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

Thought Leader: Nancy Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer at Nureva

The debate over whether on-prem systems or the cloud are better has been running for years. The advantages of the cloud—scalability, flexibility, and the ability to deploy and manage systems remotely—are well understood. For many organizations, these advantages enable faster innovation and lower the burden on internal IT teams.

And yet, hesitation around cloud-based solutions remains.

Concerns about security, cost predictability, data sovereignty, and simple loss of control often hold organizations back. These are not irrational fears, especially for those with regulatory requirements or long-lived infrastructure investments. But avoiding the cloud altogether can also come with risks: missed efficiencies, slower response to change, access to fewer leading-edge apps, and growing technical debt.

Rather than treating the decision as all-or-nothing, a more productive mindset is to explore how cloud solutions could work in practice.

One approach is to start with a small pilot project. Pick something low risk and noncritical, and use it to understand how deployment, management, security, and costs actually play out. A pilot project can turn assumptions into evidence.

It’s also worth involving people early. Survey staff who will use or support the system to understand their reactions and concerns. Talk with peers in other organizations about how the cloud is working for them. Ask what went well, what surprised them, and what they would do differently. Benefit from their experiences.

Vendors can play a role, too. Ask suppliers of cloud-based applications for trials and detailed explanations of how their solutions address security, reliability, and long-term cost concerns.

The key is to get started—to do something. Getting started, even in a small way, creates insight that no amount of debate can replace.

InfoComm 2026 is set to take over the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 13-19. Audio, whether it is immersive, in the conference room, or the latest (and loudest) sound systems, is always one of the biggest trends from the show floor.

[SCN's InfoComm Impulse Preview Series]

To prepare you for Las Vegas, take a peek at what these booths will be showcasing, but bookmark this page and check back, as we will update with more as we hear more.

1 SOUND to Introduce the Panorama 75 and 85

1 SOUND will be debuting the recently launched Panorama Series, consisting of the Panorama 65, 75, and 85, at its booth N6553 (the company also has a demo room in N108). The Panorama loudspeakers are self-contained immersive loudspeaker systems that deliver a spatialized sound field from a single, 4-inch deep, discrete enclosure. With the addition of the Panorama 75 and 85 comes more bass in the larger models and a longer length, matching each model to a its respective TV size.

The Panoramas feature 1 SOUND’s Mono+Stereo+Sub Technology. Designed to offer beautiful, transparent, high-fidelity sound with an analog stereo image ideal for conference or classrooms, residential listening, video/livestreaming studios, discreet distributed installation, stage front fills, museums, and more.

The Panoramas are designed to be used without a subwoofer, as the smallest model, the Panorama 65 goes down to 40 Hz, and the Panorama 85 has a bandwidth down to 30 Hz. They come with an included Flush-Mount Bracket for flush mounting to a wall. A Tilt Bracket accessory is available offering various down-tilt angles, as well as a Stand accessory. These Panoramas are multi-channel, self-powered systems with integrated amplification and advanced DSP by 1 SOUND. The Panoramas include an IEC 100-240 V AC power cable for direct connection to any 120-240 V outlet. Each model offers multiple input options, including an analog Phoenix Connector for L/R, HDMI e-ARC, and a network port supporting AES67 and Milan/AVB.

Adamson Gets Immersive and Showcases Array Intelligence

"Our story at InfoComm is really about showcasing the full breadth of what Adamson has to offer," Sean Shallenberger, director of sales, US, Adamson told SCN. "While we’re widely recognized for our premium touring audio solutions, we are equally focused on demonstrating our powerful installation offerings."

Find out more in the Adamson InfoComm preview by clicking here.

AtlasIED Expands Atlas+Fyne IsoFlare FP Series and More

"Since 2020, our focus has been to develop solutions that continue to evolve and provide relevant growth opportunities for our integrator partners," said Gina Sansivero, VP of marketing and corporate communications, AtlasIED. "This year at InfoComm, this focus plays out with the expansion of both our award-winning Atmosphere digital audio platform and our premium Atlas+Fyne pendant loudspeakers." FIND OUT MORE HERE!

Bluesound Professional to Showcase B240Q and B240M 

Bluesound Professional is expanding its amplifier portfolio with the new B240Q Network Streaming Multichannel Amplifier, an all-in-one solution designed to simplify distributed audio in commercial environments. The B240Q, alongside the new B240M amplifier, will be on show at booth N6431.

Featuring two BluOS zones and four channels of amplification, the B240Q combines music streaming, digital-to-analog conversion, and flexible speaker connectivity within a single, compact platform. Powered via variable input PoE network connections, it delivers both power and network connectivity over Ethernet, vastly reducing installation complexity whilst enabling more flexible device placement.

dBTechnologies to Debut New PaaS Platform for Remote Control and System Analysis

dBTechnologies will introduce Aurora Cloud, the cloud-based Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) designed to extend the capabilities of dBTechnologies’ proprietary Aurora Net software, providing an advanced environment for remote monitoring, device management, and data analysis of their professional audio systems.

Developed to address the demand for connected, data-driven workflows, Aurora Cloud enables the centralization of projects, devices, and operational data within a single platform, ensuring continuous access, and efficient management of even the most complex and distributed systems. Aurora Cloud is the dBTechnologies platform designed for system integrators and rental companies who need full control and visibility of their audio systems, anywhere, anytime.

Native integration with Aurora Net allows users to register devices, synchronize projects, and collect data from connected systems. The platform is accessed via a web-based interface, designed to be accessible by computer, tablet and smartphone, structured around a dashboard that is organized by venues, devices, and alerts, enabling immediate navigation between system overviews and more granular levels of detail. The venue and project-based management logic allows for efficient organization and control of distributed setups, supported by system mapping that identifies device locations and enhances operational oversight.

EAW to Unleash Three Newport Series Additions

Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) is set to unveil the latest additions to its Newport Series of lightweight, high-performance solutions at booth N6345 and Demo Room N11. The new NT208L Line Array and NT116S Subwoofer complement the line, providing simplicity of operation, space efficiency, and high performance for touring and live productions, installations and outdoor festivals. EAW is also debuting its new Online Array Assistant (OAA) software, a browser-based tool available for use via computer or smart phone that provides angles, pick-points and switch settings for peak performance, ensuring rigging is right on the first hang.

The Newport Series combines high-power integrated amplification with lightweight, durable construction to eliminate extra gear and simplify deployment. It’s designed for fast, intuitive setup, delivering strong output and coverage from a compact, tour-ready system. The Newport Series integrates high-efficiency Class-D amplification directly into each enclosure, eliminating the need for external amp racks and reducing both transport requirements and setup complexity. In addition to the new OAA software, the Newport Series products are included in EAW’s Resolution software libraries for professional 3D SPL modeling and detailed room optimization.

KV2 Audio to Bring the Full Point-Source Experience

The KV2 team will be exhibiting at booth N6031, where visitors are invited to explore the company's latest innovations and real-world applications of its loudspeaker portfolio. For a hands-on listening experience, the KV2 team will host dedicated demos in audio demo room N222 on the second floor of the North Hall. These demonstrations will feature the precision-engineered ES and ESR systems, alongside the active EX series and passive ESD models, highlighting KV2's commitment to delivering clear, consistent, high-quality audio. Each one-hour demo session offers an in-depth listening experience, giving attendees the chance to evaluate KV2 systems in a controlled acoustic environment.

Designed for live performance and permanent installations, KV2 loudspeakers embody the brand's True Point Source philosophy, ensuring precise coverage, natural sound reproduction, and a consistent listening experience no matter the space. From large-scale touring applications to high-end fixed installs, the systems on display in N221 represent KV2's continued investment in clarity, dynamics, and long-term reliability.

L-Acoustics to Showcase Source Intelligence and CS1 

L-Acoustics is following up last month’s Keynote 2026 by showcasing a broad ecosystem of integration solutions on booth N6336, as well as demonstrating its latest immersive audio technologies in a controlled listening environment at demo room N107.

In audio demo room N107, the company will showcase its new L-Acoustics Source Intelligence, a real-time vocal enhancement platform that uses machine learning to continuously separate voice from background sound, delivering clearer, more intelligible vocals and unprecedented gain before feedback for live performances. Running as a licensed application on the L-ISA Processor II, Source Intelligence does something not previously possible in live sound: continuously identify the voice in a microphone signal and remove everything else. PA bleed, crowd noise, stage instruments, room reverb… all of it is stripped away in real time, leaving a cleaner, more natural-sounding vocal.

On stand N6336 out in the exhibition hall, InfoComm visitors will get their first public look at the CS1, the companion cardioid subwoofer to the flagship L-Acoustics L1 line source array. The CS1 concentrates low-frequency energy on the audience and minimizes rear spill—a critical advantage for noise-sensitive venues and multi-stage festivals where sub-bass bleed is one of the most persistent engineering challenges. Four 21-inch transducers in a cardioid topology make it possible. Additionally, two L Series PULS enclosures—an L2 and L2D—will be flown in a single array over the stand.

Nureva to Highlight Expanded Large-Room Audio Lineup

Nureva will spotlight its new HDX series at booth C5001 in the Central Hall, attendees can learn how the HDX series expands Nureva’s portfolio for larger spaces that need more than audio conferencing, making the brand a compelling choice for standardization across a broad range of use cases.

The HDX series is designed for larger and more complex spaces. It combines full-room microphone pickup, full-range distributed audio, Adaptive Voice Lift, Adaptive Voice Amplification, assistive listening with Auracast broadcast audio and divisible room automation in a solution that keeps deployment and operation remarkably simple. Like all Nureva systems, the HDX series is powered by patented Microphone Mist technology.

Throughout the show, Nureva will host 15-minute HDX presentation sessions every 30 minutes at its booth. The company will also offer invited attendees a more in-depth preview in a separate meeting room away from the show floor, where they can experience the system and get a sense of what to expect from HDX.

Powersoft to Debut PRIMA Series Compact Install Amplifiers

Powersoft will debut the PRIMA Series, a compact professional amplifier range designed for installed audio applications, at booth N6653. Engineered for systems where DSP, routing, and control are already managed upstream, PRIMA provides low-to-mid-power amplification in a streamlined format that reduces unnecessary complexity while maintaining professional audio performance.

Available in two four-channel models, including PRIMA 164 and PRIMA 324, the series is engineered for small-to-medium installed audio applications requiring straightforward low-to-mid-power amplification. Positioned for system integrators and installers working on projects with external DSP or control platforms, PRIMA combines compact design, flexible deployment, and simplified setup without adding unnecessary system complexity.

The PRIMA Series delivers up to 320 W of amplification in a compact half-rack form factor suited for space-constrained environments. The amplifiers support both Hi-Z and Lo-Z configurations with independently configurable output channels, allowing integrators to adapt the system to a wide range of loudspeaker layouts and commercial audio requirements. PRIMA also incorporates Powersoft’s power-sharing technology, enabling available power to be distributed efficiently across channels based on application needs. By combining installation flexibility with simplified system architecture, the PRIMA Series addresses applications such as retail spaces, hospitality venues, classrooms, boardrooms, and conferencing environments.

Renkus-Heinz to Showcase "Pioneering Loudspeaker Solutions"

Renkus-Heinz will be showcasing audio innovate at a double-decker booth (N6631 in North Hall). From the UBX Series of passive column arrays and the digitally steerable ICONYX range, to the IC Live X Series—a highly scalable system designed to integrate with the ICLX-48S subwoofer—visitors can experience these technologies firsthand. Attendees will also have the chance to preview the next evolution of Renkus-Heinz innovation, offering a glimpse of what’s to come.

The Renkus-Heinz team will be on hand to provide in-depth demonstrations, answer questions and discuss how its expertise, built on a legacy of experience that spans nearly five decades, can deliver results in a wide range of environments. Guests are invited to take a seat, enjoy a drink at the on-stand bar, and discover how Renkus-Heinz can deliver the right solution for their next project. 

Sennheiser to Unveil Next Generation of Collaboration and Wireless Audio Solutions

Visitors to booth C5313 will find a full slate of Sennheiser product demonstrations spanning the company’s latest business communication and wireless audio innovations. At the center of this year’s exhibit is the newest TeamConnect Ceiling solution, expansion of the DeviceHub cloud management platform, new partner integration capabilities, Spectera updates and the return of Sennheiser’s popular partner scavenger hunt.

Sennheiser will debut the TeamConnect Ceiling M Plus (TCC M Plus), a new ceiling microphone designed to deliver simplicity of use and clarity of sound, combining streamlined deployment with consistently clear, natural speech for every participant in the room. The solution combines trusted Sennheiser audio performance with a new generation of features designed to reduce deployment effort, simplify system configuration, and support scalable AV environments. One of the new key capabilities included with TCC M Plus is PartnerLink, Sennheiser’s integration feature designed to simplify how microphones are configured within leading AV platforms.

Also on display will be DeviceHub which gives AV and IT teams a secure, browser-based environment to monitor, configure, and manage Sennheiser devices across enterprise, education, and corporate deployments from any location. At the show, Sennheiser will showcase expanded capabilities—including support for the TCC M Plus—that reflect real-world feedback from early adopters, demonstrating how the platform has evolved from initial launch into a living ecosystem that anticipates the needs of distributed, multi-site installations.

Solid State Logic to Present TCA Tour, Live V6.2 Software, and More

Solid State Logic will showcase its new compact, fly-away TCA Tour audio production system at booth N6404. Designed for broadcast, touring, and live production environments, TCA Tour delivers flagship System T performance in a rugged, portable format engineered for fast and reliable deployment on location or on the road. Also on display will be the SSL Live L650 and L100 Plus consoles running the new Live V6.2 software update, with SolidPitch and full KLANG control and integration.

​TCA Tour is a compact fly-away audio production system built entirely from System T components. Engineered in a bespoke, desktop portable format, TCA Tour is designed for effortless and rapid deployment across broadcast, touring and live production environments. A desktop-format control frame with 16 faders and integrated onboard I/O, fully pre-wired and packaged for immediate use. The system includes eight mic/line inputs, four line outputs, headphone monitoring, a built-in network switch, and a custom adjustable mount for a touchscreen and a PC running SSL’s Tempest Control App. Available in two fader tile options (DFT and DFT+), the DFT+ version adds per fader OLED displays and individual fader metering. Designed for rapid, reliable setup on the road or on site, TCA Tour features ruggedized etherCON and opticalCON connections provide fast, secure links to external racks housing Tempest Engines and I/O.

Sonos to Showcase Scalable, Design-Conscious Installed Audio Solutions

Sonos is expanding its role in installed audio by making scalable, design-conscious sound systems easier to specify, deploy, manage, and integrate across a variety of light commercial environments. The company will host sessions and showcase products at booth N7757.

On Wednesday, June 17, at 2:30 p.m. local time, Sonos and systems integrator OneButton will present a real-world conversation about Lightning Society, a multi-level cultural venue in SoHo, NYC, designed around immersive sound and curated experiences. Additionally, Sonos will showcase the Era 100 Pro, a PoE-powered speaker designed for professional installation. As a wired-first solution, Era 100 Pro eliminates the need for local AC power, helping simplify deployment in spaces where clean installation, reliable network-based performance, and flexible placement matter. Sonos will also highlight flexible mounting options, including surface-mount and junction box solutions that support cleaner, code-conscious installations with concealed cabling.

Sonos is also showing how its installed solutions portfolio can support projects ranging from a single-zone environment to larger, multi-area deployments, including: a new Amp Multi, Amp + Port, and Sonos Pro.

Local Londoners were excited when the news hit in 2020 that the historic (and then vacant) Arding & Hobbs department store was to be renovated and brought back to life. Following a year of careful planning and construction that began in 2022, it’s now been transformed into a versatile venue, featuring refurbished offices with high-end, hotel-style amenities, new retail, and restaurants.

Among the highlights of the iconic systems integration project, the third floor of the 116-year-old building has been re-imagined as a members-only (WeWork) multi-use facility, complete with the latest Pro AV smart technology and IP signal distribution.

An Iconic Integration

Assessing the unique challenges of the project, the installation needed to reflect the building’s rich heritage while making it relevant for modern users. The space had to be flexible, supporting everything from co-working, business meetings, and videoconferencing to hospitality, social events, and private parties.

Perhaps most importantly, the technology infrastructure needed to be unobtrusive, simple to operate, and powerful, enhancing the user experience without detracting from the building’s period details and aesthetic. In particular, the AV systems had to be flexible to enable the various rooms to operate efficiently and with total freedom.

Commercial hospitality operator x+why, a London-based provider of “flexible, purpose-driven workspaces,” was tasked with overseeing the renovation of the space. The company is known for creating places where work, leisure, and community naturally overlap. At Arding & Hobbs, x+why operates and manages the Arding Rooms on the third floor as a private members’ club, alongside coworking space, private offices, meeting rooms, and event spaces.

Understanding the challenges and workarounds of creating something new from an existing space, x+why brought in Harlow, Essex, U.K.-based systems integrator the SCCI Group, which was responsible for the overall design and installation of the technology for the Arding Rooms. The SCCI Group designs and completes about 50 Pro AV projects each year.

The new venue was finished in June 2024, with the final interior spaces opening through 2025. Jack Collins, general manager overseeing the Arding Rooms for x+why, said this project marked the end of a journey from single-use department store to a flexible building designed to change with how people live and work today.

“The design was led by the idea that old and new should sit comfortably together,” said Collins. “Historic features were restored and celebrated, while reclaimed materials, local makers and sustainable finishes were used throughout. The vision was to create a warm, characterful space that feels rooted in history but designed for contemporary life—somewhere people want to work, meet, relax, and connect.”

Collins added that all the spaces they work on, including the A&B project, are designed to be as sustainable and “green” as possible, "from the chair you sit on, to the living roofs and energy-efficient lighting.”

Different Rooms, Different Uses

Richard Reid, director of business development for SCCI Group, led the team for the equipment installation and systems design within the rooms. He said that each meeting room has a Sony Bravia Pro display at the front with Control4 speakers, Yamaha subwoofers, and a Polycom camera linked to a Lightware box. The setup uses a standard junction box and a matching cover to mount the camera, ensuring the wiring is secure and unobtrusive while the camera has sufficient PoE. A Nureva HDX series soundbar offers omnidirectional mic pickup, so voices are heard clearly no matter where people sit, face, or move in the room.

