For the second year, AV Technology accepted entries for Best of Show Awards at the NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters Show). As always, our judges are experts in the product categories we have chosen for them to evaluate and remain anonymous to the manufacturers. They are your peers: AV/IT managers, directors, engineers, and industry consultants or integrators.

For AV Technology readers who might think the NAB Show is just for radio and television broadcasters, think again.

For at least the past five years, manufacturers have responded to the demand for higher-quality audio and video production and streaming. Technology advancements have enabled products and solutions to be scaled in size and price, making them available for use in corporate, higher education, government, museums, and many other vertical markets that otherwise would not have had access to broadcast-quality.

Congratulations to the winners!

Clear-Com | FreeSpeak Cell

FreeSpeak Cell is a full-duplex wireless intercom system designed to operate over public and private LTE and 5G networks. The product addresses increasing spectrum congestion in traditional UHF, DECT, and Wi-Fi bands, making it ideal for large venues and high-density live events. Unlike older systems limited by physical boundaries, FreeSpeak Cell leverages existing cellular infrastructure to support wide-area coverage for large-scale, distributed productions. The system supports deployments scaling to hundreds of users and extends communication beyond a single compound. By utilizing cellular networks, FreeSpeak Cell reduces the need for venue-specific RF transceivers, temporary equipment, cabling, and complex frequency coordination.

Evertz | IPMX Certified MMA and NUCLEUS

The Evertz MMA Gateway family and NUCLEUS platform form an IPMX-certified AV-over-IP ecosystem, bridging professional AV and broadcast environments. The MMA-25G utilizes a 25GbE infrastructure for secure, high-performance UHD media workflows, supporting uncompressed 4K60 and ultra-low-latency JPEG XS video. It offers live transcoding for seamless interoperability and backward compatibility with third-party and legacy systems. Featuring full redundancy, the MMA-25G is built for demanding live event venues and stadiums. The NUCLEUS platform provides intuitive, zero-programming orchestration and cost-effective UHD distribution. This combination simplifies AVoIP management and ensures scalable, broadcast-grade performance using open standards across any size facility.

Ghost Kits | Specter

Specter is a plug-and-play cellular hotspot and router providing consistent, secure internet access for camera-to-cloud workflows. It facilitates the real-time transmission of high-resolution media directly from any production set to remote post-production teams. The system features patent-pending Smart Network Switching, which automatically steers to the optimal network across 600+ global cellular providers to ensure workflow continuity. Network Bonding aggregates cellular, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connections, increasing bandwidth, redundancy, and fault tolerance. Leveraging 5G and Wi-Fi 6E, Specter delivers upload speeds up to 900 Mbps, effectively eliminating bandwidth constraints for high-resolution media. This solution measurably reduces on-set labor overhead and post-production bottlenecks.

Hollyland | Solidcom H1 Wireless Intercom System

The Hollyland Solidcom H1 is a next-generation wireless intercom system for professional live production environments. It provides full-duplex, real-time communication for teams across broadcast, sports, and large-scale live events where reliability and mobility are essential. The system uses a distributed communication architecture with multiple IP-connected antenna nodes, creating a seamless roaming environment that covers wide areas. In standalone mode, multiple antennas support up to 30 beltpacks. The system can scale up to 80 beltpacks and 100 communication groups using the Geo Central Station for larger productions. Its plug-and-play deployment eliminates complex RF planning and network configuration, reducing setup time. Solidcom H1 also features hybrid integration, supporting Dante audio networking alongside 2-wire and 4-wire interfaces to bridge modern and legacy infrastructures. Lightweight beltpacks with up to 15 hours of battery life ensure comfort and reliability during long production days.

Ikan International | LBERS60-POE-WH

The Ikan LBERS60-POE-WH is a professional PoE-powered ellipsoidal light designed for studio, broadcast, and stage use. It simplifies setup by utilizing a single Ethernet cable for both PoE++ power and DMX control. This eliminates the need for additional power outlets and reduces installation costs. The light accepts interchangeable 12-degree and 23-degree ellipsoidal lenses to give users precise control over beam spread for focused spot lighting. Outfitted with high-CRI (97) LEDs, it delivers exceptional color accuracy across a temperature range of 2700K to 6500K. It supports both ArtNet and sACN DMX protocols for seamless integration into preferred control systems. Furthermore, the light supports integration with Q-SYS systems through a Designer Plugin, enabling control of light intensity and color temperature for multiple units.

Ikan International | Studio Rover

The Studio Rover is a fully mobile, turnkey broadcast solution that consolidates a professional studio into a single, transport-ready cart. It is designed for corporate AV, education, and broadcast environments, eliminating the complexity and time required for traditional equipment setup. The system integrates a 19-inch NDI teleprompter, a PoE LED light, a confidence monitor, and a shock-mounted 19-inch equipment rack. Its reinforced frame includes shock absorption and a fully enclosed protective lid, safeguarding sensitive components during long-range transport and relocation. A motorized lift column allows for precise height adjustments with programmable presets. Studio Rover supports modern IP-based workflows, with devices controllable via NDI, Art-Net, or sACN protocols for seamless integration and centralized automation. This offers high flexibility and reliable performance in a streamlined, portable package.

RAUBAY | Motorized 360 Degree Spinner (Pro Version)

RAUBAY's Motorized 360 Degree Spinner (Pro Version) is a precision motion-control system designed to move a camera in a circular path around a stationary subject. This technique is used to maintain consistent lighting, shadows, and framing, which is especially beneficial for delicate, reflective, or irregularly shaped objects. The system features app-based control with a professional encoder for repeatable, accurate camera movement. It offers dual modes, including Video Mode with A/B point path planning and Time-Lapse Mode supporting sequences up to 24 hours. The spinner supports diverse applications, from professional e-commerce cinematography for products like luxury goods and electronics to B-End applications such as multi-view capture for Gaussian Splatting and digital preservation of artifacts. The complete system is organized in an all-in-one-box design for efficient setup and storage.

Ross Video | Media I/O

Indigo | Media I/O is a software-defined media workflow module designed to unify ingest, playout, and transcode operations for media organizations. It supports a wide range of formats and codecs, enabling broadcasters and content creators to manage live and file-based content efficiently. The flexible architecture allows the system to operate across on-premises, virtualized, and cloud environments, eliminating the limitations of traditional hardware. It enables scaling from single to multi-channel production without disruptive infrastructure changes. The new all-in-one series centralizes these functions into a singular, compact solution, simplifying deployment, reducing complexity, and lowering total cost of ownership. Features like edit-while-ingest accelerate content turnaround, supporting modern, digital-first production models.

Saramonic | WiTalk9X and Base

The Saramonic WiTalk9X Wireless Intercom System, paired with the WiTalk Base, is a communication platform designed for scalable AV environments, including live events and corporate production. It operates on the 1.9 GHz DECT band, using dual-antenna diversity to ensure stable transmission up to 700 meters with the Base. The system supports nine users hub-free and scales up to 64 users by linking four Base units. Key features include ClearTalk 2.0, which uses AI-driven processing and a dual-microphone design to reduce background noise by up to 40 dB. The Base unit supports up to eight communication groups and integrates with existing infrastructure via a 4-wire analog interface. It also enables communication extension over 4G, 5G, or fiber for distributed deployments.

Scale Logic | WorkflowConnect Admin Suite

WorkflowConnect is a centralized orchestration platform designed to unify shared storage, browser-based media access, AI-driven content intelligence, and archive control into a single operational layer. This system provides IT teams and production managers with one place to monitor and manage their entire media workflow. It integrates with existing infrastructure to standardize deployment, configuration, and monitoring, eliminating the need to navigate multiple disconnected platforms. A real-time dashboard and a unified diagnostic layer simplify day-to-day operations and accelerate troubleshooting across all components. By acting as a control layer above prior investments, WorkflowConnect enables organizations to modernize incrementally, transforming fragmented systems into a coordinated and scalable workflow.

StreamShark | Spatial Video Pipeline

The StreamShark Spatial Video Pipeline is an enterprise-grade transcoding and quality-assurance engine that transforms existing 3D video archives into native Spatial Video and Immersive Video formats at scale. It ingests traditional side-by-side (SBS) 3D and VR180 media, producing output compatible with Apple Vision Pro and Google Android XR headsets. The system converts content from legacy SBS to Multi-View High Efficiency Video Coding (MV-HEVC), which preserves full resolution per eye for superior visual fidelity. MV-HEVC also achieves bitrate savings up to 27 percent. The pipeline utilizes native VMAF scoring specifically for spatial quality to guarantee professional standards and binocular parity. It supports automated scalability with Dolby audio pass-through and provides compliant packaging for seamless adaptive cross-platform delivery.

Studio Network Solutions | Outpost

Outpost by Studio Network Solutions (SNS) is a cloud-native review and approval product integrated into the professional media asset management workflow. Designed as an extension of the EVO shared storage ecosystem, it connects creative teams with external collaborators through a secure, browser-based review experience. Outpost eliminates the need to export and upload media across multiple, standalone cloud review tools. Editors can send assets directly from EVO’s ShareBrowser MAM or an Adobe Premiere Pro plug-in, generating secure links for reviewers worldwide. The system features a bidirectional metadata pipeline that translates reviewer comments and annotations into timeline markers within Adobe Premiere Pro. This closed-loop system removes manual interpretation of feedback and ensures precision throughout the revision process. It uses EVO’s Slingshot transcoder to generate proxies and watermarks before upload, reducing cloud dependency. Furthermore, Outpost features an unlimited user model, allowing organizations to include all stakeholders without incremental licensing costs.

TSL | Hummingbird NDI

TSL's Hummingbird NDI is a unified control layer designed to integrate NDI endpoints and workflows with other professional media technologies, such as ST2110 or SDI. The product simplifies operations by enabling broadcast-grade routing and tally management within ProAV environments. It provides predictable routing behavior and clear operator feedback for larger, distributed workflows. This solution supports scaling across broadcast facilities and mission-critical AV environments like corporate suites, venues, and campuses. Hummingbird NDI is deployment-flexible, supporting on-premise hardware, COTS servers, and cloud or hybrid options. It allows for centralized, remote management of multiple global locations. Users can choose from various configurable Human Machine Interfaces, including soft-panel software and hard-panel controllers. The system also integrates with existing AV control systems, avoiding costly infrastructure overhauls.

Vizrt | CaptivAIte

Vizrt CaptivAIte is an AI-powered solution that seamlessly integrates augmented reality (AR) graphics directly into Custom AV Zoom Rooms. This transforms standard meeting spaces into professional studios for enterprise communication. The system uses Vizrt’s AI Keyer to facilitate data-driven AR graphics creation and insertion without requiring complex green screen setups. This innovation allows professionals to replace flat slide decks with immersive, easy-to-use visual elements, including real-time graphics and remote contributor teleportation. A streamlined workflow, facilitated by NDI features in Custom AV Zoom Rooms, helps presenters focus on delivering their message and maximize audience engagement. CaptivAIte is designed for simplicity and clarity, allowing visual elements to illustrate and contextualize information. Key applications include executive communication, real-time business intelligence displays in the room, and scalable training sessions using immersive AR explanations.

Wowza | Video Intelligence Framework

The Wowza Video Intelligence Framework (VIF) solves the problem of scale for organizations with more live video feeds than humans can monitor. VIF runs AI inference directly within live streaming workflows, converting events in a stream into structured outputs like metadata, clips, and alerts for immediate consumption by downstream systems. This on-premises, edge, or air-gapped network deployment eliminates the need to route sensitive video off-premises or rip out existing infrastructure. By integrating custom-trained models, VIF supports applications such as detecting wrong-way drivers, monitoring equipment anomalies, and enabling weapons detection in secure facilities. It works with existing cameras running through Wowza Streaming Engine. The framework separates the video delivery and AI inference layers, allowing each to scale independently.

Future US proudly invites nominations for the Best of Show Awards at InfoComm 2025, presented by AV Technology, Sound & Video Contractor, Digital Signage, Installation, Mix, ITPro, and Tech & Learning. These awards are intended to honor and help manufacturers and solutions companies promote outstanding products exhibited at this year's InfoComm Show.

Entries are judged using your online nomination form and by an on-site panel of independent and anonymous industry professionals during the InfoComm show.

Enter Your Products Today!

On the first day of the show, Wednesday, June 11, anonymous judges will evaluate products submitted on the InfoComm show floor.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, June 12, so you can display your award at your booth.

Winners will be promoted online, on social media, in print, in newsletters, and on other platforms at the discretion of each participating brand.

Further info can be found here.

To register to enter, click here.

Future US proudly invites nominations for the Best of Show Awards at InfoComm 2025, presented by AV Technology, Sound & Video Contractor, Digital Signage, Installation, Mix, ITPro, and Tech & Learning. These awards are intended to honor and help manufacturers and solutions companies promote outstanding products exhibited at this year's InfoComm Show.

Entries are judged using your online nomination form and by an on-site panel of independent and anonymous industry professionals during the InfoComm show.

Enter Your Products Today!

On the first day of the show, Wednesday, June 11, anonymous judges will evaluate products submitted on the InfoComm show floor.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, June 12, so you can display your award at your booth.

Winners will be promoted online, on social media, in print, in newsletters, and on other platforms at the discretion of each participating brand.

Further info can be found here.

To register to enter, click here.

For AV Technology readers who might think the NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters Show) is just for radio and television broadcasters, think again.

For at least the past five years, manufacturers have responded to the demand for higher-quality audio and video production and streaming. Technology advancements have enabled products and solutions to be scaled in size and price, making them available for use in corporate, higher education, government, museums, and many other vertical markets that otherwise would not have had access to broadcast quality.

For the first time, AV Technology accepted entries for Best of Show Awards at the NAB Show. As always, our judges are experts in the product categories we have chosen for them to evaluate and remain anonymous to the manufacturers. They are your peers: AV/IT managers, directors, engineers, and industry consultants or integrators.

Congratulations to the winners!

Clear-Com's FreeSpeak Icon

Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak Icon beltpack is a new addition to its FreeSpeak wireless intercom systems. Designed for technical teams across various industries, the beltpack offers connectivity, ergonomic design, and advanced features. It combines 1.9 GHz (DECT) RF capabilities with nine configurable buttons, four channel volume controls, and Bluetooth 5.3 support. These features allow users to manage communication channels with ease. Dave Mackinnon, VP of Product Management, emphasized the beltpack's versatility and high performance. It integrates with Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station and Eclipse HX digital matrix, offering networking capabilities like Dante and MADI.

Elgato's Prompter

Elgato Prompter is a teleprompter that combines hardware and software for easy script reading and better audience engagement. It's simple to set up and use, compatible with various cameras, and features Camera Hub software for adjustments. It includes a built-in display, Voice Sync, customizable text, live chat integration, and Stream Deck compatibility. Camera Hub offers Script Autosave, Camera LUTs, and Marketplace integration. Prompter is versatile for live streaming, content creation, and video conferencing, providing a professional solution with durable build and ongoing updates. It sets a new standard for on-camera confidence.

Epiphan Video's Epiphan Edge

Epiphan Edge is a cloud-based platform for remotely managing Epiphan Pearl devices used for video capture, streaming, and recording. It allows users to monitor, control, and update devices from anywhere with an internet connection. This is particularly useful for managing multiple devices across different locations, such as in broadcast environments or live streaming setups. Epiphan Edge offers features like real-time monitoring, remote configuration, and firmware updates. It has a free tier with essential tools and a premium tier with advanced features like live video previews, scheduling, and batch actions, designed to streamline workflows and save time.

IHSE USA’s Draco XStreme

IHSE USA's Draco XStreme series KVM extenders, utilizes JPEG-XS compression for high-resolution, low-latency signal transmission. These extenders support resolutions from Full HD to 8K, combining excellent picture quality with minimal energy consumption. Available in DisplayPort or HDMI models, they run 4K60 over a 1 Gbit network. Developed with Fraunhofer II, they integrate keyboard and mouse commands into the bidirectional stream. Advantages include low latency, high-quality near-lossless images, bandwidth efficiency, and seamless operation with various network switches, making them future-proof for IHSE customers.

Lightcraft Technology's Jetset

Lightcraft Technology's Jetset provides a mobile virtual production platform for filmmakers and content creators. It allows users to create virtual environments by importing 3D scenes, 2D images, or MP4 files. Jetset tracks background and live-action movement without markers, offering real-time interaction within the virtual environment. Using an iPhone or iPad, users can treat the device as a primary camera or pair it with another cinematic camera, turning the iOS device into an external monitor. Jetset enables live cinematic compositing and offers support for Aximmetry and Unreal Engine for live productions and VFX work, simplifying post-production with "Superdailies."

Marshall Electronics' RCP Plus Controller

The Marshall Electronics RCP Plus camera controller allows for simultaneous Serial and IP camera control, eliminating the need to switch modes. It features Ethernet with Visca-over-IP, RS485 control, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). A breakout adapter simplifies RS485 connections, and an optional rack ear aids integration. Firmware updates are easy via USB. Debuting at NAB 2025, the RCP Plus enhances production with advanced features and streamlined setup, providing reliable performance for broadcast and AV professionals.

NUVEN's RMIX

NUVEN's RMIX solution offers professional remote live-mixing for various live production venues, providing quality sound management at affordable costs with instant accessibility. It serves broadcasting stations, houses of worship, concert venues, corporate events, and educational institutions. The RMIX package includes hardware for connecting a digital mixer to RMIX servers, enabling remote audio engineers to control the sound system. This benefits venue owners and offers audio engineers flexible remote work opportunities as R-Engineers, allowing them to mix from anywhere and set their own schedules, eliminating travel and setup costs.

OBSBOT Tail 2

The OBSBOT Tail 2 is an advanced AI camera, building on the original Tail's innovations. It features a three-axis PTZR 4K design, a 1/1.5” CMOS sensor, and a 12-element optical lens, delivering 4K/60fps video with 5x optical and 12x hybrid zoom. It boasts All-Pixel PDAF autofocus, enhanced image quality with AI noise reduction, HDR, and Dual Native ISO. AI Tracking 2.0 offers precise subject tracking, including "Only Me" mode and gesture control. It supports various protocols like NDI and connectivity options and is compact with a five-hour battery life. Tail 2 is designed for professional live production across multiple applications.

One Diversified's Atlas Orchestrate

Atlas Orchestrate by Diversified automates cloud infrastructure for media and entertainment, simplifying deployment from weeks to minutes. It exceeds industry standards with reliable, secure, and scalable multi-region environments. Key features include robust automation, NIST-standard security, and vendor-agnostic flexibility. It reduces costs by optimizing resource allocation and minimizing downtime, enabling innovation. With continuous updates and monitoring, it provides exceptional reliability and performance. Adopted by organizations like Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Atlas Orchestrate is a pivotal advancement for next-generation media infrastructure.

Panasonic's AG-CX20 4K Professional Camcorder

The Panasonic AG-CX20 4K Professional Camcorder offers advanced optical technology in a compact design. It features a 25mm wide-angle lens, 24x optical zoom, and image stabilization. The camcorder supports 4K 60p recording, a high-resolution OLED viewfinder, and flexible live streaming via SRT, NDI HX2, and RTMP. It includes dual SD card slots, dual codec recording, and simultaneous SDI/HDMI outputs. Designed for professionals, it offers Face Detection AF/AE, ensuring precise focus and exposure. The AG-CX20 caters to broadcasting, sports, and live streaming needs with reliable performance and seamless connectivity.

RTS Intercom's RTS Voice Over Cloud - (RVOC)

RTS Voice Over Cloud (RVOC) is a cloud-powered intercom solution for broadcast, sports, news production, and large-scale events. It merges traditional intercom systems with cloud infrastructure, offering flexibility, security, and reliability. RVOC consists of RVOC Elevate for back-office management, RVOC Engine, an AWS-powered intercom, and RVOC Edge, a mobile app for remote communication. Supporting up to 2,400 ports, it integrates with RTS hardware and uses advanced encryption. RVOC addresses limited remote access, scalability, security risks, and legacy system integration, proving its effectiveness in real-world applications like the 2025 Presidential Inauguration.

RTS Intercom's RTS NOMAD Wireless Intercom

The RTS Nomad Wireless Intercom offers reliable, secure, and scalable wireless communication. It integrates with digital and analog systems, providing clear audio even in challenging environments. With IP-65-rated hardware, it's suitable for harsh conditions. The system features 16 full-duplex channels, seamless roaming, and an 18+ hour battery life. It integrates with RTS Digital Partyline and Matrix via OMNEO, Dante, and ST-2110-30. Key features include full-duplex communication, enhanced audio, durability, and an advanced belt pack with an icon-based menu and flashlight.

SiliconCore Technology's Enlighten COB

SiliconCore's ENLIGHTEN Chip On Board (COB) dvLED Display Series is a high-resolution, modular solution for live broadcasts and virtual production. This technology delivers ultra-low power with higher performance than other COB solutions. It features patented Common Cathode-IQ technology, consuming 10-40 percent less power than comparable COB products. SiliconCore designs its own driver chips, achieving high brightness and color accuracy with cool operating temperatures. ZACH technology provides better image detail in shadows, and LISA encapsulation offers excellent contrast. The series enables creative freedom, reduces emissions, and streamlines production with faster turnaround times.

SNEWS Newsroom Solutions' SOUV

SOUV is a cloud-based platform that transforms newsroom workflows by enabling real-time content gathering and distribution without dedicated equipment. It allows journalists and citizen reporters to contribute live video and images via mobile devices, supporting high-quality streaming over various networks. AI processes content with transcription and metadata tagging, integrating with newsroom systems for easy review and publication. SOUV facilitates direct distribution to social media and broadcast systems. Rede Amazônica uses SOUV's white-label model to enable citizen journalists to submit reports, expanding coverage in remote areas and enhancing audience engagement. SOUV reduces costs and empowers broadcasters to scale news coverage.

Learn what the judges had to say about these 32 new or newly upgraded products. The Pro AV Best in Market (BiM) 2024 award winners for AV Technology have been announced, with 32 companies recognized. The BiMs provide companies with the opportunity to highlight products that were new or newly upgraded within the last 12 months. Entries were judged based on a range of criteria by independent, third-party judges and editorial teams.

Audinate Dante Director

“Dante Director continues to show Audinate understands the value of investing in solutions that make it easier for end users to deploy and manage systems. Overall, the low monthly cost should not be an issue for users with large Dante installations.”

Learn more about Dante Director here.

AVer Information FONE700 Ceiling Speakerphone

“The FONE700 Ceiling Speakerphone presents itself as an easy-to-deploy ceiling microphone array, with an ability to daisy chain four units. The built-in acoustic echo-cancellation, noise reduction, and gain control offer users excellent audio performance with simple connectivity.”

Learn more about the Information FONE700 Ceiling Speakerphone here.

