut at InfoComm, Dante Device Link is a new technology that enables manufacturers to expand device configuration capabilities. It leverages the cloud-based functionality of Dante Director to manage parameters such as gain, EQ settings, phantom power, and fault detection.

Also on display will be Dante Director, a cloud-based SaaS tool that enables the organization and management of Dante networks, will be demonstrated live with features like Telemetry, Signal Presence, and Device Importance for deeper network insight and control and a Dante Media Encryption live demo with Dante Director using AES-256 encryption. Designed for fixed installation, the Dante AVIO Install adapters, available in 2-channel analog input and output versions, feature Euroblock connectors for streamlined integration with pro audio gear.

Lastly, attendees can see how Dante AV is enhancing AV in education and beyond. In a lecture hall setup, educators can deliver high-fidelity video content and camera feeds in multiple formats with Dante AV. In corporate AV, live events, and worship venues, organizations can simplify AV over IP workflows by running video over the same trusted Dante audio network using standard Ethernet. Showcasing some of the newest devices to join our roster of 100-plus Dante AV-enabled products developed by 60 leading manufacturers, we will highlight the versatility and innovation of the growing Dante AV ecosystem.

Listen Technologies, Ampetronic to Showcase Comprehensive Suite of Assistive Listening Solutions

Listen Technologies and Ampetronic are bringing their extensive suite of customizable and scalable assistive listening and communication solutions to booth 4361. The companies will showcase Auri, the first complete Auracast broadcast audio-based assistive listening system.

Designed for venues and end users, Auri leverages Auracast broadcast audio technology to deliver high-quality, low-latency, multi-channel audio to unlimited dedicated receivers and newly emerging Auracast-compatible devices like hearing aids, earbuds, headphones, and mobile phones.

Listen Technologies and Ampetronic will also demonstrate ListenWIFI 3.2, the most significant update to the ListenWIFI ecosystem since its initial launch in 2024. ListenWIFI 3.2 introduces powerful new features, security upgrades, and thoughtful improvements designed to elevate the user experience and offer greater flexibility for deployment in complex environments.

LynTec to Spotlight Expanded Power Control Portfolio

LynTec will showcase a range of new power control innovations at the Chauvet booth 6453. The company will debut new LynTec and Juice Goose solutions, highlight the full integration of Juice Goose into the LynTec brand, and demonstrate collaborative in-booth installations with Chauvet that illustrate the versatility of its power solutions across various installation sizes and environments.

At the show, LynTec will preview an update to its rack-mounted power control systems, designed for small to midsize AVL installations. Engineered for efficiency and expandability, the new system delivers smarter sequencing, greater flexibility, and intuitive control from a compact footprint—ideal for conference rooms, houses of worship, schools, and medium-sized venues.

LynTec will display its flagship RPC solutions as well as the new 20 Amp Dual Output DMX Relay, designed to meet the needs of lighting professionals seeking simple, direct relay control in DMX-driven environments.

On the Juice Goose side, several new products will be previewed, including IEC cable connectors, Edison extension cords, and outlet boxes—all built to meet the demands of mobile production and rental/touring workflows. These accessories expand the practical utility of the Juice Goose line and demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting the fast-paced needs of event professionals.

Magewell to Showcase Newest Innovations

Magewell heads to InfoComm with a new addition to their Pro Convert product line and the introduction of an entirely new family of Pro Convert devices at booth 2818.

Introduced at the 2025 NAB show and making its debut at InfoComm, the new Pro Convert IP to USB is a plug-and-play device that enables computers, including laptops, to capture an NDI, NDI HX, or other streaming sources through a USB interface with no external power required. It is ideal for use in conference rooms, production studios, and in environments where existing users' software does not natively support NDI or other IP protocols and/or the installation of additional software is not permitted.

Being previewed at InfoComm 2025, the first member of the Xmit family is the Pro Convert Xmit AIO, the ultimate streaming encoder/decoder problem solver. Pro Convert Xmit AIO is a standalone device that converts one channel of SDI or HDMI to or from NDI HX formats, especially fulfilling customer needs for an 4Kp60 NDI HX encoder. Being configurable as an encoder or decoder, the device is ideally suited for many types of live production and ProAV installations where NDI HX over 1Gbps network infrastructures are employed.

AT&T Stadium, located in Arlington, TX, plays home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, but offers so much more. Opened in 2009, the stadium’s massive 160-foot-wide HD video board, mobile app integrations, and robust Wi-Fi network reinforce its image as a high-tech venue. Now, a Dante audio system enhances the fan and concert goer experience further.

[LEA Professional Amps Up Northwest Stadium for Washington Commanders Action and More]

The facility hosts a wide variety of events, including high school and college football championships, concerts, international soccer, the Professional Bull Riders World Finals, motorsports, and other public and private events, ensuring year-round utilization. The fan experience remains a cornerstone of its success. Furthermore, its global recognition is underscored by its selection as a host facility for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

The stadium’s AV team undertook a massive three-year project to convert the entire stadium over to Dante audio. The first year involved replacing all of the stadium’s amplifiers with Dynacord IPX10:4 units. The IPX series offers advanced 96 kHz high-resolution digital signal processing for the highest performance, internal analog-to-digital conversion with ultra-low latency, and a superior signal-to-noise ratio. The 4-channel, Dante-enabled 2500-watt IPX10:4 amplifier can run in either 48- or 96 kHz, including FIR Drive.

Year two encompassed remodeling the south side of the stadium, including suites, clubs, corridors, concessions, and more, while year three involved the north side. All existing BSS DSPs were replaced with Dante-enabled BLU-806DA DSPs coupled with BLU-120 and BLU-326DA I/O expanders. The Soundweb London BLU-806DA offers configurable I/O, configurable signal processing, and a high bandwidth, fault-tolerant digital audio bus. The processor features Dante audio with primary and secondary ports for fault tolerance, with control through a separate Ethernet port. The BLU-806DA also includes support for integration with Dante Domain Manager.

All Dante channels feed into a Solid State Logic (SSL) System T console for mixing and production. System T bridges the gap between commonly found DAW and controller setups. Its digital audio handling and advanced production workflows, including Dolby Atmos, are complemented by SSL production tools optimized for immersive music production, providing multi-format immersive and object signal paths. Full SSL dynamics and EQ are available on every channel and bus, along with 3D panning, DAW control, Dynamic Automation, Dante integration, and an inbuilt effect rack.

Gary French, AT&T Stadium’s A1 audio engineer, said that working with Dante offers seamless, low-latency audio networking, allowing him to manage complex audio setups efficiently with high-quality, uncompressed sound over standard IP networks. Dante's flexibility and scalability make it ideal for professional audio environments, enhancing French’s ability to deliver top-tier sound experiences.

“Working with the Dante-enabled SSL console is a game-changer for me,” said French. “Its flexibility and ease of integration make managing even our most complex audio setups a breeze.”

The stadium’s massive AV network is separate from the data network, but the stadium uses the SSL HC Bridge SRC when content needs to be shared between them. HC Bridge SRC provides 256 bi-directional channels of sample rate conversion for Audio-over-IP (AoIP) networks. HC Bridge SRC facilitates connecting audio between devices running at different sample rates or in different clock domains on Dante (48 and 96 kHz), AES67 or ST 2110-30 networks. The two network connections can be to physically or virtually separate networks, providing control isolation between two sets of equipment where an AoIP discovery and control ‘firewall’ is required.

One of the best aspects of the project was that even over three years, none of the fans at any of AT&T Stadium’s events were impacted by the changeover.

“Dante has proven invaluable at the stadium because it delivers higher quality audio with greater flexibility and scalability, all while simplifying integration and control across various devices and platforms,” said Richard Bratcher, audio consultant at AT&T Stadium and owner of Caprock Professional Services. “Even though moving away from CobraNet was a massive undertaking, transitioning to Dante was worth the effort.”

According to show officials, the 2025 NAB Show, which relinquished the Las Vegas Convention Center on April 9, attracted 55,000 registered attendees from 160 countries. About a quarter of attendees came from outside the United States and more than half of participants registered for the show for the first time. Across the exhibit hall, which was open April 6-9, there were almost 1,100 exhibitors, including 125 first timers.

[New Ebook: AV for Broadcast]

Overall, attendance numbers were lower than in 2023 and 2024 but higher than 2022, when the show returned after a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus. Continuing renovations to the LVCC forced the show to be spread across the West, North, and South Halls, so attendees definitely got their steps. Here are a few of the highlights from the show for the Pro AV crowd.

Tariff Talk

While maybe not a dark cloud over what was an active, upbeat show, tariffs were certainly a nasty patch of gloom hanging out by nearby Red Rock Canyon, a system that could bring lingering storms or dissipate with little more than a soft spring shower. Unfortunately, not even the best meteorologist can predict with any certainty where this business weather pattern will go.

It's the topic where everyone wants clarity and nobody has it. Some companies I approached wouldn't talk about tariffs on the record—and with the instability swirling around the topic I don't blame them. I mean, President Trump imposed tariffs on April 2 and the stock market tanked. On the last day of the show, he announced a pause on most tariffs, and that news delivered one of the best days in stock market history. Then, while many of us were traveling back home, the stock market dropped again.

Basically, companies are tracking what's happening in the market (or some variation on that theme). Fair enough.

[Tariffs and Pro AV: Expectations and Strategies]

Like most Pro AV manufacturers, Audinate is trying to navigate its manufacturing efforts based on tariff announcements. The company's conscious decision to emphasize software-based solutions during the pandemic to avoid supply chain issues has certainly helped. According to Josh Rush, chief marketing officer, in the first half of Audinate’s fiscal year, the company shipped more software units than hardware units.

Gary Rosen, VP of sales for Pliant Technologies, put to voice what many in the Pro AV industry are likely feeling. "Tariffs are concerning," he said, "but as concerning is the lack of clarity and what it all means." Pliant has some U.S. manufacturing but also relies on manufacturing in Korea and China. So, what's included—are we talking components or finished products or both? And, most importantly, what will the impact of tariffs be on customers?

Convergence Continues

Convergence remains a driving trend within the Pro AV and broadcast verticals, with technology solutions flowing back and forth between the two industries. For example, Drew Buttress, senior product manager for Sony, sees corporate and educational environments wanting broadcast-quality cameras. Meanwhile, some of the virtual production technology that was demonstrated on the show floor has its roots in Pro AV.

[NAB Show 2025 Product Watch: Why You Need to Visit Sony, Christie, Audinate, Miri Technologies, and ENCO]

"It's really where we live at the moment," explained Chris Merrill, director of product management for Panasonic Connect. About half of product development is coming from outside the broadcast environment, he added, and content creation expectations continue to move toward replicating the quality of content being produced for television. "We get to make that easier to accomplish," he noted.

"True convergence is here and it's happening," said Kevin Henneman, president of KMH Integration. He thinks the IPMX AVoIP standard is key to the convergence of the two industries. "It truly will blend and create a true interoperability between Pro AV and broadcast," he predicted.

In other words, expect to see the line between Pro AV and broadcast continue to be blurred, stepped over, and generally ignored for the foreseeable future.

AI Voice Translation

Last year, Bill Bennett at ENCO Systems gave me a demo of SPECai. He filled in a few data points in a GUI and within a few seconds the system spit out a couple of scripts for radio commercials. Pretty cool. But then the system produced radio-ready spots of those scripts using an AI voiceover that didn't sound, well, like an AI voiceover. Very cool.

Apparently, large language models (LLMs) got really good over the past year. As a result, several other companies exhibiting at the 2025 NAB Show were showcasing their own AI-powered solutions for live captions as well as audio translations with voices that sound more like human talent.

