It is almost that time. InfoComm 2026 is about to open its doors in just a few days. Leading up to the show, we reached out to a select group of exhibitors to discuss the buzzwords and trends they expect to hear and see throughout the show floor from June 13-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

[Products, Sessions, Insights: InfoComm 2026 on AV Network]

Top trends from the show floor

Sean Shallenberger, director of sales, US, Adamson: One of the topics at Infocomm that we will probably have a lot of questions about is immersive audio. We’re seeing interest from consultants, integrators, and end users alike, all looking to better understand how this technology can be applied in real-world environments.

At the show, we will be demonstrating our own solution, the Fletcher Machine. We will show meaningful improvements in control, clarity, and overall audience experience.

Capabilities like precise localization, enhanced creative storytelling, and greater consistency across the listening area are reasons to look at an immersive solution. As a result, immersive audio is quickly shifting from a niche concept to a practical tool that many in the industry are actively exploring.

Mina Shin, vertical marketing manager, ViewSonic: We expect the buzz to be less focused on chasing "bigger and brighter" displays, and more focused on how to simplify solutions for use in real-world environments. We will be showcasing our MIP technology, which will certainly provide a "WOW" factor, but it’s not the whole story. We want customers and partners to understand real-world use cases, and how ViewSonic products and technologies can help them grow and expand. We also expect conversations to move toward removing the friction between technology and the people who use it every day. For displays, that means All-in-One innovations, easier-to-deploy setups, and enabling human experiences through AV technology.

Joel Mulpeter, senior director, product marketing at Crestron: We anticipate a focus on how systems connect and deliver real insight. AI generates a lot of attention, but translating its capabilities into a better understanding of the workspace and the workforce will be invaluable. Customers are looking for practical, scalable solutions that improve reliability and lead to meaningful outcomes, not just new features. This year at InfoComm, we’re telling a cohesive story that brings together our recent product introductions across content, collaboration, and control. Individually, these innovations solve real workplace challenges. Together, they help build environments where collaboration feels intuitive, productivity increases, and teams truly thrive.

Robert Detwiler, senior director of product management at Planar: As far as display technology is concerned, we expect to see significant advancements in visual performance, durability, and efficiency. This spans improved viewing angles, enhanced brightness, and color performance, protective treatments like encapsulation and designs for effective heat dissipation.

We see steady demand for ultra-wide format displays, especially in the case of supporting collaboration and enhanced productivity. Of course, with a growing emphasis on blending displays into architecture, we also find more manufacturers releasing creative platforms that support custom and visually distinctive installations. This includes curved displays, wrapped columns, halos, 90-degree right angle and cube designs that are being used to create truly one-of-a-kind deployments.

Karam Kaul, VP of audio, HARMAN Professional Solutions: At InfoComm 2026, we expect to hear a lot of buzz around performance-first technology, platform-agnostic AV, and simplified device configuration in AV ecosystems—trends that align closely with HARMAN Professional’s latest innovations... Rather than treating audio, video, and control as separate layers, we’re showing how a single, standards-based architecture can deliver consistent, predictable performance across the network, even in enterprise-scale environments.

Sean Bowman, associate VP of North America Sales at Shure: AI will be a major theme, especially how it’s being used to deliver real value to customers, applied to simplify workflows, save time, and improve collaboration. We’ll also see strong momentum around software, cloud platforms, and deeper integration between AV and IT systems...Our flexible solutions, available on Windows and Android, with devices certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, can be remotely managed via our cloud service, ShureCloud, providing IT teams and AV professionals global scalability and ease of management for any AI-powered environment.

Bob Caniglia, director of sales operations, Americas, Blackmagic Design: We’re seeing growing interest in IP-based workflows, remote production capabilities, and tools that reduce complexity without sacrificing quality. As more organizations are producing video content in-house, there’s a strong focus on solutions that are intuitive and robust, without requiring highly specialized teams to operate them...We’re highlighting how organizations can build end-to-end workflows that are easy to implement, cost effective, and still deliver broadcast-quality results. It’s less about any single product and more about how everything connects to support today’s level of content creation and distribution.

John Halksworth, senior product manager, Adder: We are expecting to see a big focus on interoperability, security, and the convergence of AV and IT. As systems become more network driven, there’s an increasing demand for solutions that are not only high performance but that are also scalable, easy to manage and secure. AI-assisted workflows and smarter, more intuitive system monitoring are also likely to be key themes with the overall conversation shifting from individual products to complete and integrated ecosystems and this is exactly where we’re focused.

Anna Kozel, VP of marketing at VuWall: We expect a lot of discussion around secure AV over IP, interoperability, and how AI-ready platforms will shape future control room workflows. As organizations manage more sources, data, and systems than ever before, the buzz will be around solutions that reduce complexity while improving operator efficiency and situational awareness...We’ll be introducing the fully rearchitected TRx 4.0, unveiling a new core platform, and showcasing G&D’s next-generation keyboard control devices—all designed to give operators faster, more flexible control of any source, on any display, across complex control room environments.

Mark Donovan, CTS-D, CTS-I, director of commercial applications at Audio-Technica: One theme we’re hearing repeatedly is predictability and simplification. Alongside conversations about innovation and performance, attendees are clearly focused on systems that scale without becoming fragile, that align with standard networked audio practices, and that reduce installation and support complexity over time. There’s a noticeable shift away from novelty for novelty’s sake and toward solutions that integrators can replicate across rooms and buildings with confidence. Much of the buzz comes back to trust—trust that systems will work as expected in real environments.

Darren Lin, CEO, MAXHUB US: We expect the buzz to center around AI, simplified deployment, and more integrated workplace experiences. Customers are looking for smarter meeting solutions, but they also want technology that is easy to deploy, use, and manage.

AI-powered features such as camera framing, speaker tracking, audio optimization, meeting capture, and automated summaries will continue to attract attention. At the same time, we believe there will be strong interest in solutions that reduce complexity across different room types. MAXHUB’s portfolio addresses this with all-in-one Microsoft Teams Rooms solutions, BYOD collaboration, LED displays, digital signage, portable capture, and cloud-based device management.

Paul Harris, CEO of Aurora: Dante over Wi-Fi will be the buzz as no company has successfully achieved that with a microphone/speaker system. Aurora's battery power SmartSpeak will show how effectively this can be done... [Aurora will be showcasing] Dante/AES67 over Wi-Fi, which is an industry first, along with over 10 new products including the new beamforming V-Array technology and AI-based control system code/interface creation tool.

Ivy Li, marketing director, Telycam: One of the biggest themes will continue to be the convergence of broadcast and AV workflows. Expectations for high-quality video experiences have expanded far beyond traditional media production, and users today increasingly expect broadcast-level production value in corporate communications, collaboration environments, education and live events. Ultimately, the goal is no longer just about technology itself, but about delivering better overall meeting and communication experiences.

Another key topic will be the continued maturity of IP-based infrastructure. AVoIP is no longer viewed as an emerging trend—it is increasingly becoming part of standard system architecture. Rather than replacing traditional video infrastructure entirely, IP-based workflows are now commonly deployed alongside conventional signal distribution systems as part of a hybrid environment.

Amy Zhou, director of sale, Magewell: We are very proud of our Pro Convert IP decoders because they make our customers very happy by solving their challenges in bridging IP-based media with traditional AV signals and devices. Our Pro Convert IP decoders are highly acclaimed for their rich feature sets, reliability, low-latency performance and versatility in Pro AV, broadcast and IT use cases. Our continued engineering efforts to strengthen integrations with third-party hardware and software partners add more advantages by empowering a broad ecosystem for seamless production and distribution workflows.

Steven Barlow, president, DVIGear: AI solutions, but a more grounded version than last year. Buyers have moved past asking why AI matters and are now asking to see real products and learn how they can actually use them. Vendors that can demonstrate this and who can answer the specifics will stand out. AI is the conversation across every IT category right now. Both integrators and end users want to see AI-based products that offer real and viable solutions. The show is the right venue to make that visible.

Catherine Koutsaris, product marketing manager, Matrox Video: Beyond the technology itself, I think attendees will be looking closely at what truly differentiates solutions in a crowded AV market. Customers are asking more questions about how technologies work together within real-world environments, rather than evaluating products in isolation. So, the conversation is shifting toward usability and interoperability. There will also be continued interest in AI, automation, and technologies that help teams boost productivity.

Mark Boyadjian, customer solutions director, Neutrik Group: I expect there to be a heavy focus on AI-driven integration and environments—focused within educational sessions and keynote speakers, along with new product development for real-world applications. We will also be part of the AVIXA educational sessions, teaching a Certified Renewal course for the first time. The session, “Neutrik AV Connectors—From Setting Standards to System Performance” will be taught by myself and fellow customer solutions engineer, Brant Mathiason.

Scott Bowditch, VP Sales, North America, Matrox Video: We expect strong interest around experiential technologies that combine LED environments, virtual production, and unified control workflows to help organizations deliver more engaging live audience experiences. We also expect continued industry focus on integrated AV ecosystems, interoperability and simplified production workflows as customers look to deploy scalable solutions in any live event environment across all markets.

Ken Eagle, CEO, Hall Research: AI will dominate the conversation, but not always in a meaningful way. There’s going to be a lot of “AI-enabled” messaging without clear, practical value.

The more important shift is happening underneath that: higher bandwidth demands, increased reliance on IP-based distribution, and the continued push toward unified connectivity standards. Integrators are looking for stability and interoperability more than hype. The companies that stand out will be the ones solving real deployment challenges—not just layering new features on top of existing complexity.

Gina Sansivero, VP of marketing and corporate communications, AtlasIED: AI is a topic that’s on everyone’s mind. With the rapid growth and advancements in AI within our industry, the discussions we have about it during the show are extremely valuable. From a product perspective, we are contributing to this conversation by highlighting our new AIX platform, which supports AI expansion and is compatible with advanced sensors. AIX is designed to adapt as intelligent security and AI technologies evolve to meet changing requirements. We look forward to discussing what’s next for AI on the show floor.

It is InfoComm 2026 month. In just a few short weeks, the Pro AV world will converge onto the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 13-19 for the world's most vital Pro AV show. We continue our preview of the show with InfoComm Impulses, taking you behind the scenes, allowing several exhibitors to talk trends, technology, inspiration, and provide an exclusive special sneak preview of what they’ll show in their booths.

[Products, Sessions, Insights: InfoComm 2026 on AV Network]

Today, Paul Harris, CEO of Aurora, talks Dante over Wi-Fi and the education of AVoIP.

SCN: What is your company’s story at InfoComm this year?

PH: Dante/AES67 over Wi-Fi, which is an industry first, along with over 10 new products including the new beamforming V-Array technology and AI-based control system code/interface creation tool.

SCN: Why is InfoComm such an important show for you and your company?

PH: It is where we get to show our latest innovations and hear feedback to further improve or create products.

SCN: What do you expect the buzz to be on the InfoComm 2026 show floor?

PH: Dante over Wi-Fi will be the buzz as no company has successfully achieved that with a microphone/speaker system. Aurora's battery power SmartSpeak will show how effectively this can be done.

SCN: How do you help your AVoIP streaming customers with preventing cybersecurity issues?

PH: Education is the most important. We provide classes on best practices to prevent the unfortunate situations. In many cases it all starts with a properly set up network switch to limit the access to where it matters.

There will be many trends circulating the InfoComm show floor in 2026, and standards are always front and center. Whether it is IPMX, SDVoE, NDI, or a bevy of other AV over IP standards, manufacturers have the products and solutions you need to bring installations to life.

[SCN's InfoComm Impulse Preview Series]

Take a peak at what these nine booths will be showcasing, but bookmark this page and check back, as we will update with more as we hear more to have you prepped for the show.

AIMS to Advance IPMX Education 

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) will focus on Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) education. Through expert-led sessions and the development of its Official IPMX Training Series, the organization will provide the Pro AV industry with the knowledge required to design and deploy IPMX-based AV over IP systems.

At booth C7487, AIMS will provide live demonstrations of IPMX-certified products and tools, illustrating how IPMX enables seamless integration across AV systems while supporting both Pro AV and broadcast requirements. It will also launch the Official IPMX Training Series, a free online program designed to help the Pro AV community better understand, design, configure, and deploy IPMX-based AV-over-IP systems. Structured as a three-level curriculum covering foundations, systems design, and advanced networking concepts such as PTP and SMPTE ST 2110, the program provides a practical path for engineers and integrators building AV-over-IP infrastructures.

Additionally, Andrew Starks, AIMS board of directors’ member and director of product management for Macnica, will present the session “How IPMX Expands Live Production Beyond Broadcast” on Tuesday, June 16, from 1:30-2 p.m. local time in meeting room W232. On June 18, Samuel Recine—AIMS board of directors’ member and vice president of global strategic partnerships at Matrox Video— will co-present “IP for Corporate Broadcast AV” from 1:30-3 p.m. in room W231.

Aurora Multimedia Introduces Dante/AES67 Over Wi-Fi

Aurora Multimedia will be showcasing its new architecture designed to enable Dante and AES67 audio networking over Wi-Fi infrastructure. Aurora’s newly developed wireless architecture enables Dante/AES67 audio streams to operate across modern Wi-Fi environments, opening new possibilities for flexible system design and deployment.

The new wireless architecture is designed to integrate with existing Dante-enabled ecosystems while leveraging enterprise wireless networks commonly deployed in corporate, educational, and public environments. These include flexible collaboration spaces; higher-education learning environments; live event production and temporary installations; rapid deployment AV systems; and historic buildings where cabling infrastructure is limited.

You can find out more from Paul Harris in our SCN InfoComm 2026 Impulses.

AVPro Global Brands to Showcase Its Growing Ecosystem 

AVPro brands (AVPro Edge, AudioControl Pro, RTI, Murideo, Bullet Train, ProControl, and ThenAudio) will showcase its growing ecosystem through a series of immersive, application-driven demos designed to mirror real-world commercial environments at booth C7028.

One such solution will be the AVPro Edge MXnet USP Series, the next generation AV over IP ecosystem designed to create hybrid AV systems. USP is built on AVPro Flow technology, aimed to provide native interoperability with conferencing platforms, camera systems, recording/streaming solutions, and production equipment, creating a unified platform for modern deployments.

The newest ConferX matrix switcher from AVPro Edge delivers features designed for commercial integrators. Instantly switch between HDBaseT and HDMI sources with side-by-side display and scaling options built for commercial applications. Features include HDBaseT inputs compatible with the latest ConferX HDMI/USB wall plates, RS-232 control, HDMI stream control, 5-volt toggle for CODEC disconnection, and aspect ratio conversion for ultra-wide displays.

Cobalt Digital to Showcase End-to-End IPMX Ecosystem

Cobalt Digital will highlight its expanding IPMX ecosystem at booth N7163, engineered to bring broadcast quality to Pro AV applications. The lineup includes standalone signal processors, audio monitors, multiviewers, gateways, converters, encoders, and decoders that make SMPTE ST 2110 workflows easy to deploy, manage and scale.

Designed for systems integrators as well as end users, Cobalt’s interoperable IPMX certified product portfolio provides a straightforward migration path from SDI to IP—delivering the flexibility and scalability of ST 2110 without the complexity traditionally associated with high-end IP infrastructures.

At the center of Cobalt’s InfoComm lineup is the new COBALT blueCORE family of fully featured standalone signal processors designed to bridge SDI and ST 2110/IPMX environments with exceptional versatility. blueCORE combines the audio and video processing functions required for live production and AV signal management into a single 1RU device. blueCORE’s self-contained architecture makes deployment fast and simple: power up the unit, connect signals, and it is ready to operate with or without a computer.

Also on display will be enhancements to the COBALT PACIFIC compression platform including a new ST 2110/IPMX output option for the COBALT PACIFIC ULL-DEC upgradeable software-defined decoder. The enhancement allows decoded content to be available simultaneously over SDI and ST 2110/IPMX. The device includes a built-in frame sync that can be configured to emit a PTP-locked signal for ST 2110 operation. Cobalt also leverages the PACIFIC line to deliver a complete solution for interconnecting IPMX sites over the Internet. The PACIFIC 9992-ENC “IPMX-to-Internet” gateway appears as a destination within the NMOS controller at the sending site, enabling any patched content to be transmitted instantly to the corresponding PACIFIC ULL-DEC “Internet-to-IPMX” gateway at the receiving end.

Covid Introduces 20 Gbps USB-C Cable Built for Pro AV Installations

Covid will introduce the USBC-G2P60 at booth C8859. This high-performance USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 cable was engineered for Pro AV and commercial environments requiring reliable high-speed data, consistent power delivery, and extended installation lengths.

Delivering up to 20 Gbps bandwidth and 60W Power Delivery, the USBC-G2P60 is designed to support conferencing, collaboration, digital signage, and device connectivity applications where performance and reliability are critical. Available in 6, 10, 12, and 15-foot lengths, the cable features USB-C male-to-male connectivity, RoHS compliance, and a durable construction designed for everyday professional use.

Covid will also be expanding its panel-mounted Terminal Block Pigtail Connector line, and will introduce the EHW-210, a 4K 60Hz Wireless HDMI KVM Extender designed to deliver high-performance wireless AV, broad touch-screen compatibility, and one-to-many distribution in a cost-effective platform.

HDBaseT

The HDBaseT Alliance will reveal how the technology addresses today’s evolving system-level challenges, including complex USB workflows and the rapid growth of multi-camera environments driven by AI-enabled applications at booth C8759.

Celebrate 15 years of HDBaseT technology and its role in shaping modern Pro AV connectivity with the Alliance at its booth. Since its founding by LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Valens Semiconductor, HDBaseT has delivered reliable, uncompressed, long-distance, plug-and-play connectivity over a single Category cable. The Alliance booth will include a Power Wall display featuring 70 new products and solutions from over 30 HDBaseT Alliance members, demonstrating the diversity of HDBaseT across verticals. 

Demonstrating the continued evolution of the HDBaseT ecosystem, HDBaseT chipset provider Valens Semiconductor will introduce the VS6310, the company’s newest low-power USB3 extension solution, compliant with the HDBaseT-USB3 standard. The VS6310 is designed for integration into a broad range of professional AV applications, including active cables and embedded products such as e/PTZ cameras, video bars, touch controllers, and other USB-enabled devices.

MSolutions to Expand MS-DP-ALT Series with HDMI-Enabled USB-C Extension Solution

MSolutions will debut the latest evolution of its innovative MS-DP-ALT Series at booth C7685. MSolutions will showcase the new MS-DPA-HCP, a single-cable USB-C extension solution that adds a switchable HDMI input for expanded source flexibility in meeting rooms, classrooms, auditoriums and collaborative spaces.