Avocor E92

“This is one of the best displays for collaborative meeting environments as it unlocks gallery mode in collaboration software. The display boasts 50 points of touch across the non-glare, direct-lit LED surface, providing wide viewing angles for users.”

Learn more about the E92 here.

AWOL Vision LTV-3500MAX Projector

“The AWOL Vision LTV-3500MAX is a strong-performing ultra-short-throw projector using an RGB laser light source. The projector supports 21:9, allowing the short throw to be used in some conferencing environments if 21:9 displays are out of your budget.”

Learn more about the Vision LTV-3500MAX Projector here.

Biamp CCA-80 Aisle Loudspeaker

“The CCA-80 constant coverage aisle loudspeaker provides impressive value for applications needing a highly intelligible coverage area over long distances with minimal horizontal spill.”

Learn more about the CCA-80 Aisle Loudspeaker here.

Boxlight Clevertouch Edge

“The Clevertouch Edge is a well-rounded hardware solution, and when you consider the software and control features included with no subscription fees, you have unparalleled value. Overall, the Clevertouch handwriting experience outperforms other displays.”

Learn more about the Clevertouch Edge here.

Canon CJ27ex7.3B Broadcast Lens

“Canon’s CJ27ex7.3B broadcast lens might be the most adaptable piece of glass for ENG and content creators. The included 2x extender maximizes the reach of the lens while maintaining a small ergonomic form factor essential for field use.”

Learn more about the CJ27ex7.3B Broadcast Lens here.

Clear Touch NEXT Hub

“The NEXT Hub is one of the most well-rounded UC hardware solutions for 2024, combining quality video performance, a commercial grade aesthetic, and multiple audio options to round out the comprehensive system approach.”

Learn more about the NEXT Hub here.

Cobalt Digital ARIA OG-AUD4-DANTE

“Cobalt's ARIA OG-AUD4-DANTE is a welcome addition to its expansive lineup, bringing value to users needing multiple channels of audio embedding and de-embedding. The advantage here is the ability to plug the card into openGear compatible hardware.”

Learn more about the ARIA OG-AUD4-DANTE here.

Crestron 1 Beyond i-Series Cameras

“Crestron 1 Beyond cameras perform exceptionally well for automatic tracking of single and dual subjects. The optical lens provides above average image quality, and the ability to use AI to switch between two model cameras allows for impressive results.”

Learn more about the 1 Beyond i-Series Cameras here.

Epson EB-PQ2010B Laser Projector

“The EB-PQ2010B large-venue projector is not only lightweight but packs bright vivid image reproduction due to the 3LCD color rendering. The optional PixAlign camera performs all necessary calculations and configurations to enable multi-projector setups with ease.”

Learn more about the EB-PQ2010B Laser Projector here.

Extron UCS 303

“The UCS 303 simplifies connectivity of multiple devices in small environments. The ability of USB peripherals to be switched independently of video and audio signals shows the strength that Extron brings to the market.”

Learn more about the UCS 303 here.

INOGENI TOGGLE ROOMS XT

“INOGENI TOGGLE ROOMS XT might just be the perfect solution for multiple-source meeting spaces needing to support a mix of local computers and BYOD needs. It simplifies the installation and operation of systems that were formerly cumbersome and temperamental.”

Learn more about the TOGGLE ROOMS XT here.

Insta360 Connect

“The Insta360 Connect delivers strong optical performance using the dual-camera design. Audio performance is also strong with the microphone array; and the housing is attractive, meeting the needs of commercial environments.”

Learn more about the Insta360 Connect here.

Jetbuilt Client Portal

“The Jetbuilt Client Portal project management suite provides an exceptional user experience through all phases of a project and demonstrates the care an integrator can provide clients before and after installations are completed.”

Learn more about the Client Portal here.

L-Acoustics Xi Series

“L-Acoustics Xi takes a premium audio driver system and slightly alters the hardware to serve the needs of fixed installation environments. Overall, the aesthetic is flawless and lives up to the legendary sound quality L-Acoustics is known for in the touring world.”

Learn more about the Xi Series here.

LG MAGNIT Micro LED Boxed Set Display (LAAA)

“The MAGNIT Micro LED Display is perfect for those looking to move from LCD to dvLED in large meeting spaces. The price point also hits the target.”

Learn more about the MAGNIT Micro LED Boxed Set Display here.

Lightware Taurus TPN

“The Taurus TPN signal routing and seamless switching performance is an ideal fit for collaboration environments. The ability to support multiple USB cameras adds significant value, allowing UC software to select the ideal camera angle to capture presenters.”

Learn more about the Taurus TPN here.

Lightware UBEX

“Lightware Visual Engineering's UBEX product line exceeds expectations for transmitting critical AV with its redundant 10G network paths. The integrated matrix mode and picture-in-picture capabilities extend the possibilities with near-limitless potential.”

Learn more about the UBEX here.

Megapixel CLOUD

“Megapixel's CLOUD monitoring system presents a minimalist, refreshingly clean user interface with impressive reach into system monitoring and control of LED arrays.”

Learn more about Megapixel CLOUD here.

NETGEAR M4350 Series Managed Switches

“NETGEAR’s Managed Pro AV switches continue to improve the adoption and experience of AV-over-IP systems in real-world conditions. The Engage controller is simple and straightforward to use, saving time in the field.”

Learn more about the M4350 Series Managed Switches here.

Owl Labs Meeting Owl 4+

“Owl Labs takes the Meeting Owl to new heights, using a 64-megapixel 4K Ultra HD sensor that improves the video performance. The darker color scheme and POE capabilities are changes that will benefit corporate environments.”

Learn more about the Meeting Owl 4+ here.

Q-SYS VisionSuite

“The Q-SYS VisionSuite provides a significant jump in automated tracking thanks to the Seervision AI Accelerator. Q-SYS has revolutionized the way complex AV systems can be programmed and the new AI capabilities in VisionSuite raise the bar.”

Learn more about the VisionSuite here.

Ross Video Media I/O

“The Ross Video Media I/O platform allows users to dramatically increase the efficiency and versatility of live event and broadcast workflows. I appreciate that Ross decided to offer the platform as a perpetual license or an annual subscription.”

Learn more about the Video Media I/O here.

Samsung Color E-Paper EMD Series

“Samsung Color E-Paper is an impressive technological feat, combining an attractive hardware design that is lightweight and portable and a color reproduction that exceeds the performance of previous attempts at e-paper displays.”

Learn more about the Color E-Paper EMD Series here.

Samsung SmartThings Pro

“Harnessing the power of IoT, SmartThings Pro provides the ability to control millions of devices, including those from other brands. The app allows you to take 360-degree control of the residential environment, with additional devices regularly being added to the platform.”

Learn more about the SmartThings Pro here.

Samsung Visual eXperience Transformation (VXT)

“Samsung VXT is one of the most user-friendly methods of managing a digital signage network—across a location or an ocean. VXT equips users with content creation and remote management tools exceeding those provided by other manufacturers.”

Learn more about the Visual eXperience Transformation here.

Sharp LED-FE019I3 NEC FE Series 3 Indoor dvLED

“Sharp's 1.90mm FE Series 3 Indoor dvLED, with 256 levels of dimming and 8000:1 contrast, is an effective display for many environments.”

Learn more about the LED-FE019I3 NEC FE Series 3 Indoor dvLED here.

SiliconCore Technology 135-Inch Mobile All-In-One Display

“SiliconCore once again delivers the best visual performance of mobile direct-view LED displays. With exceptional color accuracy and 1,200-nit brightness, your material is going to do everything but jump off the screen.”

Learn more about the 135-Inch Mobile All-In-One Display here.

ViewSonic LDS135-153 Direct-View LED Display Solution Kit

“ViewSonic’s LDS135-153 is an innovative solution for applications that need large, high-brightness displays. The folding nature of the screen and included flight case is innovative.”

Learn more about the LDS135-153 Direct-View LED Display Solution Kit here.

WolfVision VZ-2.UHD Visualizer

“The VZ-2.UHD Visualizer uses Wolfvision’s leading optics and innovative design at a budget price. The form factor creates one of the best visualizer experiences today and its minimalistic design elevates AV integrations.”

Learn more about the VZ-2.UHD Visualizer here.

Xyte Device Cloud

“Xyte Device Cloud (XDC) is an exciting service that enables cloud services without the expense of coding professionals. It is a great way for smaller organizations to develop or partner to achieve as-a-service support for projects and installations.”

Learn more about the Device Cloud here.

SCN’s Stellar Service Awards are back to recognize Pro AV companies leading the way with their extraordinary service to the industry. The importance of providing the most meaningful and effective services—both within companies and to Pro AV customers—is greater than ever. It's time for you to be recognized for making that impact. 

From project management to tech support and beyond, SCN recognizes behind-the-scenes efforts and ensure they receive the credit they deserve for their contribution to the creation of successful user experiences. This year, we introduce two new categories: Best Value-Added Services and Best Design Services and Tools. 

SCN welcomes entries from both manufacturers and distributors in each category. To submit an entry, click here. A $325 fee is required for entry to each category. Companies can enter separately for as many categories as desired.

[2023 Award Winners: Pro AV Best in Market| Stellar Service Awards | Installation Product Awards]

The SCN 2024 Stellar Service Awards will be voted on by SCN's readership audience of more than 39,000 unique monthly site visitors. Winners will be announced in the May 2024 issue of Systems Contractor News.

“Superior technology is not the only consideration when it comes to the Pro AV space,” said Mark J. Pescatore, SCN content director. “Our Stellar Service Awards recognize and celebrate the importance of service. From training and tech support to sales teams and value-added services, our awards programs are an excellent way for manufacturers and distributors to spotlight what happens for their clients before and after the sale.”

Here is the list of all categories for this year's awards (italics are new categories): 

To enter, review the categories above and be ready to select your category when you fill out the form. Entries are due by March 20, 2024.

Winners will receive either Platinum, Gold, or Silver marketing assets to use for company promotion, as well as a SCN Stellar Service digital certificate and dedicated editorial coverage across SCN platforms. Also, being a reader-voted award, nominations provide benefits even if you don’t win, as our vast audience will be able to read and recognize your nomination.

Click here to enter the 2024 Stellar Service Awards.

One of the more significant trends in 2022 and 2023 has been the emergence of videoconferencing solutions from veteran Pro AV companies that are new to the category, new brands jumping on the bandwagon, and a plethora of new products from companies rooted in unified communications. 

We thought it would be helpful to see a compilation of like-solutions in one place. In this article, AV Technology (AVT), Sound & Video Contractor (SVC), and Systems Contractor News (SCN) bring together award-winning video and audio solutions specifically engineered with videoconferencing in mind. Some are combination or “all-in-one” solutions, while others are separate cameras, microphones, speakers, displays, and solutions to help ensure the best collaboration experience. You can argue that most displays can be used as part of the meeting experience—which is true, but we decided to cover various categories separately. Watch for more award-winning categories in the coming weeks.

AVT, SVC, and SCN Awards

In June, AV Technology and Sound & Video Contractor announced the winners of the InfoComm Best of Show 2023, and Systems Contractor News announced the winners of its Installation Product Awards.

Manufacturers submitted products for judging, and not all companies making a videoconferencing product submitted. AVT and SVC hired AV industry experts as “phantom judges” to evaluate products on the InfoComm show floor, and we’ve included some excerpts from the judge’s comments. SCN readers voted on their favorite products within specific categories.

If you see the same product awarded by more than one publication, it is because products were evaluated by different judges or voted upon with specific benefits in mind for each reader-audience.

These are award-winning videoconferencing products, they were judged and voted upon based on individual merits and not against each other or bench tested.

AV Technology, Videoconferencing Award-Winners

Airtame | Share from Browser

Airtame’s Share from Browser feature democratizes screen sharing and hybrid collaboration. This feature gives users the ability to screen share or start a hybrid conference call from the web browser of their choice, without having to download or install any new applications. This is especially useful for first-time users such as guests and those who have restrictions from running software on their machines. With Share from Browser, users can share to an Airtame-powered display in seconds without wasting time with installations. Users simply use an Airtame pairing code displayed on their screen, and select if they want to share a browser tab, windows, or entire desktop.

What the Judge had to Say: “Ease of use rules the day with Airtame's Share from Browser. I was impressed with the demo and could see this value add finding its way into more education learning and social spaces where simplicity is valued above all else.”

Arthur Holm | DynamicCL

Arthur Holm’s DynamicCL camera lift system has been designed to hide table VC cameras when not in use. These 360-degree table cameras often cover all the people at the table and are therefore typically located in the center of the table, but the DynamicCL allows the cable to retract with the camera, leaving the table free from obstructions. The camera lift has integrated camera power and a USB- C or USB-A cable for the camera feed to the laptop. The DynamicCL is also available without a retractable cable for fixed connectivity. The movements can be controlled remotely via RS422 or locally on the device.

What the Judge had to Say: “Very slick retraction solutions. Potential learning curve with installation but very well-designed product.”

ATEN Technology | VP2021

ATEN Technology’s PresentON VP2021 is a wireless BYOD solution that enables anyone, including visitors, to easily share content from a laptop or mobile device so that participants can actively collaborate for enhanced and efficient workflows. It is ideal for both huddle spaces and large meeting spaces, and is flexible enough for corporate or education use.

The VP2021 features multi-view and audio-out capabilities, designed to increase content-sharing flexibility. It is equipped with USB touch-back and moderation mode functions, allowing presenters to easily control meetings. This solution also features Remote View so participants can immerse themselves in the presentation. PoE connectivity makes installation easy. 

What the Judge had to Say: “ATEN mastered the collaboration experience many years ago. This is another amazing device to make it even easier."

Barco | ClickShare CX-50 2nd Generation

Barco’s ClickShare CX-50 2nd Generation is the premium ClickShare Conference with A++ ecolabel, designed to enable better decision-making and collaboration in high-impact meeting rooms. Thanks to dual-screen support, everyone gets an equal seat in the hybrid meeting, no matter if they join remotely or in-room.   

The supercharged model is simple, easy to use and makes everyone feel part of the conversation. It enables meeting room users to work the way they want and use the devices and video conferencing platforms they feel comfortable with; and it eliminates the need to figure out a room computer or display, or attach any cables.

What the Judge had to Say: “Loved the auto-switching feature and XMS cloud for management of CS units. Native Teams and Zoom rooms.”

Clevertouch Technologies | UX Pro 2

Clevertouch Technologies’ UX Pro 2 is an all-in-one solution designed to enhance collaboration in meeting rooms, auditoriums, reception areas, and break-out spaces. With its exceptional features and seamless integration capabilities, the UX Pro 2 sets a new standard for touchscreen user experience and versatility.

The UX Pro 2 boasts a range of unique and innovative features that elevate the user experience to extraordinary levels. Our patented High Precision Super Glide Touch technology ensures a remarkably fluid writing experience with no lag, whether using fingers, gloves, or the dual recognition stylus. The touchscreen effortlessly distinguishes between palm erase, finger touch, and stylus writing, eliminating the need for constant setting adjustments.

What the Judge had to Say: “Clevertouch has one of the best handwriting experiences when using an interactive display and the UX Pro 2 provides users a powerful platform to present and interact with content.”

Crestron | Flex Pods

Crestron’s Flex Pods are a new addition to the Crestron Flex platform, providing organizations with more choices in their microphone and speaker selections. Crestron Flex Pods deliver flexible, high-quality audio for hybrid meetings and are scalable across a wide range of spaces. Audio is a critical component of hybrid meetings; in-person participants must be able to hear remote participants clearly, while also ensuring their own audio is captured reliably. Crestron Flex Pods can be installed with a Crestron Flex system or AirMedia wireless presentation and conferencing kit, or stand alone to seamlessly integrate with other BYOD solutions.

What the Judge had to Say: “Crestron never releases a product without seeing what others do wrong and they drill down and perfect it. It is a natural progression / addition to their current Flex line. It is a simple connection that anyone can do and gets clear audio without the messy cables.”

DisplayNote | Omni Cable-Free Conferencing Solution

DisplayNote’s Omni Cable-Free Conferencing Solution is designed to transform the meeting room experience. A virtual USB cable lets you connect to a screen, camera, and mic, instantly. When launching a conference call on their preferred platform, users can now utilize the room’s hardware as it if it were their own.

The Omni is platform agnostic, so it works with all popular conferencing platforms. It also seamlessly connects a laptop to the meeting room equipment, so no more huddles around a single laptop; what’s on the laptop screen can now be seen on the large meeting room display.

What the Judge had to Say: “I liked how the camera can feed back into the user device while also sharing their screen. Installation seemed easy. Just install the software on the computer and device onto the network.”

ENCO Systems | enCaption5

ENCO Systems’ enCaption5 is an AI-enhanced software that excels at helping audiences retain, comprehend, and engage with information presented in real time, with industry-leading speed and accuracy. enCaption makes presentations easy to follow and understand for both hard-of-hearing participants and within venues with limited audio coverage. ADA-compliant enCaption live captioning software has been the leading platform for automated closed captioning and speech-to-text translation in broadcast TV and radio for several years.

Accuracy improvement of up to 20 percent, with enhanced speaker detection for more seamless captioning of program material with multiple speakers, has been included in the latest version of enCaption5.

What the Judge had to Say: “This product has good value for its price. It provides a service that is missing as it can either connect to the cloud or be on-prem. Having the option makes this product great for IT teams looking at security.”

Epiphan Video | Connect

Epiphan Video’s Connect turns Microsoft Teams meetings into a remote and hybrid video production asset. Add a Teams meeting URL to Epiphan Connect and producers are able to access isolated video and audio from each participant. These isolated assets are available via SRT and can be added to any SRT-enabled production tool for recording or streaming.

When Connect isolates Teams and Zoom video, it takes the highest quality available—up to 1080p, which is higher than a standard Teams call. And because this operation is entirely cloud-based, there's no strain on local hardware or networks to achieve higher quality.

What the Judge had to Say: “Epiphan Connect's ability to move beyond standard UC recording to produce higher quality and customizable content is such a value add as employees frequently miss meetings or may need to review meeting notes as part of their work.”

EPOS | IMPACT 1000 Headset

EPOS’ IMPACT 1000 Headset leverages industry-leading speech intelligibility technology. By harnessing machine learning technology, the IMPACT 1000 works to identify which sounds should be suppressed in a user’s environment and which sounds should be enhanced. Together, this first-of-its-kind solution addresses the challenges of modern work environments, empowering workers in open-plan offices to block out unwanted noises and create disturbance-free work experiences for both sides of a call.

EPOS machine learning technology scans user environments 32,000 times per second to suppress disruptive sounds, and enhances desirable audio to ensure only the relevant sounds slip through to the person the user is talking to.

What the Judge had to Say: “I had no idea what EPOS noise attenuation technology was until I tried on these headphones. Wow, this truly changes the way we focus on tasks and block out "noise" when it comes to privacy headphones. Noise cancelling has been around for a long time, but the EPOS is a game changer.”

FlatFrog Laboratories | TeamTablet

FlatFrog Laboratories TeamTablet is the ultimate collaboration display that will redefine how your team works together. Prepare to be amazed by its exceptional industrial design and cutting-edge features. This 55-inch OLED touch display is set to revolutionize your meeting experience, from the CEO's office to the boardroom.

Experience seamless integration of content sharing, whiteboarding, and video conferencing with the innovative TeamTablet. Effortlessly share your laptop screen or specific files wirelessly with everyone in the meeting room, facilitating seamless collaboration and information exchange. The TeamTablet empowers you to work together effortlessly and share ideas in real-time with its hyper-responsive inking and built-in annotation capabilities.

What the Judge had to Say: “Very cool use of multiple sources on a single OLED display that is super simple.”

HP | Poly | Poly Studio X52 Video Bar

The Poly Studio X52 is an all-in-one video bar with the latest, state-of-the-art AI-powered video technology to optimize mid-size enterprise meeting spaces. The new 20-megapixel camera, with a 95-degree field of view, reaches the farthest ends of the conference room, allowing each person to be seen clearly. The new camera removes any distortion in the field of view, enhancing the far-end experience as well. The Poly Studio X52 also utilizes Poly DirectorAI smart camera technology to give everyone an up-close view, or switch automatically as different people speak.

Audio innovations include NoiseBlockAI to block out distracting background noises that are not audible speech, and Acoustic Fence technology to remove sounds or conversations from outside the defined meeting zone.

What the Judge had to Say: “I was impressed with how well video quality held up even when I stepped far from the device and the AI camera close-ups framed appropriately. I also appreciate the quick installation option provided by the TV clamp.”

Huddly | Crew Multi-Camera System

Huddly’s Crew Multi-Camera System transforms ordinary video meetings into professional, studio-like productions, using insights from film and television. Powered by an AI director, Crew enables all participants to be clearly visible, and automatically adjusts the camera angles to include everyone. It is a game-changer for remote and hybrid work, addressing key challenges faced by organizations who are looking to eliminate meeting fatigue, enable remote work, and ensure platform compatibility. Collaboration across locations is made easier with the system's seamless integration with various video conferencing platforms. Furthermore, the Huddly L1 camera is certified for Microsoft Team Rooms, providing optimized video collaboration within that ecosystem.

What the Judge had to Say: “Huddly was first to the market with small form factor AI-driven auto-framing cameras. The new Huddy Crew builds on their high-quality hardware.”

IPEVO | TOTEM 360 Conference Camera and Speakerphone

IPEVO’s TOTEM 360 Conference Camera and Speakerphone is a complete audio-visual solution, providing a seamlessly stitched 360-degree image from four cameras, sound from an all-around speaker, and capturing voices via an array of four beamforming microphones with AI noise reduction.

It utilizes four AI-enhanced video modes that are designed to remove the barriers of hybrid conferencing and learning. Users can cycle through them with a press of a button, without the need for any additional software. Based on the selected video mode, the AI tracking functionality identifies up to four active speakers, highlighting them in individual close-up or tracking their movement, making it easy for the audience to follow along.

What the Judge had to Say: “The Totem 360 brings more value than their 180-degree model and the beamforming microphones support the user experience.”

Jabra | PanaCast 50 AI-Powered Updates

Jabra’s PanaCast 50 AI-Powered Updates comprise a series of innovative upgrades to the PanaCast 50. Jabra’s collaboration with Microsoft unlocks a new era of inclusive and dynamic communication, as the PanaCast 50 will be the first intelligent front-of-the-room Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows (MTR-W) video bar to enable Copilot in Teams Rooms and IntelliFrame.

Hybrid meetings are also taken to the next level as the upgraded PanaCast 50 system comes equipped with Jabra Intelligent Meeting Space. The new feature allows customers to set a meeting room or space virtual boundary, so that people within the defined space are fully included, whereas people outside of the boundary are not inadvertently included.