“So basically, we are coming out of it as a USB-C cable,” Reid said. “When anyone wants to use hook up, you plug the USB-C cable into your laptop, and everything is on the Sony screen as if it is on your laptop. Your camera and microphone get activated automatically.”

The audio speakers have been set up and commissioned to work in a room with a high ceiling, reducing echoes while providing a warm sound experience. In the venue’s “Club Room," which is designed as an elegant yet flexible event space, there is a dedicated L-Acoustics audio system, with seven X6i loudspeakers, two SYVA subwoofers, and two SUB10i compact subwoofers, all powered by an LA4X and LA2Xi amplified controller.

“From the initial brief, we envisioned the Club Room as a place for informal business lunches,” said Reid. “In reality, it’s also become very popular for parties, watching sports, and other group activities. It’s a multi-functional destination for members, and Control4 helps us shift the technology quickly and efficiently so it can adapt to these different room uses, while the quality of the AV experience is exceptional.”

At the end of the day, Reid said that understanding what the client wants also helps him select the equipment, set the look, and define what needs to be controlled. “Look, anyone can throw any equipment in and just say, it's done, but every project we do has got our name on it,” he noted. “So, it must be right. And we get our projects right by talking to the client and understanding exactly what they want. All our devices must communicate with each other for the user experience to be a good one, so picking compatible technology that makes controlling the devices easy is critical.”

Centralized Control

The centerpiece of the installation is ADI's Control4 automation platform, which manages audio and video control throughout the building and is accessed by a control panel. All the AV devices in the event spaces can be operated independently; a Control4 CORE 5 controller serves as the central automation engine for the A&B building, managing audio and video experiences across the multi-use spaces. It enables seamless control of AV systems, allowing rooms to quickly shift between different use cases—such as business meetings, videoconferencing, and large-scale social events—while keeping the technology intuitive and hidden within the historic surroundings.

The Control4 CORE 5 software platform controls distributed audio systems, video displays, and a virtually unlimited number of sources. User interaction is handled through Control4 interfaces, including Halo handheld remotes. Key features include signal processing for large-scale projects, support for multiple audio and video zones, native integration with a wide range of third-party AV devices, and a customizable user interface. Its reliability and scalability make it well suited for complex, multi-room environments like the third floor of the A&B building, which require consistent performance and simple day-to-day operation.

Eric Fritz, senior product manager at Control4, said the Control4 CORE 5 control system supports IP-based control, allowing it to communicate seamlessly with networked AV devices across the building. In the Arding & Hobbs project, this is supported by a robust Wi-Fi infrastructure built using Araknis Networks equipment, ensuring dependable system performance throughout the property.

“The Control4 CORE 5 is an ideal fit for Arding & Hobbs because it combines power, flexibility, and ease of use, essential qualities for a historic building that now serves a wide range of modern functions,” said Fritz. “It allows technology to adapt quickly to changing room configurations and event types while remaining discreet within the interior design, enabling operators and users to focus on experience, well-being, and community engagement, rather than on managing complex technology.”

SCCI’s Reid added the Control4 system is also used to control the monitor and the audio system in the "Silk Room," one of the larger meeting rooms, and a smaller “Draper Room” event space, all from a handheld remote. The Draper Room is large enough to host product launches, conferences and other activities for up to 500 attendees. The room features a 16:9 drop-down screen and Epson 3LCD projector, with an audio system supported by a Yamaha multi-channel amplifier.

The Vision Realized

There were several challenges to the install, such as hiding wiring inside pre-existing, 116-year-old brick walls that needed to be moved in some cases to add extra space for an equipment room and other things. “You're trying to figure out, how you can get equipment in an area that's not designed to have equipment, how you get speakers in spaces not designed for that and subwoofers that couldn't be hidden,” Reid explained. “So, what do you do? Well, there's no point trying to hide something you can't hide, so let's make a feature of it. So, creativity in how you install is also very much an important part of this."

While Reid said it's always a "sprint to the finish at the end," he went to the launch party and thought everything looked and sounded great. "Ultimately, everything just fell into place, which was always the plan," he added. "Because it's not as if we were reinventing the wheel, we were just putting technology together for the benefit of the spaces. The client was extremely pleased with the outcome and that’s really want we’re after.”

Phil Nevin, a co-founder at x+why, said SCCI’s AV installation has helped create a great experience for its members. "With SCCI’s expertise and support from Control4 and other ADI brands, we have a system that enhances enjoyment, well-being, and connection, rather than just delivering the important technical features that we require,” he added. “The discretion the system offers within the interior of the building is also a huge part of its appeal. It gives us everything that we asked for and so much more."

Shure made three strategic leadership moves, Yorktel announced multiple partnerships in Canada, and Biamp opened a new Experience Center. Oh, and did we mention there was an acquisition... because of course there was.

TSL acquired JLCooper Electronics, which is known for professional control, automation, synchronization, and interfacing products. The move ensures continuity of service and support for JLCooper's global customer base spanning Pro AV, live events, music, radio, and education markets. It also expands TSL’s capabilities into adjacent markets while broadening its technology offering to its core broadcast customers. We covered it in more detail here.

There was also a big strategic partnership between Sony Corporation and TCL Electronics Holdings Limited made official. Following a memorandum of understanding announced in January, the two companies officially announced the partnership on March 31. While it primarily concerns home entertainment products, there is a Pro AV element as well. The two formed new company, BRAVIA Inc. Want to know what that means for you? Click here.

Now, on with the show.

People News

Shure Bolsters Leadership

Shure is welcoming two new vice presidents and appointed longtime company officer to its executive staff.

Phil McPhee has joined Shure as VP of operations and chief supply chain officer. He brings more than two decades of global leadership experience across operations, manufacturing, sourcing, and product-driven organizations in the pro and consumer audio industries. McPhee is responsible for Shure’s global operations division and supply chain functions.

Jerome Nolasco has been named VP of information technology. Nolasco brings to Shure more than 25 years of enterprise IT leadership experience across multiple industries, with a strong track record of delivering large-scale digital transformation, modernizing core technology platforms, and partnering closely with business leaders to drive measurable outcomes. He has deep expertise in ERP and CRM transformation. He is also recognized for establishing enterprise AI governance and advancing practical AI use cases with business partners across sales, marketing, supply chain, and finance. His approach emphasizes strong business cases, disciplined execution, and alignment with enterprise strategy.

Althea Ricketts has been appointed to the executive staff in her current capacity as VP of corporate initiatives. In this expanded role, Ricketts continues to lead Shure’s inclusion, diversity, equity, and access strategies and Shure’s sustainability efforts, as well as oversee the program management office.

“Althea’s journey at Shure spans more than 30 years, with impactful leadership across global marketing, global sales, customer service, strategic planning, and support services,” said Schyvinck. “Her experience and customer-centric approach have shaped key transformation initiatives across all facets of Shure’s business processes.”

Company News

Absen’s 2026 Spring Event Sees New Products Launched

Absen hosted its 2026 Spring Launch at its Dongjiang Intelligent Manufacturing Center. Led by Chairman Hansen Ding, the event gathered over 100 clients, partners, and industry experts from 25 countries. The event showcased Absen’s 25 years of deep expertise in LED display technology, while reinforcing its commitment to working hand in hand with partners worldwide for shared success and future growth.

Absen officially released its 2026 Pro AV Product Roadmap, upgrading three major series, including the KLCOB V2, NX, iCon X136 V2, and launching four new series, including the CL V3, KDS, AW Pro, ALT. This comprehensive matrix covers indoor COB/SMD, creative displays, and DOOH applications.

Biamp Opens New Brisbane Experience Center

Biamp opened its new Experience Center in Brisbane, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued investment in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) region. The opening coincides with the company’s 50th anniversary.

The Brisbane Experience Center is designed as a two-level facility that combines a fully operational office environment with dedicated demonstration spaces, enabling visitors to experience Biamp solutions in both everyday use and controlled comparison scenarios. The upper level serves as a Biamp office, where employees operate within a modern enterprise environment enhanced by integrated AV technologies.

The open-plan space incorporates Biamp sound masking to improve speech privacy and support productivity, fixed seats as well as hot desking are available and shown on the Workplace booking dashboard. Visitors can explore two distinct collaboration environments—a flexible bring-your-own-device (BYOD) space and a dedicated Microsoft Teams Rooms deployment—each powered by high-performance audio and video solutions, demonstrating how organisations can tailor meeting experiences to suit different user needs and workflows.

The lower level is purpose-built for immersive demonstrations, showcasing the full breadth of the Biamp portfolio. A comprehensive loudspeaker demonstration area enables side-by-side comparison across a wide range of solutions, from compact distributed models to premium high-performance systems. Visitors can evaluate both music playback and speech intelligibility, gaining a deeper understanding of acoustic performance across different environments, with the added flexibility to stream audio directly from personal devices.

K-array Reveals Its 2026 K-Academy Program

K-array has commenced its 2026 program of in-person K-academy training sessions. Tailored for system integrators, consultants, distributors, and industry professionals, these events offer a deep dive into the K-ARRAY, KSCAPE, and KGEAR ecosystems through a unique two-day K-experience held at the company’s headquarters in Tuscany, Italy.

Taking place regularly throughout 2026, the sessions provide attendees with an opportunity to explore K-array technologies through a combination of presentations, demonstrations and real-world project examples. The program offers an immersive, hands-on learning environment, while also giving participants the chance to meet the teams behind K-array’s solutions.

K-academy online courses are now AVIXA CTS-certified, with CTS holders earning 2 Renewal Units (RUs) per course. K-academy sessions are scheduled for the following dates during 2026: April 21-22, May 19-20, June 16-17, July 21-22, September 15-16 and November 24-25.

revenueify Launches New Al Sales Coaching Platform

revenueify has launched revenueify ai sales coaching, a new Al Sales Coaching Platform designed to help commercial integrators build real selling skills through practice and give sales managers actionable data they can coach from. Al has been everywhere in the market, but many integrators are tired of hype that creates noise without measurable improvement. Most tools either help an individual seller in isolation, or require enterprise level investments that are difficult for the average integration firm to implement and sustain. revenueify built a different approach, a connected Al Sales Coach grounded in methodology, built for industry nuance. and designed to produce manager ready insight that drives execution.

Commercial integrators sell into complex buying groups and high consequence projects where discovery quality, stakeholder alignment, and value-based messaging matter. revenueify ai sales coaching is designed to close two common coaching gaps in this environment. Skills are built through practice. not theory alone. Managers need a clear view of what skills the team actually has and what to coach next. The platform connects practice to consistent scoring and turns it into a leader view so coaching becomes focused and repeatable.

revenueify ai sales coaching can be deployed based on the needs and maturity of the organization. It can be used inside an ALM. Assessment to baseline skills and inform recommendations. It can run as a standalone coaching platform for reinforcement and leader visibility. It can be integrated into the REVUP Portal learning experience. It can be embedded into broader enablement programs for ongoing measurement, onboarding, and long-term reinforcement.

Yorkville Sound Announces Two New Canadian Distribution Partnerships

Yorkville Sound will be the exclusive Canadian distributor for Novation and Sterling by Music Man.

Founded in the U.K. in 1992, Novation has established itself in music technology, creating innovative tools for musicians, producers, and performers. The brand designs a range of MIDI controllers, synthesizers, grooveboxes, and grid-based performance instruments. Sterling by Music Man delivers the designs and innovation of Ernie Ball Music Man to a broader range of players, offering high-quality instruments that capture the look, feel, and performance of their premium counterparts. Known for its craftsmanship, modern playability, and distinctive aesthetics, Sterling guitars and basses are trusted by musicians worldwide across a wide range of styles and stages.

These partnerships further strengthen Yorkville Sound’s portfolio of musical instrument brands and reinforces its commitment to providing Canadian dealers with innovative, high-quality products backed by service and support.

Pro AV Around the Globe

Listen Technologies and Ampetronic have enlisted Avientek as a distributor of their combined portfolio of assistive listening and communication solutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Avientek is a value-added distributor specializing in Pro AV, unified communication and collaboration, educational technology, emerging technology, and cyber security solutions across the Middle East, Africa, and India. Avientek will represent Ampetronic alongside the brand’s existing distributor in the GCC region. Avientek will also be the sole distributor for Listen Technologies and the Auri system across the region.

Nureva announced the appointment of MEDIA PLUS as its distributor in Japan. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Tokyo, Media Plus specializes in audiovisual and communications solutions including videoconferencing, AV system design, and integrated room solutions for corporate environments. Media Plus will bring Nureva’s audio conferencing product line to customers across Japan through its established market presence and solution-led approach.

Williams AV announced Audio-Technica France as its newest international distribution partner, expanding the company’s global channel network to support this increasing demand. Over the past six months, Williams AV has added distribution partners in Singapore, Panama, Morocco, and Spain, continuing its steady international expansion.

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

Thought Leader: Nancy Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer at Nureva

At the heart of Nureva’s product philosophy is a simple promise: to help our customers get their work done without drama and without distractions. We believe our audio solutions should quietly empower people and not demand their attention. That’s why our products are designed to work reliably in the background, making our customers’ work lives easier and more productive. Our solutions enable teams to collaborate, communicate, and succeed without thinking about the technology that makes it possible.

Our design approach is rooted in one word: easy. That means no frustration, no extra steps or added costs, and no apologies. From installation and setup to deployment, management, and updates, every interaction is streamlined. We aim to surprise our customers with just how effortless every aspect of our products can be.

Behind this simplicity is a commitment to solving the hardest audio problems—like delivering exceptional audio in large spaces—and making our solutions remarkably easy. What once seemed complex and intimidating becomes straightforward and stress-free. That’s the difference we bring.

This design philosophy will come to life in the coming months in our new HDX series. With five configurations to choose from, HDX will deliver the audio functionality and performance that larger spaces demand. From full-room mic coverage to Adaptive Voice Lift, Adaptive Voice Amplification, assistive listening, and divisible room automation, HDX offers comprehensive audio functionality at an affordable price.

Our philosophy is clear: Technology should serve people—not the other way around. By removing barriers and complexity, we deliver products that simply work, every time. And that’s how we make a real difference, today and into the future.

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

[The Return of the SCN Halloween Candy Showdown]

Get caught up with what you missed!

People News

AVPro Global Establishes Expert Advisory Board

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

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

Bose Professional Announces Key Leadership Promotions

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

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

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

THE rAVe Agency Appoints Morgan Lawrence as President

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

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

Company News

ASB GlassFloor Launches AES to Scale LED Sports Floors Globally

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

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

Legrand | AV Celebrates Grand Opening of New Headquarters in Minnetonka

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

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

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

LynTec and SSRC Announce Strategic Partnership

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

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

Nureva Granted Another US Patent for Its Microphone Mist Technology

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

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

PowerHouse Alliance Adds of AWALL

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

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

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

Ultimate Ears Pro Is Now a Reseller for dB Check Pro

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

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

Education

Audinate Launches Completely Revamped Dante Training Program

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

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

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

Bogen Communications Launches Bogen University

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pro AV wheel keeps on turning, and last week there was yet another acquisition.

Christie Digital Systems Germany GmbH has entered into a letter of intent to negotiate a binding agreement for the sale of its Pandoras Box product line, which includes media servers, software, accessories as well as Widget Designer and AirScan, to Daniel Schäfer, one of the founders of coolux; consultant Daniel Kaminski; and long-time user Andre Maier.

The transaction will allow the three individuals, who have an extensive understanding of the product line and the market, to continue to grow the Pandoras Box real-time rendering engine and control system solution. Both companies are enthusiastic about the potential of this acquisition and are working toward finalizing a purchase agreement.

Now, on with the show.

People News

DPA Microphones Welcomes Chris Kontopanos

Chris Kontopanos has joined DPA Microphones as the company’s new regional sales manager for the Mid-Atlantic territory, which includes Washington D.C., Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Eastern Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. In his role, Kontopanos oversees sales of DPA Microphones, Austrian Audio, and Wisycom solutions.

An industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience, Kontopanos comes to DPA from Digital Video Group (DVG), where he was senior broadcast account manager. A top-performing, multi-award-winning sales expert, he offers a history of strong professional audio and AV integration sales results, proactive account management and strategic problem solving.

Nureva CEO Nancy Knowlton Awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal

SCN 2024 Hall of Famer, Nancy Knowlton, has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Created to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, the medal recognizes Canadians who have made significant contributions to their country, province or community, or who have achieved distinction abroad that brings credit to Canada.

Knowlton received the honor at a ceremony hosted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) on July 15, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta, in recognition of her contributions to the community and country in public policy in business and philanthropy. The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the Honorable Salma Lakhani, made remarks and presented medals alongside CGAI leadership.

The King Charles III Coronation Medal was presented to Knowlton soon after she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, in 2024, by the Governor General of Canada, the Right Honorable Mary Simon, for her exceptional contributions to education.

A pioneering figure in Canadian technology, she has dedicated over 30 years to transforming the way people learn and collaborate. Before cofounding Nureva, she and her husband, David Martin, created SMART Technologies and introduced the SMART Board. Today, as president and CEO of Nureva, Knowlton continues to drive innovation with audio conferencing systems powered by patented Microphone Mist technology, which is simplifying audio for hybrid teams and classrooms around the world. She is also president and CEO of Nialli, a Nureva subsidiary founded in 2020 that develops intuitive digital planning solutions to help construction teams collaborate more effectively and keep projects on track.

SpinetiX Expands U.S. Partner Support

SpinetiX appointed Annabelle Kayye as national customer success sales manager, United States. This newly created position reflects the company’s long-term commitment to the indirect business model and to the dedication to providing enhanced business support to channel partners across the U.S.

In her new role, Kayye serves as the point of contact for members of the SpinetiX Channel Partner Program in the United States and will focus on strengthening partner relationships, streamlining access to SpinetiX resources, and delivering a comprehensive channel enablement experience. With a strong background in account management and project consulting, Kayye will help partners deepen their expertise in the SpinetiX product portfolio, identify new growth opportunities, and maximize the business value of their projects.

