Quick view:

• By reusing existing truss systems and reconfiguring wiring alongside a new DMX512 network, Media Design Group and Vari-Lite modernized the 360-seat Monolithic Dome theater cost-effectively without structural overhauls.
• The installation of the Neo X5 Console, Vision.net Controls, and RigSwitch+ infrastructure simplified moving light management and system operations, creating a user-friendly environment for both high-level productions and student learning.
• A full package of Vari-Lite fixtures unlocked new production possibilities for concerts, theater, and community events with dynamic color control.

A 20-year-old performing arts center in Gainesville, TX, has been transformed with a comprehensive Vari-Lite theatrical lighting renovation, unlocking new creative possibilities for students, faculty, and the wider community at North Central Texas College.

The Performing Arts Center is a 360-seat proscenium theater housed inside a Monolithic Dome structure which posed an architectural challenge that had long made lighting the space a complex undertaking. Since opening in 2005, the facility had relied on its original dimming, controls, and lighting systems. We quickly realized that we needed an upgrade so we could unlock this building's true potential," Calvin Russell, Visual and Performing Arts facilities coordinator at North Central Texas College, explained.

Rick Robinson, principal of Media Design Group, was brought in to assess the facility's long-term needs. The new system needed to serve theater productions, music performances, lectures, community events, and student showcases, all while functioning as a working classroom. As Robinson noted, "the design had to balance creative flexibility with reliability, ease of operation, and long-term maintainability." Vari-Lite and Media Design Group worked with college stakeholders to develop the full design package, reusing the existing electrics and truss system by reconfiguring the wiring and adding a new DMX512 distribution network. The solution protected the college's investment while delivering a fully modernized result.

Infrastructure was central to the design. A RigSwitch+ 48, Custom Control Rack, and Vision.net Controls form the backbone of the system, with constant power controlled via a DMX relay system feeding both static and automated fixtures.

At the heart of the system sits the Neo X5 Console. "The Neo is a much more user-friendly software that allows an easier experience to a lighting designer," said Russell. "The Neo makes the use of moving lights so much simpler than other systems."

The fixture package balances reliable stage coverage with creative flexibility. VL600 Acclaim PLE and ZoomSpot fixtures provide front-of-house and stage coverage, while Acclaim Fresnels deliver soft, even washes across the performance space. VL600 Acclaim Cyc fixtures illuminate the cyclorama, and VL800 EventProfile and EventWash fixtures expand the rig's ability to support concerts, dance, and special events with saturated color and sharp beam control. RGBL LED technology gives the team dynamic color control at the touch of a button. The project was awarded to Associated Controls and Design (AC+D) of Dallas who completed the installation on schedule and provided full training for theater personnel.

"This new lighting system has given us the ability to incorporate things that we haven't tried before," said Russell. "I am most pleased with the improvement of creativity that has been shown with productions and concerts."

For Robinson, the project delivers on every objective. "By combining robust infrastructure, flexible controls, and adaptable fixtures, the design provides North Central Texas College with an impressive theatrical lighting system that supports all events and helps prepare students for modern performance environments."

Atlona has expanded its Omega Series of presentation and collaboration products with Omega 2, a new generation designed so presenters can connect with one cable and integrators can install fewer boxes behind the display. Built on HDBaseT 3.0, the lineup includes the AT-OME2-E2311 transmitter and AT-OME2-D2311 receiver, the AT-OME2-E2321-WP wall plate transmitter, and the AT-OME2-R2742 4x2 presentation switcher with Dante audio.

[The Next Chapter of Pro AV: Leadership, Legacy, and Mentorship]

“Omega has always been about making a room easier to use, and Omega 2 takes that further with HDBaseT 3.0,” said Ken Eagle, CEO, Hall Research. “Presenters want to walk in, plug in one cable and start. Integrators want fewer boxes and fewer power supplies behind the display. USB-C at the wall, power over the link and Dante in the switcher give both of them what they’ve been asking for.”

Omega 2 sends uncompressed 4K/60 4:4:4 video up to 330 feet (100 meters) over one Cat 6A cable, together with USB 2.0 data and Gigabit Ethernet. With HDMI and USB-C inputs across compact, wall plate and switcher models, integrators can plan a room around how presenters plug in, instead of planning around the hardware.

Extenders: Video, USB, and Network on One Cable

The AT-OME2-E2311 transmitter and AT-OME2-D2311 receiver carry HDMI, USB 2.0 and Gigabit Ethernet across a single HDBaseT 3.0 link, with support for HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Bi-directional Power over HDBaseT lets either end power the other, so the link runs on one power supply. At the display, the receiver provides four USB ports for cameras, keyboards, mice and other peripherals, along with Ethernet pass-through, analog audio de-embedding and bi-directional RS-232 for display control.

Wall Plate: USB-C and HDMI in a Standard Two-Gang Plate

The AT-OME2-E2321-WP puts HDMI and USB-C inputs into a standard two-gang wall plate. One USB-C connection carries video, USB data and up to 60W of charging, so a presenter can connect a laptop with a single cable and keep it powered through the session. Front-panel buttons handle input selection and display power, and RS-232 is available for local control. In classrooms and lecture halls, the wall plate can send a lectern PC to a projector or flat panel up to 100 meters away, with USB for document cameras and touch displays.

4x2 Switcher: Switching, Power, Audio, and Control in One Unit

The AT-OME2-R2742 brings two HDMI and two USB-C inputs to two HDMI outputs, plus an HDBaseT 3.0 output that mirrors the second display for a remote screen up to 100 meters away. Its USB-C ports deliver up to 145W of power, configurable as 100W + 45W or 60W + 60W, and a 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 backplane connects conferencing cameras, speakerphones and other peripherals through four USB 3.2 ports. Dante audio input and output, scaling, EDID management, MST and automatic input switching are built in.

For IT teams, the switcher includes three Ethernet ports with VLAN support and IEEE 802.1X authentication. Display and room control run through CEC, IP, RS-232, relays and an occupancy sensor input. In a dual-display meeting room, one USB-C laptop can drive two independent screens using MST. In a BYOD classroom, the switcher can feed a local display and a second display across the room while presenters share the same peripherals.

What to know:

• The ALF-WU4-8K is an HDMI 2.1 switcher and scaler with 4 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output.
• The ALF-WU6-8K is an HDMI2.1 switcher and scaler with 4 HDMI and 2 USB-C inputs along with one HDMI output.
• The ALF-MU4k HUB is an HDMI 2.0 seamless switcher that offers 4 inputs: 1 USB C (DP ALT MODE) and 3 HDMI inputs.

Alfatron Electronics has unveiled its new switchers and scalers, the WU4-8K and WU6-8K, as well as the MU4K Hub for larger configurations. These three new products were designed to maximize efficiency when routing computer output to multiple displays in today’s hi-tech meeting environments.

[The Human Side of Technology]

"Today’s conference environments demand more from AV systems than ever before," said Kevin Gelman, Alfatron’s national sales director and chief financial officer. "With multiple sources, displays, resolutions, and participants to manage, integrators need solutions that simplify signal management while delivering reliable, high-quality performance. The WU4-8K and WU6-8K switchers/scalers, together with the MU4K Hub, give AV professionals the flexibility and connectivity they need to create streamlined, dependable systems that can adapt to the demands of modern meeting spaces. These products are designed to make complex AV environments easier to manage while providing the performance and versatility today’s users expect.”

ALF-WU4-8K

The ALF-WU4-8K is an HDMI 2.1 switcher and scaler with four HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. With its complete HDMI 2.1 implementation, a 48Gbps FRL (Fixed Rate Link) for efficient data transfer, and HDR support, the WU4-8K ensures stable signaling even at the highest bandwidths while also being HDCP 2.3 compliant. This switcher includes de-embedded audio, scaling, EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) management, and front panel LED indicators for power and signal status.

The Alfatron WU4-8K’s switching time is managed within three seconds. EDID management is managed via a 5-pin DIP (Dual In-line Package) switcher with the source through a display’s EDID or internally stored EDID. For de-embedded audio, the unit offers one balanced and optical audio output connectors. The WU4-8K supports Alfatron’s or Josawa’s unique IP and RS232 codes as well as IR. It also uses a GUI (Graphical User Interface) design.

WU6-8K

The ALF-WU6-8K is an HDMI2.1 switcher and scaler with four HDMI and two USB-C inputs along with one HDMI output. With its complete HDMI 2.1 implementation, a 48Gbps FRL for efficient data transfer, and HDR support, the WU6-8K ensures stable signaling even at the highest bandwidths while also being HDCP 2.3 compliant. This switcher includes de-embedded audio, scaling, EDID management, and front panel LED indicators for power and signal status.

The Alfatron WU6-8K’s switching time is managed within three seconds. EDID management is managed via a 5-pin DIP (Dual In-line Package) switcher with the source through a display’s EDID or internally stored EDID. For de-embedded audio, the unit offers one balanced and one optical audio output connectors. The WU6-8K supports Alfatron’s or Josawa’s unique IP and RS232 codes as well as IR. It also uses a GUI (Graphical User Interface) design.

Alfatron MU4K HUB

The ALF-MU4k HUB is an HDMI 2.0 seamless switcher that offers four inputs: one USB C (DP ALT MODE) and three HDMI inputs. It also has two Mirrored HDMI outputs, Multiview (for displaying multiple camera angles or video feeds at once), and a USB KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) Hub for switching between sources using peripherals such as a keyboard, camera, or mouse. The unit supports resolutions up to 4K as well as USB3.2. There is also a USB2.0 port that supports hot key functions.

Other key features include support for HDMI 2.0, 18 Gigabit bandwidth, HDCP 2.3, and backward compatible signals. In addition to offering seamless switching between inputs, there are also two HDMI mirrored outputs for versatile control options. The hub also offers Multiview with multiple layout selections and user defined layouts for flexible control. The hub supports two KVM switching at 10 GPS as well as KVM auto-switching based on TMDS/5V detection.

TOA has introduced its new MW-42BT, a next-generation in-wall audio interface designed to enhance flexibility, usability, and systems integration in commercial distributed audio environments. The MW-42BT builds on the proven MW-41BT platform while introducing key enhancements to meet the evolving needs of modern audio systems.

[Tackling a New HQ]

The MW-42BT serves as a versatile front-end interface, supporting multiple audio sources including microphone/line input, auxiliary input, USB playback, and Bluetooth wireless streaming. This enables seamless connectivity for a wide range of user devices, providing convenient local control of audio within a given zone. Its intuitive wall-mounted design allows users to easily select sources and adjust volume, making it ideal for environments where simplicity and accessibility are essential.

Engineered for seamless integration, the MW-42BT features selectable balanced mono or stereo output, allowing compatibility with a broader range of amplification and signal distribution systems. In addition, configurable microphone priority with ducking ensures clear and intelligible speech by automatically lowering background audio during announcements—an essential function in spaces combining music playback and paging.

With this new model, TOA introduces several important upgrades over the previous generation. The MW-42BT replaces the RJ45-based output with a removable terminal block, simplifying installation and improving serviceability. The addition of selectable mono/stereo output provides greater design flexibility, while enhanced Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity delivers improved wireless stability. Further improvements in grounding and electrostatic discharge protection contribute to long-term reliability in demanding commercial installations.

Housed in a compact two-gang wall-mounted form factor, the MW-42BT offers a clean, professional appearance suitable for a wide range of applications, including offices, hospitality venues, retail spaces, and educational facilities. Whether used for background music, paging, or bring-your-own-device audio, the MW-42BT delivers a practical and reliable solution for modern distributed audio systems.

It's clear the Jabra PanaCast U30 videobar wants to keep things simple for BYOD videoconferencing workflows. Designed for huddle rooms or other small rooms, it wants you to plug in one cable and get your meeting started. Nice and clean—but it might not be as bare bones as you think.

The unit itself is well built and about as unobtrusive an addition to your huddle room as it can be. Just under 21 inches long, it's among the smallest videobars on the market, weighs a little over 3 pounds, and includes an adjustable mounting bracket. Jabra was kind enough to include a sturdy table stand (available as an accessory), so I didn't have to drill any holes to conduct my review, but there's a positioning guide included in the packing materials to simplify your install.

All your connections are on the back, and there's even a cable compartment cover to keep your install tidy. The U30 also includes a small, black, removable rubber lens cap that will likely get lost within the first week. An integrated privacy shutter would be a welcome upgrade.

My desk is positioned less than 4 feet from my office wall, which means there are no distractions behind me when I'm in video meetings or recording webinars. However, that's not a great setup for reviewing a videobar, so I turned the spare room into a temporary huddle room. I placed my desk chair a little less than 5 feet in front of the U30.

I didn't bother to do any setup the first time I used the U30. Taking Jabra at its word, I literally plugged in the unit and connected a USB-C cable from my laptop to the videobar. And yes, it worked. The U30 features a 4K camera, one speaker, and six microphones, which are used to help the system's video-follow-audio camera modes (more on those later). Other meeting participants could see and hear me clearly, though I was told I sounded a bit hollow.

Of course, it's Jabra, so I heard them just fine. The video call sounded clear and so did the music I played after the meeting. The U30 also offers noise suppression, and it works. I know this because I banged my Yukon stainless steel tumbler repeatedly on the table and the other call participants couldn't hear it. No one complained about the sound of me typing notes throughout the meeting, either.

The U30's camera was set to Intelligent Zoom right out of the box, so when it determined I was alone in the room, the system's AI decided a medium shot of me was better than a wide shot of the room. Good call, but that meant I had absolutely no control over the camera. So, after that first meeting, it was time for a proper setup.

Modes of Conversation

With no network cable on hand, I created a QR shortcut for my network password on my phone, held it in front of the U30's camera, and quickly got on the network and gained access to Jabra's Web Console. From there, it was a matter of using Chrome on my iPhone to name the unit, update the password (yep, cybersecurity matters in my house, too), and, as is the norm in today's tech world, update the firmware.

I really appreciate the "onboarding wallpaper" included with the U30. That QR code trick wasn't my idea—there were on-screen instructions explaining how to get my U30 connected to the network. Brilliant.

Web Console provides more than firmware updates. From here, you can adjust various image characteristics and select between camera modes. Besides Intelligent Zoom, there is Virtual Director, which dynamically follows the conversation and focuses on the speaker.

Intelligent Zoom will follow the conversation, but the U30 is initially set to move (very) slowly. You have the option to reset the transition speed to immediate, which forgoes the on-screen camera move for a cut to the new angle. Certainly the slow mode is less jarring, but it takes way too long to follow a moving speaker or lock on to the new one. I'm not a fan of jump cuts, but I'll take the immediate setting. I'd really like to see an upgrade that provides more zoom options.

If your meetings regularly include a couple of Chatty Cathies or a fair amount of debate, you might be better served with the simple, static Panoramic View mode. You can choose between a normal and "max wide" view, but Jabra correctly warns you that you will see serious fisheye distortion with the wider angle. If you want a more advanced visual, Dynamic Composition boxes up to four speakers in separate tiles along with a wide view of the entire room. Just remember that you've got one camera doing the work of several, so keep your resolution expectations in check.

Generally speaking, I have a problem with AI's interpretation of headroom, as it tends to provide way too much for my taste. The U30 can suffer from the same problem. Another app, Jabra Direct (available only for your computer), lets you customize your shot and save a couple of presets.

The Magic Cable

With most review products, I try to make them work without reading the directions. If I get frustrated, then it's time to open the user manual. The funny thing with this review is that I could have saved myself some frustration by unboxing the cable that came with the unit.

I used my own USB-C cable to connect the videobar to my laptop. And it worked … kind of. I had also connected the U30 to my large-screen display via HDMI, but I wasn't getting a picture. Turns out I needed to connect my laptop to the U30 with a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 cable, such as the one Jabra provided. Once I did that, everything was fine. Yes, that's your reminder that all cables, even all USB-C cables, are not created equal.

With the proper cable in place, I decided to give the camera modes a real test. Unfortunately, I stumbled with a software conflict right out of the gate. I started with Google Meet—the static panoramic view had no issues, but the Virtual Director could not differentiate between two speakers and Dynamic Composition was just a mess. Turns out I had Google Meet's "framing" turned on, so I was always in the center of the screen. Shut that off and it worked just fine.

The U30 is in certification with Microsoft Teams, so I tried another meeting. Dynamic Composition framed both people in separate tiles, along with a wide view of the huddle room. It's really a nice effect.

It really comes down to this: The Jabra PanaCast U30 is as simple or as advanced as you want it to be—within reason, considering its significantly lower price point ($755 on Jabra's website and $899 elsewhere) than other Jabra videobars. If it's just your huddle room, you can select an advanced camera mode for a more dynamic presentation.

If you have to share that huddle room among several groups that may or may not be technologically inclined (or you're trying to standardize multiple huddle rooms), you might just want to stick with the panoramic view and avoid the max wide setting, if possible. Either way, my advice would be to set it and forget it. Remember, the goal of the U30 is to make BYOD videoconferencing simple for small rooms and small groups. If that's your goal as well, the U30 is a solid videobar choice.

At a glance:

• The Meeting Owl 5 has been reengineered into a single, flexible device that’s easy to install and simple to use.
• A new 4K camera delivers sharper 360-degree video, paired with AI-powered speaker tracking to follow the flow of conversation.
• For organizations with more advanced deployment requirements, the Meeting Owl line also includes the Meeting Owl 5 Pro which runs on the same platform with added enterprise-grade capabilities.

Owl Labs has released the re-engineered Meeting Owl 5. The Meeting Owl 5 delivers a premium center-of-the-table experience in a single, flexible device that’s easy to install and simple to use. Built on insights from billions of meeting minutes globally, the Meeting Owl 5 reflects years of experience in 360-degree collaboration. That experience informed a fundamentally new Owl, designed to make hybrid meetings more natural, immersive and simple.

[AI Doomsday? Or Does Waiting Become the Risk?]

"We defined the 360 standard, and have spent years learning how people actually meet and what customers expect of their meeting experiences," said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs. "Meeting room requirements have dramatically shifted since we introduced the first Meeting Owl. The Meeting Owl 5 takes everything we’ve learned and re-engineers the experience around what organizations need today: better video, audio, reliability, simpler deployment and flexibility to work across more spaces."

The Meeting Owl 5 brings major upgrades across the device, starting with a completely redesigned industrial body that features a lower center of gravity, base-mounted controls, and ruggedized acoustic fabric for improved stability and durability. At its core, a new 4K camera delivers sharper 360-degree video—even for participants seated farther away—paired with AI-powered speaker tracking to follow the flow of conversation. The audio experience is equally advanced, incorporating eight beamforming microphones with Fraunhofer's AI-powered upHear Microphone Processing technology to guarantee crystal-clear speech pickup.

Qualcomm 6490 chipsets running Android 15 drive these advanced AI capabilities, voice tracking, and seamless video streaming alongside enterprise-grade security. Setup is streamlined into a single USB-C connection for video, audio, and content sharing, supplemented by native HDMI passthrough for added flexibility. The device accommodates versatile deployment, functioning on its own or expanding into larger meeting rooms via wired or wireless Owl pairing.

Rounding out the update, the Meeting Owl 5 emphasizes sustainability, built with 45% post-consumer recycled plastic and housed in 99% recyclable packaging to deliver a complete, highly adaptable experience.

The Meeting Owl 5 is built for organizations of every size, from a small business equipping its first room to a global enterprise deploying BYOD collaboration across hundreds of spaces. For organizations with more advanced deployment requirements, the Meeting Owl line also includes the Meeting Owl 5 Pro which runs on the same platform with added enterprise-grade capabilities, including Microsoft Teams certification, support for fully integrated room systems, and expanded deployment flexibility.

Extron introduced the NAV E 522 switching encoder and NAV SD 521 switching scaling decoder, bringing powerful single-cable USB-C connectivity and expanded USB extension capabilities to NAV Pro AV over IP systems.

[Navigating the Rocky Seas of AVoIP]

The NAV E 522 enables USB-C as the primary connection point for modern AV spaces, allowing video, audio, USB data, and power to be delivered through one USB-C cable to a laptop or other USB-C source. This simplified host connection is ideal for collaboration and presentation environments where users need fast access to room displays, audio, and USB peripherals without multiple cables or adapters. The NAV E 522 also supports systems with multiple NAV SD 521 scaling decoders, enabling multiple remote USB devices attached at those endpoints to be routed back to a single NAV E 522 Host USB-C port.