What the Judge had to Say: “I can see much value of this product in higher education as it fits well with in their budget but also provides a great user experience. The AI built into the camera brings this camera to the next level. Installation is simple with three different mounting options. Even the mounting options are designed well and easy to use.”

Jupiter Systems | Pana X 120Hz 5K Pro Series

Jupiter Systems’ Pana X 120Hz 5K Pro Series is the next generation of 5K ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio LCD displays from Jupiter Systems. The Pana X uses Quantum Dot Mini-LED technology, making it the most technologically advanced ultrawide LCD in the market.

Compared to our current generation of Pana displays, Pana X models comprise a range of sizes in thin-profile touch or non-touch 5K 120Hz LCDs, each with optically bonded, tempered, anti-glare, edge-to-edge glass; identical frame-less design; identical back; identical depth dimension; and identical ports at exact locations. The bezel-less, glass-to-edge, super-low-profile frames are ADA-compliant, with a 78mm total depth.

What the Judge had to Say: “The image is clear and very detailed on all of the sizes.”

Listen Technologies | ListenWIFI

Listen Technologies’ ListenWIFI is the next generation of the Listen EVERYWHERE audio-over-Wi-Fi solution. ListenWIFI streams venue audio to smartphones through a free, customizable app or directly to new LWR-1050 receivers. When used with proper signage and neck loops, the new receivers make ListenWIFI compliant with ADA and international accessibility requirements. New ListenWIFI Beacons provide location-based audio for a fully automated and seamless user experience. Beacons are small units that can be mounted on a wall and transmit information to LWR-1050 receivers and smartphones running the ListenWIFI app. ListenWIFI is used for assistive listening, language interpretation, streaming video or TV audio, self-guided tours, and audio description.

What the Judge had to Say: “This product allows for ADA over a user's device and purchased devices. This will allow business to provided ADA listening to more users without increasing the cost or support.”

Lumens | AI-Box1 CamConnect Processor

Lumens’ AI-Box1 CamConnect Processor is a powerful voice-tracking processor for Lumens PTZ cameras. Supporting multiple cameras and microphone arrays, the AI-Box1 can transform the audio-visual experience within meeting spaces, lecture rooms, and conference suites. It supports up to four IP cameras, up to 16 multiple array microphones, PBP and 2 x 2 multiview output, and an AI algorithm for people tracking and center stage.

What the Judge had to Say: “If this does what it says it will, you can save quite a bit by using this device with cameras of your choosing. Great idea to help with auto tracking.”

MAXHUB | 105-inch Ultra-Wide Commercial Display

MAXHUB’s 105-inch Ultra-Wide Commercial Display panel allows users to deliver a rich video conferencing experience, engage participants, showcase more content, and address the challenges facing hybrid workforces. Create an engaging experience perfect for utilizing an extended display with integrated whiteboarding, smart sensors, and curated applications. Use the additional screen real estate to serve up new video layouts, increase engagement, and utilize applications specifically geared toward 21:9 screen ratio.

Owl Labs | Owl Bar

Owl Labs’ Owl Bar is the first and only front-of-room camera on the market that works wirelessly with a 360-degree, center-of-the-room camera for a complete front-and-center video conferencing experience.

The Owl Bar pairs with the Meeting Owl (AI-powered, Wi-Fi-enabled, 360-degree camera, microphone, and speaker) and Whiteboard Owl (dedicated camera that adds any in-room whiteboard to video conferences) to make hybrid meetings even more inclusive and immersive.

The Owl Labs ecosystem uses proprietary AI-powered software to automatically switch between cameras to capture the best view of in-room attendees, enabling more face-to-face interactions that feel like natural conversations between in-person and remote participants.

What the Judge had to Say: “For those who already have a sharp eye for quality and innovation will welcome the follow-up Owl Bar into their environments. We've used Owl in a number of rooms and I'm excited to now have a front camera option that can be switched using AI to provide the remote viewer the best of both room cameras. If you combine the Owl Bar with the whiteboard camera and the original 360 camera you have a super impressive user experience.”

Planar | UltraRes W Series Ultra-Wide-Format LCD Display

Planar’s UltraRes W Series Ultra-Wide-Format LCD Display is optimized for next-generation collaboration for today’s modern hybrid workforce.

Building on the decade-long Planar UltraRes Series reputation, these commercial-grade displays have been successfully installed in secure conference rooms around the world. The Planar UltraRes W Series provides customers with a secure, 105-inch ultra-wide format display that is ideally sized to suit the most popular unified communications and video collaboration platforms including Microsoft Teams. The Planar UltraRes W Series also features brighter, wider color gamut panels with local dimming, and is available in both non-touch and optically bonded 50-point projected capacitive touch technology.

What the Judge had to Say: “There is just something visually satisfying when you view a 21:9 aspect ratio display and Planar's UltraRes W Series 105-inch display is impressive. Beyond the aspect ratio, the fact that these panels are built with the ability to support 24x7 use unlocks even more potential for integrating this 5K display into your environments. Planar was also thoughtful when they incorporated eyebolt rigging capability into the support structure which provides integrators and end users options during installation.”

Salamander Designs | Arc Table

Salamander Designs’ Arc Table features a beautiful, functional curved shape to optimize today’s business hybrid collaboration for all participants, regardless of their location. Designed for use with modern meeting setups (like Microsoft’s Front Row), the Arc Table fosters more inclusive participation. Unlike traditional conference furniture with a rectangular table that’s tailored for face-to-face interaction, the Arc enables a modern room orientation with a semicircle shape that allows everyone to see each other and face the monitor with a similar distance from the camera. Many options are available to meet every enterprise space and need.

What the Judge had to Say: “The Salamander Designs Arc table is a beautiful focal piece for your collaboration studios. When you talk about intelligent design you find this in the intentionality of equal distance created from the camera to each participant which helps create parity in the room and the remote viewer. Overall, the build quality feels durable, and the various finishes are aesthetically pleasing. There are similar products on the market, but this was my favorite due to the quality of build and the potential to integrate wireless charging.”

Sennheiser | TeamConnect Bar Solutions

Sennheiser’s TeamConnect Bar Solutions delivers trusted Sennheiser audio quality to every meeting with the TC Bar S and TC Bar M. Designed to maximize meeting and collaboration spaces, the TC Bar will easily integrate with your favorite meeting platform and can be further enhanced with other compatible products. They feature some of the latest advances in meeting technology such as the 4K Ultra HD camera, which comes with AI-powered auto-framing and person tiling. The TC Bars enable remote participants to clearly see and hear everyone in the room, so even the smallest gestures and facial expressions are conveyed to increase meeting inclusion and engagement.

What the Judge had to Say: “I like how Sennheiser has jumped into the collaboration video bar field with their TeamConnect solution bringing their knowledge of pro audio to an all-in-one bar. This is a well packaged system and I find it helpful that you can use Dante streams with the system to unlock even more flexibility with audio routing. It’s also nice to be able to integrate a second camera via USB to provide even more options within your UC software suite.”

Shure | Microflex Advance MXA902

Shure’s Microflex Advance MXA902 Ceiling Array Microphone is the world’s first conferencing ceiling array microphone with integrated loudspeaker and IntelliMix DSP for small- and medium-sized meeting rooms. For IT managers and AV professionals seeking reliable audio solutions that are easy to configure out of the box, the MXA902 delivers premium audio capture and reproduction with minimal setup required. The ceiling-mounted audio solution is complete with a state-of-the-art array microphone for enhanced directional voice capture and an integrated wide-dispersion loudspeaker for natural-sounding far-end speech. MXA902 is a bold new solution that delivers microphone, loudspeaker, and DSP technology in one device.

What the Judge had to Say: “The all-in-one design of Shure's MXA902 makes this a plug-and-play solution for the majority of your collaboration suites. Shure has always had exceptional audio performance in their Microflex line but the integration had previously been cumbersome. The new form factor and integrated microphone, speaker, amplifier, and DSP make this my new go-to for collaboration in small to mid-sized rooms.”

Sony | SRG-A40 and SRG-A12 4K PTZ Cameras

Sony’s SRG-A40 and SRG-A12 PTZ Cameras, with built-in AI analytics, automatically and consistently track and naturally frame presenters, regardless of movement or posture, for seamless content creation and control—all without operating a computer. The new PTZ auto-framing technology features automatic operation for quick object tracking and rediscovery, as well as multiple auto-framing options. Highlights of the cameras include image quality with automation, the flexibility of IP, powerful zoom, remote control, and easy configuration and operation. They are ideal for use in education, corporate, medical, government, broadcast, and faith applications, as well as for live events.

What the Judge had to Say: “This camera did a great job of tracking to a presenter, even someone who would be walking around a larger platform or stage. The image overlayed in semi-transparency over a whiteboard to keep in-room and remote participants engaged.”

Vaddio | AV Bridge Nano

Vaddio’s AV Bridge Nano is a compact and affordable AV-to-USB bridge, joining Vaddio's popular AV Bridge family. The AV Bridge Nano features a simple plug-and-play design that converts an HDMI source like a camera to a USB or IP stream. Ideal for conferencing, distance learning, or live streaming, the AV Bridge Nano enables users to connect with colleagues, students, or followers using their Pro AV equipment. Its compact size makes it ideal for on-the-go use, while its compatibility with popular software applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Facebook and YouTube Live ensures easy integration into any streaming setup.

What the Judge had to Say: “The AV Bridge product line helped so many markets during the pandemic and seeing them bring to market a cost effective and small form factor option is exciting. While it lacks the features of its larger siblings the AV Bridge Nano meets a need and the quality of build won't be questioned.”

WolfVision | Cynap Videobar

WolfVision’s Cynap Videobar is an all-in-one meeting room solution combining WolfVision Cynap wireless presentation and web conferencing technology, together with a 4K AI camera and beamforming array microphone, plus premium sound from audio specialists Fohhn. Natural speech is reproduced throughout the room, and extended low-frequency reproduction ensures excellent sound quality when playing back videos or music. Built-in BYOM web conferencing enables users to connect wirelessly and run hybrid meetings using any conferencing service from a laptop. Up to four devices can share content wirelessly on screen, and this content is also easily shared with remote colleagues during meetings.

What the Judge had to Say: “Similar to other products on the market that do the same thing, but this one stands out with its ability to do screen mirroring/casting without having to use any other gear/dongles. This makes for a clean and more professional installation. It is also easy to use and configure out of the box and it supports many of the most popular meeting apps around.”

Yealink | MeetingBoard

Yealink’s MeetingBoard Collaboration Display delivers an incomparable video conferencing experience and is suitable for all scenarios. To guarantee a meeting experience that ensures every participant has an equal seat, it includes top-class hardware and AI-enhanced algorithms. It features six speakers, a dual-camera system, a 4K touch display, and a 16-MEMS microphone array to provide an immersive audiovisual experience. It enables AI-powered features such as auto framing, speaker tracking, multi-focus framing, noise cancellation, and reverberation suppression. It allows seamless collaboration with Microsoft and Zoom's native whiteboard, providing a digital paper writing experience; and it is suitable for various deployment needs, with wall-mount or movable floor stand options.

What the Judge had to Say: “Have seen a lot of these types of displays and many have failed where this product seems to shine. One thing I find cool is the built in support for Microsoft and Zoom. Most of the users in my environment use both and this would be a plus. Might seem trivial but the microphone array is also an added benefit for users in the room and on the far end as far as audio quality is concerned. The ease of use and plug-and-play ability of this device makes this a top choice in my book.”

Zoom | Zoom Rooms Intelligent Director

The Zoom Rooms Intelligent Director by Zoom is a patent-pending feature that takes multiple camera streams and uses AI to choose the highest-quality image and best camera angle view of each person located in the room. Intelligent Director uses three cameras in a Zoom Room, helping participants to have a more engaging, face-to-face meeting.

Intelligent Director works for up to 16 individuals in a Zoom Room, and not only does the presenter get the best possible view, but so does everyone in the Zoom Room. Intelligent Director requires a Zoom Rooms license, a qualified Windows or Mac Zoom Rooms, three Zoom Rooms-compatible cameras, and one Zoom Rooms Controller.

What the Judge had to Say: “Achieving meeting parity is more important than ever as workforces continue to explore the value of maintaining a hybrid work environment. The Intelligent Director feature using a three-camera system to cover up to 16 individuals is appealing as this functionality was previously only achieved with room systems costing thousands of dollars. By adding this to your Zoom Room License you can continue to use the cameras of your choice further decreasing your cost to roll out this feature.”

Sound & Video Contractor, Videoconferencing Award-Winners

Airtame | Airtame Hub Hybrid Conferencing

Airtame Hub Hybrid Conferencing is a unique all-in-one screen sharing tool integrates digital signage and video conferencing solutions. It combines the quality and stability of traditional Rooms systems with the flexibility of bring-your-own meeting solutions. Features include the Share to Call functionality, which solves one of the biggest pain points experienced by users in hybrid meetings. Enabled by the Hub, Share to Call allows any person in a meeting room to instantly share their screen into a Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and soon, Google Meet and Webex, without the hassle of joining the call from a personal device—encouraging a hassle free, flexible communication experience. 

What the Judge had to Say: “While wireless sharing isn’t new, the value comes from ease of use especially for situations where the robustness of traditional wireless sharing features isn't required. It makes wireless sharing more accessible across a range of applications.”

Arthur Holm | DynamicMCS

Arthur Holm's DynamicMCS is a combination of motorized HD-SDI video camera, microphone, and loudspeaker is designed to integrate into furniture to make videoconference as natural and comfortable as possible. Ideally these units serve individuals who each have their own camera placed at eye level to ensure a natural position for face-to-face collaboration, as well as a speaker and microphone for optimal sound. And—in the case of DynamicMCS, this enabling technology disappears into the table when not needed. The hybrid camera housing is built in steel and composite materials in a black, non-reflective finish. A touch button in the steel cover raises and lowers the camera, microphone and loudspeaker. The camera can be turned 45 degrees horizontally to each side (manually). DynamicMCS can also be remotely controlled via AHnet (RS-422), GPI or AHlink. 

What the Judge had to Say: “A beautiful product that solves a big need for hiding devices on the table and making room on the table, great image and design.”

Audio-Technica | Engineered Sound Wireless System

Audio-Technica’s Engineered Sound Wireless System is a new 96-channel system was created in response to the increasing demand for wireless microphone solutions for video- and web-conferencing. This system is a DECT-based wireless solution that addresses many challenges of conventional wireless microphones, such as frequency coordination and the limited number of available microphone channels. Innovations include all-day battery life, customization by application with a Dante-enabled receiver and choice of four transmitters for bodypack, handheld, boundary, or desk stand, with matching charging stations for each. PoE, Wireless Manager software, AES256 standard, and simple scaling contribute to the practicality of the system. 

What the Judge had to Say: “Simple charging (and a 16-hour charge at that) make the system conform to the user’s needs instead of the other way around.”

Aurora Multimedia | SKR-22T-XFR Ceiling Speaker

Aurora Multimedia's SKR-22T-XFR Ceiling Speaker is an affordable lightweight high-fidelity ceiling speaker reproduces a 180-degree sound field, allowing the use of only one speaker in a room for mono operation. Installation is quick, 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 and connect the speaker. For 4x2 ceiling grids, all that is required is to cut the tile in half and add a standard ceiling divider. A compatible 25-watt PoE+ Dante amplifier using the Aurora DTX-AMP25-M can further complete the room audio solution. The DTX-AMP25-M can also take Line in for analog systems as well. 

What the Judge had to Say: “These drop-in speakers are such a time saver for field installation teams. Sound quality was good, and the ability to work off Dante amps is equally as important.”

AVer | PTZ310UNV2 4K AI NDI PTZ Camera

AVer' PTZ310UNV2 4K AI NDI PTZ Camera is designed to be the world’s first UHD NDI HX3 camera. It features 4K resolution, 12X optical zoom and 8MP pictures with 60fps. Designed for broadcasting and streaming, it has reduced latency with less than 100ms while only utilizing a fraction of the bandwidth of NDI high bandwidth. The PTZ310UNV2 enables simultaneous output at 4Kp60 with HDMI/NDI/IP and features built-in AI functions, like SmartShoot. It optimizes camera controls for automatic content capturing between present areas and the ability to create a multi-camera feel across preset zones. Framing technology instantly adjusts the field of view (FOV) to capture multiple people, fit everyone on-screen, and easily record presentations, lectures, and more. With Zoom and Microsoft Teams video mode and NDAA and TAA compliance.

What the Judge had to Say: “A great product offering as we are clearly seeing a shift and need for smart PTZ video cameras.”

Canon | Add-On Applications System for PTZ Cameras

Canon's Add-On Applications System for PTZ Cameras is a unique add-on applications for PTZ remote cameras are available for the CR-N300, CR-N400, and CR-X300 through a firmware update, and is designed to provide access to new paid video production features like auto tracking and auto loop. The applications run from within the camera itself, instead of requiring external devices to operate functions like auto tracking.

What the Judge had to Say: “From the folks that make some of the best digital photography cameras we now see their superb optics in a remote controlled PTZ video camera. The auto-track add on especially make it well suited for classroom applications.”

Crestron | Videobar 70

Crestron’s Videobar 70 is the first all-in-one collaboration bar from Crestron, extending the options available in the Crestron Flex portfolio. Combining intelligent video, high-quality audio, with an advanced Android-based platform into a single form factor, Crestron Videobar 70 makes it easy to add engaging and productive hybrid meetings to your medium and large spaces. Specialized microphone arrays are built into the bar to accurately detect where the audio is coming from, both in distance and direction, for accurate speaker tracking. Beamforming microphones cover a wider frequency range, providing better noise-reduction than a normal array design and increased speech perception. The simple-to-deploy form factor includes built-in UC computing and intelligent features that capture participants vividly. Four high-quality cameras work together to intelligently crop, even at 30 feet. Crestron Videobar 70 is native on Microsoft Teams platform or Zoom software with no extra computing needed.

What the Judge had to Say: “Shutter, indicator lights and install is great. Quality of image is good.”

Epiphan Video | Connect

Epiphan Connect turns Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings into a remote and hybrid video production asset. Add a Teams meeting URL and producers can access isolated video and audio from each participant. These isolated assets are available via SRT and can be added to any SRT-enabled production tool for recording or streaming. This provides a better than standard Teams resolution, up to 1080p with a cloud-based infrastructure that does not strain local hardware or networks. Screenshare is acquired through SRT, allowing any participant to share their screen without disrupting the production's layouts. Plus, participants can see how they look within the finished production through a virtual confidence monitor. An SRT return feed enabled in the admin panel activates the monitor and helps guests hit their cues. Judges called it a game-changer for recording and producing unified communications calls and a fair tradeoff for having to layer hardware and software.

What the Judge had to Say: “The persistent screen share is a great add as is the virtual confidence monitor.”

MAXHUB | 105-inch Ultra-Wide Commercial Display

MAXHUB’s Ultra-wide 105-inch display panel allows users to deliver a rich video conferencing experience, engage participants, showcase more content, and address the challenges facing hybrid workforces. It creates an engaging experience for utilizing an extended display with integrated whiteboarding, smart sensors, and curated applications. The additional screen real estate supports new video layouts, increased engagement, and applications specifically geared toward 21:9 screen ratio.

What the Judge had to Say: “Great product for entry into 21:9 displays.”

Systems Contractor News, Videoconferencing Award-Winners

MOST INNOVATIVE VIDEOCONFERENCING PRODUCT

Avocor | CollabTouch

Avocor’s CollabTouch fuses the interactive power of Avocor E and G Series displays with the collaborative strength of Logitech Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini. Logitech’s all-in-one video bars easily connect to the Avocor display via a proprietary, unified cable, including HDMI, USB, and Ethernet connectivity, and mount to the CollabTouch display. The solution supports all popular UC platforms.

The result is an all-in-one technology solution that delivers equitable, interactive, virtual meeting experiences regardless of room size. And, because CollabTouch is powered by a single cable, the solution can be easily deployed in a wide range of spaces.

Bose Professional | Videobar VB-S

Bose’s Videobar VB-S is a compact, all-in-one USB conferencing device that’s easy to install and brings premium audio and video to rooms up to 10-by-10 feet (3-by-3m). With four beam-steering microphones, a 4K ultra-HD camera, and signature Bose sound, VB-S delivers a meeting experience so clear you can read the room from across the globe. The Bose VB-S works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and more, bringing enhanced video and audio performance to popular unified communications platforms. The Bose VB-S makes meeting rooms easy. 

MOST INNOVATIVE AUDIO HARDWARE

Shure | Microflex Advance MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone

Shure’s Microflex Advance MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone ushers in a new era of networked microphones with Automatic Coverage technology that enables pre-configured audio capture with minimal set-up required. The MXA920 employs Next Generation Array Architecture for enhanced directional pickup and more natural speech. Onboard IntelliMix DSP delivers noise and echo-free performance with unprecedented audio clarity and intelligibility for AV conferencing across room types. The Microflex Ecosystem, including MXA920, can be customized and integrated with third-party AV equipment and control systems and is certified for use with popular collaboration platforms. Audio quality is crucial to effective collaboration in a hybrid setting.

Vaddio|EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D

Vaddio’s EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D is an in-ceiling audio solution with an overhead microphone and a built-in speaker amplifier, both featuring Dante networked audio. The EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D features a PoE+ network connection, an overhead microphone, and one powered speaker output making it a convenient and cost-effective 2-in-1 solution for incorporating a microphone and a passive speaker with an EasyIP or Dante audio system.  With full 360-degree pickup coverage, one EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D provides excellent coverage for an average size meeting room table. Centrally manage microphone routing and system configuration with free Dante Controller software.

MOST INNOVATIVE AV INSTALLATION ACCESSORY

Airtame | Airtame Hub Hybrid Conferencing

Airtame’s Share from Browser feature democratizes screen sharing and hybrid collaboration. This feature gives users the ability to screen share or start a hybrid conference call from the web browser of their choice, without having to download or install any new applications. This is especially useful for first-time users such as guests and those who have restrictions from running software on their machines. With Share from Browser, users can share to an Airtame-powered display in seconds without wasting time with installations. Users simply use an Airtame pairing code displayed on their screen, and select if they want to share a browser tab, windows, or entire desktop.

MOST INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION PRODUCT

Middle Atlantic | Forum Collaboration Suite

Middle Atlantic’s Forum Collaboration Suite, will maximize the flexibility for hybrid video conferencing spaces. A new, wider display stand will support 75- to 100-inch displays in addition to the original 42- to 75-inch range. A dual display option will be added for two displays up to 75 inches that includes a third equipment bay for small device storage. Forum Display Stands will also support 21:9 ultra-wide displays to take full advantage of Microsoft Teams Front Row layouts. The Forum Rectangle Table is perfect for meetings with mostly remote attendees while maintaining meeting equity for those participating in-person. To make installation easier, Middle Atlantic is adding flexibility to the acoustic felt shroud for optimal aesthetics and audio.