[NAB Show 2025 Notebook: 5 Booths to Add to Your Must-See List]

"Translation is riding the coattails of the AI revolution," declared Ray Tiley, CTO of Tightrope Media Systems, which showcased its new MediaScribe hybrid service at the show. Designed to improve meeting accessibility for local governments, MediaScribe combines a hardware interface with cloud-based AI services to convert speech into text, which can be displayed as closed captions on cable channels, open captions for in-room displays, and mobile captions on personal devices. It supports real-time translations in dozens of languages, and allows users to create a custom vocabulary to help with challenging names and locations.

3Play Media unveiled Dubbing, its customizable translation solution. AI is the starting point for the service; 3Play Media couples it with human correction, so it's not a real-time solution. But it's still more affordable than traditional translation with human transcribers, and it supports multiple languages and dialects. The company is targeting high-end media and elearning, among other verticals. "This is possible because AI voices are so good," explained Lily Bond, chief growth officer for 3Play Media.

Dylan Porter, VP of marketing and partnerships for AI-Media, agreed that AI voice technology has "skyrocketed" in a very short time. AI-Media is focused on helping broadcasters and other content creators break the language barrier and increase their reach with LEXI Voice, its new AI voice translation technology. Built on the company's flagship LEXI captioning solution, it provides AI voice translations that sound natural—and delivers those translations with very low latency for live events. "Voice is a natural extension of what we're already doing," he added.

Does this mean real-time AI translation is the elusive AI “killer app” we’ve all been looking for? I'm not ready to make that declaration, but the technology is certainly making significant strides for accessibility as well as content monetization in markets.

NAB Show 2025 is days away. Today, AV Network continues its preshow coverage, bringing you new products and must-see showcases to add to you to-do list for the show floor, which opens at the Las Vegas Convention Center on April 6.

Today, take a look at what Sony, Christie, Audinate, Miri Technologies, and ENCO are bringing to the LVCC.

3/31—NAB Show 2025 Notebook: 5 Booths to Add to Your Must-See List

4/2—NAB Show 2025 Notebook: Make Sure You Visit These 5 Booths in Las Vegas

Sony to Address the Live Production, News and Production, Imaging, and Virtual Production Markets

At booth N439, Sony Electronics will immerse attendees in leading innovations, insights, workflows, and expertise supporting four key areas: live production solutions, news and production workflows, imaging solutions, and virtual production. Sony’s ecosystem of tools drive connections and creativity and streamline processes for individual creators and enterprise productions. New highlights include a Super35mm camera system with Variable Neutral Density (VND), an ultra-compact Full-frame camera extension system, and a camera tracking solution for enriching content creation.

Sony’s enhancements and technologies support the latest industry needs and capabilities by enabling new forms of expression and productivity through cloud and IP protocols, cinematic capture, and Spatial Content creation, as well as augmented extended reality (XR) and virtual effects (VFX) workflows. The company is empowering broadcasters, cinematographers, production teams and content creators at all levels to bring their vision to life with more flexibility and efficiency.

For example, the HDC-F5500V Super 35mm 4K CMOS system camera for live production will make its debut at NAB Show 2025. The camera features a global shutter imager, PL lens mount, and a new optional software license adds VND capabilities for increased depth of field control and a wide range of brightness control through virtual iris capabilities. Designed for the demands of today’s live productions, the camera provides beautifully detailed imagery and ND control during on-tally. It also offers workflow advantages including a wealth of features for HDR and SDR production, and the same infrastructure as its HDC-5500V 2/3-inch counterpart, including IP networking, remote multi-camera operation and an in-CCU (camera control unit) record option.

For a full list of what to find at booth N439, click here.

Audinate Bridges the Gap between Broadcast and AV

As the future of media production brings broadcast and AV technologies closer together, Audinate is set to demonstrate how the Dante platform is advancing audio and video with broadcast-grade standards and performance, ensuring seamless product interoperability and control.

[A New Ebook from the Publishers of SCN and TV Tech: AV for Broadcast]

At NAB 2025, Audinate aims to embrace the growing accessibility of broadcast technology and its seamless integration with AV markets, recognizing the growing importance of video production in sectors such as corporate, higher education, and houses of worship.

Visitors who drop by the Audinate booth N127 can explore the latest advancements empowering broadcasters to embrace the future of IP-based production, cloud workflows, and remote events:

Dante Connect facilitates cloud-based broadcast production and is frequently used in broadcast to support flexible production environments, including remote production options for on-air talent, adoption of new translation and localization services, and more. Dante AV brings audio and video together on a single, streamlined platform, making production workflows more efficient and intuitive. Visitors will experience high-quality, cost-effective solutions, from the premium performance of Dante AV Ultra to flexible, budget-friendly options like Dante AV-H and software-based tools. Audinate will also showcase the power of the Dante Managed API, enabling automated routing for effortless operation—even for non-technical users like volunteers. The latest addition to the Dante AVIO line, the Dante AVIO Install series, was recently launched at ISE. This new series features Euroblock analog audio connectors, ensuring seamless integration with installed analog audio equipment. Additionally, it includes the Dante AVIO ClickGrid mounting system, offering flexible mounting options for racks, posts, and under-table configurations. This means broadcasters can now deploy Dante connectivity quickly and efficiently while maintaining a clutter-free install.

ENCO to Demonstrate New AI-Driven Voice Fingerprinting Solution

Within its West Hall booth W1743, ENCO will demonstrate a new AI-driven voice fingerprinting solution for its enCaption systems that detects and identifies each speaker in real-time, based on each speaker's unique vocal characteristics. ENCO’s new voice fingerprinting technology hits an entirely new benchmark through its AI-powered functionality, adding a novel function to the captioning and translation workflow through a single-stream audio mix that dynamically identifies each speaker.

ENCO will also support live stage captioning of panels and lectures for the fourth straight year, with enCaption services active on five stages across two exhibit halls. In addition to producing and presenting real-time, live captions on stage-adjacent displays, ENCO will for the first time offer real-time translations to mobile devices via its new enTranslate Mobile platform at the NAB Main Stage in the West Hall. There ENCO will translate live panels and presentations to Spanish, French, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese and German, made accessible to spectators via posted QR codes at the entrance.

ENCO’s Speaker Identification introduces another innovation to the company’s captioning systems. Based on ENCO’s latest AI implementation, enCaption identifies each speaker and then seamlessly inserts their names when identified, automatically labeling their captions in real-time. Each visual identification is based on speaker profiles added to the system for each presenter.

Christie to Demonstrate the Future of Virtual Production

Christie will showcase its Virtual Projection solution at JB&A’s Pre-NAB Technology Event on April 4-5 at The Horseshoe in Las Vegas.

With Virtual Projection, users can create a virtual production environment faster and at a fraction of the cost of big LED volumes. With technology that includes Christie RGB pure laser and hybrid RGB pure laser and laser phosphor projectors with a Mirage Pro license and Pandoras Box Server, virtual production is accessible, adaptable, and scalable, with superior image fidelity.

This cost-effective solution makes high-end production methods accessible to more creators in broadcast, film, and live events and provides them with a flexible solution and returns creative freedom and budget balance to the production process. For large or complex production designs, multi-projection arrays seamlessly align using Mystique Pro Venue Edition.

NAB SHOW DEBUT! Miri Technologies to Showcase X510 Dual-Cellular Bonding Router

Miri Technologies is ramping up for its NAB Show debut in Las Vegas, where the network technology startup will have its own booth for the first time. Exhibiting in booth W2801 in NAB's "Premiere Park" area, the company will showcase how its X510 dual-cellular bonding network router enables resilient, high-performance internet connectivity anywhere for live streaming, newsgathering, remote production and more. Miri is also rolling out a new "Try Before You Buy" program to allow potential customers in the United States to test the X510 in their environments before purchase.

Fast, stable internet connectivity is essential in today's professional media workflows, but many locations still suffer from service disruptions, speed limitations and inconsistent performance that can lead to lost viewers, missed moments and lost revenue. The Miri X510 router can combine multiple wired and wireless (4G, 5G, Starlink and Wi-Fi) data connections into one bonded link that provides resilience against internet outages while delivering exceptional performance even in remote locations with poor network coverage.

The Pro AV newsmaker blitz of 2025 didn't slow down. Starin made a couple big moves, Exertis Almo has a new partnership, and companies like Bose Professional are adding to their teams.

Here's what you may have missed last week. 

[All AV Network ISE Coverage in One Space!]

People News

3G Productions Continues to Expand Sales Team

West Coast-based live event production and systems integration services provider 3G Productions has bolstered its sales staff with two recent hires: Sebastian Yepes as director of accounts, and Juan Segovia as account manager.

Based in Orlando, Yepes comes to 3G after more than seven years with 4Wall Entertainment, most recently serving as the director of live Events. Prior to that, he spent three years as OPAV’s director of accounts, and has also worked for both ESPN and Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal.

In his new role as director of accounts, Yepes is responsible for growing 3G’s business on the East Coast and in the touring market, especially within the Latin music industry, where 3G already has a solid presence and is looking to expand.

Segovia, who is located in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, also joins the company from 4Wall, where he has been both an account executive and project manager. His background further includes maritime AVL positions with Navalimpianti USA and Carnival Cruise Line Entertainment.

In his position as account manager, Segovia is leveraging his relationships and deepening 3G’s footprint on the East Coast, assisting Yepes to support their shared client base. Segovia is additionally be tasked with handling 3G’s growing used equipment sales business.

Bose Professional Expands Sales Leadership Team

Bose Professional has appointed Rick Renner as regional sales manager for the Central U.S. region and Tim Valley as regional sales manager for the Western U.S. region. Katie Stewart will be managing the Eastern U.S. region, as part of Bose Professional’s three-region approach to sales in North America. These strategic hires and appointments are part of Bose Professional’s continued commitment to strengthening its sales leadership and driving growth across the U.S. market.

Rick Renner joins Bose Professional with over 20 years of experience in the professional audio industry. He has held leadership roles at Sennheiser Electronic Corporation and Shure Incorporated, where he most recently served as senior director, professional audio U.S. In this role, Renner played a key part in building long-lasting partnerships with end users, channel partners, and artists, which resulted in record sales growth. 

Valley also brings over 20 years of experience in sales and management in the professional audio industry. He has held key positions at Shure Incorporated and BrightSign, where he most recently served as director of commercial sales. His expertise in team leadership and building customer relationships makes him an ideal fit for Bose Professional’s growing presence in the Western U.S. His career is marked by a focus on fostering deep connections with customers and advancing sales strategies that deliver results.

A.C. ProMedia Welcomes Kurt Metzler as Business Development Manager

A.C. ProMedia, distributor of products and solutions for the commercial and Pro AV installation markets, appointed Kurt Metzler as business development manager. In his new role, Metzler focuses on expanding the company’s presence by cultivating strong relationships with key accounts, providing comprehensive training to clients and sales representatives, and uncovering new growth opportunities. Additionally, he works closely with the supply chain department to streamline order processing and support marketing initiatives by representing the company at tradeshows, promotional events, and product demonstrations.

Metzler has a distinguished career spanning multiple decades in the pro audio industry. He has held roles at companies such as AVL Media Group, Powersoft Advanced Technologies, and Meyer Sound Labs, where he earned a reputation for driving sales, launching innovative products, and fostering lasting relationships with customers and industry stakeholders.

Nemal Electronics Adds New Sales Rep

Nemal hired Omar Newball as its new sales rep. Newball is a connectivity specialist with expertise in RF and fiber technologies, making him a trusted asset in projects requiring advanced communication and network solutions. His dedication and technical knowledge ensure seamless integration and outstanding results in every endeavor.

Newball is a highly skilled professional with over 20 years of experience in customer service, specializing in delivering exceptional support and fostering strong relationships with clients. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, his ability to connect with diverse clientele enhances his effectiveness in meeting their needs.