The new MS-DPA-HCP continues MSolutions’ strategy of simplifying modern AV connectivity through streamlined USB-C transport over category cable infrastructure. The series extends DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode) signals over a single category cable, enabling transport of 4K video, USB data, and power through one streamlined connection.

The MS-DPA-HCP introduces automatic switching between permanent in-room HDMI sources and guest USB-C laptop connections, solving a common challenge in modern BYOD meeting environments. In a typical conference room installation, a permanently installed PC can remain connected through HDMI while guest presenters automatically switch to their laptop connection when plugging into the USB-C interface.

NDI to Host Live Demos, AI Video Workflows and Developer Session

NDI will be at booth C7572 in Central Hall with a packed agenda for developers, integrators, and AV professionals. Visitors can see live demos of NDI 6.3, featuring real-time stream insights, performance tracking, multi-location production with distributed source management, and AI-ready metadata workflows. A live Zoom integration demo will also illustrate how NDI is bringing broadcast-grade quality into enterprise collaboration environments.

On the education side, NDI technical director Roberto Musso will lead "Introduction to NDI Development" on Tuesday, June 16 from 4-5 p.m. local time at W203/W204, offering developers a hands-on on-ramp to building on NDI.

PlexusAV to Introduce "Final Piece" of AV over IP Portfolio

PlexusAV will officially unveil its new flagship P-AVN-6-S transceiver at booth C10301. The P-AVN-6-S is a high-performance uncompressed IPMX and SMPTE ST 2110 solution with native 12G-SDI I/O, designed to bridge traditional SDI infrastructure and modern IP-based workflows across a single open-standard network. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with PlexusAV devices and cross-vendor AV solutions.

Purpose-built for live events hybrid production environments and Pro AV applications demanding uncompromised signal integrity, quality and timing precision, the P-AVN-6-S enables organizations to transition seamlessly between baseband and IP workflows without vendor lock-in. This makes it ideal for mission-critical workflows where signal quality, low latency, interoperability, and timing precision are non-negotiable.

The P-AVN-6-S delivers uncompressed quality over IPMX and SMPTE ST 2110 compliant networks up to 4K60, at approximately 18 Gbps throughput. A major differentiator is the unit’s integrated PTP-to-Genlock capability, which synchronizes SDI outputs directly to IP-based timing with ±12 pixel phase accuracy. Combined with ST 2022-7 hitless redundancy across independent primary and secondary network paths, the platform is engineered for deployments where timing accuracy and uptime cannot be compromised. Support for 1GbE, 10GbE, and 25GbE networks provides a direct integration path between traditional baseband infrastructures and open-standard IP distribution.

SDVoE Alliance to Feature Member Demonstrations From IDK Corporation, Aurora Multimedia, and Kramer

The SDVoE Alliance will present member demonstrations at booth C7074 from alliance members IDK Corporation, Aurora Multimedia, and Kramer. These demonstrations will highlight SDVoE applications for conference rooms, judicial and government environments and command-and-control operations.

IDK Corporation will demonstrate its USB Neo Series, including the NJR-L21UC-T encoder and NJR-L31UC-R decoder, designed to support modern conference room workflows. The USB Neo Series transports video and USB peripherals between devices, supporting BYOD/M, auto-switching and call status awareness to maintain the correct host device during a call.

Aurora Multimedia will present a judicial and government-focused demonstration featuring the SmartSpeak desktop beam-forming microphone with a 6-inch touch controller and USB-C and HDMI ports. Aurora Multimedia’s SmartSpeak supports bidirectional SDVoE transmission, enabling simultaneous encoding and decoding over a single 10G connection.

Kramer will host a command-and-control demonstration featuring the Kramer ZyPer4K-XSE platform. Kramer’s demonstration will showcase seamless KVM roaming across three displays and a dynamic 2x2 multiview configuration. A single keyboard and mouse will move between individual screens and multiview windows. At the same time, hotkeys will enable operators to promote any source to the full-screen home display or instantly reset the system to its default layout.

Visionary to Introduce the nexAV We-Cosystem

Visionary Solutions will debut its new nexAV We-Cosystem audio, video, and control platform. Built for converged AV and IT environments, the nexAV We-Cosystem combines AV over IP routing and switching, audio DSP processing, room and enterprise control, device discovery, workflow orchestration, and user-interface development within a unified software platform. The platform is designed for applications ranging from hospitality and conferencing to enterprise-wide AV deployments, allowing integrators and end users to design around operational requirements rather than vendor-imposed limitations.

The launch reflects Visionary’s long-standing focus on simplifying AV deployment through software-driven infrastructure and AV over IP technologies. As AV platforms become increasingly over-engineered and burdened by unnecessary complexity, nexAV is focused on delivering practical customer value through adaptable system design, simplified workflows, and scalable architecture, allowing organizations to deploy the functionality they actually need without unnecessary overhead.

At the center of nexAV is Visionary’s Flex Architecture DSP framework and integrated Audio Engine. The platform uses template-based DSP workflows intended to simplify deployment while allowing systems to be customized for different applications. Native Dante and AES67 support allows the Audio Engine to integrate into modern networked audio environments ranging from individual rooms to campus-wide systems. Rather than forcing organizations into vendor-prescriptive ecosystems, the nexAV We-Cosystem is designed to support mixed technology environments while maintaining centralized management and a consistent user experience across deployments.

VuWall and G&D to Simplify AV over IP Distribution

"We expect a lot of discussion around secure AV over IP, interoperability, and how AI-ready platforms will shape future control room workflows," Anna Kozel, VP of marketing at VuWall told SCN. "As organizations manage more sources, data, and systems than ever before, the buzz will be around solutions that reduce complexity while improving operator efficiency and situational awareness."

You can read the VuWall | G&D InfoComm Impulse show preview by clicking here to find out more.

With more than 30 locations around Central Florida, Addition Financial Credit Union has been focused on enhancing both collaboration and communication in the hybrid workplace. Specifically, it was looking for a seamless videoconferencing experience in its headquarters’ main conference room, one that hosts two high-level meetings on a monthly basis.

The credit union recently went through a technology-enhanced makeover, creating a conferencing environment that enables employees to meet more efficiently and share information clearly, while supporting hybrid communication with clients and internal teams, according to Andrew Mulazzi, Lumens Southeast zone manager.

So, why the change? As with corporate settings across all verticals, the meeting space continues to evolve, becoming more hybrid with more remote participants. That is especially true for Addition Financial Credit Union, with many locations spread throughout the area.

Initially, the main conference room was oriented 90 degrees, with the typical large rectangular table and display on one end. "That arrangement was not conducive to include remote and in-room participants seeing each other easily," explained Chet Neal, CTS, president of Altamonte Springs-based RelianceAV, which partnered on the integration. "A U-shape table arrangement was chosen to address that challenge and to make content presented more easily viewed. It also provides better camera angles that offer a better experience for remote attendees."

Prior to the technical installation, Neal said there was an existing screen, projector, and lift used for these conferences. RelianceAV renovated the room, building a wall to support a 135-inch EZ LED Visual dvLED video display with 1.2mm pixel pitch. The enhancements only took RelianceAV one week to fully install, commission, and train with the client.

"The room also had a bad flutter echo from the windows and a large drywall ceiling section," Neal added. "[Primacoustic] acoustic panels were added to the walls and acoustic ceiling tiles were used to effectively address this."

RelianceAV turned to a wide range of Pro AV solutions to pull the room together. Lumens CamConnect Pro and Lumens auto-tracking cameras were at the heart of the installation. Mulazzi explained CamConnect enables intelligent, microphone-driven speaker tracking, automatically switching and framing the active speaker without the need for manual operation.

The Lumens solutions work in tandem with Yamaha's RM-CG ceiling array microphone, while incorporating Barco ClickShare for wireless content sharing, allowing team members to instantly present from any device. Additionally, a Dante two-channel power amplifier from Muxlab, switches provided by NETGEAR, and touchpanels from Aurora Multimedia enhance the new technology.

The end result is what Neal called the ultimate BYOD room. Microsoft Teams is the most used collaboration tool, but Addition Financial wanted participants to be able to host and run meetings from their laptops. "The Lumens Connect and Aurora DSP allows for USB video and audio to be distributed to a wired laptop connection through Aurora VPX AV over IP solution, or wirelessly with the Barco ClickShare," he explained.

The conference room has been well received, and the credit union is looking to update four smaller conference rooms to all include videoconferencing capabilities. "Working with RelianceAV was a great experience," Mulazzi added. "Chet and his team worked with our sales and engineering teams to design the workflow and implement best practices for the Lumens solutions deployed. RelianceAV’s integration expertise ensured that all technologies—from audio to camera tracking—worked together flawlessly."

AVT Question: Please share insights into the company's roadmap and what 2026 holds for its AV/IT customers.

Thought Leader: Paul Harris, Chief Executive Officer at Aurora Multimedia

In 2026, Aurora Multimedia will really set the bar for microphone and DSP technology. Our philosophy has always been a “world’s first” approach, as we like to show that there is always a better way, and to not be just another “me too” product. We design and build our own products and innovate technologies that solve the issues no one else addresses.

For microphone technology, we will be advancing our patented SmartSpeak technology, adding real-time, speech-to-text translation. Our new wireless beamforming models (RXT-4DW and RXT-6DW) will be using Wi-Fi 7 and wireless charging—as well as full touch control automation, gooseneck performance without the gooseneck, and video streaming all in one package.

We will also be showing a new type of DSP that goes beyond what has been done today as we integrate Dante, AES67, AI, and control into the mix. One SKU will be scalable from a 4x4 to a 128x128 and can be aggregated through our 128 no-latency bidirectional audio bus that can daisy chain units together up to 80m away. Two units joined together can do 256x256, or 10 units can do 128x1280, as another example. The power and scalability are like no other. ReAX control can automate an entire building, if required, and serve up control pages while the NPU handles AI functions like our patent-pending Word Gate technology. This allows us to use speech intelligibility along with SPL, as well as time to trigger the camera’s—or cameras’—pan, tilt, and zoom functions.

Stay tuned, as this is just the teaser, and there is so much more to come with these new technologies.

After months of previews, inside analysis, and show-floor prep, ISE 2026 is finally here. Set to open its doors today (Feb. 3), the show welcomes thousands upon thousands to check out the latest and greatest in Pro AV integration.

[SCN's ISE Insiders 2026]

In our last pre-show prep roundup, be sure to add Aurora Multimedia, AVI-SPL, FORTÉ, HARMAN Professional Solutions, HP, Planar, Sennheiser, Symetrix, and Sonance to you must-see list.

Aurora Multimedia to Enhance AVoIP and Control

Aurora Multimedia will be demonstrating the VPX-TC1-UCP at booth 5E700. The VPX-TC1-UCP provides flexible 4K 1G AV over IP PoE++ power distribution for its 2 USB-C inputs and RJ-45 PSE output. Up to 90 watts can be used to charge 60 watts on the USB-C port while another USB-C or RJ-45 can power 15 watts. The optional Aurora small form factor USB-C 240W adaptor will allow 100 watts per USB-C port and 15 watts for the RJ-45 PSE port.

Audio, video, data, and control can be sent securely to one or many units using off-the-shelf 1G RJ-45 Ethernet switch. When the VPX-TC1 transceiver is set up to be a transmitter, the two USB-C and two HDMI inputs become a source switch, and the HDMI output becomes a potential loop out. Digital signage, education, corporate, and residential are just a few markets which benefit from the flexibility and low cost of the VPX-TC1-UCP.

Aurora will also be demonstrating the patented 6-inch desktop SmartSpeak technology with 1G and 10G SDVoE AVoIP (RXT-6DV & RXT-6DV-10G). SmartSpeak takes microphone technology to another level with a Dante/AES67 beamforming microphone with auto gain, noise cancelation, feedback suppression, and anti-tap. Camera tracking using Aurora's WordGate™ technology is like no other. It uses AI to detect speech intelligibility in over 100 languages along with Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) to trigger the camera presets. This eliminates false triggering caused by clapping, coughing, and other unintended noises.

AVI-SPL to Unveil Integrated Climate Strategy

AVI-SPL will expand on its evolving climate strategy, highlighting two interconnected actions that reflect a new, enterprise-scale approach to sustainability in the AV and IT integration industry: a commitment to set Science Based Targets (SBTs) and a UN-aligned REDD+ investment in rainforest conservation in Ecuador.

These actions represent a single, integrated climate strategy in motion. One focused on systematically reducing emissions across AVI-SPL’s operations and value chain as the business grows, and the other focused on protecting critical natural ecosystems that regulate the global climate and support Indigenous communities.

AVI-SPL’s commitment to set Science Based Targets establishes a rigorous, globally recognized framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and value chain. At the same time, its REDD+ investment in Ecuador supports the protection of one of the world’s most important carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots, while also strengthening local and Indigenous stewardship. Together, these actions reflect a holistic approach to environmental responsibility. Emissions reduction without addressing nature of risk is incomplete. Investing in nature without reducing emissions is insufficient. AVI-SPL is intentionally doing both.

FORTÉ Velocity Solutions Now Available in Europe

FORTÉ (formerly AVI Systems) announced the availability of Velocity in certain European markets. Velocity includes pre-engineered meeting room solutions designed to help organizations deploy collaboration technology solutions with speed and predictability. The announcement was made on Monday and can be seen all week at ISE 2026.

Velocity is built on a simple belief: predictability beats perfection. By standardizing the essentials, organizations can reduce rework, shorten deployment cycles, and create more consistent outcomes across multi-site collaboration environments.

Developed by FORTÉ in 2022, more than 1,500 Velocity systems have been deployed at global enterprises serving the technology, retail, media, and engineering industries. FORTÉ customers in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, can now order Velocity Exclusive solutions immediately with delivery, installation, and support in select locations.

HARMAN Professional, JBL, Martin Brings Slew of New Solutions to Barcelona

HARMAN Professional Solutions will feature new products from JBL Professional, Crown, FLUX::, and Martin throughout three activations for HARMAN Professional (booth 3F300), Martin Professional (booth 6Q900), and the HARMAN Audio Demo Room (Hall 8, Room C2) featuring live demonstrations for JBL SRX Line Arrays, Martin lighting, and FLUX:: Immersive Audio solutions.

Additionally, Martin will be hosting a panel with world-renowned lighting designers Matt Osborn, head of lighting for the Sydney Opera House, and Mikki Kunttu, known for his work with Eurovision Song Contest and Cirque du Soleil, as they explore how lighting can enhance creativity while respecting the architecture of some of the world’s most iconic venues. The 40-minute Martin Color Lab panel will be on Tuesday at 12:45pm in the HARMAN audio demo room (Hall 8, Room C2).

Highlighting just three of the product launches, visitors can see:

JBL Professional Intellivox Active Digital Beam Shaping Columns: The new JBL Intellivox Active Digital Beam Shaping Column loudspeakers, featuring Dante networked audio, supports system design flexibility for large and acoustically challenging spaces. The new generation combines multiple drivers, integrated multi-channel amplification, and Digital Directivity Synthesis (DDS) technology to precisely control sound coverage and improve intelligibility while reducing reflections.

Martin Macula: This brand-agnostic remote follow spot system enables standard moving lights to operate as ground-based, remotely controlled tracking fixtures. Designed to improve safety and consistency, Macula replaces height-based operation with an ergonomic base station that provides precise pan, tilt and zoom control with real-time visual feedback, while supporting cue-based handoff between console and operator.

JBL Professional SRX912M, SRX915M, SRX922: JBL is expanding the SRX900 Series, adding the SRX912M, SRX915M and SRX922 to its scalable powered platform for touring, rental, installation and production applications. The SRX912M delivers a compact, low-profile solution for monitoring and front-fill use, the SRX915M offers increased low-frequency extension and headroom for higher-output needs, and the SRX922 provides a three-way point-source option with controlled directivity, with all models sharing amplification, DSP, rigging and unified software control for seamless system integration

HP Strengthens its Commitment to Hybrid Work with Next-Generation Audio and Video

HP is expanding its portfolio of future-proof innovations which enable smarter, more intuitive collaboration solutions. From next-generation headsets to intelligent video conferencing solutions, HP is delivering tools that help organizations thrive in a world where flexibility and productivity are key.

Guests to the HP booth will see the debut HP Poly Mission Series, a new family of corded USB headsets designed to deliver dependable, crystal-clear audio in hybrid work environments, with a comfortable and lightweight design. The HP Poly Mission Series headsets deliver AI-based noise cancellation, to reduce distracting background noise, plus super wideband audio, which delivers advanced audio for voice transmission.

Also on display will be the HP Poly VideoOS 5.0, HP Poly Studio V12 video bar, and HP Thunderbolt 4 180W G6 Dock. The HP Poly VideoOS 5.0 delivers a platform upgrade to Android 13, adding architectural improvements which enable smarter camera framing, enhanced AI noise blocking, multi-mic audio mixing, and faster touch controller performance. The HP Poly Studio V12 video bar and HP Thunderbolt 4 180W G6 Dock solution, designed for Windows, Mac, and Chromebook users, delivers a simple, single-cable connection for instant access to the room’s AV system, including displays network, cameras, mics, and speakers, for on-site collaboration or remote meetings, all while keeping laptops charged.

Planar to Showcase Advanced and Immersive Display Technologies

Planar will demonstrate an elevated portfolio of LED and LCD display technologies designed to support a vast array of traditional and creative applications at booth 3A390. From Chip-on-Board (COB) LED technology engineered for durability to transparent LED and creative LED products enabling distinctive installations, Planar will showcase visual performance while offering a preview of next-generation LED technology.

In addition to showcasing a broad range of LED solutions, Planar will offer a first look at several emerging products and technologies that signal the next evolution of display performance. Among the highlights is a preview of next-generation MicroLED-in-Package (MiP) technology, featuring a breakthrough design and manufacturing process that significantly enhances color performance, black levels and viewing angles. Planar’s propriety product design and process along with ongoing R&D innovation on this substrate-free <30µm MiP breakthrough will soon be mass produceable, with historical performance and quality capable of a 0.4mm pixel pitch.

Planar will also preview a line of premium 5K 21:9 LCD displays designed to support more immersive and interactive experiences. Featuring high brightness, interactive capabilities and increased adjustability, the displays deliver refresh rates of up to 120Hz and incorporate a quantum dot mini-LED backlight with more than 2,000 local dimming zones. The ultrawide 21:9 resolution expands the field of view, enabling more dynamic content presentation while enhancing productivity and multitasking across a wide range of professional applications.