ViewSonic|ViewBoard IFP105S-5K Interactive Display

The ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP105S is a105-inch, 21:9 ultra-wide interactive display with native 5K resolution. Built for seamless functionality in corporate spaces, the IFP105S offers an immersive sharing solution. The display offers effortless and instant presentation efficiency with its 21:9 aspect ratio, dual-pen 40-point touch, wireless content sharing with multiple split screens and 2-way touch interactivity support.

The ViewBoard IFP105S comes with multiple connectivity options including USB-C with 65W of charging, HDMI, DisplayPort, and RS232. It features built-in 2.1 speakers and an 8-element microphone. The display is designed to work with most video conference programs that support a 21:9 aspect ratios.

MOST INNOVATIVE EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Crestron Electronics | Crestron Sightline

Crestron’s Sightline creates meeting equity, natural conversations, and enhanced collaboration between remote and in-person employees. By using core Crestron platforms, the Sightline experience is able to track and frame active in-person speakers for remote participants to see clearly. With Crestron Sightline, you are able to focus on who is speaking and fully engage with everyone. The algorithm cuts between speakers and frames them automatically, following the natural ebb and flow of meeting conversations without camera operators. By keying in on individual speakers, the camera, display, and audio solutions, working in concert, increase engagement and lessen fatigue.

MOST INNOVATIVE MOUNTING SOLUTION

Chief | Voyager Mobile Cart (LSCU)

Chief's Voyager is a compact mobile display solution to support flexible conferencing and collaboration in workspaces and digital signage. Built-in cable management and small device storage create quick and attractive AV installations. Sleek handles promote accessibility and effortless movement. 

Camera and speaker mounts integrate with a wide range of conferencing and collaboration technologies from Vaddio, Logitech, Poly, Google, and others to support meeting platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and more. The slim footprint of Voyager invites users to easily step up to interactive displays and move freely around the cart. Future proof your conference room with an adaptable mobile cart compatible with a wide range of flat panel TVs.

The AV/IT industry is back—en force! The official InfoComm 2023 numbers have been released. The event which took place from June 10-16 in Orlando was a huge success. The year-over-year numbers are impressive. Coming in at 29,325 verified attendees is a whopping 39 percent more than in 2022. The increase in exhibitor booths to 700, a 29 percent YoY increase, would make any number-cruncher happy. 

Our first congratulations go out to the AVIXA team for an outstanding show. 

As editors of Future’s AV Technology, Digital Signage, Mix, Sound & Video Contractor, and Tech & Learning, we are not surprised the show was a success because the number of nominated entries into our Best of Show well surpassed pre-2020 numbers. We hired more judges this year than ever before. 

We pride ourselves in the integrity of our award programs. Each publication engages with AV/IT professionals who are experts in the technologies specific to the categories we assign them to evaluate. Our judges are CTS-certified technology managers, engineers, integrators, and consultants. 

We require that our judges talk with product managers, engineers, or other manufacturers’ representatives to best evaluate products and solutions for innovation, feature set, ease of installation/use, and potential overall value to the installation/institution. Our judges cannot make themselves known to the companies whose products they are evaluating. Future pays our judges for their valuable time the expertise.

Congratulations to the R&D and product teams who have developed new products and solutions or iterated upon existing ones to make them relevant and necessary in today’s environment. 

We hope you are as excited to learn more about these products as we were reading them during the nomination process. 

The list of Best of InfoComm 2023 award winners is below. In the coming days, we’ll share more details about each and what the judges had to say. 

AV Technology, InfoComm 2023 Best of Show Award Winners

Airtame | Share from Browser

AJA | Dante AV 4K-T Transmitter and 4K-R Receiver

AMX | Jetpack JPK-1300 Switching, Transport, and Control Solution

AMX | SVSI N2600 Series Encoders and Decoders

Arthur Holm | DynamicCL

ASPEED | AST1530/AST1535 AVoIP Matrix Video Wall Processor

ATEN Technology | VP2021

Aurora Multimedia | RXT-4D Desktop Touch Panel

Aurora Multimedia | VPX-TC1-WP2 AV-over-IP Wall Plate Transceiver

Axis | AXIS C1610-VE Network Sound Projector

Barco | ClickShare CX-50 2nd Generation

Barco | TruePix

Blackmagic Design | ATEM Television Studio HD8 ISO

Blackmagic Design | Studio Camera 6K Pro

Bretford Technology | Cordless Explorer Display Cart

Brompton Technology | Tessera G1 Receiver Card

Clevertouch Technologies | CleverLive

Clevertouch Technologies | UX Pro 2

Crestron | Desk Scheduling

Crestron | Flex Pods

Digital Projection | TITAN 41000 4K-UHD Laser Projector

DisplayNote | Omni Cable-Free Conferencing Solution

Enado | Pro V6 Controller and Web App

ENCO Systems | enCaption5

Epiphan | AV.io+ Capture Cards

Epiphan | Connect

Epiphan | Pearl Family

EPOS | IMPACT 1000 Headset

Epson | PowerLite 810E Ultra-Short-Throw Projector

Epson | PowerLite L775U 3LCD Laser Projector

Ethereal | PR-R13PI Big Dog Power Distribution Unit

FlatFrog Laboratories AB | TeamTablet

FOR-A | HVS-190 Video Switcher

HP | Poly | Poly Studio X52 Video Bar

INOGENI | CAM230 Switcher

IPEVO | TOTEM 360 Conference Camera and Speakerphone

Jabra | PanaCast 50 AI-Powered Updates

Jupiter Systems | Pana X 120Hz 5K Pro Series

Jupiter Systems | Zavus Xtreme Pixel MicroLED

Just Add Power | MaxColor Series 2 Transmitter and Receiver

LEA Professional | Connect Series 1504 Smart Amplifier

LG | LAEC018 163-inch All-in-One LED Display

Liberty | 6000 Series AVoIP Transcoders

Lightware | Taurus UCX Universal Matrix Switcher

Listen Technologies | ListenWIFI

Lumens | AI-Box1 CamConnect Processor

MAXHUB | 105-inch Ultra-Wide Commercial Display

NETGEAR | M4350 AV Network Switches

OPHIT | OMP-HM 8K HDMI 2.1 Optical Fiber Extender

Owl Labs | Owl Bar

PepperDash | Unified Device Management

Planar | UltraRes W Series Ultra-Wide-Format LCD Display

Q-SYS | vCore Virtualized Processor

Realmotion | G-Series Realtime Media Servers

Roland | VR-400UHD 4K Streaming AV Mixer

Ross Video | TruePower56

Salamander Designs | Arc Table

Samsung | IAB Series The Wall All-in-One

Sennheiser | TeamConnect Bar Solutions

Shure | Microflex Advance MXA902

Smart AVX | Flexible Transparent Film Display

Sony | ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Display

Sony | SRG-A40 and SRG-A12 4K PTZ Cameras

Symetrix | xIO XLR-Series

Vaddio | AV Bridge Nano

Vanguard LED | Antares P1.2 Outdoor Fine-Pitch Display

ViewSonic | ViewBoard IFP105S Interactive Display

Visix | Choros AR Space Booking

WolfVision | Cynap Videobar

XTEN-AV | X-VRSE

Yealink | MeetingBoard

zactrack | zactrack mini Tracking Solution

ZeeVee | ZyPerUHD60-2E/D AVoIP Encoder and Decoder

Zoom | Zoom Rooms Intelligent Director

Digital Signage, InfoComm 2023 Best of Show Award Winners

22 Miles | 22MILES.AI Conversational Interactive Experience Software

Absen | Pixel Reality Series

AOTO Electronics | RM Series LED Display

Aurora Multimedia | RXS-2 Intel NUC Element PC

Boxlight | Mimio DS Series

BrightSign | XD5 Digital Signage Player

Clevertouch Technologies | UX Pro 2

Huddly | Crew Multi-Camera System

Korbyt | Machine Learning Broadcast

LG | LSAB007 MAGNIT Micro LED Display

Liberty | 1000 Series AVoIP Encoders and Decoders

MAXHUB | Outdoor LED Display Solution

Planar | UltraRes L Series Display

QSTECH | H27 PRO Indoor LED Display Solution

Samsung | KMC-W 24-inch Kiosk with Windows OS

Samsung | QxC Series Crystal UHD Signage

Seneca, an Arrow Company | Element Smart Player

Sharp | AQUOS BOARD 4W-B Series

SiliconCore | 1.2mm Outdoor LED Display

Sony | BZ40L Series Professional BRAVIA Displays

Sony | ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Display

ViewSonic | LDP163-181 Direct View LED Display

Tech&Learning, InfoComm 2023 Best of Show Award Winners

Blackmagic Design | Studio Camera 6K Pro

Boxlight | Mimio DS Series

Bretford Technology | Cordless Explorer Display Cart

BZBGEAR | BG-COMMANDER-JR Joystick Controller

Clear Touch | 6000A+ Interactive Panel

Clevertouch Technologies | CleverHub

Clevertouch Technologies | CleverLive

Epiphan | Pearl Family

Epson | BrightLink 770Fi Laser Display

LG | TR3DK CreateBoard

Liberty | 5000 Series USB-over-IP Extenders and Switchers

PLUSVISION TRADING | Jalinga Video Studios

Sony | ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Display

TouchView Interactive | ULTRA Series Panels

ViewSonic | LDS135-151 Direct View LED Display Solution Kit

Denmark’s top sound companies gathered at the Technical University of Denmark’s DTU Skylab last week in celebration of this year’s Danish Sound Award recipient―DPA Microphones, the first-ever company to earn this recognition. Presented to professionals that drive innovation in the industry, the Danish Sound Award sheds light on the globally outstanding audio technology that is developed in the country.

The prize is awarded to those who have rethought the use and understanding of sound or have further developed and strengthened Denmark’s position as a leading nation in the field of sound. Special attention is given to nominees that have contributed to the community with completely new paths in the use of sound or have done something remarkable to showcase Danish sound expertise on an international level.

['Notre-Dame de Paris' Celebrates 20 Years with DPA Microphones]

“DPA has made an extraordinary effort to get Danish sound products known abroad and has, at the same time, had impressive financial results year after year,” said town of Struer Mayor, Mads Jakobsen, while presenting the award. “Building on a strong heritage, DPA has achieved a prominent market position because of high technical competencies. [It is] a well-respected brand used by well-known artists and organizations around the world. DPA is a solid and worthy representative for the Danish sound industry.”

DPA CEO Kalle Hvidt Nielsen and vice president of marketing Anne Berggrein attended the recent event to proudly accept the award on behalf of everyone in the company. “Denmark is a global epicenter of acoustical knowledge and know-how, built on the shoulders of well-respected Danish sound companies like Brüel & Kjaer, Bang & Olufsen and Demant, and that is the guiding light that we rest upon,” said Nielsen. “Working from this strong heritage, everyone at DPA was born with enormous pride and ambition―only the world’s best microphones will suffice. As a result, our dedicated and passionate team has truly built the brand to what it is today. By making the world’s best microphones, we serve some of the best artists in the world and make people happy. It is an honor to be selected for this award, and we appreciate it.”

[SCN Product Showcase 2022]

“Denmark is a hub for high-end audio, with many well-respected professionals and brands. We are very honored to be selected for the Danish Sound Award and look forward to continuing to build off our innovative thinking to further both DPA’s and Denmark’s position as leaders in professional sound,” Berggrein added.

Among the latest innovative products that DPA has released is its 4055 Kick Drum Mic, a specialized solution for the low-frequency, high-SPL instrument that is not pre-tailored to any specific sound, allowing sound engineers to shape their sound exactly as desired. The mic also offers a linear frequency response, both on- and off axis, which results in a very tight, natural, well-defined sound. The mic has been rigorously tested to perform in a variety of applications―like pop, rock, jazz, folk and other genres, and can even be applied to other high-SPL applications, such as with guitar cabinets.

[AV Network's top stories, product news, and expert insights] 

AVer Information USA has been awarded the 2022 New Product Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan, a global research consulting firm with extensive experience in growth opportunities. The award recognizes the company’s new product innovation in the medical grade PTZ cameras industry with the MD330 medical camera. Frost & Sullivan's New Product Innovation Award recognizes the company that offers a new product or solution that uniquely addresses key customer challenges.

[A Look at AVer's New Microsoft Teams Certified Conferencing Camera]

“With the MD330U series, AVer addresses an unmet market need not easily replicated by competitors via highly technical and complex value-added features,” said Albornoz, Manuel, best practices research analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “Its attributes ensure remarkable accuracy in remote diagnosis and face-to-face examinations. Ultimately, the device illustrates the company’s ability to address market constraints by developing disruptive solutions.”

The MD330U Series Medical Grade PTZ camera is a highly versatile solution for telemedicine and patient monitoring. The camera features the world’s first detachable 8MP handheld camera head and an embedded audio system with speakerphone. The wide-angle, pan-tilt degree, 30X optical zoom, and 4K output resolution allow healthcare workers to capture patient images at different angles properly. The MD330U Series includes Noise Reduction to lower background sounds automatically for clear communications. Two SKU options are available: an infrared version that supports night view for patient monitoring and an LED version for illumination needs. All MD330U Series cameras are medical grade EN60601-1 and TAA/NDAA Compliant.

[SCN Hybrid World: Seeing Is Believing with Conference Cameras]

According to Frost & Sullivan, a company must properly understand the relevant market needs and deliver a high-quality solution to create an original virtual care device. Frost & Sullivan finds that AVer USA (AVer) nicely embodies this concept. AVer uses customer feedback, market research, and stakeholder relationships to guide its product roadmap and continuously evolve its solutions. Its expert team simplifies implementation and helps to solve all issues throughout the process.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from Frost & Sullivan, one of the leading research firms in the healthcare industry,” said Arthur Pait, president, AVer Information, Americas. “The MD330 camera is a great example of the product innovation the company is delivering for today’s healthcare market.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that develops a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

[AV Network's top stories, product news, and expert insights] 

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

The honors keep rolling in for Kinly. Logitech named Kinly ‘Service Partner of the Year’ during Logitech’s inaugural ‘Channel Champions 22’ event in Montenegro. The award recognizes Kinly for its outstanding performance during the six months to March 31. It is the second major industry achievement this month for Kinly, after winning Pexip’s ‘Greatest Retention Award’ for EMEA.

Grouped and measured against Logitech partners from as far afield as Israel, India, and eastern Europe, the Kinly UK experienced YoY sales growth of 153% in Q3 and by 326% in Q4, to secure this prestigious accolade.

Matt Keen, commercial director UK and Ireland at Kinly, credited the UK team’s devotion to training and commitment to understanding the intrinsic details, capabilities and benefits of Logitech’s full portfolio of solutions, while engaging closely with Logitech’s Partner Management team to ensure unrivalled, best in class advice, demonstrations and experiences to clients.

[SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators 2021] 

“We’re proud and honored to have been recognized for this award," Keen said. "Competing against so many great Logitech partners across EMEA, this accolade truly reflects both the complimentary way in which we layered Logitech’s support services into our Kinly Care Service stack and the incredible ongoing hard work and commitment of the UK team to offer unparalleled levels of knowledge and excellence to our clients and to the wider AV industry.”

Raising the bar: The Logitech Rally Bar videoconferencing solution

Fueled further by the pandemic, and a growing desire for businesses to adopt high quality remote solutions, Logitech’s Rally Family of all-in-one video and audio solutions, including the Logitech Rally Bar and the Logitech Rally Bar Mini have become firm favorites among Kinly clients. 

[SCN Hybrid World: Workplace Products and Expert Tips] 

Backed by strategic partnerships with many of the world’s leading videoconferencing platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft, and Pexip, Kinly clients have access to the industry’s most complete, fully compatible ecosystem of video conferencing hardware, software and services, guaranteeing the highest levels of quality, service and user experiences.

“We are delighted to award Kinly UK as Services Partner of the Year for Logitech's FY22," Brooke Ellingworth, head of EMEA distribution, video collaboration at Logitech, said. "Kinly has shown impressive growth in our video collaboration solutions over the past year, adding incredible value to our joint customers and delivering high value consistently. We thank them for their partnership and congratulate them on this award”

AVI-SPL, a world-leading digital enablement services provider, was honored by the Strategic Account Management Association (SAMA) with the award for 2022  Outstanding Mature Program of the Year and as the inaugural recipient of the Systemic Enablement of the SAM Program award.  

This recognition represents AVI-SPL’s fourth consecutive win, following the last two years’ wins of the SAMA Outstanding Mature Program of the Year and previous two years of winning SAMA’s Outstanding Young SAM Program award when SAMA honored the growing value of AVI-SPL’s Global Strategic Accounts Program. 

Each year, the SAMA Excellence Awards recognize and applaud business-to-business companies who achieve unparalleled success at elevating relationships with key customers by solving their most critical  business problems. Winners not only enhance their programs’ stature internally but also demonstrate to their clients their commitment to delivering a world-class customer experience.  

[Reimagine the Human Experience of Technology with AVI-SPL]

AVI-SPL is in esteemed company with other global organizations who’ve earned this recognition. Past SAMA winners include strategic account programs led by 3M, Adobe, Johnson Controls. Merck, and Pfizer. AVI-SPL’s Joe Laezza, senior vice president of global strategic accounts, and Danielle Matteson, vice president of global strategic accounts, received the honor during SAMA’s annual conference in New Orleans today.  

“AVI-SPL prides itself on being a trusted advisor to our clients. Our global strategic account program is  oriented around a partnership with select designated clients that is forged on mutual innovation that leads to new value,” said Laezza. “The recognition by SAMA further validates our unique and proven approach to guiding clients to successful new digital workplace experiences that generate impactful  business results.” 

Over the past five years, AVI-SPL has steadily and significantly grown its Global Strategic Accounts  Program through strategic alignment with its top global and enterprise customers across all sectors and  geographies. The program establishes a trusted business partnership focused on mutual innovation to  create measurable and meaningful value for customers. Many company members of AVI-SPL’s Global  Strategic Accounts Program are also members of its Customer Advisory Board. 

[AVI-SPL Expands Collaboration as a Service (CaaS) Program Globally]

This trusted partnership is especially important as companies re-imagine the future of work, accelerate digital transformation, and rapidly experiment with new digital workplace models. AVI-SPL has earned  their trust as an expert guide by providing technology solutions that keep them collaborating across the  enterprise so their employees and customers can work smarter and live better. AVI-SPL is uniquely  qualified to be this strategic partner with its global stature that enables worldwide delivery and lifecycle support of customers’ entire collaboration ecosystems. 

“Many companies come to SAMA for help with establishing a strategic accounts program,” said Denise Freier, president and CEO of SAMA. “It's incredibly hard to get a program off the ground, but once they do, they have an even bigger task: Scale the program and make sure it’s built for the long haul.

“I've never seen a company evolve its SAM program as quickly and successfully as AVI-SPL, from its initial launch in 2018 to its win this year for Outstanding Mature SAM Program." 

As InfoComm returns to Las Vegas in June, so do the long-running Best of Show and Best in Market Awards, alerting the professional AV industry to the best gear and services available. With that in mind, nominations have opened for products and solutions to be entered into the InfoComm Best of Show & Best in Market 2022 Awards.

InfoComm brings together manufacturers from all corners of the AV industry, and Future’s many brands serving the marketplace are involved in the Awards to provide expert guidance to how the winners in each market segment are chosen. The awards provide an opportunity for businesses to be publicized in front of hundreds of thousands of relevant industry professionals.

Enter Your Product Today!

While there may be thousands of products introduced at InfoComm, the Best of Show and Best in Market Awards allow companies to make their products stand out, rising above other launches, and submit their offerings for consideration by an esteemed panel of judges from the participating media brands, including Sound & Video Contractor, AV Technology, Digital Signage, Mix, Pro Sound News, Tech & Learning and Installation. Winners will be promoted online, on social media, in print, in newsletters and on other platforms at the discretion of each participating brand. Winning products will also receive engraved trophies sent shortly after the show.

In addition, each submitted product will be covered with a full-page feature in the Awards Program Guide—a digital eGuide sent shortly after InfoComm to the combined reader lists of all participating publications. As a result, even products that are not selected to win still get valuable and timely post-show exposure by entering the Best of Show Awards.

Further info can be found here. To register to enter, click here.

ProSource, the largest audio, video, and integration buying group in the United States, announced the 2021 PRO and Power Level Members of the Year annual honorees and 2021 Vendors of the Year to be celebrated at the ProSource Spring Meeting 2022, being held at the La Cantera Resort and Spa in San Antonio, TX, from May 16-20, 2022.

The 2021 PRO and Power Level Members of the Year

"Congratulations to the PRO and Power Level 2021 Member of the Year honorees," said Dave Workman, CEO of ProSource. "Both the PRO and Power level honorees have met or exceeded the established criteria for this award, including a member's participation within the group, support of group brands, conducting business in a manner that stands as an example to other members and selection for industry awards and recognition."

[ProSource Names Industry Veteran Jim Pearse as Incoming President]

"We extend our heartiest congratulations to all of the 2021 Members of the Year," commented Jim Pearse, president of ProSource. "ProSource, the brand leader of buying groups for 2021 and 2022 according to CE Pro, provides the widest array of educational programs, access to premium vendors, and fosters peer-to-peer relationships with other members, making ProSource membership one of the best business decisions our members have made."

The 2021 PRO Level Member of the Year is:

Bjorn's Audio Video: Bjorn Dybdahl, President and Kris Dybdahl, Vice President

"We are truly honored and proud to be chosen as the ProSource PRO Member of the Year," said Bjorn Dybdahl, president, Bjorn's Audio Video. "2022 marks our 47th year of business and whether it's the vendor relationships, the forums provided to network and share ideas with other integrators, the phenomenal access to training through ProSourceU, or one of our other programs our ProSource family is an integral part of our success, and we certainly would not be where we are today without them," added Kris Dybdahl, vice president, Bjorn's Audio Video.

[The Nine 2022: Meet 9 Pro AV Superstars] 

"On behalf of the entire ProSource team, I am delighted to congratulate the seasoned executive team, strong leadership and the engaged employees at Bjorn's Audio Video on this well-deserved honor," remarked Jessica Paskon, vice president, finance and operations, ProSource. "Thank you for being a part of the ProSource family and for your many years of support of the programs, vendor partners, and initiatives provided by the organization."

The 2021 Power Level Member of the Year is:

Argenta Solutions: Brad Larkin, president; Justin Rollins, vice president; Will Alley, vice president

"Argenta Solutions would like to extend our sincere appreciation to ProSource for this incredible recognition," said Brad Larkin, president, Argenta Solutions. Justin Rollins and Will Alley, both vice presidents, Argenta Solutions added, "To receive this award, knowing the quality of integrators that comprise the Power Dealer membership, is truly an honor. We count ourselves lucky to be associated with this organization and its members. Thank you, ProSource."

[SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators 2021] 

"When Argenta Solutions joined ProSource, I knew Brad, Will, and Justin were going to be rock stars," commented Samantha Summerville, ProSource district manager for the South Central region. "Out of the gate they were attending events and adding new vendors with no pause. Advancing from CI to Power was a no brainer as they grew over the years. Seeing the 'strive for better' attitude that Brad and his team have is inspiring and I can't wait to see them succeed even further. There is an amazing work family culture at Argenta and I am happy to call them my friends and have them as a part of my work family here at ProSource. Congratulations to Argenta Solutions and see you at the pool."

The 2021 Vendor of the Year Awards

"It is always a pleasure to celebrate our Vendor of the Year honorees," said Dave Workman, CEO of ProSource. "We appreciate their commitment to developing products and providing considerable resources that impact our members' positive financial performance in every category."

"Our vendor partnerships are at the core of our mission to deliver value to the ProSource membership," commented Jim Pearse, president of ProSource. "We value the relationship between ProSource and all of our vendor partners. It means a great deal to the organization's success for our members to have access to the best-of-the-best products across the board."

ProSource members were asked to vote using the following criteria for selecting the Vendors of the Year:

• The Vendor through engagement with the group, has helped their class of trade more than others in the category.
• The Vendor who has shown a continued commitment to developing products for their class of trade.
• The Vendor who has allocated the proper resources to ProSource members and can be exemplified as a company that is responsive and easy to do business with.
• The Vendor who has had the most positive financial effect on members' performance in the category.

The 2021 Vendor of the Year honorees are:

• Televisions/Displays: Samsung
• Home Theater Solutions: JVC
• Audio: Electronics: AudioControl
• Audio: Speakers: Origin Acoustics
• Audio: Headphones: Focal
• Audio: Wireless Audio: Bluesound
• CI Technology/Infrastructure: Control4
• CI: Audio: Coastal Source
• Lighting/Shades: DMF Lighting
• Vendor of the Year: Sony
• Support Vendor of the Year: ProSource University

"On behalf of our entire team at Sony, we are proud and honored to receive the 2021 ProSource Vendor of the Year award," remarked Jeff Goldstein, head of sales, custom installation channel at Sony Electronics. "It is a great feeling to once again be recognized by ProSource for our strong partnership and mutual commitment to success."

Calling all visual storytellers, creatives, directors, live content producers and maestros using the TriCaster. NewTek, a leader in IP-based video technology and part of Vizrt Group, announced a quest to find and celebrate the everyday operators of the iconic line, with the TriCaster Director of the Year Awards.

The TriCaster Director of the Year Awards will showcase the innovation, technical skills, and creative excellence of the global first-class talent that fly the TriCaster tech. Entries for the awards open on 19 May 2022.

[NewTek Growth Set to Surge in 2022 After Record Year]

“We are on a mission to honor the amazing talent that gives real purpose to our flagship product line," stated Barbara Spicek, president and general manager of NewTek. "We want to recognize the visual storytellers that operate TriCasters and highlight how they artfully weave together video into impactful and compelling stories. Cutting-edge content needs more than just technology, it needs talent. With the TriCaster Director of the Year Awards we want to give back to the TriCaster maestros who create magic and delight for audiences and the industry."

The categories for this year include:

• The TriCaster Director of the Year – Universal best director chosen by the judges
• The ESG (Environmental, social, and corporate governance) TriCaster Director of the Year Awards
• The Corporate TriCaster Director of the Year
• The Education TriCaster Director of the Year
• The House of Worship TriCaster Director of the Year
• The Sports TriCaster Director of the Year
• The Live Production TriCaster Director of the Year (music, events, awards, broadcast, etc.)

Any technical director or TriCaster operator can apply online by submitting a brief highlights video that represents their top TriCaster content this year alongside a short synopsis and statement of support. Submissions will then be reviewed by a panel of expert, industry judges (to be announced shortly) which will also choose an overall TriCaster Director of the Year from the entrants. 

[NewTek Introduces PTZ3 PTZ Camera with NDI|HX 3 Support]

For the ESG TriCaster Director category, the judging panel will choose a shortlist of 10 entries and open the shortlist to a public vote. The public then has their chance to get involved and share their perspective on what creative director has made the most impact on the community with their content.

The winners will be invited to a one-of-a-kind NewTek gala ceremony in late November, where the winners will share in a $100,000 value prize pot. The awards show will also be streamed live on NewTek TV using a TriCaster to exhibit the production power of the product.

Visix has been honored with an IABC Gold Quill Award for their Digital Signage Done Right podcast series. The IABC Gold Quill Awards program recognizes business communication excellence globally, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the industry.

“We’re thrilled to receive an award from such a respected association and congratulate all of the 2022 winners,” said Derek DeWitt, communications specialist for Visix. “It’s feels great to be included among such a distinguished group that has lots of global PR firms and large communications departments. We’re a small team, so having our work recognized is especially gratifying.”

[Wichita State University Chooses Visix Cloud Signage for Conference Center]

Visix’s 2022 Gold Quill Award is in the category of communication skills, audiovisual. This is the fourth award for Digital Signage Done Right since its launch in July 2019, and it has been included in best podcast lists by Feedspot, Bananatag, and Blogin. 

DeWitt hosts the podcast and interviews guests from Visix, as well as external communications consultants and industry experts. Conversations cover a range of topics from basic communications advice to employee engagement and visitor experience, with each episode offering practical tips for listeners.

[Digital Signage: The Future Is Bright] 

“It’s really all about the guests. They bring their expertise and real-world experience to teach people best practices and warn them about common pitfalls,” said DeWitt. “A lot of folks might think our podcast is either pushing product or covering tech topics, but it’s not. It’s about helping people communicate better. Digital signage software is just one tool that people can use to deliver their messages and engage their audiences. We help our listeners navigate all aspects of organizational communications, whether or not they use digital signs.” 

Digital Signage Done Right is hosted on Podbean, and is available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other popular podcast platforms. There are currently over 80 episodes available, and new episodes are added every other Tuesday.

The Best in Market 2022 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 awards programs are live and kicking, with ISE exhibitors and those unable to exhibit this time around submitting their entries as they bid for recognition in both awards. The revised entry deadline of 27 April is fast approaching and companies are being encouraged to enter now to avoid the last minute deluge.

All entries submitted for the original program in February are still valid for both awards, while any nominations that have been started will also still be saved on the awards site so companies can complete their entries.

The Best in Market 2022 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 awards provide an opportunity for manufacturers to nominate and celebrate their outstanding AV products and solutions. Nominations for both awards remain open with entry available here.

Enter NOW for AV Technology's Best in Market '22 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 - Deadline is April 27!

The Best in Market ‘22 awards, successfully launched last year, recognize the most innovative technology from across the AV marketplace to have deployed in the last 12 months. The program is open to all manufacturers of professional AV products and solutions regardless of their exhibitor/non-exhibitor status at this year’s major trade shows.

AVT's Best in Market ’22 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 awards programs are being held in conjunction with five of our industry-leading Pro Audio and AV titles, including Installation, Sound & Video Contractor, Mix, Residential Systems, and Tech & Learning. Both awards are organised by AVTechnology publisher Future, which also publishes the ISE Daily.

Benefits of entering:

• Dedicated editorial coverage for all nominees in the Best of Show 2022 digital publication, distributed post-show to all participating brand databases

• Digital and social coverage from media partners and participating brands

• Winning entries receive guaranteed coverage in post-ISE editions of each participating magazine

• Certificate and winners logo for all winning entries

• Official nominee logo for all entrants to use in marketing (sent by email)

Further details can be found here. Nominations can be entered here.

The late Fred Bargetzi, former chief technology officer of Crestron, is this year’s recipient of AVIXA’s Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award.

The Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed on an industry member by AVIXA. The award’s namesake Mackey Barron, founder of HB Communications, spent more than six decades as a pioneer and leader in the pro AV industry.

[ InfoComm Renames Distinguished Achievement Award in Memory of Mackey Barron, Nov. 11, 2015 ]

The 2021 recipient Fred Bargetzi, a 30-year Crestron veteran, was instrumental in guiding the evolution of the pro AV industry into the world of digital transformation and IoT through his leadership and technology invention. When he started his career at Crestron in 1990, the company produced hard-button panels and monochromatic touchpanels. Under Bargetzi’s leadership, the control industry blossomed to its current state of control via many devices, including personal ones. Bargetzi’s name is on 22 patents that have defined the pro AV industry’s transformation from analog to digital, such as control via ethernet (e-Control).

“I only experienced Fred from afar. But even in that, his brightness shown clearly across the landscape of our industry,” said AVIXA CEO David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD. “It was easy to see his intellect and innovative contributions to the industry over the course of 30 years. But if you looked deeper, you found the impact of his passion and contributions across an entire generation of thousands of engineers, inventors, and creators. For his contributions in the past—and perhaps more importantly the impact that he will have for generations ahead—it is a true honor to present the Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award. I only wish we’d had more time to hear his laughter, experience his energy, and reap the rewards of his generosity.”

Fred Bargetzi’s Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award will be celebrated at InfoComm 2021 in Orlando, FL, on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. on the Technology Innovation Stage.

During the ceremony, all the winners of AVIXA’s 2021 AV Professional Awards will be revealed. They include the Adele De Berri Pioneers of AV, CTS Holder of the Year, Educator of the Year, Women in AV, Young AV Professional, Event Design of the Year, and Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year awards.

AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, is pleased to announce the 2021 AV Experience Awards finalists. This awards program recognizes the innovative integration of content, space, and audiovisual technology to enrich experiences.

“The AV Experience Awards finalists showcase how AV can make an incredible impact on the way we experience the world – the way we learn, communicate, and are entertained,” said Joé Lloyd, senior director of communications, AVIXA. “AVIXA is proud to recognize the creative firms and technologists that have employed AV in imaginative ways to elevate a wide range of experiences.”

Following are AV Experience Awards finalists for 2021.

Best Dynamic Art Experience

Best Dynamic Art Experience celebrates AV as art—whether it is to amaze, create a cultural centerpiece, energize people, reinvigorate a functional space, or display information in a stimulating way.

(3 entries. Click on title below photo for more information about each project.)

Best Collaborative Experience

Best Collaborative Experience celebrates applications of AV that bring people together via technology when they cannot be together in person.

(3 entries. Click on title below photo for more information about each project.)

Best Individualized Experience

Best Individualized Experience highlights applications where technology creates personalized experiences.

(4 entries. Click on title below photo for more information about each project.)

Best Immersive Experience

Best Immersive Experience recognizes illusionary or simulated environments that envelope individuals into a multisensory experience.

(3 entries. Click on title below photo for more information about each project.)

Best Flexible Space Experience

Best Flexible Space Experience highlights AV applications that create spaces that are constantly changing, adapting, and facilitating the activities that happen within them.

(3 entries. Click on title below photo for more information about each project.)

Best In-Person Experience

Best In-Person Experience recognizes when AV is used strategically to motivate potential attendees to get out into the real world to experience something they can’t see, do, or feel anywhere else.

(3 entries. Click on title below photo for more information about each project.)

Award entries were submitted by various team members involved in the project, whether project originator, creative or technology agency, or the customer. This includes brand agencies, experience design firms, AV consultants, designers and integrators, AV manufacturers, and others.

With the support of like-minded industry organizations across the globe, including the Association of Luxury Suite Directors, Hospitality Technology Next Generation, and European University Information Systems Organization, the AV Experience Awards provides promotional support to project award finalists and winners in targeted vertical markets.

Learn More at InfoComm

Select finalists will come together to discuss their projects at  InfoComm 2021 in Orlando, FL. Join them on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m. EDT at the Technology Innovation Stage.

Winners will be announced on Nov. 18, 2021. To learn more about the AV Experience Awards, visit avxawards.avixa.org.

It's that time of year again! Enter today for a chance to be listed among the Top 50 systems integrators in the commercial AV industry for 2021. The deadline for entry is Wednesday, Oct. 28. Simply follow the survey link, complete the necessary information, and you're on your way to being recognized among the top companies in commercial AV.

The team at Systems Contractor News (SCN) recognizes that the past two years have been difficult ones for integrators, and we realize that opportunities in the pro AV market have changed significantly from 2019. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry, we are taking a different approach to the SCN Top 50.

For the 2021 edition, we are asking integration firms to provide a three-year average of revenue in lieu of predicted one-year revenues (like we did last year).

To be eligible for Top 50 consideration, a company's revenue for commercial AV system design and installation must account for over 50% of its total revenue.

Fill our your entry survey here.

The survey is open until Wednesday, Oct. 28. Enter today to make sure you're listed among the top companies in the industry.

We are not able to extend the submission period, so please get your entry in before the Oct. 28 deadline.

The top 50 entries will be published in the December 2021 issue of Systems Contractor News.

Past Top 50 Lists

SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators of 2020

     • 2020 Top Integrators: COVID-19 Challenges

     • 2020 Top Integrators: Growth Markets

     • 2020 Top Integrators: Top Technologies

     • Integration Firms to Watch in 2021

SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators of 2019

     • 2019 Top Integrators: Business Challenges

     • 2019 Top Integrators: Market Forecast

     • 2019 Top Integrators: Community Collaboration

     • 2019 Top Integrators: AVIXA APEx

SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators of 2018

SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators of 2017

SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators of 2016

AV Technology is pleased to announce the winners of its Best in Market ’21 and Best of Show at ISE 2021 awards programs, which were held in conjunction with five of our industry-leading pro audio and AV titles, including Installation, Mix, Residential Systems, Sound & Video Contractor, and Tech & Learning.

The Best of Market Awards program showcases the most innovative technology from around the AV marketplace in the last 12 months. The entries were submitted and paid for by the manufacturers, and the content was open to all producers of professional AV products and solutions regardless of their exhibitor/non-exhibitor status at this summer’s major trade shows. Winners were selected based on merits of innovation and performance. 

“It’s an honor to recognize the ongoing efforts by the industry’s brilliant engineers to push the limits of what’s possible with technology,” said Matt Pruznick, editor of AV Technology. “The need for solutions to help us connect creatively has never been greater, and it’s been incredible to see the progress in the evolution of these leading companies’ offerings. Congratulations to our winners!”

Best of Show Winners

• Nexmosphere XT-EF series
• Poly Lens Desktop App and Poly+
• Poly Voyager Focus 2
• Ross Video Graphite PPC (Portable Production Centre)

Best in Market Winners

• Bose Videobar VB1 All-in-One Conferencing Device
• Clear-Com Agent-IC Mobile App
• Crestron 70 Series Touch Screens
• Crestron Flex Phones
• kvm-tec electronic ScalableLine 4K
• Mersive Solstice Conference
• Navori Labs Aquaji
• Roland VC-100UHD 4K Video Scaler
• Ross Video Ross Ultrix Carbonite Mid-Size Hyper-Converged Production Platform
• Shure Microflex MXN5W-C Networked Loudspeaker

The entry deadline for AV Technology's Best in Market ’21 and Best of Show at ISE 2021 awards programs has been extended until Monday, June 7. The awards are being held in conjunction with five of our industry-leading pro audio and AV titles, including Installation, Mix, Residential Systems, Sound & Video Contractor, and Tech & Learning.

For companies who are exhibiting at ISE 2021, Future’s annual Best of Show at ISE awards program is running in parallel and is open to any company exhibiting at any of ISE’s in-person regional events throughout June, or as part of ISE’s virtual exhibition offering.

[New Best in Market Awards to Recognize Product Innovation During the Summer Season]

NEW FOR 2021: Future’s Best in Market ’21 awards is a new market-wide program showcasing the most innovative technology from around the AV marketplace in the last 12 months. The program is open to all manufacturers of professional AV products and solutions regardless of their exhibitor/non-exhibitor status at this summer’s major trade shows.

For companies who are exhibiting at ISE 2021, Future’s annual Best of Show at ISE awards program is running in parallel and is open to any company exhibiting at any of ISE’s in-person regional events throughout June, or as part of ISE’s virtual exhibition offering.

Nomination Deadline: June 7, 2021

These awards provide the perfect platform to draw attention to the innovative new products and services that professional AV vendors have launched in the last 12 months, publishing nominated products to 130,000-plus industry professionals.

How to enter:

Entries are submitted through our nomination form and are subject to specific criteria, leveling the playing field and ensuring that the judges receive all the pertinent information for each entry in the same format. The Frequently Asked Questions cover more about the entry process, categories, and criteria.

Now accepting entries, AV Technology's Best in Market ’21 and Best of Show at ISE 2021 awards programs are being held in conjunction with five of our industry-leading pro audio and AV titles, including Installation, Mix, Residential Systems, Sound & Video Contractor, and Tech & Learning.

For companies who are exhibiting at ISE 2021, Future’s annual Best of Show at ISE awards program is running in parallel and is open to any company exhibiting at any of ISE’s in-person regional events throughout June, or as part of ISE’s virtual exhibition offering.

[New Best in Market Awards to Recognize Product Innovation During the Summer Season]

NEW FOR 2021: Future’s Best in Market ’21 awards is a new market-wide program showcasing the most innovative technology from around the AV marketplace in the last 12 months. The program is open to all manufacturers of professional AV products and solutions regardless of their exhibitor/non-exhibitor status at this summer’s major trade shows.

For companies who are exhibiting at ISE 2021, Future’s annual Best of Show at ISE awards program is running in parallel and is open to any company exhibiting at any of ISE’s in-person regional events throughout June, or as part of ISE’s virtual exhibition offering.

Nomination Deadline: May 28, 2021

These awards provide the perfect platform to draw attention to the innovative new products and services that professional AV vendors have launched in the last 12 months, publishing nominated products to 130,000-plus industry professionals.

How to enter:

Entries are submitted through our nomination form and are subject to specific criteria, leveling the playing field and ensuring that the judges receive all the pertinent information for each entry in the same format. The Frequently Asked Questions cover more about the entry process, categories, and criteria.

We often recognize manufacturers for their technological innovations—those products drive our industry—but we’d be remiss if we didn’t also recognize the people behind those innovations and the experiences they create with their services.

For the eighth year, we turned to you, our readers, to determine the winners of the SCN Stellar Service Awards. Voting on the nominees took place in February and March, and now the votes have been tallied. We are proud to announce the winning results and congratulate these exceptional service providers.

Best Use Of An Afternoon (Best Online Training)

Platinum: Peerless-AV’s Certified Installer Training Program

The Peerless-AV Certified Installer Training Program is comprised of courses which demonstrate proper installation techniques, safety, and address efficient methods to reduce the risk of faulty installations. Topics covered include fundamentals of digital signage, mastering outdoor AV solutions and video wall mounting systems for direct view LED displays. The course is compliant with standards established for continuing education for system integrators and installers. Trainees receive customized sessions to fit installation needs, and detailed takeaway resources.

Gold: Extron

Extron offers convenient online training in multiple languages on existing and emerging technologies, including 4K and beyond, digital video, network AV, fiber optics, twisted pair, streaming AV, audio DSP, and control configuration, including hands-on practice with DSP and Control software. The new and improved Extron training portal delivers an enhanced learning experience from anywhere on a computer or mobile device. Extron also offers a Publications Review program, which qualifies participants for industry certification renewal units.

Silver: Biamp

To help integrators deliver extraordinary AV experiences, Biamp’s objective is two-fold: create an innovative family of AV solutions backed by comprehensive, relevant training. AV professionals are empowered by Biamp’s AVIXA-accredited online training curriculum that examines the latest trends, standards, challenges, and solutions. Each easy-to-follow course is free and available 24/7. From the comfort of home and at their own pace, they can go from novice to master and achieve new business and professional goals.

Best Excuse to Leave the Office (Best In-House Training Program)

Platinum: Shure Integrated Systems Certification Program

With innovative technology increasing and to encourage an ever-expanding network of high-quality, skilled partners, Shure’s Integrated Systems certification program aims to educate new and existing customers. The program provides comprehensive product information and best practices for applications relating to solutions for the Shure Integrated Systems portfolio. Available in two expertise levels, the certification shares valuable knowledge for those who understand the challenges of system design, setup, and configuration.

Gold: Extron

Education and training are the cornerstones of Extron’s commitment to its customers. The Extron Institute training and certification programs cover existing and emerging technologies, including 4K and beyond, digital video, network AV, fiber optics, twisted pair, audio DSP, streaming AV, and control configuration. Courses are offered at 30 Extron training centers worldwide. In addition to AV technology training, participants will learn best practices for system design, installation, and troubleshooting through hands-on experiences in real-world scenarios.

Silver: The SoundPro Experience Center

Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, SoundPro put on approximately two to four events monthly in its 4,000 sq ft Experience Center in Irving, TX with topics ranging from classroom style application courses to in-depth, hands-on workshops with industry experts. They will resume activities in their Experience Center for product demos or free lunch and giveaways at one of its Customer Appreciation events when it is safe to do so again.

The Dealer Portal You Want to Keep Going Back to (Best Website Dealer Portal)

Platinum: Extron Insider

Extron Insider provides customers with access to Extron software downloads, certification programs, System Builders that allow users to quickly and easily build a system and order online in just a few clicks. Users can also access product configuration tools, videos, training enrollment forms, and valuable technical articles, white papers, and design guides. Extron has taken extra care to provide each Extron Insider with access to the precise information they need for their specific job.

Gold: Shure Tech Portal

Shure’s Tech Portal is the premier platform for those looking for in-depth information to support the design, deployment, and operation of Shure products. With an easy-to-understand layout and searchable navigation, users can quickly find everything they need including product documentation, comparisons, software/firmware information and technical tools, and resources. Plus, users can watch a series of short videos to better understand the basic functions and features of Shure products. https://techportal.shure.com/

Silver: Crestron.com

Backed by a team of highly talented web designers, Crestron.com is a one-stop shop offering 24/7 access to the latest configuration tools, manuals, and more. Constantly updated with new functionalities, tthe website is designed to provide dealers with a sophisticated user-experience. When logging into Crestron.com, guests instantly see tailored content relevant to their business, making it simple to find what they need and to stay up to date with the latest Crestron news.

Sales Support You Can Believe In (Best Sales Operation)

Platinum: Synnex VisualSolv

Synnex VisualSolv has a dedicated, experienced, and recently-expanded sales organization with inside reps, field reps, and technical overlay support. Reps are highly-trained on the latest offerings and how to apply them in various vertical markets. Synnex offers online ordering capabilities and a custom mobile app for checking stock and placing orders. Their extended team can even host and customize integrators’ e-storefronts, all without sacrificing the dedicated sales rep relationships that differentiate Synnex.