Company News

3G Productions Launches UsedGear.com

Officially launched on July 1, 3G Productions' new site, UsedGear.com, features a wide selection of gear regularly cycled out of 3G’s own rental inventory to ensure clients always have access to the latest, top-tier tools. UsedGear.com will also serve as a platform for 3G’s integration customers to resell equipment that has been replaced during system upgrades or retrofits.

UsedGear.com offers more than just used lighting gear—it also features a wide selection of professional-grade audio, video, and rigging tools. The site showcases premium brands like Robe, MA Lighting, Shure, Kinesys Automation, and ROE Visual, with a particularly robust inventory of in-demand systems from d&b audiotechnik and L-Acoustics—all meticulously maintained and ready for immediate use.

To encourage repeat visits, the website will routinely feature specials, including its current grand opening deals on a d&b GSL full arena package and V Series loudspeakers, Kinesys motors, and ROE CB8 video wall.

LinkLab Services Engages in Partnership with Ion Visual Solutions

LinkLab Services, the services company under Almo Pro AV, announced a strategic expansion of its partnership with Ion Visual Solutions. Through this collaboration, LinkLab can now bring customized, prioritized dvLED deployment and support to AV integrators nationwide.

Learn more in the video below.

Midwich and Audinate Announce Strategic Distribution Partnership

Midwich and Audinate announced a new U.S. distribution partnership aimed at accelerating access to scalable, networked AV solutions. This partnership aligns with Audinate’s change in channel strategy, providing a better way to manage and distribute its portfolio to integrators in the United States. It enables greater channel effectiveness and improved management of subscription renewals, term licenses, and support and maintenance agreements. As part of this strategy, Audinate is refining its channel approach to enhance focus and deliver an elevated level of service to its partners and customers.

Midwich will offer Audinate’s technologies, supported by Midwich Plus, the company’s technical services team with decades of experience that provides pre-sales consultation, system design guidance, and deployment support to ensure customer success at every stage.

In addition to Audinate hardware, including the complete line of Dante AVIO adapters, Midwich’s software delivery capabilities make it easy for systems integrators to acquire Dante Domain Manager (DDM), Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS), and Dante Via licenses—streamlining access to flexible, license-based audio networking solutions.

PK Sound, Moonlight Productions Expand Partnership

PK Sound has advanced its longstanding partnership with Moonlight Productions, a production technologies provider based in Montana. Moonlight recently expanded its inventory of PK’s robotic line source technology with an investment in a new T8 compact line array system and complementary T18 intelligent subwoofers.

Moonlight’s latest purchase comprises eight T8 robotic line source elements, four T18 intelligent subwoofers, and six ultra-versatile Tx14 intelligent point source modules. As with other offerings in the Trinity Series that feature PK’s patented Multi-Axis Robotics, T8 enables precise, real-time control of a system’s vertical and horizontal coverage with an unmatched degree of precision.

The new equipment bolsters the company’s existing inventory of T10 medium-format robotic systems and G218 subwoofers, as well as more offerings from the company’s legacy VX, CX and K Series. The investment was facilitated by ACT Entertainment, PK Sound’s exclusive North American distributor. 

Pro AV Around the World

PlexusAV announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with AVIT Vision for distribution of the PlexusAV range across Spain and Portugal. The innovative PlexusAV products have now been added to the catalogue of solutions offered by Spanish distributor AVIT VISION and are available to all its customers

On the opening day of InfoComm 2025, Nureva is previewing its new HDX series. AV Technology’s content director, Cindy Davis, sat down with Nureva’s executive vice president of Products and Strategy, Rob Abbott, for some inside intelligence.

The full product press release is at the end of the interview.

Cindy Davis: Tell us about the HDX series and where it fits in your current lineup of products.

Rob Abbott: The HDX series is a line extension, and so we're adding it to our HDL line to broaden our portfolio. We're not taking anything away from our customers. We're providing more choices. And really, what we're doing is building on what the HDL is all about, which is great microphone coverage for conferencing use cases. We're increasingly extending our use cases into in-room use cases. And so, although the HDX does cover larger sizes, it's more about expanding into broader audio use cases, including full-range distributed speakers for amazing in-room speaker output to consume content. We are extending our full-room microphone coverage to larger spaces, improving our sound location data. We're building on adaptive voice amp by introducing adaptive voice lift. This is a brand-new area and a new set of use cases, and a really interesting area in the market as a whole, and I think a really exciting area, with the potential for users. Lastly, we're introducing Hearing Assist, which is a new area for us. And we're leveraging Auracast, which is a Bluetooth technology. We'll talk a bit more about that. But really, this is about extending our line, adding for our customers, adding choice, focusing not just on conferencing but a broader set of audio use cases, and taking our product portfolio into larger and larger spaces.

CD: While the integration channel and AV end users are critical to success, Nureva has always spoken directly to the IT audience. Why?

RA: Integrators and resellers are an important part of what we do and how we go to market. But from day one, the source of truth is the end user, and it's the decision maker. It's their problems we need to solve. It is fundamental to what we do. They give us feedback on the problems in their rooms, and it's our job to solve them creatively. So they're the source of truth. However, we also saw that our customers are increasingly taking on more responsibility for the AV in their rooms. And, of course, they want to deploy it simply. They want to manage it simply. More and more of our customers do their own evaluations and testing. From the beginning of the conversation, you're dealing directly with an IT manager, and they ask questions, wanting to know the ins and outs.

They want to try things in their own spaces; they want to set it up, and they want to experience it firsthand before making a decision. On the other side, increasingly, organizations are taking on more of the support, management, and maintenance of their rooms. They want to be in control of their own destiny. It was in our DNA to start, but it was those factors and how they wanted to buy and manage their spaces. It reinforced our commitment to continue down the path of providing tools and the right feature set for IT managers directly.

Our product inherently lends itself to a really easy evaluation. We support our customers in doing evaluations directly. We will send them evaluation kits. And because of the way our product works, you don't have to put it in the ceiling; you can place it on a tripod in the room, and it auto-calibrates. You can experience it in your space as an end user, and it de-risks the whole thing for them, and they just know. That's another proof point of the way we've implemented big-room audio with an integrated bar with Microphone Mist. It's really easy to evaluate in your space.

CD: For those not familiar with Nureva’s Microphone Mist technology, please share how it differs from technologies in other microphone bars.

RA: The core analogy is that we take a series of physical microphones in a room and use them to create a set of virtual microphones that create a coverage map of virtual microphones throughout a space. And this is corner to corner. The whole space is filled with virtual microphones, and then using microphone missed technology, we're able to monitor and find the best sound source of speech and then apply the right audio characteristics anywhere in the room so that, unlike something that is beam forming, that has lobes, has logic that essentially has switching logic and where is the user in what lobe, let's identify it and then switch to it. What happens in that process is you get switching artifacts. You don't get uniform coverage throughout a space. You also get more dependency on tuning and calibrating the space. Microphone Mist allows us to fill a room with virtual microphones, so anyone in the space can be picked up anywhere in the room.

Because of how it works, it can continuously auto-calibrate, so you don't need to tune it. One of the things we like to say about our products is that they're really one-touch installations, and that's important for the IT managers we're talking to. You can set up the room once, and regardless of the room's layout, changes in the use case, or the number of people in the room, the product will continuously auto-calibrate and provide a great experience. You don't need to call an audio expert to tune. That's a really critical thing for us. What we've seen as we talk to people is that most large spaces now have to do many jobs. The tables and chairs are on wheels, and the space transitions from a lecture to a collaborative session every hour. This room is changing. A key theme we're considering as we bring our products to market is that these large spaces are highly dynamic. We're trying to deliver a one-touch audio system that provides full-room audio coverage and great, consistent audio pickup.

CD: Please explain the use of the terms “adaptive” and “amplification.”

RA: The reason we chose the word adaptive for voice amplification and lift is on a few levels. First, the system is adaptive to the speaker and their location, as opposed to whether they are in a specific zone or location. Again, it comes down to ease of setup and the flexibility needed in these real-world, large spaces. It's also adaptive within a lecture setting. If a lecturing instructor starts with, I want to speak; I want to be amplified through voice amplification at, say, a 20-decibel level, but at some point during this lecture, I'm going to pause and ask for questions and then I want the student to be heard at a more subtle level. We can adapt to that flow between an instructor-led to more of a Q and A, and then we can be adaptive to whether you are focused on the interim experience, or distributed student or participants. So, we can adapt to all of those flows in a lecture or a meeting in real-time without user intervention.

Lastly, we can adapt to what's happening in the room. Do you need to use voice lift? Do you need to use voice amplification? We can be adaptive to that because a room, the day in the life of a room, has many uses, and from hour to hour, it changes.

CD: Given we've been talking about the IT manager, what can they expect from the monitoring and maintenance of Nureva's products?

That's part of our ease-of-use story because it's not just ease of installation; it's ease of ownership. One of the things that we always subscribe to is to try to make it not require specialized installers to do the installation. Again, we will still go through the channel where needed. The HDX is an integrated audio bar. The cable runs are really easy. We utilize single-cable power over Ethernet.

CD: Parting thoughts?

RA: We're really excited about bringing this to market. It's a big program for us. It's early days. What we're doing at InfoComm is a preview announcement. We're telling our customers about what's coming, and because they've asked us, they need to know about things as they create standards and start to think about, "What do I need a year from now?" We're targeting our shipments to start in Q1 of 2026. We'll get some units throughout the fall, but it's important that we set the right expectations.

Nureva Previews Highly Versatile HDX Series at InfoComm

Nureva Inc., an innovator in advanced audio solutions, announces the Nureva HDX pro audio series. Each HDX configuration is a complete and flexible solution designed to meet the full range of in-room audio and remote conferencing requirements for higher education classrooms, corporate training rooms, flex spaces and large meeting rooms up to 60′ x 40′ (18.3 x 12.2 m). Building off the success of Nureva’s HDL pro series systems for audio conferencing, the HDX series is a direct response to the mounting costs and complexities faced by IT managers who need to support a growing set of in-room audio requirements beyond full-room microphone pickup. This includes high-quality in-room media playback, voice amplification, voice lift, assistive listening, lesson capture, meeting recording and support for AI agents. Traditional pro AV solutions that deliver similar functionality require trained technicians equipped with the necessary components and software for installation. In contrast, the HDX series delivers all this functionality to IT professionals in a tightly integrated, cost-effective solution that doesn’t require special expertise to install, set up or maintain. HDX systems automatically adapt to changes in room layouts and their associated audio requirements, reducing the resource load on busy IT teams and their budgets.

HDX systems come with the choice of two or four wall-mounted audio bars and one or two optional microphone pods for Adaptive Voice Lift and enhanced microphone coverage. The system hub has single-cable AV-over-IP connectivity. These components are designed to be simple to install and set up, and therefore highly scalable, and they can be configured in varying combinations depending on the room size and in-room audio requirements. HDX systems deliver full-room speaker coverage that combines distributed audio with full-range loudspeakers for exceptional in-room sound. Adaptive Voice Lift enhances voice clarity across large spaces, dynamically adjusting to the talker’s position without requiring dedicated microphones or a complex setup. Integral to every HDX configuration is Nureva’s patented Microphone Mist technology and its unique unified coverage map. The physical microphones of all the components automatically configure to create an expansive, unified microphone array to provide full-room coverage while delivering maximum gain and consistently clear audio pickup throughout large spaces. HDX systems are also compatible with AI agents such as Microsoft Copilot and Zoom’s AI Companion. Additionally, their performance is further enhanced by using trained AI models for specialized audio tasks. Voice detection AI accurately distinguishes human voices from other sounds, enhancing audio location accuracy and improving camera tracking. Noise suppression AI filters transient background noises like chair squeaks, rustling papers and slamming doors. This is an ideal complement to UC&C platforms that lack integrated noise suppression capabilities.

“Nureva continues to push the envelope by simplifying complex audio challenges in large spaces,” said Ira M. Weinstein, founder and principal analyst at Recon Research. “With the new HDX series, Nureva makes in-demand features like distributed audio and voice lift not just possible, but easy to deploy and manage.”

“With higher education institutions rapidly adopting HyFlex learning models and office environments transforming into flexible collaboration hubs, demand has surged for full-featured audio solutions that support a broad range of in-room and remote conferencing needs in larger spaces,” said Nancy Knowlton, CEO of Nureva. “Our HDX series meets this demand with an unmatched combination of simplicity and performance that helps IT professionals fully serve the needs of their users while making the best use of their resources.”

Key features of the Nureva HDX series:

High-quality in-room speakers deliver full-range audio for media playback,music, presentations, videos and recordings.

Adaptive Voice Amplification provides in-room amplification of presenter’s voice when using a wireless mic, while simultaneously maintaining full-room microphone pickup of in-room voices so everyone can be heard by remote participants.

Adaptive Voice Lift automatically boosts in-room voices across large classrooms and meeting spaces, without the use of wireless microphones. When one or two HDX microphone pods are included, the audio bars automatically configure to deliver maximum gain, ensuring clear communication everywhere in the space.

Advanced conferencing audio guarantees full-room microphone coverage, ensuring clarity for remote participants.

Audio recording capabilities seamlessly integrate in-room microphones, wireless microphones and external audio sources, making high-quality lecture and meeting capture effortless.

Assistive listening is simplified with built-in Auracast broadcast technology, ensuring easy accessibility for those who are hard of hearing.

Simple installation and scalability

Two or four audio bars easily mount on walls and an optional one or two microphone pods easily mount on walls or ceiling T-bar rails, with single-cable connections to the system hub.

A user-friendly configurator tool streamlines the component selection, setup and deployment process, eliminating the need for external technical support.

The Nureva acoustic check tool, available with the iOS version of the Nureva App, measures background noise and reverberation, providing a clear score of room acoustics and guidance on optimal placement of the audio bars.

Sustainably designed using energy-efficient sleep modes, passive cooling and environmentally responsible materials such as 30% post-consumer recycled plastics and 95% recycled fabrics. The HDX series also features eco-conscious packaging made from 99% recyclable materials, replacing hard-to-recycle foam inserts with biodegradable molded pulp. Packaging dimensions are optimized to reduce waste, improve palletization and help lower transportation emissions.

HDX systems will be available to order in October 2025 and will ship in early February 2026.

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

Thought Leader: Nancy Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer at Nureva

2025 will be a banner year for new product introductions at Nureva. First off, we have some new functionality that will be rolled into our existing products to assist integrators and customers in installing and deploying our products. Throughout the year, we’ll continue releasing enhancements to firmware and software. We’ll also have a major product announcement midyear or so that will address an emerging, important need in the market. We’re keeping the details close to the vest, but we’ll be beginning broader customer briefings in early Q2. We’ve been working with customers on all these new ideas for some time, so we’re eager to get them out into the broader market.

Our new products align with our philosophy of delivering the experiences that our customers want and expect. Most often, people think of experiences manifesting in the use of products—and that’s clearly important. We remain focused on making large-room audio easy—to install, deploy, and manage—and we’ll continue to deliver on that commitment in 2025. But we’re taking things a step further so that every experience when working with us delivers what our customers want. We’ll start with the on-site evaluation experience where our prospects will see just how easy it is to try out a Nureva audio system for themselves in one of their spaces. Our products come with many features that make that experience possible, but principally our architecture—which is based on system autocalibration—is the ingredient that allows for fast and easy setup.

So, in addition to making large-room audio easy to install, deploy, and manage, we’re making it easy to evaluate our solutions on site—giving prospects and customers what they want and expect from the outset.

Having trouble keeping up with the large amount of people, partnership, and acquisition news in 2025? Don't worry, that's what we're here for.

Check out people movers at SMPTE, Powersoft, PPDS, SoundTube, and TEG as well as a bevy of partnerships you should know. 

[Get to Know the SCN Hall of Fame 2025]

People News

Powersoft Strengthens Team with Cristiano Traferri 

Powersoft appointed Cristiano Traferri as a house account professional leader. With over 25 years of industry experience across audio-video, commercial, and power electronics sectors, Traferri brings a wealth of expertise to strengthen client relationships and drive growth with increased emphasis on sustainable products and practices.
 
Throughout his career, Traferri has held key roles in marketing, key account management, and business development, collaborating closely with clients worldwide across diverse industries, such as IT, ICT, lighting, industrial automation and telecom.

Traferri’s vision includes fostering sustainable growth and innovation by leveraging deep client relationships, ensuring Powersoft’s solutions consistently exceed client expectations and drive mutual success. He will focus on enhancing Powersoft’s OEM client-centric approach by developing and maintaining long-term relationships with new and existing clients. As well as expanding Powersoft’s presence in emerging markets and sectors.

PPDS Appoints New Global Product Manager for Interactive Displays

PPDS appointed long-serving TP Vision employee, Lutz Harder, as the company’s new global product manager–interactive displays.

Lutz brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the PPDS product management team, with an accomplished career in AV and technology spanning more than two decades. This includes 10 years at TP Vision holding roles, since 2014, as product manager high end TVs Germany,  product manager DACH, and, most recently, product manager Europe Philips TV.

Lutz plays an integral and strategic role in the growth and development of PPDS’ evolving interactive display portfolio and business. Lutz is now working closely with global R&D, sales, and business management teams to identify new market growth opportunities to drive the development of both existing and future generations of interactive display products and software solutions, tailored to a variety of market verticals and in specific countries.

SMPTE Membership Elects Richard Welsh to Serve as the Society’s President

SMPTE welcomed Richard Welsh as president after being elected by its membership. Welsh served as SMPTE EVP for the two years prior to his election. His term will extend two years to Dec. 31, 2026.

Welsh is currently the SVP of innovation at Deluxe. He has been on the SMPTE board for more than 10 years. He has also served as SMPTE’s VP of education and as governor for EMEA, Central/South America. Welsh is also on the board of IBC and the chair/co-founder of the volumetric asset management company Volustor.

Welsh began his career at Dolby Laboratories as a film sound consultant, working his way up to director of digital cinema services in the 12 years he spent there. He later became the head of operations of Technicolor’s digital cinema, localization, and sound services department. More recently, Welsh became an associate lecturer at Southampton Solent University while simultaneously co-founding Sundog Media Toolkit.