Shotoku Announces Leadership Developments 

Leadership is developing at Shotoku Broadcast Systems. The international manufacturer of easy-to-use and reliable robotic and manual camera support systems has announced significant changes in its product and sales management team. Clive Mumby has assumed the role of robotics product manager and Vishal Kagdada has stepped into Mumby’s former role as sales manager.  

Following seven years as Shotoku’s sales manager, Mumby is stepping into his new role. His 30-plus year career in both commercial and operational television environments, including tenures with international broadcasters and multiple broadcast equipment vendors, positions him perfectly to drive Shotoku’s ongoing product development.

Kagdada who joined Shotoku as technical sales manager in 2021 with a background in broadcast systems integration as well as the manufacture of precision engineering systems outside the broadcast market, plays an even greater role in supporting and growing Shotoku’s global customer base, drawn from some of the highest profile national and international broadcasters and governments.  

Company News

Exertis Almo Named National Distributor for MuxLab Professional Signal Distribution Solutions

Exertis Almo has been named Top National Distributor for MuxLab professional signal distribution solutions. Through this newly expanded relationship, Exertis Almo’s channel partners now have access to MuxLab’s complete portfolio of professional signal distribution products for Pro AV, AVoIP, Broadcast, Video Conferencing and Digital Signage, along with enhanced marketing, sales and support engagement to benefit the network.

Featured MuxLab Solutions available through Exertis Almo include:

• Muximus Control Software Solution: A fully customizable integrator control platform, which includes AVoIP, Digital Signage, Dante Audio, 3rd party devices and the MuxControl integrator interface designer to create end user tablet experiences.
• Seamless AVoIP Transceivers (4K30-4K60): The HDMI-over-IP PoE seamless transceivers are designed for AV streaming over LAN, WiFi and Internet. Designed for Commercial and Residential AV, Classroom Projector, Digital Signage, Boardroom, and Medical Information Systems.
•  KVM Control Room Solutions: Enables a single operator to control multiple computers in a control room environment using one keyboard, mouse, and monitor, switching seamlessly between different sources.

Starin's Big Week

Starin, The Farm AV, and Toolfarm will now operate under the global Midwich brand. This strategic alignment reflects the unified vision of these leading organizations to provide technology solutions to their partners and clients.

The rebranding signifies the culmination of a collaborative journey between these industry innovators, streamlining resources and expertise under the Midwich Group’s umbrella. Together, they aim to provide unparalleled service and support to integrators, resellers, and technology professionals, enhancing their ability to address evolving market demands.

Midwich will continue to focus on building profitable revenue and market share across three hardware technology growth pillars in the U.S.: unified communications and collaboration (UCC), media and entertainment, and integrated audio complementing this portfolio with recurring revenue solutions and services.

Starin also announced a new partnership with Absen. This strategic collaboration expands Starin’s product portfolio and delivering advanced LED solutions to the North American market. Together, Starin and Absen are poised to meet the increasing demand for LED technology, providing customers with innovative solutions, support, and a commitment to excellence. This partnership underscores Starin’s dedication to leading the AV industry and addressing the evolving needs of its clients.

“We are committed to serving our customers by recognizing and addressing their needs in this dynamic market segment,” said Tyler Brebberman, VP business management, Starin. “Partnering with Absen allows us to offer comprehensive LED solutions, aligning with our mission to deliver impactful, high-quality products that drive success for our clients.”

Audinate Announces New Partnerships

Heading into ISE 2025, Audinate announced that Sennheiser, Symetrix, and Powersoft have joined as new partners adopting Dante Media Encryption into Dante-enabled products. Dante Media Encryption protects the content of Dante media flows between devices using strong AES-256 encryption, safeguarding media from interception or unauthorized access.

Dante Media Encryption can be enabled via a firmware update for many existing Dante devices. Dante Media Encryption capabilities are fully compatible between updated devices in managed Dante networks.

 “We are pleased to partner with Audinate to bring Dante Media Encryption to market,” says Charlie Jones, senior partner relations manager, business communications, Sennheiser. “As an independent 3rd party working with over 600 manufacturers, Audinate is uniquely positioned in the industry to provide a manufacturer-agnostic, interoperable encryption solution that customers desire.” 

DigiValet Announces New Integration With Crestron Control Systems

DigiValet's hospitality solutions are now fully integrated with control systems from Crestron. This integration combines DigiValet’s guest experience solutions with advanced control and automation products from Crestron.

DigiValet’s tablet-based guest room solutions are installed in guest rooms at hotels across the globe, including Wynn Las Vegas, Raffles Singapore, Bulgari Paris, and St. Regis Maldives.

DigiValet offers comprehensive guest engagement and control, including lighting, shading, HVAC, hospitality television (including IPTV and OTT services), in-room dining ordering and PoS, housekeeping service requests through job dispatch systems, restaurant and spa reservation, and personalized messages and promotions.

LG and BrightSign Announce Alliance, Launch Integrated Digital Signage Solution

LG Electronics and BrightSign announced a collaboration resulting in a new series of LG ultra-high definition (UHD) digital signage displays running BrightSignOS. These displays will be available to U.S. customers in the second quarter of 2025, with international markets following.

The new LG 49, 55, and 65-inch UV5N series models will run the trusted BrightSignOS on LG’s powerful, embedded system-on-a-chip (SoC) multi-core processor. These displays are designed to transform content delivery and offer a wide variety of BrightSign partner content management system (CMS) solutions. They cater to a range of vertical markets, including transportation, retail, museums, hospitality, corporate, education, and healthcare. Businesses across industries are seeking to take control of content, create engaging customer experiences, and optimize the potential of signage applications. These true-integration signage solutions provide end users with real-time access to both BrightSignOS and the display.

Rise Announces Launch of Rise AV

Rise has launched Rise AV. Rise AV will build on the success of Rise Women in Broadcast (WIB), which was established in 2017 in the broadcast and media industry. With over 3,000 members worldwide, Rise has supported many women, advocates, and companies in technical, engineering, operations, marketing, sales, and executive roles through its programs.

The mission of Rise AV is to create an inclusive AV industry where gender diversity thrives, inspiring innovation, equity, and opportunity for all. It will focus on attracting and retaining talent, education and awareness, mentorship, and partnerships. In May 2025, Rise AV will introduce its first initiative in the U.K.—Rise AV Mentoring—a six-month dedicated program Global supporting women’s career and personal development. This will be led by Rise’s award-winning Mentoring Manager, Carla Maroussas.

Rise AV was founded by Rise’s Founder and CEO, Sadie Groom and Rachael Hamilton, who will become managing director. Hamilton has 18 years of experience in the AV sector, having previously been brand director of AV Magazine. She then founded IAR, the AV industry’s first business and marketing consultancy.

VigilLink Announces New Partnership with TecNec Distributing

TecNec Distributing and VigilLink announced a new partnership designed to expand TecNec’s offerings with VigilLink’s innovative AV-over-IP solutions. This collaboration aims to deliver AV products to system integrators, dealers, and rental houses across the Pro AV, broadcast, and pro audio industries. TecNec will distribute VigilLink’s full line of products.

Through this partnership, TecNec will leverage its 30 years of expertise as a premier value-added distributor, providing VigilLink’s innovative fiber optic and AV over IP solutions to its extensive network. VigilLink continues to extend its reach in the Pro AV market, focusing on environments where reliability, speed, efficiency, and security are critical.

Yamaha ProVisionaire Plan Collaborates With XTEN-AV

 Yamaha has announced a collaboration between the company’s new ProVisionaire Plan software, which brings intuitive ease and speed to designing and configuring professional conferencing systems, and XTEN-AV, a cloud-based, AI-powered professional AV design platform.

ProVisionaire Plan is a browser-based tool which allows users to enter basic information, such as the dimensions of a room, then automatically chooses and arranges equipment to deliver an optimal audio solution. The results are presented visually, including a 3D view which allows investors to clearly imagine the system they are investing in.

The new collaboration will see ProVisionaire Plan seamlessly integrated into XTEN-AV's AV TOOLS function. This enables not only product searches, but also the seamless integration of automated equipment selection tailored to specific projects. Providing users with a one-stop experience, it will further accelerate audio system design, reducing overall workload and costs.

It's hard to believe ISE 2025 is just about a week away. We're here to make sure you stay up to date with the latest ISE 2025 news. Before the showfloor opens its doors in Barcelona from Feb. 4-7. 2025, AV Network is highlighting new products and anticipated debuts from Pro AV's community. 

Today, check out Kramer's new speakers, Christie's 'Experience is everything," Kordz bevy of new solutions, what Adam Hall Group is up to, and the latest audio enhancements from Audinate. 

[ISE 2025: The Must-Attend Event for the Pro AV Industry]

Kramer to Showcase New PoE-Powered Dante Speakers and High-End Installed Audio Portfolio

Kramer recently released its new line of premium speakers. This broad portfolio includes PoE-powered Dante speakers alongside other innovative models, delivering exceptional sound quality, sleek design, and simplified installation for professional environments and will be on display at ISE 2025. 

This portfolio introduces PoE-powered Dante speakers, which enable seamless integration into networked AV systems. These soakers reduce installation complexity and wiring requirements, making them a perfect fit for modern installations. Each PoE-powered Dante speaker has a corresponding passive model with the same industrial design and sound profile, allowing system integrators to mix and match speakers while maintaining consistent sound quality and a cohesive look across installations.

The new speakers are part of Kramer’s broader audio portfolio, which also includes DSPs and amplifiers, offering professionals a complete and integrated solution for diverse audio needs. The speaker product range features wall-mounted, ceiling, and pendant models in various form factors, designed to suit varied environments.

Adam Hall Integrated Systems Presents Integrated Audio, Lighting, and Control Solution

Adam Hall Integrated Systems will introduce the new update for LD Systems QUESTRA. With version 1.3, the design and management software platform makes it possible to do a variety of things, including the ability to integrate third-party solutions for the control and automation of network-based installation solutions. Other highlights include the IP67 fixtures from the Cameo DURA series as well as the expansion of the DQOR speaker series to include dedicated subwoofer models for permanently installed indoor and outdoor use.

QUESTRA 1.3 Update: Control Commercial Audio and Lighting Solutions. QUESTRA 1.3 is designed to be a one-stop solution for specialist planners and installation service providers. Users can now configure and manage audio, lighting, and video technology using a centralized software platform. A new, centralized system architecture and the use of nodes provide the basis for the much wider array of functions in QUESTRA. The Logic Nodes enable modular programming and time-based automation, and they provide extended integration options and seamless management of integrated devices. The Calender Node, for instance, is suitable for complex scheduling tasks, whilst the Network Command Node enables third-party control via TCP, UDP, and HTTP.

LD Systems DQOR SUB 8: Installation Subwoofer for Indoor and Outdoor Use. The LD Systems DQOR series is now complete thanks to the introduction of its own subwoofer models. The new DQOR SUB 8 is equipped with an 8-inch woofer and a 10-inch passive cone and is available in three versions for flexible use: as a passive model (DQOR SUB 8) for outdoor use, as an active model (DQOR SUB 8A) with integrated 250W power amplifier for indoor use, and as an IP55-capable, active Dante solution (DQOR SUB 8D).
 
Cameo DURA: High-Performance Solutions for Demanding Architectural Lighting. The IP67 fixtures in the DURA series from Cameo are suitable for accentuating buildings, facades, and art objects. With the DURA SPOT RGBW spots in four different light outputs and the DURA LINE RGBW linear fixtures in two different lengths (50 cm/100 cm), the DURA series provides the right solution for almost any creative application and environment. Whether for architectural and lighting designers or for building owners who want to showcase their properties in a professional manner, the hard-wearing DURA series offers flexible, energy-efficient lighting solutions that impressively highlight any project.