Rounding out the product previews, attendees will experience a transparent LED demonstration that combines high transparency and flexibility in an ultra-thin, lightweight design. Just 3mm thick, the transparent mesh dvLED technology delivers vibrant visuals with wide viewing angles while preserving a consistent transparent appearance—opening new possibilities for architectural, retail and experiential installations.

Sennheiser Launches DeviceHub

Sennheiser is launching DeviceHub, a secure, cloud-based platform that gives organizations centralized visibility and control of their Sennheiser devices from anywhere in the world. Following extensive internal testing and a private beta phase, DeviceHub is now publicly available in beta, starting with support for TeamConnect Bar Solutions.

DeviceHub combines remote monitoring, clear oversight, and secure role-based access into one browser-based environment. As a single cloud-based platform, DeviceHub makes management of networked Sennheiser devices accessible through any browser. Real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and alerts provide clear insight into device status and performance, helping teams act before issues disrupt meetings, classes, or collaboration spaces, whether on site or remotely.

For IT personnel, DeviceHub simplifies management at scale by organizing devices by room, building, campus, or region in a structure that mirrors real-world environments. This provides a clear view of every space from a single platform, allowing teams to navigate between locations easily, view devices in context, and understand system health at a glance, from a handful of rooms to global estates.

Sonance to Unveil New Ultra-Thin Line Speaker

Sonance is set to unveil the VX52R UTL, an ultra-shallow in-ceiling speaker that delivers VX Series performance in applications where depth is critically constrained. Making its world debut at booth 2H500, the new model brings premium audio technology to retrofit projects, historic buildings, and commercial spaces where traditional speakers cannot be installed.

With a 1.41-inch (35.7mm) mounting depth, the VX52R UTL addresses one of the architectural audio industry's most persistent installation challenges: delivering high-fidelity sound in spaces with shallow ceiling cavities, concrete substrates, or structural limitations that prevent standard speaker mounting. It does so by incorporating technologies previously reserved for Sonance's deeper VX Series models like CDX crossover, VX Sinusoidal Waveguide, and a redesigned driver architecture.

With an 8-ohm impedance and 89dB sensitivity, the VX52R UTL integrates seamlessly into distributed audio systems and can be driven by a wide range of amplification platforms. The 8.25-inch (210mm) cutout diameter and included paintable grille (options for Micro Trim, Trimless, or Sonance TRUFIG Flush Mounted) maintain Sonance's "Designed to Disappear" aesthetic philosophy.

Symetrix to Unveil Cognio

Symetrix is launching Cognio at booth 5M390. This brand-new software-driven audio, video, and control (AVC) ecosystem is designed to dramatically simplify system design, accelerate deployment, and deliver more flexible, scalable AV experiences.

Cognio represents a fundamental rethinking of how AV systems are built, combining distributed intelligence with code-free control into a single platform powered by DesignOps, the patented software that underpins the next-generation hardware and software platform. By seamlessly connecting its modernized software application with a distributed approach to smart devices, Cognio unifies design, configuration, commissioning, control, and ongoing operation into unified, streamlined workflows in which a single device can power multiple spaces, or multiple devices can support a single space, allowing systems to scale naturally across rooms, buildings, or entire campuses.

Rather than starting with fixed hardware, Cognio enables AV professionals to design workflows based on rooms, zones, and signal flows, then add hardware later, delivering unprecedented flexibility and scalability in AV design. True pre-hardware emulation lets designers perform AV line checks before installation, allowing them to confirm that audio and video signals are present and functioning properly from their desk, before ever setting foot on site, saving teams time and money.

AVT Question: Please share insights on emerging trends and technologies that help engage fans, distribute audio and video in near real-time, and make a difference in sporting venues and esports arenas.

Thought Leader: Chuck Espinoza, Global Director of Education at Aurora Multimedia

In higher education, technology plays a vital role in transforming both sporting venues and esports arenas into immersive, engaging environments for athletes and spectators. A key driver of this transformation is the shift to 10Gb AV-over-IP endpoints, which deliver high-performance video, audio, and control across a networked infrastructure.

Unlike traditional matrix-based systems, 10Gb AV over IP provides the bandwidth necessary for uncompressed 4K video and multichannel audio with virtually zero latency. This ensures that live action—whether a basketball game or an esports match—is delivered to every display, scoreboard, and streaming feed in perfect sync. Fans benefit from crystal-clear visuals, instant replays, and interactive content across massive LED walls and distributed signage, creating a dynamic and engaging atmosphere.

For athletes and teams, these technologies enhance performance and training. Coaches can access multiple real-time camera angles, integrate analytics, and provide immediate feedback without delay. In esports, low-latency AV distribution is especially critical, as it ensures synchronization between gameplay, casters, and spectators—replicating the professional-grade experience of global tournaments.

10Gb AV over IP also brings scalability and flexibility, enabling universities to easily expand their systems as venues grow or needs evolve. By routing AV signals through standard Ethernet infrastructure, institutions reduce complexity, lower costs, and gain the agility to adapt to future technologies.

Ultimately, the adoption of 10Gb AV-over-IP endpoints empowers higher ed venues to create immersive, future-proof experiences. Athletes benefit from advanced tools and instant feedback, while spectators enjoy engaging, high-quality environments that rival professional sports and esports arenas. These technologies not only elevate the game-day atmosphere but also strengthen the institution’s ability to attract students, athletes, and fans.

Is 2026 the year we find one standard to rule them all? Judging by what is being prepared for the show floor, the answer is a resounding no. There will be plenty of Pro AV standards and solutions on display from AV over IP, to IPMX, to HDBaseT.

[SCN's ISE Insiders 2026]

Before you head to Fira de Barcelona for ISE 2026 on Feb. 3-6, take a look at some products you won't want to miss below.

AIMS to Officially Launch IPMX as a Fully Developed Standard

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) will mark a major milestone for Pro AV over IP at ISE 2026 with the official launch of Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) as a fully developed, certifiable standard. ISE 2026 will be the first major industry event to showcase formally certified IPMX products. In booth 5K880, AIMS will highlight the first wave of IPMX-compliant products, which successfully completed formal certification during the recent IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event held in Geneva, Switzerland.

To complement the certified products on display at ISE 2026, AIMS will present a live IPMX demo in its booth, focusing on real-world IPMX deployments and practical implementation. The demonstration will highlight the ease of deploying and operating IPMX-based systems, showing how the standard is ready for use in Pro AV environments today. Attendees will also be able to get a preview of the latest IPMX training initiatives that are in development for 2026 and beyond.

IPMX will also be featured in several partner kiosks within the AIMS booth. In these kiosks, member companies Packet Storm, Providius, Evertz, MegaPixel, and Meinberg will demonstrate IPMX-based systems across a wide range of real-world scenarios, including interoperability with SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, JPEG XS, Dante, and more.

Just Add Power Brings Innovative AV over-IP Solutions to Barcelona

Just Add Power will offer an exclusive preview of its latest AV over IP advancements that unlock possibilities for designers, operators, and installers at booth 2Q600. Attendees can experience live demonstrations of Just Add Power’s new MC-TX1-RACK Rackmount MaxColor Encoder as well as the MC-USB device for keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) control, and the MC-QX MaxColor 4K60 Tiling and Warping Encoder for dynamic display layouts and multiscreen scenarios.

The new MC-TX1-RACK encoder combines three MC-TX1 MaxColor 4K60 4:4:4 HDMI encoders into a single rackmount chassis, streamlining cable management, reducing clutter, and significantly speeding up installation for both compact and large-scale AV over IP systems. The MaxColor USB 2.0 over IP device (MC-USB) represents a significant leap forward in integrated system control by enabling flexible access and robust control over distant computers, ensuring efficiency and security in 4K60 UltraHD environments. The MC-QX MaxColor 4K60 Tiling and Warping Encoder combines Just Add Power's MaxColor technology, 4K network video tiler, and Warp Engine technology into a single, powerful device.

Kiloview to Advance Its Integrated AV-over-IP Ecosystem from Connection to Transmission

Kiloview will highlight the continued evolution of its complete, lightweight, and fully integrated AV over IP ecosystem at booth 4M800. Covering connection, control, management, and transmission, Kiloview’s solutions are designed to simplify complex IP workflows and deliver a more unified, reliable, and scalable experience for professional AV users.

At ISE 2026, Kiloview will present its next-generation IP media management solution, designed to simplify, visualize, and optimize AV over IP workflows, making complex systems more reliable and visible. Serving as the foundation of Kiloview's ecosystem, this system can instantly visualize the entire network, monitor device status in real time, and provide intelligent diagnostic alerts to ensure flawless operation. Media routing is seamless and low latency with priority handling for critical streams such as NDI.

At the heart of the ecosystem is a compact plug-and-play platform that unifies device management and streamlines multi-channel wireless bonding reception. Integrating with Kiloview’s P-series wireless bonding encoders, the system supports multi-channel reception with synchronized outputs and monitoring through Kiloview's latest IP management solution. Supporting NDI, SRT, RTMP, and HLS protocols, allows flexible IP format conversion and local recording and multiview monitoring.

The Cradle Series RF02 further completes Kiloview’s ecosystem by providing modular encoding, decoding, media gateway card and software-ready computer card with unlimited expansion capabilities. The FXC-A8800 Compute Card brings powerful capabilities for audio/video mixing, switching, graphics processing, and software-defined workflows, allowing for efficient handling of complex production tasks. Together with other expansion cards, the RF02 provides complete end-to-end AV workflow support, covering encoding, decoding, transcoding, multiviewing, routing and more.

PlexusAV to Showcase New HDBaseT 3.0 Solution

PlexusAV is launching its first HDBaseT solutions: the P-AVN-3-HDBT IPMX Gateway Transceiver and P-AVN-WP301H HDBaseT 3.0 Wall Plate, available in both U.S. and EU/UK-W form factors.

The P-AVN-3-HDBT is a high-performance transceiver capable of both encoding and decoding video, built on IPMX open standards for flexible deployment in modern AV networks. It extends HDMI and USB-C signals from the wall plate using proven HDBaseT 3.0 technology and delivers 4K60 performance using JPEG-XS, H.264, and H.265 codecs for high-quality, ultra-low-latency video transport across a range of professional applications.

The P-AVN-WP301H HDBaseT Wall Plate, available in black or white and in US Decora Style designs and EU/UK model/designs, provides a simple and intuitive AV experience with dual HDMI and USB-C inputs, auto-switching, and up to 60W USB-C charging when powered. Built on HDBaseT 3.0, it delivers uncompressed, zero-latency 4K60 video from in-room devices to the P-AVN-3-HDBT or other compatible HDBaseT 3.0 receivers. Its single-cable connection simplifies installation while supporting BYOD workflows across classrooms, meeting rooms, training spaces, hospitality venues, and government environments.

Additionally, intoPIX and PlexusAV launched PlexusAV’s new IPMX-ready P-AVN-4E and P-AVN-4D, dedicated encoder and decoder solutions leveraging the intoPIX TicoXS FIP codec, with support for the JPEG XS Temporal Differential Coding (TDC) profile.

The P-AVN-4E and P-AVN-4D represent a significant step forward in PlexusAV’s IPMX product portfolio. Designed as dedicated encoder and dedicated decoder devices, they provide integrators with greater deployment flexibility while simplifying AV over IP system architectures. Like other PlexusAV P-AVN products, they rely on intoPIX’s proven TicoXS FIP technology to deliver high performance, ultra-low latency, and full IPMX interoperability.

SDVoE Alliance to Highlight Power of 10 in Collaboration With IDK Corporation and Aurora Multimedia

The SDVoE Alliance will present live demonstrations at ISE 2026 in collaboration with SDVoE Alliance members IDK Corporation and Aurora Multimedia. The demonstrations, hosted in the SDVoE Alliance booth, will show the Power of 10 in action across conference rooms and judicial applications.

IDK Corporation will demonstrate its USB Neo Series, including the NJR-L21UC-T encoder and NJR-L31UC-R decoder, designed to support modern conference room workflows. The USB Neo Series transports video and USB peripherals between devices, supporting BYOD/M, auto-switching and call status awareness to maintain the correct host device during a call. By leveraging SDVoE technology for point-to-point or AV-over-IP deployments alongside UEX capabilities, the USB Neo Series offers a flexible, scalable and plug-and-play approach for conference room environments.

Aurora Multimedia will present a judicial and government-focused demonstration featuring the SmartSpeak desktop beam-forming microphone with a 6-inch touch controller and USB-C and HDMI ports. Aurora Multimedia's device supports bidirectional SDVoE transmission, enabling simultaneous encoding and decoding over a single 10G connection. The demonstration will illustrate how SDVoE-enabled desktop stations can streamline AV workflows in courtrooms, counsel chambers and congressional halls.

The Alliance will also debut FlexLinQ, what it is dubbing the 'future of AV over IP.' For integrators, it removes many of the traditional constraints associated with network readiness while working seamlessly on existing infrastructure—from Cat5e to Cat6A and beyond, FlexLinQ automatically adjusts to the infrastructure that exists on site, eliminating the need for manual bandwidth planning. Find out more at booth 5E900.

Global instability, technology disruption, and a drastic shift in trade practices continue to affect business as we head into 2026. One thing is clear: The uncertainty continues, but so, too, does the demand to keep moving forward regardless of how unpredictable things are. Here’s what is on the minds of AV professionals as the industry ramps up for another year.

Trust Issues and AI

AI has a significant presence in Pro AV, with its integration into PTZ cameras, speakerphones, and transcription and translation tools. For Aaron Xia, CEO and co-founder of Telycam, the next trend to watch is AI's evolution from being an assistant into becoming a more autonomous operator in, say, the production environment, where systems would be able to predict what users need and make changes in real time when needed.

“For example, in multi-camera live streaming, PTZ cameras would be able to communicate with each other and analyze the environment to automatically coordinate camera switching and live directing based on the scene,” Xia illustrated.

That said, Xia recognized rolling out these features isn’t without its challenges. “The main obstacles to breaching this barrier have been a lack of sufficiently diverse real-world data and limited on-device processing power within individual AV products for that level of AI,” he explained. He added that privacy concerns, as well as the need for ultra-low latency, render it difficult to train and deploy advanced AI models capable of operating effectively in live production settings.

Jason Roberts, VP of workplace strategy at FORTÉ, also noted that data collection and integration remain an obstacle to AI’s evolution within Pro AV. “Most AV environments have dozens of disconnected systems—from meeting platforms, room schedulers, control processors, and sensors—all generating valuable insights, but very few of those systems speak the same language,” he observed. “Without that interoperability layer, AI can’t reach its contextual depth or deliver meaningful automation.”

Trust is another issue that AI must address, Roberts added. Many companies won’t go all-in on AI until they are confident that it’s reliable and transparent about what exactly it’s doing with their data. “Organizations are understandably cautious about letting AI make autonomous adjustments in live collaboration spaces, especially in industries with strict privacy or compliance requirements,” he said.

Bill Chamberlin, president of Verrex, believes that one of the next applications for AI in Pro AV is self-repair, which could improve integrators’ efficiency significantly. “I think we’re going to see a lot of growth with proactive break/fix and self-healing,” he said. “Even today, with some of the systems out there, you can write proactive scripts so if it’s not seeing a display or it’s on the wrong port, it’s automatically fixing itself.”

Not only does this capability eliminate the need to roll a truck to resolve these issues, but Chamberlin said it also builds increased trust in the systems AV professionals are deploying.

According to Rob Pickering, director of technology at TRITECH Communications, for clients to truly benefit from AI, AV integrators need to understand how they are already using it and their goals for leveraging it in the future. This requires determining what AI tools organizations have already deployed and examining how Pro AV solutions intersect with these technologies.

“If you think about something like Copilot, how is that client using it?” Pickering asked. “To what level does it come into the conference rooms? What are the features that we need to [provide]?” Integrators should be thinking about their systems in the context of the client’s entire workday, he added.

On an internal level, Pickering would like to see AI technology that can create a set of drawings (a baseline design) that teams can then review, edit, and validate. He also sees the potential for AI to streamline the design process for system upgrades. For this latter application, AI would analyze previous deployments and summarize that data, giving designers quick insight into the customer’s present technology profile.

AI is also being tasked with voice messaging, audio translations, written transcriptions, and even script summaries. "With the latest advancements in AI come dramatically improved options to reach people from a variety of languages and reading or hearing abilities, while maximizing consistency in the quality of announcements and messaging," said Bill Bennett, media solutions architect at ENCO Systems.

For example, AI can create very humanlike synthetic or modeled voices and offer real-time translation in multiple languages. In fact, GenAI can go further, summarizing an emergency weather report, creating a script from the report, and creating a voice recording that can be dispersed. "Now, when it's 3:00 in the morning and the gruff voice of a sleepy security guard is all that's available, AI can create a quality of voice that can be consistent day in, and day out," Bennett said.

While AI is that powerful, it's not quite that easy. "Like any new technology, AI requires some skill in learning how to choose from the multitude of technology options in the marketplace, including how to adapt to the workflows and signal and file formats required in the professional audiovisual industry in ways which are both reliable and efficient," Bennett added. "Designers and integrators need to trust in resources who have been doing this already, to help get them up to speed. ENCO has more than 1,000 broadcast customers using AI tools to create their messaging, many in fully automated settings, which is not dissimilar from messaging and announcing in commercial spaces where quality and consistency are key to repeatable, understandable messaging, regardless of the audience."

Dishing on Displays

Outside of the impact that tariffs may have on display technology, Chamberlin estimated that the Pro AV industry will continue to see price decreases, which will, in turn, render large-format screens more accessible to a wider client base. “It will make it more [feasible] to put large-format displays in more multipurpose spaces, more experience centers, and things along those lines,” he offered. “It’s just going to make it more affordable.”

Pickering also sees an uptick in demand for larger displays. “Spaces are scaling up, meaning newer technologies are allowing larger displays to be rapidly ordered, deployed, and commissioned to where it was just not possible before,” he said.

This is because, in part, several manufacturers are packaging their offerings in a more streamlined fashion, according to Pickering, which simplifies both procurement and installation. “Manufacturers have provided an ordering mechanism [where the display] comes with everything,” he explained. "It’s a single SKU. It’s got the mounts. It’s one line item on a bill of materials.”

For hybrid meeting environments, FORTÉ’s customers are standardizing on 21:9 displays for executive boardrooms, high-end collaboration spaces, and innovation centers, according to Roberts. He said clients like the aspect ratio’s support of immersive layouts (such as Microsoft Teams Front Row), and also appreciate its wider perspective, which creates more meeting equity between on-site and remote participants.