SoundTube Entertainment Appoints Anders Olsen as European Manager

SoundTube Entertainment appointed Anders Olsen as European manager. With an extensive background in the audio industry spanning over 17 years, Olsen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to SoundTube and its brands.

Olsen began his journey in audio as a teenager, initially exploring hi-fi systems before advancing into the world of installed audio. Since 2007, he has held key international roles with renowned manufacturers, including DNH, Cambridge Sound Management, Apart Audio, Biamp, and Blaze Audio. Throughout his career, Olsen has successfully built strong relationships with distributors and partners across global markets.

In his new role, Olsen leverages his expertise to expand SoundTube's presence in international markets, with a particular focus on Europe. His goal is to strengthen existing partnerships, develop new business opportunities, and drive growth for the SoundTube brands.

TEG Appoints Frank Anzures as Director of Sales and Marketing

Transformation Entertainment Group (TEG) appointed Frank Anzures as director of sales and marketing. In this role, Anzures is spearheading the strategic development and execution of sales and marketing initiatives to drive growth within TEG’s product and service offerings.   

Anzures has more than 26 years of experience in the pro AV industry, with marketing and sales management positions with Epson America, VUEAV, Christie Digital Systems, Mitsubishi Digital Electric, BenQ, and InFocus.

"I am excited to join TEG and contribute to the company's continued success,” said Anzures. “I look forward to working with our talented team to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Company News

Absen and Starin Announce Strategic Partnership

Starin announced a new partnership with Absen. This strategic collaboration marks a significant step in expanding Starin’s product portfolio and delivering advanced LED solutions to the North American market.

Starin’s deep expertise in providing innovative AV solutions positions it perfectly to meet the growing demand for LED technology. Together, Starin and Absen are poised to meet the increasing demand for LED technology, providing customers with innovative solutions, superior support, and a commitment to excellence. This partnership underscores Starin’s dedication to leading the AV industry and addressing the evolving needs of its clients.

Contacta Bolsters Presence with Multiple New Distribution Deals  

Contacta, a manufacturer of window intercom and assistive listening systems in North America for the past 17 years, has bolstered its presence in the market with new distribution deals. The Florida-based company has established partnerships with several major retailers serving the AV, security, and construction markets. 

Its range of window intercoms systems, which enhance communication at secure windows, will now be available through Wesco Anixter, an electrical, communications and utility distribution and supply chain solutions company. Armortex, ShureSAFE, Safewood Designs, Covenant Security Equipment, Intercoms Online, and DK Hardware Supply are also now offering systems from Contacta comprehensive window intercom range.

Draper Adds New Pro AV Rep Firm in Northeast United States

UC Technology Partners (UCTP) now represents Draper Pro AV products throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Northern New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont. UCTP was recently founded by Aaron Chisena and Rob Leclerc, industry veterans with over 50 years of collective experience working directly for manufacturers, integrators, service providers, and end users.

The Draper Pro AV portfolio of products and solutions includes a wide range of projection screens and fabrics, including the TecVision surfaces, as well as projector lifts, fly cage stacking frames, and AV mounts and structures (AVMS) supporting the latest video wall technologies.

LEA Professional Partners with Global AV Sales

LEA Professional announced its partnership with Queensland, Australia-based manufacturer’s representative Global AV Sales. This partnership will bring LEA’s rich technology catalog, featuring advancements in intelligent IT solutions, DSP, and smart power management, to the APAC, Middle East, and EMEA residential markets.

For more than 12 years, Global AV Sales has been a trusted partner for international manufacturers, representing companies across over 60 countries. This partnership will allow Global AV Sales to offer LEA Professional’s Network Connect series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity. These series enable integrators to utilize cloud-based remote control, monitoring, notifications, and more from any internet-enabled device, allowing them to stay connected anywhere in the world.

Nureva HDL Pro Series Systems Earn HETMA Approved Status

Nureva's HDL310 and HDL410 systems have been added to the HETMA  Approved Products list. Evaluators gave the systems an overall score of “exceeds expectations” after assessing them for performance, quality, and network and security. HETMA’s rigorous testing process evaluates products through the lens of technical managers in higher education institutions, focusing on real-world scenarios and diverse classroom and conference room configurations. In their summary, the evaluators stated the Nureva HDL310 and HDL410 systems would become part of their thought process in future classroom planning.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2025: David Martin]

The Nureva HDL pro series systems were praised for their exceptional audio pickup, noise reduction capabilities and adaptability to challenging acoustic spaces. HETMA evaluators commented that both systems outperformed existing room systems, with the microphone pickup rivaling or even exceeding that of common ceiling-mounted microphone arrays from other manufacturers. They also praised the general quality of the systems and noted that everything worked seamlessly out of the box, with easy setup and straightforward firmware updates. The evaluators concluded the HDL310 and HDL410 systems are well suited for hybrid and flexible learning setups, making them an invaluable addition to higher education classrooms and meeting spaces.

 RGB Spectrum and Dejero Partner

RGB Spectrum and Dejero, a manufacturer of resilient connectivity solutions, are partnering. The strategic partnership combines Dejero's connectivity technology—aggregating the bandwidth of multiple network providers, including 4G, LTE-A, 5G, fiber, IP connections, and LEO, MEO, and GEO satellites—to deliver enhanced reliability, expanded coverage, and greater bandwidth for connecting mobile workforces and remote locations to command centers. 

Paired with RGB Spectrum's advanced visualization solutions, this collaboration empowers government, civilian, and military agencies with a mobile solution for unparalleled situational awareness and operational control. Dejero’s connectivity solutions are trusted by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Toronto Police Service. RGB Spectrum’s advanced video solutions are utilized by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Missile Defense Agency, NASA, as well as fire, police, and 911 centers.

At the forefront of this partnership is the IPX Flyaway Kit, a deployable, miniaturized command-and-control solution designed for real-time video distribution, visualization, and decision-making in the most demanding environments.

Visix Celebrates 45 Years of Innovation in Visual Communications

Visix is celebrating 45 years in business. The company has grown to serve more than 4000 clients across three continents, evolving its software, hardware and services to help organizations create, manage and deliver more engaging communications to their audiences.

Visix’s mission is simple: “help people communicate better.” By developing products that are easy to use and access, the company aims to improve the quality and reach of visual messaging for a more dynamic user and audience experience.

Founded in 1980 as Tech Electronics (TEi), the company initially offered black box products such as programmable video controllers and media retrieval systems. In 2000, it launched AxisTV, its first digital signage content management software. Under the leadership of Sean Matthews since 2004, the company shifted its focus to software development. By 2006, all non-AxisTV products were retired, and the company rebranded as Visix to reflect its new direction.

From the start, Visix has partnered with a broad network of AV/IT resellers, bringing its products to corporate, education, government, healthcare and hospitality customers across the globe. Over time, the company has become the preferred digital signage vendor for higher education, serving over 1,000 colleges and universities with software features tailored to campus environments. Visix has continuously expanded the reach and impact of its solutions, redefining the concept of digital signage by extending visual messaging to room signs, websites, desktops and mobile devices. The company has also incorporated interactive design services and space booking solutions, establishing itself as a comprehensive visual communications provider. 

The new year has been quite busy in the world of Pro AV. Before we get to the people movers and new partnerships, let's get caught up on some big acquisitions you may have missed.

DPA Microphones Acquires Austrian Audio

DPA Microphones has acquired the majority share of Vienna-based Austrian Audio. Founded in 2017 by former AKG Vienna employees, Austrian Audio builds on that heritage to deliver high-quality audio products.

Leveraging over 350 years of combined engineering experience, the mission of the Austrian Audio team is to “Make Passion Heard.” This is accomplished by developing and producing innovative microphones, headphones and audio tools while maintaining a strong connection to the brand’s deep acoustical heritage.

Austrian Audio caught the attention of DPA Microphones with its fast-growing brand, highly skilled team of dedicated engineers and product portfolio that complements DPA’s offerings perfectly. DPA has several Miniature Microphone categories while Austrian Audio has a strong offering of Large Diaphragm Microphones. Both companies address the high end of the market, with DPA positioned at the very top and Austrian Audio offering a wider span in its product range. 

In other acquisition news:

• AVI Systems is starting the New Year with a new acquisition. It will acquire AVCON, a systems integration firm that designs, installs, and maintains AVL technologies for companies, houses of worship, and other organizations. The acquisition will close on Jan. 15 and will include transitioning all AVCON employees to AVI Systems. Read all the details here. 
• On New Year’s Day, Houston-based LD Systems celebrated its 50th anniversary and took a significant step toward securing its next 50 years, as it was acquired by the Clair Global Group. Get caught up with SCN's coverage here. 
• Systems integrator Xpect Solutions, which has been delivering IT and physical security solutions to federal agencies for more than 20 years, recently announced its acquisition of GovDefender, which is known for systems modernization as well as enterprise IT web, mobile, and application development. Here are the details. 

Now, onto the latest Pro AV news. 

People News

ACT Entertainment Marks Two Promotions

ACT Entertainment is marking two promotions and a retirement in the company’s technical service department. CTO Mario Collazo retires from the firm while Ryan Kanarek has been promoted to director of technical services and Dustin Barnes has been elevated to the role of software support manager.

Collazo retired after 29 years of service at ACT Entertainment; he joined ACT in 1996 and became CTO three years ago. One of the company’s longest tenured employees, Collazo leaves in place a roster of experienced technical personnel who ensure that ACT’s service and support will continue to be best in class.

Barnes, who joined ACT in August 2021 to bolster the team’s grandMA3 software support and has more recently become a zactrack product specialist, steps into the software support manager post previously held by Kanarek.

AVPro Global Appoints Loel Wheeler as VP of Sales for Murideo

AVPro Global has appointment of Loel Wheeler as VP of sales for Murideo, the company's test and measurement tools division. This strategic move aims to expand AVPro's global reach in high-performance electrical test equipment designed for professional use in the audio/video industry. In his new role, Wheeler reports directly to Mike Detmer, AVPro's COO, overseeing the worldwide expansion of Murideo products, including the latest innovative STIX Ecosystem of compact signal transmission and data reception verification devices.

Wheeler brings two decades of sales experience in video testing and audio/video connectivity to his new position, holding certifications such as CTS, ISF, ISF-C, HAA, and DSCE. His expertise in the field is expected to drive Murideo's growth and solidify its position as a leading provider of advanced testing tools for the audio/video calibration and installation markets. 

Jim Lien Joins BARNFIND-USA 

Jim Lien has joined BARNFIND-USA as its new leader, stepping into the role of VP  marketing and administration.
 
Lien brings a wealth of experience to this position. With over 40 years in the broadcast and audiovisual industries, his broad knowledge base spans video engineering, production, satellite transmission, system integration, and project management. Over the years, he has held roles in sales and marketing with  companies such as Grass Valley, Snell & Wilcox, Leitch, Christie Digital, Harmonic, and Toner Cable, to name a few.

Daktronics Welcomes George Muench to Sales Team

Daktronics welcomed George Muench to the Daktronics sales team to serve sign company partners, organizations, billboard owners, and schools within central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including Madison, Wausau, and Fox Valley. He will work with customers to understand their needs and provide the proper digital LED solutions and services for high schools, out of home and commercial on premise markets.

Muench has experience in both manufacturing and sales. He worked in sales at a construction supplies company, communicating with vendors and managing stock and supply. Previously, he has held several positions working in packaging and manufacturing. Most recently, he worked in Daktronics Sports Marketing, helping schools generate revenue through advertising on their video displays.

EMG/Gravity Media Appoints Narinder Ball as Technology Director

EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Narinder Ball as technology director. In her role, Narinder will be responsible for overseeing the company’s technology strategy, driving innovation, and leading its technical teams to deliver cutting-edge solutions that support EMG / Gravity Media's continued growth and success.

Narinder brings over 25 years of experience in the tech industry, having previously held various leadership positions at the BBC, where she was instrumental in leading the technical aspects across many of the most high-profile sporting events including Wimbledon, the FA Cup and the London Marathon to name a few. She also oversaw complex workflows for major events such as the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. 

Her deep expertise in remote production workflows, broadcast infrastructure, connectivity solutions and an appreciation of changing consumer trends along with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams will play a pivotal role in advancing EMG / Gravity Media's technological capabilities.

Marko Jovanović Joins the International Team at IAG

Wharfedale Pro welcomed Marko Jovanović to their International 'Application and Solutions' team. Based in China, Jovanović supports local customers while contributing to the team's global strength.

Jovanović has extensive experience as a live sound engineer, specializing in FOH and stage monitor mixing for events and festivals in Eastern Europe before continuing his career in China since 2015. His expertise in live sound engineering not only includes system design for large-scale events but also encompasses his role as Head of Dept for the world's largest immersive audio system in Shanghai. He also brings R&D experience, having developed professional audio and consumer devices like live PA systems and studio monitors.


Nureva Welcomes Rob Abbott and James Rempel

 Nureva recently made two promotions to key executive positions as part of its growth strategy to expand market presence and deliver greater value to customers worldwide.

Rob Abbott has been appointed EVP, products and strategy, moving from his previous role as VP, products, which he had held since 2016. In his new position, Abbott is focusing on driving Nureva’s top-line growth through strategic initiatives and increased engagement with end users. He is leveraging his extensive product leadership experience to help further align Nureva’s offerings with the evolving needs of customers in corporate and higher education environments globally, while envisioning innovative products that redefine collaboration with ease of use and simplicity in larger spaces. Rob will also continue overseeing technical support and training, reinforcing Nureva’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Additionally, James Rempel has been promoted to VP, products, after serving as Nureva’s director of products since 2018. James brings deep expertise in product management, positioning and pricing, along with significant experience in engaging analysts and promoting Nureva’s solutions to global audiences. In his new role, James takes on expanded responsibilities to drive product innovation, ensuring Nureva’s solutions remain well positioned to meet the growing demand for flexible, high-performance audio solutions.

SMPTE Names Sally-Ann D’Amato to Lead as Executive Director

SMPTE welcomed Sally-Ann D’Amato as executive director. D’Amato formally began this new role on Dec. 18, 2024, after acting as interim executive director since October.

D'Amato joined the SMPTE family in 2001, working as an administrative assistant. She was promoted to executive assistant in 2003, and again promoted to director of operations in 2005. In 2016, she became director of events and governance liaison. In this role, she was responsible for planning and executing events and was also responsible for working with the board on issues of Society governance and board activities. In October 2024, she became the interim executive director.

During her time at SMPTE, D’Amato helped enact the current bylaws and operations manuals. She also has been responsible for producing the Media Technology Summit since 2005, and even produced a virtual version of the event during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also produced the SMPTE centennial celebration in 2016 and incorporates her creativity by writing songs for and performing in many of the events she works on.

Company News

Atlona Partners with Midwest AV 

Atlona has announced Midwest AV as its latest manufacturer’s representative for the Midwest region including Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, effective immediately. Based in Illinois, Midwest AV will drive Atlona’s presence in the education and corporate verticals across the Midwest region by bringing Atlona’s collaboration, connectivity and control products to a broader spectrum of systems integrators and end users.

Midwest AV’s philosophy centers on cultivating meaningful, relationship-driven partnerships as an independent manufacturer’s representative firm. The company takes a proactive, front-and-center approach with its clients and partners, and its relationship with Atlona is no exception.

EAW Opens New HQ in Massachusetts

Eastern Acoustic Works has opened its new headquarters in Franklin, MA. The facility marks a significant milestone in the company’s legacy, reinforcing its commitment to serving the diverse needs of the live sound and installation markets.

Located just 45 minutes from Boston and 30 minutes from Providence, RI, the new 56,000-square-foot standalone building consolidates all EAW operations, advancing the company’s efficiency. The facility includes 32,000 square feet dedicated to production and warehousing, as well as 6,000 square feet of engineering lab space. There are also additional areas for offices and technical service and support, plus a 3,000-square-foot indoor training and demo space and an expansive outdoor demo space.

The enhanced engineering lab space builds on EAW’s legacy of precision testing. “The high ceiling in our acoustics lab, known historically as the ‘PIT lab,’ allows us to measure lower frequencies and provide greater resolution at all frequencies,” explained Geoff McKinnon, senior director of engineering at EAW. “On-site product development and testing strengthens our ability to deliver superior sounding solutions.”

EAW's indoor training and demo space supports classroom-style customer education and will host a video production studio to accommodate virtual training. Two expansive outdoor demo spaces, including a 175-foot throw area and a 300-foot throw area, are supported by 40-foot scaffold towers and rigging that can showcase loudspeaker systems in real-world conditions.

The modernized warehouse and production areas are equipped with advanced systems and infrastructure, enabling faster lead times for customizable products, including color options. “Streamlined logistics and improved production capabilities translate directly into exceeding customer expectations for quality and response times,” said TJ Smith, president of EAW. “The best part of the new headquarters is that the proximity of all departments fosters closer interaction and communication.”

LG Introduces 'LG Schools' Technology Program

LG Electronics USA is launching “LG Schools,” a new ambassador program offering commercial display technology for schools to test, learn, and deploy. Expanding on the LG program designed to meet the needs of educators seeking the best ways to use technology in their curriculum, the LG Schools program will showcase best practices in advancing learning, gather valuable feedback to enhance future solutions and develop demonstration sites for schools outside of the program to visit in order to experience the technology firsthand.

Designated LG Schools, working with LG, can decide which technology best suits their present and future requirements, whether that’s LG CreateBoard digital whiteboards, commercial-grade LED displays, or even LG UltraGear monitors in an eSports demo suite to drive engagement and encourage student attendance. Once individual requirements and implementation plans are finalized, and the product request has been approved by LG with follow-up training, the LG Schools program enables the release of the technology to be used and evaluated by the school.

Listen Technologies Partners with Image Marketing West

Listen Technologies has partnered with manufacturer representative firm Image Marketing West to bring Listen Technologies’ audio solutions to customers and end users in Northern California, Northern Nevada, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Image Marketing West will sell and recommend Listen Technologies’ full suite of audio solutions, including Ampetronic Hearing Loops, ListenIR, ListenRF, ListenTALK, and its audio over Wi-Fi-based assistive listening system, ListenWIFI. Image Marketing West will also sell Auri, an Auracast broadcast audio-based assistive listening system that Listen Technologies co-developed with Ampetronic. 