Audinate to Showcase Enhanced Solutions

Audinate will be showcasing the Dante AVIO Install series of adapters available in 2-channel analog input and output versions. These adapters are designed for seamless integration into installed Dante-enabled systems, delivering reliable, high-quality audio performance tailored to the Pro AV market.

The Dante AVIO Install series seamlessly integrates legacy analog equipment and enables new connections. With Euroblock connectors, installation-friendly mounting options, and excellent audio performance, these adapters empower installers to deploy high-quality audio systems with confidence and ease.

Also on display in Hall 2, stand 2S700 will be the new telemetry monitoring and retention features in its cloud-based SaaS tool, Dante Director. Dante Director now enables the collection and retention of device latency for up to 30 days, viewable in a convenient time-series chart that displays latency spikes as they occurred. 

Experience Creativity and Christie Integrated Solutions

Christie and its partners will demonstrate how technologies work together to deliver immersive and interactive experiences at ISE 2025. Christie will present its most extensive showcase of AV technology to date across two stands in Hall 3–3K500 and 3C400—under the theme ‘Experience is everything’.

At booth 3K500, a fully interactive floor-to-ceiling projection mapped room, created by Christie partner Augmenta, will combine audio and visual elements to stunning effect. Attendees can interact with content projected on the walls and floor of the room driven by Pandoras Box media server. Monitors will also display tracking data and reveal how the technology dynamically responds to attendees’ movements.

Christie’s newest addition to its 3DLP, native 4K lineup of projectors—the Sapphire 4K40-RGBH, will be stacked and displayed in a rear projection application using a screen provided by Stewart Filmscreen. Visitors can experience a striking demonstration of projection mapping onto an ornamental temple façade using two Christie Griffyn 4K50-RGB pure laser projectors and Christie Mystique automated alignment and recalibration technology.

Kordz to LaunchNew Outdoor, USB-C and Next Generation HDMI Cables at ISE 2025

Kordz is launching a bevy of new solutions at at Stand 2E310, including outdoor-rated Cat6 cables, advanced USB-C cable solutions, and a series of enhanced HDMI offerings.

Kordz is expanding its networking line with a new range of professional grade, outdoor-rated network cables. Debuting at ISE 2025 are three new products: for above-ground outdoor installations the PRO SlimCat Cat6 U/UTP Outdoor Network Cable and ONE Cat6 U/UTP Outdoor Network Cable, and for below-ground, ONE Cat6 U/UTP Direct Burial Network Cable.

[USB-C and AVoIP]

Kordz is also launching at ISE 2025 its first-ever USB-C cabling products. The introduction of its PRO Active Optical USB-C cable and PRO Passive USB-C cable marks Kordz’ highly anticipated entry into this rapidly growing market, given the brand was built upon resolving many of the industry’s early-stage HDMI cabling woes. Kordz’ new full-featured USB4 Gen2 and USB3.2 Gen2 USB-C cables aim to once again help the industry overcome the many current challenges of USB-C connectivity by delivering reliable, hassle-free connectivity that meets the demanding AV and power requirements professional integrators encounter today.

Kordz will also release a series of upgrades debuting at ISE 2025. Leading the charge is the new PRO4 HDMI range, the next generation of its best-selling PRO3 series, delivering enhanced performance and reliability for professional AV installations. Designed by integrators for integrators through the unique “Kordzification” process, new PRO4 Active Optical HDMI cables support data rates of 48Gbps across large distances without external power, ensuring reliable performance for even the most advanced AV systems. 

Audinate has launched Dante Virtual Soundcard Pro (DVS Pro). This innovative software solution offers audio professionals enhanced performance and workflow flexibility. Building on the foundation of the Dante platform, DVS Pro expands the possibilities for demanding audio environments with higher channel capacity, integration into virtualized environments, and versatile installation options.

Dante Virtual Soundcard Pro equips users with a comprehensive set of features to address even the most complex audio challenges, empowering professionals across live sound, studio recording, broadcast, and commercial AV applications.

[Doubling Down on Dante]

Key features include:

• Expanded Channel Capacity at Higher Sample Rates: Support for up to 128x128 channels at 96 kHz ensures impeccable clarity and nuance throughout the signal chain.
• Enhanced Device Connectivity: Seamlessly connect with a broader array of Dante-enabled devices with up to 64 flows, providing flexibility and the ability to scale their systems.
• Virtual Machine Installation: Expand deployment possibilities with compatibility for virtual environments.
• Reliable Synchronization for Software-Driven Audio Workflows: Clock leader and unicast clocking support enables Dante audio to operate entirely in software-based environments.
• Flexible Licensing Options: Transferable licenses provide convenience and adaptability for evolving workflows.
• Cross-Platform Support: Available for both Mac and Windows, fitting into any professional setup.

Dante Virtual Soundcard Pro transforms any PC or Mac into a powerful Dante-enabled device. By utilizing the computer’s standard wired network connection, the software eliminates the need for additional hardware, making it ideal for applications such as live and studio multitrack recording, media playback, conference systems, lecture capture, and collaborative production. 

[CES Keynote: SiriusXM CEO, 'Crime Junkie' Podcast Host Explore Audio Evolution]

“As the audio industry shifts towards networked, software-based solutions, Dante Virtual Soundcard Pro leads the way in delivering accessible, scalable, and high-fidelity connectivity,” said Will Waters, principal product manager at Audinate. “With expanded channel capacity, higher sample rates, and features like virtual machine installation and unicast clocking, DVS Pro gives audio professionals the flexibility they need to seamlessly bridge traditional hardware and evolving software workflows—all within the familiar Dante environment they trust.”

Audinate, developer of the Dante AV-over-IP solution, has enhanced its Dante Controller with a significant update. The application has long been a reliable tool for IT and AV managers to route signals, monitor latency, and diagnose network issues, and this update provides a modern look to match the power of the underlying functionality. 

[Doubling Down on Dante]

The open and easy-to-use routing matrix and entirely new graphic design make it more pleasing for users who spend their valuable time with the application. “This release addresses the most commonly requested feature of Dante Controller—that it can’t easily be used in a dimly lit room,” said Laurence Crew, senior product manager of Audinate. “Even if we hadn’t overhauled the visual representation of everything else in the application, Dark Mode is easily the most welcomed feature of the release. We look forward to our users getting their hands on this release to further spark their joy with the Dante platform.”

[SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators 2024]

Dante Controller is an easy to learn and powerful tool that enables interoperable signal routing, control and network diagnostics between the over 4000 Dante-enabled audio and video devices currently available from over 600 different manufacturers. 

It’s widely known that Dante is the de facto industry standard for audio transport in Pro AV applications. With the recent additions of Dante AV, Dante Domain Manager, and Dante Director, Audinate now offers a complete AV-over-IP platform that is inherently interoperable across thousands of products from hundreds of manufacturers, seamlessly integrating audio, video, control, and management features—and is accessible and routable anywhere in the world.

[New Dante Media Encryption Feature Improves Security]

Dante provides a robust end-to-end solution that eliminates some constraints associated with closed manufacturer ecosystems. Within the Dante ecosystem, integrators can choose the best products for a particular installation from any manufacturer and use the suite of Dante control and management tools to seamlessly manage those devices.

Interoperability Evolution

Dante’s evolution from an interoperability standard for audio transport to a complete AVoIP platform has been a years-long strategy in the making. Initially, interoperability centered around the connector itself, whether an XLR, Phoenix/Euroblock, coax, Ethernet, or others. Many systems required multiple cable types that were distance-limited and bulky to install.
Now, interoperability means much more.

A modern AV system’s usefulness is contingent on its ease of management, optimization, and control. Using multiple interfaces to control an AV system is unacceptable to most end users and integrators, whose expectations are increasingly influenced by their B2C experiences (think smartphones).

System scalability is inextricably linked to interoperability as well. Some think scaling is simply adding more endpoints of the same type. For certain applications, that’s an accurate reflection of what’s needed. However, scalability often involves new capabilities and system requirements that necessitate adding new hardware types to the AV system. Having a comprehensive range of products available is what integrators need to scale effectively.

The Dante AV family of hardware and software solutions allows manufacturers and end users to add networked video to the Dante platform. It guarantees interoperability between manufacturers while keeping discovery, configuration, and control to a single platform for all audio and video endpoints. It's also designed to run on standard 1 GbE networks alongside Dante audio devices.

Deployment Options

With more than 4,000 available endpoints, Dante AV makes it easy to break out audio to and from Dante audio devices without the need for extra hardware or format conversion. Dante AV is also designed for deployment on enterprise networks, offering scalable solutions for LANs and WANs. IT-level security and management is available via Dante Domain Manager or SaaS-based Dante Director for enhanced functionality everywhere, supporting granular user access control, alerts and audit logs, and routing media across subnets without complicated network management.

[Audinate, Lawo Collaborate on Dante Compatibility for HOME Apps]

Dante AV provides support for different codecs to meet quality, latency, bandwidth, and application needs. The family includes:

• Dante AV Ultra: delivers visually lossless video with deterministic sub-frame latency for
use cases where the highest quality, tightly synced audio and video is required.

• Dante AV-A: designed for one-to-many high-quality, ultra-low latency commercial AV
distribution and IMAG applications.

• Dante AV-H: best for limited bandwidth environments and applications that incorporate video software, including conferencing, lecture capture, and streaming.

The brilliance behind Dante AV is that it treats video devices the same as audio endpoints, using the already-familiar Dante Controller software as a one-stop shop for managing all AV routing, with separate, independently routable streams for audio and video. This implementation eliminates breakout boxes, adapters, and cables—all that users need to do is connect their Dante AV devices to a switch via a standard Ethernet cable.

With Dante’s built-in device discovery, new endpoints appear in Dante Controller for media routing. The single control management plane allows for universal configuration of devices, while a single API supports programming for all Dante products, allowing users to change routing and configuration using external control interfaces or commands.

Once the system is installed, the signal routing information is stored in the Dante-enabled devices, allowing the Dante ecosystem to run without connected computers. Users don’t have to worry about re-establishing routes when a device is moved or power cycled; it “just works,” saving time and setup costs.

A Case Study in Grace

In Southern California, Grace Community Church has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the 1950s. Today, the non-denominational, evangelical megachurch comprises a 3,000-seat worship center as well as the original 300-seat chapel, plus several small outbuildings, a family center, children’s center, Master’s Seminary, and a tower featuring five large classrooms. To streamline its AV management and keep the focus on worship experiences, Grace Community Church has deployed a large, Dante-based system throughout the campus, including video capabilities using Dante AV.

[The Dante (R)evolution]

Recently, the church created a documentary slated for theatrical release, but wanted to broadcast the premiere campus-wide. Not knowing how large the audience would be for such a venture, the church felt it prudent to have the worship center and several overflow rooms prepared to receive guests. It was decided that the documentary needed to be broadcast in 4K for maximum effect—but while Grace Community Church had a pre-existing video distribution system, it could not deliver video reliably.

The church’s AV team deployed nine Bolin D20 Dante AV Ultra transceivers throughout the campus to facilitate the live video stream from the sanctuary to overflow rooms in the satellite buildings. Bolin’s D20 Series, which can be programmed as an encoder or a decoder, are single video channel networked AVoIP transceivers that are fully compatible with Dante audio devices within a Dante ecosystem like the one in place at Grace Community Church.

Each transceiver supports up to 4K60 streaming with ultra-low latency over a standard gigabit network, and offers embedded audio output via HDMI or SDI as well as PTZ camera movement control via IP or IR pass-through. Based on the pre-existing SDI infrastructure, the church installed three D20H models (HDMI) and six D20S units (SDI) across the campus.

[The Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV]

The premiere at the church was a huge success, and audience reactions to the AV experience were highly favorable. The power of being able to independently route the audio and video streams while guaranteeing clock synchronization provided the AV team with the tools needed to route de-embedded audio from the main feed and resynchronize with the video stream before inputting the signal into six video matrices serving the overflow rooms and the three large screens in the family center.