Together, the NAV endpoints provide high-quality 4K/60 4:4:4 video, flexible audio, and USB 2.0 or HID extension. The Extron PURE3 codec delivers visually lossless video and advanced Extron Vector 4K scaling technology provides reliable scaling over standard 1 Gbps Ethernet networks.

"The NAV E 522 is designed to make user connections simple while giving integrators all the flexibility they've come to expect from NAV Pro AV over IP Systems," said Casey Hall, chief marketing officer for Extron. "With one USB-C cable, users can access video, audio, USB devices, and power, while the system can extend those USB devices across multiple NAV SD 521 scaling decoders and return them to a single host connection. It is a streamlined approach to USB-C collaboration that fits naturally into scalable NAV system designs."

The NAV E 522 and NAV SD 521 are purpose-built for professional AV applications that require a simplified user experience, flexible source connectivity, and distributed USB device access. The NAV E 522 provides USB-C and HDMI inputs at the source location, with USB-C serving as the simplified single-cable connection for AV, USB data, and optional power. The NAV SD 521 receives, decodes, and scales NAV streams while also supporting local HDMI source switching and USB device connectivity at the display endpoint. Multiple NAV SD 521 decoders can be deployed across a system to support several USB peripherals, all tied back through the NAV system to one NAV E 522 Host USB-C connection. As part of the NAV platform, these endpoints support secure, highly scalable deployments ranging from individual collaboration spaces to systems with thousands of endpoints.

Quick view:

• An AI-first architecture opens screen networks to the AI tools and agents that partners and customers already use, enabling users to interact in natural language and create reports on demand from their AI tool of choice.
• A growing library of ready-to-use connectors to third-party platforms and data sources, so live content and information reach every screen without custom development.
• A simple yet powerful CMS and Designer, reimagined to create bespoke signage experiences, such as dynamic menu boards for QSR, rich dashboards for corporate communication, and an easy-to-use UI for ad booking. 

Navori Labs has launched its Qompose digital signage, the first unified platform built from the ground up for intelligent screen networks. Qompose was developed by the global engineering teams behind Navori QL and Signagelive, bringing more than 60 years of combined digital signage expertise into an entirely new platform, with an open and composable architecture.

[The Art of Digital Signage]

"Hearing from our global partner network and customers, there is a need for a platform that is truly composable and designed to work with the systems our users already work with. Other CMS tools weren’t meeting the requirements of modern signage networks,” said Jason Cremins, chief product officer of Navori Labs. “APIs and modular components allow Qompose to connect with existing technology and data while giving customers a path to introduce new capabilities as their requirements change.”

Qompose goes beyond the traditional content management system. It provides organizations and technology partners a single platform that allows users to connect existing systems and data; automate experiences based on real-world conditions; use AI to simplify operations; manage ad campaigns; and measure the impact of their on-screen experience. Customers can use Qompose as a complete solution, integrate it with existing technology, or use it as a foundation to build and deliver their own applications.

“Qompose is more than a CMS. Managing content is only the starting point,” said Jeffrey Weitzman, chief executive officer of Navori Labs. “Businesses expect more from their screen networks. They want simpler operations, greater automation, better integration with their systems, and measurable business results. We built Qompose to bring all this together in one unified platform. Our goal at Navori is to make digital signage simpler and more valuable today, while providing the foundation for the next decade of innovation.”

In October, US federal prosecutors charged an OpenAI engineer with planting an audio recording device in an executive conference room at the company's San Francisco offices. According to the complaint, the device was wrapped in toilet paper and plugged into a USB port on the back of a television. OpenAI says its technical surveillance countermeasures team found it during a room sweep.

A sweep of the room found it. Nothing on the network did.

That should bother the Pro AV and IT industry. Most of our security conversation is about VLANs and access control. All of that matters, and none of it would have caught this device. The case sits in the gap between physical security, AV operations and IT, where ownership blurs.

Know What Belongs on the Network

Most AV teams can scan a subnet. Tools such as LanScan or Angry IP Scanner are useful during commissioning and fault-finding. They show which addresses respond and turn up obvious surprises. A scan is a snapshot, though. It can't tell whether a device is authorized, who owns it, or whether something new appeared five minutes later. A device can stay silent or sit on another interface. It can also record locally and never touch the network.

AV networks need what any enterprise network needs: continuous comparison between the expected estate and the observed one. For every AV VLAN, the operator should know each approved device, its role, location, switch port, MAC address, firmware level, owner and normal traffic pattern. Switch telemetry, passive discovery and light active checks should flag new endpoints and material changes as they happen. Periodic audits are still relevant, especially after room changes or service visits. They verify the system, but they shouldn't be the main defense.

When an unknown endpoint appears, the network should restrict it automatically, move it to a quarantine segment and alert its owner. Network access control (NAC), port policies and device profiling do this today. In high-risk rooms, you should disable unused switch ports and USB power, or physically secure them.

Here's the test I'd apply. Can the AV team say what belongs on the network, and cut off anything that doesn't within minutes? If not, it can see the network but can't control it.

It Could Have Been Worse

Now suppose the device had ignored the corporate and AV WiFi and sent its recordings out through a personal mobile hotspot hidden in the same room. An IP scan would still show nothing.

Wireless intrusion detection could catch it. Rogue access point monitoring watches the RF environment, so it can spot an unapproved hotspot and suspicious associations even when the traffic never reaches the enterprise LAN. The system should tell that hotspot apart from legitimate neighboring networks, alert security and keep enough evidence for an investigation. A device that transmits only now and then is harder to catch, but continuous monitoring still narrows the window.

Remote Access Without Exposing the Room

Remote support saves truck rolls and gets rooms working again faster. It can also turn every device web interface into a way in.

Forwarding a port straight to an encoder, DSP, controller or display is indefensible. So is a broad VPN that gives a technician the equivalent of a cable into the whole AV subnet. Many AV devices were built for trusted local networks. Their web interfaces often run old protocols on firmware that can't be patched quickly.

The safer standard is brokered access to a named device or management controller. The session starts with an outbound encrypted connection. It requires single sign-on and multifactor authentication, grants time-limited permissions by role, and logs every action. Shared installer accounts should go. Access should be approved for a specific job and revoked when the job is done.

NETGEAR uses this model for the NETGEAR Align Controller. NETGEAR Insight brokers remote access into the local controller, so support teams reach the management function without exposing the AV network to the internet.

Brokered access has trade-offs. It adds a dependency on a cloud service and on the vendor running it securely. Customers should ask where credentials and telemetry are stored, how access is revoked, whether logs can be exported, what happens during an outage, and who tests the service independently.

Set Policy at the AV-IT Boundary

Segmentation is essential, but address-and-port firewall rules are a blunt tool between AV and enterprise IT. They don't know which multicast flows are legitimate, or whether a support session was authorized for a specific endpoint.

AV systems depend on discovery, multicast, timing and dynamic relationships between services. The common fix is to open a wide range of ports between VLANs. That restores function by gutting the boundary. It's like leaving every door unlocked because you'd rather not carry keys.

The better approach ties policy to what each device is for. A room controller can reach its own management service. A support engineer can reach one endpoint for a set period. None of those permissions should open general access to the corporate network. Most enterprises already own the tools for this. NAC and segmentation policy need to be set up with AV traffic in mind.

This takes more design work. Some AV protocols won't fit neatly, and every enforcement point adds a dependency in the signal path. Test the policy against real AV traffic before go-live, and write down what happens when a component fails. Whatever enforces the boundary is security infrastructure, and it needs to be run that way.

Make Security Part of Handover

The OpenAI case shows the answer can't stop at the network. High-value rooms need physical checks as well. Integrators are well placed to build those checks into commissioning and acceptance.

Before sign-off on a high-value room, the handover pack should include:

• A device inventory for every AV VLAN, matched against what the switches actually see
• A record of connected peripherals, including anything plugged into display USB ports
• Unused switch ports and USB power disabled or physically secured
• Documented remote access: who can reach which device, through what, and how access is revoked
• Tamper-evident seals on displays and racks where the risk justifies them
• A named owner in IT and in corporate security for alerts from AV systems

Repeat the physical and inventory checks after every service visit or room change.

Today, nobody clearly owns the space behind the screen. The integrator knows the room, IT owns the network policy and corporate security owns the evidence. A shared handover checklist is a cheap way to give that space an owner.

Extron has expanded its FOX3 platform with FOX3 302 Series Dual HDMI Extenders. These fiber optic KVM extenders support dual-display workstations across a FOX3 system. Designed for secure, long-haul transmission of two independent HDMI video signals plus USB, stereo audio, control, and 3D sync signals over fiber optic cabling, the FOX3 302 Series delivers visually lossless image quality up to 4K/60 at 4:4:4. Purpose-built for dual-display computer applications, these extenders streamline system integration while extending the reach of high-performance workstations.

[AV/IT at 30,000 Feet]

The series includes the FOX3 T 302 Fiber Optic Transmitter and FOX3 SR 302 Fiber Optic Scaling Receiver, which together provide a powerful fiber optic KVM solution featuring USB extension, Ethernet monitoring and control, real-time system monitoring, and integrator-friendly technologies designed specifically for demanding AV and KVM environments.

"As multi-display workstations become increasingly common in mission-critical environments, the FOX3 302 Series provides a powerful new way to extend dual HDMI, USB, and control signals over fiber while maintaining the image quality and reliability our customers expect from Extron," said Casey Hall, chief marketing officer for Extron. "By bringing dual-display workstation support to the FOX3 platform, the FOX3 302 Series expands what's possible with fiber optic KVM extension for demanding AV and computing applications."

FOX3 302 Series Extenders are compatible with the complete line of FOX3 Matrix Switchers. Extron FOX3 Matrix Switchers are available in standard sizes up to 840x840 as well as custom designs up to 2000x2000 and larger. From point-to-point extension to fully non-blocking matrix applications up to 2000x2000 and beyond, FOX3 Systems securely deliver unrivaled performance and reliability to satisfy even the most discerning users.

Quick view:

• The CDE 1923 yellobrik is a compact, bi-directional converter that handles signal translation between traditional 3G-SDI baseband hardware and modern SMPTE ST 2110 IP networks.
• Designed for broadcast facilities, OB trucks, and production studios transitioning to IP without overhauling existing legacy gear.
• Designed to solve the SDI vs. IP synchronization gap.

LYNX Technik has unveiled its new CDE 1923 yellobrik converter. This bi-directional 3G-SDI-to-SMPTE ST 2110 converter is designed to simplify the integration of SDI and IP infrastructures in hybrid broadcast environments. Ideal for broadcast facilities, outside broadcast trucks, production studios, and other applications transitioning from baseband SDI to IP, the CDE 1923 provides reliable signal conversion while addressing the synchronization requirements of both technologies.

[The Human Side of Technology]

“We’re very proud to build upon the existing CDE 1922 platform and respond directly to what our customers have been asking for,” said Vincent Noyer, CTO at LYNX Technik. “By adding Reference Input and Reference Output while maintaining the same compact yellobrik form factor, we’ve been able to make an already versatile converter even more useful. The CDE 1923 gives customers greater flexibility when connecting SDI equipment to an ST 2110 environment, without adding complexity or requiring additional space.”

Per Noyer, the additional Reference Input and Output interfaces let the converter bridge the timing requirements of traditional SDI equipment and SMPTE ST 2110 IP networks in a single compact solution. As broadcasters transition to IP, signal conversion is only part of the challenge. Traditional SDI systems typically rely on a physical reference signal for synchronization, while SMPTE ST 2110 networks use Precision Time Protocol (PTP), as defined by the SMPTE ST 2059 profile. The CDE 1923 provides a practical solution for bringing these two synchronization environments together.

Its Reference Input allows the SDI output to lock directly to a facility’s local reference, providing deterministic alignment with other SDI equipment. This enables the converter to integrate cleanly into an established baseband timing environment.

The Reference Output provides additional flexibility by enabling the converter to generate a Tri-Level Sync output from SMPTE ST 2059 PTP. It can also up-convert an input sync signal to Tri-Level Sync at a higher frame rate, providing a physical reference signal suitable for synchronizing connected SDI equipment.

By combining bi-directional 3G-SDI and SMPTE ST 2110 conversion with flexible reference connectivity, the yellobrik CDE 1923 helps facilities maintain synchronization across both SDI and IP domains. Developed in response to real-world customer requirements, CDE 1923 provides a straightforward and flexible solution for integrating base-band equipment into IP-based production environments.

Summary:

• Built on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) running Android and managed via Microsoft Intune, it provides IT teams with a fully validated, scalable endpoint for huddle spaces and small-to-medium conference rooms.
• Connects via a single USB-C cable and features a dual 4K ePTZ camera system with AI auto-framing alongside a 27-microphone array using Biamp Beamtracking, Acoustic Echo Cancellation, and AI Noise Reduction.
• Automatically identifies peripherals, measures room acoustics, and tunes audio processing (EQ, echo cancellation, speaker levels) in minutes without requiring an on-site audio engineer and offers centralized remote health monitoring, over-the-air firmware updates, and room-performance report cards across an enterprise's entire device fleet.

The new Biamp Devio UCX 1000 conferencing bundle— comprised of the Devio UCX 1000 UC compute platform, the Parlé VBC 2800 conferencing bar, and the Apprimo Touch 10 UCX-T touch panel—is now available and Certified for Microsoft Teams. This certification validates that the complete bundle is both compatible with and optimized for Teams, giving IT professionals and integrators a fully validated, single-manufacturer solution for huddle spaces and small-to-medium conference rooms.

[Course Correction]

“Organizations standardizing on Microsoft Teams want room systems they can roll out at scale without second-guessing the hardware underneath,” said Joe Andrulis, EVP of corporate development at Biamp. “Certification means the Devio UCX 1000 bundle arrives ready for that job—a single platform that organizations can deploy and manage with confidence, across small- and medium-sized meeting spaces, with confidence that it will work seamlessly within Microsoft Teams Rooms."

Built on Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP), the Devio UCX 1000 is a Microsoft Teams Room on the Android platform with integrated professional DSP, purpose-built for small and medium conference rooms where a connected conferencing bar is required. This, like other Teams Room endpoints, are managed by Microsoft Intune.

Paired with the Devio UCX 1000, the Parlé VBC 2800 conferencing bar features a dual 4K ePTZ camera system with AI auto-framing, 16x digital zoom, and a 120-degree horizontal field of view for clear visibility of every participant. Its 27-microphone array with Biamp Beamtracking technology, combined with integrated Acoustic Echo Cancellation and AI Noise Reduction, delivers natural, intelligible audio throughout the room. The bar connects to the Devio UCX 1000 over a single USB-C cable.

Completing the bundle, the Apprimo Touch 10 UCX-T panel auto-pairs the moment it's connected, wakes the room automatically when someone walks in, and lets users switch instantly between a Teams meeting and a laptop via USB-C—all powered over a single cable with no additional network drops required.

Rooms commissioning is handled by Biamp Launch, which locates connected peripherals, measures room acoustics, and tunes echo cancellation, noise reduction, equalization, and loudspeaker levels on its own, producing a rated, meeting-ready room in minutes with no audio engineer on site. From there, Biamp Workplace keeps every certified room healthy through remote health monitoring, over-the-air firmware updates, and Launch report cards spanning an organization’s entire estate.

Quick view:

• The Frame hospitality model is now available in the U.S. market in 55, 65, and 75-inch sizes.
• AI-powered features, including the Collection Hub and Generative Wallpaper, create personalized, design-forward guest room experiences.
• LYNK Cloud powers digital concierge services, centralized content management, and guest engagement insights.

Samsung Electronics has introduced The Frame hospitality model, bringing Samsung’s art-inspired display design to luxury hotels and premium hospitality environments. Available in 55, 65, and 75-inch sizes, The Frame hospitality model complements the look and feel of high-end properties while offering Smart TV functionality, including entertainment, personalized content, and hotel services that guests can enjoy from the comfort of their room.

[The Art of Digital Signage]

The Frame hospitality model offers advanced features that deliver enhanced experiences that guests expect, from showcasing stunning digital artwork when not in use and connecting guests with property amenities when they choose to engage.

“As luxury hospitality evolves, the most memorable in-room stays will feel more personal and connected without compromising their design integrity,” said Mark Kelly, head of enterprise sales–display solutions division, Samsung Electronics America. “The Frame hospitality model seamlessly blends art, entertainment, and hotel services together on one flexible display, helping hotels adapt to changing guest expectations and create more distinctive experiences over time.”

When guests aren’t watching television, Collection Hub features curated artwork, photography or other visual content, allowing hotels to extend their creative direction onto the screen. Hotel brands can select imagery that complements their interiors, reinforce their brand heritage, and reflect the unique character of a particular destination.

Additionally, Samsung is helping to turn the traditional hotel TV into a more intelligent, personalized part of the stay, using AI features to adapt the in-room experience to each guest’s needs. The Generative Wallpaper harnesses the power of AI to create custom imagery for the screen, transforming the display into a unique visual focal point that reflects their preferences.

AI also helps make in-room entertainment more accessible for travelers from around the world. Live Translate provides translated subtitles in supported languages while guests watch local broadcasts and other content, helping remove language barriers and making it easier for them to enjoy content away from home.

The display also creates a direct digital connection between guests and hotel services. Through LYNK Cloud, hotel staff can configure digital concierge services, enabling where guests to quickly access property information, book services, and order room service—all from The Frame. Content management capabilities such as LYNK Cloud Business also make it easy for staff to analyze guest content usage and uncover valuable marketing insights, enabling hotels to deliver optimized promotions for guests based on their viewing history.

As hotel rooms become more connected and personalized, protecting the technology behind the guest experience becomes increasingly important. The Frame hospitality model pairs flexible, property-specific experiences with Samsung’s enterprise-grade security capabilities, enabling hotels to innovate without compromising protection.

For decades, the practice of designing and deploying professional sound systems was largely an exercise in experience and sometimes luck. It was common to hang the loudspeakers where you thought they would work best, then plug them in, and see how well the sound actually traveled. Since expectations have a way of not living up to reality, this approach resulted in a lot of extra work for sound designers and installers alike.

Today, thanks to audio mapping software, this grueling task is a thing of the past. Audio mapping software is a predictive 3D simulation tool that lets you test out loudspeaker placements and performance without actually having to move them.

Instead, you position specific speakers in a virtual space and test their performance using the software's mapping capabilities. The result: By the time it comes to physically install the speakers, the best locations and performance targets have already been determined.

That being said, these tools do not replace the seasoned acoustic engineer; rather, they give these professionals a superpower—the ability to see the invisible behavior of a room.

"At its core, it's predictive modeling for sound," explained Ryan John, director of product management, software, for L-Acoustics, which offers the Soundvision 3D simulation and sound system design platform. "Instead of guessing how a room will behave, or finding problems on load-in day, Soundvision allows you to see hot spots, gaps, and delay issues on screen and fix them before anyone touches a cable."

Trading Guesswork for Data

When a lighting engineer sets up lights, they can put them in place, turn them on, and see where the light actually goes. But this isn't true for sound engineers. They can put the speakers in place, but they can't see the sound waves they are trying to control.

"Sound is subjective and mostly invisible other than visual clues such as ripples on a T-shirt while standing near a subwoofer," noted Rudd Lance, d&b audiotechnik's advanced systems specialist for immersive systems, whose ArrayCalc software handles precise SPL and localization mapping. "Without being able to predict what a system is going to do, the result would be days of putting loudspeakers in place only to measure them and change the deployment time and time again."

The fundamental beauty of audio mapping software is that it makes sound waves visible, at least on a computer screen. Not only does this approach save time and frustration, but it also saves money because deployments can be completed more quickly and effectively.

"Rather than relying on assumptions or extensive on-site adjustments, designers can model a venue in 3D, place loudspeakers, evaluate coverage, and verify mechanical configurations in a virtual environment," said George Georgallis, product management for performance audio, HARMAN Professional Solutions. "This gives designers a detailed understanding of how a system is expected to perform before any equipment is deployed." HARMAN produces JBL Venue Synthesis, a comprehensive 3D acoustic simulation and mechanical analysis tool.

By using audio mapping and predictive data, integrators no longer have to ask clients to simply trust their expertise.

"Decisions stop being about how many speakers do we think we need and start being about what do we need to achieve our design goals for this event," John said. "It also allows integrators and consultants to defend their design to a client with data instead of opinion, which changes the whole buying conversation. Nobody wants to over-spec a system just to be safe, and nobody wants a callback because a section came in six dB hot or cold."