Introducing Need Technologies

Introducing Need Technologies, an audiovisual physical security and telecom system integration company founded by industry veteran Charles Freedman. The company has officially launched, as well as its website with a tagline that encapsulates its client-first approach, “We listen to what you want, and guide you to what you need.” Need Technologies aims to enhance how businesses and organizations connect with and leverage technology solutions with its people-first approach.

The culmination of over three decades of industry experience, Need Technologies is the embodiment of Freedman’s lifelong passion for leveraging technology to create meaningful connections. With a career spanning roles at global AV resellers and manufacturers, Freedman has honed a philosophy centered around trust, integrity, and inclusivity. His guiding principle, that tech should serve people, underscores the company’s mission to deliver solutions that prioritize people above all else.

Need Technologies offers a suite of services designed to provide seamless, frictionless experiences that enhance environments.

SC&T Achieves ISO 9001 Certification

SC&T has successfully obtained ISO 9001 certification. This accomplishment underscores our unwavering dedication to quality management and customer satisfaction. What is ISO 9001? ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS), established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 

Achieving ISO 9001 certification signifies that SC&T's products and services meet internationally recognized quality standards. We remain dedicated to providing exceptional CCTV and ProAV transmission equipment and will persistently refine our processes to ensure every customer experiences the highest level of service.

Pro AV Around the Globe

• Visionary has partnered with Avitor, an importer and distributor of professional audiovisual products in Ireland. Under this partnership, Avitor will serve as the exclusive distributor of Visionary’s products throughout Ireland, bringing Visionary to a broader audience.

David Martin's humble nature belies a lifetime of remarkable accomplishments. The man who has been honored by a prince and shaken the hands of several U.S. presidents is most known for a device called the SMART Board. It was this interactive whiteboard—created alongside his wife (and fellow SCN Hall of Famer) Nancy Knowlton—that revolutionized education as we know it.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2025: Christian Heil]

An only child who was constantly outside and keeping himself busy, Martin realized at a young age he enjoyed building things and seeing how they worked, like the kayak he built at 14 and the dune buggy at 16. That curiosity, which Martin said is the common thread throughout his life, started as a child and may ultimately be his greatest asset today.

"It was all about exploring," Martin said. "Reading was exploring all sorts of interesting possibilities. And I've learned subsequently that when you're young, learning and reading and doing more reading becomes very important later in life. I think that curiosity led me to asking questions, which I've never stopped."

Asking those questions led to the SMART Board. Working for one of Canada's largest companies, Bell Canada, Martin was charged with doing statistical analysis and network simulation, but also looking into the voice network for data and extending the existing networks. At that time, fax was an important part of the equation, but collaborating with others via fax was a cumbersome experience. After some tinkering and exploring, he realized you could do an interactive fax in real time—you could communicate to that person and see things marked up as it happened via display technology.

Thus, in 1987, the origins of the SMART Board were born. But it wasn’t easy getting people to buy in right away. “When you're ahead of your time, it becomes difficult to explain to other people why this is so important,” Martin explained.

While pitching the SMART Board, Martin and Knowlton quickly realized that while it was nice as an enterprise solution, it fit best in the K-12 classroom. SMART Technologies, their company behind the SMART Board, sold more than 80% of its transformational solution to schools. As Martin noted, "SMART Technologies became not a vendor to the school systems, but a partner in education. Nancy—with her background as a university lecturer and professor—brought a connection to that teaching process and the learning process for kids."

For their contributions to education, Martin received the Office to the Order of the British Empire from Prince William, and he and Knowlton received the Meritorious Service Medal from Canada. But listening to him talk about the honors, those awards seem secondary: Martin gushes about the almost 2,000 employees at SMART Technologies that joined them to push a new technology into new markets. He's as grateful for a hug from a teacher for changing their life as much as any handshake from a dignitary.

Of course, that is not where Martin and Knowlton's story ends. The two founded Nureva in 2014, and the products using their Microphone Mist technology are transforming audio conferencing in the workplace and classrooms in the new hybrid world.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2025: Kirsten Nelson]

What sets Martin apart is that he wasn't alone—he got to change the world side by side with his wife through almost 39 years of marriage. "If you're going to build a significant company, you need more than one person," Martin said. "Nancy has often been described as the smartest person in the room, and that's for good reason. She comes to the table with an array of business credentials and experience that are hard to match. I come with my technology background, but an understanding of the other pieces to the puzzle in terms of marketing and go-to-market."

Together, they are arguably the best—and most likeable—power couple in Pro AV lore. But don't think their story is anywhere close to its final chapter. "The most interesting invention suggestion that I could recommend to any young person," Martin said, "is to take all the pieces and look at how could you combine them so that you end up with a new thing."

Do that, and maybe, just maybe, you can change the world, too. "I think we've had an impact,” Martin said. “We did change the world. Not many people can take that away from their experience and their business career.”

Happy New Year. While we were off celebrating the holidays, companies like ACT Entertainment, PSNI Global Appliance, and Nureva made strategic moves. Plus, SCN announced its 2025 Hall of Fame Class. 

You can see all the Hall of Famers here.

Now, get caught up with this Pro AV news.

People News

ACT Entertainment Announces Strategic Partnership Posts

ACT Entertainment has announced that Philip Norfolk, sales director of Ambersphere, and Brian Dowd, designer relationship manager of Ayrton, will step into new strategic partnership roles as director and VP of strategic partnerships for ACT Entertainment, respectively.

“The goal of these newly created positions is to ensure legendary service when a partner interacts with any segment of ACT Entertainment and to bring knowledge of our brands and our company to the people who matter to us,” said Ben Saltzman, CEO of ACT Entertainment. “ACT is unique and the industries we serve are exceptional. They’re populated by key individuals and companies who influence and drive our success. Our partners include manufacturers, suppliers, specifiers and end users whose technologies and creative visions drive our passion. Our aim is to make all our clients feel comfortable and well cared for in every interaction they have with us.”

Cablecast Community Media Announce New Executive Leadership

Cablecast Community Media has formed a new executive team to lead the business following  president Steve Israelsky’s retirement on December 31. Tightrope co-founder and CEO JJ Parker wis taking a more active role as CEO of Cablecast Community Media. He will continue in his capacity as Tightrope CEO, where he oversees the company’s Cablecast Community Media and Carousel Digital Signage businesses.

Dana Healy and Ray Tiley will join the Cablecast Community Media leadership team to manage Cablecast’s business and technology functions as COO and CTO, respectively.

Healy was named Cablecast’s VP in January 2022, bringing 23 years of community media experience across multiple disciplines to the company. These experiences included leadership roles for community media operations in Massachusetts and Minnesota, serving as executive director for both organizations. Healy oversees all Cablecast sales and operations while bringing the Cablecast brand to a broader customer base, including an increased emphasis on serving local municipalities.

Tiley transitions into the CTO role with 15 years of engineering experience at Cablecast, including seven years as VP of engineering. Tiley’s vision inspired the evolution of Cablecast’s product portfolio beyond cable playout automation and into new areas such as live streaming, video-on-demand, and content delivery to Cablecast apps.

L-Acoustics Marks 40th Anniversary Year with Major Growth Milestone, Welcoming 1,000th Team Member

Capping off a year of marking the company’s 40th anniversary, L-Acoustics added its 1,000th team member. Kevin Gouriou joins the company as a prototypist in research and development.

This milestone comes during a remarkable period of growth for L-Acoustics, which has seen a 40% increase in its workforce over the past two years. With global hubs in Paris, Los Angeles, London, and Singapore, the company has strategically expanded to support its worldwide network of partners and clients while maintaining its commitment to innovation, with 20% of its workforce dedicated to design and R&D.

OWC Names Matt Dargis as Chief Revenue Officer

Other World Computing has appointed Matt Dargis as chief revenue officer. Dargis leverages his extensive experience in sales leadership and global market strategy to spearhead OWC’s continued growth and market expansion.

As CRO, Dargis is responsible for driving OWC’s global revenue growth and expanding its market presence across both commercial and consumer channels. He oversees the company’s sales and channel strategies, ensuring alignment with OWC’s mission to deliver the highest performance and most trusted technology solutions that provide the greatest value and ROI. Additionally, Dargis focuses on building and scaling high-performing teams, optimizing go-to-market initiatives, and enhancing customer experiences to meet and exceed evolving market demands.

Dargis is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of building and scaling tech businesses through his superior market knowledge, and exemplary team building and servant leadership style. Prior to joining OWC, Dargis served as SVP, U.S. sales at ACCO Brands and VP of North America sales at Kensington where he rebuilt the North America sales team and created a new go-to-market strategy and three-year plan to double sales while improving the bottom line. Before that, he led Buffalo Americas as EVP, COO, where he was responsible for building new sales and marketing teams and expanding internationally. Dargis has also served as VP, worldwide sales and marketing at ioSafe, and held senior sales and marketing positions with NETGEAR and D-Link Systems.

Kent Cawthorne Appointed as Vendor Program Manager at PSNI Global Alliance

PSNI Global Alliance appointed Kent Cawthorne as vendor program manager. With nearly 40 years of experience in the audiovisual industry, Cawthorne brings a wealth of expertise in sales, marketing, and business development, having worked with Sony, Kramer, and Legrand AV.

In his new role, Cawthorne works closely with PSNI’s director of vendor programs, Tom Roberts, to oversee and enhance the Preferred Vendor Partner (PVP) program. He will focus on building and strengthening relationships between technology manufacturers and PSNI’s global network of Certified Solution Providers (CSPs). His leadership will ensure that the program continues to provide value to integrators, equipping them with top-tier solutions and support across more than 65 countries.

Scott Srolis Named Salamander President

Salamander Designs announced Scott Srolis, previously senior VP of sales and marketing, has been promoted to company president. While making the announcement, Salvatore Carrabba, who founded the firm more than 30 years ago, shared he will be taking the role of CEO and remain actively involved in the business as Srolis takes the daily reins.

Srolis is a long-time, recognized leader in the CI industry and has been vital in Salamander Designs’ entry into the commercial arena and international markets. For more than eight years he has been involved in the decision making that guides company product direction, promotional campaigns, and overall strategy.

Sphere Names Marcus Ellington EVP, Ad Sales & Sponsorships

Sphere Entertainment welcomed Marcus Ellington, a strategic leader with extensive experience creating innovative and impactful partnership programs for premier brands, as EVP, ad sales and sponsorships for Sphere.
 
In this new role, Mr. Ellington develops and leads an ad sales and sponsorships organization focused on maximizing revenue, creating growth opportunities, and managing client relations across Sphere’s marquee assets, including the Exosphere. As part of his role, Ellington drives new brand-centric opportunities for the Exosphere, including those that extend the platform’s reach across experiential activations such as drone shows. He will also be responsible for developing broader Sphere-wide marketing partnerships. 

Ellington is a seasoned sales and business development executive who has 20 years of experience working in media and technology. He joins Sphere from Google, where he held sales and partnership roles of increasing responsibility over more than a decade with the company. In his most recent role as director of Americas partnerships solutions, Ellington was responsible for strategic partnerships across Google product areas including Ads, YouTube, Cloud, and Android.

Jason Jon Anderson Joins ACP Team as GM for Eau Claire Audio Visual Division 

SCN Top 50 Systems Integrator ACP CreativIT welcomed Jason Jon Anderson to the ACP family of technology solutions providers as general manager for its Eau Claire audiovisual division. Anderson brings a wealth of experience in the AV and event production industry to his new role, having served as the production manager for double Grammy-winning indie band Bon Iver and production director for the Eaux Claires Festival and the Boston Calling Music Festival. 

Anderson most recently served as the executive director of the Pablo Center at the Confluence from 2017 to 2024. In this role, he oversaw the final year of construction for the Pablo Center, navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and helped secure new market tax credits for the organization. Prior to his time at the Pablo Center, Anderson spent 11 years at UW-Eau Claire, where he served as the assistant director of conferences and event services. 

EMG/Gravity Media Makes New Team Appointments 

EMG/Gravity Media appointed Nathan Spencer as managing director and Chris Martin as commercial director to its U.S. leadership team.

Spencer brings over 30 years of experience in the media and broadcast industry, with a proven track record of delivering successful business transformations, driving operational excellence, and fostering innovative solutions. He will continue to play a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of EMG/Gravity Media’s business in America, including strategic planning, business development, and operational management. 

Martin joins the team with an extensive background in live sports and entertainment, having previously worked at Lagardere Sports, SFX Sports Group and ProServ. He will be responsible for overseeing the development and execution of commercial strategies to drive EMG/Gravity Media’s growth, fostering key client relationships, and ensuring the company’s overall profitability and market expansion.

In conjunction with these key hires, EMG/Gravity Media opened its new office in Nashville, TN. The new Nashville office is located in the heart of the city and serves as a hub for EMG/Gravity Media’s operations in the Southeast region. 

Company News

Nureva Signs U.S. Distribution Agreement with Ingram Micro

Nureva announced a new distribution agreement with Ingram Micro, an IT distributor. The agreement will broaden the availability of Nureva’s HDL pro series—including the HDL310 and HDL410 audio systems—across the United States as part of Ingram Micro’s Meeting Room Management Services offering.

Nureva’s plug-and-play large-room audio solutions deliver the combination of performance and simplicity that is essential for today’s meeting and educational environments. This agreement will enable Nureva to expand its reseller network to deliver the company’s powerful yet easy-to-use audio solutions to more businesses and educational institutions across the U.S. Nureva’s HDL310 and HDL410 systems are certified for larger Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms up to 35x55 feet (10.7x16.8 m), with TAA-compliant options available for customers with specific requirements. Powered by patented Microphone Mist technology, Nureva’s full line of audio conferencing systems provide full-room microphone coverage, ensuring clear and consistent communication for both in-room and remote participants. The systems offer a simple, scalable solution without the common costs and complexities of traditional Pro AV systems, making them easy to deploy and manage at scale.

The Nureva App.is now fully available. Initially introduced in beta in June, this web-based companion app to the HDL pro series audio systems for HDL310 and HDL410 customers at no additional charge.

The Nureva App offers a streamlined and efficient method for setting up and configuring HDL pro series systems for both audio and third-party cameras—enabling tracking and switching—either by directly connecting to the connect module or over a local area network (LAN). It is designed to simplify and enhances the in-room setup of Nureva devices.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2024: Nancy Knowlton]

Unlike the complicated procedures for setting up traditional Pro AV systems that require multiple software tools and extensive technical expertise, much of the setup and configuration process is automated when using the Nureva App. The app is complemented by Nureva Console, the company’s cloud-based platform used for at-scale management of Nureva devices in an organization.

“We’re impressed with how the Nureva App makes it even easier to install the HDL310 and HDL410 systems,” said Ian Guildford, CEO of Interactive Norway. “Connecting with the devices directly, without having to create an account, is a faster and more efficient way to complete the setup and configuration.”

[NOW TRENDING: 4 Hot Topics in Pro AV]

Key Features and Benefits:

• Simplified setup: The Nureva App offers step-by-step installation tips and tools, including a setup wizard, to make it easier for first-time users and installers to deploy HDL310 and HDL410 systems efficiently.
• Advanced configuration: Users can access audio settings directly through the app, including configuring the device for Microsoft Teams or Zoom UC&C calls. They can also enable Voice Amplification Mode to enhance the presenter’s voice in the room and ensure remote participants can hear all voices from the room clearly. Voice Amplification Mode is particularly beneficial for optimizing audio quality in larger meeting rooms, classrooms and training rooms.
• Streamlined updates: The Nureva App makes it easy for IT teams to update their HDL310 and HDL410 systems with the latest features for the best experience.
• Coverage map and camera zones: The app includes a feature that generates a map of microphone pickup zones and the location of real-time sound events. Users can create up to eight camera zones that can be mapped to in-room cameras that use Nureva’s sound location data to assist with tracking and switching.
• Voice detection: This new AI-enabled, Nureva-trained algorithm enhances the sound location data for camera tracking by distinguishing human voices from background noise, significantly improving accuracy and ensuring clear communication.
• Camera and control integrations: Customers can use the app to set up their local camera tracking and switching integrations directly on the HDL310 and HDL410 systems.

This past week in Pro AV had some big news as Kramer acquired ZeeVee. With the acquisition, Kramer will significantly expand its AVoIP portfolio, accelerating growth and innovation. ZeeVee’s offering complements Kramer’s existing AVoIP solutions, enabling the company to provide a complete and integrated solution for customers. With deep expertise and a proven track record in 10Gbps technology, ZeeVee solutions help facilitate large-scale and complex deployments. Its medical-grade and certified product line will expand Kramer’s market reach and complement other Kramer solutions in this domain.

You can read all about it by clicking here.

Now, on to what else you may have missed.

People News

Kate Sims and Joe Marchitto Join ASG

Advanced Systems Group recently named two seasoned professionals to high-ranking positions within the organization. Kate Sims joins ASG as VP of strategic accounts, and Joe Marchitto will serve as CTO of strategic accounts. Sims and Marchitto bring extensive expertise in data storage within media workflow infrastructures.

Sims has worked in IT consulting and media technology services for over a decade, most recently as the VP of business development for a Los Angeles-based systems integration firm. In her new role, she oversees relationships between ASG technology partners and clients while spearheading the company’s growth across Southern California.

Marchitto works in partnership with Sims to build upon the established foundation of enterprise clientele in the Los Angeles area. Marchitto was tabbed to contribute his vast technical knowledge to the design and sales of systems to new and existing customers. Prior to joining ASG, Marchitto was the CIO of a systems design firm where he led three engineering teams focused on systems integration, cloud, and media asset management deployments. In addition to managing the engineering teams, he supported many of the firm’s largest global clients as a pre-sales solutions architect.

Riedel Communications Welcomes New Regional Sales Director

Riedel Communications has appointed Pino Barile to the newly created position of regional sales director, west. In this role, Barile oversees the Western regional sales team, focusing on expanding the company’s market presence across the United States and driving further success. Barile collaborates with Eastern regional sales director Dave Caulwell and works closely with key account sales managers, channel management, and business development teams.