As the Grace Community Church install illustrates, Dante's strength lies in being manufacturer-agnostic, allowing integrators to use their preferred devices from more than 550 Dante licensees. No special switches are needed, even for video. And because it's designed for standard 1 GbE connections, Dante is easy to install, configure, administer, manage, and scale for Pro AV systems.

AJA Video Systems has been delivering Dante-based solutions since 2020. AJA Product Manager Damian Horne talks with SCN content director Mark J. Pescatore about the advantages of a Dante-based workflow for churches, schools, and live event venues — and how AJA’s recently enhanced Dante AV 4K-T transmitters and 4K-R receivers can improve that workflow.

Let's face it: As an industry buzzword, AV-over-IP is often used as an overarching term to cover many diverse technologies. It's no wonder that many AV customers—and the professionals that serve them—find it confusing. Before your commit to an AVoIP installation, here are some important areas to consider and clarify.

[The Integration Guide to AVoIP 2024]

First, it's important to convey that there is no “one-size-fits-all” AVoIP solution. Steven Barlow, president of DVIGear, said many people overcomplicate the physical architecture of AVoIP systems. “For the majority of systems, it’s simply a matter of choosing the appropriate size network switch and then adding an endpoint for each source and display device. Everything beyond that is done in software," he explained. “The system will deliver the most value when its capabilities are leveraged as much as possible."

Budgets and Bandwidth

Budget is always a good jumping-off point, as it can help determine the system’s capabilities and infrastructure. When choosing a system, experts advise focusing on resolution, image quality, latency, and power consumption. “Don’t be shy to compare products and make manufacturers prove the capabilities, serviceability, and image quality,” said Paul Harris, CEO and CTO with Aurora Multimedia.

There is also a correlation between needs and budgets. "Low latency and the highest quality require a lot of bandwidth,” said Joshua Rush, chief marketing officer for Audinate, which is known for its Dante AV solutions. “But if you’re streaming content to YouTube, you can choose a lower-cost, lower-bandwidth solution because of the higher compression requirements.” 

Bandwidth can also impact cost, with infrastructure requirements becoming much more expensive as bandwidth needs increase. For example, if you’re looking for a 10 Gb solution, your cabling will become more complex compared to a 1 Gb solution—and what is required will become more specific. A 1 Gb solution can also allow you to use existing infrastructure more often than a 10 Gb solution. There may also be additional fees to certify cabling to guarantee it will support 10 Gb installations and beyond. 

“Everything has to be perfect for the 10-gig plus solution to perform how I want it to,” offered Keith Yandell, VP of innovation with AVI Systems. “Whereas a 1-gig solution can weather some poor cable quality a little better.” 

[The ABCs of AVoIP, Part 1]

Avoiding Traffic Jams

Even the term "streaming video" can be confusing, with many equating the term to services like Hulu or Netflix or media players like Roku. Audinate feels AVoIP is a more accurate description of their offerings. “We transport high-quality content with extremely low latency within the room, like a church sanctuary or lecture hall, out to an overflow room—or bring audio and video into the computer, which then streams to remote participants,” said Rush.

The industry is also fighting against many other assumptions about the technology, such as it's more complex than point-to-point connections, as well as security fears about allowing AV devices to talk to cloud services. “Some people still wrongly equate 'network' with Wi-Fi signals dropping out and having to reboot their home routers, so they don’t have confidence that networked AV solutions are reliable,” said Rush. 

Another thing to remember is the importance of a properly configured network that can handle multicast traffic, which many customers struggle with because they outsource their route switch environments. Knowing there is nuance to multicast traffic is important to ensure you don't encounter issues when launching the system. "We'll hear, it's ready, we're fine," said Yandell. "We'll deploy a solution and crash their network because they didn't set it up correctly."

Network typology and setup can also be challenging, and configuring the various brands requires education to know which IP devices work well together. “It is not as simple as plugging the CAT cable or fiber into the switch," said Harris. “A person needs to understand the movement of data over the uplinks, PoE requirements, VLAN, unregistered multicast, jumbo packets, QOS, and much more. At the end of the day, you can make an AV-over-IP product easy to use, but the network switch and cable integrity are key.”

Even though any new technology or approach can be scary for those with limited experience, network-based solutions are the way forward and have been considered reliable by most for quite some time now. With comprehensive training and expanded service offerings, the industry will break down some of the confusion concerning AVoIP, leading to more successful adoption by all.

AVoIP Innovators

Through Audinate's leadership in the space, there is now, more than ever before, a massive interoperable ecosystem, making it easier to find interoperable audio and video devices for every application. Based on common IT standards, Dante devices from any manufacturer can run alongside data traffic on networks comprised of conventional switches and cabling.

"Unlike proprietary methods of solving the challenges of AV-over-IP that can become outdated with evolving Ethernet standards, Dante's approach allows it to adapt to new networking technologies and bandwidth requirements," said Rush.

[The Dante (R)evolution]

The industry has become very familiar with Dante’s tools, which support everything from single-room systems to large-scale deployments. This has helped with the overall adoption of AVoIP due to its ability to be proven to run at scale and operate as a good network citizen.

Known as one of the largest ecosystems in the Pro AV industry, HDBaseT provides increased options for installers and system integrators, offering secure and long-reaching AV signal distribution. It is known for easy setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting, which makes it easy for many users to navigate.

Plus, with a large install base and the fact that it is embedded within many devices like projectors, screens, and PTZ cameras as a native connectivity port like an HDMI or USB interface, it operates as plug and play. “As AV becomes so deeply entrenched in our workflows, these aspects become very important when choosing a connectivity technology,” said Effi Goldstein, president of HDBaseT. 

NDI, which allows users to move high-quality, real-time video, audio, and bidirectional metadata over standard Ethernet networks without cumbersome point-to-point cabling, has become a popular choice in the AVoIP spectrum. Unlike many other AVoIP technologies, it operates entirely in software without reliance on hardware. Many AV technologies, including cameras and broadcast and software tools, support NDI I/O.

“Many of these tools are adaptable for use in cloud environments,” said Nick Mariette, director of product management at NDI. “For basic functionalities, such as screen capture, monitoring, or even NDI Bridge—which allows you to transport NDI between software or hardware tools located in separate networks, including WANs or the Internet—there is likely an NDI tool available to meet the need.” 

[NDI Reigns over AVoIP Protocols]

NDI recently introduced its latest upgrade, NDI 6, which adds 10-bit color depth, marking a first for the platform. “NDI 6 marks a significant enhancement in video quality by upgrading NDI transport from 8-bit color depth to higher color depths that now support formats such as NDI High Bandwidth and HX3, which offer 10‑bit quality," Mariette added.

Another week in Pro AV has passed and another acquisition made headlines, as did an LG and Mo-Sys partnership.

Convergint acquired Esscoe, a provider of mission-critical security and fire and life safety systems in the Chicago and Midwest regions, enabling Convergint to accelerate growth across the Midwestern U.S.—building on Esscoe’s long-standing reputation for delivering innovative solutions to its customers. Read the full story here. 

LG Electronics acquired a stake in Mo-Sys Engineering. The strategic seed investment and partnership will expand LG Business Solution’s capabilities in the virtual production and broadcasting technology segments, enabling LG to deliver a more comprehensive lineup of sophisticated hardware and software-based solutions, according to Ki-mun Paik, SVP and head of the Information Display business unit of LG Business Solutions Company. You can read our full coverage here. 

Here's what you missed. 

[On Your Business: Sales Is Not a Four-Letter Word]

People News

Kira Baca Appointed CRO for Newly Merged Fabric x Xytech Entity

The newly combined entity of Fabric and Xytech Systems, currently known as Fabric x Xytech, appointed Kira Baca as chief revenue officer (CRO). With over 25 years of experience in the media and entertainment (M&E) services and technology sector, Baca plays a pivotal role in driving revenue strategies and spearheading growth initiatives for the combined organization.

Baca’s impressive career includes leadership roles at Technicolor Creative Services, SDI Media (now Iyuno), Sony NMS, and Rightsline, where she was instrumental in revenue growth and global expansion. Most recently, she served as chief revenue officer at Atelier Creative Technologies, where she developed a new go-to-market strategy and established the global teams for sales, business development and strategic partnership teams. Throughout her career, Baca has managed global client accounts for major entertainment companies, orchestrated international mergers, and secured transformative technology deals. In August 2023, she was appointed to the Board of Directors for Fabric and has been closely collaborating with Rob Delf and the team during their rapid growth and market expansion.    

Follow-Me appoints Thijs Bruins as Global Sales Manager

Follow-Me, manufacturers of high-end performer tracking solutions for lighting, immersive audio, video mapping and stage automation applications, appointed Thijs Bruins as global sales manager.

Bruins oversees the Follow-Me global sales network, aligning existing partners, expanding the network to improve customer experience and providing a strong base for the company’s future growth. He has a wealth of technical expertise, starting out at a young age as a lighting technician and continuing to juggle this freelance work and training, Bruins moved on to the role of manager of special projects at Trekwerk, before joining TAIT as business development manager where oversaw the growth of TAIT’s presence in Europe through the pandemic.

Peter Thomsen Appointed as Commercial Director at nxtedition

nxtedition appointed of Peter Thomsen as its new commercial director. With an impressive track record in the international media industry, Thomsen brings a wealth of expertise to nxtedition.

Thomsen’s career in media technology began with NTP Technology, where he developed his technical expertise in audio solutions and broadcast infrastructure. He then transitioned to Danmon Systems where he excelled in systems integration, project management, and business development. His success in driving business growth at Danmon positioned him to lead the establishment of Qvest’s operations in the Nordics, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s presence and delivering innovative media technology solutions.

RCF Appoints Manager of Installed Sound and System Designs

RCF has appointed Jim Reed to the newly created position manager of installed sound and system designs. In his new position, Jim Reed is tasked with spearheading business development in the permanent integration market sector, including working with integrators on system design, and serving as liaison between RCF’s U.S. operation and the headquarters in Italy, reinforcing the ongoing development of market-driven products for the system integration market sector.

From the start of his time with RCF in sales and products support, Reed drew upon his history in the audio industry working as an A1 audio technician, FOH engineer, and installation project manager for several AV companies to quickly establish himself as the lead product specialist for the U.S. With a primary focus on the installation and larger production company markets, he developed a range of training and instructional materials for RCF, including videos and in-person training seminars, covering topics from basic audio theory to comprehensive system design. His expertise extends to on-site product demonstrations and sales training seminars for some of the largest AV retailers in the U.S.

From the start of his time with RCF in sales and products support, Reed drew upon his rich history in the audio industry working as an A1 audio technician, FOH engineer, and installation project manager for several AV companies to quickly establish himself as the lead product specialist for the U.S. With a primary focus on the installation and larger production company markets, he developed a range of training and instructional materials for RCF, including videos and in-person training seminars, covering topics from basic audio theory to comprehensive system design. His expertise extends to on-site product demonstrations and sales training seminars for some of the largest AV retailers in the U.S.

USSI Global Welcomes Christina Murgo

USSI Global has added an experienced AV and digital signage professional to its leadership team as the company prepares for business growth in a thriving industry sector. Christina Murgo joined USSI Global’s Digital Signage and Technology Group as director of sales and business development, leading a new initiative to bring the company’s enterprise-level project management model to a broader customer base. 

Murgo is tasked with applying USSI Global’s proven model to meet the needs of medium-to-large digital signage networks that can benefit from a turnkey approach. That includes developing custom service plans and select value-added services that align with the capital budgets of each customer and preserve the long-term integrity of the technology and infrastructure. Murgo’s 25 years of experience across diverse roles with NEC, Scala and AVI-SPL provide the foundation for success in an exciting role.