Being able to provide this form of visual proof to a client is a significant improvement over using traditional spec sheets. Andy Davies, Meyer Sound's senior director of product management—the team behind the MAPP 3D high-resolution audio prediction tool—emphasized this point. "The data in MAPP 3D provides far more information than any datasheet ever could," he said, "providing a visual representation of the output of a loudspeaker, helping users understand which products are the right functional fit for any given application."

Virtual Limits

Audio mapping software is not a magic wand, and it operates on a strict "garbage in, garbage out" principle. In plain language, a digital map cannot fix poor input data, nor can it entirely replace the critical listening skills of an experienced engineer.

"A simulation is only as good as the accuracy of the model you build, and the assumptions in the room acoustics—reflections, absorption, HVAC noise, and audience attenuation—are genuinely hard to capture with precision, especially in complex or unusual architecture," John cautioned. "I always tell people to treat the map as your design foundation, not your final QC."

Also, no matter how good the audio mapping software may be, the physical environment has the last word in this discussion. "While the software provides an excellent representation of direct sound, room acoustics and environmental conditions can still influence the final system performance," Georgallis told SCN. "Ultimately, room acoustics and tuning the system on site remain essential parts of achieving the best possible performance."

One area where audio mapping software is an absolute must is immersive environments. Trying to execute these installations by ear alone is practically impossible. "Considering the cost of equipment and the amount of time required to complete a proper installation, I believe it is imperative that audio mapping be employed when designing any immersive audio space," said Lance.

Conversely, budget-sized installations in schools and municipal buildings also benefit significantly from audio mapping. Because these projects don't have the funds to absorb costly errors, integrators have to get the design right the first time. "These projects may not always involve large-scale systems, but acoustic modeling can still help designers make better decisions, avoid unnecessary costs, and deliver a more consistent listening experience," Georgallis added.

The Next Frontier

The science of audio mapping is already well established, so the future of this software is less about tweaking basic algorithms and more about improving workflow efficiency, supporting smart automation, and working in collaborative cloud environments. Software developers are focusing on making these tools more accessible to a wider range of stakeholders.

Davies noted that Meyer Sound is launching Aperture, an add-on visualization tool "aimed at giving system designers enhanced tools to share designs, enabling presentation options and graphic resources from a simple, online tool." L-Acoustics has offered a similar capability for the past year through Soundvision Connect, a browser-based companion that lets architects, consultants, and clients step into the same 3D model and SPL data without opening the software themselves.

Manufacturers are also using automation to strip away the most tedious, repetitive technical tasks. "As sound systems become more sophisticated, processes such as delay optimization for full-range systems and Electronic Design Synthesis [EDS] for large subwoofer arrays can become both time-consuming and technically challenging," explained Georgallis. "By automating these calculations, Venue Synthesis allows engineers to spend less time on repetitive optimization tasks and more time evaluating and refining the overall system design."

Ultimately, the future of Pro AV design is collaborative, interconnected, and increasingly intelligent. The goal is to get architects, consultants, and clients "into the same 3D data in real time, so decisions happen faster and with everyone aligned," said John. He added that machine learning will soon sharpen these tools by analyzing real-world measurement data over time.

In the end, audio mapping has fundamentally transformed how sound systems are conceived and delivered. In an industry where time is money and precision is paramount, turning guesswork into a guaranteed result is the ultimate payoff.

The new USB Extender xi Series from Extron is now available. This series extends and switches USB signals from peripheral devices to a host computer up to 1,980 feet (600m) through a Gigabit Ethernet network or up to 330 feet (100m) point-to-point over one CATx cable. It supports High-Speed (USB 2) and earlier devices.

[The Human Side of Technology]

The transmitter can be powered by the host computer or included power supply and provides USB peripheral emulation to enable trouble-free booting of a host computer that is not connected to a keyboard or mouse. The receiver features a built-in, active four‑port hub with up to 500 mA of power per port. The matrix controller allows simple setup and control for a distributed USB matrix switching system over an Ethernet network.

"As organizations seek more flexible ways to deploy USB devices in courtrooms, conference and meeting spaces, classrooms, and lecture halls, the USB Extender xi Series delivers streamlined USB extension and switching capabilities," said Casey Hall, chief marketing officer for Extron. "With long-distance USB transport, centralized control, and support for distributed USB matrix switching, the USB Extender xi Series simplifies USB connectivity for demanding Pro AV applications."

The USB Extender xi Series supports a wide range of USB peripherals, including interactive whiteboards, keyboards, mice, mass storage devices, webcams, headsets, and speakers, while USB Extender xi HID models help secure installations by restricting connectivity to authorized device types. Available in multiple form factors for flexible integration, the series can be combined with the USB Matrix Controller xi to create scalable distributed USB switching systems with up to 64 transmitters and receivers while offering centralized management and control. Together, these capabilities make the USB Extender xi Series an ideal solution for extending and switching USB signals in applications that demand reliable, long-distance USB connectivity.

Quick view:

• The Planar Tile features rigid 2:1 aspect ratio module for flat configurations, measuring 320mmx160mmx15mm.
• Planar Tile W features rigid widescreen-format 16:9 aspect ratio, measuring 320mmx180mmx15mm.
• Planar Tile Flex features flexible modules in a 2:1 aspect ratio that support concave, convex and continuous curved display surfaces with a minimum curve diameter of 1 meter (39.37 inches).

Planar has launched the Planar Tile Series, expanding its portfolio of creative LED display solutions with flexible and rigid LED modules designed to bring custom shapes, curves, and configurations to life.

[Tackling a New HQ]

“Planar Tile Series builds on our experience in flexible LED while giving designers and integrators more building blocks for bringing creative concepts to life,” said Robert Detwiler, senior director of product management at Planar. “With flexible and widescreen-format rigid module options, including the ability to create tight concave and convex curves, Tile expands the range of projects where creative LED can be considered.”

Building on a decade of experience deploying flexible LED display solutions, including the highly successful Planar CarbonLight CLI Flex Series, Planar Tile Series expands Planar’s creative LED portfolio with new module sizes, configurations and design possibilities. Joining the recently introduced Planar Mosaic Series and Planar Chameleon Series, Tile gives designers and integrators even more options for creating display arrays beyond traditional display formats.

Available in 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.5mm pixel pitches, Planar Tile Series offers three module options for a broad range of creative designs including: Planar Tile, Planar Tile W, and Planar Tile Flex. Together, the module options provide versatile building blocks for creating custom dimensions, shapes and configurations. Select models are also available with a fully encapsulated surface for enhanced durability and touch interactivity.

Planar Tile Series incorporates a streamlined Type-C proprietary interface to deliver power and data between the compact control unit and LED modules. It features flexible cabling with locking connectors for easy routing and secure connections within custom structures, while the control unit can be installed in multiple orientations to accommodate specific installation requirements.

Quick view:

• The debut of Crestron’s custom DM NVX SoC marks the company’s first in-house silicon design, tailored specifically for pro-AV demands to deliver 4K60 4:4:4 video, 24/7 reliability, and 30% higher power efficiency compared to generic off-the-shelf chipsets.
• The new DM NVX 370 Series simplifies meeting and room setup by incorporating native USB-C connectivity, allowing a single cable to handle 4K video, USB data transfer, and 100W of power delivery to charge connected laptops simultaneously.
• The 370 Series leverages ongoing firmware updates to continuously unlock new features and capabilities over time—eliminating the need for frequent hardware replacements as organizational AV requirements grow.

Crestron Electronics has unveiled its new DM NVX 370 hardware lineup and the first DM NVX System-on-Chip (SoC). AV over IP has moved from a specialized infrastructure to the backbone of how modern organizations share information and is increasingly becoming a backbone for organizations’ video requirements, supporting applications from digital signage and communications to live events.

[AVoIP and Adaptability]

The DM NVX AV over IP technology platform is larger than just one solution and represents the convergence of three pillars: the signal, the platform, and the infrastructure. The signal represents the ability to send nearly any source to almost any screen while the platform represents the scalable, long-term investment that is continuously supported through ongoing updates. Finally, the infrastructure reflects networked audio and video capabilities functioning as a core layer of the broader IT network.

“DM NVX has always been the infrastructure behind how spaces run, but what’s evolving now is how we bring in even more intelligence and capabilities to those deployments,” said Alex Peras, EVP of product and engineering at Crestron. “The DM NVX SoC is our own design, specifically tuned to what these environments require, and the 370 Series is the first product built on this foundation to show what is possible. The result is elements like USB-C connectivity and adding 100 watts of power delivery to the table, which bring that full picture to life.”

The latest DM NVX hardware introduction adapts to the way people now bring content into the room, with laptops and USB-C connectivity cables driving those connections. The DM NVX 370 Series adds USB-C connection directly to the device to handle video, USB data, and 100W device charging simultaneously handling all elements with one cable to the room. HDMI connectivity inputs are also available, meaning no matter what the source is or however the room may be configured, users can connect directly with full flexibility.

The DM NVX 370 Series lineup debuts the DM NVX SoC, the first silicon chipset designed in-house by Crestron. As the chip is built to the Crestron roadmap, every improvement to the DM NVX platform extends to the SoC itself.

The purpose-built solution includes 4K60 4:4:4, native audio, and 24/7 operation which were design targets intentionally implemented during development. Unlike off-the-shelf chipsets designed to serve multiple industries, the DM NVX SoC was engineered exclusively to meet the requirements of professional AV environments, which results in benefits like 30% more power efficiency. Firmware updates continue to deliver new capabilities over time without the need to rip and replace hardware. The investment in the solution reflects a technology that improves over its lifecycle, rather than one that depreciates when a new model ships.

Summary:

• Telefónica Servicios Audiovisuales (TSA) has deployed a massive Alfalite LED wall at Telefónica’s National Supervision and Operations Centre in Aravaca, Madrid, to serve as the core monitoring display for its new TSAmediaHUB content platform.
• The bezel-free panoramic screen connects via NDI servers, allowing operators to easily monitor, compare, and customize multiple live broadcast feeds across a single continuous field of view.
• Built in Spain, Alfalite's UHD Finepix 1.2 screen uses MATIX AlfaCOB technology—featuring a non-glare matte finish, ultra-wide 175-degree viewing angles, fanless quiet cooling, and durable module encapsulation—making it tailored for long, mission-critical operator shifts.

Telefónica Servicios Audiovisuales (TSA), the audiovisual services arm of global telecommunications group Telefónica, has supplied and commissioned an LED wall from Alfalite for a new broadcast monitoring room in Madrid. The room supports TSAmediaHUB, Telefónica' s new platform for audiovisual content production, management, processing, storage, and distribution. It is located at the group' s National Supervision and Operations Centre in Aravaca, Madrid.

[dvLED vs. Projection: Which Display Type is Best for Large Venues?]

Measuring 37.4x6.6 feet (11.4x2m), the UHD Finepix 1.2 MATIX AlfaCOB display provides a viewing area of almost 248 square feet. It is used for production control and monitoring of broadcast feeds whose transmission is managed by TSA.

Operators in a broadcast monitoring room need to watch multiple feeds at once and respond quickly to any issues. Alfalite's panoramic display provides a continuous viewing surface with no bezels to interrupt the image, making it easier to arrange and compare sources within a single field of view. The display is integrated with servers that deliver video feeds via NDI. This setup allows sources to be distributed and displayed centrally, with layouts adapted to the needs of each operation.

Designed and manufactured by Alfalite in Spain, the UHD Finepix 1.2 features a 1.2mm pixel pitch, a 7,680 Hz refresh rate, and 175-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. These specifications provide the detail, uniformity, and readability needed to monitor multiple feeds from different positions around the room.

MATIX AlfaCOB technology provides a matte finish that reduces reflections and glare, an important consideration in spaces with controlled lighting where operators spend long periods in front of the display. Full encapsulation of the LED modules also improves protection against impacts, liquids and chemicals, supporting reliability and durability under intensive use. Fanless convection cooling contributes to quiet operation in the room.

"This project brings together exactly the demands we designed UHD Finepix to meet: a mission-critical environment, intensive use and decisions that depend on what operators can see on screen," said Luis Garrido, executive director of Alfalite. "In a broadcast monitoring room, a seamless image, readability and reliability are essential to the job. Combining a 1.2mm pixel pitch with MATIX AlfaCOB gives TSA a uniform panoramic display with reduced reflections, built for demanding operations. We are proud that our technology is part of TSAmediaHUB and Telefónica’s move towards more centralised, flexible audiovisual operations."

Summary:

• The CORE Indoor model provides a versatile COB solution for indoor LED applications, offering dependable visual performance and straightforward deployment.
• The SLIM Indoor is designed for applications where a slimline form factor is required, helping designers and integrators incorporate LED into environments where space is tight and aesthetics and installation considerations are particularly important.
• The premium end of the range, PRO Indoor provides a higher-performance COB solution for projects demanding enhanced capabilities and advanced visual performance.

Elysium LED has launched three new indoor LED display solutions: CORE, SLIM, and PRO. Designed to address a wide range of application requirements across corporate, education, retail, hospitality, sports and entertainment, command and control, public spaces, transportation, and architectural environments, the new range gives integrators, designers, and end users greater flexibility when specifying indoor dvLED.

[dvLED vs. Projection: Which Display Type is Best for Large Venues?]

“LED is more than a display technology. It is an architectural medium that can fundamentally change how people experience a space,” said Kirt Yanke, president, Elysium LED. “With CORE, SLIM, and PRO, we wanted to give customers and partners a clearer choice of solutions while maintaining engineering discipline, longevity and the highest level of craft across every system we deliver.”

The new indoor portfolio gives customers a choice of performance, form factor and specification according to the needs of each project. Configuration options include Full HD Bundles, Ultra HD Bundles and Custom Configurations, providing flexibility across a broad range of applications.

CORE Indoor: This version provides a versatile COB solution for indoor LED applications, offering dependable visual performance and straightforward deployment. Available in 0.7mm to 1.8mm pixel pitches, CORE delivers a 178-degree viewing angle, 12,000:1 contrast ratio, broad colour gamut coverage and 600 cd/m² brightness.

Models from 1.2mm and above feature a single-board design integrating the receiving card and power supply into the hub board, simplifying servicing and reducing system complexity. Front serviceability across the range provides greater installation flexibility and easier access for maintenance.

SLIM Indoor: Designed for applications where a slimline form factor is required, this model helps designers and integrators incorporate LED into environments where space is tight and aesthetics and installation considerations are particularly important. Available in 0.7mm to 1.5mm pixel pitches, SLIM features a lightweight cabinet with a 30mm depth, a 178-degree viewing angle, 12,000:1 contrast ratio, limited glare and 600 cd/m² brightness. For demanding, always-on applications, SLIM offers optional full redundancy, including redundant receiving cards, power supplies and controllers. The display is fully front serviceable, providing easy access to receiver cards and power supplies.

PRO Indoor: The premium end of the range, PRO provides a higher-performance COB solution for projects demanding enhanced capabilities and advanced visual performance. Available in 0.9mm to 1.5mm pixel pitches, PRO delivers an exceptional 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 98% DCI-P3 coverage, 600 cd/m² brightness and a 178-degree viewing angle. For demanding, always-on applications, optional full redundancy is available, including redundant receiving cards, power supplies and controllers. Cabinets are pre-aligned to tight tolerances and feature three connection methods, helping ensure a flat, seamless display in a fully front-serviceable package.

Extron has released the newest addition to the VoiceLift family of wireless microphone systems, the VoiceLift Lite Microphone System. Designed to improve communication in instructional spaces, VoiceLift Lite delivers clear, consistent audio throughout classrooms, lecture halls, and training rooms.

The voice amplification system is available with either a wireless pendant microphone or a pendant and handheld microphone and includes a power amplifier and two compact surface mount speakers. The systems improve speech intelligibility and help reduce instructor vocal strain, while remaining easy to deploy and operate. VoiceLift Lite provides an economical way to enhance communication, support effective instruction, and improve learning outcomes.

[Protecting the Voice]

"Our VoiceLift Pro microphone systems have long been popular with educators who want to make sure every student in the room can hear the instructor's voice, while reducing vocal strain," said Casey Hall, chief marketing officer at Extron. "VoiceLift Lite Microphone Systems are cost-effective options to bring the benefits of voice reinforcement to even more learning spaces."

Available in single-pendant or pendant-and-handheld configurations, the microphones provide up to eight hours of talk time on a full charge. Provided as a complete kit containing all necessary components, cables, and mounting hardware, the VoiceLift Lite Microphone Systems are ideal for K-12 classrooms, higher education learning spaces, and training rooms that need voice amplification but do not require the advanced capabilities of a VoiceLift Pro Microphone System.

Quick view:

• The upgraded 14x48-foot billboard in Sioux Falls delivers an estimated 80% reduction in average annual energy use compared to the original 2008 display technology.
• Lamar Advertising replaced the location because key components reached end-of-life and spare parts were no longer available, demonstrating how modernizing established OOH sites protects revenue and long-term asset value.
• The project builds on a 25-year relationship between Lamar and Daktronics (spanning back to 2001 when they installed the first full LED digital billboard in Baton Rouge).

Lamar Advertising, in collaboration with Daktronics, has upgraded the billboard in Sioux Falls, SD, which has served the market since 2008, to current technology designed to improve operating efficiency while keeping an established advertising location in service.

[Friday Night Lights, Camera, Action!]

The companies’ digital OOH relationship dates to 2001, when Lamar Advertising installed the first full LED digital billboard from Daktronics in Baton Rouge, LA. Since then, Daktronics has continued developing technology and services to support reliable performance, efficient operation and long-term asset support for media owners.

This project illustrates how an established digital location continues generating value as the technology supporting it reaches the point when efficiency, serviceability, image quality, and lifecycle planning factor into the reinvestment decision. For a 14x48-foot display, Daktronics' power consumption data shows an estimated 80% reduction in average annual energy use from the original product to today’s technology.

“We monitor the age and performance of our locations, and use those metrics to determine when it makes sense to replace a display,” said Lamar Advertising digital engineering manager Brad Miller. “This display had operated well past its expected life, and while it may have continued running, key components had reached end of life, and spare parts were no longer available. The extended life of the product made it an easy choice to select a new Daktronics display for the replacement.”

The latest platform supports long-term asset value through improved efficiency, lifetime image quality, standardized modules, service access, brightness performance expectations and parts support.

“Reliability is more than how long a display operates,” said Lori Sieler, OOH product manager at Daktronics. “It is about helping customers protect the revenue those displays generate, minimize disruptions, and make informed decisions about when to reinvest. Lamar’s continued investment in Daktronics technology is a strong example of that long-term approach."

The most important input in any room is usually the hardest one to protect. A pastor steps onto a platform while the band is still playing. A presenter closes a session over a musical tag. A vocalist works the front of a stage, a few feet from a loudspeaker that is already running hot.

In every one of those moments, the microphone is doing exactly what we asked it to do, and exactly what we wish it wouldn't: Capture the person and everything around them. Stage bleed, PA spill, room reflections, crowd noise, the scrape of a headset against a collar. The engineer needs more level. The room says no.

For most of my career as a front-of-house engineer, the answer to that problem was a collection of compromises. EQ notching to pull down the frequencies most likely to ring. Gating and expansion to shut the microphone when no one was talking. Careful mic selection, disciplined stage volume, and a whole lot of fader-riding.

Each of those tools works a little bit, and each of them costs something, usually a piece of the voice you were trying to protect in the first place. Our technology, Source Intelligence, changes that, because we approached the problem differently.

The Threshold Problem

To understand why this is different, it helps to look at how conventional noise control actually behaves. The majority of voice noise reduction tools in live sound are built around a threshold. When the signal sits above the threshold, it passes; when it falls below, it is reduced.

That logic works cleanly when the only thing in front of the microphone is the speaker or singer. It breaks down the moment the environment gets loud, because crowd wash or a drum kit next to a singer crosses the same threshold the voice does. When the voice is open, the noise rides through with it. An engineer ends up chasing the threshold all night: one setting for the quiet verse, another for the loud chorus, another for the moment the room erupts.

That is the limitation Source Intelligence is built to address. Rather than deciding whether to open or close a channel, machine learning source separation identifies the voice within the signal and reduces what is not voice—and it keeps reducing the non-voice content while the voice is active. That is the meaningful distinction. The drums next to the vocal mic stay suppressed even as the singer is singing. There is no threshold to set and nothing to chase as the show evolves.

This is not the same thing as feedback suppression, and it is worth keeping the terms straight for spec purposes. Feedback tools target the ring. Source separation targets the entire field of unwanted sound around the voice: bleed, spill, ambience, handling noise, and reflections. The reduction in feedback risk is a consequence of a cleaner source, not the mechanism itself.