“The added horizontal real estate enables dynamic content zones for people and data that create a more engaging visual balance and reduce cognitive fatigue during long meetings,” Roberts added.

At Planar, chip on board (COB) will continue to be a focus in 2026. Robert Detwiler, senior director of product management, called it a “mainstay” within the company’s LED offerings. He also predicted the arrival of the next generation of MicroLEDs in the coming year.

Additionally, Detwiler pointed out the growing number of facilities that are treating their displays as a design feature. “Displays need to blend into the architecture or be designed to work with architecture, as spaces become more and more highly designed,” he said.

While Planar will continue to invest in LED, the company also acknowledges the continued demand for large-format LCDs, tiled LCDs, as well as smaller-format touchscreens and desktop monitors. “LCD displays are a very good option for space-constrained environments and applications that require the highest resolutions,” Detwiler said. “While the cost of LED continues to be more accessible, the cost of LCD displays continues to remain below LED.” This is why, he explained, Planar remains committed to expanding and improving its LED family of products.

Palmer Digital Group manufactures indoor and outdoor digital kiosks, display enclosures, and menu boards. Chuck Lewis, EVP at the company, believes the incorporation of voice-activated AI into digital kiosks and signage will become increasingly prevalent. He noted that this feature can be especially helpful in quick service restaurant (QSR) applications, as well as retail.

“For example, you can go into a clothing store, approach one of our kiosks, and ask it where you can find women’s jeans,” Lewis illustrated. “It can direct you to the right aisle without you having to wait in line [for a salesperson] to tell you [where you go].”

Trial of the Tariffs

Few would argue that predicting the 2026 tariff landscape is possible. However, one could submit that navigating today’s trade climate requires similar skills to those AV professionals applied during the pandemic, such as adaptability, agility, and communication. But while this industry may have refined these chops just a few years ago, it’s becoming apparent that when it comes to tariffs, everyone pays in one form or another.

Take Aurora Multimedia, for example. It's a U.S.-based AV technology manufacturer, its assembly line is in the United States, and it employs American workers. It is, as CEO/CTO Paul Harris quipped, “living the American Dream.”

If all of this is true, why is Harris quipping about anything right now? "Made in the USA" companies shouldn’t be complaining—aren’t they benefiting from the tariffs? Maybe some are. But if you’re an AV tech manufacturer, you probably need to source a few rather important bits and pieces from overseas to make your complex electronics. That means that you’re paying tariffs.

“If you’re putting tariffs on the raw materials that are only made overseas right now, and you don’t give me an exemption, you are causing me to pay a higher price for those materials,” Harris explained.

For Aurora Multimedia, that’s not a hypothetical concern. The semiconductors essential to its AV over IP product lines are produced exclusively in Taiwan. With no tariff exemptions in place, every shipment carries additional cost.

Another challenge, according to Harris, is blanket ordering—purchasing components in bulk under long-term contracts. While those agreements lock in pricing, new tariffs are applied to any units that haven’t yet shipped, causing unanticipated cost spikes.

“All of a sudden, a product that cost $300 to build might now be $600,” Harris said. “You’re playing an odds game. If you think a trade deal is coming, you might wait a month or two, but in doing so, you risk gaps in your supply chain.”

That wait-and-see strategy can quickly backfire. Delays make parts harder to source, and scarcity drives prices even higher. “Simply put,” Harris said, “it’s a mess.”

Aurora has done its best to minimize the impact all of this has on its customers by absorbing some of these costs. However, despite the desire to avoid passing on these new expenses to its clients, it cannot continue to absorb everything.

“I think everybody is realizing we have no choice,” Harris admitted. “You’ve got to [add] a separate line item that says ‘tariff,’ [and] you’ve got to accept the fact that this is the way it’s going to be.”

At TRITECH, regular communications between project teams and clients help everyone continue to move forward. Pickering explained that the firm includes language in its proposals that alerts clients of the potential need to reassess pricing when and if tariffs change.

For Chamberlin, an attitude of acceptance helps companies better focus on their core purpose. After all, he said, tariffs are just tax. He acknowledged that over-communication with both clients and employees helps to reduce the level of panic that can manifest in the face of uncertainty, as was the case during the pandemic. “Our job as our clients’ partner is to help guide them, and be the voice of calm, and really look at things long term,” he added.

Roberts has observed a transition from what he calls “short-term reaction” into “strategic recalibration.” He argued that in recalibrating, integrators will need to be agile to serve their clients well. In conversations with customers, FORTÉ is highlighting the benefits of scalable solutions that can be adapted when required, while at the same time providing the features that clients need.

“Organizations will increasingly favor partners who can guarantee availability, interoperability, and long-term service continuity, not just deliver hardware,” Roberts said. “Internally, our teams have focused on design flexibility, building solutions that can pivot between platforms, components, or brands without compromising performance or user experience."

For Roberts, being agile and flexible means that system designs shouldn’t be reliant on one manufacturer or even one supply region. “The integrators who succeed in 2026 will be the ones who can flex, offering equivalent solutions, consistent performance, and continuity of service even when sourcing challenges arise,” he added.

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.

InfoComm 2025 heads back to the Orange County Convention Center this June 7-13 in Orlando. SCN continues its look at InfoComm 2025 exhibitors talking trends, technology, inspiration, and an exclusive special sneak preview of what they’ll show in their booths.

[Products, Sessions, Insights: InfoComm 2025 on AV Network]

Today, Paul Harris, CEO/CTO, Aurora Multimedia, chats AVoIP, AI, and more.

SCN: What is your company’s main focus at the show this year?

Paul Harris: Aurora's main focus for InfoComm 2025 is SmartSpeak Technology, the "Gooseneck without a Gooseneck" with our RXT-4D, RXT-4DV, RXT-4DW, RXT-6D, & RXT-6DW. In addition, we will be showing our IPBaseT technology which will redefine low-cost signal distribution with only 2 SKUs.

SCN: What buzzwords do you expect to be the talk of InfoComm 2025?

PH: AI seems to be the main buzzword and Aurora will be showing a few technologies taking advantage of this technology. We already introduced the first-ever control system tool using AI and we have even more to open peoples eyes and change the AV industry forever.

SCN: How does InfoComm inspire you?

PH: For Aurora it is the show we love to introduce our latest products. It is also the way we get feedback for better or worse on the products we develop so we can use that to make even more innovative products.

SCN: How does your new Dash AV software simplify AVoIP deployments?

PH: Dash AV is a free web server-based tool that allows the complete setup of an Aurora AVoIP like the VPX Series. It simplifies this with rapid deployment that can set up thousands of units in minutes. It is enterprise class as it has profiles, groups, and more. It also diagnosis the system and mass firmware updates. For the end client, it will do all the routing, previews, macros, and much more.

AVT Question: Please share insights into your company's roadmap and what 2025 holds for customers.

Thought Leader: Paul Harris, Chief Executive Officer at Aurora Multimedia

"Changing the Topology of AV" has always been Aurora's slogan, and this year, we're taking it to the next level by reinventing how we use conference rooms, classrooms, courts, council chambers, congressional settings, and more. We're achieving this through key technologies Aurora has been developing over the past two years, which come together to form the ReAX Room.

Aurora's roadmap transforms everything by offering more capabilities, simpler installation, and a rack-free system, all powered by PoE.

The key product of the ReAX Room is the patented RXT-4D, a 4-inch control panel with a beamforming Dante/AES67 microphone, integrated amplifier, and speaker. The RXT-4DV goes even further by integrating 1G AVoIP for 4K transmission from a laptop or mobile device. By placing one at each seating location (or one for every two seats), you can achieve perfect audio pickup without the need for a gooseneck mic. This solution is scalable from one unit to thousands.

Since each unit has its own speaker, it can create a mix-minus voice lift for larger rooms. The built-in control panel is fully customizable and can manage seating locations, voting, room automation, timers, request-to-speak, and more. Because the speaker is located in front of each person, the volume is lowered, rather than being raised to project audio like in typical installations. This improves security and makes the meeting feel more natural, as people can speak at a regular level and hear incoming audio the same way.

For entertainment-centric rooms, the BX-25D mounts under the table to add PoE+ bass. The VPX-UC1 Ultra AVoIP unit with Android mounts behind the display receives all the content and enables wireless 4K30 BYOD. With our DSP, wall plates, and other PoE devices, you now have the building blocks for endless possibilities.

The sports bar evolution has come a long way in the past two decades. It has gone from having the most TVs to larger, higher-definition displays and immersive, zoned sound. What were once luxuries have become necessities for any sports bar—or live music venue, for that matter—to survive.

[Wireless Microphone Headaches]

While buffalo wings and burgers are enticing, anyone who prefers sports bars for their game-day watching pleasure knows it’s all about the ability to see and hear your team in action. That's why technology—from devices and software to control systems—is more important than ever.

Pitchers and Pictures

Today's sports bar is nothing without programming. If you have a football Sunday where the audio isn’t zoned properly or the displays aren’t top shelf, those fanatics are finding a new sports bar the following week. That's why it is imperative to get it right the first time. Paul Harris, CEO/CTO at Aurora Multimedia, offered up a checklist of best practices for audio and video distribution setup in a venue that specializes in showing sports and live music.

• Location, Location, Location: Consider seating locations, as people will be facing a variety of directions, not to mention obstacles like columns that can be in the way. The number of displays, placement of displays, and sizes of the displays will be based on location to make the customers experience a pleasant one. Selecting the right size is based on viewing distances, considering the closest to furthest away—too big and it will be difficult for closer patrons to view, while too small makes creates an issue from viewers located further away.

• Even Audio: Projecting audio across the room will only make it more difficult to hear at a distance and uncomfortable if someone is positioned closer to the speaker—plus, having a conversation will become frustrating.

• Seamless Switching: When switching between live and broadcast, it's important to use seamless switching for a clean change in content. Zero latency is also critical, so the customer does not see the time difference between when the performer speaks and what is seen. Having a good DSP processor for mixing and feedback suppression is key, as no one wants an unpleasant squeal from the speakers.

Digging a little deeper, in a world where IP-based solutions are taking over, what works best: RF, AVoIP, a hybrid approach, or something else? Scott Hetzler from Contemporary Research posed that RF or hybrid may be the best-case scenario in most instances. An RF system takes advantages of tuners built into most TVs, eliminating the need for external hardware IP decoder boxes. Instead, a simple IR or RS-232 controller operates over the same coax cable.

“The cost of an RF system with full TV control is approximately 40% less than an AVoIP system,” Hetzler explained. “CR offers a package system called Venue Vizion available in RF/hybrid or IP. These packages are pre-wired and ready to drop into a rack, and come with modulators or encoders for eight channels, and controllers or decoders for up to 20 TVs. These packages make installation easier and lower cost, but can easily be expanded for more channels or TVs and offer complete TV control from any web-enabled device such as pad, phone, or PC.”

Amped for the Action

While even audio is important, so is the clarity and quality of the sound itself. Which loudspeakers are best in a sports bar environment?

Patrick Nunnally, AtlasIED's regional sales manager, Southeast, said there’s no one-size-fits-all for any application, including sports bars. Sometimes it depends on specific zones or the venue’s size, while other times it's a matter of background versus foreground music.

“In sports bars, this varies. The venue itself and its architecture, combined with the customer's needs and wants, will really dictate and hopefully drive you to the correct speaker choice,” Nunnally said. “We’re seeing more and more of them have an open architecture, which leads to more pendant or surface-mount type speakers aimed down. This is good because it increases your capabilities to deliver a more robust sound. My favorite for sports bars is a surface-mount speaker mounted up into the ceiling, aiming down, proportionally spaced out, and zoned out accordingly.”

As Nunnally recollected, based on his 30 years of experience in sports bars as both a patron and integrator, some people initially want to have audio from every TV all over the place. In reality, this can make the environment chaotic and unpleasant. “It’s best to establish a hierarchy based on the time of day and the events taking place,” he said. “If you have all the games playing at once and they’re all competing for audio, it creates a bad experience for everyone and can drive customers away.

[A Winning Bet in Downtown Hartford]

"When there are no sports events, you could have background music playing throughout the facility. But when important games, like college or NFL football, are happening simultaneously, you need to prioritize which game will be the main focus. You can then allocate a separate zone for specific groups of supporters.”

Many sports bars serve as venues requiring live sound as well, whether it be trivia night or a band on the patio. It’s important to engineer the system to handle the demands of live audio, as it is the most challenging aspect. “The key is choosing speakers that fit the ceiling heights and customer preferences and then designing the system around them,” Nunnally said. “Once you find the ideal speakers, everything else, including amplification and digital signal processing, can be selected to match.”

Livin’ on a Prayer

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood held the grand opening of their 55,000-square-foot Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in March. It offers plenty of screens for watching sports, as well as a full bar and plenty of bar eats, but its main focus—as you might suspect considering the owners—is live music.

The venue is using an L-Acoustics A Series concert sound system, designed by Clair Global Integration. On each side of the stage are one A15i Focus over two A15i Wide enclosures, and another hang of one A15i Focus over two A15i Wide to provide even coverage up to the second-level balcony. A DiGiCo Qauntum225 console provides front-of-house and monitor mixes for four bands a day.

Meanwhile, The Oasis, a rooftop bar, has its own A Series loudspeakers and KS21i subwoofers powered by an LA4X amplified controller. “One of our mantras at Clair is it has to sound great, not just loud,” explained Joe Anderson, systems designer. “Our goal is to elevate the production-value level of the entire sound experience here, making it closer to what you’d expect from a concert rather than a club. The A Series speakers deliver great sound, with a lot more punch than you’d expect from their size, right out of the box."

Another Nashville live-music venue is JBJ’s Nashville, owned by music legend Jon Bon Jovi. It requires much of the similar technology required in a sports bar. There are a multitude of displays and, of course, the sound is of vital importance in a restaurant/bar dubbed the “state-of-the-art fusion of rock 'n' roll and country.” Last summer, Aurora Multimedia was called upon to integrate multiple networks at the venue.

Aurora Multimedia went with its 1G AVoIP VPX Series at JBJ’s Nashville thanks to its seamless switching and enhanced image quality with zero-frame latency. Per Harris, the VPX Series offers Bluetooth Auracast and software-based Dante/AES67. Paired with IPBaseT Manager—Aurora’s enterprise class management software—users can route video previews, make macros, create alerts, and more on any PC, tablet, or phone.

[Subwoofers: Pick Your Spot]

“When you have a facility that must be on the top of its game, there is no time for downtime,” Harris said. “The VPX Series are all transceivers … they can be set as an encoder or decoder as required. In addition, the units have self-healing features and live diagnostics. These diagnostics can remotely tell the support person if the issue is the equipment, customer usage, or connected equipment related, and at what day and time it occurred.”

Sign of the Times

Digital signage? In a sports bar? Believe it or not, Brian Rowley, chief marketing officer at BrightSign, is seeing a much-needed use for digital signage and display solutions. Sports bars are frequented by those fans that can't make it to the stadium, so massive video walls can substitute for that experience.

"Video walls powered by digital signage players stream games in 4K resolution, making guests feel as if they are at the game," explained Rowley. "Meanwhile, to elevate the fan experience, digital signage displays positioned adjacent to video walls promote game-time specials, the latest menu offerings, breaking news, and even pictures of patrons who want to share their fandom with others. When a game is happening, sports bars need to keep fans engaged and in the moment, while bringing in the social and communal elements sports fans crave."

[The Digital Signage Best Practices Guide]

The right digital media players and signage technology give sports bars more flexibility, enabling them to switch things up during breakfast or lunch times by providing what Rowley calls a blank canvas to create their vibe and promote specials, menu items, or advertisements. "The BrightSign XT5 Digital Player is popular for sports bar settings for its strong dual-screen performance, superior live-streaming capabilities, and hassle-free content control—all using a single player," Rowley said. "It offers the right blend of motion graphics power and video performance to make guests feel as if they are present at the game in person. With 8K video and 3D motion graphics capabilities, the XT5 creates dynamic visuals that immerse guests into the experience."

Game-Day Control

Welcome to Bar-Bill Tavern, which has multiple locations across upstate New York in Clarence, East Aurora, and Rochester. The system at Bar-Bill Tavern was antiquated, using multiple remotes to control the audio and video like the “old days” of sports bars. Systems integration firm Park Place Installations looked to simplify the control at all the Bar-Bill locations and to do that, it turned to Snap One’s Control4.

Sports-bar friendly, Control4’s Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) technology enables hassle-free setup and seamless integration with over 20,000 devices. This makes day-to-day operations far more efficient by controlling everything from one centralized platform.

Scott Normand, commercial market senior director for Snap One, said the MultiDisplay Manager feature is ideal in a restaurant or sports bar. It allows easy control of hundreds of displays across multiple rooms, keeping patrons engaged by ensuring they can watch the games or programs they want.

“Control4 is an ideal solution for restaurants and sports bars looking for simplified AV control combined with intuitive features,” Normand added. “It's beautifully designed interface allows end users to manage complex AV systems effortlessly with minimal training, ensuring smooth operation.”

No matter what solution you go with in the sports’ bar space, much like a Rob Gronkowski playbook, the simpler the better. “From our experience in the restaurant and sports bar industries, we’ve learned that both integrators and end users prioritize simplicity,” Normand explained. “Integrators want a system that’s easy to install and program, and end users want a system that’s intuitive and easy to operate. In a fast-paced environment such as a sports bar, a simple-to-operate system allows for employees to quickly change displays to the most relevant game, monitor light settings, or play a victory song over the audio system when a key win is secured.”

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.

Aurora Multimedia has announced the appointment of industry veteran Hal Truax as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In this key leadership role, Truax will implement and oversee Aurora’s global initiatives, helping to evangelize Aurora’s range of innovative and disruptive products to integrators and distributors.

With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Truax brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this new role. His deep understanding of the Pro AV landscape, combined with a proven track record of leadership and strategic vision, positions him as the driving force in helping Aurora to increase awareness and revenue across the globe.  

“I am honored and excited to take on this role at Aurora,” Truax said. “The AV industry is undergoing a transformation, with more effort being directed at solving the day-to-day problems that many clients are experiencing. Aurora is best positioned to lead the way with its truly innovative solutions. I look forward to working with the talented and experienced team at Aurora, where will work together to drive growth and deliver exceptional solutions while providing uncompromised value to our customers worldwide.” 

[On AI & AV 2024: Aurora Multimedia]

Aurora's CEO Paul Harris, added, “Hal’s impressive experience, extensive knowledge, and motivational attitude will be an asset to Aurora. His storied career of elevating brands and cultivating internal company culture is the blend we’ve been seeking.”