Gold: Sharp NEC Display Solutions (SNDS)

SNDS sells the widest breadth of visual technology on the market, and its goal is to ease customers’ pain points instead of selling them the product of the month. The company works directly with customers to create comprehensive solutions to solve for specific issues within their environment. They build relationships with integrators, resellers, and customers to ensure the products are the best fit for their situation, partnering with them through every step of their tech journey.

Silver: Symetrix Sales Team

When you call, Symetrix answers and knows you by name. Whether you contact one of its regional managers or inside sales associates, the Symetrix Sales Team does everything in our power to get gear into your hands quickly and reliably. They love to hear from you and are always ready to answer your product questions quickly and efficiently. They are committed to delivering remarkable customer experience through flawless execution and professionalism every time.

The Number You Have on Autodial (Best Tech Support)

Platinum: Shure Applications

To provide best-in-class support, Shure customers can receive technical assistance via phone or e-mail from a global team of applicationsengineers drawing on more than 200 years of combined audio industry experience. With thousands of help articles available online—accessible anytime—Shure arms customers with the resources needed to better manage, configure, and control their gear. These easy-to-use aids make installation, project management, system updates and troubleshooting simple.

Gold: Crestron True Blue Support Services

Crestron has a world-renowned “True Blue” support team, providing the most personalized and dedicated technical assistance in the industry. Crestron customers have access to our live support teams where they can get the answers they need immediately through calls, emails, and chats.  For problems that can’t be resolved remotely, its Advanced Technical Support Group will not close the customer’s case until they are 100 percent satisfied.

Silver: PTZOptics/HuddleCamHD Service Team

Tech support calls for PTZOptics and HuddleCamHD are answered by knowledgeable, dedicated, and patient representatives rather than a phone tree. Its tech support reps can and have walked customers with no previous video experience through the full integration of a multicamera live streaming application. For DIYers, they also maintain a robust knowledge base, including written references and video tutorials, backed by an actively moderated user forum.

Your Design Co-Pilot (Best Design Services)

Platinum: MSE Audio Free EASE Audio Design

MSE Audio works with its integrator partners to design and optimize audio projects to ensure they deliver end-users sound with precise imaging and clarity. The same engineers responsible for creating their products prepare free EASE audio design reports for commercial jobs. Their engineers often save customers time and money by recommending the exact quantity of speakers needed for the best coverage possible—in a 70-v, low-voltage or Dante configuration. Typical turnaround is same day.

Gold: Synnex VisualSolv

Synnex VisualSolv has a highly-trained and certified team of design engineers available to assist with everything from pre-sales support, peer review, and design collaboration to full solution design with detailed BOMs. Engineers provide complimentary assessments across AV technologies and manage the delivery of assessments for adjacent technologies including wireless networks, storage and cloud. The team holds certifications including CTS, CTS-D, and BICSI. This year, CTS Prep classes will also be offered to SYNNEX partners.

Silver: Crestron’s All-New FlipTop Configurator Tool

Crestron has a variety of services that help streamline the design process for designers. Its exclusive FlipTop Configurator Tool allows designers to create customized cabling easily and accurately by dragging and dropping modules into a virtual Crestron FlipTop. Once created the designer will be provided a full bill of materials, pricing, and FlipTop layout. No other manufacturer offers this level of customization and flexibility.

Your Best Defense Against Scope Creep (Best Project Management Platform)

Platinum: D-Tools System Integrator Software

D-Tools offers end-to-end core business software for commercial AV system integrators. D-Tools System Integrator is a comprehensive on-premises solution that drives sales and substantially improves operating efficiencies by streamlining the entire project workflow—from estimating, through system design and documentation, procurement, project management, installation, and on-going service, all through a data-driven process that leverages an extensive, integrated product library. D-Tools says its software helps close more business, stay on-budget for clients, and improve bottom-line results.

The Storyteller that Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat (Best Content Creation)

Platinum: Premier Mounts Video Case Studies

Based on expertise with massive LED installations, Premier Mounts has created a series of case studies paired with videos showcasing size and scope of these impressive jobs. From mounting a spectacularly curved 90 ft. wide LED wall at the Grand Casino Resort, to creating a visually immersive sportsbook for one of Nevada’s biggest casinos, and to designing and mounting the hi-res LED wall at the Tropicana, one of the world’s most impressive sportsbooks.

Gold: OpenEye Global Engagement Design

OpenEye Global's engagement design focuses on creating an interactive and compelling visual experience that helps connect the user to the physical environment. From the placement of a "digital endpoint" to the visible calls to action on the display that augments the user's experience, all elements are critical to consider when designing a solution. Clear and concise engagements can be achieved without visually overwhelming the user or unnecessarily disrupting their behaviors in an environment.

Silver: L-Acoustics Creations Instagram

L-Acoustics Creations is a division of L-Acoustics, the premium provider of sound systems for live events. L-Acoustics Creations offers extraordinary sound spaces for private and residential use to "bring the concert home". On Instagram, they aim to engage with like-minded lovers of exquisite sound. L-Acoustics Creations Instagram entertains, enlightens, and encourages everyone to make space for sound as a life-enhancing conduit for joy, creativity, and well-being.

*All descriptions are provided by contest entrants and SCN does not guarantee the validity of these statements.

SmartBrief and AV Technology are pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Innovation Awards for Workplace Technology. These products and services aim to help business leaders adapt to modern workplace needs and remote conditions. Each entrant submitted their product for consideration and was evaluated on uniqueness in the market, ability to solve a problem, and suitability for use.

You can view the Awards Program Guide here, which includes more product information about all the winners and nominees.

Emerging Technology: Winners

Arthur Holm: Dynamic4

• Awarded by: AV Technology

Gloat: Gloat Talent Marketplace

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

YAROOMS International: YAROOMS Workplace Solution

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

Wellness & Safety Solutions: Winners

Black Box: BDS-8 Temperature Screening Kiosk

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

LG Business Solutions USA: LG CLOi UV-C Robot

• Awarded by: AV Technology

Rave Mobile Safety: Rave Mobile Safety’s Coronavirus Recovery Solution

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

Productivity & Communications Solutions: Winners

AfterShokz: OpenComm

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

ASAE: The Center For Association Leadership: Plan-It

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

BenQ: InstaShow S

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

Crestron Electronics, Inc.: Crestron Flex

• Awarded by: SmartBrief and AV Technology

Liberty AV Solutions: CXDetect

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

Liberty AV Solutions: Liberty AV "TeamUp+" Series 4-Port Powered USB 3.0 Hub w/Control

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

Mersive Technologies: Solstice Conference

• Awarded by: AV Technology

Recall InfoLink: Recall Ready Service

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

ViewSonic Corp.: ViewSonic LD163-181, All-in-One 163-inch Direct View LED Commercial Display

• Awarded by: AV Technology

WorkJam: WorkJam

• Awarded by: SmartBrief

Future—publisher of SCN, AVTechnology, and more—has launched a major new awards program: Best in Market ’21. 

Supported by Installation and seven of its sister publications (including both SCN and AVTechnology), Best in Market ’21 has been introduced to recognize new and recently launched products being promoted during the spring/summer season, and will run alongside Future’s annual Best of Show awards held around ISE. 

Entries for both awards are open now and the entry deadline is May 28.

Best in Market ’21 and Best of Show at ISE 2021 are both supported by eight of Future’s leading magazine brands: Installation, AVTechnology, Mix, Sound & Video Contractor, Residential Systems, Systems Contractor News, Digital Signage Magazine, and Tech & Learning. Each brand represents an award category, and manufacturers can enter any product launched in 2021 into any of them.

Best in Market ’21 is ideal for those not exhibiting at ISE this year, and both awards provide the perfect platform to draw attention to new products and services launching and being promoted during what would have been a busy June period. Thanks to Future’s enormous publication reach, all nominated products will be seen by 130,000+ industry professionals.

Click here to enter or for more information. Entry deadline is May 28.

LG OLED is receiving a Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for its use as reference displays by major Hollywood studios and by content developers and distributors worldwide.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that it will honor LG Electronics with the Emmy for “OLED Reference Monitors for Creative, Technical, Quality Control, and Client Viewing” at the 72nd Annual Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards ceremony, which will take place in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters as part of the 2021 NAB Show on October 10.

Related: Audinate Wins Emmy Award for Audio-over-IP Innovation

This recognition reinforces how LG OLED is highly valued by many of the world’s top production studios and renowned creators for accurate color reproduction and high contrast. 

LG OLED TVs deliver optimized video processing and a high degree of calibration and interoperability with support for a large number of video and audio formats, and various other features developed specifically to meet the needs of professional content creators. Designed to render motion as precisely as they reproduce colors, LG OLED TVs are also a common sight in live sports production facilities around the world. 

Established by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1948, the Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards honor development and innovation in broadcast technology and recognize innovators for their contribution to television engineering. 

The 2021 SCN Stellar Service Awards are accepting entries. Each year, these awards recognize behind-the-scenes efforts—from project management, to tech support, to training programs—and ensure they receive the credit they deserve for their contribution to the creation of successful user experiences, as well as to the everyday experience of the men and women that work to bring those about.

Before you submit your entries, read the tips below to increase your odds of taking home a win...

1. Tell Your Story

Your entry form is a blank slate—use it for more than the basics (although you should include that information as well). This is your chance to tell the judges why your service stands out from the rest.

2. Stay Social

Promote your nomination throughout the industry, which will not only help inform your base, but also draw in other integrators who could benefit from your services who had not considered them before.

3. Don't Be Shy

Being humble can be a positive quality, but not when it comes to the 2021 SCN Stellar Service Awards! Take a moment to celebrate your hard work and don't mince words when you tell us exactly how awesome your team is.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE 2021 SCN STELLAR SERVICE AWARDS.

Read the original article on the 2021 SCN Stellar Service Awards.

The  2021 SCN Stellar Service Awards have opened for entries. Each year, these awards recognize behind-the-scenes efforts—from project management, to tech support, to training programs—and ensure they receive the credit they deserve for their contribution to the creation of successful user experiences, as well as to the everyday experience of the men and women that work to bring those about.

Click here to enter the 2021 Stellar Service Awards.

SCN Stellar Service Award Categories

• Best Use Of An Afternoon (Best Online Training)
• Best Excuse To Leave The Office (Best In-House Training Program)
• The Dealer Portal You Want To Keep Going Back To (Best Website Dealer Portal)
• Sales Support You Can Believe In (Best Sales Operation)
• The Number You Have On Autodial (Best Tech Support)
• The Storyteller that Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat (Best Content Creation)
• Your Design Co-Pilot (Best Design Services)
• Your Best Defense Against Scope Creep (Best Project Management Platform)

Details on SCN Stellar Service Awards

SCN welcomes entries from both manufacturers and distributors in each category. To submit an entry, click here. A $295 fee is required for entry to each category, and companies can enter into the running for as many categories as desired.

An early-bird entry fee of $250 is available until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021.

After nominations close on Feb. 16, 2021, voting by SCN readers will take place online and will be further vetted by a panel of integrators and consultants. Winners will be announced in the April 2021 issue of Systems Contractor News.

Click here to enter the 2021 SCN Stellar Service Awards.

Future US’s AV Technology brand is pleased to announce its annual Best of Show winners at InfoComm 2020 Connected. This select group of products represents the tide of innovation on display at the show, which features thousands of new solutions from hundreds of exhibiting manufacturers. Winners were chosen based on the expert analysis of a panel of industry veterans who reviewed each product in depth over the week leading up to the convention.  

“I’m honored once again to be able to congratulate our winning manufacturers for their outstanding bounty of innovation,” said Matt Pruznick, editor of AV Technology. “The strength of this year’s field is a salient barometer of the health of our industry. Amid all of the uncertainty in today’s world, one only need look at these shining examples of engineering for reassurance. This sustained enthusiasm made for a good challenge; the process of narrowing down the impressive roster of nominations was as difficult as ever. So, it is with the utmost pride that I present these awards to 2020’s best of the best.”

Winning products will be covered in the post-InfoComm print and digital issues of AV Technology and online throughout the coming months.

AV Technology Best of Show Special Edition Winners:

• 1 Beyond Automate VX
• Adder Technology ADDERLink INFINITY 3000
• Albiral Display Solutions/Arthur Holm Dynamic4
• AMX Enova DVX-3266
• Aurora Multimedia Tauri Temperature Check Tablet
• AVCAD AVCAD
• Axis Communications AXIS C1410
• Barix IP Former
• BenQ DuoBoard 
• Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro
• BlueJeans by Verizon BlueJeans Events
• Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 UC
• Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB
• Clevertouch UX Pro
• Crestron Flex MX
• Crestron Flex R-Series
• Crestron 4K Multiformat 2x1 AV Switch and Receiver with PoE+
• Crestron X Series Amplifier
• Draper Acumen
• ENCO Systems enCaption
• Epson PowerLite 805F UST
• FIBERCOMMAND IROVF
• Kramer VP-440X
• Kramer VP-551X
• LG 55SVH7PF-H
• Liberty AV Solutions Adapter Ring 2.0
• Mersive Solstice Cloud Analytics
• Nureva HDL200
• Pexip Adaptive Composition
• Ross Video Ross Graphite PPC
• ScreenBeam 1100 Plus
• Sennheiser SpeechLine MCR DW
• Sonic Foundry Mediasite Mosaic
• Sony Eye Sensing Light Field Display
• Sony VPL-CWZ10
• SurgeX Squid Power Management System
• Vanguard ChipFlip
• VisibilityOne SaaS UC&C Monitoring and Management
• Yealink VC210 Teams Edition

To read more InfoComm Connected stories, visit avnetwork.com/tag/infocomm.

Systems Contractor News (SCN) announced the winners of its 2020 SCN Installation Product Awards during InfoComm Connected.

“While things may look different this year, the recipients of the 2020 SCN Installation Product Awards are still exceptional pieces of technology,” said Megan A. Dutta, content director, Systems Contractor News. “We're happy to honor the most innovative products of 2019 and looking forward to seeing what new inventions 2020 brings."

Most Innovative Audio Hardware

Shure Microflex Advance MXA910 Ceiling Array Microphone with IntelliMix DSP

The Microflex Advance MXA910 with IntelliMix DSP is the next evolution of the ceiling array microphone. Designed for spaces that demand a seamless and connected audio solution, the MXA910 with IntelliMix DSP enables broad, cost-effective deployment in an attractive industrial design—suitable for a variety of rooms with specific aesthetics requirements.  It combines state-of-the-art array microphone technology with the Shure IntelliMix DSP Suite including acoustic echo cancellation, noise reduction, and automatic mixingv

Most Innovative AV Installation Accessory

Kramer Electronics K-Spider

Kramer K-Spider is a sleek and stylish multi-format plug-and-play adapter cable that brings elegance, simplicity, and convenience to collaboration environments. K-Spider replaces multiple separate cables, adapters, and dongles with a single multi-head cable which provides a single multi-format adapter solution for full 4K@60Hz digital video.

Most Innovative Collaboration Product

Shure IntelliMix Room

IntelliMix Room is the first audio processing software for Windows 10 PCs that is fully optimized for use with Shure’s networked system microphones. This secured software-based DSP helps integrators save time by requiring minimal customer setup or additional special hardware. Providing up to 16 channels of audio processing, IntelliMix Room deploys the same algorithms as Shure’s P300 IntelliMix Audio Conferencing Processor but is installed on the same in-room PC as the conferencing soft codec.

Most Innovative Digital Signage Product - TIE

Datapath WallControl 10

Datapath’s WallControl 10 video management software allows for browser-based control of the video wall, broadening control scope as well as offering mobile control over the same IP network. With web-interface capability, plus a KVM control function for connected PCs, Wall Control 10 offers additional features that provide considerable end user benefits. Users are now able to discover and connect to available walls on a server and open and close layout files with a single click.

LG Business Solutions XS4F High Brightness Window-Facing Displays

LG’s XS4F series of 4,000 nit high-brightness displays are specifically designed for visibility in indoor window-facing installations. Featuring a thin profile, slim bezels and smart brightness control with ambient light detection and technology that allows clear visibility through polarized sunglasses, the Full HD displays deliver performance in bright and sun-lit environments. Additionally, the elegant design of these displays enhances the visual impact of the content and the overall atmosphere of retail stores.

Most Innovative Emerging Technology

Liberty AV Solutions Welcome Space by Teleportivity

Welcome Space is an interactive video deployment technology that lets user scale and deploy staff where required, whether it’s from across the building or across the globe. Designated personnel can remotely communicate and engage with customers as if they were physically there. Through a fixed iPad or tablet, Welcome Space enables live, on-demand support, sales, and concierge services via video—by scanning a QR code with their personal device, customers may also instantly access your customized information.

Most Innovative Mounting Solution

Peerless-AV SmartMount Slim Flat dvLED Video Wall Mount

Peerless-AV’s Slim Flat dvLED Video Wall Mount features a slim, space-saving, and aesthetically pleasing design. The DS-LEDFS can be adapted to support various dvLED display sizes and brands. The display adapters provide x, y, and z axis adjustments to overcome uneven walls and to assure the video wall remains flat.

Most Innovative Signal Management Product

Ross Video Ultritouch System Control Panel

Ultritouch adds a new control option to Ross Video’s Ultrix connectivity platforms. Due to its integration of Dashboard, Ultritouch controls a host of other Ross equipment and third party signal processing products. Ultritouch comes with an array of fully integrated, configurable control templates with paged operations and intuitive control workflows—plus it allows users to develop fully customizable virtual hard panel solutions for any application across any equipment using Dashboard custom panel support.

Most Innovative Video Conferencing Product

Jabra PanaCast

The Jabra PanaCast is a plug-and-play video solution, designed to improve meetings in huddle rooms by using three cameras and real-time video stitching to give a full 180-degreee view of the room. Users can enjoy a natural, human perspective, with no blind spots. The three 13-megapixel cameras and patented real-time video stitching technology create a more natural, inclusive 180-degree Panoramic-4K view.

Most Innovative Video Display Product

Samsung The Wall for Business

Samsung’s The Wall for Business is a modular MicroLED display that now extends up to 583-inches while delivering excellent brightness, contrast, and viewing angles. The display’s self-emitting MicroLED pixel modules produce imagery free of color filters or backlighting, enveloping viewers with elevated peak brightness and near-infinite contrast ratio, according to the company. With applications, from lobbies, hotels, retail spaces and more, Samsung says The Wall for Business is an aesthetic complement to any atmosphere.

Most Innovative Video Processing Product

Crestron DM NVX 4K60 4:4:4 HDR Network AV OPS Decoder

The Crestron DM-NVX-D80-IOAV is a compact AV-over-IP decoder that functions as a receiver. The DM-NVX-D80-IOAV is compatible with the Intel Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) for seamless integration with OPS-supported displays and delivers an AV-over-IP solution for the most in-demand display manufacturers in the world. Removing the need for HDMI, control, and USB cables, the DM-NVX-D80-IOAV makes installs seamless, fast, and easy.

Most Innovative Video Projection Solution - TIE

Epson Pro L10-Series Interchangeable-Lens Installation Laser Projectors

The Pro L10-Series are Epson’s most compact, interchangeable-lens installation laser projectors, designed to meet the growing projection needs in corporate, education and wherever large-screen display is required. The projectors offer diverse connectivity, robust image-adjusting capabilities, and interchangeable-lenses, including a .35 throw ratio ultra-short-throw lens for more flexible installation. The projectors leverage 3-Chip 3LCD and 4K Enhancement Technology, high contrast and a BT.709 color space for incredibly precise detail and true-to-life displays.

Panasonic PT-RCQ10 Series

The PT-RCQ10 1-Chip DLP 10,000lm laser 4K Ready projector accepts a 4K signal that when combined with the Smooth Pixel Drive shifts each pixel to create a 2715 x 1697 high-resolution image.  The Near Field Communication (NFC) function instantly pairs a smartphone to the PT-RCQ10 just by touching them together. Once linked, the app accesses an information settings menu that’s readable and writable for easy adjustment without turning on the projector. The PT-RCQ80 delivers 8,000lm.

Editor's Note: Manufacturers nominated their products, and the finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges. The judges, all experienced integrators, read through each and every entry, and chose no more than three finalists per category. The winners were chosen by SCN readers via online voting.

AVIXA has announced the 2020 recipients of its annual awards. Honorees will be recognized in a virtual ceremony during InfoComm 2020 Connected on Wed., June 17 at 5p.m. EDT.

The AVIXA Awards recognize outstanding AV professionals for their contributions to the industry. Members of the industry nominate individuals for the Adele De Berri Pioneers of AV, CTS Holder of the Year, Educator of the Year, Fred Dixon Service in Education, Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement, Women in AV, and Young AV Professionals awards. New for 2020 are the Emerging Talent and Event Design of the Year awards. The Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year Award is bestowed by AVIXA staff.

Related: Voting Opens for 2020 SCN Installation Product Awards

Related: InfoComm Best of Show Special Edition Opens

"Day in and day out, AV professionals leave impressions on the people they meet and the spaces they help create," said David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, chief executive officer, AVIXA. "Each year, AVIXA is honored to shine a spotlight on individuals who are helping the industry grow, whether it's through teaching, breaking down barriers, or pioneering new technology and ideas. Congratulations to the 2020 AVIXA Awards winners and thank you for all your contributions to the AV industry."

Adele De Berri Pioneers of AV Award

Bruce Howze

Fellow Engineer, Biamp

President and Founder, Community Professional Loudspeakers

While working as a young audio engineer and doing live sound mixing touring for groups like Jefferson Airplane and other emerging artists in the sixties, Howze saw a need for better equipment in the industry and decided to start his own company Community Professional Loudspeakers in 1968. He pioneered the use of manufacturing horn systems and enclosures with fiberglass to create large, yet lightweight, loudspeaker systems. He is also credited with many industry firsts, including the first coaxial all-horn system and the first large-format midrange compression driver, among others. Howze remains active in the company today and continues to research and develop new loudspeaker technologies.

Read the exclusive interview.

CTS Holder of the Year Award

Mark Higgason, CTS-D, CTS-I

Executive Vice President and Partner, Encompass Audio Visual LLC

Higgason has been working professionally with audio and electronics for more than 20 years. He has helped Encompass AV grow from an unfunded start-up to a multi-million-dollar operation. Higgason is determined to make human-centric technologies a common thing in the workplace and beyond.

Read the exclusive interview.

Educator of the Year Award

Jonathan Brawn, CTS

Principal, Brawn Consulting 

Brawn has extensive experience in the design and integration of AV and digital signage systems and the development of educational programs. He is an instructor for AVIXA and a member of the association's various AV standard task forces, including the Project Image System Contrast Ratio standard. Brawn was also the recipient of AVIXA's 2012 Young AV Professional Award.

Read the exclusive interview.