What 'Cleaner' Buys an Integrator

The number people latch onto with Source Intelligence is 40 dB … of non-voice content removed from a speech or vocal microphone. I would gently steer integrators away from fixating on that figure, because the ceiling is rarely the point.

In a real room, the win is often a handful of extra decibels of gain before feedback on a spoken word channel—the difference between a presenter sitting comfortably in the system and an operator feeling like the mic is living on the edge.

At North Point Community Church in Atlanta, the team described needing only a little more margin on the speech bus, and finding that the extra dB or two was exactly what closed the gap. Modest on paper, decisive in the room.

The second benefit matters more for installed systems than people expect: what happens when you clean up several open microphones at once. Four vocal mics in front of a live drum kit each carry some bleed, and collectively that bleed reshapes the mix. Remove it from all four and the result is a markedly cleaner mix with the tonal character of the voices intact, but more importantly, notably higher intelligibility. That transparency precision and clarity is the property installers should test for first.

For show-critical and install work, the platform question is as important as the audio. Source Intelligence runs as a licensed application on a dedicated, closed audio processor rather than on a general purpose computer exposed to the internet, automatic updates, and software conflicts.

For an integrator that has to warranty uptime, that distinction is a practical maintenance and reliability decision. It also means the same processing can be deployed across mono, stereo, distributed, or immersive configurations. It's not tied to any one room geometry.

What It Is Not

Latency is the other gating spec. Machine learning inference has historically traded latency for quality, which is acceptable in a studio and disqualifying on a live stage, where the tolerance is measured in single-digit milliseconds before performers perceive a disconnect. Total input-to-output latency for Source Intelligence, including conversion and processing, is under 8.5 ms. We treated that figure as a fixed ceiling: Every improvement to the model had to stay under it before we would ship it.

Here is the honest part. We spent more than 18 months testing this in the field, including on major touring productions for Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, and Rosalía, before we called it a product. Even so, Source Intelligence works alongside good system design, sound mic technique, appropriate stage volume, trained operators, and acoustic judgment, rather than standing in for any of them.

It is not a rescue for a room that was never tuned. It is a new kind of margin in the moments where margin has always been hardest to find: when someone needs to be heard clearly while the room around them refuses to be quiet.

For most events, the voice carries the message—the information, the emotion, sometimes the entire reason the room is full. Source separation, whatever badge it wears, is finally giving us a way to protect that source without trading away the thing that makes it worth protecting.

d&b audiotechnik has introduced vCore, a new standalone Soundscape software processing engine. Available free of charge, vCore offers a new way to access d&b’s immersive Soundscape solution, enabling preproduction without the need for a physical processing engine. Using the d&b Create.Control software together with a pair of headphones, users can create and experience binaural output that delivers realistic spatial audio wherever they are.

[The SCN Audio Issue Is Available for Download]

“With vCore, the Soundscape ecosystem gains a new tool that allows audio professionals to plan and prelisten to their projects without requiring a physical Soundscape processing engine or a loudspeaker system,” said Robb Allan, head of product management, Soundscape at d&b audiotechnik. “Work can happen anywhere: in the living room, in a cafe, or on a tour bus. All that is needed is the latest version of Create.Control and a pair of headphones.”

vCore supports up to 64 inputs and provides a two-channel binaural rendering that can be experienced via headphones as well as streamed in applications such as webinars and broadcasts. FoH engineers and sound designers can now design and prepare Soundscape shows without requiring a complete system. Integrated within Create.Control v1.4, vCore becomes part of an intuitive workflow, allowing users not only to prepare but also to audition their mixes from their preferred DAW in binaural. This enables a realistic listening experience during preproduction, long before arriving on site.

“Immersive experiences are everywhere and we want to make Soundscape free, easy to use and fun,” concluded Allan. “We want artists, designers and mixers who are interested in creating Soundscape projects to be able to use our technology wherever they are and whatever project they’re working on.”

Executive Summary

• Network Convergence and Standardization: Pro AV is increasingly integrating with IT infrastructure through open standards like IPMX, shifting market value from hardware ports to network orchestration, lifecycle management, and interoperability.
• AI Integration vs. Component Constraints: While embedded edge AI enhances smart AV capabilities, massive data-center AI expansion has constrained memory supply (DRAM, NAND, HBM), increasing component cost volatility and supply chain risks for manufacturers.
• Shift to Recurring Service Models: Global geopolitical friction and tariff structures are making hardware-only sales less predictable, driving integrators toward managed services, continuous remote monitoring, and software-defined recurring revenue models.

Nearly a year ago, I argued that ten growth opportunities would define Pro AV: from AV over IP and broadcast convergence to intelligent surveillance, cloud signage, managed services, and emerging markets.

The direction was right. But the market has gotten less forgiving. Growth is still available. It's just not easy anymore.

The Network Story is Stronger

AV over IP has continued its move from alternative architecture to default assumption. Broadcast and Pro AV are converging too, as common, open standards get easier to deploy. The first formal IPMX certification wave, at ISE in February, covered 48 products from 11 manufacturers; a second event in August added 14 more from eight manufacturers. It's a slow process, but an important one. Certification reduces multi-vendor risk and gives customers a credible path away from proprietary lock-in.

The pixel explosion remains real across stadiums, control rooms, and large-scale LED. So does the move to multi-gigabit, 25/100/400GbE infrastructure. But bandwidth alone is no longer the differentiator. Operations make the difference. Customers are more vocal about topology visibility, audit trails, fleet management, and rapid recovery. If you can’t diagnose a network remotely, you have an expensive support problem.

Margin is migrating from ports and endpoints toward orchestration, support, and lifecycle services.

AI Became Both an Accelerator and a Constraint

Last year, AI was most visible in surveillance analytics. Now it reaches almost every opportunity. Cameras frame speakers automatically. Meeting-room agents take notes and manage audio zones. Signage adapts content using audience data. AI assists design, programming, and fault diagnosis. At InfoComm 2026, AI was moving from a cloud feature to an embedded agent capability at the edge.

That expands the addressable market for intelligent AV, but it also raises expectations. Buyers will ask whether an AI feature cuts labor, improves utilization, or increases revenue. If the answer to one of those questions isn’t yes, it's not a business case.

AI has also created a supply-side paradox. The data-center buildout is absorbing high-bandwidth memory and pushing manufacturers toward their most profitable, priciest products. Micron's fiscal second-quarter results, reported in March, showed revenue climbing from $8.05 billion to $23.86 billion year-on-year on strong demand and tight supply. Conventional DRAM and NAND buyers are competing for the same constrained output; SK Hynix said in January it had already sold out its entire 2026 HBM, DRAM, and NAND output.

For AV manufacturers, that means more volatile component costs, redesign pressure, and harder allocation decisions. For integrators, it means shorter quote validity, substitution risk, and a renewed premium on vendors with dependable supply. Intelligence at the edge will keep growing, but at a higher price than we anticipated.

Geopolitics Changed the Route to Growth

The case for emerging markets still stands, but "go global" is too blunt. India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America benefit from infrastructure investment and demand for immersive experiences. China remains important, but trade restrictions, localization requirements, and slower growth complicate the opportunity.

Tariffs also expose how misleading a country-of-origin label can be. Chips may be fabricated in Taiwan or Korea, packaged elsewhere, and assembled into devices in China, Mexico, or Southeast Asia. Duties at the final-product stage can alter competitiveness overnight. Add shipping disruptions, export controls, and currency volatility, and growth has to be judged against landed cost and supply resilience, instead of market-size figures.

Recurring Revenue Moved to the Center

Cloud signage, remote monitoring, advanced support, and managed services were separate opportunities a year ago. They're merging into one operating model. As AV real estate gets larger, more distributed, and more software-defined, customers need continuous management instead of occasional break-fix intervention.

This is where integrators can turn project revenue into contracted revenue, and where manufacturers, including NETGEAR AV, can build durable software and support economics. Ecosystem partnerships matter more too. Customers expect a single view across a mixed system, and that only happens with real interoperability.

So, what's still true? AV is becoming inseparable from the network. What changed? AI accelerated demand while tightening the component base, and geopolitics made execution more regional and more expensive.

The next year of growth will punish companies that merely sell more boxes. It will reward those that make complex, distributed AV systems open, observable, secure, and economical to run. That's a tougher opportunity than we described a year ago, but it's also a better, more sustainable business.

NOW AVAILABLE! AV Technology Manager’s Guide to All Things Audio

24 AV/IT Industry Thought Leaders share insights and trends on audio developments for enterprise, higher ed, live events and other markets. Check out what they said.

AV/IT Team: Meet the team behind the new line array system that recently made its debut at the New York Philharmonic, bringing an elevated acoustic experience to audiences at one of the world’s most storied performing arts institutions.

7 Case Studies Worth a Listen: Exceptional Speech Intelligibility | With Invisible AV, The Focus is On the Fitness | Immersive Portable Studio | Beachfront Destination Gets Luxury Audio Upgrade | Two Solutions, ONE Goal: Accessible Audio for All | Acoustic Tiles Give Everyone A Front-Row Seat | Audio Designed for a Historic Space

31 Products That Resonate: Ceiling and pendant speakers, IPMX-compliant audio monitor, Dante-enabled in-ceiling loudspeaker, digital UHF wireless system, PoE-powered four-channel audio power amplifier, multilingual translations, portable RF-Over-Fiber box, network-based ecosystem, ceiling array microphone, collaboration bar, AV-over-IP platform, active subwoofers, cable connectors, audio control, and so much more!

READ NOW!

Quick view:

• Nanolumens is expanding its Engage Pro Series with new mitered cabinets that enable 90-degree corners, allowing indoor LED displays to wrap around architectural features.
• The outdoor Performance Series adds its first sub-3mm pixel pitch option for closer viewing and high-brightness Performance 500 models delivering 7,000–8,000 nits for improved visibility in direct sunlight.
• The expanded Engage Pro Series and Performance Series lines allow Nanolumens customers to address a wider range of architectural, environmental and viewing requirements using established indoor and outdoor display platforms.

Nanolumens is expanding two of its configurable video wall lines; the Engage Pro Series and Performance Series. The additions include 90-degree corner capabilities for Engage Pro Series and sub-3mm pixel pitch and high-brightness options for select Performance Series outdoor models.

[Massive Display Brings Exterior of the NBA's Phoenix Suns Home Arena to Life]

“The additions to the Engage Pro and Performance Series are focused on giving customers more options within product families they already know and appreciate,” said Kurt DeYoung, chief revenue officer for Nanolumens. “The corner configurations for the Engage Pro Series allow indoor displays to work with more complex architecture, while the expanded Performance Series supports outdoor applications that require closer viewing or greater brightness. Together, these updates address a broader range of installation conditions without adding unnecessary complexity.”

The premium Engage Pro indoor line uses Chip-On-Board (COB) MiniLED technology to deliver high-performance visuals with more than four times greater contrast than traditional SMD LED. It features pixel pitch options as fine as 0.7mm for fine detail, up-close viewing and supports faceted curves. The Engage Pro's COB coating minimizes reflections, enabling specification in brighter environments with lights and windows.

The new corner capability allows Engage Pro to extend across adjoining surfaces, supporting continuous content around corners, columns and other architectural features beyond conventional flat or faceted curved video walls. The configuration gives designers and integrators added flexibility to incorporate COB-based LED into a space while maintaining a consistent display platform with the entire Engage Series.

Available exclusively in the 500x500mm cabinet format, the new Performance Series cabinet-based outdoor video wall line supports viewing distances of approximately 14 feet before individual pixels become distinguishable. The finer pixel pitch makes the series suitable for outdoor environments where audiences may be positioned closer to the display.

All Performance 500 models are now available with high-brightness models, delivering 7,000 to 8,000 nits, depending on pixel pitch, to strengthen visibility in direct sunlight. Each Performance Series cabinet carries an IP67 rating for protection against water and dust and is engineered for permanent installations across wet, cold, dry, and humid climates. The Performance Series is also available in a smaller 250x250mm format for greater application versatility.

Not too long ago, Pro AV and broadcast equipment occupied two separate worlds, defined by very different production goals and budgets. Today, those separate worlds are merging into one.

This convergence is dramatically reshaping the expectations surrounding wireless microphone deployments. Whether outfitting a corporate boardroom, university lecture hall, or major league sports stadium, end users now demand broadcast-tier reliability from all of their wireless mics.

Mark Donovan, director of commercial applications at Audio-Technica U.S., noted that wireless microphones have transitioned from being event-driven tools to becoming core infrastructure in installed AV systems. "Corporate, education, and government environments now expect wireless audio to perform with the same consistency as networked systems," he said.

Unfortunately, delivering pristine, uninterrupted audio via wireless is becoming exponentially more difficult. As the demand for wireless connectivity in Pro AV spaces skyrockets, the spectrum it uses is becoming more crowded. Navigating this increasingly congested RF environment requires a deep understanding of new transmission technologies, rigorous security protocols, spectrum policy, and strict deployment best practices.

More with Less

The most pressing trend affecting the state of wireless microphones today is the severe congestion within licensed frequency bands. The available real estate for wireless audio is disappearing, putting immense pressure on systems integrators to deliver reliable results.

Jens Pilz, Sennheiser’s spectrum policy and standards manager, points to a frustrating disparity between Pro AV and other technology sectors. "Other wireless industries ask for new spectrum with each generation of their technology," he said. "The Pro AV industry is forced to stick to the same spectrum resources—or lose spectrum while other industries gain it, like Digital Dividend 1 and 2 in Europe [when broadcast TV moved from analog to digital, freeing up spectrum] or 600 MHz in the U.S. [the same]."

Consequently, as governments globally reallocate valuable RF spectrum, often to support mobile data, wireless microphone operators are being squeezed into smaller frequency bands. This reallocation makes finding clear frequencies incredibly difficult, said René Moerch, group director of wireless for DPA Microphones and Wisycom. "The ability to find usable spectrum, what I often describe as 'parking spots,' is becoming one of the most critical challenges in Pro AV today," he explained.

Integrators are facing the same spectrum squeeze. “We [have to] find more channels in less space, both physically and in bandwidth loading," said Jason Jacquemain, design engineer for American Sound’s Venue and Entertainment Division. "Refining the quality and agility of systems to cope with more crowded RF environments is a frequent challenge that we must overcome."

According to Donovan, this reduction in available spectrum has forced a shift from convenience to intentional design. "Wireless systems can no longer be deployed casually in professional environments; they require planning, awareness, and a clear understanding of RF tradeoffs," he said. Donovan noted the industry has been driven to greater adoption of alternative frequency bands, recognizing there is no longer a single "best" solution.

Pushing Limits and Technological Shifts

Is there a hard limit to the number of wireless microphones that can be operated in the same space? No one knows for sure.

"There’s no universal number," admitted Ben Escobedo, Shure’s account executive for professional audio. "The limit is determined by available spectrum, system efficiency, regulatory rules, and RF conditions in the specific location. Ten channels might be easy in one room and impossible in another due to outside RF interference."

Lacking access to such a number, the best choice for Pro AV operators is to employ a mix of prudent signal coordination, system choices, and disciplined deployments that don’t use more wireless microphones than necessary. “That’s why planning and testing matter more than channel count on a spec sheet,” Escobedo told SCN. “Performing an RF site survey is essential to ensuring one can deliver the channel count and performance that the user expects."

To maximize channel counts within these tight constraints, manufacturers are focusing heavily on RF efficiency and RF agility. RF efficiency refers to how many channels can be packed into a single channel (typically 6 MHz in the U.S.). RF agility refers to wideband tuning, which allows wireless systems to scan a massive range of frequencies to avoid interference and congested areas.

Thanks to digital’s better spectral efficiency and advanced security features, the wireless microphone industry’s move from analog to digital has made room for more channels. Plus, manufacturers are introducing novel transmission standards to bypass UHF congestion entirely.

For example, Sennheiser is championing both WMAS and DECT NR+. Short for wireless multichannel audio systems, WMAS is a wideband, bidirectional approach that allows wireless microphones and in-ear monitors (IEMs) to operate within the same section of RF spectrum. DECT NR+ uses the 1.9 GHz range—a band largely exclusive to DECT technologies—to support bidirectional communication adapted for higher audio fidelity.

Pilz views WMAS and DECT NR+ as being complementary to each other, rather than competitive technologies. "In the core Pro AV world, these are more like tools in a toolbox, and for the right application, you need to select the right tool," he explained. "You shouldn't buy a product based on technology—you should buy the product based on your use case."

"Manufacturers are addressing RF complexity by both adding capability and reducing user burden," added Donovan. "On one hand, systems are becoming more sophisticated, with improved tuning control and coordination tools. On the other, they are becoming more automated, with features that simplify setup and ongoing operation."

Securing the Signal

Because Pro AV and broadcast applications are converging into unified, IP-centric environments, AV systems now routinely reside on corporate IT networks. This shift has raised security demands for wireless audio applications.

"Unencrypted wireless audio is no longer acceptable in many cases for both security and privacy reasons," said Escobedo. "Whether it's a major financial institution hosting a town hall in NYC or a pop star about to perform at a halftime show, digital wireless systems often provide AES-256 encryption to ensure secure transmission."

In this heightened security realm, users must understand the distinction between fully digital systems and digital hybrid systems. While fully digital platforms support AES-256 encryption, digital hybrid platforms prioritize absolute RF robustness and long-range resilience over encryption.

As a result, “digital hybrid technology does not support encryption," Moerch explained. "For that reason, Wisycom solutions are typically deployed in applications where RF performance and audio quality are the top priorities, while environments requiring encrypted transmission, such as corporate or government use, are better suited to fully digital systems with built-in encryption, like the DPA N-Series."

"Manufacturers are addressing RF complexity by both adding capability and reducing user burden," Donovan observed. "On one hand, systems are becoming more sophisticated, with improved tuning control and coordination tools. On the other, they are becoming more automated, with features that simplify setup and ongoing operation."

Interference and Disruption

Even the most advanced, heavily encrypted wireless technology will fail if deployed without paying attention to today’s congested RF spectrum. "It seems most designers are having to truly relearn the best practices as a result of said overcrowding, limits, and security concerns," said Jacquemain.

To ensure consistent and reliable service, end users and integrators need to adhere to strict deployment strategies.

Assess your real needs first. "A great starting point is a quick reality check on true channel count needs," Jacquemain advised.

Check the spectrum. Never rely on guesswork when deploying wireless microphones. "Knowing what spectrum is available where you’re working is critical, including avoiding DTV stations," Escobedo said. Using software tools like Shure’s Wireless Workbench or built-in system scanners can help find the most useful frequencies.

Place antennas properly. Maintaining strict line-of-sight between the transmitter and the receiver antennas is crucial, because human bodies and structural obstacles absorb RF energy. "Proper antenna spacing is also important for true diversity performance, which is typically around half a wavelength [approximately 20 inches in UHF ranges]," Moerch added.

Be smart about transmission power. Higher transmit power does not automatically equal better performance—it often just raises the noise floor. "In many cases we are finding it is preferred to use lower output power but have a more robust antenna receiving system,” Escobedo said. “Keeping the output power low may allow one to multiplex [reuse] the same frequency elsewhere in the deployment."

Know when not to use wireless. In those situations where microphone mobility is not necessary, it makes sense to use wires rather than going wireless. "A mentor of mine often pointed out that setting up a wireless microphone involves deploying four cables: power, two antenna cables, and an audio cable," said Escobedo. "Sometimes a simple XLR cable to a wired mic can suffice for the intended application."

Despite all this, it's still possible to use wireless microphones successfully through the use of planning, spectrum checking before going live, and leveraging innovative technologies like WMAS and DECT NR+. Just plugging in a wireless microphone system and hoping it works—especially if it's part of a system that's old and outdated—is a risky choice in today’s congested RF spectrum.

Ultimately, as Donovan said, "The most reliable systems are those designed with realism in mind, anticipating challenges rather than reacting to failures."

What to know:

• Samsung Display Solutions help the Cincinnati Bengals turn preparation into performance by simplifying workflows and enhancing collaboration.
• The Bengals outfitted their training facility with five Samsung Flip Pro Interactive Displays, giving the front office a shared canvas for turning film and player data into smarter game-day strategies.
• Large-format 4K UHD displays prepare the organization for draft selections by featuring scouting reports and player statistics with exceptional clarity.

The Cincinnati Bengals installed Samsung Display Solutions throughout its training facility, including coaching offices and the weight room, to enhance football operations. Samsung Flip Pro Interactive Displays and Direct View LED signage bring film, player data, tactical insights, and game plans into shared visual environments, helping all members of the organization, from coaches and players to scouts and analysts, build winning strategies.