This strategic appointment comes at a pivotal time for Aurora, as the company continues to push the boundaries of AV technology. With Truax at the helm, Aurora is poised to raise the bar regarding new standards for excellence, further solidifying Aurora’s position as a global leader in the AV industry. 

AVT Question: Please share your insight on AI and the cloud's impact on Pro AV today and in the near future.

Thought Leader: Paul Harris, CEO at Aurora Multimedia

The future of “AV in cloud” is limited and I feel is overstated at times. While the cloud can be great for unifying data and overall collaboration, we all need to take a step back and look at what AV really is and how the cloud may or may not impact the client. If you look at a typical conference room installation, it consists of microphones, amplifiers, speakers, display, PC, and distribution. None of which can be in the cloud. It is only the services for the applications that can truly benefit from the cloud that are engrained into today’s PC operating systems. If you look at video conferencing the main difference today vs years ago is using the internet to either go point to point or through a centralizing service like Zoom or Teams to bring in multiple parties at the same time. At the end of the day, the true nature of AV is still physical as you will need a processor for the call located at the site, a microphone, speaker, camera, etc.

The other issue with the cloud is what happens when the cloud is not available for whatever reason. Will it impact the ability to carry out a local meeting or to perform the duties of the day until the service is restored? There is still the security aspect as anything leaving the building always has some level of potential of being intercepted. Overall, I am simply stating to always have a local backup plan in the event the cloud has a rainy day.

As for AI I do think it will play a big role in AV. Control system programming will be assisted, cameras will become smarter in how it grabs the person(s) image, and sound quality in time will have the ability to properly delineate a specific persons voice will be more possible.

What you thought you knew about in-ceiling speakers yesterday is not what you know about in-ceiling speakers today. The hybrid world—whether it is solutions (like videobars) or features (like AI)—continues to evolve as we push toward a more equitable space for both the in-person and remote experience. The same is true for restaurants or retail environments that require uniform audio delivery throughout, whether it is for background music or emergency notifications.

Hearing what needs to be heard is important to everyone’s experience, but we don’t necessarily want to see obtrusive devices delivering said audio. So, what are we looking for with the latest in-ceiling microphone technology?

“There are a multitude of uses for ceiling speakers in the professional market,” explained Nalle Magnusson, product manager at Shure. “Among the most popular uses are meeting rooms, public spaces, and any flexible spaces that require an evenly distributed audio system that is out of sight, but still delivers a good listening experience. The system often provides speech amplification for the meeting room, either from a far-end codec or an in-room microphone system. For other spaces, the ceiling speaker system provides music, evacuation messaging, or similar.”

[Where Are We with Hybrid?]

To Use, Or Not to Use

Why consider in-ceiling speakers in the first place? “One of their primary advantages is their ability to maintain a clean aesthetic, particularly when visible in-room speakers are not preferred,” said Alexander Zaliauskas, director of product management, speakers, Snap One. “Architects specify ceiling speakers to blend into environments seamlessly, sometimes integrating them with LED lighting fixtures for a cohesive design.”

“In commercial applications, in-ceiling speakers are most often used to achieve uniform sound coverage,” added Tom Oliver, Vanco’s sales director for commercial AV.  “That’s a goal for a wide range of applications, including videoconference rooms, public address, emergency notifications, voice reinforcement, and program audio.”

“Distributed audio systems are probably the biggest segment for these devices—in any space where you want music or any kind of ambient sound everywhere,” added Joel Mulpeter, director of product marketing for Creston. 

But in-ceiling speakers are not an ideal solution for every project. According to Paul Harris, Aurora Multimedia’s CEO and CTO, there’s not much use for ceiling speakers in smaller rooms where the display speakers or a soundbar can be utilized. And Magnusson said that in certain situations, it can be difficult to achieve the necessary gain before feedback due to the lack of dispersion control inherent in a ceiling speaker system. “In these cases, a point-source/directional speaker or line array system may be necessary thanks to their much more precise audio dispersion,” he said.

[Evaluating the Office Space Identity Crisis]

When it comes to conferencing and massive spaces, in-ceiling speakers are best for larger meeting rooms and paging speakers. But there are still some challenges. “The construction and aesthetic of some spaces isn’t conducive to in-ceiling speakers. If the ceilings are extremely high, or the space has an industrial design with exposed rafters, you may want to opt for in-wall, wall-mounted, or pendant speakers instead,” Oliver added. “You also have to consider bleed-through to adjacent spaces—though with the right speaker or backbox design, you can overcome that issue.”

Design Considerations

Once the decision is made to go with in-ceiling speakers, plotting the design is imperative to achieve optimal audio and clarity—or as Mulpeter said, it takes “planning, planning, and more planning.”

Magnusson offered a number of questions to consider: “Is the room suitable for an in-ceiling system? Is there space above the ceiling to easily install and pull cables? Should it run on 70V, LoZ, or be networked? Can the speakers be placed to minimize reflections from the walls? How will the room be used? In-room microphone system amplification? Far-end amplification? Music? Only by fully understanding these requirements can you design a suitable system."

[Hybrid: The Next Generation]

“Intelligibility, uniformity, and user experience are the most important factors,” opined Oliver. “The AVIXA Audio Coverage Uniformity Standard offers a great foundation for in-ceiling loudspeaker system design.”

And don’t forget the customer. “Qualifying the customer and asking the right questions are crucial steps in identifying the best solution for your customer,” said Zaliauskas. “Factors such as budget, performance expectations, room layout, aesthetic considerations, and intended usage all play pivotal roles in determining the most suitable in-ceiling products among the myriad of options available.”

Can you consider in-ceiling speakers for outdoor locations, such as restaurant patios? “If the client prefers them, why not?” Mulpeter said. “We’re seeing more outdoor spaces that function as 'rooms' unto themselves, and if a space has a permanent ceiling, there’s no reason why a weather-resistant device can’t go into that ceiling. We designed many of our audio products to handle marine deployments as a baseline for durability, reliability, and weather resistance—if the gear can handle the rigors of the open ocean, it can handle a patio."

“Some in-ceiling speakers can be mounted in a pendant enclosure for outdoor and other applications,” Oliver added. “Of course, you must be certain the enclosure is appropriately rated for outdoor use in your local environment. Most regions in North American need IP65-rated gear to resist typical weather and particle exposure.”

On the Network?

How about networking an in-ceiling speaker system? Simply put, it depends.

Oliver said the ROI of networked speakers is directly related to the size and complexity of the project. “If you’re creating a sound system for a large stadium, networked audio can dramatically simplify distribution,” Oliver said. “For a sports bar or conference room, probably not.”

“In commercial installations, particularly large-scale ones, networked speakers have experienced rapid adoption,” said Zaliauskas. “This is primarily due to the scalability and advanced audio routing capabilities offered by audio-over-IP systems. These networked solutions streamline audio distribution and management, making them well-suited for complex commercial environments where flexibility and control are paramount.”

[A Better Way to Connect]

"Networked audio allows the addition of an incredible range of sources, from streaming to pro audio connections to physical media," Mulpeter added. "The ability to scale up and send flawless audio at longer distances without sacrificing quality is another huge factor.”

For paging or fire safety systems, networked audio can be very useful to monitor individual speakers and "the amplification can be segmented and powered from the switch," Harris said. "It also allows for zone/speaker specific notification—and if the speaker has a microphone feature, it can even become a two-way intercom. For a conference room, it’s not as necessary—but with the right solution, it can simplify installation, as the audio would be distributed by Dante/AES67 and eliminate the need for an amplifier mounted somewhere in the room.”

The Sub Routine

As more corporate venues and meeting spaces look toward a complete, comprehensive sound system, some installations feature a subwoofer with the in-ceiling speakers. While more of a luxury than necessity, most of our experts agreed there is a place for one in the right environment.

“The 'whys' of an in-ceiling sub are often related to pure practicality—the client’s office is a glass box, for example,” Mulpeter explained. “Or perhaps they’re retrofitting an old building in London or Boston with thick masonry walls. In any case, sound mitigation will probably be a big consideration. Those low frequencies can travel long distances, and the folks in the office above yours don’t want to hear the Death Star exploding.”

“It's essential to recognize that no single speaker can fully reproduce the entire audio spectrum with optimal effectiveness," noted Zaliauskas. “Ceiling speakers, for instance, have a limited cone area, impacting the extent of bass reproduction they can achieve. While digital signal processing [DSP] and other tools can enhance perceived bass through psychoacoustic techniques, there are scenarios where supplementing with a subwoofer becomes necessary to meet customer expectations in terms of performance."

But not all experts are fans of ceiling-based subwoofers. While Harris said a subwoofer can add liveliness to music or movies, one isn't necessary for unified communications, as speech doesn't require the very low frequencies of a subwoofer. "Personally, a subwoofer in a ceiling is a poor choice, as the low frequencies are more likely to make things rattle in the ceiling and the vibrations are more likely to travel to other rooms,” he added.

There are plenty of in-ceiling speakers out there for a wide array of use cases.  Let us help you get started in finding the right one with the following manufacturers.

AtlasIED IsoFlare Series

The AtlasIED IsoFlare Series of premium ceiling loudspeakers are ideal for luxury hotels, casinos, high-end restaurants and bars, retail spaces, and corporate facilities. Its point-source technology provides a natural and accurate soundstage, accurate and linear response, and consistent broadband directivity. The series consists of seven models, including blind mount models in 4, 6, and 8-inch sizes, a 4-inch low profile model, an 8-inch subwoofer, and two pre-install models. The loudspeakers offer an edgeless grille design in either square or round with black and white options. For quick and secure installation, the IsoFlare Series incorporates a patented toolless dog leg mounting mechanism on all models. 

Aurora Multimedia SKR-22T-XFR

This lightweight speaker delivers clear sound with fidelity not normally found on typical ceiling speakers. Its ability to reproduce a 180-degree sound field allows the use of only one speaker in a room for mono operation. Installation is quick, as well as less costly and less messy, as there is no cutting of ceiling tiles or back boxes to mount. Just drop the tile into a 2x2 ceiling grid, connect the speaker wire, and you are done. For 4x2 ceiling grids, just cut the tile in half and add a standard ceiling divider. With a full range of audio, presenters sound clear and presentation material is produced without missing the lows or the highs compared to typical 5-inch round ceiling speakers.

Bluesound Professional BCS300

The BCS300 network streaming ceiling speaker is a patented “all-in” solution. PoE technology enables a single Ethernet cable to deliver both power and network connectivity to the built-in amplifier and audio streamer, while the BluOS platform brings in natively integrated commercially licensed audio streaming services like SOUNDMACHINE and Sirius XM for Business. Other features include distribution control for dozens of zones and XYTE remote monitoring. As a decentralized solution, it is easy to install new or retrofit into existing systems, while the optional pendant kit quickly converts it to a hanging pendant speaker.

Bose Professional EdgeMax EM180

Bose Professional’s EdgeMax series combines high-fidelity sound with unique directionality to break free of the limitations of the in-ceiling loudspeaker category. EdgeMax sounds like a surface-mount loudspeaker, looks like an in-ceiling loudspeaker, and directs sound asymmetrically into spaces where traditional loudspeakers can’t go. Patented PhaseGuide technology creates a coverage profile unique to Bose speakers. Instead of firing downward in a cone-shaped pattern like traditional ceiling speakers, EdgeMax projects sound into the room to deliver high-quality performance and directionality.

Crestron Saros IC6T

Saros speakers are designed to deliver enhanced speech intelligibility and full music reproduction for use in boardrooms, classrooms, restaurants, nightclubs, retail spaces, houses of worship, and convention facilities. Designed for quick and easy installation and years of reliable performance, the Saros IC6T is a two-way in-ceiling speaker featuring a 6.5-inch woofer and wide-dispersion, horn-loaded 1-inch dome tweeter. A built-in 60W multi-tap transformer allows for use with 70V and 100V distributed speaker systems. Power handling at 8 ohms is 125W (program), with a wide frequency response from 50 Hz to 20 kHz (±3 dB).

Extron SoundField XD SF 26CT 

The SoundField XD SF 26CT two-way ceiling speaker features an 8-inch-deep composite back can for use in plenum-rated ceiling environments. The driver complement includes a 6.5-inch woofer coupled to a 3/4-inch ferrofluid-cooled dome tweeter. The SF 26CT offers both direct 8 ohm and 70/100V operation with a behind-the-grille, six-position power selector switch. With high impedance taps at 8, 16, 32, and 64 watts, the SF 26CT is ideal for applications that require a high-power distributed speaker system. It also features a finely perforated round metal grille (or optional square grille) that attaches magnetically to the baffle.

JBL LCT 81C/TM

The LCT 81C/TM delivers high output and intelligibility for classrooms, offices, paging systems, airports, retail stores, and any place where speech and music clarity are critical. The low-profile speaker features a highly efficient 8-inch dual-cone driver with 1-inch voice coil and high-performance transformer. Its wide 100-degree conical dispersion pattern translates to broader coverage with fewer speakers, and its high 96 dB sensitivity means loud and clear sound even at low tap settings. Because the speaker looks like a ceiling vent, it’s ideal for venues where the architect or visual designer doesn’t want the appearance of a ceiling speaker. 

Leon Axis Pro Design Series

Leon’s Axis Pro Design Series of in-ceiling speakers offers high-quality performance, flexibility, and design. Combining premium, full-range audio with a discreet aesthetic, Axis Pro Design is ideal for ambient background music, as additional sound reinforcement for distributed audio, or as main speakers in any commercial space. Commercial-grade and UL listed with plenum-rated steel back cans and 70V transformers, Axis Pro Design is available in three models and comes standard with magnetically attached circular grills that can be upgraded to square and custom painted to match any color code or paint swatch.

Lowell ES Series

Lowell’s ES Series in-ceiling speakers offer timesaving, ready-to-install designs. The ES Series features a clean look, enhanced sound, and fast installation in a UL listed product that is well suited for a variety of commercial and institutional applications in drywall, wood, and tile ceilings. Six available models range from 4-8-inch drivers paired with a transformer for 70V applications. The ES Series ensures excellent intelligibility for speech and full-frequency response for music in a self-contained package designed with contractors and systems integrators in mind. 

Pure Resonance Audio C3

Compact and lightweight, the Pure Resonance Audio C3 3-inch micro commercial ceiling speaker seamlessly blends into ceilings with its recessed design. Equipped with a built-in 70/100V transformer and 8-ohm bypass, these speakers are perfect for diverse business environments like offices, retail stores, restaurants, and hospitality venues. Despite its small footprint, the C3 offers enhanced audio quality, ideal for background music and sound masking. The speaker is quick to install using the included screw-on easy-mounting ring for drop tile ceilings, with optional mounting kits available for drywall or open ceiling applications.

Shure Microflex MXN5W-C

Microsoft Teams Certified, the Microflex MXN5W-C networked ceiling loudspeaker delivers premium audio performance optimized for voice intelligibility, with a low-profile design for easy installation in drop ceiling configurations. It integrates seamlessly with Shure’s ecosystem of networked hardware and software, including Microflex Advance (MXA) Array Microphones and IntelliMix DSP, to deliver a complete audio solution with AES-256 encryption and enhanced AV conferencing performance. With Shure Designer System Configuration software, MXN5W-C users can visualize speaker coverage alongside Shure MXA microphones and Shure networked devices for ease of deployment. 

Snap One Triad PDX Series

Triad PDX speakers pair premium audio performance with a simplified installation experience made possible by Push Lock by Swarm technology. The series includes 13 speakers and 19 accessories, including optional custom-colored grilles, rear enclosure, and pre-construction brackets. Triad PDX enhances the listening experience by using high-performance materials and components like carbon fiber, Kevlar, Teteron, dual voice coils, chemically etched metal components, and more. Unique to Triad PDX, the Kevlar infusion into carbon fiber for the woofer creates a premium audio experience.

SoundTube CM-BGM-II-US Series

SoundTube Entertainment’s series of BAA-compliant in-ceiling speakers includes four models that combine high-performance audio with sleek, modern aesthetics to deliver clear background music. Designed specifically for low and suspended ceilings, SoundTube’s CM-BGM in-ceiling speakers reduce installation time with the SpeedWing constant-tension mounting system. The CM Series incorporates low profile styling and seamless coverage in a one-piece integrated unit. Applying BroadBeam technology, the CM-BGM models greatly expand the coverage area, meaning fewer speakers are needed for full frequency dispersion.

TOA FB-3862CU

Part of the TOA F-Series of high-performance, flush-mount ceiling speakers, the FB-3862CU is a ceiling subwoofer assembly for low-frequency enhancement of distributed loudspeaker systems. A 60W, 70/100V transformer is included, and the bandpass design eliminates the need for a bi-amplified system. The 8-ohm bypass allows for applications using electronic crossovers and dedicated low impedance power amplifiers. The FB-3862CU subwoofer rounds out TOA's F-Series premier speaker line to offer a full spectrum sonic experience suitable for retail environments, restaurants, lounges, conference rooms, and any application where music or video content require high-quality sound.

Vanco Beale Street TIC651

The Beale Street TIC651 70/100V architectural speaker is a versatile solution for clear sound in commercial spaces. The 6.5-inch fluted injected poly woofer and 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter produce a frequency range of 48 Hz to 24 kHz and a sensitivity of 89 dB for detailed, accurate sound reproduction. The TIC651 is outfitted with a butyl rubber surround, patented Sonic Vortex ported transmission line, and magnetic, bezel-less grille for easy integration that preserves room aesthetics. Sonic Vortex technology enables the TIC651 to absorb sound waves and redirect them back into a room, preventing audio bleed in commercial applications where privacy is a prime concern.

Yorkville C165W

The 60W, 6.5-inch C165W is a high-performance ceiling mount loudspeaker. Ideal for any background music or paging system where sound quality is a priority, the speaker is made for louder club or restaurant/retail environments. Featuring an innovative design and employing high-quality materials, the C165W maintains quality performance from a compact ceiling loudspeaker. It contains a coaxial 6.5-inch woofer and 3/4-inch titanium coated tweeter. Built-in 70V taps at 7.5, 15, 30, or 60W operation means that high-fidelity, full-range sound can be achieved over an extremely wide coverage pattern area.

Economy, convenience, and simplicity are constant goals for AV installers, operators, and users—which happens to be the sweet spot for KVM technology. Short for keyboard, video, and mouse, KVM allows users to control and switch between multiple computers while using a single set of peripherals.