Barile brings over 25 years of extensive experience in the broadcast industry, having previously held significant roles at Vizrt and Matrox Video. As sales director for enterprise and sports at Vizrt, Barile played a pivotal role in driving sales growth and developing strategic partnerships across the AMECS region. At Matrox Video, where he spent nearly two decades, Barile excelled as an account manager for the Western United States and Latin America, significantly growing the territory’s market presence through sales, marketing, and strategic partnerships as well as by attending regional and national trade shows to promote the brand.

Company News

Sony joins PSNI Global Alliance

Sony Electronics joined PSNI Global Alliance as a preferred vendor partner. This strategic collaboration aims to enhance the technology solutions offered to customers of PSNI Global Alliance and its Certified Solution Providers (CSPs), providing them with unparalleled access to Sony’s state-of-the-art professional display solutions.

Sony’s inclusion in PSNI Global Alliance is set to benefit customers with innovative and reliable solutions tailored for a wide range of applications, including hybrid workspaces, collaborative classrooms, immersive exhibits, command and control centers, transportation hubs, houses of worship, and retail spaces. The Alliance’s customers will enjoy seamless installation and support, leveraging the collective expertise of PSNI’s CSPs and Sony’s innovative technology.

“We are excited about the opportunities this partnership with PSNI Global Alliance provides," said Rich Ventura, VP of professional display solutions at Sony Electronics. "PSNI is committed to the highest operational standards worldwide and, like Sony, has a no-compromise approach in delivering these standards. We look forward to working closely with PSNI’s Certified Solution Providers to deliver exceptional experiences and transformative solutions to organizations worldwide.”

Key Digital Appoints Excellence Marketing as Manufacturer’s Rep

Key Digital Systems has appointed Excellence Marketing as its manufacturer’s rep for the region encompassing western Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota.

Born in Minnesota and well-established throughout the Upper Midwest region, Excellence Marketing was founded by Ken Simons in 1988. Key Digital joins a roster of brands represented by Excellence Marketing that includes Shure, Absen, Allen & Heath, Ashly, Draper, K&M, Listen Technologies, Lowell, SoundTube and Rockustics by MSE Audio, Solid Drive, Salamander Designs, SKB Cases, and Acoustical Fulfillment.

Draper Adds Three Pro AV Rep Firms

Draper recently added three new independent Pro AV manufacturer representatives.

Image Marketing West now represents Draper Pro AV products in northern California, northern Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Vision2 Marketing West covers southern California, southern Nevada, and Hawaii. UC Technology Partners represents Draper in the northeastern United States including New York (outside the Metro New York City area), Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Introducing the Cassava AI Business Unit

Developing markets technology systems integrator Cassava Technologies has announced that its AI activities will now operate as a separate business unit, Cassava AI.

Since the advent of Generative AI, Cassava has forged strategic partnerships with companies such as Microsoft, Google, AWS, Anthropic, Oracle, Atlas AI, Cerebras, and Palo Alto Networks. These partnerships enable it to offer enhanced systems integration and support to enterprise customers across strategic international markets.

Cassava already provides services such as Data Centers, Cloud, Cyber Security, Fiber Connectivity, and Renewable Energy to large multinational and local companies. The organization has already trained and deployed more than 200 people of its 5000-strong staff to empower customers to adopt and use Generative AI services from an array of vendors.

Ascentae Signs Distribution Agreement with PTZOptics

Ascentae, a U.K. distributor specializing in workplace technology solutions, has a new distribution agreement with PTZOptics. This strategic partnership broadens Ascentae’s range of workplace solutions designed to improve outcomes across meeting and learning environments and opens additional partner relationships across the U.K. and Ireland.

The partnership will provide Ascentae’s customer base with access to the complete range of PTZOptics' solutions, tailored to meet the evolving needs of corporate and education customers and renowned for their exceptional quality, reliability, and advanced features.

The partnership is important as PTZOptics strategically partners with another Ascentae-distributed brand, Nureva. This alliance aims to seamlessly integrate Nureva’s microphone and sound systems with PTZOptics’ innovative camera solutions. The synergy of these technologies promises to enhance virtual collaboration, offering superior clarity, flexibility, and engagement in both remote and hybrid environments.

Barry Sonnenfeld to Deliver Keynote at CEDIA Expo 2024

CEDIA made a big announcement last week: Emmy and Peabody award-winning director Barry Sonnenfeld will serve as this year’s esteemed Keynote speaker at CEDIA Expo 2024.

Sonnenfeld will take the stage to deliver a keynote that promises to be a highlight of the event. Known for his work as a celebrated director and cinematographer, Sonnenfeld is also a passionate home cinema and technology enthusiast. His keynote will explore the critical role of home theaters in delivering an unparalleled cinematic experience, highlighting the contrast between movie production and playback environments. Sonnenfeld will delve into his personal experiences and his belief that movie playback quality is essential to experiencing films as their creators intended. He will share his insights on the significance of sound and visual excellence in home cinemas. Attendees can look forward to hearing about Sonnenfeld's own home theater setup and his vision for achieving an extraordinary home cinema experience.

The keynote will take place on a NEW day and time this year, Thursday, September 5, from 8-9 AM, in the Four Seasons Ballroom at the Colorado Convention Center. It is free for CEDIA Expo attendees.

Pro AV Around the Globe

While AV Network focuses on its North American integrator and manufacturer news, there were some partnerships and news of note across seas. Each week, we'll keep you up to date with new alliances and mergers.

• AtlasIED partners with Australia-based National Audio Systems (NAS). Through this partnership, NAS will sell and distribute AtlasIED’s vast technology catalog, including audio, security, and mass notification technologies. Established in 1998, NAS is a distributor of professional audio and visual brands focused on commercial installation and production markets across Australia and New Zealand. The company’s ethos and focus are to provide the finest solutions, products, and industry-leading customer service.
• AUDIX appointed SONIC Electronics as its MI distribution partner in the Middle East and Africa. With offices in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, Sonic Electronics delivers audiovisual solutions tailored to the unique needs of various industries, including entertainment, corporate, education, defense, government, and hospitality. Sonic Electronics represents a diverse portfolio of technology brands and specializes in professional audio, video, control, lighting, rigging, and stage effects equipment.
• Nureva appoints MadisonAV as a distributor in Australia. Nureva added MadisonAV as a distributor in Australia. As an AV solutions provider, MadisonAV will enhance the visibility and deployment of Nureva’s line of audio conferencing systems in business and education, where hybrid working and learning models are thriving. A 2024 blog article by Jobgether highlights that remote work remains popular in Australia, most notably with employees in professional, administrative and support services, along with education and training. Addressing this demand, MadisonAV is strategically positioned to expand the adoption of Nureva’s revolutionary audio conferencing solutions by Australia’s business enterprises and education institutions.
  
  

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

Thought Leader: Nancy Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer at Nureva

Looking in the rearview mirror for a clear view of the past is so much easier than attempting to gaze into a crystal ball to foresee the future. However, if we could project ourselves out 10 years from now and look back from there, what might we see? I think we’d see an industry filled with products imbued with AI. Whereas today, functionality is hard-coded into products, over the coming decade we’ll experience products designed to anticipate and enhance all our experiences through AI. That’s the key promise of AI—the anticipation of customer needs and then the delivery of an improved experience. Who wouldn’t embrace that future and work toward making it come true?

Today, the earliest implementations are rudimentary and applied to the smaller aspects of products. I’ve no doubt that this will change rapidly, stemming from the eternal driving motivation of product managers to deliver items that delight customers. One AI-enabled idea will beget another, and product improvements and innovations will accelerate, all because of AI. And we’ll soon come to the conclusion that we can’t do without the innovations that AI enables. We expect that AI will deliver something better.

And the cloud? While it’s taking time for the cloud to be fully accepted, it’s inevitable this too will be foundational to future products and experiences. I understand the caution around security concerns. However, there’s so much already in the cloud that we not just use, but fully accept, that it seems futile to question the cloud more generally.

AI and the cloud are not just inevitable but are the key to new and better experiences. And that’s before we even consider performance and costs.

Meeting the rigorous standards of the Zoom collaboration platform, Nureva's HDL310 and HDL410 systems have been certified as pro audio devices for larger Zoom Rooms. The systems are certified by Zoom for a combination of audio performance and Zoom Room functionality. This includes directional audio capability, integrated call control, and automatic device registration. As USB devices, the HDL pro series systems can be easily incorporated into the design of virtually any larger Zoom-enabled space, including classrooms, boardrooms and training spaces. 

[Time to Unpack: 5 Talking Points from InfoComm 2024]

The systems combine one or two wall-mounted microphone and speaker bars with a small connect module to cover spaces up to 35x55 feet (10.7x16.8 m). They can be installed in under an hour and auto-calibrate to the acoustic properties of the room at initial start-up and continuously thereafter. This streamlined setup is made possible by Nureva’s patented Microphone Mist technology, which fills a room with thousands of virtual microphones to deliver the audio pickup and clarity required for an inclusive meeting experience regardless of where participants are located or facing. Monitoring and management of the systems is quick and easy with Nureva Console, a secure, cloud-based platform.

"The demand to outfit large numbers of Zoom-enabled spaces continues to grow as remote collaboration becomes the norm across a broad range of meeting and learning use cases,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “With this certification we are excited to offer IT professionals a streamlined and cost-effective option for deploying Zoom-certified audio in larger spaces where traditional solutions are often costly and complex to set up and maintain.”

[What's In Your Conference Room]

Zoom quickly emerged in the UCC realm since the world went hybrid with 350 million daily meeting and learning participants and 213,000 enterprise customers. As the platform grows, so does the need for high-performing Zoom Room solutions that can be deployed cost-effectively at scale to enable remote collaboration. For larger spaces, many organizations struggle to find audio solutions that effectively meet this need. Plug-and-play audio systems designed for small spaces are underpowered for larger spaces, while multicomponent Pro AV systems can be expensive and complex to set up and manage. 

Nureva’s HDL pro series audio systems address these challenges, providing enhanced performance in large and extra-large spaces in a plug-and-play solution that is easy to deploy and manage at scale. They are the ideal audio component for any larger Zoom Rooms rollout that requires a combination of pro audio performance, rapid implementation and painless remote management. Nureva also has ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, the standard for information security management. This, along with Zoom Room certification, gives IT professionals the confidence that Nureva products deliver the highest standards of performance, integration, and security.

The hype around generative AI is recent, but Pro AV has been applying smart technology and artificial intelligence for a while. What has members of this industry excited is how quickly these systems are evolving, as well as their potential to revolutionize not only the end user experience but how systems are designed and deployed as well.

[Hybrid: The Next Generation]

In the hybrid meeting environment, for example, smart cameras and audio processing technology are leveraging AI to improve conferencing. “If we talk about intelligent edge devices, pretty much there isn’t a single manufacturer that is building any kind of conference room technology where AI isn’t a central part of how the camera is framing the image and composing what we view,” noted Julian Phillips, SVP of global workplace solutions and managing director of the AVI-SPL Experience Technology Group (XTG). "Thanks to AI-driven audio processing, meetings are no longer interrupted by the sound of crinkling papers and tapping pens. With AI, now we have the ability to isolate a lot of those noises and concentrate on the real conversation that’s going on.”

Phillips believes that Pro AV is well-positioned to leverage artificial intelligence—more so than others in the tech space. “I think the sooner that we in the AV industry understand the advantages that we have, we will create the next big surge of growth,” he said.

This is because for AI to be trained well, it requires solid data. AV professionals are experts in deploying cameras and microphones—what Phillips argues are among the most powerful sensors out there, capable of capturing, processing, and analyzing rich data in real time. “We know about camera technology. We know about microphones. We also know how to network them,” Phillips said. “It’s a natural advantage we have that puts us in a very powerful position.”

For example, imagine an industrial manufacturer that wishes to streamline its production process. By analyzing video feeds, AI could suggest how to cut costs while at the same time speed up operations. 3D augmented and virtual reality models can assist clients in visualizing how these modifications would look on a practical level.

 [Blueprint for Success: CAIO and Arrivederci]

“And guess what? When that [new] factory is built, just think about all the AV that’s going to be in there—the cameras and microphones watching what’s going on, ingesting information, analyzing it, and spitting it out onto large visual displays or [into] control rooms that are monitoring the way the factory is run,” Phillips illustrated.

The Sales Pitch

The hype surrounding AI makes it difficult for customers to determine how this technology can actually help them. Christopher Pennell, industry principal at research firm Frost & Sullivan, noted that the organizations his company works with are trying to understand how AI can solve their business challenges. This means AV integrators should focus on selling solutions rather than specific technology.

“It’s not trying to sell AI per se," Pennel offered. "It’s trying to understand the challenge that the customer is trying to use AI to address."

In some cases, AI may be the best way to resolve these issues—while in others, it may be overkill. AV integrators can play a key role in helping their customers navigate this landscape. “The cost may put a client off doing something, or it might just be that it over-engineers the solution [and] locks down a client to a certain approach that they might not want in two or three years,” Pennel said.

AI also has a role in expediting an AV integrator’s internal functions. Keith Yandell, vice president of innovation at AVI Systems, noted that his organization is exploring how AI can help project teams draft proposals faster. “The scope is an all-important piece of our business: It puts a fence around responsibilities,” Yandell said. “[We’re] leaning on AI—Copilot and other tools—to help us write a scope quickly and work with our customer to understand the job at hand, get it underway, and get it done.”

Managed services is one area where Yandell sees the demand for AI-driven solutions gaining traction, particularly when it comes to monitoring and management. “When a device triggers some kind of alert, how much automation can we have around sending queries to that device to get a better idea of what’s failing so that we can solve the problem sooner?” he asked. “That’s where, on the managed services side, AI is becoming attractive to our customers.”

Keep It Secure

The problem with public, cloud-based AI tools is that they’re public. That means the data these solutions are trained on is available to anyone. If an AV firm is using these systems to generate proposals, it’s potentially sharing its intellectual property with the competition, Yandell noted.

[Cybersecurity and Pro AV]

For this reason, organizations across every industry need to define clear parameters for good security hygiene as it applies to AI. Phillips argued the best way to do this is to bring AI in-house and establish rules for data governance and security without restricting users to the point where they go rogue. “You’ve got to enable people to experiment with this stuff,” he said, “but make people aware of the obligations they have with regards to security.”

There are also the legalities to consider, noted Sam Kennedy, senior director of product marketing at Crestron. “Certain AI programs that can identify an individual speaker—literally putting a name to a face—are illegal in some U.S. states and global jurisdictions,” he said.

Ethics is another area of concern. Should employers really be using AI to discern what moods meeting participants are in—and then save that information for future reference? And how well can artificial intelligence differentiate between real anger, sarcasm, or simply kidding around?

“This is why an AI program—especially those that are generative or meant to act as a virtual assistant—should default to ‘opt-in,’” Kennedy said. In other words, the system won’t capture this data unless participants allow it to.

The same could be said for conferencing platforms that allow users to create personal voice profiles that are then automatically recognized by the system and stored by the platform developer. “I think the most interesting question is: Are you willing, as a participant in corporate life, to sign up for being a trusted participant?” challenged David Martin, co-founder and CTO at Nureva. “Those are the types of questions that will be facing all of us as we move forward with these types of technologies.”

For TJ Adams, vice president of systems product strategy and development at Q-SYS, the issues related AI security in Pro AV should be an ongoing conversation. “We need to keep talking about this as cultural norms evolve alongside our AI technology adoption journey,” he said. He acknowledged that there may be no easy answers to questions, for example, about privacy and the treatment of user data—at least not yet. “However, if we stay watchful, empathetic, and ethical, we can handle it with integrity together.”

Here are some of the people moves and partnerships you may have missed. 

Partnerships and Company News

Shure, Neat Partner to Enhance the Meeting Experience

Shure and Neat have partnered to deliver an enhanced meeting experience in large and acoustically challenging spaces. By joining forces, Shure and Neat ensure seamless integration between Neat Bar Pro, a video meeting bar from Neat, and multiple Shure Microflex Ecosystem Solutions, providing uncompromised audio and video in complex workspaces. 

The innovative combination of Shure and Neat provides a simple, easy-to-install solution that is scalable to any room type. While Neat Bar Pro delivers enhanced video quality that can auto-frame, zoom in on and follow each in-room participants individually, no matter where they’re positioned, devices from the Microflex Ecosystem extend Neat video deployments into larger and more complex spaces, delivering clear, natural sound with different form factors to keep spaces aesthetically pleasing with reliable performance.

For large boardrooms or spaces where key participants need to be seen and heard anywhere they sit, the Shure Microflex Advance MXA902 Integrated Conferencing Ceiling Array and Shure’s ANIUSB-MATRIX USB Audio Network interface provide pristine audio while Neat Bar Pro captures video throughout the room, providing simple and reliable room coverage in even the most demanding spaces.

For conferencing environments like all-hands training rooms and divisible spaces, the combination of  Neat Bar Pro with the popular Microflex Advance MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone, an IntelliMix P300 Audio Conferencing Processor and MXN5W-C Networked Loudspeaker provides advanced features and functionality for a consistent and scalable solution.

News from the AVI Systems Global Sales Summit

It was a busy week at the AVI Global Sales Summit. Here is what you may have missed. 

NEW VELOCITY LOGISTICS CENTER DELIVERS MEETING ROOM SOLUTIONS WITH SPEED AND EFFICIENCY

The company launched its new Velocity Logistics Center (VLC) in Flower Mound, TX, expanding on the company’s Velocity brand. The VLC is part of AVI’s new 40,000-square-foot Customer Experience Center to be completed this summer.

The Velocity Logistics Center streamlines the entire ordering and deployment process, offering a factory-like approach to assembly, testing, logistics planning and installation. This manufacturing approach ensures consistent quality and speed from order to deployment. The VLC has been designed for AVI customers who need to quickly deploy 20-1,000 or more standard meeting room systems across their organizations.

AVI customers can choose from a variety of pre-configured Velocity Certified solutions ranging from meeting rooms and workspaces to digital signage solutions. At-the-ready Velocity designs adhere to the latest industry standards and best practices for the modern workplace and offer a variety of optional features that can be added based on unique needs. In addition, Velocity Certification can be completed using a customer’s unique standards, allowing systems to be available on-demand with consistent pricing.