[Massive Display Brings Exterior of the NBA's Phoenix Suns Home Arena to Life]

The Bengals installed five Samsung Flip Pro Interactive Displays in staff offices, which streamlines the way coaches analyze film, identify playing patterns of their team and opponents, and build more impactful strategies for their next matchup. Instead of toggling between whiteboards, laptops, tablets, and manual presentations, coaches can brainstorm specific plays and formations, draw directly over game film and save their ideas throughout the season.

The result is a more fluid path from film study to game plan, ensuring coaches can spend less time digging up critical sports data and more time refining the strategies they’ll take onto the field.

Samsung Interactive Displays turn Bengals team meetings among coaching staff and athletes into collaborative working sessions. Players can now step up to the screen, draw their reads and work through assignments in tandem with coaches.

This collaboration ahead of game days helps bridge the space between film study and the field. Position groups can now break down what happened in a play, identify where adjustments need to be made, and visually walk through how the next handoff should unfold. Rather than simply watching film, players can engage directly with the concepts they will be tasked with executing, which helps reinforce assignments, encourage team dialogue, and strengthen alignment throughout the season.

In addition, Samsung 4K UHD LED screens featured in the weight room and other spaces throughout the facility, front office staff integrate seamlessly with the Bengals’ custom scouting applications. As a result, they can compare prospects, review reports, and evaluate information together as decisions unfold.

Watch to find out more below.

Captivate, a brand of Hall Research, has released its new CP-PVOT-C1622 camera. This 4K AI dual-lens camera was designed for conference rooms, training facilities, classrooms, and streaming setups. The camera pairs an 8 MP PTZ main lens with 3x optical zoom against a 2 MP panoramic lens covering 120 degrees, so AI tracking modes can frame the room and follow whoever is speaking without an operator at the controls.

[The Human Side of Technology]

The panoramic lens continuously detects participants across the room while the main lens frames the active talker, guided by four linear microphone arrays that localize sound for audio tracking. Auto Framing, Speaker Tracking, Presenter Tracking, and Individuals Gallery cover everyday meetings, training sessions where an instructor moves around the room, and gallery-style views for hybrid classes.

“Rooms don’t all use the same camera path, so we built the CP-PVOT-C1622 to hand off video however the room needs it, whether over USB, over HDMI, or over the network,” said Ken Eagle, CEO, Hall Research. “That means one camera covers the BYOD laptop meeting, the codec room, and the production feed, so integrators can standardize on a single model across a building.”

Video reaches a laptop or room PC at up to 4K@30fps over USB 3.0 Type-C, while a simultaneous HDMI 1.4b output feeds a display, conference codec, projector, or capture device. The LAN port adds NDI output alongside Web UI and Telnet control, and carries PoE (PD+) power so the camera can run on a single Ethernet cable, which keeps the install to one cable pull and one termination per room. A USB 2.0 Type-A port accepts third-party peripherals, such as a speakerphone. Because all three video paths run at the same time, one room can serve a laptop call, an in-room codec, and a network stream in the same session with no re-cabling in between.

The CP-PVOT-C1622 is designed for small and medium conference rooms, training facilities where Presenter Tracking follows an instructor across the room, online education programs that use the Individuals Gallery view for hybrid classes, and streaming or production workflows that pull the NDI feed directly off the network. Across all of them, the AI modes handle framing on their own, so sessions can run back to back without assigning someone to operate the camera, and IT can adjust settings over the Web UI from anywhere on the network.

Disguise has powered some of the most ambitious live events and experiences in the world—from Bad Bunny to the Top Of The Rock at the Rockefeller Observation Deck in New York. Now, with the help of Disguise's release of its new X2 and X3, its Designer software more accessible to small and mid-sized productions such as DJ sets, theater tours, and corporate brand events.

[The Vegas Sphere and Disguise Announce Multi-Year Partnership]

X2 and X3 have been available to select customers since earlier this year and are already powering major productions for artists. "Following the success of X1 last year, X2 and X3 are the next step in making our ecosystem even more accessible," explains Raed Al Tikriti, chief product and technology officer at Disguise. "A key goal with the X Series is to give our community access to Disguise at a more accessible price point. By offering both two and three 4K outputs and the flexibility to run on your hardware of choice, including a Windows laptop, we're enabling users to bring high-end creative possibilities to both small and mid-size shows. It provides the ultimate balance: the full power of Disguise with the portability to stay agile on the road, eliminating the need for costly logistics or time spent reprogramming on other solutions."

Teams can now choose X1, X2 or X3 for small or mid-size productions, then switch to Disguise media servers for large productions, when greater output or clustering is required. This means projects can scale across different venue sizes while staying in the same Designer workflow, reducing the need to rebuild or reprogram the show file as requirements change. For productions working within tighter budgets, the X Series also offers a more accessible way to use Disguise across a broader range of shows.

“Working with the X Series has helped speed things up considerably when working on Martin Garrix’s festival shows,” said Vishal Sharma, video programmer at All Of It Now. “We’re not having to reinvent the wheel every time we get to a new stage or venue; we can just use the same show file. It’s saving us a huge amount of time and has removed the need to reprogram on another solution. We believe the X Series is going to really change the way the industry thinks about video and how it should be operated and executed.”

I wasn't shy about how much I liked the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex wireless headset when I reviewed it in 2023. In fact, that on-ear model became my airplane headset, replacing the over-the-ear headphones I had previously designated for travel. When Jabra offered me a demo of the new Evolve3 65 Flex model, of course I said yes, but could it really bring enough to the table to swap out the old model?

Let's talk fit and finish. The hinge mechanism that connects the earcups to the headband has been updated, but there's still plenty of room for those of us who wear glasses. The headset folds flat for storage. You also have LED lights on the earcups that indicate when you're on a call. The Evolve3 65 Flex weighs just over 5 ounces and features a cushy headband and synthetic leather ear cushions.

What the headset doesn't have is a mic boom arm. Like Jabra's recent Evolve3 75 and Evolve3 85 models, the mics are in the earcups. Two mics (one on each earcup) handle audio pickup, while another four mics are dedicated to the adaptive ANC.

[Review: Uncomplicated Videoconferencing]

The headset ships with a USB dongle (technically a Jabra Link 390 Bluetooth adapter) as well as an almost 4-foot USB-C charging cable. Jabra has redesigned the carrying case for the Evolve3 65 Flex, and it's an improvement over the previous model. Gone is the soft felt rectangle pouch with elastic strap closure, replaced by a semi-hard, zippered half-moon case that's slimmer and feels more protective. It includes a dedicated home for the included dongle. There's no pocket for a USB-C charging cable, but you can cram it in there if need be.

I'll give Jabra a quick shoutout for its sustainability efforts with the Evolve3 65 Flex. It has a replaceable battery and you can swap the ear cushions, both of which are nice for extending product life. But it also comes in FSC-certified packaging, features Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) for conserving power, and uses significant recycled/biocircular materials (by weight) in the headset's construction.

My first real test of the Evolve3 65 Flex and its AI-powered Jabra ClearVoice microphone technology was at the airport on my way to CEDIA Expo. I talked with SCN's Wayne Cavadi as I maneuvered between gates and fellow travelers during a somewhat tight layover. He heard me just fine amid the noise of a busy airport—and once I was on the plane, the adaptive ANC did a fine job keeping the engine noise at bay.

After the trip, I talked to Wayne from my home and, in true ridiculous testing fashion, decided to turn on the kitchen faucet. For a moment, he heard the water running in the background and then nothing. When I returned to the kitchen a few minutes later and turned the faucet back on, he didn't hear it or the clank of my Yukon stainless steel tumbler on the kitchen counter. I'm not saying you should conduct business meetings while washing the dishes, but if you use the Evolve3 65 Flex, the person on the other end of the line might never know.

I tested the headset on videoconferences and phone calls with no complaints about hearing me clearly. And it passed the "mailbox test" (about 60 feet away) with flying colors while connected to my iPhone and when using the dongle connected to my laptop.

Finally, it was time to test clarity for GenAI accuracy. I started a Google Meet and instructed Google Gemini to produce a transcript. I read an excerpt from Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address, followed by a paragraph from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" and a little bit of my own writing. Can't make it too easy, right? Turns out the transcript was well done. Gemini stumbled over the words "gemmary" and, ironically enough, "Jabra," but I'm not blaming the headset for that.

Connectivity wasn't a problem, by the way, as the headset is certified for Google Meet. The Evolve3 65 Flex is also certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, so compatibility with your platform of choice shouldn't be a problem.

You can order the Evolve3 65 Flex with Jabra's charging pad, but I'm still not a fan of the balancing act required to use those things, so I just plug in to a USB-C cable and charge the old-fashioned way. Not that you need to charge it very often. Jabra reports up to 16 hours of talk time or 80 hours of music time. During my field test, I spent the better part of a day in airports and in the air, and there was still plenty of juice at the end of my journey.

With an MSRP of $389 (though you can find it for less), the Jabra Evolve3 65 Flex is not inexpensive, though it's less expensive (and lighter) than the Evolve3 75 and Evolve3 85 models. It sounds great and makes me sound great, whether I'm in the office or the airport or even at the kitchen sink. Eliminating the boom mic is an aesthetic win, while the replaceable battery means this headset should have a longer life cycle than similar models. And its sturdier case fits nicely in my carry-on, which means I'll likely be updating my travel headset.

Learn what the judges had to say about these 28 Pro AV Best in Market (BiM) 2026 award winners for AV Technology. Now in its fourth year, the BiMs provide companies with the opportunity to highlight products that were new or newly upgraded within the last 12 months. Entries were judged based on a range of criteria by independent, third-party judges and editorial teams.

Additional BiMs were presented by other Future B2B brands, Systems Contractor News and Sound & Video Contractor.

ADI | Snap One’s WattBox 900 Series

ADI | Snap One’s WattBox 900 Series redefines residential power management by combining advanced surge protection, outlet-level control, and remote monitoring in a single platform. It gives integrators greater visibility into connected devices while helping protect critical AV and networking systems from power-related issues. At the core of the series is patented Surge Elimination Circuit (SEC) technology, which provides non-sacrificial surge protection that continues safeguarding equipment through repeated surge events without relying on wear-prone MOVs. The eight-outlet, 1U rack-mount version features a full-color front-panel display and integrated controls that simplify setup, outlet management, and troubleshooting without requiring a laptop. The 12-outlet, 2U rack-mount model offers flexible mounting options, optimized outlet spacing, and integrated cable management.

What the judges had to say: “The WattBox 900 Series power protection system serves users well as it provides a robust continuous protection experience. The Power Insights interface is simple to use and allows users to monitor and control the system from anywhere.”

ADTECHNO’s DAV Control Nexus

ADTECHNO’s DAV Control Nexus (DAV-CNX1) redefines the future of Dante network configuration by unifying routing, monitoring, and user management into a dedicated, standalone hardware platform. Its intuitive browser-based GUI follows the familiar workflow of Dante Controller, reducing the learning curve without requiring dedicated control software. What truly makes the DAV-CNX1 revolutionary is its ability to operate completely independently of a PC, thanks to integrated HDMI output and USB HID interfaces. By connecting a display, keyboard, and mouse directly to the unit, users can manage their Dante environment as a self-contained system. This eliminates the cost, maintenance, security concerns, and complexity associated with dedicated control computers.

What the judges had to say: “The DAV Control Nexus hardware makes installation and administration of Dante networks so much easier. The DAV-CNX1 brings to the forefront everything we love about Dante's domain manager and configuration experience.”

ADTECHNO’s Dante AV Ultra Smart Display Module

ADTECHNO’s Dante AV Ultra Smart Display Module (DAV-03SBL) integrates Dante AV Ultra directly into compatible displays and projectors, eliminating external receiver boxes and HDMI cabling. By embedding directly into displays and projectors, the DAV-03SBL reduces equipment count, installation complexity, and potential points of failure, resulting in a cleaner, more reliable system that is easier to deploy and maintain. The DAV-03SBL delivers uncompromised AV performance in a compact package. Powered by Dante AV Ultra and the Colibri codec, it transports the highest-quality 4K UHD 60p 4:4:4 video with ultra-low latency and uncompressed audio with frame-accurate synchronization over a standard 1GbE IP network. This makes it suitable not only for corporate AV and education, but also for live production and mission-critical applications.

What the judges had to say: “This is the ideal interface for integrated display environments, as it eliminates bulk and time required to configure third-party systems in the physical environment. The DAV-03SBL can be configured and bench-tested in the shop for rapid deployment in the field.”

ADTECHNO’s AEX-01UTR USB and 4K120Hz Extension System

ADTECHNO’s AEX-01UTR USB and 4K120Hz Extension System is a high-performance Pro AV solution that simplifies long-distance AV and USB connectivity by combining video, USB data, control, and power over a single CAT5e cable up to 100m. The system simultaneously extends 4K120Hz HDMI video or USB-C video via DP Alt Mode, USB 3.2 Gen 1 data, RS-232 control, and power. Its dedicated point-to-point architecture requires no network configuration or IP expertise, enabling fast plug-and-play deployment while reducing cabling complexity and infrastructure costs. A key advantage is its ability to transmit video and USB data simultaneously in opposite directions. Additionally, USB-C power delivery up to 60W can power and charge compatible laptops while in use.

What the judges had to say: “The AEX-01UTR Extension System not only extends video signals reliably for 100m, but it also seamlessly auto-switches between HDMI and USB-C connections. I appreciate the HDMI local output for instances where a confidence monitor is helpful.”

AIMS’ IPMX

AIMS’ IPMX represents the next evolutionary step in professional AV-over-IP technology, delivering an open, standards-based framework that enables interoperable, scalable, and future-ready audiovisual systems. It is designed for use across corporate, education, live events, venues, and broadcast-adjacent environments—anywhere AV systems are transitioning from point-to-point signal chains to networked, software-driven architectures. Developed by the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), in collaboration with the Video Services Forum (VSF) and the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), IPMX applies proven broadcast engineering principles to the expanding needs of Pro AV. It builds on SMPTE ST 2110, extending broadcast-grade IP media transport with features that make it practical, approachable, and cost-effective for AV deployments.

What the judges had to say: “The open-source design of IPMX eliminates the need to purchase products only within one manufacturer's portfolio. This allows users to select products around the needs of their workflow without sacrifice, and the 1GB or 2.5GB bandwidth is very efficient compared to other systems.”

AJA Video Systems’ FS8

AJA Video Systems’ FS8 is a 12G-SDI/SMPTE ST 2110 media processor that simplifies complex Pro AV production setups. It packs powerful video and audio processing tools into a 1RU solution that bridges SDI and IP infrastructures to solve production headaches, including mismatched frame rates, rasters, and color spaces, with sophisticated audio routing and management. FS8 enables a combination of up to four channels of 4K/UltraHD or up to eight channels of 2K/HD frame sync, processing, and IP gateway functionality, including HDR conversions. It features expansive I/O options, with support for 12G-SDI over coax and fiber, ST 2110-20 w/ST 2022-7 redundancy, Dante, MADI, ST 2110-30, and embedded SDI audio.

What the judges had to say: “The FS8 is a single-rack-unit device that allows for teams to mix media and dynamically adjust color settings, sync, and cross conversion with ease. The web interface is extremely clean and it's impressive that the hardware supports both MADI and Dante audio streams.”

Atlona’s OmniStream+

Hall Research’s OmniStream+ by Atlona HW-OMNI-E4521 encoder and HW-OMNI-D4511 decoder deliver high-performance AV over IP for professional environments where exceptional video quality, low latency, flexible connectivity, and secure network distribution are essential. Leveraging the advanced VCx codec, OmniStream+ delivers visually lossless 4K/60 4:4:4 video with ultra-low latency of less than one frame, providing outstanding performance for both detailed computer graphics and fast-motion video. Dual encoding engines with independent scalers support simultaneous 4K and 1080p streams, while compatibility with HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision helps preserve exceptional image quality across demanding applications. Integrated USB connectivity expands the platform beyond traditional AV distribution, enabling video, audio, and USB peripherals to be extended across the network.

What the judges had to say: “The video performance is stellar and the built-in multiview and backwards compatibility—all while leveraging existing 1GB networks—provide tremendous value to users. Configuration is simple, especially on the encoder side with the LCD display and tactile buttons.”

Audinate’s Iris

Audinate’s Iris is a software-based control platform for networked PTZ cameras. From one browser, AV/IT teams control, color-match, monitor, and manage every camera across rooms, buildings, and sites. Support for Iris now spans 400-plus camera models from manufacturers including AIDA, Bolin, Canon, Lumens, Panasonic, PTZOptics, and Sony—and auto-tracking (AI subject tracking with instant virtual-joystick takeover) entered public beta in 2026. Iris is brand agnostic, multiuser, location independent, and gains capability through software updates. Where AV management platforms report device status, Iris adds real-time control and AI automation. It runs on cameras teams already own—a sub-2MB binary auto-configures per model—and deploys local, cloud, or hybrid.

What the judges had to say: “This is hands down one of the easiest and most intuitive user experiences for controlling PTZ cameras for live production. The image settings control experience is exponentially more intuitive than the standard web GUI for most PTZ cameras.”

Bridge Technologies’ VB440’s IPMX Integration

Bridge Technologies’ VB440’s IPMX Integration works on all levels, delivering not only transport analysis and timing monitoring but also advanced colorimetry, audio engineering tools, waveform and vector displays, and practical production functionality—capabilities that would typically require multiple standalone instruments. Crucially, not only does the tool provide all of these functionalities within an IPMX environment, but it can also be used to verify and validate the interoperability of the other IPMX components operating within the ecosystem. The award-winning potential comes from the philosophy which has underpinned the VB440 throughout its operations in the broadcast market, and now continuing into the Pro AV market: the idea of doing more with less, breaking down barriers and divisions, and championing interoperability.

What the judges had to say: “VB440’s IPMX Integration succeeds because the hardware solution is matched with a web-based interface that provides users with confidence that audio, video, and other content remain in perfect sync. I also appreciate that Bridge’s system supports up to eight simultaneous users.”

Canon’s CR-N400

Canon’s CR-N400 sets a new benchmark in professional PTZ performance by combining broadcast-grade 4K60p image quality, versatile reach, and advanced automation into a compact, cost-effective package. Powered by a 1/2.3-inch 4K CMOS sensor and DIGIC DV7 processor, it delivers vibrant colors; high-speed Hybrid Autofocus with face, eye, and head tracking: and support for Canon Log 3 and HDR formats. Featuring a 20x optical zoom that extends to a class-leading 40x Advanced Zoom in Full HD, the CR-N400 effortlessly captures both wide establishing shots and tight, crisp close-ups. Its dual-crop functionality enables simultaneous 16:9 widescreen and 9:16 vertical streaming, allowing operators to target traditional broadcasts and social platforms from a single camera feed.

What the judges had to say: “Single-cable control and signal transport using NDI2 make for an easy camera to deploy. Canon's CR-N400 hardware provides masterful autofocus, smooth tracking, and impressive zoom capabilities. The dual crop feature to create simulated camera shots adds even more value.”

Crestron’s Collab Compute

Crestron’s Collab Compute sets a new standard for enabling hybrid meetings across the Crestron portfolio. Built for performance, reliability, and scalability, it delivers a streamlined, standardized platform that IT teams can deploy consistently across any room type. Powered by AI-ready Intel Core Ultra processors, Collab Compute is designed for the future, supporting advanced meeting capabilities such as auto-framing, speaker tracking, and intelligent meeting recaps. By simplifying system architecture, Collab Compute ensures a consistent collaboration experience across locations, eliminating variability and reducing the need for user training. End users benefit from a more intuitive and productive meeting experience. Native support for Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms unlocks AI-powered features such as auto-framing, speaker identification, and intelligent recaps.

What the judges had to say: “Collab Compute is very well designed to be hidden within active Pro AV environments. The mounting and cable management solutions elevate its profile and the hardware specs provide a longer-term solution compared to other products that are out of date even before deployment.”

Extron’s TLP Pro 35 Series

Extron’s TLP Pro 35 Series touchpanels introduce the latest Extron control technology, blending sophisticated features with refined elegance. Continuing a strong legacy of reliability and ease of use, the new TouchLink Pro touchpanels deliver powerful and precise control you can rely on. They come in four sizes with multiple configuration options. All models feature advanced IPS technology, delivering vibrant color reproduction along with improved contrast, brightness, and wide viewing angles. They also incorporate a new Extron HTML5 stack, enabling modern, responsive interface design without relying on outdated technologies. HTML5 allows rich, interactive control pages that scale seamlessly across screen sizes and orientations. It also supports embedded multimedia elements, including H.264 video streams, dynamic graphics, and real-time data widgets.