For anyone who uses multiple computers at a workstation, KVM is an easy sell. Using KVM switches to control multiple computers from one user interface centralizes control, but it also reduces the number of peripherals that need to be purchased and eventually replaced. “Additional benefits of KVM switches include decreased desktop clutter and improved worker productivity and situational awareness,” added Erin Glenn, Belkin International’s director of product management, secure KVM.

Advanced Functionality

According to "A Close Look at Modern Keyboard/Video/Mouse Switching," a white paper by Tony DeKerf and Gary D. Davis from 1995 (and revised in 2000), the ability to use a single keyboard, mouse, and monitor to control multiple computers via a KVM switch was introduced, in rudimentary form, back in the 1980s. Decades later, many advances have made KVM switching far more efficient and secure.

[Executive Q&A: Embracing Alliances]

“Ongoing enhancements include improved resolution and contributing to an improved user experience—certain KVM solutions now accommodate up to 5K resolution,” said Aaron Johnson, product manager with ATEN Technology. “Additionally, recent advancements in KVM technology facilitate audio and microphone sharing. The integration of virtual media also enables the utilization of local drive resources, facilitating remote installations, patch upgrades, and other related tasks as needed.”

KVM has also been expanded to move beyond remote control of multiple computers. “Cameras, Bluetooth, and mass storage are now available to be routed using KVM as well,” said Aurora CEO/CTO Paul Harris.

“Over the years, secure KVM switches have advanced by enabling enclave switching over long distances,” Glenn added. “Existing technology allows extenders to deliver point-to-point video and USB across distances, but there's no way to switch the video path from enclave to enclave. The combination of KVM, extenders, and keyboard with integrated remote-control pad enables enclave switching and long-distance transmission of video/USB over copper or fiber infrastructure for audiovisual projects challenged by signaling limitations. This is ideal for remote desktops, conference rooms, command and control, and secure video access.”

Recently, even more capabilities have been added to KVM systems. “Modern features include Panel Array Mode, both in static and live configurations,” said Johnson. “The introduction of remote authentication and authorization passthrough enables users to leverage their own active directory credentials. Boundless Switching is also worth noting, facilitating the seamless transfer of mouse or USB signals among connected computers.  There's also been significant improvement in speed over the years, with certain newer models now tailored for compatibility with 10GB networks."

Let's Add IP

The ability to connect distant devices over IP networks have fundamentally transformed the nature of AV, and KVM is no exception. KVM-over-IP switches have extended traditional KVM capabilities by "allowing remote access and control over IP networks,” explained Dan Holland, marketing manager with IHSE USA. “While traditional KVM is ideal for local setups, KVM-over-IP provides flexibility for remote management. The choice between them depends on specific use cases and requirements, with both having their advantages.”

“KVM and KVM-over-IP serve distinct purposes in terms of remote access to devices,” Johnson agreed. “Standard KVM necessitates physical proximity, either at the rack or in-person at the desk, wherein a local user employs a KVM to control and access all devices connected to it."

In contrast, KVM-over-IP enables remote access from separate buildings or even separate countries. "Users can simply open a web browser, enter the KVM's IP address or name, and log in remotely. Again, this stands in contrast to local-only KVM setups, which are limited by cable distance between the KVM and the server, typically ranging from 10 to 15 feet, depending on signal requirements," Johnson said. "The key advantage of KVM-over-IP lies in its capacity for unlimited distance, offering flexibility for users located globally to connect and manage devices through a web interface.”

[Executive Q&A: Changing the Topology of AV]

Not surprisingly, the difference between working locally or across the globe results in some differences between KVM and KVM-over-IP in connectivity, access, and scalability, particularly in data center and server room use cases. “Secure KVM switches use physical cables to connect host devices and KVM-over-IP relies on network connections," Glenn offered. "KVM-over-IP supports multiple user connections and remote access and control. Secure KVM switches require single-user access and control. Secure KVM switches are hardware-based, where KVM-over-IP includes hardware and/or software solutions.”

Expanded Uses

Most people associate KVM with command-and-control functions as executed within government, military, or prison settings. However, Holland said its applications extend to various industries, including broadcast, post production, healthcare, and simulation. This is because KVM “facilitates efficient content creation, collaboration, and system management.”

KVM is also useful in many other applications, such as small or medium-sized server rooms, integration into production lines, control rooms, and remote/branch office data centers. “In the context of secure government applications, KVM facilitates users in accessing computers classified as either government-classified or unclassified, all within the same switch,” Johnson said.

In a conference room, KVM can be employed to link the room’s peripherals into the presenter’s laptop computer via its USB port, providing them with centralized device control. "We can also do 'roaming mouse,'" said Harris. "When you move the mouse from one edge to the next, it will automatically jump computers."

Seamless cursor-based switching is available in Belkin's Secure KVM Series. "In Secure KVM, seamless cursor-based switching transitioned to Guard Mode or Key Press Seamless Cursor Switching [KPSCS]. Instead of using front-panel buttons to switch between channels, KPSCS automatically switches the mouse and keyboard from one channel to the next once the mouse cursor crosses a display border onto the adjacent display while the correct keyboard key is held down," Glenn added. "Guard Mode requires a key press or a specific action, driving the mouse cursor from display to display. This ensures situational awareness as operators switch across secure enclaves.”

KVM can do even more when harnessed to a Display Management System (DMS). “It provides centralized control, monitoring, and configuration of KVM systems, enhancing overall efficiency while giving users a more secure way of directly accessing multiple computer sources,” said Holland.

Meanwhile, security is a prime feature of KVM-over-IP. “You need to keep it secure with encryption and, if using AVoIP, isolate the network switch,” Harris said. “It is important to find ways to manage and limit what can or cannot be sent over the method of extension."

[DMS: Next-Gen KVM]

As for the future of KVM? “It looks promising, with continuous advancements in technology,” Holland said. “We anticipate further integration with emerging technologies, enhanced virtualization support, and the development of more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.”

“Looking ahead, KVM tech might shift toward fiber-based extensions,” added Johnson. “We're seeing more modular-format KVM switch boxes connecting physically to computers, but the future could bring remote virtual machine control. Or we might expect improvements like higher frame rates and faster USB signals for gaming applications.”

InfoComm 2024 heads back to the Las Vegas Convention Center this June 8-14. As we have in the past, SCN turned to several InfoComm 2024 exhibitors to talk trends, technology, inspiration, and an exclusive sneak preview of what you'll see when you visit their booths this June. 

[Follow the ROAD TO INFOCOMM 2024 at AV Network] 

In today's edition to the InfoComm 2024 Impulses series, meet Paul Harris, CEO/CTO, Aurora Multimedia.

SCN: What technology or industry trend do you expect to be the talk of InfoComm 2024?

Paul Harris: I expect the Aurora patented “ReAX Room” to be the technology talk of Infocomm 2024 as it is the first major change in over 30 years in control system topology. We will show that a touch interface can be more than just a fancy overpriced remote control and can be used as a daily essential tool.

SCN: What is your company’s main focus at the show this year?

PH: Aurora’s focus will be the “ReAX Room." This is a new and better way of implementing room control, audio, and video. Using our new RXT-4DV 4-inch control panel with a Dante/AES67 angular beamforming microphone and 4-watt speaker, we have improved the experience and turned a touchpanel from a nicety to a necessity. 

The system can vote, raise hands, seat place, hearing assist, language translate, distribute video over IP, and much more. Audio will be evenly distributed at the table as well as mic pickup, creating a speaker and microphone array. For larger rooms, the solution can be used as a mix minus and for further audio enhancement we will be showing the new BX-25D 25 Watt PoE+ Dante/AES67 Bass Expander to mount under a table.

[3 ISE 2024 Trends That Will Extend to InfoComm 2024]

SCN: How does InfoComm inspire you?

PH: It is the place we love to announce new products and to get feedback. It helps us with new ideas and to evolve products to better suit the needs of our customers. It is also an opportunity to hear from our customers and learn more about how our designs have impacted the industry.

SCN: What features are essential in today’s touchpanels?

PH: Having a fast processor with bright high-resolution screen is essential. In Aurora’s case, all our touch panels are more than an interface, they are the control processor brain based on web standards. It is also important for the touchpanels to support video playback and to have a web browser.

AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Joe Andrulis, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Biamp

Two areas where Biamp sees tremendous value for AV and IT managers in creating a successful conferencing experience are, one, through the integration of AI into conferencing technology; and two, offering AV conferencing peripherals in a bundle that is certified to work with the dominant unified communication (UC) platforms, especially Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google.

After all, the explosion of IoT devices in the office environment, especially providing more conferencing equipment in the hybrid work era, means IT and AV pros are often tasked with managing an increasingly larger and diversified array of devices with the same internal resource constraints.

Simplify and Speed Commissioning with AI AV and IT managers can now leverage AI to create a high-quality conferencing experience for their users without sacrificing efficiency. One such tool is Biamp Launch, which automatically optimizes and tunes a conference space at the touch of a button, taking what was once a highly specialized function that could take hours or even days to execute, down to minutes. Furthermore, this type of automation also allows for more scale—the ability to do more rooms easily in less time, with less labor, but still allowing for the required customization to ensure an extraordinary experience within each space.

UC-Certified Conference Room Bundles Driving this push for automation is the mass adoption of standardization due to the rise of ubiquitous UC platforms that have radically changed the AV Pro market. To further empower AV and IT managers, Biamp offers conferencing room bundles based on the size of the conference room, offering a mix of AV peripherals including cameras, mics, loudspeakers, and control devices, along with a Lenovo UC host compute—essentially everything required for an effective conference room experience. These bundles are also certified with the major UC providers to make provisioning, installing, and commissioning conferencing rooms as seamless as possible.

Ultimately, the industry is responding to enterprise AV and IT managers to help them implement effective AV conferencing solutions efficiently and conveniently, either through a preferred integrator or by themselves.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Joel Carroll, Executive Vice President of Sales at Mersive Technologies

The future of AV is now and has already migrated to a software-centric approach, which plays a crucial role in assisting our partners and customers in not only installing, but also maintaining an excellent experience for both users and admins. While hardware is still a core component in the solutions we provide as the AV industry, the complete user journey from installation to customer experience is heavily rooted in the quality of the software provided by the manufacturers. 

Mersive Technologies’ Solstice Pods have an extensive life cycle and act as a central hub within the overall ecosystem. Through Solstice Cloud, AV/IT teams can easily deploy features, updates, patches, and more on demand or according to a schedule to minimize network disruption. This approach provides the necessary connectivity, while the user-facing software enhances ease of use and offers advanced capabilities such as video conferencing, wireless collaboration, and AV-over-IP routing.

With Solstice Cloud, all our customers can deploy Pods at scale and have complete control from anywhere. For example, one Mersive customer has successfully deployed 15,000 Pods across 500 different locations via Solstice Cloud. When adding a new Pod to their fleet, they simply plug it into the network, register it, and push a configuration template to the device. It quickly comes online and seamlessly integrates into the space, ready for use.

Additionally, Solstice’s Operational Analytics help AV/IT teams determine how a space is being used for maximizing efficiency. Stephens Institute tells me they use this data to see how their educational spaces are being utilized and to inform and maximize the design of new spaces, whether it’s a lecture hall, study space, or smaller classroom.

Ultimately, successful installations only happen when hardware and software work seamlessly together, at which point “solutions” become “experiences.” Mersive has an exceptional team that helps our customers understand their system goals and develop a plan for deployment. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

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

Peerless-AV has remained a trusted partner for AV/IT integrators seeking to create seamless and successful installations, offering comprehensive support to end users to ensure the success of their installations and a commitment to evolving products with cutting-edge technology.

Peerless-AV’s product line reflects a deep understanding of the challenges faced by AV/IT professionals. Engineered with a commitment to user-centric design, Peerless-AV solutions come equipped with features that simplify the integration process. From sleek mounting solutions to adaptable AV components, our products are designed to seamlessly integrate with existing AV/IT infrastructure. 

However, a successful AV/IT installation requires more than high-quality hardware; it demands knowledge and guidance. Peerless-AV provides a wealth of resources, including the Certified Installer Training Program—offering both in-person or online webinar options, as well as detailed installation guides, comprehensive documentation, and instructional videos. This allows users to navigate the installation process with confidence. These resources serve as valuable references and contribute to reducing installation time and minimizing potential challenges.

When challenges arise, having access to reliable customer support is crucial. Peerless-AV takes pride in offering responsive and knowledgeable assistance with queries, troubleshooting issues, providing timely solutions, and more, ensuring that customers feel supported throughout the entire installation journey. Peerless-AV customer service also offers real-time chat with a real person through the live chat tool on peerless-av.com. 

In the rapidly advancing world of AV/IT, staying ahead of the curve is essential. Peerless-AV invests in continuous research and development to deliver products that align with the latest industry standards. By embracing constant innovation, Peerless-AV enables end users to future-proof their installations, ensuring long-term success and adaptability in the face of technological advancements.

As technology continues to advance, Peerless-AV empowers professionals to create successful AV/IT installations with confidence and ease. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Effi Goldstein, President of the HDBaseT Alliance

With its ability to provide long-range signal extension of UHD AV, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 100 watts of power, and control up to 328 feet (100m) over a single Category cable, HDBaseT is already a long-established ally to AV professionals looking to streamline their installations. 

That said, when it comes to the end-user experience, it’s the plug-and-play nature of HDBaseT that truly sets the technology apart. As BYOD continues to proliferate in school learning spaces and conference rooms everywhere, so does the need for fast, simple, and hassle-free connectivity for laptops, tablets, and other mobile devices. Too often, that important meeting or classroom presentation is derailed by an evasive Wi-Fi password, network firewall, and equipment incompatibility. HDBaseT can bypass all these literal barriers to entry with configuration-free simplicity that just works, and a system that’s vastly easier for AV/IT managers to maintain.

Additionally, as USB continues its own rapid adoption rate, I am proud to say the HDBaseT Alliance is already ahead of the curve with our soon-to-be-released HDBaseT-USB3 standard, allowing for high-performance, low-power, long-range USB 3.2 and power distribution. Not only will this advancement provide a more flexible and affordable professional-grade extension for our industry’s fastest-growing interface, but, along with our planned certification program, will also guarantee interoperability of devices regardless of manufacturer.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Joe Chordas, Vice President of North American Sales and Corporate Marketing at ZeeVee

ZeeVee supports AV/IT integrators and end users in creating successful installations in several key ways. We offer the industry’s broadest range of AV signal distribution solutions. Our ZyPer4K 10Gb encoders and decoders are ideal for applications that require uncompressed 4K video distribution with near zero latency.

For those installations where uncompressed 4K video will suffice, our ZyPerUHD60 1Gb models are ideal, especially for Zoom and Teams rooms. They are also future-proofed to connect to, or grow into, a fuller AV infrastructure as the need arises. ZeeVee also supports its partners by maintaining readily available stock for quick shipping, allowing them to complete projects on schedule.

Our ZyPer Management Platform (ZMP)—instrumental in the installation, controlling, and maintaining of our AVoIP encoders and decoders—has long been a key differentiator. In 2023, we further enhanced network security with the release of ZMP 3.x, a major upgrade that stands as the industry’s most secure management interface for network-based AV systems. All users will benefit from the latest version, but particularly those operating mission-critical systems in the government, enterprise, and healthcare sectors. 

Another way we bring value to our partners and end-users is with our high-touch, customer-centric support. This attention to their engineering and system configuration needs provides extreme value—further enabling them to complete projects in a trouble-free and efficient manner. 

Finally, as a founding member of the SDVoE Alliance, we take our responsibility to provide training very seriously. This includes our regular Certified Solution Partner Training webinars, which share best practices for AV and IT professionals installing, maintaining, and expanding AVoIP systems.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Carrie Kaumans, Corporate Channel Marketing Manager at Listen Technologies

Listen Technologies is dedicated to ensuring a seamless and successful installation experience for AV/IT end users. We prioritize a customer-centric approach by providing first-rate technical support with a focus on rapid issue resolution. When a customer contacts us, they are immediately connected to a live and knowledgeable tech professional, eliminating the frustration associated with automated systems. Our commitment to first call resolution means that our experts work diligently to address any concerns during the initial contact.

We recognize the importance of time, and our average wait time of less than 30 seconds underscores our dedication to minimizing downtime for our customers. Whether through phone calls, emails, or real-time chat support during business hours, our customers can expect swift responses. We pride ourselves on responding to most emails within an hour, ensuring that written communication is both timely and effective.

By offering comprehensive support across various communication channels, we empower end users to navigate any challenges they may encounter during installation. Our live, real-time assistance is not just a service, but a partnership in creating a successful installation. Our team’s expertise, coupled with a commitment to efficiency and accessibility, sets the stage for a positive customer experience and a smooth deployment process. At every step, our goal is to exceed customer expectations. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Gina Sansivero, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at AtlasIED 

As a hardware manufacturer, it is essential for us to support end users throughout the buying journey. As customers consider our products and solutions, we offer multiple touchpoint opportunities for end users to connect with us, often in concert with our integration partners worldwide. Additionally, we’ve created a range of resources to support their decision-making process. 

The process starts in product development, where we conduct customer focus groups and symposiums to receive feedback and ensure we build products with features that solve true challenges our end users face. Once the product ships and is available for purchase, our salespeople are available for consultation directly with end users. We help educate and inform the end users while supporting our integrator partners, who are our sales channel to the markets. During a customer’s research phase, we also provide relevant case studies to reference, and our sales teams help connect new users with existing customers who have used our products. 

We also offer a free system design assistance program to help customers determine the type of products to install to help create the best system option for the environment and users’ needs. For example, end users supply our engineers with project specifics and a floor plan, and then we create a package indicating speaker placement by type, a block diagram level of signal flow, and a material equipment list. 

AtlasIED focuses on training and education through our Academy. Live classes, on-demand tutorials, and self-guided courses for end users and integrator partners ensure that our technologies are understood, and the solutions are fully explained to support design, installation, maintenance, and ongoing support throughout the product life cycle.

From product development to post-sales support and training, there is no finish line once a project is completed. We work with end users long after to ensure they are satisfied with our products throughout their use. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Sam Kennedy, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Crestron

We spend a lot of time and energy thinking about just that—the end user.

We constantly strive to build products that are incredibly intuitive and easy to use. The design of the hardware, its control layout, the fit and finish—it’s all carefully considered and tested. The idea is that you can touch a Crestron product with zero training, and it will simply work.

Another aspect of our end user support is consistency: It doesn’t matter if your business is standardized on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or any other platform; we will help to ensure that the user experience is the same in every room of your enterprise, no matter the size.