SMPTE’s David Grindle to Conclude Term as Executive Director

David Grindle will conclude his term as the SMPTE’s executive director on Oct. 18. Grindle has served SMPTE in this role for two years, guiding its ongoing evolution and growth in supporting professionals across the industry. Collaborating with staff, volunteers, members, and the SMPTE Board of Governors, he has played a central role in making the Society more accessible and valuable to its global membership—from students and early career professionals to well-established creatives, engineers, and executives working in media and entertainment.

[ST 2110: An Introduction]

As executive director, Grindle led SMPTE in launching new products and educational initiatives designed to bring added benefits to both individual members and corporate partners. The Society’s achievements during his tenure include making standards and self-study courses available free on demand to members, expanding outreach to students and new entrants to the industry, amplifying the organization’s focus on global membership, introducing simpler and more flexible options for membership, and realizing cost reductions and greater operational efficiency. True to form, Grindle also inspired the Society’s members to learn how to tie a bow tie in raising money for the SMPTE Education Fund.

Through technical conferences, industry events and partnerships, and its continually expanding offering of timely educational programs and courses, SMPTE has helped a wide array of media professionals to further their knowledge and careers. To this end, notable accomplishments during Grindle’s tenure include supporting the regionalization of the various German SMPTE Student Chapters, creating a larger cohort and expanding the potential reach of each university’s program; adding Clark Atlanta University, the first HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities) to join the SMPTE Student Chapter family; further augmenting the educational resources and solutions available through SMPTE Rapid Industry Solutions (RIS) initiatives; and launching training courses focused on practical knowledge for IP-based media operations.

Company News

Calrec, LAMA, Lawo, Gallery Sienna, and Telos Alliance Join the Dante Ecosystem

Audinate welcomed new cloud-based solutions from Calrec, Gallery Sienna, LAMA, Lawo, and Telos Alliance to the growing list of applications that support native Dante audio in cloud-based production workflows. The recently released SDK for Dante Connect enables software developers to build Dante audio transmission and reception natively into their cloud-based applications. 

[Head in the Cloud(s)]

Calrec, Gallery Sienna, LAMA, Lawo, and Telos Alliance join the expanding ecosystem of cloud-based software applications to choose direct integration of Dante into their applications. Integrating Dante directly into cloud-based applications enables end customers to connect any existing Dante hardware or software to cloud-based software applications using Dante Connect. 

These new Dante integrations give broadcasters and audio engineers a vast array of new products to choose from when building cloud-based Dante audio production workflows. 

BrightSign Partners with Praevar

Praevar, a manufacturer of intelligent outdoor displays and kiosks, has partnered BrightSign. The collaboration will put BrightSign’s technology inside outdoor and semi-outdoor digital signage and digital out-of-home (OOH) displays.

Since 2016, Praevar has designed and manufactured indoor and outdoor displays for many OOH media companies. The company will combine its commercial-grade displays with the power of BrightSign’s System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution, BrightSign Built-In. This will transform Praevar’s high-brightness Placard and Podium series displays into all-in-one visual messaging and marketing solutions that users can easily deploy and manage.

The solution meets the growing demand for smart commercial displays with built-in media playback, storage, and management capabilities. It also empowers retailers to extend marketing reach outside the physical limits of brick-and-mortar stores to windowfronts, sidewalks, concourses, and plazas of retail and mixed-use environments.

Since 2016, Praevar has designed and manufactured indoor and outdoor displays for many OOH media companies. The company will combine its commercial-grade displays with the power of BrightSign’s System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution, BrightSign Built-In. This will transform Praevar’s high-brightness Placard and Podium series displays into all-in-one visual messaging and marketing solutions that users can easily deploy and manage.

Cinegy and Scale Logic to Announce Strategic Partnership

Cinegy and Scale Logic announced a strategic partnership at IBC 2024. The two companies will be working together to extend Cinegy’s presence in the United States and elsewhere, allowing Cinegy to take advantage of Scale Logic’s technical expertise, reseller network and extensive media customer base. U.S.-based and other global customers will be able to acquire complete turnkey media solutions based on Cinegy software and the comprehensive range of hardware and technical competence provided by the long-established and well-respected Scale Logic team.

Scale Logic will be providing integrated solutions for all aspects of broadcast and AV, based around Cinegy’s Archive, Desktop, Capture, Air and Multiviewer applications installed on best-of-breed server, storage and networking solutions.

Boom, TD SYNNEX Ink Major North American Distribution Deal

Videoconferencing manufacturer Boom Collaboration is partnering with TD SYNNEX. Boom’s complete range of high performance cameras, audio and connectivity hardware will be distributed by TD SYNNEX across the United States and Canada.

Per Boom founder Fredrik Hörnkvist, Boom’s MAGNA Pro 4K PTZ camera and innovative HALO, AURA, and UNO videobars are set to become some of the company’s most popular product linest. He also outlined how the new Boom ZYGO multi-connectivity hub will create even more sales opportunities for TD SYNNEX customers. Fellow founder Holli Hulett says the company’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) technology ethos and platform agnostic approach will help further drive demand.

“TD SYNNEX is committed to empowering innovative partners to achieve great outcomes with technology,” said Sandi Stambaugh, SVP of vendor business management at TD SYNNEX. “With Boom added to our comprehensive portfolio of vendor partners, we’re able to enrich the breadth and depth of our offerings so customers can continue to accelerate their business and unlock growth for the future.”

Specifi Partners with Nice North America

Specifi announced a new integration with Nice North America, a subsidiary of Nice. The new collaboration, which follows recent successful integrations with brands including Snap One and Masimo Consumer Audio, will empower Nice dealers to create compelling proposals, which enhance client communications through the client portal, and bolster their online presence with Specifi WebBuilder. Additionally, Nice will introduce Specifi’s Builder Tech-Marketing Solutions to their builder and integrator partners. These powerful marketing tools include the creation of builder microsites and proposals that showcase home technology standards and options, simplifying the presentation and sale of tech options through builders.

Matrox Video Appoints Intronics to Serve as Distributor

Matrox Video has a new partnership with value-added distributor (VAD) Intronics, a Netherlands-based specialist in IT, AV, KVM, and industrial custom connectivity solutions. Intronics will focus on supplying Matrox Video's AV-over-IP infrastructure solutions, including the Matrox ConvertIP Series of IPMX/ST 2110-ready encoders, decoders, and converters and the Matrox Maevex 7100 and 6100 Series of encoders and decoders, to customers in Spain and the Benelux region.

[ST 2110: An Introduction]

With headquarters in Barneveld, offices in Belgium and Spain, and additional sales forces throughout Europe, Intronics supplies standard stock products as well as customer-specific solutions in and beyond the Benelux region. The company provides further value through pre- and post-sales technical support, training, and more.

Haivision MCS Awarded $61.2 Million Production Agreement by U.S. Navy

Haivision MCS, a subsidiary of Haivision, was awarded a significant five-year production agreement by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), with an estimated total value of $61.2 million USD (approximately $82 million CAD). This strategic agreement positions Haivision at the forefront of delivering combat visualization and video distribution systems for the U.S. Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet. 

Under this new production agreement, Haivision MCS will provide to the U.S. Navy a comprehensive suite of Haivision ultra-high performance video processing solutions for mission-critical display along with video transcoding, storage, and distribution components. These systems will be integral to the Navy's Combat Information Centers (CICs) across various surface combatant vessels, enhancing situational awareness and mission planning capabilities. The advanced visualization technology is designed to support the Navy’s future combat systems, including those planned for AEGIS Destroyers (DDGs), Aircraft Carriers (CVNs), Amphibious Ships (LHDs, LHA, LPDs), Frigates (FFGs), Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs), and the next-generation United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutters, among other critical applications. Haivision’s next-generation systems will play a pivotal role in supporting mission-critical applications by delivering superior situational awareness throughout the ship.   

This award builds upon Haivision's ongoing success with the U.S. Navy’s CANES (Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services) program, which already leverages Haivision’s real-time video encoding, transcoding, recording, and playback technology for ship-wide video distribution.

Grass Valley and ES Broadcast Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

Grass Valley reached a strategic partnership agreement (SPA) with ES Broadcast. This agreement marks the continuation and expansion of a long-standing relationship that has flourished over more than a decade, positioning both companies for further growth and success.

The agreement entails a multi-million-dollar annual spend by ES Broadcast across Grass Valley's extensive product portfolio, including live production infrastructure, cameras, and switchers. ES Broadcast, recognized as the first AMPP-certified partner globally, will also emphasize the expansion of the AMPP Platform as a key component of its strategic focus.

ES Broadcast, with a presence in the U.K., mainland Europe, and the United States, is a global business known for its sales and systems integration, as well as its expansive hire business. The company rents Grass Valley camera systems to major sporting, news, and entertainment events across the globe, further solidifying Grass Valley's presence in the industry.

ES Broadcast's commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through its status as an Authorized Service Provider (ASP) for Grass Valley in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, and through its Crosspoint Spain division. This ensures that customers receive certified, knowledgeable, and experienced support services, a crucial component of the ongoing growth strategy for both companies.

Audinate and Lawo are collaborating to bring Dante audio and video technologies  into Lawo’s HOME Apps. This will include the provision of native discovery and management mechanisms for Dante devices and software as well as access to Dante audio and video within Lawo’s HOME management platform.

For seamless interoperability, Lawo intends to integrate Dante APIs and SDKs for access to control, management, and media signals for Dante networks directly into HOME. To this end, Lawo will also introduce new Dante Importer (southbound) and Dante Exporter (northbound) services into, and out of, HOME, which will be similar to the approach Lawo developed for the interaction between HOME-native and NMOS-compatible devices.

[The Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV]

This underscores the importance of the Dante network protocol in the studio, install, and live-sound sectors and will enable the coexistence of the Dante and RAVENNA protocols on a microservice-based application level. Already available for audio hardware by means of Dante cards installed in a Lawo Power Core modular I/O and DSP gateway, the envisaged integration will now be extended to HOME Apps and also include Dante AV video signals.

The most obvious benefit of this collaboration will be the ability to mix a diverse pool of audio sources (Dante, SMPTE ST2110, NDI, SRT, and RAVENNA) with Lawo’s HOME mc² DSP app controlled from an mc² audio or crystal broadcast console, or a headless mixer setup.

[ST 2110: An Introduction]

HOME Apps’ Dante integration is expected to provide interoperability and agility for a diverse range of Dante-enabled sources and destinations, such as power amplifiers, immersive audio speaker arrays, and more. 

“The integration of Dante into HOME Apps is an important milestone for Lawo’s open, unified HOME platform,” stated Jamie Dunn, Lawo’s Deputy CEO. “Providing Dante integration on a server-based microservice level is bound to yield a vast range of creative benefits for operators as it helps them navigate the transition to future-proof hardware-abstracted processing.”

Get your free copy of SCN's Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV.

Doubling Down on Dante

Facilities are adding video to existing audio installations. Audinate’s Kat Taub explores Dante’s evolution to a complete AVoIP platform and provides an inside look at the Dante AV deployment at Grace Community Church.

At Issue

Industry experts discuss the advantages of a Dante-based networked solution.

Product Showcase

Review some of the latest Dante-enabled products from AJA Video Systems, AtlasIED, Clockaudio North America, Neutrik Americas, PTZOptics, and Sennheiser.

Download the Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV.

Read the September issue of Systems Contractor News.

Audinate has added Dante Media Encryption to the evolving security features and benefits of the Dante AV-over-IP platform. Dante Media Encryption protects the content of media flows using AES-256 encryption, safeguarding media from interception or unauthorized access.  