What the judges had to say: “If I could score an 11, I'd give TLP Pro 35 Series touchpanels an extra point. The four sizes and form factors are elegant and efficient, giving users the experience we've been accustomed to on our phones to our Pro AV environments. They are ultra-slim and bright in all the right ways.”

Korbyt’s Vega Digital Signage Player

Korbyt’s Vega Digital Signage Player transforms everyday displays into immersive, interactive experiences for virtually any business setting. Purpose-built for content-rich, high-traffic environments, Vega pairs vibrant 4K visuals with high-quality live streaming and advanced multi-zoning, empowering brands to tell richer stories across multiple content areas on a single screen. Vega orchestrates dynamic, simultaneous content with ease. 4K60p decoding and HDMI 2.1a output ready for 8K-capable displays deliver crisp, cinematic clarity, while true multi-zone support lets organizations present live feeds, dynamic graphics, and interactive content side by side. Touch screen support turns passive signage into two-way engagement for wayfinding, retail, and customer-experience deployments.

What the judges had to say: “The Vega Digital Signage Player is a well-built unit with an easy-to-use, app-based architecture. While Korbyt’s digital signage software is hardware agnostic, the Vega player will serve many institutions very well right out of the box as it leverages the power of BrightSign.”

Liberty’s TeamUp+ Series Multi‑Format Docking Station

Liberty’s TeamUp+ Series Multi‑Format Docking Station (CAPDOC32) is an industry-first AV collaboration platform that unifies multi-format video connectivity, USB capture, and device integration into a single, purpose-built solution. Designed for modern education, training, and hybrid learning environments, Liberty's innovative platform bridges traditional AV infrastructure and emerging BYOM workflows without the complexity of multiple standalone devices. Supporting HDMI, HDBaseT, and SDI inputs, the CAPDOC32 uniquely integrates three built-in 4K60 USB capture cards, enabling connected video sources to function as native USB devices for conferencing, lecture capture, content sharing, and streaming. A single USB-C connection delivers video, data, peripheral access, and power, providing a seamless plug-and-play experience for instructors, students, and presenters.

What the judges had to say: “This is a cost-saving solution, since it bundles multiple devices into a singular unit. The ability for SDI, HDMI, HDBaseT, and USB to be shared as if they were native USB devices simplifies installations and reduces points of failure. The result is a much-improved user experience.”

Liberty’s Wireless Collaboration Hub

Liberty’s Wireless Collaboration Hub reimagines collaboration by combining wireless presentation and conferencing into a single, intuitive platform that makes sharing, connecting, and meeting effortless. Designed for conference rooms, classrooms, training spaces, and modern hybrid environments, it eliminates the cable clutter, compatibility issues, and complexity that often prevent seamless collaboration. What sets the Wireless Collaboration Hub apart is its unique dual-connectivity approach. Users can instantly share content through native AirPlay and Miracast support, while the included USB-C conferencing puck provides a secure, plug-and-play experience for guests and enterprise users. This hybrid model delivers exceptional flexibility, reliability, and compatibility across virtually any device.

What the judges had to say: “The Wireless Collaboration Hub provides a solid user experience, supporting standards-based wireless and dongle-based connectivity. The inclusion of an HDBaseT output sets this collaboration device apart from other products, as it greatly reduces integration complexity.”

Liberty’s KVM Multiview Switch

Liberty’s KVM Multiview Switch redefines command-and-control environments by combining advanced KVM functionality and dynamic multiview visualization into a single, intuitive platform. Designed for small- to midsize control rooms, it delivers enterprise-class performance without the complexity, cost, or infrastructure demands of traditional systems. Its breakthrough innovation is Click-to-Control technology, allowing operators to instantly take command of any on-screen source simply by selecting its window. By eliminating the need for multiple keyboards, mice, and cumbersome input switching, the system dramatically improves efficiency, situational awareness, and response times. The KVM Multiview Switch supports customizable layouts that enable users to display, resize, prioritize, and interact with multiple sources in real time.

What the judges had to say: “The KVM Multiview Switch has a value-based design that overperforms its price point. Liberty aces the build quality, and the control experience is simple yet powerful, as you can cascade five boxes for larger environments. This is an exceptional value for education and small businesses.”

Media Resources’ TruVIEW MIP Low Power

Media Resources’ TruVIEW MIP Low Power is an advanced dvLED display solution engineered to deliver exceptional visual performance while dramatically reducing power consumption and infrastructure demands. Utilizing a patent-pending, low-power architecture, the system reduces maximum power consumption by up to 50 percent compared to traditional MIP solutions while maintaining a full 1,000-nit brightness level. Remarkably, the platform consumes less power than many 600-nit COB products currently available. Built on the proven TruVIEW cabinet platform, the solution is available in pixel pitches from 0.9mm to 5.3mm, providing scalability across applications including corporate, retail, hospitality, education, control rooms, entertainment, and large-scale digital signage deployments.

What the judges had to say: “TruVIEW MIP Low Power provides impressive performance compared to others on the market. Its high-brightness modules come with exceptional parts warranty coverage, maximizing ROI for large-scale installations. Overall, it supports seamless convex and concave experiences.”

Media Resources’ TruVIEW FPP Outdoor

Media Resources’ TruVIEW FPP Outdoor is a high-performance outdoor dvLED solution engineered to deliver exceptional visual quality while withstanding extreme environmental conditions. Featuring advanced high-bright FlipChip MIP technology combined with a UV-stable GOB protective coating, the system is purpose built for long-term outdoor deployment where durability, reliability, and image performance are critical. Designed to bridge the gap between fine-pixel-pitch image quality and outdoor resilience, TruVIEW FPP Outdoor enables close viewing applications traditionally limited by durability and long-term reliability. Available in pixel pitches from 1.25mm to 5.3mm, the platform provides scalable flexibility across hospitality, retail, transportation hubs, entertainment venues, corporate environments, public spaces, and large-scale digital signage installations.

What the judges had to say: “TruVIEW FPP Outdoor achieves exceptional brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. It is also one of the easiest dvLED experiences to deploy outside and close to the viewer. An 8:9 aspect ratio provides lots of options to scale displays in portrait and landscape orientations.”

NETGEAR’s Align Controller

NETGEAR’s Align Controller is the manufacturer’s first AV platform, purpose-built as the open layer on which AV applications run. With remote access to NETGEAR Engage, it replaces the spare PC and VPN that used to be the only route in. Multiple users can now connect locally or from anywhere to configure a network, monitor system health, push changes, and troubleshoot issues without a site visit. Onboard IEEE 1588 PTPv2 Grandmaster and Boundary Clock functionality supporting SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, and gPTP AVB delivers sub-microsecond synchronization without expensive, dedicated external clock hardware. NTP, Syslog, DNS, and DHCP run natively. Two half-width units lock side by side for primary/backup redundancy, and 71W PoE++ with AC backup needs no dedicated power circuit.

What the judges had to say: “NETGEAR has mastered the ability to deploy and configure VLANS, supporting AV protocols without getting into the weeds. The manufacturer has executed a nearly flawless hardware and software experience with the Align controller.”

NetSpeek’s Lena

NetSpeek’s Lena is an AI-powered platform that helps organizations manage, support, and optimize their AV and unified communications environments. It brings monitoring, control, automation, diagnostics, reporting, and AI-driven intelligence together in one platform, giving technology teams a better way to manage complex, multi-vendor systems. What really sets Lena apart is that it goes beyond simply monitoring systems and alerting teams when something goes wrong. Lena uses AI to proactively find and address issues, helping organizations move toward more autonomous AV operations. With Lena’s AI-driven Room Check capabilities, rooms can be automatically evaluated to ensure systems operate as intended. Lena can identify configuration drift and take action before it turns into a problem that impacts the user experience.

What the judges had to say: “Lena provides one of the most approachable experiences for both the end user and technology staff. It is well designed, and the 24/7 support and proactive care created by the agentic design of the workflow help build a stronger user experience.”

Owl Labs’ Meeting Owl 5 Pro

Owl Labs’ Meeting Owl 5 Pro is a 360-degree camera, microphone, and speaker system designed to support hybrid collaboration across enterprise and small business environments. The all-in-one, center-of-table device combines video, audio, and connectivity into a single solution, reducing the need for multiple components and offering flexible meeting room technology across any room type. The device’s intelligent video and audio automatically capture participants and highlight speakers in real time, creating a more natural meeting experience for remote attendees. Five configurable meeting modes let teams adapt the experience for presentations, casual check-ins, and larger collaborative meetings. The device also supports wired and wireless multi-device pairing, enabling expanded coverage in larger spaces while maintaining a consistent user experience.

What the judges had to say: “The Meeting Owl 5 Pro succeeds in creating an inclusive video conferencing experience for both local and remote participants. When you pair two Owl 5 Pro devices, it's hard to beat the performance for larger spaces at this price point.”

PROTON Camera Innovations’ PROTON FLEXY

PROTON Camera Innovations’ PROTON FLEXY is a micro camera that reimagines the relationship between imaging head and processing unit by introducing serialized connectivity to facilitate camera head extensions of up to 10m. Crucially, the FLEXY separates the imaging head (just 19mm³) from the ECU (34mm x 34mm x 19mm) using a single, industry-standard coax cable and SMA connectors. This allows production teams to place the tiny camera head in high-risk locations whilst the body remains safely accessible. The IP67-rated head houses a 1/3-inch, 12-bit global shutter sensor, delivering 1080p broadcast-grade imagery and a low-heat 3W power draw. Because the head represents just one-third of the system cost and uses standard cables and connectors, teams can now pursue daring perspectives without prohibitive financial risk.

What the judges had to say: “PROTON FLEXY is innovative in that it allows users to separate the lens/sensor and electronic control unit in high-risk environments. Miniature cameras and wide-angle lenses provide extra flexibility, and the build quality provides effective thermal regulation and impact protection.”

Q-SYS RoomSuite Collaboration Bar

QSC’s Q-SYS RoomSuite Collaboration Bar is a Windows‑based, all‑in‑one collaboration device designed for simple configuration and deployment across standardized, repeatable meeting spaces. It integrates audio, video, compute, and control into a single solution, reducing system complexity while delivering a consistent collaboration experience. The system features four high‑resolution 50MP cameras, a 16‑element microphone array, and integrated loudspeakers. It ships with a dedicated 10.9‑inch touchscreen controller for intuitive meeting and device control out of the box, supporting Microsoft Teams Rooms environments. Designed as part of the Q‑SYS Full Stack AV Platform, the Collaboration Bar extends collaboration solutions across the modern high‑performance workplace and connects to Q‑SYS Reflect, a cloud‑based platform for monitoring and managing Q‑SYS systems.

What the judges had to say: “The quad 50MP cameras provide ultra-sharp video and the optional expansion microphones provide an adaptive audio experience. BYOD support incorporated into the touchpanel is a nice touch, but the real value is in the performance of the bar right out of the box.”

Sony Electronics’ Firmware Update for SRG and BRC PTZ Auto-Framing Cameras

Sony Electronics’ Firmware Update for SRG and BRC PTZ Auto-Framing Cameras expands support for video production needs in sports broadcast, remote and hybrid education, and corporate content creation. “Ball Sports Mode” enables automatic capture with an optimal overhead angle for full‑court, 5‑on‑5 indoor basketball games, enabling more efficient basketball broadcasting and recording with fewer resources. In installation environments where the camera may be subject to vibration, optical image stabilization reduces camera shake, allowing for more stress‑free capture. Additionally, on the live screen of the Web App, the tracking area can be displayed as an overlay. This visualizes the area in which the camera will track subjects, making it easier to confirm settings.

What the judges had to say: “The ability to leverage AI for ball and player tracking while also balancing intelligent scene framing used to be an area where users would have to compromise. Now, Sony delivers a broadcast-like experience with the ease of deploying a single camera.”

Stage Precision’s SP Grid Platform

Stage Precision’s SP Grid Platform is the first truly unified platform for real-time control and automation: one place to connect every element, device and data point across AV, lighting, automation and tracking. It eliminates custom code, connects data pipelines agnostically, and integrates with everything from PTZ cameras to switchers, media servers, and Unreal Engine. The impact is felt long before installation. Other control systems arrive at the engineering stage; SP Grid starts at the idea. Teams simulate not just what an experience will look like, but how it will behave, visualizing live data inside a 3D model of the space and figuring out spatial logic-based control workflows before anyone is on site.

What the judges had to say: “The single-platform design of SP Grid allows for more efficiency in designing 3D experiences. One nice feature is the ability for offline simulation to evaluate rapidly developed material without needing full studio gear. The credit-based licensing model is also a welcome approach.”

SyncBridge Technologies’ Icron DP 4K Video and USB 3-2-1 Arbutus 63301 Extender System

SyncBridge Technologies’ Icron DP 4K Video and USB 3-2-1 Arbutus 63301 Extender System is the only product that extends DisplayPort Alt Mode 4Kp60 video plus USB 3-2-1 simultaneously over the same USB-C port via a single 100m CAT 6a cable; no other product can do this. It is also plug-and-play, TAA compliant, and consumes no hub tiers.

What the judges had to say: “This product provides exceptional video signal and USB data stability. The small form factor lends itself to thermal efficiency and the three-year warranty backs up hardware that is willing and able to go the distance. The front-panel LED status lights help integrators or end users verify system performance during the rare instances when troubleshooting is required.”

Videopro’s AV Managed Services

Videopro’s AV Managed Services replace fixed packages with a capability-led model. Twelve services, including on-site concierge, proactive remote monitoring, help desk support, preventive maintenance, and performance reporting, can be combined to suit each client's environment, priorities, and level of support. The result is a more flexible and scalable approach to AV support that puts the client's environment first. Since launching this new offering, the response has been very positive, with clients embracing the flexibility to select the services most relevant to their environment. The new model has given clients greater choice, flexibility, and confidence in how their AV is supported.

What the judges had to say: “Videopro’s AV Managed Services seek to break the mold and provide end users with a truly exceptional experience. Overall, it appears they've built out a highly capable team which is ready to support users with proactive maintenance as well as reactive on-prem support.”

ViewSonic’s LDS136-152 Mobile Direct View LED Display Solution

ViewSonic’s LDS136-152 Mobile Direct View LED Display Solution is a 136-inch, all-in-one foldable video wall solution on wheels. Built for maximum flexibility, it delivers a large screen display in a pre-assembled design, which enables effortless setup within minutes. A fourth-generation model, the LDS136-152 features beneficial upgrades that make setup and operation even easier. The motorized lift raises the top of the screen to 9.34 feet, helping everyone get a clearer view. An integrated stand and display remote control allow for management of both the screen settings and motorized lift. Rear I/O ports are easy to reach and provide direct connectivity without opening panels or exposing internal boards, so connecting devices is quick and simple.

What the judges had to say: “This is the ultimate dvLED display for portable event support. The new generation has improved aesthetics, and its 600-nit brightness holds up to high-ambient-light conditions. The LDS136-152 continues to stand apart from the competition.”

DiGiCo has expanded its Quantum Range with the launch of the Quantum638 mixing console alongside an optional Quantum638T model tailored specifically for theatrical applications. The desk fills the space held by the SD7 and SD5, merging design elements from those legacy platforms with seventh-generation FPGA processing power to deliver a surface focused on speed, compact control, and operational redundancy.

[When Sound Becomes Architecture]

The surface incorporates three 17-inch high-resolution touchscreens, 38 touch-sensitive motorized faders divided across three sections, two dedicated Master faders, and three 6.8-inch TFT screens near the fader bays. Visual feedback is further expanded through three 14-inch meterbridge LCDs, three bank switcher screens, and 53 full-color 1.5-inch TFT displays. An integrated InfoBar provides constant visual tracking for snapshots, timecode, status warnings, and operational state. The physical layout closely mirrors the SD7 footprint while updating ergonomics, featuring top-strip Gain and Trim encoders, customizable Next buttons, assignable Macroder rotary encoders, and channel-assigned Macros that move dynamically with channel layouts.

Processing capacity includes 256 input channels, 128 aux or sub-group busses, and a 48x48 matrix, all featuring full processing. The engine suite provides 128 Nodal Processing instances, 64 Mustard Processing strips, 16 Spice Rack slots, True Solo capability, 32 32-band graphic EQs, and an internal FX rack supporting up to 48 stereo effects. Control management includes 36 VCA or mute groups, two solo busses, and Master busses for stereo, surround, and immersive formats.

For the first time in a Quantum product, DiGiCo offers a choice between single-engine and dual-engine architectures within the same chassis, with the dual-engine version capable of running in single-engine mode. Both variants feature dual DMI slots and hot-swappable power supplies. Upgrading to the Quantum638T adds specialized theatre software functions, including Auto Update, Aliases, Players, advanced control group tools, and Matrix Nodal Delays. Dual headphone outputs allow a sound designer and audio engineer to monitor independent feeds simultaneously.

Built for touring and permanent installation across theatres, live venues, festivals, and houses of worship, the console measures 61 inches (1555mm) wide, 38 inches (957mm) deep, and 21 inches (535mm) high, with a total weight of 93 kilograms.

The Pro AV Best in Market (BiM) 2026 awards for Systems Contractor News have been announced. Now in its fourth year, the program recognized 10 winning products from 10 manufacturers.

The BiMs provide a platform for companies to highlight new (or newly upgraded) products within the last 12 months. Entries were judged based on a range of criteria by independent, third-party judges and editorial teams. Additional BiMs were presented by other Future B2B brands, AV Technology and Sound & Video Contractor.

And the SCN BiM 2026 winners are …

AtlasIED / Atlas+Fyne Premium Pendant Loudspeakers

AtlasIED has expanded the Atlas+Fyne IsoFlare Series with a new lineup of premium pendant loudspeakers, the FP range. The addition provides integrators with a complete portfolio of ceiling, surface-mount, and pendant loudspeakers featuring consistent voicing and uniform point-source performance throughout an installation. Engineered for applications with high or open ceiling spaces, the pendant loudspeakers deliver design-forward performance that integrates seamlessly into modern architectural spaces. Featuring low-insertion-loss transformers suitable for 70V or 100V applications, the pendants’ durable construction includes a weather-resistant, IP44-rated enclosure. Available in black or white, the FP range incorporates 4, 6, and 8-inch models, along with a separate 8-inch model with narrow dispersion specifically for higher ceilings and an 8-inch subwoofer model for extended bass performance.

From the Judges: The Atlas+Fyne Premium Pendant Loudspeakers are among the most visually appealing Pro AV speakers for contractors to deploy in venues with discerning aesthetic standards.

Audio-Technica / D50 Digital UHF Wireless System

D50 Wireless was purpose-built for mission-critical environments. A-T’s flagship wireless system was designed for corporate, education, government, theater, and live performance. It delivers exceptional sound quality and RF stability in high-density integrations. Its primary benefit is maximum reliability at scale, with secure, networked performance via Dante and AES67—making it the right solution when precision, coordination, and flawless audio matter most. It features an expansive tuning bandwidth (up to 244 MHz, region dependent), premium battery life and build quality, and up to eight Dante channels in a single rack space with PoE+ power capabilities for the ultimate in rack space efficiency.

From the Judges: The Wireless Manager software is one of the better configuration and control software packages for integrators.

Biamp / Devio UCX

Devio UCX is an Android-based UC compute platform that transforms any meeting space into a fully equipped Microsoft Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms system. By consolidating compute, DSP, and device connectivity into a single appliance, AV, IT, and end users enjoy fewer powered components, less cabling, and simpler rooms, with remote management through Biamp Workplace. The device also provides the auto-pairing Apprimo Touch 10 controller, enabling one-touch meeting join while doubling as a USB-C charger at the table. AI noise reduction and intelligent Beamtracking microphone mixing ensure every participant is heard clearly. At deployment, Biamp Launch automatically measures each room and optimizes audio performance, so users experience consistent, professionally tuned sound in every space. As an Android-based UC compute device with integrated professional DSP, Devio UCX eliminates separate PCs and audio processors, and creates a single-manufacturer solution that scales across three performance tiers.

From the Judges: The Biamp Devio UCX is a smart solution for integrators, as it provides a common user experience while allowing hardware capabilities to expand in larger rooms.