Furthermore, Crestron is a leader in the field of automation. When one walks into a room that’s been designed using Crestron technology, that room will react intelligently, whatever the task at hand might be. For example, the lights may come up as you enter. Should you begin a call or a presentation, lights, and shading may adjust accordingly. Systems such as our Automate VX multi-camera speaker tracking solution offer automatic framing and optical zoom when a collaborator is speaking, which creates a much better meeting experience for both remote and in-person collaborators—especially as a part of our Sightline package of technology.

There are other support aspects that might not be quite as obvious: We include certain camera features, for example, that either drop a privacy screen over the lens or turn the camera to the wall when a device isn’t in use, offering an extra level of privacy when a meeting ends. 

In short, ease of use, consistency, and automation are in our DNA as an organization—and those factors that positively impact the end user are baked into everything we make.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Pamela Qualls, Chief Operating Officer at Just Add Power

At Just Add Power, we work with integrators to design and install AV-over-IP projects. In those cases, while we don’t connect with the end user directly, there are things we can do to make sure that the end user’s experience is a positive one. First, we make our products work reliably for many years with high-quality audio and video. Our products have a five-year warranty, so while our device failure rate is less than one percent, if there is a transmitter or receiver that doesn’t work, we will replace it quickly and get the system back up and running. Our seamless integration with commonly used control systems ensures that the end user will have a simple interface for source switching and distribution that can be an element of the other automation they have installed at their facility.

On the other hand, we sometimes have large organizations as end users of the products, and they have their own integration teams. Whether we are working with these internal teams or the integrators mentioned above, our technical support is second to none. Our techs are trained in our facility in a multi-year process and rise through levels of expertise as they learn the ins and outs of AV over IP. When an integrator calls our tech support team, they access experts who will help them troubleshoot the whole system—not only the Just Add Power devices. If there’s a problem with the switch, the cables, or a display, our team will do what they can to help identify the issue and solve it, or point the integrator to the source of a solution. We also offer quarterly three-day trainings—with all housing, food, and local transportation paid—to any integrator who would like to develop their AV-over-IP expertise.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Patrick Prothe, Director of Marketing at Audinate 

One of the biggest challenges to any successful AV installation is device interoperability. The primary ways to deal with interoperability issues are (a) the “walled garden” approach—a single-brand universe of products; (b) the establishment of standards, but the standards often don’t provide the implementation or support of the underlying technology; and (c) using a fully supported holistic transport solution developed by a third party. The huge advantage of the third-party solution is that if something goes wrong with the implementation, there’s a company that supports the platform, has a deep understanding of the technology, and wants to help integrators and manufacturers alike.

Audio and video stream synchronization is another challenging area for successful installations. Manufacturers that offer an integrated solution or a single tool for configuration and one-click routing of all audio and video devices solve the common issues associated with synchronization while simultaneously providing unprecedented flexibility in signal routing and simplified system commissioning.

Another aspect of successful installations is the skill set and experience of the integrator, which manufacturer training opportunities can heavily influence. Many manufacturers offer comprehensive training options for in-person and online learning, providing an easy way for system designers, installers, and other industry members to become experienced working with the manufacturer’s products. Some manufacturers offer training at major trade shows for greater convenience. In addition to training, many manufacturers have a rich online library of whitepapers, application diagrams, and technical documentation on their products and APIs.

Additionally, many companies offer professional services, which provide consultants, integrators, and end users with an easy path to access the manufacturer’s technical expertise directly. Professional services teams can help deliver comprehensive system designs and successful deployments, make recommendations for optimizing and managing complex systems, or help resolve complex interoperability issues with third-party devices.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Jill Young, Marketing Manager, IT Channel at Legrand | AV

At Legrand | AV, we have invested heavily in support services at every stage of a project. 

Our Solutions Engineering team consists of experienced AV professionals ready to help clients navigate the design process, provide expert guidance through technical challenges, and research new solutions for unexpected snags during rollouts. This team’s primary mission is to help dealers through the AV design process at no additional cost. They can also jump in at later stages of a project as a set of fresh eyes to ensure an existing AV system design is flawless. 

The Solutions Consulting team, as well as our regional sales team members, are always eager to work with end users by providing walkthroughs and post-installation training so that our IT and AV partners and their end user clients are able to understand and use the full suite of features our AV solutions bring to the table. 

Beyond that, our individual brands also have dedicated services to support end users, including Luxul’s Customer Assurance Program for networking, Chief’s TiLED Solution Services for dvLED installations, and Vaddio’s lifetime support on all their products, to name just a few. All of these services are our way of going beyond the product to provide exceptional AV experiences. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Thomas Carroll, Group Manager, PIVS Service at Panasonic Connect North America

Live events are booming as consumers crave more immersive experiences. To meet this demand, event teams are integrating projection, camera, audio, and display technologies into museums, concert halls, and immersive art exhibits in truly unique ways. The result is a surge in immersive tech, an industry expected to hit $167.75 billion by 2032. With this growing adoption, event teams need technology partners who provide seamless installation, showtime, and post-performance services. 

Panasonic Connect offers a suite of services in addition to our well-known products, which customers can take advantage of across all stages of an installation. Beginning with the planning process, customers come to us with a vision. Whether working with an existing audiovisual infrastructure or creating a new space, venue, or workflow entirely from scratch, Panasonic Connect brings the right experts to the right solution and recommends the best technologies and software to bring the experience to life. With a growing lineup of industry-specific partners, content providers, and system integrators, we also offer recommendations for third-party solutions to ensure holistic, cohesive ecosystems. It is our role to listen to customers and work closely with our ecosystem of partners, innovators, and integrators to meet customer needs. 

Panasonic Connect’s hands-on services extend to the installation process. With many venues struggling to find skilled tech workers, Panasonic Connect offers on-site installation support. With this service, Panasonic engineers assist and support the installation team while simultaneously training event staff on how to use the technologies. This closes the skills gap for in-house audiovisual teams for seamless future operations. 

Even when an installation is complete, Panasonic Connect offers 24/7 remote monitoring capabilities, which gives our engineers alerts should on-site technical problems arise. Engineers can remotely access the device’s software to evaluate the issue and address it immediately or, if needed, relay the information back to the event team to set up a time to come on-site. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Paul Beals, Sales Engineer, Northeast at Atlona

We will always support the end customer in the most practical way possible. Sometimes, there are circumstances that prevent us from speaking directly to the end user. In those cases, we take extra care to make sure that the dealer or integrator working directly with the end user has a complete understanding of what Atlona’s technology will bring to their facilities. We find that it’s more productive when we can accompany the partner. This allows us to gather input from the installers as well as the end users and/or technology managers who will operate and maintain the systems. 

We start with the basic questions of what purpose each room will serve, and who the true end users of the installed equipment will be. This helps us determine the comfort level that users will have with technology, so we can make decisions that will appeal to the environment. For example, the presence of an on-site technology manager means that we can design a more interesting system to serve more applications. That is particularly beneficial if the design is for a multi-purpose space. Then there are the more granular elements to consider, including potential sightline intrusions and room oddities that can affect the user experience. We also need to understand if people with visual or hearing impairments will use the space.

Once the design is complete, we consider what training services, if any, are required based on the complexity of the system. A multi-camera system that integrates a wealth of third-party equipment may require more training services, and may require that the installer partners with a programmer to ensure that everything works together. Post-installation, we assist with adjustments or add-ons if and as required, based on user feedback. Ultimately, we all want to make sure that the end user’s experience is as good as possible.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Mark Bonifacio, Director of Business Management, Professional Display Solutions at Sony Electronics

Sony’s philosophy is to solve customers’ pain points and be a strong partner to the industry through education, alignment with other leading companies, and direct interaction with customers—end users, resellers, distributors, the channel, integrators, or consultants. We’ve taken a very deliberate approach, working hand in hand with our Pro AV community to design, develop, and enhance both our products and our outreach based on their needs and feedback.

We’re focused on making Sony products easier to inform, spec, and integrate through engagement efforts such as our ACE (architects, consultants, and engineers) Portal. This provides critical assets and knowledge, including BIM (building information management) content, CAD drawings, and Revit files, as well as technical information, configurator tools, webinars, and case studies. Sony remains committed to our end users beyond the point of sale. This is demonstrated through our regular Tech Tuesday series of webinars, taking a deeper dive on some of Sony’s latest technologies and offering our community an open forum to learn and ask questions. Additionally, the RV on AV video series is focused on thought leadership and trending topics in the market. 

Support is also shown through our continual updates and improvements through initiatives such as free firmware updates and license upgrades, which bring new functionality to products and solutions and let them grow as a customers’ needs develop. We pride ourselves on building strong, continued relationships with our end users and integrators, checking in to make sure their technology is working hard and meeting their needs. We appreciate the chance to see our customers and spend time with them in their space, as well as at industry and Sony-sponsored trade shows and events. Sony also takes care to shine a spotlight on customers through case study and marketing opportunities, strengthening relationships whenever the opportunities arise.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into how your company supports AV/IT managers in creating a successful experience.

Thought Leader: Rob Moodey, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Matrox Video

Matrox Video recognizes the importance of supporting AV/IT installations to ensure success for our customers—the manufacturers and integrators that supply, spec, and design those installations. They are successful when the end users are successful. Our commitment to facilitating seamless installations encompasses several key elements.

First, our products are renowned for their user-friendly design, both for hardware and software. Our customers consistently praise the simplicity and reliability of our offerings, emphasizing that they “just work.” This ease of use enhances the overall user experience and contributes to the success of installations.

In addition to providing top-notch hardware, we go the extra mile by offering valuable software, APIs/SDKs, and customization tools—all free of charge. This added value extends beyond the initial purchase. With this comprehensive suite of resources, our customers have the power to continually optimize their AV/IT setups.

Our dedication to customer support is unparalleled. Our support team goes above and beyond to assist both existing and potential customers. We also provide support services at no extra cost.

Recognizing the challenges associated with hardware replacement in mission-critical environments, we prioritize a long product life cycle. We not only design our products for durability, but we support them for an extended period. This ensures that our customers can rely on their installations without the disruption of frequent hardware changes.

Furthermore, we advocate for open standards, believing that the flexibility to choose among the best available options maximizes value. This approach not only facilitates smooth installations but also allows our customers to select the most suitable components for their specific needs.

Our comprehensive support for AV/IT installations revolves around user-friendly products, added value through free software and support services, a commitment to extended product life cycles, and a dedication to open standards for optimal customization.

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Expressions of America is a 30-minute, immersive outdoor experience at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Through vivid projection mapping and powerful audio, the show shares art, music, and reflections from veterans and everyday people that served in World War II. Visuals projected as large as 90 feet tall transform the exterior of the museum's buildings into the stories of the men and women from that historic era.

[Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Takes Flight]

While Medici Media (formerly known as Mousetrappe) took care of the concept design and production, it was Solomon Group who executed the install using Panasonic projectors, Tempest enclosures, and a slew of Pro AV solutions to bring these stories to life. It went so well that Solomon Group recently completed another project on the newly opened Liberation Pavilion. Yes, we said on.

Challenging Times

Expressions of America was a long time coming. The entire project was almost five years in the making, but the installation itself took roughly eight months from March-November 2022. While he wasn't there from the beginning five years ago, Barry Mendelson, audiovisual programmer for Solomon Group, led the charge.

Mendelson and his team faced several challenges in the installation process. "That was in the height of supply chain issues," Mendelson recalled. "Speakers were a challenge to get in on time—we actually ended up having to swap the speaker models that we were using because we couldn't get the ones that we wanted. The projection housings were another big one. We used Tempest for the projection housings, and the model that we had spec'd they could no longer get the air conditioning parts for."

[Supply Chain Lessons Learned]

While some of the manufacturers were able to come up with solutions, there were other forces at play. "The other big delay was the canopy that is over the entire campus," Mendelson said. "That was the root of the delay. They had some issues with manufacturing it and getting it here and getting it installed. That was several years delayed. Once the canopy was up, we did the first phase by lighting the canopy. Even though the Liberation building wasn't there, we did all the lighting a year before Expressions opened."

That's right, the team started preparing the projection mapping extravaganza minus the center building on which the stories would be projected. Once that canopy was finished, more production challenges emerged.

"The Liberation Pavilion has the most projection on it, and then the two buildings that flank it to the left and right also have projection on them. But the canopy legs are directly in front of the two side buildings, and they're within 20 feet of the building, so there's no getting projection around them," Mendelson explained. "We had to shoot projection through them, but they didn't want to see projection on the canopy leg itself."

Mendelson also described challenges in finding the fiber pass, because all the buildings were built in phases. "They knew they had multimode because that's what they use for their network, but they didn't even realize that there was single mode sitting right next to it," he said. "We walked to campus once or twice with their IT department to try to trace out all of our fiber passes—and there's some interesting patches back and forth through buildings to get where we needed to go."

Handling Big Easy Humidity

In order to bring the content to life, Solomon Group used eight Panasonic 50,000-lumen projectors, including six PT-RQ50Ks, one PT-RQ32K, and one PT-RQ22K. Keeping those projectors safe in the outdoor venue was top priority, especially in a region of the United States known for muggy days and hurricane seasons. Remember those supply chain issues Mendelson discussed with the projection housing? Working with Tempest, Solomon Group was able to get a prototype—the Tempest Oasis active-cooled enclosure—to ensure everything was on time for the November 2022 opening. 

"There was a bit of a growing pain because [Tempest] are based in California," Mendelson recalled. "They don't have the humidity that we have here and the temperature swings that we have here, so once we got them installed, it would fail. We would have 70-80% humidity, so the air-conditioned units pushing that cold air into those housings would cause condensation on the glass and then wash out the projection.

"But Tempest was really good about coming up with a fix," he continued. "They were very responsive in getting a fix—they ended up putting a second layer of glass in a heater in the middle that kicks on with the projector so that it keeps that glass hot, so that condensation, if it does form, will burn off quickly."

['Meet Us' in DC]

“We’re delighted to have been able to work with the Solomon team to produce this amazing experience, even in such a challenging humid environment,” said Felipe Hermosillo, Tempest’s vice president of sales. “It’s a stunning project and an exciting debut for the Oasis enclosure family. The latest RGB laser projectors are amazing, but they are sensitive to heat and temperature fluctuations, and this is where Oasis really wins, even in a challenging environment like the Big Easy.”

Liberating Visuals

The lighting on the canopy and around the show is brought to life with more than 100 Chauvet Ilumipods. The audio—so important not just for the accompanying music but for clarity in the stories that are told—covers the entire audience with 18 One Systems full-range outdoor speakers and six subwoofers. “The audio does play a big role in the show because there's actual archived clips of veterans accounting their experiences in the war,” Mendelson explained. "And the soundtrack was completely done from scratch and recorded locally in New Orleans with local artists.”

A fiber infrastructure is used for video transmission, which was why uncovering those fiber paths was so important in those original walkthroughs. To deliver the content, there are three synched LightAct video servers that output video to Aurora Multimedia fiber extenders. Single-mode fiber connects to all the receivers, where the content is transferred back to HDMI for the projectors. The result is a high-lumen, vivid show that takes the guests back to the 1940s.

November 2023 saw the opening of the final building of the National WII Museum's plan. Inside the Liberation Pavilion are two floors of exhibits and a third floor with a 4D theater with a rotating seat base. Solomon Group has been working on the installations on the first and second floor. "It's a lot of projection," Mendelson said. "It's a mix of Panasonic and Epson projectors and a lot of interactive ELO touchscreens."

[Classroom Projectors: What You Need to Know for the First Day of School]

The experience has been a success for guests, but it was also rewarding for the people who brought it all together to sit back and watch it unfold. "Not even on the technical side," said Adan Murad, director, sales operations for Solomon Group, "but it was cool that at one of the grand openings of Expressions, there were about 22 World War II veterans in the audience. Not only did Solomon Group produce the event via our live events department, but the people who did the technology behind the event got to watch as 22 World War II veterans got to watch their stories projected 90 feet in the air. I thought that was fun."

AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Carrie Kaumans, Corporate Channel Marketing Manager at Listen Technologies

Assistive listening systems play an important role in creating immersive experiences for esports athletes and spectators. Assistive listening systems can support athletes and spectators with chronic or situational hearing loss by filtering out ambient noise and delivering audio from games and commentators directly to listeners’ ears via earbuds or headphones connected to receivers. Audio over Wi-Fi assistive listening systems let listeners use their personal smartphones as receivers, so there’s no equipment to check out or return. They simply download a free app on their smartphone, select a channel, and listen to clear, intelligible audio in their ears. If they wear Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids or cochlear devices, they can stream audio from their smartphone to these devices. 

Assistive listening systems help players and fans overcome the challenges of hearing loss, distance from the audio source, background noise, language, and acoustics that can make hearing difficult, detract from the gaming experience, and prevent participants from fully engaging in esports.

When selecting an assistive listening system for esports, consider who will be using the technology. Do they prefer to borrow equipment or BYOD? Select a system they are likely to use.

Also consider the unique challenges of the space. The esports arena in the Digital Creative Lab at the University of Southern California (USC), for example, is enclosed, and there is a collaborative space adjacent to the arena. To ensure everyone in the collaborative space can experience what is happening inside the enclosed arena, USC selected an audio-over-Wi-Fi assistive listening system. Spectators can follow the action by streaming the audio from the gaming and the instructor in the esports arena. Gamers and spectators with hearing loss can also use the streamed audio for assistive listening.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Jeff Schneider, Director of Sales, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions at Digital Projection

Like any sporting event, watching the action unfold on a big display makes the experience more immersive and engaging for spectators. At the same time, it provides athletes a way to demonstrate their skills to fans and peers. Nothing handles this application better than a dvLED video wall. It can be scaled to any size, customized to any aspect ratio, and configured to display multiple windows of game play at once. A dvLED is also highly versatile and integration friendly, which enables it to function as both a display for gaming, as well as digital signage for upcoming events, scores, and streaming media from on- and off-premise components. The multi-functional dvLED video wall can juggle diverse applications with ease and without any compromise in brightness or resolution. Another huge perk for esports applications is their low latency. This precludes any lag during intense, action gaming for smoother, more enjoyable and competitive gameplay. 