Emerging Talent Award

Edinys Guzman

Student, Lincoln Tech

Guzman is a student at Lincoln Tech with a 4.0 GPA in the Electrician and Electronics training program. She has a Foundations of Crestron Programming Certification and is currently working on her level 2 certification from Crestron and studying for her CTS.

Read the exclusive interview.

Event Design of the Year Award

Meredith Francsis

Senior Creative Producer with BlackOak Technical Productions

Francsis is a senior producer in the events space, developing custom lighting, audio, video, and staging designs. She has a bachelor's degree in Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology from Illinois State University.

Read the exclusive interview.

Fred Dixon Service in Education Award

Steve Thorburn, PE, LEED-AP, CTS-D, CTS-I

Principal, Thorburn Associates

Thorburn is a licensed engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the architectural application of acoustic, audiovisual technology, and lighting systems. His dual degrees from Michigan Technological University in electrical engineering and technical theatre enable him to coordinate technical requirements involved in the construction bid process with practical issues required by the end users. Thorburn is a senior instructor for AVIXA and the recipient of AVIXA's 2011 Educator of the Year Award. In addition, he authored the book Acoustics in Architecture.

Read the exclusive interview.

Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year Award

Lisa Perrine, Ed.D.

CEO, Cibola Systems

In addition to being CEO of Cibola Systems, Perrine is an avid writer and frequent presenter, delivering courses and workshops on design thinking and workplace experience design. Her courses have been approved for certification renewal units by AVIXA, The American Institute of Architects, and International Interior Design Association. Perrine serves on AVIXA's Standards Steering Committee and is a member of the Standards Development Task Group creating a standard for human-centered AV design. She has served on several nonprofit boards, including the Orange County United Way, the Girl Scouts of Orange County, St. Joseph Hoag Health, and Mission Hospital. Perrine has a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

Read the exclusive interview.

Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award

Ben Adams

International Representative, IATSE

Adams began his career as a teaching assistant in film at his alma mater Michigan State University. But before continuing his career in film, he spent two years serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Following his service, Adams, who has a love for traveling, worked on a documentary series in conjunction with Michigan State University and National Iranian Radio Television (NIRT). Adams was a filmmaker for Ford Motor Company from 1975 to 1977 and continued his career as a freelance union cameraman from 1977 until he retired in 2002. Adams then became increasingly involved in labor activism, working for the American Federation of Teachers. In 2005, Adams settled into his second career as an IATSE International Representative—working to protect and serve entertainment industry workers just like him.

Read the exclusive interview.

Women in AV Award

Sarah Becher, CTS-D, CTS-I

Project Engineer with AV Calibrations, LLC

Becher has more than 30 years of engineering experience in audiovisual display and processing equipment. During her career, she has managed local and regional levels of operations, quality assurance, and employee and customer training. Becher is currently pursuing a master's degree in Management of Technology at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Read the exclusive interview.

Women in AV Award

Melissa Ross, CTS

Senior Engineer, Special Projects Group, AVI-SPL

Melissa Ross is considered to be the most-certified woman in AV. She is an HDBT Master Installer and holds certifications in Networked AV Design and Commissioning, Crestron DMCD-4K, AutoCAD 3D, Revit, and many more. She is also a member of the AVIXA standard's subject matter expert group and holds a bachelor's degree in structural engineering from North Carolina State University.

Young AV Professionals Award

Sean McChesney, CTS

Experience Technology Consultant, Electrosonic

McChesney has a strong academic background—a bachelor's degree in Electronic Media in Art and Technology from the University of Tampa and a Master of Entertainment Technology degree from Carnegie Mellon University. As an Experience Technology Consultant for Electrosonic, he works with clients to understand their requirements and translate them into a technology solution, coordinating the right experts and working closely with all stakeholders. He leads some of Electrosonic's most award-winning projects and pushes the boundaries of experiential technology.

Read the exclusive interview.

Young AV Professionals Award

Gregory Rushton, CTS-D

Vice President, Muley & Banani Audio Visual Inc.

Rushton graduated with honors from Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology (OIART). He joined Mulvey & Banani International in 2007, and in 2017 he became vice president of its professional audiovisual design subsidiary Muley & Banani Audio Visual Inc. Rushton works on an array of project sectors, ranging from cultural and sport venues, education and healthcare facilities, to private commercial developments.

Read the exclusive interview.

To read more InfoComm Connected stories, visit avnetwork.com/tag/infocomm.

Adder Technology been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for excellence in International Trade. Cambridge, UK-based Adder designs and manufacturers connectivity solutions that are distributed globally via a network of distributors, resellers, and system integrators to over 60 countries.

This award follows Adder’s previous commendations by the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in 2001 and 2014, for International Trade and Innovation, respectively. Now in their 54th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are deemed the most prestigious business awards in the UK.

Related: Adder Launches ADDERView Secure Range of NIAP PP 4.0 KVM Products

Founded in 1984 by current CEO Adrian Dickens, Adder is a global leader in the design and manufacture of enterprise technology that enables users to securely access and control computers from anywhere in the world via a standard IP network. The core technology, known as KVM (keyboard, video, and mouse), is used around the world by customers across multiple industries, from pro AV, broadcasting, and post-production, to command and control, and industrial process automation. In order to support its growing network of partners and customers around the world, Adder has established offices in key locations throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. 

“We are extremely proud to win another Queen’s Award, this time recognizing our International Trade efforts,” Dickens said. “Earlier in the year, we were delighted to announce a multi-million dollar investment to support our global expansion, and I consider this accolade as an acknowledgement of the fantastic work undertaken by the team at Adder. This award will surely add to the momentum of the organization’s growth as it reinforces our commitment to improving the connectivity needs of our customers.”

Adder started 2020 at pace with the announcement of a multi-million-dollar global expansion, two product launches, the introduction of a 24/7 Elite Professional Service program and an inclusion in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200, all within the first three months.

We often recognize manufacturers for their technological innovations—those products drive our industry—but we’d be remiss if we didn’t also recognize the people behind those innovations and the experiences they create with their services.

For the seventh year, we turned to you, our readers, to determine the winners of the SCN Stellar Service Awards. Voting on the nominees took place in February and March, and now the votes have been tallied. We are proud to announce the winning results and congratulate these exceptional service providers.

Best Use Of An Afternoon (Best Online Training)

Platinum: Shure Audio Institute

With increasing innovation, it’s essential for today’s audio professionals to be on top of technical insights and training. The Shure Audio Institute (SAI)—a global education and training program—provides professionals access to deep knowledge and practical skills on several topics including technical support, sales, and product solutions that will enable you to effectively manage any client situation. It’s Shure’s goal to share its know-how and expertise so you can succeed.

Gold: Peerless-AV Certified Installer Training Program

With Peerless-AV’s Certified Installer Training Program, installers are able to receive customized, hands-on sessions to fit installation needs. Through both in-person or online webinar options, the Peerless-AV Certified Installer Training Program and courses demonstrate the importance of proper installation techniques and safety, and address efficient methods to reduce the risk of faulty installations. Peerless-AV’s five level program allow installers and integrators to learn new skills or refine their past learnings.

Silver: QSC Online Training

QSC’s online training program offers dozens of courses and over 900 videos that allow students to learn at their own pace. Skilled (and hilarious) presenters keep the content moving with short, engaging videos. QSC introduced several new courses in the last 12 months alone, including advanced courses for third-party control, video streaming, remote monitoring, business music, and K.2 Series loudspeakers. Classes are available in several languages and, the best part, they’re free!

Best Excuse to Leave the Office (Best In-House Training Program)

Platinum: Shure RF Certification Program

With the spectrum landscape becoming increasingly crowded, RF coordinators are asked to do more with less. To better prepare audio professionals in today’s evolving wireless marketplace, The Shure Audio Institute (SAI) launched the RF Certification Program. This certification provides RF coordinators and audio professionals with hands-on training conducted by Shure’s team of dedicated RF engineers and expert facilitators. The program arms participants with the skills needed to navigate and troubleshoot complex RF situations.

Gold: Sound Productions

Sound Productions offers a broad scope of educational opportunities in its state-of-the-art Experience Center. SoundPro puts on approximately two to four events per month, with topics ranging from classroom style application courses (AV 101, RF frequency coordination, AVoIP) to in-depth, hands-on mixing workshops with industry experts. There is truly something for everyone. You can also visit their Experience Center Monday through Friday to demo product or enjoy free lunch and giveaways at one of their Customer Appreciation events. 

Silver: Extron

Education and training are the cornerstones of Extron’s commitment to our customers. Our Extron Institute training and certification programs cover existing and emerging technologies, including 4K and beyond, digital video, network AV, fiber optics, twisted pair, audio DSP, streaming AV, and control configuration. Courses are offered at 30 Extron training centers worldwide. In addition to AV technology training, participants will learn best practices for system design, installation, and troubleshooting through hands-on experiences in real-world scenarios.

The Dealer Portal You Want to Keep Going Back to (Best Website Dealer Portal)

Platinum: Extron

Extron Insider provides customers with access to Extron software downloads, certification programs, System Builders that allow users to quickly and easily build a system and order online in just a few clicks. Users can also access product configuration tools, videos, training enrollment forms, and valuable technical articles, white papers, and design guides. Extron has taken extra care to provide each Extron Insider with access to the precise information they need for their specific job.

Gold: BlackWireDesigns.com

BlackWire’s website offers a clean, simple tool that allows customers to find their solution quickly and easily. With its built-in chat system, the BlackWire team is there to assist in finding the perfect product. If dealers need technical support, the website features a built-in ticketing system as well. A convenient driver marketplace offers an extensive range of software for Control4 and URC platforms, and BlackWire maintains a database packed with informative articles and guides.

Silver: Crestron

Backed by a team of highly talented web designers, Crestron.com is a one-stop shop offering 24/7 access to the latest configuration tools, manuals, and more. Constantly updated with new functionalities, our website is designed to provide dealers with a sophisticated user-experience. When logging into Crestron.com, guests instantly see tailored content relevant to their business, making it simple to find what they need and to stay up to date with the latest Crestron news.

Sales Support You Can Believe In (Best Sales Operation)

Platinum: Shure Sales

An excellent sales experience has been at the forefront of Shure’s business for over 94 years. Shure’s Product Technical Support Team offers incomparable pre and post-sales support by receiving real-time feedback from end-users enabling Shure to produce the company’s superior products that surpass their customer’s expectations—all at a competitive price. If issues do emerge, Shure’s Service Department is standing by to deliver advanced technical support while resolving product repairs immediately.

Gold: Symetrix Sales Team

From pre-sales to smooth order entry and fulfillment, the Symetrix Sales team is fast, knowledgeable, and fun! Whether you call one of our regional managers, our special projects consultant, or inside sales we connect you to product answers fast. When you call or e-mail, we personally answer, and we do everything in our power to get gear in your hands quickly and reliably.  We’re obsessed with delivering a phenomenal customer experience through flawless execution.

Silver: Crestron Sales Support Services

Our Sales Support Services (SSS) Team is comprised of experienced solution engineers and administrators, dedicated to delivering world class service to our customers worldwide. Our team provides assistance with all technical, pricing, system design, and quotation related inquiries; perform comparative analysis for competitive projects and quotes; sales tools, information, application drawings, Design/Best-Practices Guides, CAD/Visio-Blocks, Revit/BIM Files, Architectural and CSI format Specifications.

The Number You Have on Autodial (Best Tech Support)

Platinum: Symetrix Technical Support Team

The Symetrix Technical Support team is comprised of industry veterans with 30 years combined Symetrix experience, over 100 years combined audio experience, and decades of experience in customer service and networking. We are analytical problem solvers who provide the highest caliber of technical support and go above and beyond the call of duty to assist our customers. We are passionate about all things audio and love the opportunity to share that with our customers.

Gold: Extron

Extron tech support is second-to-none in the industry. Customers will always hear a live voice on our 24-hour support hotline. We provide after-hours technical support, including weekends and holidays. Whether you need help commissioning or designing small to large systems or have a last-minute troubleshooting question in the middle of the night, a trained and knowledgeable engineer will be there to help. Extron stands by our 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.

Silver: Shure Applications

Shure has believed that the best tech support is derived from human-to-human interaction and it still does today. Unlike most companies that have transitioned to automated systems, Shure’s application engineers have developed an extensive FAQ database—featuring 5,000-plus entries—and published industry-specific educational publications. Technical support is available to customers worldwide via phone or email from application engineers who draw on almost 200 years of audio industry experience to directly address customer questions.

Your Design Co-Pilot (Best Design Services)

Platinum: Synnex VisualSolv

Synnex VisualSolv has a highly trained and certified team of design engineers available to assist with everything from pre-sales support, peer review, and design collaboration to full solution design with detailed BOMs. Engineers provide complimentary assessments across AV technologies and manage assessment delivery for adjacent technologies including wireless networks, storage and cloud. The team holds certifications including DSCE, CTS, CTS-D, and BICSI. CTS Prep classes are also offered to Synnex partners.

Gold: Crestron Color Match

Crestron has a variety of services that help streamline the design process for designers. Our exclusive Color Match service allows Crestron roller shades to tie in flawlessly with any customer’s design scheme. All you have to do is provide a Pantone color code or a physical color sample and a Crestron expert will do the rest. No other manufacturer offers this level of customization and flexibility.

Your Best Defense Against Scope Creep (Best Project Management Platform)

Platinum: D-Tools System Integrator (SI) Software

D-Tools System Integrator (SI) is a robust business software that helps manage all aspects of an integrator’s business, including sales, comprehensive system design, project documentation, procurement, installation, back office management, and service, through a data-driven process that leverages an extensive and integrated product library. D-Tools software helps streamline the entire project workflow for integrators, leading to improved operational efficiencies and increased profitability.

The Storyteller that Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat (Best Content Creation)

Platinum: Crestron Electronics, Inc.

At Crestron, we value our customers and take a special interest in helping AV and IT teams tell their story. With a gallery full of awesome customer success stories that highlight projects across all industries, we strive to create a space for inspiration and tribute. In addition to case studies and video testimonials, Crestron develops some of the most engaging and creative brochures, manuals, editorial ads, and social content in the industry!

*All descriptions are provided by contest entrants and SCN does not guarantee the validity of these statements.

Audinate has won a Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for its contributions in enabling the production industry’s transition of analog audio and video onto the network.

[Audinate Releases Major Update to Dante Domain Manager]

Used in thousands of products from hundreds of manufacturers, Audinate’s Dante is the de facto standard for modern AV connectivity. Dante has revolutionized the AV industry by replacing legacy audio and video connections with easy-to-use, high-performance computer networking.

Dante’s ability to handle hundreds of uncompressed audio channels over a single network cable is why the protocol has become so popular in media production. Television is evolving with demand for additional audio as viewers seek an immersive experience. Producing a reality TV show might require dozens and dozens of microphones to capture all of the action going on simultaneously. Likewise, live sporting events are incorporating more audio as players and coaches are now employing live microphone feeds.

Dante is used in high-profile television productions, including this year’s Super Bowl LIV halftime show and the 2020 Grammy awards. It is used extensively in stadiums, performance halls, concert tours, and commercial buildings worldwide.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognized the company’s work with an Emmy Award for the “development of synchronized multi-channel uncompressed audio transport over IP networks.”

“The title of the award speaks directly to the core of Audinate’s innovation and engineering goals from the founding of the company in 2003 and on to today,” said Aidan Williams, co-founder and CEO of Audinate. “We remain focused on improving the way the world sounds in every application where audio matters. From the local performance space to the voice conferencing solution you use for work, there is a good chance Audinate touches your life to provide better audio. Our work in the broadcast and television space is critical: we want all audio to be more effectively utilized by the people who have a message to share. It’s an exciting time and we greatly appreciate the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizing the importance of our work.”

Future US’s AV Technology brand is pleased to announce its Best of Show winners at InfoComm International 2019. This select group of innovations, from an exhibition of thousands of solutions showcased by nearly 1,000 manufacturers, is representative of outstanding achievement in product development. Seven AV professionals, including CTS-certified technology managers and AV/IT engineers, judged each product live on the show floor on days one and two of InfoComm.

“Once again, InfoComm brought forth a cascade of ingenuity, and this exuberance for innovation was readily apparent in the breadth of our field of awards entries,” Pruznick said. “With so many outstanding contenders, the process of narrowing down the list to this select group of winners was a painstaking endeavor. It is with the utmost pride that I congratulate the 2019 recipients of the AV Technology’s Best of Show Awards—your products are a shining example of excellence in the industry.”

The continued growth of AV Technology’s Best of Show program reflects the expanding presence of technology managers and end users at InfoComm, according to Adam Goldstein, executive vice president at Future plc. “We’re very pleased to see tech managers continuing to engage with both the InfoComm show and our publications,” he said.

Winning products will be covered in the post-InfoComm print and digital issues of AV Technologyand online throughout the coming months.

AV Technology InfoComm 2019 Best of Show Winners:

• 1Beyond AutoFinder
• Adder ADDERLink INFINITY 4000
• Airtame
• AJA Video Systems Ki Pro GO
• AKG CBL 
• AlpsAV No-Touch Screen Mount
• Aluvision Hi-LED 55 Modular LED Tiles
• AMX G5
• Audio-Technica ES954 
• Aurora Multimedia IP-24PoE+
• AV Stumpfl Pixera
• beyerdynamic Unite
• Blackmagic Design ATEM Constellation 8K
• Black Box MCX
• Bluesound Professional BSP125
• Chief AVSFSS
• Christie MicroTiles LED
• Clevertouch E-Cap
• Crestron Flex B160
• Crestron Flex UC-M130-T
• Crestron XiO Cloud
• Crestron DM-NVX-D80-IoAV
• Epson Pro L30000U
• Epson Pro L10 Series
• FSR Symphony Linx
• Green Hippo Hippotizer Montane+ RTX
• Huddle Room Technology Huddle Hub
• Icron Technologies Maverick 63104
• IDK NJR-AB08DAN
• IHSE Draco Ultra DP 240
• IHSE R4888
• Jabra PanaCast
• Kramer VS-34FD
• Leyard DirectLight X
• LG Transparent OLED
• LG XE4F
• Liberty AV Solutions Teleportivity
• LogMeIn GoToRoom 
• Lumens Integration VC-A71P
• Matrox Extio 3
• Matrox Maevex 6120
• Mersive Solstice
• Middle Atlantic C3
• MXL AC-44
• NEC InfinityBoard
• Optoma ProScene ZK1050
• PlanIt AV
• ProVideoInstruments VeCOAX BROADCAST
• RealMotion Gold Series Servers
• Roland Pro AV VR-1HD
• Ross Video Carbonite Ultra
• ScreenBeam 1100
• Shure SystemOn
• Sony REA-C1000
• Sprolink VF4 
• Starin HUDPCSTA
• Structured Cable Products Simply45
• Telos Alliance Axia iQx
• tvONE CORIOmaster
• Utelogy U-Manage
• Vaddio AV Bridge Mini
• Vaddio RoboSHOT 40 UHD
• Valens VS3000
• Vanguard Chromium Series
• Variant Systems Group Envivo Studio
• ViewSonic LS900WU
• VisionarySolutions PacketAV Sentinel
• XTEN-AV AI Powered Design Platform
• Yealink VP59
• ZeeVee ZyPer4K HDMI Module

We often recognize manufacturers for their technological innovations—those products drive our industry. But we'd be remiss if we did not recognize the people behind those innovations and the experiences they create with their services.

For the sixth year in a row, we turned to you, our readers, to determine the winners of the SCN Stellar Service Awards. Voting on the nominees took place in March, and now the votes have been tallied. We are proud to announce the winning results and congratulate these exceptional service providers.

Best Use Of An Afternoon (Best Online Training)

Platinum: Shure

Today’s audio professionals require up-to-date technical insights and training in this rapidly evolving industry. It is Shure’s goal to share its expertise, know-how, and support, so you thrive in the work you do. Through the Shure Audio Institute—a global educational and training platform—you have access to deep knowledge and practical skills on general audio topics, technical, sales, and Shure product solutions that enable you to effectively manage every client situation encountered.

Gold: QSC

Q-SYS Control 101 lowers the barrier of entry for learning control programming with curriculum that highlights the benefits of a software-based control paradigm that leverages modern scripting languages and easy visual coding tools. Q-SYS Control 101 proves you can learn programming in hours rather than weeks and months, making it ideal for programmers of all levels. And it’s free and delivered in the same interactive and hilarious style QSC is known for.

Silver: Biamp

Technology is rapidly changing, and with more devices becoming network-enabled, Biamp is empowering integrators, system designers, and end users to keep their skills sharp. Biamp’s online training program digs into the trends, practices, products, and solutions needed. Training resources are available 24/7, in a self-paced and easy-to-consume format, available on their schedule. The company also added an industry-leading technology resource—Biamp Cornerstone—with helpful content for every possible need, from VoIP to networking.

Best Excuse to Leave the Office (Best In-House Training Program)

Platinum: Crestron

Crestron Technical Institute has created a wide range of courses and learning tracks specific to its customers' areas of interest, including design, integration, networking, and programming. Its instructor-led courses provide students the foundation for earning a Crestron Certification, confirming their knowledge of Crestron software and solutions. For Crestron to succeed, it needs its dealers to succeed. Throughout each course track, each student's knowledge, skills, and performance will be put to the test.

Gold: Sound Productions

Education is a top priority for Sound Productions, so it built a state-of-the-art demo facility to provide the space for people to knowledge-share and master their trade with industry experts. Attendees can get exclusive gear knowledge, pro tips from industry leaders, or boost their proficiency through one of its hands-on trainings. Sound Productions expanded its educational opportunities to more than 40 events in 2018—from beginner to master classes—and it doesn’t plan to slow down.

Silver: Riedel Communications

Riedel Tuesdays provide a friendly environment where guests can learn the operational basics of Riedel products and ask questions about situations they’ve encountered. These day-long, free events are led by Riedel systems consultants, respected pros, and freelancers. Sessions are regularly held at the company’s Burbank office and at guest venues throughout North America. Riedel Tuesdays can focus on any of the company’s product families and are easily adaptable to the experience level of the participants.

The Dealer Portal You Want to Keep Going Back to (Best Website Dealer Portal)

Platinum: Extron

Extron Insider provides customers with access to Extron software downloads, certification programs, and System Builders that allow users to quickly and easily build a system and order online in just a few clicks. Users can also access product configuration tools, videos, training enrollment forms, and valuable technical articles, white papers, and design guides. Extron has taken extra care to provide each Extron Insider with access to the precise information they need for their specific job.

Gold: Crestron

The new and improved Crestron.com allows dealers to create multiple project lists, save them in their personal library, and revisit them later. This new feature helps streamline the proposal process by allowing dealers to share their lists directly with Crestron’s sales team and prepare official proposals from one location. The website also features a support center available 24/7, which houses all of the documents associated with its products, contact information, and more.