EAW / NT208L

EAW’s NT208L is the newest dual 8-inch active line array in the Newport Series. It delivers 141 dB Max SPL with low‑frequency extension to 50 Hz—performance typically associated with much larger dual 10 or 12‑inch systems. Weighing just 53 pounds, it features a 2,000W Class‑D amplifier and a field‑adjustable horn (80, 95, or 110 degrees), offering a power‑to‑weight ratio that provides scalable output without added bulk. Designed for touring, installations, and outdoor festivals, NT208L offers simplicity, space efficiency, and high performance. The Newport Series integrates high‑power Class‑D amplification directly into each enclosure, eliminating external amp racks and reducing transport weight, truck space, and setup complexity. EAW’s Adjustable Horizontal Directivity (AHD) technology enables users to select between four horizontal coverage profiles through quick, toolless adjustments in the field. Plus, EAW’s Isophasic Waveguide ensures each cabinet couples seamlessly, providing even, predictable sound.

From the Judges: EAW's NT208L dual 8-inch active line array delivers the best low-weight active line array without all the add-ons that increase the price point of the cabinet.

Extron / DTP3 CrossPoint 42 USB

The Extron DTP3 CrossPoint 42 USB is a compact 4x2 matrix switcher that supports USB 10 Gbps data at the local USB-C host port and four-port hub, plus host switching and USB 2 data extension. It incorporates the Extron-exclusive Vector 4K scaling engine (capable of 4K/60 4:4:4) and features USB-C and HDMI inputs and HDMI outputs. A DTP3 output extends audio, video, USB data, and control signals up to 330 feet over a single shielded Cat 6a cable. The DTP3 CrossPoint 42 USB enables transmission of video and audio, data, and 100-watt device charging over a single USB-C cable. For BYOM applications, up to three USB 10 Gbps hosts can be switched to share devices connected to the local four-port USB hub. The switcher can also access remote USB devices when connected to an Extron DTP3 R 331 receiver, enabling cameras, microphones, mice, and keyboards installed in the room to be available to any connected USB host.

From the Judges: Sometimes integrators need a widget to solve a customer's needs, and Extron's DTP3 CrossPoint 42 USB may just be that solution.

LG Electronics USA / All-in-One LUPA098

The LUPA All-in-One (AIO) 32:9 ultra stretch indoor display is a 98-inch dvLED solution designed for high-impact digital signage, public information, and corporate communications in commercial environments. With its ultra-wide 32:9 aspect ratio, 1,920x540 resolution, 1.25mm pixel pitch, and brightness that reaches up to 600 nits, it gives organizations a distinctive, high-visibility canvas for spaces where standard display formats may limit visual presence or content flexibility. Its unique stretch form factor is paired with an all-in-one design that streamlines deployment. It integrates dual 9-watt speakers and an embedded webOS 4.0 controller, reducing the need for external components. It also features a single AC power connection, simplified rear frame and module assembly process, and full front access to help reduce installation complexity and support faster maintenance. Its VESA-compatible mounting and scalable configurations of up to 10 screens add flexibility across different layouts and site requirements.

From the Judges: LG has long created solutions for integrators that allow AV to be a transformative presence within built spaces, and the LUPA ultra stretch display creates yet another opportunity to make their mark in a way that could lead to increased business referrals.

NETGEAR AV / NETGEAR Align Controller

The NETGEAR Align Controller NETGEAR's first AV platform, purpose-built as the open layer on which AV applications run. The clearest expression is remote access to NETGEAR Engage, replacing the spare PC and VPN that used to be the only route in. Multiple users can now connect locally or from anywhere to configure a network, monitor system health, push changes, and troubleshoot issues without a site visit. The Align Controller also consolidates what every installation needs. Onboard IEEE 1588 PTPv2 grandmaster and boundary clock functionality supporting SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, and gPTP AVB delivers sub-microsecond synchronization without expensive, dedicated external clock hardware. NTP, Syslog, DNS, and DHCP run natively. Designed as an open platform, the Align Controller can also function as a gateway, network bridge, discovery server, or cloud proxy. Plus, it can run third-party applications alongside NETGEAR's own, allowing its capabilities to evolve after installation.

From the Judges: The Align controller's integration of grandmaster clock capabilities provides contractors an opportunity to create value for their clients and simplify system configuration by avoiding the need to deploy third-party solutions.

Sony Electronics / Crystal LED UNIFY

The Crystal LED UNIFY (ZRL-135SG) is a 135-inch, all-in-one dvLED display designed to simplify ordering, installation, operation, and maintenance while complementing Sony’s BRAVIA Professional Display and Crystal LED portfolios. The solution targets corporate and higher education environments such as boardrooms, meeting rooms, and community spaces. It arrives pre-assembled with five display units and a control unit, allowing two people to complete installation in about an hour with no additional electrical work required. A front-serviceable, slide-out control unit reduces downtime and lowers total cost of ownership. The display delivers true-to-life visuals with anti-reflection surface technology, 1.5mm pixel pitch, and 800 nits brightness. Visual performance and user experience are consistent with Sony’s broader professional display ecosystem, including 4K input support and compatibility with Sony’s Device Management Platform. Featuring an ultra-slim design, the Crystal LED UNIFY is engineered for durability, energy efficiency, and long-term use, and seamlessly blends into professional environments.

From the Judges: All-in-one dvLED systems used to be complex and cumbersome for field techs to install on site, but the five-panel design of the Crystal LED UNIFY display simplifies that.

ViewSonic / LDS136-152

The ViewSonic LDS136-152 is a 136-inch all-in-one, mobile dvLED display solution that's engineered to deliver high-impact visuals without the permanence of a fixed installation. Arriving pre-assembled in a protective flight case, it can transform any space into an immersive visual environment in minutes. The design is integrated with a commercial-grade, built-in motorized stand that lifts the top of the screen to 9.34 feet, ensuring optimal visibility for everyone in the room. With precision remote tuning, the height of the LDS136-152 can be adjusted from anywhere in the room. An integrated OPS slot makes it simple to expand the system when needed. Glue-on-Board (GOB) technology protects the LED panels from daily wear-and-tear, while its IP65 and IK06 ratings ensure resistance to bumps, dust, and moisture. With the ViewSonic AirSync software, the screen can be shared wirelessly from any device with tools such as AirPlay and Google Cast.

From the Judges: It can be a great solution for corporate clients as well as houses of worship that rent/share space, as the system can be secured when not in use.

WyreStorm Technologies / SYN-CTL-FL10

The SYN-CTL-FL10 is an all-in-one control platform designed to simplify room automation across education, corporate, government, security, hospitality, and venue environments. It brings projectors, displays, lighting, climate, sensors, and other room technologies together under one intuitive control experience, helping users manage the entire space from a single interface. What sets the SYN-CTL-FL10 apart is its combination of simplicity, flexibility, and value in a single platform. With built-in IP control, RS-232, relay, GPIO, and Ethernet connectivity, it functions as a control hub without requiring additional processors while supporting third-party systems with no ongoing licensing fees. Its visual programming environment allows integrators to learn the fundamentals in as little as 45 minutes, while pre-built drivers and straightforward configuration help accelerate deployment. A key differentiator is its AI-assisted integration workflow: Rather than manually building every third-party integration from scratch, integrators can use their preferred AI model to accelerate development.

From the Judges: WyreStorm’s SYN-CTL-FL10 compact control experience is super easy for integrators to deploy in the field with simple drag-and-drop configuration.

LYNX Technik has released the PVD 5440 DO, a high-performance frame synchronizer and multi-format video processor designed for demanding broadcast and production applications.
The PVD 5440 DO brings advanced video and audio processing together in a single card for the flexible Series 5000 platform, providing broadcasters and media professionals with a powerful solution for signal synchronization, conversion, processing, and audio management.

[A New Aspect for Pro AV]

At the heart of the PVD 5440 DO is the Up/Down/Cross (UPXD) processing engine, incorporating LYNX Technik’s high-quality motion-adaptive de-interlacing technology. The de-interlacing process uses motion-adaptive processing followed by diagonal interpolation, delivering clean, detailed images while minimizing common interlacing artifacts, particularly around diagonal edges and moving objects. The processing engine also supports conversion between virtually all broadcast formats, including resolution and frame-rate conversion. Additional features include crop and zoom, horizontal flip, and a built-in test pattern generator with automatic failover when the input signal is lost.

The PVD 5440 DO provides frame and line synchronization to bi-level or tri-level reference, with automatic reference detection. If reference is lost, the card can continue in free-run mode, with an optional latch-back function when reference returns. Independent video and audio delay adjustments provide precise timing control.

Additionally, comprehensive audio processing across 12G-SDI, MADI, and AES, is available, including full embedding and de-embedding capabilities. A 136x200 audio crossbar provides extensive flexibility for managing audio between all interfaces. The card supports up to 64 audio channels over 12G-SDI, 64-channel MADI input and 64-channel MADI output, plus four AES audio channels in and four AES audio channels out. Channels can be routed, swapped, muted, mixed, and gain-adjusted, with automatic monitoring for audio presence, silence, and overload. Dolby audio can be passed through transparently as part of the SDI signal but is not decoded or processed by the card.

The card provides one 12G-SDI input and four 12G-SDI outputs, with one output configurable as loop-through. Optional fiber connectivity is available through a wide range of SFP modules supporting transmitter, receiver, and transceiver configurations, including single-mode, multi-mode, and CWDM operation with up to 18 wavelength options. Two GPI inputs provide remote control for functions including input switching, video freeze, test pattern activation, etc.

Configuration, monitoring, and status are managed through LynxCentraal, providing intuitive graphical control of the card’s video, audio, synchronization, and system parameters.

In courtrooms, lecture halls, museums, and houses of worship, clear audio is essential. Assistive listening systems have long been associated with ADA compliance for people with hearing loss, but today the category is expanding well beyond regulation. From multilingual museum tours to smartphone streaming and emerging Auracast integrations, assistive listening is increasingly about accessibility, engagement, and improving the overall audience experience.

Assistive listening systems have historically been thought of in relation to regulation. Public venues with amplified audio systems were (and still are) required to provide listening assistance for individuals who were hearing impaired, and many facilities relied on the minimum number of receivers necessary to satisfy requirements established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.

But the market is experiencing a shift.

AV professionals, integrators and facility owners increasingly recognize that accessibility should not be treated as an afterthought. Instead, it's becoming part of the overall user experience strategy—not simply as an accommodation, but rather a way to create more inclusive and effective communication experiences for everyone.

Beyond ADA Requirements

Today, assistive listening does not only benefit people with diagnosed hearing loss, but also aging populations, non-native language speakers, and even individuals who are seated too far from a sound source to clearly understand what’s being said in acoustically challenging spaces. Interference from background noise, reverberation, and even distance can impact intelligibility even in well-designed environments.

“It’s not always about hearing loss,” explained Kim Franklin, chief marketing officer with Ampetronic | Listen Technologies. “Sometimes it’s just the environment—because of how the building is designed, or the size of the crowd, the language that’s being spoken, or the surrounding noise. Having that audio clarity just helps everyone have an overall better experience.”

To that end, technology leaders in assistive listening such as Listen Technologies (founded in 1998) and Williams AV (celebrating its 50th anniversary) have considerably expanded their offerings over the years and now feature a variety of solutions that address almost every type of scenario. Solutions range from RF, IR, and Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth and induction loop systems. Another company, Bettear, launched commercially in 2020 and entered the U.S. market earlier this year.

While the conversation around assistive listening has expanded, compliance remains a critical consideration in many installations. ADA requirements are generally tied to occupancy levels and seating capacity, with the number of receivers increasing based on the size of the venue. Typically, a percentage of those receivers must be hearing aid compatible, often through the use of neck loops or other telecoil-compatible solutions that allow users to connect directly with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

While assistive listening requirements can apply across a wide range of facilities and environments, it doesn't typically include houses of worship. “It’s true, houses of worship generally aren’t required to meet ADA assistive listening requirements unless they function as public assembly spaces,” explained Tony Braun, VP of North American sales and marketing at Williams AV. “But accessibility is about more than compliance—it’s about making sure everyone can fully participate. And that’s where the moral part of it comes in. It's about doing the right thing and making spaces accessible, whether or not they're required to be.”

Braun said many conversations begin with customers seeking an inexpensive ADA-compliant solution, but often evolve into broader discussions about audience demographics, venue experience, and whether users should rely on venue-provided devices or their own smartphones.

Accessibility Systems

One of the biggest shifts occurring within the market is the growing distinction between accessibility systems and experience systems. While the technologies may sometimes overlap, the intended purpose of each integration can be very different.

Accessibility-focused systems are designed primarily to support people with hearing loss or auditory processing challenges, and are installed to satisfy ADA requirements. These solutions are typically induction loop systems, RF systems, infrared assistive listening systems, and neck loops and telecoil-compatible devices.

“For a long time, we really only had a few options,” explained Marty Fornelli, senior design engineer at Diversified. However, he noted that traditional options each come with tradeoffs. For example, induction loops can be costly and disruptive to install, since they are placed inside of the concrete flooring, and RF systems require infrastructure. Infrared is often favored in environments such as courtrooms where security is key, because it’s a line-of-sight solution that limits its expanse.

Accessibility systems are particularly important in spaces where speech clarity is essential, such as courtrooms, lecture halls, houses of worship, and theaters. For many users, these systems can dramatically improve participation and comprehension by delivering audio directly to a receiver, headset, or compatible hearing device while minimizing the effects of background noise and distance.

Listen Technologies offers a range of solutions, including its T-Loop hearing loop (or induction loop) system for those with hearing loss via their hearing aid or cochlear implant. Its Listen RF system wires audio sources to a transmitter, while listeners use ListenRF receivers to tune in to the audio source. And for applications where security is essential, its ListenIR (infrared) system transmits audio to anyone with a receiver in the line of sight of the emitter.

Similarly, Williams AV offers diverse loop systems for visitors with T-Coil-enabled hearing aids and cochlear implants, including its Digi-Loop counter, perimeter, and dual-loop systems. The company also offers wireless RF systems such as its FM+ systems and its SoundPlus IR systems for small and medium-sized areas as well as its IR+ systems for larger environments.

Experience Systems

A broader category of listening technologies has emerged that focuses less on accessibility compliance and more on enhancing the visitor experience. These systems are designed for all users, not just individuals with hearing loss, where audio becomes part of the storytelling experience itself.

This includes self-guided tour solutions, multilingual interpretation systems, group tour communication platforms, smartphone-based audio streaming, and newer Bluetooth broadcast audio technologies. The biggest shift comes from the latest Auracast technology, built on Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio that allows one audio source to transmit to many compatible receivers at the same time.

One of the most significant trends shaping the category is the movement toward personal device audio delivery. Rather than relying exclusively on dedicated receivers distributed on site, the newer systems increasingly allow users to stream audio directly to smartphones, earbuds, hearing devices, or other Bluetooth-enabled products they already own.

This approach offers several advantages. For venues, it can reduce the operational burden associated with managing, charging, cleaning, and distributing dedicated hardware. For users, it creates a more familiar and personalized experience, allowing individuals to control volume and listening preferences directly from their own devices.

Dawn of Auracast

Technologies such as Auracast broadcast audio are helping accelerate this transition. Because it enables audio broadcasts to be transmitted to multiple compatible devices simultaneously, Auracast solutions can potentially create new opportunities for public audio accessibility and engagement. Similarly, Wi-Fi-based streaming platforms allow facilities to deliver audio content directly to visitor smartphones through apps or browser-based interfaces.

“There were certain technologies that we had been using for years,” said Braun. “But what's changed over the last 10 years, and even more recently, is that we asked how we can make the experience even better by bringing that audio directly to somebody's own device.”

Braun said Wi-Fi streaming introduced the concept of personal device audio, but latency and deployment complexity limited adoption. Auracast improves on that with low-latency Bluetooth LE audio that doesn’t require pairing and supports broad interoperability. “Any compatible device can tune in,” Braun noted.

Williams AV offers its Infinium Auracast system, while Listen has its Auri solution and Bettear has a line of Auracast products. Some of the benefits of these Auracast solutions include improved audio quality, reduced power consumption, improved interoperability, easier development of hearing aids and TWS earbuds, new audio device types, and a much larger transmission range.

“The beauty of Auracast is that it has really long-term implications,” added Franklin. “The more devices that come on the market, including AirPods, earbuds, headphones and smartphones, the more people will be able to use Auracast. You can simply walk into any venue that has it, look for the channel you want to listen to, and you can connect your earbuds. We really do think that over the next five to 10 years, it's going to be the most widely adopted audio system because it offers such easy access.”

“Auracast checks all the boxes,” said Fornelli. “While you still need to think about every scenario as unique, Auracast has become the default for me. It offers the best coverage for most applications.”

RTI has introduced four new models to the RTI Commercial Amplifier Series, including three models that feature Dante connectivity. The Commercial Amplifier Series delivers versatile, configurable high-performance 2-channel, 4-channel, and 8-channel audio amplification that integrators can rely upon for commercial, residential, and entertainment applications.

Also new from RTI, a wall-mounted PoE Zone Controller provides effortless control of volume and source selection when a control system is not present. Designed exclusively for the RTI-AMP Series, each controller mounts in a standard single-gang in-wall box (a version of this controller is available for international applications) and connects fully powered to the amplifier over a single Cat5e cable and any standard PoE switch.

Built around UMAC Class D output circuitry and a UREC universal switch-mode power supply with power factor correction, every model in the series operates equally well driving conventional low-impedance (Lo-Z, 4Ω/8Ω) loudspeakers and high-impedance (Hi-Z, 70V/100V) transformer-coupled distributed audio systems. This eliminates the need for external transformers or separate product SKUs across mixed-topology projects. Lo-Z power output is 125-Watts per channel, and Hi-Z output is 250-Watts.

Dante-enabled models (denoted by the “D” in the nomenclature) integrate into existing professional IP audio networks with AES67 interoperability, enabling long-distance routing and daisy-chaining without the bulk and added cost of dedicated audio cabling. For setup, configuration is handled entirely through a browser-based interface accessible over wired Ethernet or built-in Wi-Fi, with no dedicated software required. Installers have granular control over inputs, output zones, parametric EQ per-channel, crossover, delay, limiter, polarity, signal routing, and GPIO-based external control from any networked device. Presets can be locked, exported, and shared across projects, reducing commissioning time and ensuring consistent tuning.

Extron has launched its SW2 HD 8K, a two-input HDMI switcher with analog audio de-embedding. Designed with system integrators in mind, this compact switcher delivers high-performance video and flexible audio integration for a wide range of AV environments. The switcher supports video resolutions up to 8K, including 21:9 and 5K ultra-wide aspect ratio content, delivering exceptional performance for next-generation AV systems. In addition to the HDMI output, an analog audio output provides extracted stereo HDMI signals to feed a sound system or other audio equipment.

[Navigating the Rocky Seas of AVoIP]

“The SW2 HD 8K is purpose-built to support the evolving demands of modern AV environments,” said Casey Hall, chief marketing officer for Extron. “With support for 8K and ultra-wide video formats, along with analog audio de-embedding, this switcher delivers the performance and flexibility integrators need to design forward-looking systems with confidence.”

To enhance and simplify integration, the SW2 HD 8K provides a range of integrator friendly features: automatic input cable equalization, user selectable HDCP authorization, and multiple control options. The HDMI output can power external peripheral devices, such as active HDMI cables to support signal transmission over longer cable runs. The SW2 HD 8K is a perfect fit for Microsoft Teams Front Row applications, immersive presentations, and next-generation collaboration spaces.

dBTechnologies has introduced its OPERA NONA Series, a new artist-focused addition to its expanding OPERA family. Available in dual-10-inch and dual-12-inch models, OPERA NONA combines dual woofers with a coaxial mid-high section to create a quasi-three-way acoustic design. A two-channel onboard preamp and flexible cabinet geometry allow NONA to work as a main loudspeaker, floor monitor, or mounted system.

[A New Aspect for Pro AV]

Flexibility is the core of the NONA. Each cabinet has two balanced combo XLR/TRS inputs with independent level controls. Channel 1 accepts mic or line signals; Channel 2 accepts line signals or a high-impedance instrument source. A balanced XLR output can carry either a direct Channel 1 link or the complete onboard mix, allowing a performer to connect a microphone and instrument directly, set the levels at the cabinet and feed a second loudspeaker without adding a mixer to a simple system. The performer can then use the same cabinet as a floor monitor when the application changes.