Like any large-format display, proper design is paramount to the performance of a dvLED video wall. Lighting, the physical space, usage, applications, and electrical requirements are variables that can impact the image quality and viewing experience of a dvLED video wall in an esports facility and should be carefully considered before installation. Aligning with a manufacturer that offers comprehensive design and tech service and support on the job site can streamline this process and ensure optimal results. Also keep maintenance in mind. Replacement of individual modules comprising an dvLED display of heavy usage is not uncommon. Be sure spare parts are readily available and can be shipped quickly for minimal interruption in the esports action. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Daniel Evans, Senior Vice President of Sales at Magnifi

Competition in the esports industry is growing, and sponsors and fans are looking to engage with gamers and teams through more immersive and action-oriented experiences. One of the major advancements is AI-driven tools, which provide gamer creators and developers with rapid scalability, automation, and real-time and intuitive features, making it easier to create high-quality and visually engaging gameplay footage and sports highlights. This allows content producers, developers, streamers, or esports teams to focus on game strategy rather than the laborious tasks of editing and post-producing hours of gameplay footage.

There are also opportunities for AI to address the rapidly growing localization market, allowing creators to reach a larger and more diverse global audience with translated content. AI-drive algorithms can help creators generate living-world environments that are expansive, respond to players’ actions, and provide a fully immersive experience.

AI-driven tools also provide advances in marketing strategies and tactics, creating more monetization opportunities through automated branding and cross-channel publishing, among others. As fan bases desire more personalized and engaging experiences, global marketers are paying attention to the way AI can help them optimize their campaigns, create customized content, and build relationships in the esports and gaming communities. AI algorithms also offer predictive analysis for market and data insights and user behavior.

AI has applications for use across the entire esports production process, from generating content to creating non-player characters (NPCs) with humanlike intelligence—all ultimately driving sports and fan engagement. AI use cases in the esports industry are vast, driving the industry to new heights and providing unique and immersive gaming experiences to players at every turn and on every device. AI’s ability to automate repetitive tasks, analyze large amounts of data faster than humans, and streamline processes makes it a true game changer that is reshaping the way games are developed, experienced, and enjoyed.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Justin Strazdas, Product Marketing Manager, Video and Production at Roland

Esports is highly dependent upon the competitor’s reaction time, so while having the latest and greatest graphics card in their system can be a priority, it goes far beyond that with the range of peripherals required. For example, a monitor with low “input lag” is a critical component for split-second win-or-lose situations. They also need a mouse that suits the comfort and style of the player; some need to try several different models before they find one with the response and sensitivity they require to compete. And audio can make or break a competition if their opponent’s footsteps are lost in the mix. For that, there are audio mixers designed to deliver optimized EQ frequency adjustment and headsets that provide accurate sound fields. While there are many more pieces like keyboards and chairs that are necessary for long-term success, ultimately it comes down to the fans who make this industry a reality.

For them, immersive experiences within esports events rely on so many areas of technology to work, and it’s fascinating to see how quickly it has evolved in step with audiovisual and broadcast workflows. LED walls are installed in so many competitive spaces now, with creative panel layouts that not only provide magnified gameplay for spectators, but also assets like live statistics, game maps, and dedicated camera shots for each player. Video switchers are increasingly capable of handling the video sources required to provide a memorable experience for in-house and streaming audiences, with automation tools that are critical for executing complex show cues. I think the next frontier is gamification, as it presents many new ways to increase audience participation, reward fandom, and bring the community even closer to the experience. The idea that fans could collectively change the course of a competition is an exciting possibility.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Keri Manasa, Regional Director, Solutions and Consultants Team at Legrand | AV

Universities looking to construct esports arenas need to work on a business case that includes multi-use capabilities. A stellar example of an esports arena doing all the right things is The Fortress at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. They retrofitted an existing structure and built in flexibility to tackle anything from one-to-one or team-to-team competitions as well as graduation ceremonies and everything in between. 

They made room for that flexibility by adding T-trusses throughout the space to mount digital signage and speakers at virtually any weight capacity. This allows them to adjust the configurations to best suit the viewing experience for that particular match. 

One way they were able to target their budget dollars was to forego adding 4K or 8K capabilities. Most of the audience is watching the streams through tablets or smartphones, which are not 4K or 8K ready. For the price jump to accomplish 4K, they did not see the expected benefit. By eliminating this cost, they answered the needs of their current audience and took those budget dollars to invest in power and all the fiber connections they needed. A trench was dug into the floor to provide ample room to run power and cable.

As a side note, their rack room had limited space behind the racks, so they installed a garage door in that hallway for maintenance access and ventilation during gameplay. This sort of forethought showcases the type of out-of-the-box thinking that an esports project can require. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Jared Darensbourg, National Live Events Manager at Panasonic Connect

Esports is the fastest-growing sport in the world right now, estimated to surpass $10 billion in the next few years. And while sporting venues and arenas have their eyes on this growth, a more untraditional candidate, universities, do too. With admissions rates declining, universities have struggled to recruit the next generation of students. Esports offers a new channel to pique the interest of potential admits. However, it’s one thing to create an arena. It’s another to attract students, generate buzz, and keep players and viewers coming back for more. The right technology is the key differentiator.

One challenge that universities face when developing esports arenas is room. Often, they don’t have the space to create massive stadiums and therefore need to repurpose empty lecture halls, theaters, or gyms. In these cases, it’s important that AV teams incorporate immersive elements to best optimize the space and create a spectator-style venue. Projectors offer detailed, sharp, color-rich images that create the look and feel of a high-end esports arena. Projectors can also be used to project live streams of games, so players and viewers can easily watch and participate in the action from afar.

Yet live streams bring on new challenges too. For larger programs, there’s often multiple games happening at once, requiring audiovisual teams to seamlessly switch between different participants to keep audiences invested. To minimize setup, streamline workflows, and reduce the number of on-site personnel needed, AV teams can invest in live production platforms to easily switch between streams from one location to another. With ST 2110 capabilities, teams can be completely remote and choose to use PTZ cameras for on-site filming, with Ethernet to send streams back to control rooms.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: James O’Hagan, Vice President of Education Innovation at LeagueSpot

In recent years, the educational landscape has witnessed a significant shift towards integrating scholastic gaming and esports across all grade levels. This evolution reflects a broader recognition of the educational potential inherent in digital play. Schools, libraries, and child-focused organizations are still in the early stages of crafting secure, walled gardens of digital play, tailored specifically for their youth communities.

These digital environments offer more than mere recreation; they are spaces where game titles align with the values and objectives of their stakeholders. This careful selection ensures that the content resonates with educational goals, wrap-around supports can be included, and promotes a balanced blend of enjoyment and learning.

One key aspect of these digital playgrounds is their focus on protection. By establishing exclusive spaces for children and adolescents, educators and administrators can shield young users from external influences that might not align with their community’s ethos. This safeguarding is critical in an era where digital exposure is ubiquitous, yet often unregulated.

Moreover, these platforms serve as fertile grounds for honing skills vital for the future. Participants engage in collaborative problem-solving, strategic thinking, and digital literacy, all within a framework of structured play and positive adult interaction. Such environments also foster inclusivity, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to interact and learn in a shared digital space.

The role of audiovisual technology in these initiatives cannot be overstated. High-quality AV solutions are pivotal in creating immersive, engaging experiences that captivate young minds. As educators and technologists, our task involves not only providing the hardware but also understanding the dynamics of digital play in educational settings.

As this trend gains momentum, it is imperative for AV professionals to stay abreast of the evolving needs of educational institutions. This involvement can make a substantial difference in how effectively these digital playgrounds serve their purpose, thereby shaping the future of education in the digital age.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Michael Tuohy, Technical Support Manager, Just Add Power

The explosion of esports has caused ripple effects in the AV integration industry. Live audiences—numbering annually in the millions—have continued to grow yearly, with typically double-digit percentage point increases. With this surge in engagement, there is a growing need to leverage today’s signal distribution technology. AV over IP has become a go-to option to link gamers to the audience, allowing for a rewarding and immersive experience.

When distributing game video for a live or streaming audience, choosing a product that offers visually undetectable latency is of paramount importance. Seconds can be the difference between victory and defeat in a competitive environment. Audience immersion is lost when the spectator is a beat behind the gameplay due to high latency.

Quality is the next focus. Users and the audience want to see the detail and immense color range of modern gaming platforms. A fuzzy, washed-out picture or unclear audio will simply not suffice. Fidelity to the original content must be respected to ensure that details are not lost. When selecting equipment, look for 4K60 resolution with HDR10/ Dolby Vision, deep color support, and multichannel audio.

The final key tenets are scalability and reliability. Systems must be able to span large venues, accommodate creative device placement, and support flexible system sizing. Once installed, the system needs to work reliably; nothing breaks immersion faster than dropped video frames or lost audio. Make sure your chosen equipment is battle-tested and has robust support engineering available to back you up.

Focusing on these performance categories when selecting an AV-over-IP solution and applying creative energy to system design will ensure your esports program has an AV distribution system that will immerse gamers and spectators in the experience, and fuel growth in this exciting industry, for years to come.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Heather Blair, Senior Account Manager, Esports, LG Business Solutions

As a result of growing esports popularity, an increasing number of schools are launching esports clubs and competition teams as extracurricular activities for a broad range of students. Knowing that only 54 percent of students participate in traditional sports, educators have come to appreciate the surging popularity of gaming among youth. As of 2022, 175 universities have joined the National Association of College Esports (NACE), many of which initially became involved through student-run clubs that eventually joined organized, competitive leagues. As the competition heats up and attracts ever-larger investments and public attention, the number of participating schools is likely to continue growing.

In order for fledgling esports programs to deliver meaningful student experiences, they must first evaluate and consider whether their existing computer gear and infrastructure are sufficient to perform at a competitive level. These games typically require up-to-date gaming PCs with powerful graphics cards, while high-quality monitors and peripherals can greatly boost player effectiveness thanks to higher picture quality and brightness, better contrast, clearer communication with teammates, and highly responsive input devices. 

Some programs—particularly at middle schools and high schools—have succeeded in repurposing existing equipment and spaces to provide a cost-effective opportunity without encountering opposition. While esports is indeed growing quickly, there can still be obstacles—particularly at the K-12 level—in attaining funding and support from the school boards and administrators responsible for student and community needs. 

Institutions that want to address the widest swath of student interests and attract diverse student populations are helping put esports on an equal footing with traditional sports. Through the rise of scholarships, famous student players, and even fortunes made possible by allowing student athletes to sign sponsorship deals, it’s clear that esports has become an important campus activity and will continue to be an enrollment driver as the industry matures.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Mark Boyadjian, Senior Customer Solutions Engineer at Neutrik

Whether you are new to esports and gaming or regularly compete, manage, broadcast, or produce events—esports have become an undeniable global phenomenon. With numbers in viewership and attendance eclipsing traditional pro sports, the pace of growth requires an experience for athletes and spectators that rivals the biggest musical act concert tour.

Unlike traditional sporting events where the game field is supported by large and small displays around the field or venue, in esports the displays are the game field. Making sure that the gaming equipment on the competition stage is designed to be reliable for the competitors, with low-latency signal chains, is the minimum requirement.

Once the gaming field is set for maximum performance, we need to provide what the players see and do to the live audience and streaming viewers—not just a video feed, but an immersive experience that lets everyone feel like they are part of the competition. To succeed in this endeavor, there are design considerations: available budget, the size of the venue, from where attendees will view the action, broadcast booth location(s), secondary entertainment, food vendors, gamer art and gaming gear vendors, and available network speed—inside and outside of the venue—for streaming and social media interaction. Together, the answer to these questions defines what the athlete and fan experience will be.

If you are reading this and shaking your head at the complexity of creating such an experience, realize that there are industry professionals for each facet of live gaming events. If this will be an installed system for a school or esports venue, a systems integrator will be a great place to start. If this is a temporary or rental space, contact your local AVL rental house. Companies that manufacture the equipment used in esports spaces are also a terrific and typically free information resource for making sure the event has what it needs to be a success. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Jeanne Lewis, Senior Manager, Partner Marketing and Events at Sony Electronics

Technology is playing a pivotal role in creating more sensory and immersive engagement for esports athletes and fans—from playing to viewing. In order to set up a comprehensive and captivating program for venues, athletes, and spectators, you need to plan for and implement the latest innovations. Visually, POV cameras, like Sony’s SRG-XP1, are enabling unobtrusive access to players and capturing every angle of a tournament to provide equity for participants and viewers alike. In stadia, high production values are an expectation and professional-grade camera equipment that features elements such as the “cinematic look,” full-frame sensor technology and lenses, Super35mm sensors, high frame rate and other techniques often used in broadcast sports, can elevate esports events. Drones such as Sony’s Airpeak can capture crowds and athletes from the air to amplify the excitement and offer new vantage points. 

Large-format consumer gaming monitors, including Sony’s INZONE, help engross players, while professional displays like Sony’s pro BRAVIAs provide a wide viewing angle to accommodate spectators with detailed visuals and outfit a stadium’s retail spaces, quick service restaurants, wayfinding and digital signage needs. Projectors with high refresh rates can be used to display all of the fast-moving content. From an auditory standpoint, headsets such as Sony’s INZONE, which provide 360 Spatial Sound for gaming, are an essential part of an esports setup. Top-tier audio and microphones and accurate sound positioning can provide a player or spectator with the necessary spatial awareness to make them feel as if they’re a part of the game. With all of the different pieces of technology required for the most engaging experience, programs should consider a provider who can help them create a connected and efficient ecosystem that is a win for integrators, venues, players, and fans.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Mario Ponce, Senior Specialist of Market Development at Shure

From the livestream to the on-stage opposition, a successful Esports production requires uninterrupted, pristine audio to ensure competitors can communicate effectively and spectators don’t miss a split-second of the action, no matter if they are tuning in from home or the live audience.

To determine which audio equipment is required to sound extraordinary, first think strategically about the scale and layout of your esports facility, be it a fully equipped stadium or a bring-your-own-device LAN gaming center. Do you plan on creating a multi-purpose space that can adapt to users’ needs and different styles of competition? If so, you’ll likely find value in investing in both wired microphones and a wireless microphone system to accommodate this flexibility. You’ll also want to be certain you can support enough channels of audio to suit the needs of your space, post-match interviews, and large competitions.

In most scenarios, each competitor should be equipped with an individual microphone. A dynamic microphone with a cardioid polar pattern should be prioritized, as this will be the most effective at isolating the voice while rejecting background noise from other competitors and an audience. You will want to consider the microphone connection: Does it support XLR, direct-to-computer USB, or both? A microphone with both an XLR and USB output allows competitors to send their audio directly into their stream from their computer, while your audio engineer can simultaneously run the audio through front-of-house. 

Additionally, a wireless microphone solution provides an ideal solution for hosts, live commentary, and post-match interviews. Take the time to talk to specialists who can point you in the right direction, as there are multiple factors to consider that might not seem immediately apparent. To get the most out of this investment, it pays to think through how your facility will grow and just how scalable your wireless system will need to be.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Dan Holland, Marketing Manager at IHSE USA

The ability to obtain, gather, process, and distribute information effectively is key to gaining operational superiority. Many system designers have found KVM display management system (DMS) switching to be an effective means to streamline data access while maintaining an important level of security and data quality. System designers moving toward UHD video are depending on standards bodies to reduce the confusion surrounding the latest 4K and 8K technology. 

Emerging markets are taking advantage of DMS as well, including esports for tournament production. Attended by thousands of spectators in large venues and watched by millions online, these live events combine two production workflows: in-venue presentation and broadcast transmission. DMS KVM extenders and switches streamline both by controlling, switching, managing, converting, and delivering video and audio signals. In the venue presentation workflow, extenders provide the interconnection between player monitors and remotely located gaming computers, offering visually lossless video and instant interactive response to deliver the level of performance players’ demand.

For observers, DMS switches allow operators to instantly choose between live and recorded content for playout on massive screens above the players’ stage. In the broadcast workflow, switches enable production teams to create programming of the highest quality throughout the event, while extenders perform the vital function of translating between computer and broadcast frame rates, ensuring that live content is transmitted and replayed in pristine quality.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: John Hulen, Director of Channel Marketing, Education at Crestron Electronics

When considering the AV technology used for esports, choosing technology that introduces low or nearly zero latency into the signal paths is one of the fundamental factors. The quality of the video and audio processing, routing, and signal distribution will directly impact the playing and viewing experience. Crestron has created the DM NVX platform of AV-over-IP encoders and decoders, which work on standard gigabit Ethernet networks with less than one frame of latency and incorporate high-quality audio which is just as important as the video image. 

There are three common types of esports spaces: labs, training venues, and competition arenas. Each type of space will have different requirements to provide the most immersive experience for athletes and spectators.

Esports labs often require integration for USB peripherals and extension, point-to-point or source-to-display interaction, and the ability to scale. Whereas training venues incorporate additional control needs like coaches reviewing videos of players’ techniques and strategies. This flexibility enables a coach to highlight a single athlete’s play on one or several displays during a practice and then the ability to quickly reconfigure the room into a learning space. Finally, esports arenas encompass most, or all, of the above technology, along with further features such as video walls, audio routing, a shout casting booth, the ability to switch between multiple cameras and integrate streaming, as well as advanced control functionality. 

No matter the space type, intuitive touch screen controls are invaluable because many of these spaces will be set up, monitored, and managed by student workers or used when full-time employees might be away from campus. The experience is paramount in these venues and having a space that is easy to manage allows the technology features to shine. 

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AVT Question: Please share insight into setting up an esports program within higher education at any level, including the technologies that make a difference and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Thought Leader: Jarred Halenkamp, Sales Engineer at Absen

DvLED (direct-view LED) technology, when integrated by industry leaders like Absen, is essential in the world of esports and has the potential to transform esports events into unparalleled experiences. Absen, as a renowned manufacturer of LED display solutions, has played a pivotal role in advancing the esports landscape. Their cutting-edge displays offer superior visual performance, boasting high resolution, fast refresh rates, and vibrant colors. This level of visual clarity and precision provides a competitive advantage to players, enabling them to make quick, accurate decisions in the heat of the game.

DvLED displays not only enhance the player experience but also offer remarkable benefits to spectators. These displays can create captivating, expansive video walls, immersing the audience in the gaming action. This immersive environment can convert casual viewers into passionate fans, driving engagement and fostering growth in the esports community. We should be committed to providing a dynamic and captivating experience for spectators.

DvLED technology offers a high degree of flexibility in display configurations. Players and teams can have customized setups that cater to their specific needs and preferences, promoting player comfort and peak performance. Moreover, dedication to responsible sourcing and energy-efficient design ensures a more sustainable approach to dvLED technology, mitigating the environmental impact.

In summary, leadership in the esports world demands a deep understanding of the necessity and transformative potential of dvLED technology, especially when partnering with industry innovators like Absen. By providing players with the best tools, creating an immersive experience for spectators, and embracing responsible technology, dvLED can be the catalyst for a positive change in esports events, solidifying its position as the premier entertainment experience in the digital age.

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