AVI SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS TEAM TO CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN $110,000 TO THE AVIXA FOUNDATION’S BRAD SOUSA IMPACT FUND

Contributions and pledges to the Brad Sousa Impact Fund established by AVIXA earlier this year have exceeded $110,000.

“We contacted dozens of our technology solution partners recently and have obtained a tremendous response to our request to contribute to the Brad Sousa Impact Fund,” said Jeff Stoebner, CEO at AVI Systems. “The generosity of our partners is overwhelming, and we hope others will make contributions as well in memory of Brad.”

Brad Sousa passed away on November 8, 2023, at the age of 62. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and mentor. Professionally, Brad was instrumental in his role as Chief Technology Officer at AVI Systems and also served on the AVIXA Board of Directors and on the board of the AVIXA Foundation.

Following Sousa’s death, the Brad Sousa Impact Fund was established by AVIXA in January 2024. This fund supports the AVIXA Foundation’s work with a key focus on developing audiovisual and digital transformation professionals and their understanding of each other’s overlapping needs. Grants made from the fund will support people, programs and partnerships – with a focus on developing audiovisual and digital transformation professionals and their understanding of each other's overlapping needs

AVI SYSTEMS LAUNCHES NEW EXPERIENCES FOR THE MODERN WORKPLACE 

AVI Systems launched its new customer-focused offering called the AVI Experience. This initiative provides prospects and customers interested in professional audiovisual, unified collaboration, Microsoft solutions, digital media, and broadcast solutions with multiple opportunities to connect with AVI at major events throughout the United States.

The AVI Experience comprises a series of events and exhibitions designed to give customers firsthand access to AVI's innovative solutions and expertise.

AVI Experiences include:

AVI LIVE: Held four times each year, AVI LIVE exhibitions provide attendees with immersive experiences and demonstrations of cutting-edge technology offerings offered by dozens of leading technology solution providers in an exhibit show setting. Each AVI LIVE also includes a keynote presentation and panel discussion led by thought leaders in the industry. The next four AVI LIVE events will be held in Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Kansas City.

AVI Connect: Regional AVI Connect events happen six times each year at AVI Systems’ office locations. These locations feature customer experience centers where individuals can see modern workplace solutions in real office environments. AVI Connect events offer decision makers the opportunity to engage with AVI experts and explore the latest audiovisual solutions in a location that’s convenient for them. AVI’s offices in Chicago, Denver, Boston, San Diego and Dallas will all host AVI Connect events in the months ahead.

AVI/Magenium Modern Workplace Events: Hosted quarterly at Magenium’s Microsoft Experience Center in Chicago, these events focus on the modern workplace, showcasing AVI and Magenium's comprehensive range of solutions tailored to support hybrid and remote work environments.

AVI Systems’ Microsoft Executive Summit: Held each March in Redmond, Wash., this exclusive event offers senior IT and workplace transformation executives an opportunity to engage with top thought leaders from Microsoft, learning about the latest trends and developments in the Microsoft ecosystem. 

Bose Professional Introduces New Hybrid Sales Model

Bose Professional launched its new U.S. sales organization. Acquired in April 2023 by Transom Capital, an operations-focused private equity firm, Bose Professional retained its core engineering, product management and marketing teams at launch and has been building and expanding its autonomous operations and infrastructure at a rapid pace over the last four quarters. 

The new sales model includes a  mix of in-house sales managers and engineers, independent sales firms, and a new, service-oriented website. New U.S. representative firms include SK Macdonald (SKMac) serving the Mid-Atlantic and New York metropolitan areas, Audio Biz assisting customers in the Midwest, and HWPCo representing the Southeast. In addition, Bose Professional’s U.S. team has been reengineered to provide additional regional focus and customer support, with Paxson Laird, regional sales manager, East, and Katie Stewart, regional sales manager, Central/West, leading expanded sales engineering and design support teams.

In addition to announcing their new sales model, Bose Professional has also launched a new website which includes Bose Professional’s complete collection of extensive training modules and a new document library, designed to provide integrators and consultants immediate access to critical files and specifications.

Nureva Joins HETMA as Platinum Partner

Nureva has joined the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) as an Annual Platinum Partner. As a platinum partner, Nureva can more broadly introduce its breakthrough audio conferencing systems that deliver the simplicity and value essential for larger classrooms. The company’s products are increasingly chosen by prestigious higher education institutions throughout the United States, such as Harvard Medical School, Georgetown University, Penn State University, The University of Arizona, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of California, Berkeley.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2024: Nancy Knowlton]

Powered by Microphone Mist technology, Nureva audio systems offer unparalleled adaptability for both HyFlex and hybrid learning environments, without the cost and complexity of a traditional system. Thousands of virtual microphones fill larger classrooms and meeting rooms to pick up voices in every inch of the space, and in-room voice amplification means students will hear clearly—whether they’re in the classroom or participating remotely. Nureva’s products incorporate many features that have been specifically designed to address the needs of higher education technology managers—including autocalibration, which means IT teams can be assured that when rooms are rearranged to accommodate various classes, the audio simply adjusts. Nureva’s camera zones feature for the HDL410 system also keeps hybrid classes engaging by using sound location data to enable automated multi-camera switching in larger classrooms without any additional software or specialized technical expertise.

Project Audio Visual acquired by AVPM Group

Project Audio Visual has been acquired by AVPM Group, joining as sister company to audiovisual retailer AV Partsmaster, creating a new market leading integration and retail opportunity.

Combining resources, specialisms, and technical experience, the alliance will offer a full turnkey solution for AV services, from project inception to completion for SMB and enterprise customers.

The businesses will work across U.K. and European markets initially, with plans to expand into other territories in 2024. Project Audio Visual will bring its ecosystem knowledge to the group, with certification with Microsoft, Google, and all of the key brands in the market.

Xyte Expands Partnerships with HDBaseT Alliance Member Companies

Xyte has deepened its partnership with HDBaseT Alliance members to empower and accelerate various business areas within the audiovisual technology industry. With new features like Xyte Connect, new capabilities like SSH Tunneling, and numerous other applications for asset management, remote support, and e-commerce and subscription management, Xyte Device Cloud (XDC) is simplifying and refining how HDBaseT Alliance members serve their value chains.

Valens, a pioneer in AV and IT convergence solutions, leverages XDC to expand HDBaseT chipset monitoring capabilities, enhancing connectivity and device management for its HDBaseT chipsets and enabling seamless integration with an integrated cloud environment. Valens has expanded its implementation of XDC for monitoring and management of its evaluation kits, providing invaluable support to manufacturers (including for product development), integrators and end-users.

Xyte has since extended its collaboration with industry-leading companies in the HDBaseT Alliance such as Legrand, AVPro Edge, and WyreStorm, highlighting XDC's growing prominence across the AV ecosystem. These companies, among others, recognize Xyte as the emerging industry standard, leveraging its innovative solutions to meet evolving market demands.

Korbyt Now Offers Webex by Cisco

Introducing Korbyt Anywhere for Webex, expanding the company’s platform to any Cisco device within the Webex ecosystem. This enables corporate users to use Cisco devices as they would any other digital signage endpoint, maximizing the utilization and impact of network-connected screens throughout the organization. This is the latest in a series of platform-specific product innovations to facilitate communication and collaboration across a range of different corporate environments.

Korbyt Anywhere for Cisco devices makes it possible to schedule and display content on any Cisco Desk or Room device with ease. All digital signage endpoints are managed as a single platform, enhancing the meeting room experience and extending the reach of an organization’s internal communications network. Setup is simple, with no additional hardware required. Simply connect your Webex account with Korbyt Anywhere and the system automatically provisions your devices to Korbyt to enable more impactful communication throughout the organization.

Korbyt enables network administrators to provision players in bulk, whereas other solutions often require the labor-intensive process of provisioning players individually. Korbyt also supports the full range of Cisco devices, including Desk, Board and Room series devices. Korbyt also integrates with Cisco Spaces to provide even deeper integration into the workspace environment to visualize real-time occupancy and other physical workspace metrics.

PK Sound Welcomes Calgary’s UVS to Growing Partner Network

PK Sound has welcomed Calgary, Canada-based live production company Unlimited Video Staging (UVS) to its growing partner network following the company’s investment in a T8 robotic line source system. UVS has already taken advantage of T8’s patented Multi-Axis Robotics to mitigate noise pollution while still delivering high-impact live entertainment in densely populated urban areas. ACT Entertainment is the exclusive distributor of PK Sound in North America.

“UVS has a longstanding reputation as a national leader in video production technologies and services, so when we decided to expand our offerings into live audio, we sought cutting-edge solutions that would elevate the experiences we deliver for our clients and partners,” says Aaron Buchanan, Founder and CEO of UVS. “PK Sound’s robotic line arrays sound incredible and offer an unprecedented degree of control in shaping acoustic coverage to the contours of any venue or environment our work may take us.”

The company’s initial investment includes twenty-four T8 robotic line source elements and twelve T18 intelligent subwoofers. The system is driven by a PK Cell, which combines power, signal and data distribution in a modular, globally standardized touring rack, and is controlled via PK .dynamics software.

People on the Move

Barbara Barry to Head Up Sports Division at SNA Displays

SNA Displays has hired Barbara Barry to lead its sports division. Working out of the company’s New York headquarters, Barry joins with an extensive career in collegiate and pro sports digital signage, having supported organizations such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Baltimore Orioles, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks, Orlando City Soccer Club, Arizona State University, and Penn State University.

“My clients know I’m in it for the long haul,” said Barry, who joins the company as director of sales. “I relate to people at every level of business and management, and the goal is simple: build trust and cultivate long-standing relationships. I’m most excited to apply my knowledge of and passion for the service side of the sports industry to a sales role at SNA Displays.”

Barry has worked the better part of two decades with ANC where she held senior director positions in venue services and project management. She was responsible for relationship management of more than 150 clients, including a decade-long relationship with the National Basketball Association to design and provide signage and court setup for NBA All-Star weekend. She also ran and lived in the NBA Bubble, the bio-secure area created to protect NBA players and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked closely with NBA2K on the design, installation, and operation of their studio.

Listen Technologies Promotes Mikey Shaffer to Senior Sales Director

Listen Technologies has promoted Mikey Shaffer to senior sales director. In this role, Shaffer leads the Listen Technologies sales team and is the primary liaison for dealer channels, regional sales managers, independent manufacturers’ sales representatives, and distributors in North America. 

Shaffer joined Listen Technologies in 2016 and has held marketing, and vertical market and regional sales roles within the organization. Most recently, she was consultant liaison at Listen Technologies and worked directly with the AV consultant community. She will continue to liaise with this group and regularly host webinars and meetings to ensure they are up to date on all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and global accessibility compliance requirements.

Previously, Shaffer worked with the local deaf and hard of hearing community in Utah to provide solutions for their telecommunications needs. Shaffer’s curiosity, eagerness to learn, and passion for helping others paved the way for her to excel in sales roles and will serve her in this new position.

Audio-Technica Expands Its Team Dedicated to the Broadcast and Production

Audio-Technica is expanding its team dedicated to the broadcast and production market. Longtime A-T employee Gary Dixon has been promoted to the newly created position of Audio-Technica U.S. director, broadcast business development. He will report directly to Kurt Van Scoy, Audio-Technica U.S. VP and officer, products, business alliances and marketing. Additionally, Dixon’s team will be supported by the following new appointments: Ben Cochran (engineering and technology advisor) and Brent Chamberlin (broadcast sales engineer). This team will have the combined focus and responsibility for the sales, strategy, support and product development for the broadcast division.

In his new role, Dixon will focus on strengthening relationships and developing new partnerships with broadcasters, production companies, rights holders, channel partners and service providers. As part of A-T’s ambitious growth plans for the broadcast market, Dixon will also work closely with the company’s Product and Engineering teams to bring the best of A-T’s innovative solutions to broadcast and production customers across the Americas region.

Dixon’s diverse background covering broadcast applications, including sports and special events, will serve him in his new role. His 20-year career includes work in commercial audio markets, system solutions at Audio-Technica, and owning his own systems design and installation business. He also has many years’ experiences in the community broadcast markets with freelance work and volunteering at Hudson Community Television (Hudson, OH). Over his 10 years at A-T, Dixon has assisted the company in driving sales through technical presentations; worked closely with sales, marketing, audio solutions, and product managers to deploy marketing/technical documents for the successful application of A-T products in professional applications; and established and maintained positive industry relationships. More recently, he has created strategic plans for professional broadcast-related exposure and obtained his Certified Product Marketing Manager status from AIPMM, just to name a few.

Cochran will provide technical direction on new and existing products for professional broadcast. Cochran’s 10-plus years with the company include product testing and engineering, research and development, and membership in various standards committees and new technology organizations. His background is heavily focused on microphone development and audio-over-IP solutions. He brings years of technical and hands-on experience with IP audio systems and their market-specific requirements. Cochran also contributes his great understanding of the broadcast and livestreaming markets, specifically within the house of worship markets as a long-time volunteer and church staff member. His diverse background will be employed toward designing products that push Audio-Technica’s professional broadcast offerings into the future of media production.

Chamberlin will focus on developing new accounts with broadcasters, production companies, rights holders, channel partners, and service providers. His ten-plus years at A-T have been focused on technical support of all A-T products. He also has participated in the summer and winter games to support the application of A-T products for the host broadcaster. He is a multi-faceted engineer and musician. He loves to capture sound from behind an audio console just as much as creating music in front of a microphone. His passion for audio has driven him to embrace various roles within the industry. He is an advocate for audio education and continually applies his interest and skillset toward diverse, audio-related projects. 

AVT Question: Please share your insight into trends that will play a role in hybrid workplace culture, space planning, and technologies in 2024.

Thought Leader: Nancy Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer at Nureva

Looking back, it’s easy to see that everyone was scrambling during the pandemic. Action was better than no action. Then, teams were preparing for the inevitable return to the office, outfitting rooms to hold connected meetings. Little time was spent on getting the right products installed—they just had to get something into the rooms.

Post-pandemic, we’re now witnessing a move from continuity to quality. Companies are quietly getting the right tools in place. They’ve moved on from keeping the doors open and business working—continuity—to delivering the right experience—quality.

My most recent customer visits have all been about replacing under-powered audio systems with more robust systems that can handle the demands of larger spaces. Customers are sometimes a bit sheepish about the choices they made when everyone was scrambling, but they shouldn’t be. The systems now being
replaced can be easily redeployed into spaces somewhere else within the organization—even into offices.

One other trend that is beginning to emerge is the testing and evaluation being done by IT teams. There was a time when virtually everyone would rely on their integrator to design their rooms and make choices about the technology that went into them. Some customers want more control over this selection process. They feel empowered to do this because more products are plug-and-play and certified for Microsoft Teams and other UC&C applications. Where once they might have wanted a full, end-to-end solution from one provider to ensure compatibility, they now can get the best of the best, creating their own solution from the ground up and keeping it refreshed with replaceable components over time.

The key takeaway is that teams are learning and adapting. Everything is better than it was and not as good as it will be.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office and European Patent Office have issued three additional patents for Nureva's Microphone Mist technology. The patent authorities have acknowledged Nureva’s approach to intelligent sound targeting, position-based gain control, and echo cancellation, all of which help to deliver the clear and natural speech intelligibility that benefits remote students and meeting participants. The patents represent the latest additions to the company’s active and growing intellectual property portfolio, which provides Nureva with significant opportunities to develop new products and enhancements.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2024: Nancy Knowlton]

“These three new patents further validate the completely original approach we have taken to delivering great audio in larger collaboration spaces,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “Our investment in the Microphone Mist technology platform continues to create exciting opportunities to bring unique and compelling value to our customers.”

Understanding Each Patent

• US 11,689,849 discloses the ability of the microphone array to preemptively identify semi-persistent unwanted sound sources such as HVAC systems and fans and exclude them during the targeting process. These intelligent sound identification capabilities elegantly and efficiently enhance the listening experience.
• US 11,635,937 discloses the ability of the microphone array to use sound-source position-based gain control processing to make specific optimizations to the microphone system. This approach optimizes the talker’s gain while maintaining ambient noise at a quieter and more consistent level, enabling more natural conversations. Additionally, it effectively overcomes the limitations and distractions caused by common issues with automatic gain control hysteresis and level pumping.
• EP 3791565 discloses the use of residual echo estimate information to derive secondary echo reduction parameters. This approach significantly enhances the acoustic return echo cancellation performance, ensuring talkers don’t hear their own voice in their headset or speaker after speaking, regardless of the UC&C client being used.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nureva founders Nancy Knowlton and David Martin have each been awarded a prestigious Meritorious Service Medal. As part of the Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division), the medals were awarded to the couple for their exceptional contributions to improving educational opportunities for young people in Canada and abroad. Knowlton and Martin were recognized at a ceremony on March 21.

[Nureva's Big Week: New Partnerships with Q-SYS and MAXHUB]

Presented by Governor General Mary Simon, the Meritorious Service Decorations recognize remarkable Canadians for their extraordinary accomplishments and contributions that bring honor to Canada. Encouraging excellence is at the core of every governor general’s mandate, and the Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) are among the highest Canadian distinctions that can be awarded.

“Dave and I are honored to receive this distinction and be included in the company of so many distinguished Canadians who have made such important contributions to the country and the world,” said Knowlton. “It has been our absolute pleasure to play a part in serving the needs of educators globally over the past 30 years.”

Tech visionaries and married team Knowlton and Martin have a substantial track record in the Pro AV and IT arenas. Martin, Nureva’s CTO, is driven by a deep understanding of technology trends and how technology solutions can make life better in business. Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO and recent inductee into the SCN Hall of Fame, is regarded as a global expert on technology adoption in education. The couple founded SMART Technologies in 1987 and launched Nureva in 2014.