“Dante Media Encryption is the only fully interoperable and manufacturer-agnostic solution for AV installations, providing a powerful tool to customers that must adhere to strict security and privacy mandates,” said Mark Gerrard, group product manager, Audinate. “The introduction of Dante Media Encryption demonstrates Audinate’s ongoing industry leadership in the Pro AV industry.”

Designed with security at its core, Dante offers device, network, and media-level protections for Pro AV manufacturers to integrate into their products and system solutions. A multilayer security architecture already provides a solid foundation for manufacturers and systems integrators to follow best practices when configuring Dante and their products to meet new regulations. The addition of Dante Media Encryption enables Pro AV equipment manufacturers to upgrade qualified Dante firmware and software in new or existing designs to support AES-256 encryption security policies on managed Dante networks.

[The ABCs of AVoIP]

Managed networks are fundamental to a secure AVoIP system, with Dante Director and Dante Domain Manager (DDM) providing secure access controls, network segmentation, policy management, and event logging as essential protections to an installation. Dante Media Encryption capabilities are fully compatible between updated devices in managed Dante networks, and Dante Media Encryption policy is configurable by the AV network administrator through an intuitive user interface on the Dante Director management platform. Dante Director also provides strong key management, including key rotation, for enrolled devices.

Dante product updates for Dante Media Encryption will be available for OEMs to integrate with their products in the second half of this year.

As the first quarter of 2024 ends, the year is off to a great start. Companies are settling into hybrid workplace models, higher education institutions are continuing to deploy networked AV throughout the campus, and for the most part, supply chain issues are in the rearview mirror.

To understand upcoming trends, I look to the responses to my question regarding company roadmaps and philosophies. Artificial intelligence, sustainability, strategic alliances, cloud, immersive environments, ease of use, and improving the user experience are common threads from the responses of 40 AV/IT thought leaders. 

Manufacturers introduced new products and solutions at Integrated Systems Europe in February and are finetuning offerings that will be announced at InfoComm in June.

During the past couple of years, the most significant trend that emerged was out of necessity; end users embraced the need for high-quality audio, and the deployment of these solutions continues.

Set aside any thoughts of nefarious intent you might have about AI and look no further than the AV/IT industry to see the immense benefits already being implemented in audio and video collaboration products.

AI has entered our audiovisual products over the last few years, leading to better detection of meaningful audio versus non-meaningful audio, detection of speakers in audio and video, and delivery of a good meeting experience to remote participants. “The use of AI will increase in our products, delivering even more meaningful experiences to the remote participant at the far end,” said Holger Stoltze, director of Product Management at Yamaha UC. “It is important to note that these improvements can be introduced through firmware upgrades of existing products—not a ‘fork-lift’ upgrade of existing infrastructure.” 

When it comes to keeping the ship running smoothly, sustainability might not be what keeps you up at night, but fortunately, manufacturers are taking our future seriously. “Minimizing the environmental impact of our products will be an integral feature of our roadmap, including less energy wastage, even more recycling, and further steps to minimize our logistics’ environmental impact,” said Bjorn Krylander, chief executive officer and managing director at Datapath.

Mark Bonifacio, director of Business Management of Professional Display Solutions at Sony Electronics, added, “Building on our Road to Zero global environmental plan, we’ve implemented sustainable practices, large and small, across our entire product lifecycle.”

Creating alliances is one of the ways companies are helping to ensure the overall experience is seamless. “At Sennheiser, we want to be the easiest technology partner for our customers to work with, regardless of their setup,” said Charlie Jones, global alliance and partnership manager, Business Communication at Sennheiser.

History tells us that if something is not easy to use, it won’t be used, and the technology investment will have a negative ROI. Ultimately, a positive user experience will be the measure of success.

Susy Liem, associate vice president of conferencing product management at Shure, said, “Having the right AV equipment and solutions in place helps improve the employee experience, productivity, and decision-making—all key to a business’s success.”

“Nureva’s 2024 roadmap is focused on delivering large-room audio solutions that support the much-needed quality of experience—with maximum adaptability and flexibility but without complexity,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva's chief executive officer.

Amber Ward, director of marketing at Carousel Digital Signage, added, “As we move forward into 2024, we’re looking at one guiding principle: helping our customers break through the noise so they can get the most out of their signage system.”

“Working with our entire ecosystem of customers and partners, we’re going head-on into the new year to help elevate experiences and spaces so that they reach their fullest potential,” said Ryan Carson, vice president and general manager of Professional Imaging and Visual Systems at Panasonic Connect North America.

Read the full interviews of these thought leaders and more by clicking on the company names in the box to the right.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Megan Zeller, Senior Director of Business Development at Peerless-AV

Peerless-AV prides itself on keeping innovation, progression, and forward-thinking at the forefront of our goals. We continue to look for new, different, and better ways to deliver new solutions to our customers, enhancing the overall user experience.

As we enter 2024, our focus remains steadfast on delivering top-notch structural systems for dvLED video walls, hybrid work solutions, and more. With a dedication to innovation, Peerless-AV solutions carry OEM certifications; we offer continued education for our sales representatives; and more to ensure that from beginning to end, Peerless-AV is a valued partner to our customers. Grounded in quality manufacturing, perpetual innovation, and unwavering customer service, these core values empower everyone at Peerless-AV to defy conventions and unlock new possibilities.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Tim Bigoness, Chief Marketing Officer and vice President of Sales at D-Tools

D-Tools manufacturing roadmap for 2024 is as clear as it’s ever been. For 25 years, we devoted our product development time and resources to the evolution of our core business management software platforms, providing custom integrators a valuable tool that helps them operate their businesses more efficiently and prosper in a highly competitive tech market. Our knowledge of and appreciation for the products and services our integration partners provide commercial and residential customers runs deep, and our software solutions are a direct reflection of this understanding. With every new feature refined or added to our award-winning on-premise System Integrator and off-premise Cloud software platforms, integrators experience greater business efficiency and profitability. Workflow is streamlined, processes standardized, organization of data and schedules simplified, and communication with all stakeholders improved.

Due to the dynamic nature of software and the fast progression of the tech industry, our software platforms will continue to advance in 2024. The aim and focus of D-Tools has always been on enabling greater success for our integrator partners, and we’ll stay laser-focused on this primary initiative for 2024. Through closer collaboration with our integrator customers and intensive data analysis, we will gain even better insights into the market and the needs of integrators to further fine-tune and expand our software solutions. With each step, we will deliver meaningful benefits to our loyal integration partners through software that is easy to implement and for everyone in the company to use. When an integration business can tackle projects with efficiency, confidence and professionalism, everyone involved in a project stands to gain—employees, adjacent trades, and end users alike.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Omer Brookstein, Chief Executive Officer at Xyte

The landscape of device and hardware manufacturing is shifting profoundly due to hardware commoditization and evolving customer preferences. In response to these changes, manufacturers have been compelled to reassess their business strategies. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are pivoting towards offering integrated business solutions that encompass hardware, software, and services. 

As 2024 unfolds, Xyte Device Cloud, a comprehensive servitization platform, is poised for significant growth following a successful $30 million investment round. 

The investment will propel Xyte on its mission to support connected device manufacturers across diverse industries. With a focus on advancing capabilities and reach, the funding will fuel the company's success trajectory and expedite its expansion, particularly in North America and Europe. 

For the AV industry, Xyte is an AV-as-a-Service (AVaaS) enabler, allowing manufacturers to provide remote support and remote device management capabilities to their channel partners and customers. Yet AVaaS is a concept that encompasses much more—a direct engagement of OEMs with their customer base. This brings with it the option to tap into additional revenue streams beyond the initial sales, with the ability to provide additional functionalities on demand without requiring new hardware, eliminating the need to replace products, and allowing faster time to market for new features.

Throughout 2024 Xyte is set to unveil a series of enhancements. At ISE, Xyte introduced Xyte Connect, which empowers OEMs and their industry partners to share data via the cloud. Xyte Connect fosters collaboration on various fronts, including device configuration, setup, support, updates, and comprehensive monitoring and management. By facilitating this shared ecosystem, Xyte aims to enhance efficiency and collaboration across AV and other industries, enabling manufacturers and their partners to optimize and lengthen the life cycle of connected devices. 

With AVaaS, OEMs are able to extract more value from their products, fostering customer loyalty and a competitive edge in the dynamic AV market.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Kevin Morrison, Chief Executive Officer at Utelogy

As the global leader in the management, monitoring, and automated control in the modern workplace, Utelogy made a significant appearance at ISE 2024. The Utelogy platform enables customers to proactively manage their meeting space technology and helps to deliver meeting equity. 

The past year has been pivotal for Utelogy, with substantial enhancements to the platform driven by the growth of its global customer base. At ISE 2024, Utelogy announced a major architectural upgrade, introducing new features that promise to elevate platform usability and value. Strengthening the Utelligence program, Utelogy is raising the bar in security and compatibility, working alongside industry manufacturers to showcase exciting product integrations. Highlights include collaborations with MTR Cloud, Zoom Cloud, Logitech CollabOS, Poly Lens, NEAT Pulse, Yealink, and others.

A standout was Utelogy's integration with ServiceNow, which brings a new level of efficiency to alert management by seamlessly automating workflows and incident creation within ServiceNow's ITSM suite, backed by rich data from Utelogy.

Looking ahead, Utelogy's vision encompasses reshaping the AV/UC, IoT, and smart workspace management landscape. The forthcoming iteration of Utelogy will introduce digital twin technology, sustainability efforts, intelligent alerting, enhanced automation, self-healing features, and API expansions, all supported by a cloud-centric architecture and an improved user experience.

Utelogy's strategy is grounded in smart, software-only solutions, leveraging advanced analytics, IoT, and AI to streamline energy and resource management. This approach not only slashes total ownership costs but also delivers valuable analytics and insights.

Global growth and the crafting of connected environments demand bespoke solutions and relentless industry collaboration attuned to our customers' operational efficiencies. By delivering intelligent solutions that enhance user experiences through advanced insights and analytics, Utelogy is catering to the demands of a technologically interconnected global workspace. Utelogy's commitment to innovation ensures it remains the vanguard, meeting the ever-changing needs of AV and IT professionals with intuitive, cost-effective management tools.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: George Walter, Senior Executive at Digital Projection

For Digital Projection, 2024 will be a year of getting back to the business of providing premium imaging solutions that help our customers overcome common design and installation challenges for quicker, faster deployment in residential and commercial environments and with greater customer satisfaction. 

We continue to receive glowing reports from our dealers about how our team worked with them to streamline the design, configuration, calibration, and installation of our projectors and LED displays and exceeded customer expectations with superior imaging performance. At Digital Projection, our strategy rests on providing our dealers with a great experience with our team, our products, and our company. After all, when our dealers are successful, we are successful. The new year is certainly looking bright.

After three years of proactively addressing the many business challenges and supply chain issues plaguing the AV industry, we’ve fully rebounded, are stronger than ever, and foresee a very exciting and promising year for Digital Projection. Our outlook is bright, showcased by many innovative product introductions and stronger than ever concierge-level service and support for our dealers and customers. We’ve added a host of new features and enhanced color gamut and brightness to our line of projectors and have made steady improvements to the resolution, color performance, and contrast of our growing family of LED displays, all while simplifying installation for a growing range of emerging applications—even those requiring curved displays! 

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Bob Michaels, Chief Executive Officer at ZeeVee

Security remains a paramount concern, and we channel substantial resources into fortifying our systems. Our latest innovation, the ZyPer Management Platform 3.x, is a testament to our commitment to robust security measures. This software-based solution simplifies the implementation of safeguards across networks, user accounts, and graphical user interface applications. Notably, our dedication to security is heightened for clients engaged in government, enterprise, healthcare, and similar sectors where sensitive data is integral. 

As part of our comprehensive security architecture, we adhere to IT-level security standards, ensuring end-to-end video encryption and employing 802.1x authentication protocols. This multifaceted approach underscores our proactive stance on safeguarding against evolving cybersecurity threats and ensuring the integrity of our clients' critical projects and sensitive information.