Sales Support You Can Believe In (Best Sales Operation)

Platinum: Sound Productions

Sound Productions is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations throughout the entire buying experience. It has the largest inventory in the Southwest, same-day shipping, and more than 350 product lines. You can attend a hands-on training or test out equipment before purchase at its cutting-edge demo facility. A streamlined buying process, full after-sale support, and its team’s knowledge and experience make its customers feel confident that they can achieve their AVL vision and meet their deadline.

Gold: Shure

For more than 93 years, an outstanding sales experience has been at the forefront of Shure’s business. By offering exceptional pre- and post-sales support, the sales team receives real-time feedback from end users allowing Shure to better develop best-in-class products that meet and exceed the customer’s needs at a competitive price. If an issue does arise, Shure’s Service Department is available to provide high-quality technical support while resolving product repairs immediately.

Silver: Peerless-AV

The priority of Peerless-AV’s sales team has always been to provide reliable, holistic solutions to clients. That’s why the team is heavily involved with industry publications, organizations, and tradeshows to remain up to date on relevant information while promoting technological solutions. Despite the complex nature of those products, sales materials are presented in an aesthetically pleasing and easily digestible manner. Clients can always count on comprehensive support from this sales team as they research their projects.

The Number You Have on Autodial (Best Tech Support)

Platinum: Shure

Unlike most companies that have transitioned to automated systems, Shure believes excellent tech support derives from human-to-human interaction. Seasoned experts draw on a combined 190-plus years of audio industry experience to directly address customer inquiries. Shure’s application engineers have built and maintained an extensive FAQs database—featuring more than 5,000 entries—and published industry-specific educational publications. With application engineers in multiple countries, technical support is available to customers around the world via phone or email.

Gold: Extron

Extron tech support is second to none in the industry. Customers will always hear a live voice on its 24-hour support hotline. It provides after-hours technical support, including weekends and holidays. Whether you need help commissioning or designing small to large systems, or have a last-minute troubleshooting question in the middle of the night, a trained and knowledgeable engineer will be there to help. Extron stands by its 100-percent satisfaction guarantee.

Silver: WolfVision

WolfVision earns loyalty by making sure its customers are completely satisfied with its products, enjoy great support, and experience an unusually high return on investment. Many of them depend daily on equipment they purchased from the company more than a decade ago, and they're delighted by its continual willingness to repair and return what it can. When promising to replace solutions as they fail, WolfVision’s customers often grin because they've been promising that for years.

Your Design Co-Pilot (Best Design Services)

Platinum: AVAD

AVAD’s Technical Services team is a group of industry experts dedicated to providing AVAD’s partners with the technical resources to tackle the most demanding and complex projects. With more than 30 industry certifications from the AV industry’s leading organizations and vendors and years of experience designing, programming, and installing AV systems, AVAD’s Technical Services team provides unrivaled levels of support to their valued partners.

Gold: Synnex Corporation

Synnex VisualSolv has a highly trained and certified team of design engineers available to assist with everything from pre-sales support, peer review and design collaboration, to full-solution design with detailed BOMs. Engineers provide complimentary assessments across AV technologies, and manage the delivery of assessments for adjacent technologies including wireless networks, storage, and cloud. The team holds certifications such as CTS, CTS-D, and BICSI, along with numerous vendor certifications including Cisco and Microsoft.

Silver: Crestron

Crestron has a variety of services that help streamline the design process for designers. Its exclusive Color Match service allows Crestron roller shades to tie in flawlessly with any customer's design scheme. All you have to do is provide a Pantone color code or a physical color sample and a Crestron expert will do the rest. No other manufacturer offers this level of customization and flexibility.

Your Best Defense Against Scope Creep (Best Project Management Platform)

Platinum: D-Tools

D-Tools’ on-premises software, System Integrator (SI), caters to the unique and diverse needs of systems design and installation firms. SI helps manage key aspects of an integrator’s business—including sales, comprehensive system design, project documentation, and project management—helping streamline business processes for improved operational efficiencies and increased profitability. The latest release delivers critical new features: workflow management rules, project notifications, and calculated items, as well as additional productivity enhancements.

The Storyteller that Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat (Best Content Creation)

In 2018 Almo acquired Insteo, a DS content and creative company that programs and designs content for DS, then provides tools to manage changes in cloud. Almo now offers expedited quote/project management and global accessibility. Cloud Templates: Pre-designed content for immediate use for menu boards, lobby directories, real estate listings, and project boards. Users can change prices, tenants, etc. from anywhere. Custom Content: Award-winning designers and programmers create DS content including data integration, touchscreens, video development, motion graphics, and custom programming.

Digital Signage Expo has announced 36 finalists for the 15th annual APEX Awards.

The 2019 APEX Awards, presented by the Digital Signage Federation, are designed to recognize and honor achievement in the installation of digital displays and interactive technology and the creation of compelling viewer content. For well over a decade the APEX Awards have honored hundreds of companies around the world for their innovation. 

This year’s APEX Award finalists were chosen by an independent panel of 15 industry experts and journalists from a field of 112 entrants from 13 countries vying in 12 major digital signage categories. 

The list of finalists and images of the entries can be found here.

Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be presented in each category as part of the Free Networking Reception and APEX Awards Ceremony sponsored by Gable, Peerless-AV and Samsung, Wednesday on March 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., staged at the Pavilion Ballroom at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. DSE will also present the APEX Installation of the Year, Content of the Year and Integrator of the Year Awards to three of the Gold winners. 

The Digital Signage Federation’s 2019 APEX Award Finalists are:

Corporate Environments (10 entries)

Maya Holding Maya Kemer and Anatolium Marmara Retail Tower Showroom Space nominated by MAP Global – Musion Turkiye
One Culver nominated by StandardVision
TELUS Magic Doors nominated by TechTAP TELUS Vancouver Innovation Centre

Digital Out-of-Home Campaigns (3 entries)

Samsung Mobile and Starcom nominated by Vistar Media
S8 8K Media Player nominated by Socionext
Toys R Us Endless Aisle Solutions nominated by Cineplex Digital Media 

Educational Environments (11 entries)

Morphogenesis- Stanford Biology Building – Anderson Krygier nominated by TSItouch, Inc.
Richmond Family Welcome Gallery at Alice Campbell Alumni Center nominated by University of Illinois Alumni Alliance
U of M McNamara Alumni Center Discovery Nexus Center nominated by Tierney Microgigantic

Entertainment & Recreation (13 entries)

“Bible Now” Reactive Media Space nominated by C&G Partners
Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings Museum nominated by Dimensional Innovations
The Parlors/Thomas Cole National Historic Site nominated by Publicis Sapient/Second Story

Experiential Design & Planning (11 entries)

Exploring Pueblo Pottery nominated by Ideum
Shogyo Mujo @ Life is Beautiful nominated by BARTKRESA Studio
The Spheres: Immersive Visitor Experience – Amazon, Downtown Seattle Headquarters nominated by YCD Multimedia and Belle & Wissell, Co.

Healthcare Environments (6 entries)

Cleveland Clinic Children’s – Interactive Lobby Experience nominated by Dimensional Innovations
Sanford Imagenetics/Sanford Health nominated by Publicis Sapient/Second Story
Sunnybrook Foundation Digital Donor Wall nominated by Envision Canada

Hospitality (5 entries)

Holland America Line/Explorations Central nominated by Publicis Sapient/Second Story
Housing Trust Group nominated by Almo Professional A/V
ROYAL WEDDING nominated by Magic Innovations

Public Spaces (10 entries)

Paseo Interlomas nominated by Kolo Digital Signage
Rooted In Greatness nominated by NEC Display Solutions of America
The Idea Exchange – The Digital Library, City of Cambridge nominated by Westbury National

Restaurants, Bars & Foodservice (7 entries)

Hotel Indigo Hsinchu Science Park nominated by Nova Media
Pink Fish nominated by ProntoTV
Tiger Nightclub nominated by Userful

Retail Environments (22 entries)

Ellynne Bridal nominated by Nanonation
Nu Xtore Shenzhen nominated by Shikatani Lacroix Design, Metathink Nu Skin (pictured)
T-Mobile Signature Stores/T-Mobile nominated by Publicis Sapient

Transportation (9 entries)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport nominated by NanoLumens
Saudi Airlines Multimedia Solutions nominated by Magic Innovations
“Skyys” in Fulton Center nominated by MTA Arts & Design

Venues (5 Entries)

Bank of America Stadium, nominated Sensory Interactive
Hale Centre Theatre nominated by Revel Media Group
Integrated 360 Video Mapping Show for Opening Ceremony of the Gyyanly
Polymer Plant nominated by Dreambox Visual Communications, Inc.

Mark your calendar now: DSE 2019 is scheduled for March 26-29, 2019, with access to the Exhibit Hall March 27-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space, contact Andrea Varrone at (770) 817-5905. For more information, visit www.dse2019.com.

Coming out of 2018 with the highest revenue growth in the 70-year history of JBL, the VTX A12W loudspeakers and JBL 3 Series MkII studio monitors earn prestigious 2019 TEC Awards.

Harman Professional Solutions's JBL Professional live sound reinforcement and recording monitors earned the 2019 Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards in the category of Outstanding Technical Achievement.

The 34th annual TEC Awards honored best-in-class products in the professional audio community, and were presented at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA on Jan. 26, 2019. JBL VTX A12W loudspeakers earned the 2019 TEC Award in the Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers category, and JBL 3 Series MkII studio monitors earned the 2019 TEC Award in the Studio Monitors category. The wins represent the first time multiple JBL products have been honored at the ceremony since 2006.  

“We are honored by these remarkable wins for JBL at the 2019 NAMM TEC Awards,” said Erik Tarkiainen, vice president of global marketing, Harman Professional Solutions. “2018 was a groundbreaking year for JBL with record sales numbers—the highest in JBL’s 70-year history. These awards continue our momentum of tremendous growth and innovation, and we appreciate the support from our partners as we continue to move the industry forward in 2019.”

“The market has shown us how powerful products like the VTX A12, A8 and the JBL 3 Series MkII are from a sales standpoint,” said Andy Flint, vice president of tour & performing arts, Harman Professional Solutions. “The wins at the 2019 TEC Awards only bolster the confidence we have in our products and the immensely talented teams behind them. From groundbreaking acoustic research to cutting-edge product development, we are committed to creating the most innovative and powerful audio solutions in the industry.”

The win comes on the same day JBL Professional’s VerTec line array system was inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame at the 2019 NAMM show.

Zoom has been named the 2019 Company of the Year in the Global Video Conferencing Industry by analyst firm Frost & Sullivan.

The selection of this award is derived from primary market analysis and in-depth interviews conducted by the Frost & Sullivan industry analyst team. The Company of the Year Award selection process is based on excellence in growth, innovation, and leadership. Specifically, superior performance in three key areas—demand generation, brand development, and competitive positioning—play a crucial role when selecting the Company of the Year.

According to Frost & Sullivan, “Zoom takes a measured approach to product development. The company does not rely on bells and whistles that make its products bloated and complex; instead, it carefully evaluates new features to ensure that they add value but do not compromise usability. Along those lines, Zoom has been leading the industry with many innovations.”

“We are honored to receive this award from Frost & Sullivan, especially considering the thorough and precise market analysis they performed to rank the industry players,” said Eric S. Yuan, Zoom’s founder and CEO. “Our team will continue to work hard to maintain our status as a global video conferencing leader and keep delivering happiness to our valued customers and partners.”

To read Frost & Sullivan’s in-depth analysis of Zoom and the video conferencing market, download the full report here.

In recognition of its exceptional service to the greater Portland, OR community, Biamp has received a 2018 Corporate Philanthropy Award from the Portland Business Journal. Biamp was one of 10 Oregon corporate philanthropists chosen in the award's large company category, with rankings based on 2017 charitable and in-kind donations.

"This award recognizes Biamp's actions that make a difference in the community where we live and work. We want to thank the Portland Business Journal for recognizing our efforts and including us in such an outstanding group of companies," said Rashid Skaf, president and CEO at Biamp. "The Portland area is an outstanding community Biamp is proud to be a member of. We enthusiastically support initiatives and organizations committed to making it a great place to live and work."

Located just outside of Portland, Biamp is a major employer in the Beaverton/Tigard area, where it operates its global corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities for its line of professional audio and video hardware and software products. The company is the title sponsor of the PDX Jazz Festival and was also recognized earlier this year as an honoree for the Healthiest Employers of Oregon Awards by the Portland Business Journal.

The Portland Business Journal's 2018 Corporate Philanthropy Awards have been presented to the 40 top-giving Oregon companies across four categories, with each company recognized for making a difference by moving the needle of giving and providing monetary contributions that create change. Winning companies are those that display exemplary philanthropic practices and maintain innovative and unique partnerships with non-profits.

The entry platform is now officially open for Digital Signage Magazine's 2019 DIGI Awards, recognizing the best digital signage applications and the most innovative new products for the digital signage market. 

ENTER NOW: https://future.swoogo.com/2019-digi-best-of-show

Here are five reasons why you need to enter your digital signage installations and innovations.

1. Recognition from an industry-leading publication.

Get recognized by the industry's most authoritative digital signage publication, Digital Signage Magazine.

2. Reach more integrators and stakeholders with a Digital Signage Magazine profile.

Our readers are the best of the best when it comes to digital signage. Whether they're consultants, integrators, experience designers, or technology managers, you want them to know about your capabilities. 

3. Set the bar higher with your state-of-the-art digital signage innovations.

You know you're a leader—shouldn't you be shouting it from the rooftops? Let your product or installation set the design standard for others.

4. Show off your industry-defining products.

Do more than a humble brag. Let Digital Signage Magazine readers know why your product is best in class.

5. Demonstrate the impact digital signage has on pro AV technology.

Digital Signage is a part of everyday life. Let the pro AV world know that. Winning entries will be featured on avnetwork.com where systems integrators, consultants, and end users will all admire your handiwork.

ENTER NOW: https://future.swoogo.com/2019-digi-best-of-show

Entries are due Nov 15, 2018. 

Audio-Technica, an innovator in transducer technology for over 50 years, announced that Pine City, New York-based firm Ark Productions & Marketing has been presented with A-T’s President’s Award, for their work representing Audio-Technica professional audio products during the 2017/2018 fiscal year.

Ark principal Tim Chamberlain accepted the award, which recognizes a leading manufacturer’s representative for outstanding commitment and dedication.

Phil Cajka, Audio-Technica U.S. president and CEO, presented the A-T President’s Award at a ceremony during the 2018 InfoComm Expo on June 5 in Las Vegas.

Cajka said, “We have a long association with Ark Productions & Marketing, and they have been awarded this honor for their outstanding results in marketing, customer service, and sales performance over the past year. We thank them for their hard work and dedication and look forward to their continued service for the A-T brand.”

LSI Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: LYTS), which specializes visual image and engagement solutions, including lighting, graphics, and technology for national brands and retailers, announced that its digital signage business unit, SOAR, was awarded the Gold Partner of the Year Award by Samsung Electronics America during InfoComm in Las Vegas.

The Gold Partner of the Year award recognizes partners who experience the highest growth rates through:

• Consistent and successful display implementations
• Revenue attainment
• Commitment to customer success

Through SOAR’s Advanced Digital Signage Offering, LSI has created a customer-focused and full-service business model that enhances the consumer experience, while improving operational efficiencies and engagement for brands. This solution, combined with LSI’s extensive work in large, national lighting and graphics programs, as well as initiatives in retail analytics and connected lighting, positions LSI to deliver the total environment plus the intel and services to manage and drive engagement in that environment.

As a result of these achievements and other planned developments, LSI announced the promotion of David Moeglin to VP Digital Solutions. Moeglin will continue to lead the SOAR Digital Signage team and will collaborate with other LSI segments and business units who are aimed at helping retailers create more engaging and intelligent environments to attract and retain consumers.

“The potential of digital signage has never been greater,” said Moeglin. “We want to ensure the digital signage solutions we provide are engaging, user-friendly and focused on delivering ROO and ROI.”

“Congratulations to Dave Moeglin and the entire SOAR team,” said Jeff Croskey, president of LSI Graphic Solutions. “LSI’s investments in Digital and Engagement Technology continue to generate success and reflect an important and ongoing trend in retail today. We want to ensure that our customers are equipped to navigate the rapidly evolving retail environment and consumer expectations in order to generate revenue and create brand loyalty.”

The Global Presence Alliance (GPA) has recognized Shure as a 2018 Global Excellence Award winner. As a reflection of the leading audio, visual, and UC manufacturers and vendors, the annual Global Excellence Awards honor vendors that exhibit the highest level of commitment to delivering superior experiences to GPA members and global customers. Shure was previously honored with this achievement in 2017 and 2016, shortly after the company joined the GPA’s Accredited Vendor Program.

“We are honored to receive the 2018 Global Excellence Award,” said Jim Schanz, global director of integrated systems sales at Shure. “Being recognized by the Global Presence Alliance is a great accomplishment for Shure. We are committed to creating innovative products and solutions for our customers across the globe and partnering with GPA enables us to deliver even greater success to our partners worldwide.”

The GPA, consisting of leading audiovisual, videoconferencing, and managed services solution providers across five continents, surveyed an array of executives, sales, and engineering teams at all GPA member organizations. Each nominated vendor was rated across five categories, including product innovation, technical support, sales and marketing programs, commercial flexibility, and commitment to global deployment and support programs. Of the 40 vendors nominated, a select group achieve the status of Global Excellence. Shure was selected as one of the clear leaders, demonstrating excellence in all focus areas named above.

“We are excited to see Shure return to the podium again this year in our awards,” said Byron Tarry, executive director of the Global Presence Alliance. “It is deserved recognition for the focus and effort Shure has put in to enterprise market in recent years and to their active partnership with the GPA in this quest. The GPA and its members can only fulfill our global consistency promise hand in hand with our vendor partners. This award makes it clear our members in every corner of the world not only feel Shure offers exceptional technology, but that they are also market leading in terms of programs and structure to support enterprise collaboration technology deployments on a global scale.”

Audio-Technica announced that three of its products have been nominated for the 34th annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards:

• 3000 Series (Fourth-Generation) Frequency-agile True Diversity UHF Wireless Systems, in the category “Wireless Technology”
• ATH-M60x Professional Monitor Headphones, in the category “Headphone / Earpiece Technology”
• AT-LP1240-USB XP Direct-Drive Professional DJ Turntable (USB & Analog), in the category “DJ Production Technology (Hardware/Software)”

The 34th annual TEC Awards will be presented Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif.

“It is a tremendous honor that our products have been nominated by industry professionals for outstanding technical achievement,” said Gary Boss, Audio-Technica U.S. Marketing Director. “It is great to be recognized by our peers for the hard work that has gone into creating these units. They are truly incredibly performing products, and we thank the nomination panel for recognizing us. Fingers are crossed that we can take home some hardware in Anaheim!”

Founded in 1985, the Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards is the foremost program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. Presented annually by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the TEC Awards recognizes the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media. TEC Awards nominations are made by a panel of industry professionals and voted upon by members of various professional organizations and audio industry websites.

Allen & Heath announced that its dLive Digital Mixing System and its SQ Series Digital Mixers have been nominated for 2019 Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards. Presented by The NAMM Foundation, the NAMM TEC Awards are bestowed annually, recognizing those individuals, companies, and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media.

Nominees are selected from a pool of hundreds of entries and reviewed and voted upon by a panel of sound and music industry thought leaders in the U.S and abroad. Final nominees are those products and projects that, in the opinion of the nominating panel, represent superior accomplishment in their respective fields.

Nominated for “Large Format Console Technology,” Allen & Heath’s flagship dLive Digital Mixing System has continued to add powerful new features like Automatic Mic Mixing (AMM), flexible multi-surface capability, integration with Shure digital wireless systems, and further DEEP processing models. Nominated for “Small Format Console Technology,” Allen & Heath’s SQ Series digital mixers leverage their latest generation 96kHz FPGA XCVI core to bring high-resolution audio performance to a compact and cost-effective platform that's both easy to use and highly customizable.

Allen & Heath USA Marketing Manager Jeff Hawley said, “Our team has truly pushed the technical boundaries in both hardware and software across the entire product range. We’re honored to have received TEC Award nominations recognizing the creative and technical advances demonstrated by dLive and SQ.”

Audio-Technica has recognized West Chester, PA-based firm Lienau AV Associates with its Samurai Award for the 2017/2018 fiscal year, for representing Audio-Technica in the territory of Metro New York City. This is the second year in a row the company has been recognized with this award, having previously won last year for covering the territory of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Audio-Technica held the awards ceremony to honor its dedicated force of manufacturer’s representatives during the InfoComm 2018. The A-T Samurai Award recipient was congratulated for outstanding sales performance and bestowed with Audio-Technica’s beloved Samurai doll. Lienau principals Michael Grieco and Chris Hutnick accepted the award, which was presented by Reid Peterson, Audio-Technica's U.S. director of sales, professional markets.

“Lienau AV Associates is a true industry leader, and we are pleased to be able to once again honor them with this year’s Samurai Award," said Peterson. "Chris Hutnick and the rest of the crew have distinguished themselves with strong sales and a high level of service and support in Metro New York City. We are proud of their performance over the last year, along with the relationships that they continue to foster and their expertise surrounding the A-T product line.”

John Zettel, CEO of global workplace technology and services provider, AVI-SPL, has won a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award honoring the Top CEOs in 2018. Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites, released its annual report recognizing the top CEOs, which highlights leaders employees love working for in countries throughout North America and parts of Europe.

Among chief executives recognized by employees in the U.S., Zettel received an impressive approval rating based on anonymous and voluntary reviews AVI-SPL employees shared on Glassdoor throughout the past year.

“There are many responsibilities that come with being CEO but, I believe the most important is having a positive impact in the personal and professional lives of employees,” said Zettel. “I am truly honored to be leading an incredible group of people at AVI-SPL and cannot thank them enough for their passion, efforts, and support.”

“Winning a Glassdoor Top CEO award is a true acknowledgement of exceptional leadership, as it reflects the opinions of the employees who work with a chief executive every day. I congratulate all of this year’s winners on this significant achievement,” said Robert Hohman, Glassdoor co-founder and CEO. “It can be a real recruiting advantage to have a top-rated CEO at the helm of a company who has strong support from his or her employees. The best CEOs are inspiring, trustworthy, innovative and can be great motivators for people to bring their best selves to work.”

When employees submit reviews about their company on Glassdoor, they are asked to rate various factors about their employment experience, including their overall satisfaction and other workplace attributes like senior management. As part of these ratings, employees are also asked to rate whether they approve, disapprove or are neutral about the job their CEO is doing.

Zettel’s lifetime CEO approval rating currently stands at 95 percent. Among the 770,000 companies reviewed on Glassdoor, the average CEO approval rating is 69 percent.