Both have always been passionate about the value of education and its role in changing lives and creating a better world. That passion is evident in the SMART Board interactive whiteboards that transformed millions of classrooms worldwide during the couple’s 25 years at the helm of SMART Technologies. Today, Nureva employs a team of 160 people and has more than 40 patents for its Microphone Mist technology.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thought Leader: Omer Brookstein, Chief Executive Officer at Xyte

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thought Leader: Kevin Morrison, Chief Executive Officer at Utelogy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thought Leader: George Walter, Senior Executive at Digital Projection

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

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

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

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

Thought Leader: Bob Michaels, Chief Executive Officer at ZeeVee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thought Leader: Joshua Rush, Chief Marketing Officer at Audinate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch this space!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With 2023 behind us, the work we accomplished last year has set the stage for an extraordinary year ahead. As an audio and communications technology solutions manufacturer, we design products that help customers solve their most complicated challenges, providing safety or bringing delight to their businesses and venues. With an already expansive portfolio serving many markets, in 2024, we'll continue to expand our loudspeaker lineup with more premium-tier offerings, building upon the foundation of quality and reliability built over the more than 85 years AtlasIED has been in business. 

In 2023, we announced a partnership with Fyne Audio that helped us offer customers a new premium line of point-source loudspeakers. At ISE 2024 in Barcelona, we announced a significant equity stake in German loudspeaker manufacturer Aimline. Through the investment, we've introduced a new line of column loudspeakers, including digitally steerable and passive models. Both investments allow us to offer excellent-quality loudspeakers for various applications and broaden our offerings for customers who need greater variety. In addition, you’ll see more strategic partnerships from AtlasIED this year that will support the growth of our security-focused mass communications solutions.

In addition to hardware, AtlasIED designs and manufactures multiple software-based audio platform solutions. One key area of focus for our product teams in 2024 is to continue to innovate and provide value to customers who already own our products. Through our software-based platforms, such as Atmosphere, customers with these systems will receive new features through free software updates to extend the functionality and usable product lifespan.

We're excited to continue to delight our customers, and to show how our premium loudspeakers help make a difference in retail, hospitality, corporate, entertainment, education, and transportation. Here's to growth, partnerships, and enriching the customer experience in 2024.

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

Thought Leader: Zach Snook, Director of Product Management at Biamp 

AV and IT leaders across mid- to enterprise-level businesses need to think not just about how they accommodate a distributed workforce within a hybrid work environment, but also about how best to leverage a scaled-down physical office footprint. 

A smaller office space creates a need to be more intentional and strategic with how that space is utilized across individual offices, shared workspaces, and conference rooms. In response, organizations are increasingly adopting benching and hoteling strategies.

Benching promotes collaboration and interaction among in-office employees. Instead of assigned cubicles, employees share open workspaces, creating a more dynamic and collaborative environment. Benching fosters communication, encourages teamwork, and can optimize office space utilization. 

Meanwhile, hoteling takes the concept of flexible workspaces a step further. Instead of having dedicated workstations, employees reserve desks or meeting rooms as needed. This approach allows for maximum flexibility, as employees can choose the most suitable workspace based on their specific tasks and requirements. Hoteling is particularly beneficial for organizations with a significant portion of their workforce operating remotely.

Organizations, therefore, must address issues like equitable access to workplace technology, effective communication in hybrid settings, maintaining company culture with a distributed workforce, and making it quick and easy for employees to reserve shared in-office resources—such as a workstation in a benching or hoteling environment—from anywhere. 

Reserving office resources quickly and easily, and integrating a scheduling system with other office technologies such as conferencing solutions and unified communication platforms is now easier than ever thanks to the convergence of scheduling software and hardware within the corporate IT environment. 

Those organizations that can master scheduling within effective conferencing AV ecosystems, including unified communication tools, will generate the most employee delight in hybrid work environments well into the future. 

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

Thought Leader: Effi Goldstein, President of HDBaseT Alliance

The non-stop adoption of peripherals requiring USB connectivity and extension puts innovations improving the experience for both installers and end users at the top of our 2024 roadmap.

Considering the proliferation of the BYOD trend, the growing demand for multi-camera support, along with the EU’s standardization of USB-C, there is a strong need for a reliable extension with plug-and-play simplicity over a cost-effective cabling infrastructure. As more of these devices come out with USB 3.0, the call for high-performance connectivity is becoming evident.

With that in mind, we are once again leading the way in answering what our industry demands, with the introduction of the all-new HDBaseT-USB3 standard. This new technology provides a professional-grade extension of not only USB 2.0, but USB 3.2, controls, power, and frame synchronization up to 328 feet (100m) over a single Category cable. The first wave of more than a dozen of these solutions supporting HDBaseT-USB3 was on display in our booth at ISE in February 2024.

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

Thought Leader: Karen Smidt, Senior Director of Marketing at Legrand | AV

In 2024, we’re excited to expand on our corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to support the values of our industry.

We continue to meet the goals of our fifth CSR roadmap, including the promotion of diversity and inclusion; reducing our carbon footprint; promoting the circular economy; and being a highly principled, ethical business partner. Each of these priorities includes measurable goals such as upskilling 85 percent of employees with seven hours of training each year, reducing single-use plastic in packaging, and achieving 30 percent of women in manager positions (to name just a few). We’ll be starting a new roadmap in 2025, so look for these initiatives to evolve using feedback from our employees, customers, and industry.

In November, we passed the ISO 27001 audit and continue to work toward certification to ensure our connectivity solutions meet cybersecurity standards. Being able to reassure end users that their AV system will hold up under stress is even more important in hybrid work environments, and Legrand will continue to make it a priority. 

We expect digital signage to continue playing a larger role in installations, with our brands working together behind the display to fulfill the promise of exceptional audience experiences. Look for exciting new options specifically from Chief in this area. 

Middle Atlantic will be building on the success of the Forum Collaboration Suite with new offerings in the series, and Da-Lite will expand Sightline options to additional screen sizes. Collaboration spaces are going to look incredible with these aesthetic-forward options!

Also in the collaboration space, we’re looking forward to finding new ways to enhance the Microsoft Teams Rooms experience after the success of outfitting two of these spaces at Microsoft headquarters in 2023. 

It’s going to be an exciting year for AV, and we are excited to see what challenges our integration partners can address with Legrand | AV.

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

Thought Leader: Brad Hintze, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing at Crestron

The organizations we provide solutions for have been through many, many tumultuous changes over the past several years. Our focus for 2024 is helping businesses as they come out the other side of that tumult—how do we help them scale their technological deployments so they can accomplish what they need to do now?

For example: Everybody was focused on video conferencing for the duration of the pandemic and its aftermath, but now priorities have shifted. Our clients are asking themselves, “What’s the new culture within our organization, now that more of our staff is returning to the office? How do we collaborate more effectively in person with the occasional virtual meeting attendee?”

During that period, we spoke a lot about meeting equity, and there’s been an interesting shift in that regard. Meeting equity was initially about virtual meetings, but if you expand that to the culture of collaboration within an organization—whether that’s a virtual meeting, an in-person meeting, or asynchronous chats and email and so on—maintaining that culture becomes critical. 

Technology can be incredibly useful in helping to define, establish, and enable a collaboration culture within an organization. Our core technologies are built for fostering just that: Crestron Control solutions, Crestron Flex Video Conferencing, DM NVX AV-over-IP, 1 Beyond speaker tracking cameras, and AirMedia wireless presentation and conferencing systems. They’re all built for intuitive, seamless operations that allow collaborators to meet, create, and ideate without thinking about the tech driving the experience. Refining those solutions means that their users will have more time to collaborate without concerning themselves with the way a space works. Our focus is on creating more of those solutions and refining them—all while maintaining the best-in-class reputation we’ve come to be known for.

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

Thought Leader: Kim Franklin, Vice President of Global Marketing at Listen Technologies

At Listen Technologies, we pride ourselves on innovation and believe that everyone deserves the same great listening experience. Our vision is to revolutionize the way people connect, communicate, and engage through seamless audio experiences.

As smartphones and wearables such as hearing aids, earbuds, and headphones evolve, Listen Technologies continues to bring creative, flexible solutions to market that support these advances in user technology and help people hear clearly. Our newest products and solutions reflect the future of assistive listening and wireless audio.

The next generation of audio over Wi-Fi, ListenWIFI, features a dedicated receiver, beacons, a new server, and enhanced software to simplify venue management, and provides a better experience for venues and guests.

Additionally, Listen Technologies and Ampetronic have partnered both to create a single, market-leading source for innovative audio solutions, and to bring new technologies to market. Together, we are developing the first complete installed assistive listening system utilizing Auracast broadcast audio technology, to be released later this year. This new platform will transform the way hearing assistance is delivered in public spaces.

In a world where sound is a crucial part of how we connect, learn, and experience, Listen Technologies is not just an industry leader; we are dedicated to improving life's experiences through sound. In this ever-changing landscape of technology innovation, we will continue to be at the forefront of development, revolutionizing the way individuals connect and experience sound. We are excited about the future and proud to help end users engage in the things they enjoy.

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

Thought Leader: Colin Mahoney, Product Marketing Manager at HARMAN Professional Solutions

Our goal at HARMAN Professional is to develop innovative audio, video, control, and lighting solutions that create experiences which make life more productive and entertaining.

Our most recent product introductions from AMX prove we are on a clear trajectory toward open standards, interoperability, flexibility, and ease of use. The MUSE Automation platform is capable of simultaneously processing multiple standard scripting languages and supporting no-code and low-code development, opening the possibilities for technicians and IT managers of all skillsets to deliver advanced automation with the tools they’re most comfortable using. Varia touch panels have an app-based design which allows them to adapt to the unique needs of any environment. They are pre-loaded with apps that enable them to be used as standard AMX control panels or AMX Book Room Scheduling panels, of course, but they can also be configured as dedicated interfaces for Web apps or custom Android apps. And our new series of networked AV encoders and decoders, the N2600s and N3300s, both include support for Dante AV and an open control API.

At the same time, we have built upon our core strengths of security and reliability. Our solutions include professional-grade hardware and leverage a common secure OS, the latest IP security and management technologies, and are put through the most rigorous government security testing.

In 2024, we will build upon these latest platforms, but we’re also proud to be introducing an entirely new open architecture DSP platform. The BSS Soundweb OMNI Series combines purpose-built hardware with intuitive software that offers the flexibility of centralized or distributed DSP. This platform shares many of the technologies seen in HARMAN products from AMX including the secure OS, open HControl communication protocol, and integrated MUSE control. The BSS Soundweb OMNI Series exemplifies our philosophy of open standards, interoperability, flexibility, and ease of use and will enable a new level of holistic installed AV solutions from HARMAN Professional.

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

Thought Leader: Spiro Plagakis, Vice President of Product Management at Matrox Video

Matrox Video has been around since 1976. Our longevity is due primarily to the quality and reliability of our products and our ability to adapt to changing customer and market needs. Case in point: We anticipated the shift to IP and networked products years ago, and our product roadmap evolved not only to reflect that transition, but to make it as easy as possible to install, configure, and integrate IP-based products into existing infrastructure.

As part of that effort, we’ve long championed open standards to ensure maximum flexibility and compatibility (hence our leadership in ST 2110 and now IPMX.) Avoiding proprietary implementations whenever possible means we can also maximize interoperability, including with third parties. This is part of our DNA.

Matrox Video was among the first companies to offer ST 2110 products when that standard first came to market, and we continue to support it heavily. Now we’re working toward making IPMX a standard and expanding our product line to support it.

Our involvement with IPMX reflects our understanding of the challenges associated with shifting to IP infrastructure, as does our first IPMX-ready product line, Matrox ConvertIP Series.

We see a future driven by IP, and 2024 is shaping up to be an inflection point for IPMX. The standard is only as good as the number of available products that adhere to it, and those products must address all the different requirements of doing video over IP (encoders, KVMs, video wall products, et cetera). So in 2024, Matrox Video will put out more IPMX-ready products for the entire video-over-IP workflow. Our 2024 roadmap includes products that will make it even easier to work over IP, to integrate into IP infrastructure, and to move video signals over IP. This will give our customers more choices for populating their end-to-end video-over-IP infrastructure.

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

Thought Leader: Nancy Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer at Nureva

As we listen to our customers, they talk about their struggles in adapting to the messy realities of returning to in-person working and learning. They don’t want to lose the flexibility and quality-of-experience gains they’ve made in the past few years.

Many of our customers are now focusing on moving from a “continuity” to a “quality” mindset—in many cases replacing hastily selected and installed stopgap solutions; ensuring their large meeting rooms and higher education classrooms can support a variety of use cases, layouts, and configurations; and handling the challenge of large rooms needing to do more than they did in the past—all while IT managers have shrinking teams and budgets with which to work. 

Nureva’s 2024 roadmap is focused on delivering large-room audio solutions that support the much-needed quality of experience—with maximum adaptability and flexibility but without the complexity. Nureva audio solutions ensure that a room can be set up once and have the intelligence to adapt (auto-calibrate) to changes in layouts and use cases. 

With our second-generation products now fully certified for large and extra-large Microsoft Teams Rooms, we’ll continue to focus on big-room audio experiences and enhancements to Microphone Mist technology algorithms, including via AI. Another key area will be sound location data and new camera zone functionality to support simple multi-camera solutions for larger spaces. We’ll continue to work with camera companies like AVer, Lumens, and PTZOptics that have used our sound location API to create camera tracking and switching solutions. 

Finally, we’ll continue to simplify the setup, installation, and manageability of our solutions with new features in Nureva Console and the creation of assistive tools and apps.

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

Thought Leader: Adam Griffin, Director of Sales and Business Development, North America at Atlona

The AV industry has always served a broad array of vertical markets. What is striking is the extent to which AV transformed how organizations communicate across their facilities is made even stronger through seamless convergence with IT infrastructure. We see that transformation taking place in public-facing retail and hospitality, as well as schools and private businesses.

Atlona has a global presence in these and other AV business verticals, though we have increasingly focused on serving the busy education and corporate verticals. We have introduced products over the last several years with these verticals in mind, helping them address the challenges they face today inside learning and meeting spaces. We are also helping them establish networked foundations to distribute, control, and manage signals through entire buildings and across large campuses more efficiently.

The education vertical proved especially strong for AV adoption in 2023, and we see no signs of that slowing in 2024. Higher education customers have spent the last two years racing to bring their classrooms up to speed for hybrid learning, and the results begged for a more standardized approach. With less pressure and cooler heads prevailing, AV managers and IT directors have taken a fresh look at improving their existing spaces with technology that offers better connectivity, less obtrusiveness, and enhanced communication. For example, our customers are adopting more USB-C native designs, and sales engineers are responding to that need by designing more USB switching and management into their AV systems.

Atlona is well-prepared to support our education customers through our platform-agnostic technologies, and our business development managers are dedicated solely to addressing the unique teaching challenges. We continue to see brisk activity in the corporate vertical, including our Captivate family of cameras and speakerphones for small- to medium-sized spaces; and our WAVE-101 wireless presentation switcher. We unveiled the new Omega switching/extension and Velocity control solutions at ISE this year to meet a variety of needs for all customers.

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

Thought Leader: Gareth Heywood, Technology Evangelist at SDVoE Alliance

The SDVoE Alliance is steadfast in its commitment to advancing high-performance AV with an emphasis on sustainability. As hardware devices grow in complexity, their power consumption rises significantly. The conventional approach to compression, driven by escalating technological demands, has led to intricate and power-hungry solutions. The imminent arrival of 8K resolutions necessitates an evolution in compression techniques, resulting in larger devices, increased fan usage, and a compromise in performance.

In contrast, an ASIC-based device has the potential to reduce power consumption by up to 80 percent compared to its FPGA-based counterpart, while delivering equivalent performance. While this power efficiency is crucial for current 4K requirements, it becomes even more vital as resolutions continue to climb. The pixel rate directly correlates with power consumption, making ASIC-based solutions, such as SDVoE, indispensable.

The SDVoE Alliance is dedicated to offering a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for uncompressed video transmission. By overcoming the limitations of traditional FPGA devices, SDVoE technology not only eliminates latency but also reduces the device footprint. This is achieved through an ultra-lightweight compression engine, resulting in lower power consumption and more compact products. In collaboration, the SDVoE Alliance's members have developed over 700 products that seamlessly integrate, providing system integrators, designers, consultants, and installers with a reliable and environmentally conscious solution.

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

Thought Leader: Taft Stricklin, Sales Team Manager at Just Add Power

Just Add Power continues its mission into 2024 of being dedicated to doing tech differently. Instead of being consigned to the dustbin by planned obsolescence, the company's high-quality video-over-IP distribution solutions increase in value over time. By offering new devices that are compatible or can be bridged with previous systems and providing free firmware updates with new features, Just Add Power respects the original investment end users made in their system. Product-wise, the Max Color line will continue to grow, with a few new SKUs coming throughout the year.

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

Thought Leader: Hal Truax, President at WyreStorm Commercial

At the heart of every manufacturer's success lies a forward-thinking product roadmap that should revolve around anticipating future needs and staying one step ahead of technological trends. For WyreStorm, we’re looking towards the seamless integration of cutting-edge features into our products, making them not just reactive, but proactive in meeting the demands of an ever-changing market.

One of my favorite artists said, “It’s not about standing still and becoming safe. If anybody wants to keep creating, they have to be about change.” That’s from Miles Davis, and it applies to our thought process at WyreStorm as well. As a leader for signal distribution and collaboration solutions, we have to keep creating, innovating, and push the boundaries of what's possible in the AV industry.

Our philosophy is rooted in user-centric product designs and functionality. We understand that AV solutions are not just about delivering audio and video; they are about creating immersive and collaborative experiences. Our commitment to the user experience (UX) is reflected in the intuitive interfaces of our products, allowing users to effortlessly navigate and utilize advanced functionalities.

A notable aspect of our product roadmap is the emphasis on scalability. Recognizing the diverse requirements of our clientele is key. We’ve engineered solutions that can seamlessly grow with the evolving needs of businesses and institutions. Whether it's a small conference room or a large auditorium, WyreStorm provides solutions that can be tailored to fit any space.

Lastly, sustainability is a key pillar of our company. Going green by removing plastics and other harmful substances is crucial for our Earth. We continue to improve our packaging to be more environmentally conscious. It’s paramount to not only meet high-performance standards but also to align with global sustainability goals.