Focusing on software-based solutions will enable us to add features, functions, and capabilities to our products that simplify the installation and operation of AVoIP-driven systems. We’re very aware that there are many AV system end users that still lean towards HDBaseT because they fear AVoIP is difficult to learn and implement. Intuitive management and control will go a long way to continuing the steady conversion of the industry to network-based AV signal distribution. Post-installation, users can confidently expect long-term performance with ongoing robust enhancements via firmware updates.

It has long been our mantra and corporate responsibility to provide the industry with detailed AVoIP education. Since the pandemic, we’ve offered our series of zero-cost, Certified Solution Partner Training courses that award attendees AVIXA CTS credits. Attendance at these twice-a-month sessions remains strong, and we’re adding three new courses that will dive deeper into best practices for successful AVoIP system implementations.

Lastly, our support for RF modulation persists, catering to applications like sports content delivery in HD, especially in settings like bars and restaurants. RF also remains a preferred and cost-effective solution for retail and health clubs.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Kohei Hattori, General Manager, Live Production Business Department at Roland

Demand for high-quality audio and visual production for online and in-person events has been increasing. Roland is firmly committed to meeting the expectations of mobile and installation-based customers with new product releases, timely updates for our current lineup, and adding more value to the investments our customers make with confidence.

As we begin the new year, we are introducing several unique functions for our flagship Roland switchers, the V-160HD and V-600UHD. These updates are in response to direct feedback from our customers and the market worldwide. 

It is also worth highlighting that our Roland video products continue incorporating advanced audio functions made possible by more than 50 years of Roland’s electronic musical instrument expertise. Professional quality audio functions like ours are highly appreciated in the streaming market as it continues to expand and evolve. 

Our products also allow system integrators to offer affordable solutions with unique technological integrations and intuitive user interfaces. 

The teams at Roland look forward to listening to and acting on customer feedback. It allows Roland to make businesses successful, and we become loyal business partners in the process.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Tomer Mann, Chief Revenue Officer at 22Miles

As we embark on the new year, 22Miles is celebrating a significant leap in our commitment to revolutionizing digital experiences. Our latest Content Manager update, version 7.5, brings new features to our customers to better manage enterprise space management, collaboration, and user experience across their hardware ecosystems. 

As part of this release, our AI tools—AI Command, AI Assistant, and AI Backoffice—harness the cutting-edge capabilities of large language models (LLMs) to deliver incredibly responsive user experiences. Using GPT or a propriety on-premises model, 22Miles creates custom AI interfaces suitable for enterprise use cases. These tools empower clients to integrate personalized, accurate, secure content and service tools into their digital signage walls, kiosks, websites, or mobile applications. 

Our platform updates include several new employee engagement features, including a Microsoft Outlook plug-in to make space management and room booking easier and more visually accessible for global users. We’ve also debuted the Microsoft Teams App, which integrates collaboration within Teams channels and chats directly with the system’s other functionality: space booking, concierge kiosk services, dynamic digital signage, emergency alerts, and push notifications. Customers will also enjoy new scheduling capabilities for over 250 players within Web Manager and new wayfinding templates to support workplace efficiency. 

Our product roadmap for 2024 reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering a robust, user-friendly CMS that has garnered client trust and loyalty for over a decade. With continuous evolution at our core and ongoing improvements at the forefront of our innovation strategy, our portfolio guarantees that customers will enjoy consistency and efficiency in the new year and beyond. Eager to deliver unparalleled consistency, efficiency, and ROI across digital ecosystems in 2024, we invite new and existing clients to harness the power of our CMS and our AI-driven solutions to craft engaging, unified, and secure experiences.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Robert Detwiler, Senior Director of Product Management and Training at Planar

In 2024, our customers can expect to see our selection of fine pixel pitch front-of-room display products expand. This includes support for outdoor use, and as MicroLED manufacturing efficiency and volume increase, we see an opportunity to incorporate MicroLED into more of our products. 

As with any year, we remain focused on assessing new and evolving technology trends to best address our customers’ needs and offer mature, repeatable products that are easy to integrate and are more readily available. This is true of all-in-one models, which are on the rise and enable quick deployment and ease of use for customers who have limited to no training. We’re excited to stay on top of this demand and further our support in this space.

We’re still seeing new virtual production (VP) applications emerge every day. This spans production and multimedia studios, universities, and an increasing number of corporate settings. We’re evolving our product portfolio as needs arise, and we continue to foster industry events and hands-on learning experiences to help those who may be implementing the technology in a new way or for the very first time. Last year, we launched the Planar Studios Virtual Production Workshop, offering the AV and IT communities a week-long series aimed at helping design, deploy, and support VP and extended reality (XR) projects. VP and XR were once new concepts for us, but today we know the technology holds tremendous opportunity for revolutionizing the production of lifelike content and we want to help make this accessible for all.

Outside of VP and XR, we’re closely following cybersecurity for networked devices, and exploring more connected devices that can help AV and IT professionals maintain their technology over large deployments.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: John Henkel, Director of Marketing at NETGEAR Business

Last year, NETGEAR released the new PR460X professional router and the first wave of a completely new set of network switches, the M4350 series. For 2024, we will continue to target the AV market with products that are easier to use and at a great value.

We have just released two models of the new M4350 series that support the SMPTE ST 2110 broadcast standard, and this changes the equation. Now instead of a very expensive switch that you have to spend a lot of time configuring, you can get an M4350 switch and have the NETGEAR AV OS set up the switch with a certified profile in seconds. Additionally, our NETGEAR Engage Controller will continue to evolve and offer more and more functionality to anyone setting up an AV network—for a single switch or multiple switches. 

Our focus on making it easier for people to transition to AV over IP will continue with the use of our worldwide team of AV network specialists who can help design your network, choose the right products, and troubleshoot any issues that may arise. Our pro WiFi access points will be growing as well, with exciting new product releases taking advantage of the latest wireless standards. 

Bottom line: more of the same goodness we shared in 2023.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Joshua Rush, Chief Marketing Officer at Audinate

2023 was a bellwether year for Audinate, having shipped over 1 million units. Given the strong connection and recognition with customers, we plan to build on last year’s success by continuing to add elements to our complete Dante AV-over-IP platform. Long the de facto standard in networked audio, our growing portfolio of video products and ever-expanding options for control and management have transformed Dante into a comprehensive, interoperable solution for customers looking to deploy AV-over-IP solutions. 

We’re seeing rapid growth in Dante AV, our family of networked video solutions that bring the simplicity of Dante to AV-over-IP. Dante AV comprises hardware and software products that serve the needs of in-house video distribution (Dante AV Ultra), H.26x streaming (Dante AV-H), and products for signal distribution based on the ASPEED chipset (Dante AV-A). Audinate’s video products are rapidly gaining adoption within the AV-over-IP market, with 35 OEMs currently licensed and developing and delivering video-enabled products to end users.

Beyond the growth in video, our strategy over time is to add more value, services, and capabilities to Dante networks. For example, we’ve made huge strides in cloud-based management and control offerings with the recent launch of Dante Connect and our beta program for Dante Director. With Dante Connect, a network of Dante audio products can send up to 256 channels of synchronized audio from any site to cloud-based Virtual Machines for broadcast editing and production, saving time and money. The soon-to-be-launched Dante Director is a cloud-based application that enables you to organize Dante devices in logical groups and more easily manage Dante networks remotely.

We have a rich product roadmap planned for the remainder of 2024 intended to broaden our solutions offerings and delight our customers, so look for additional announcements from Audinate in the near future.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Beau Wilder, Global Head of Future Customer Experiences, Hybrid Work Solutions at HP

The success of any organization will depend on its adaptability to the ever-changing needs and work styles of its employees. Employees want flexibility, autonomy, inclusivity, and technology that enhances their collaborative capabilities and productivity.

At HP, we create technology that empowers employees to do their best work wherever they are. By leveraging more than a decade of workplace persona research, we have honed our ability to identify the right tools for various workstyle personas and workplace needs. Whether you work from home, in the office, or anywhere in between, we design our solutions to meet the demands of the modern-day workforce.

AI will become the collaboration technology standard for the future of work. Solutions that can scale, adapt, integrate, and be remotely managed will be at the forefront. HP and Poly have been in the AI space for decades. We integrate AI to enhance, not replace, the human experience. For example, HP | Poly’s DirectorAI technology automatically frames and captures speakers in a meeting, while NoiseBlockAI and Acoustic Fence technology block out unwanted noise. We will continue to leverage the power of AI-driven innovations that allow everyone to have a seat at the table—physically or virtually—so you can have your best meeting, every meeting.

A strategic focus on empowering employees to do their best work by investing in the right tools and technology integrations, and workspace transformation focused on the collaboration experience will be a top priority this year. At HP, our comprehensive portfolio of products can easily integrate with your existing tools and boost productivity. We want to help teams show up and stand out so everyone in the meeting feels seen and heard, from wherever they are.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Jeff Boggess, Director of Product Marketing at Avocor

2023 was a big year for Avocor. Not only did we launch our L Series range of ultra-wide 21:9 displays to support a wider range of team collaboration formats, but we also released the R Series, our first co-branded Avocor and Rise Vision products as a result of our strategic partnership with AUO Display Plus.

The release of the R Series saw Avocor move into the realm of digital signage to offer more flexible solutions for clients. Our signature premium interactive display technology was further enhanced with a suite of Rise Vision digital signage software, to create a range of displays that can be used for multiple scenarios in both corporate and education environments. From team collaboration to wayfinding and instant campus-wide alerts—the R Series is a multi-purpose tool that seamlessly adapts to different uses and communication requirements. 

So, what’s in store for 2024? At ISE 2024, we shared the first of our new product developments, which includes a new range of more affordable Avocor displays, ideal for the education market, and a preview of a very cool modular display hitting the market later this year. 

For Avocor as a company, we have worked extremely hard for the last few years to garner excellent strategic partnerships—Google Workspace, Microsoft, Ring Central, Zoom, HP, Lenovo, and Logitech—and combine our expertise to produce meaningful innovations. 

This year, we’ll be stepping away from our traditional interactive display roots and into exciting new areas with products that enhance collaboration, work seamlessly, stand out, and meet the real-time and future needs of our customers.

Watch this space!

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Randy Reece, Director of Audio Visual Sales and Marketing at Draper

In 2024, Draper will redouble our efforts to provide AV solutions that meet the needs of both today and tomorrow.

We are dedicated to growth, as demonstrated by adding 100,000 square feet to our manufacturing facility in late 2023. In 2024, we will leverage this 25 percent increase in space to improve our already impressive lead times, and increase our efforts to design and manufacture next-generation mounting solutions for dvLED. As part of our commitment to innovation, we’ve completely reinvented the approach to faceted curved structures for cost-effectiveness, faster installation, and improved performance. We will focus on continuing this evolution throughout this year.

Educating the market is another important goal. Draper believes in doing things right the first time around, so there are no nasty surprises. There needs to be an industry focus on items like building in seismic requirements and PE review upfront in projects so they don’t need to be redone later at an additional cost to the customer.

We are also signaling our dedication to growth through team expansion. In 2023, for the first time in Draper’s history, the company began working with Pro AV manufacturers’ representatives. Increasing our presence in this way means better service and more resources to help our dealer network provide end users with the solutions they want and the support they need.

We will also continue to listen to our dealers and the market to fine-tune product and service offerings. Even now, our product designers and engineers are hard at work developing innovative new solutions that will make life easier for installers, dealers, and end users alike.

Draper has a reputation for designing and manufacturing quality products—and standing behind them 100 percent. That will continue with several new product introductions in 2024.

After 122 years in business, we’re just getting started!