The acoustic section pairs two low-frequency drivers, one with a brand new true coaxial HF section design, creating a quasi-three-way configuration. The system crosses over at 1,900 Hz and produces a 90-degree by 60-degree coverage pattern. This more controlled dispersion supports portable systems working in tighter rooms, on compact stages or in applications where energy must be kept off nearby walls and other performance areas.

The Class-D amplifier supplies 1,000 W RMS and 2,000 W peak through an auto-range power supply. Its two-amplifier layout delivers 500 W RMS to each section. The dual-10-inch configuration provides 39% more LF radiating surface than a single 12-inch woofer, while the dual-12-inch configuration provides 28% more than a single 15-inch woofer, adding greater low-frequency presence while retaining the same operating concept. This gives NONA the output and low-frequency capacity needed for live event sound applications— in a compact portable format.

OPERA NONA 210 implements two 10-inch woofers with 2.5-inch voice coils and reaches a maximum SPL of 131.5dB. Its frequency response extends from 55 Hz to 20 kHz at -10 dB and from 60 Hz to 20 kHz at -6dB. The cabinet weighs 42.3 lb. Its more compact footprint suits vocals, instruments, smaller event systems and monitor duty.

OPERA NONA 212 utilizes two 12-inch woofers with 2.5-inch voice coils, reaches 132.5 dB maximum SPL and extends from 48 Hz to 20 kHz at -10dB and from 52 Hz to 20 kHz at -6dB. It weighs 49.6 lb. The added low-frequency extension is intended for full-range playback, DJ systems, larger rooms and main-speaker use.

Neumann has introduced its new KK 104 A and KK 105 A condenser capsule heads. Designed for Sennheiser wireless systems, the new A-Series capsules combine condenser technology with an updated design, reduced handling noise, and seamless compatibility with the latest Sennheiser wireless ecosystems.

[The State of AV/IT 2026: Sennheiser]

Designed for Sennheiser Spectera, EW-D, EW-DX, and Digital 6000/9000 handheld transmitters, the KK 104 A and KK 105 A give performers and engineers access to clarity, detail, and natural vocal reproduction. “The KK 204 and KK 205 set a new standard for wireless vocal performance by bringing true condenser sound to the stage,” Stephan Mauer, director product management at Neumann, added. “With the KK 104 A and KK 105 A, we've pushed that concept even further. These new capsule heads are optimized for today's wireless workflows while preserving the unmistakable Neumann character that artists and engineers trust to deliver their best performances.”

Unlike conventional dynamic capsules, both models employ true condenser technology, delivering transparency, fast transient response, and a level of vocal detail that captures every nuance of a performance. The result is a sound that feels immediate, open, and effortlessly natural, allowing vocals to rise above dense mixes while preserving every nuance of the performance. At the same time, their consistent, frequency-independent directionality offers excellent feedback resistance, rivaling the best dynamic capsules.

Both capsule heads feature pop protection, SPL capability, and gain before feedback, while designed to handle noise rejection. Their smooth, balanced frequency response allows engineers to achieve polished vocal mixes with minimal processing while preserving clarity and effortless intelligibility.

Engineered for modern stage performance, the KK 104 A and KK 105 A include a fixed low cut filter that controls proximity effect during close mic use, ensuring consistent low frequency reproduction. A hardened steel grille with an integrated pop screen protects the capsule from moisture and helps reduce plosives and sibilance under demanding live conditions.

It is important to note that while sharing the same premium condenser technology, the KK 104 A and KK 105 A offer different pickup patterns to cater to performers of every type. The KK 104 A features a cardioid polar pattern that combines excellent feedback resistance with greater freedom of movement. Its slightly more open pickup characteristic creates a natural, spacious sound that inspires expressive vocalists. The KK 105 A utilizes a supercardioid pickup pattern for maximum isolation and control. By focusing more tightly on the source and rejecting off axis sound more effectively, it delivers an intimate, highly defined vocal presentation that excels on crowded stages and in challenging monitoring environments.

ViewSonic has unveiled its new mobile solution, the ViewSonic LDS136-152. The large screen display comes in a pre-assembled design, which enables effortless setup within minutes. The LDS136-152 is a foldable 136-inch dvLED video wall on wheels built for maximum flexibility.

[Massive Display Brings Exterior of the NBA's Phoenix Suns Home Arena to Life]

A 4th generation model, the LDS136-152 introduces beneficial upgrades that make setup and operation even easier. The motorized screen lifts higher than any other dvLED in its class, helping everyone get a clearer view of content on the screen. The new commercial-grade built-in motorized stand provides an extra 3.7 feet of vertical adjustment. An integrated stand and display remote control allow the management of both the screen settings and motorized lift. Rear I/O ports are easy to reach and provide direct connectivity without opening panels or exposing internal boards, so connecting devices is quick and simple.

“The ViewSonic mobile dvLED solution delivers a giant LED screen that arrives ready to go, so our partners and customers can skip complex installations,” said Shane Roma, technical product manager of dvLED/Commercial Displays at ViewSonic. “The LDS136-152 sets up in minutes and ships in a rugged flight case for easy transport and storage. Just unfold it, plug it in and you’re ready to showcase content or present messaging to your audience. It’s one of the easiest ways to get a larger-than-life, stunning display wherever you need it. We have inventory in the U.S., along with technical support to assist as needed.”

The LDS136-152 features an integrated OPS slot to make it easy to expand the system when needed. Glue-on-Board (GOB) technology protects the LED panels from daily wear-and-tear, while its IP65 and IK06 ratings ensure resistance to bumps, dust, and moisture, ensuring that it can work in public spaces like auditoriums and lobbies. A redesigned hinge adds durability for repeated setup and transport, so the display can be used for events, trade shows and pop-up spaces. It glides silently on 360-degree wheels, making it simple to share between rooms or venues, while the foldable design fits into most elevators.

Executive Summary

• Shift to Operational Technology (OT): AV over IP has transitioned AV infrastructure into OT networks, increasing exposure to cyber threats and lateral movement from IT breaches.
• Vulnerabilities via Trusted Access: Most compromises occur through phishing, unmanaged devices, or local access rather than firewall breaches, directly risking business continuity and critical AV services.
• Adoption of Zero-Trust Security: To mitigate evolving risks, the AV industry must adopt zero-trust network segmentation and treat security as an essential differentiator and core service.

Ten years ago, I was making the case for AV over IP to an industry that was perfectly comfortable with its closed, proprietary systems. The common response was familiar: “We don't use IP,” or “We have our own network: we don't need to worry about that”. We all know how that story ended. AV over IP is now the foundation of every modern AV deployment, and the integrators who resisted it longest spent years catching up.

Today, I hear the same thing now about security. “We air gap our networks,” or “Security is IT's problem.” It’s clear to me that history is about to repeat itself, and this time the cost of being wrong is considerably higher than the cost of a legacy AV system.

History is repeating itself. The difference is that this time, falling behind doesn't just mean living with outdated technology. It can mean exposing customers to operational disruption, reputational damage, and risks that are far more costly than any legacy AV system ever was.

AV Networks are Operational Technology

Everything your customers deploy falls into a category the security industry calls operational technology, or OT. Unlike IT networks, which carry sensitive customer data and are subject to rigorous compliance and access controls, OT networks manage daily operations: conference rooms, digital signage, IP cameras, control processors, audio DSPs. Historically, OT was off the radar for attackers because it was air-gapped and hard to reach.

That is no longer true. AV over IP made these networks IP-connected. Cloud management made them internet-reachable. Remote monitoring opened ports. As a result, what was once invisible to attackers is now visible, and far less defended than the IT networks sitting alongside it.

According to IBM's 2025 Security Report, the average cost of a data breach now stands at $4.9 million. Fortinet's 2026 OT Report found that 60% of organizations experienced an OT or IoT security incident in the past year. And SANS research shows that 96 % of OT incidents begin with a compromise of the IT network before attackers move laterally into operational systems. In other words, attackers don't need to target AV directly. They breach the IT network, and the AV network is there waiting, with no inspection between them.

How AV Networks Actually Get Compromised

The mental model most AV professionals have for a network breach, that of a sophisticated remote attacker defeating a firewall, does not reflect how the majority of incidents actually happen. When people think about a cyberattack, they often picture a highly skilled attacker breaking through a firewall from halfway around the world. In reality, that's rarely how AV environments are compromised.

More often, attackers take advantage of trusted access that's already available. It could be a contractor plugging into an unused network port in a meeting room, or an unmanaged device connecting to the AV network. Without controls such as network access authentication or port security, that connection can provide visibility into every connected AV device, from control processors and DSPs to displays and cameras, without triggering any obvious alarms. An even more common scenario starts somewhere else entirely. An employee clicks a phishing email, malware gains a foothold on the corporate network, and then moves laterally into connected operational systems. If the AV environment isn't properly segmented and protected, it can become another destination for the attacker rather than a separate, secured domain.

The important point for customers is recognizing that AV systems don't have to be the initial target to become part of an incident. As AV infrastructure becomes increasingly connected to enterprise networks, its security posture directly affects business continuity. A compromised AV network can disrupt meetings, collaboration spaces, digital signage, and other business-critical services at exactly the moment they're needed most.

The Model the AV Industry Needs to Adopt

The security posture of most AV deployments today was built for a different era. Air-gapped networks are increasingly rare, and while VLAN segmentation is a good starting point, it is no longer enough. The direction the industry needs to move is toward zero-trust segmentation: every device verified, every flow inspected, access granted per policy instead of by default.

In practical terms, this means your IP speaker should only be able to communicate with your DSP. Your IP camera should only reach its assigned video management server. Your digital signage display should only connect to its designated media server. Each device operates within a defined policy envelope.

Security is the Next Differentiator for AV Integrators

Beyond reducing risk, security is becoming a competitive advantage. Customers are looking for partners who can design, deploy, and support AV systems that are secure by design. Integrators who can demonstrate that expertise will stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Compliance requirements are evolving as well, creating an opportunity for integrators to help customers meet security expectations and document best practices, delivering value that goes well beyond the AV installation itself.

Ten years ago, the integrators who moved early on AV over IP built practices that compounded. They had the expertise when the market moved. The integrators who waited spent the next five years playing catch-up.

Security is on the same curve. The data on OT incidents, the trajectory of compliance requirements, the acceleration of AI-enabled automated attacks… All of it points to a market that will look materially different in five years than it does today. The AV industry has a window to get ahead of this, build the expertise, and position security as a core service rather than a reactive cost.

The networks we deploy are no longer isolated. They never will be again. The opportunity now is to make security a core part of every AV deployment, and a defining part of the value we deliver.

During the commemoration of America's 250th birthday, this past July 4, the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument was illuminated, turning it into a canvas for a narrated projection show that launched America’s year-long semiquincentennial celebration. The projection show ran for six nights and displayed emblematic symbols of America’s pioneering and innovative spirit, from wooden ships crossing the Atlantic and covered wagons heading West to the Empire State Building and Apollo moon landing. LMG provided both audio, via an L-Acoustics K and L Series system, and the advanced projection mapping technology that combined for truly historic audiovisual storytelling.

[Massive LED Display Brings Exterior of the NBA's Phoenix Suns Home Arena to Life]

LMG Audio systems director Robby Schlegel explained that the company deployed Barco projectors driven by a Ross Vertex media server ecosystem for the New Year’s Eve celebrations this year, to great success. Schlegel said that the initial sound design for the event, which took place on June 24 and integrated playback, live music, and a rally, prompted LMG to deploy L-Acoustics K Series arrays, with L Series arrays used as delay extensions for a concert taking place on the East side of the monument. The audio setup for the projection was designed using L-Acoustics Soundvision software, with the expectation that the crowds would be kept outside an oval-shaped, 600x400-foot perimeter around the obelisk, an optimum distance to enjoy the visuals.

But Soundvision was also an invaluable tool when last-minute modifications were made on-site. “We were told that there weren’t going to be people inside that oval area, so we designed the system to cover outside of that boundary, which was where LMG had large shipping containers that housed the projectors and where everyone was going to stand back behind and watch the projection,” he explained. “But the sheer number of people that showed up forced those plans to change significantly. Near the start of the event, the client realized that there were going to be a lot more people inside the oval than outside, so we ended up spinning some of the arrays 180 degrees, with the north and south towers facing inside toward the monument, and the larger towers on the west side covering the rest of the mall. Acting fast was imperative, and the reoriented design was able to easily give us the coverage we needed.”

The final Mall East system configurations featured main arrays of eight K1 over six K2 per side, with six KS28 subs below each main in two stacks of three, while Mall East out-fills were served by arrays of three L2 per side, with six KS28 subs below each main, also in two stacks of three. The Mall North and South fills were identical: arrays of three L2 per side, with eight K1-SB subs below each main, in two stacks of four. The Mall East system fired facing away from the monument, flanking the Washington Monument Lodge, while the Mall North and South systems fired in toward the center, with the K1-SB subs conversely firing away from the monument. All K Series elements were powered by LA12X amplified controllers, while LA7.16 drove all of the L2 delay components, and processing was via a pair of P1 processors. In addition, an L-Acoustics LC16D network audio converter was used to route feeds directly from the live-concert front-of-house area to the Mall West speaker arrays. The entire system was linked via a redundant Milan-AVB network that worked seamlessly, despite some incredibly long fiber runs between the locations, Schlegel recalled.

“This project was a testament to Soundvision’s ability to pivot and to recalculate designs very quickly, giving the technicians the ability to make those changes based on the needs of the show,” he concluded. “It went phenomenally well and we heard nothing but great responses from our client. It was one of LMG's most innovative projects yet, and L-Acoustics speakers and software were essential to the event’s success.”

The new Extron Control Pro app is now available on the App Store and on Google Play. This new easy-to-use AV control app gives users complete mobile access to Extron control systems from Apple and Android devices.

[Mulling Your Management Platform Options]

It builds on the Extron Control app and delivers many new features, such as real-time dynamic image preview, the ability to add multiple systems at once, even while offline. It delivers a seamless, highly responsive control experience, whether you’re managing a single room or multiple spaces across a facility.

After minimal initial setup, a mobile device quickly connects to the desired room and automatically loads the same user interfaces found on Extron control products. No lengthy configuration or custom programming is needed.

“Extron Control Pro builds on our popular Extron Control app by adding heavily requested features such as dynamic image preview, bulk system uploads even while offline, and more options for authentication," said Casey Hall, chief marketing officer for Extron. "This app extends the power and simplicity of our control systems to the mobile devices customers use every day. With quick deployment, automatic loading of familiar interfaces, and support for both iOS and Android devices, Extron Control Pro delivers a consistent, responsive experience from virtually anywhere in a facility.”

When paired with an IPCP Pro xi control processor using Extron LinkLicense for User Interfaces, Extron Control Pro enables a mobile device to function as the primary control interface, offering a flexible alternative to dedicated hardware while maintaining full system functionality. Button presses remain synchronized across all connected control devices, creating a consistent, reliable user experience.

Quick view:

• Joey Stuckey upgraded his Macon studio by adding AKG C414 microphones and standardizing all headphone monitoring around the AKG K371.
• AKG tools have been central to his work throughout his career, starting with AKG C451 mics used across heavy metal, classical, gospel, and spoken word sessions.
• With AKG K371 headphones now serving as the studio’s standard tracking and monitoring platform, C414 microphones expanding the microphone locker and C451 microphones continuing to serve across recording applications, Shadow Sound Studio enters its 30th year with a consistent set of tools supporting Stuckey’s approach to capturing and evaluating performances.

As Shadow Sound Studio owner Joey Stuckey marks 30 years in the recording industry, the producer, engineer, musician, and educator has completed a series of upgrades to his Macon facility, including standardizing the studio’s headphone monitoring around AKG K371 professional studio headphones and adding AKG C414 microphones to his extensive microphone collection. The additions support recording, mixing, and quality-control workflows while giving Stuckey and visiting artists a consistent monitoring reference throughout the studio.

[A Combination of Contemplation and 'Wow']

In 2026, Stuckey marked 30 years since his first session in a dedicated recording space. As a blind artist, producer, and accessibility consultant, Stuckey has also made accessibility an important part of his approach to the music industry. His relationship with sound is particularly personal; as he describes it, sound is “literally my universe,” shaping not only how he experiences music but also how he approaches recording, production and the environments he creates for other artists. Accessibility also influenced his decision to establish his own studio early in his career, creating a professional environment where the tools, workflow and space could support the way he works.

AKG products have been part of Stuckey’s work for much of that career. His early professional microphone collection included AKG C451 microphones, which became longtime go-to tools across sessions spanning heavy metal, classical, gospel, and spoken word. That experience with AKG continued during a recent visit to HARMAN headquarters, where Stuckey auditioned several headphones using music he knew well. For studio work, his priority was a monitoring reference that would reproduce the source transparently rather than emphasize particular frequencies. The AKG K371 stood out for its ability to provide the accuracy he needed for both tracking and mix evaluation.

“The sound that we’re hearing in the headphones is much more transparent, honest and realistic, which is really important when you’re tracking,” said Stuckey. “With these headphones, it’s so much easier to make judgment calls. What I will say is the only pair of headphones that you will find in my studio now are the AKG K371s.”

Stuckey replaced the headphones throughout Shadow Sound Studio with AKG K371 models for tracking and monitoring. During mixing, he uses the K371 as an additional quality-control reference alongside multiple sets of studio monitors, listening for issues that may not be immediately apparent through the primary loudspeaker system. Their transparent response allows Stuckey to evaluate whether elements such as bass, midrange and high frequencies are actually present in the mix rather than being introduced or diminished by the headphones.

For tracking, that accuracy becomes particularly important for musicians and vocalists making real-time decisions about their performances. A clear monitoring reference allows performers to evaluate pitch, timing, articulation and tone while recording, while the K371’s lightweight construction and fit support sessions that can extend for several hours. Stuckey also highlighted the detachable cable, locking adapter and foldable design as practical advantages for everyday studio and travel use.

“They sound phenomenal, they are portable, they are comfortable, they are accurate,” Stuckey said. “I mean, I just don’t know what else you could possibly want from a headphone. It’s got to be the greatest headphone I’ve ever worn.”

The headphone upgrade coincided with the addition of a pair of AKG C414 microphones to Shadow Sound Studio’s microphone collection. For Stuckey, who describes microphone selection and placement as one of the central parts of his work as a producer and engineer, the C414 adds another option for capturing vocals and instruments alongside his longstanding collection of C451 microphones. Before bringing the new microphones into an extended session, he evaluated them on acoustic guitar, piano and drums.

Stuckey then put the C414 microphones through their first full session with two vocalists who wanted to perform together in the same room. Rather than prioritizing isolation, he configured the session around the performers’ preference to remain close to one another, allowing the technical setup to support the environment in which they felt most comfortable performing. The session gave Stuckey an opportunity to evaluate the C414 extensively on vocals after years of encountering the microphone in applications including piano, acoustic guitar, drum overheads and vocals.

“I knew the AKG C414 was going to be good. It’s one of the most legendary microphones in our industry,” Stuckey said. “They sound fantastic on pretty much everything. I’ve used them a lot on piano, acoustic guitar and as drum overheads, but I was not prepared for how well they suited these clients’ voices. I mean, just gob smacked. I was so excited and so pleased. I just couldn’t believe those sounds were coming out of my console."

Meet swXtch.io's AI-based broadcast engineer, better known as abbe. The agentic platform was designed to remove the infrastructure and networking complexity behind live media workflows.

[A Turning Point for AI]

“The AI models are becoming incredibly capable but putting them into a live production still requires expertise across networking, cloud infrastructure, and AI software,” said Brent Yates, CEO of swXtch.io. “abbe is designed to remove that complexity. You describe what you want to accomplish, and abbe stands up everything needed to make it work. And because workflows are not locked to one model, you can easily optimize it as the technology changes. abbe simplifies AI for live media.”

abbe removes the requirement for operators to configure networks, cloud infrastructure, compute resources, and AI software in media routing and interface workflows. abbe takes a conversational description of the desired outcome and deploys the necessary infrastructure, networking, and software required to make the workflow run and does so in the most economical way while meeting performance requirements.

abbe is a cloud-agnostic orchestration layer, able to deploy live media and AI workflows across any provider including Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Workloads are located based on user requirements including optimizations for cost and latency, without forcing the operator to design a different solution for each cloud environment.

For live media networking, abbe provides SRT management and control, enabling operators to ingest, monitor and distribute streams globally without manually configuring the underlying infrastructure. abbe is designed to automate decisions around where and how live media moves, helping operators maintain reliable, high-quality feeds while reducing the manual intervention traditionally required to respond to changing network conditions.

For AI workflows abbe will demonstrate a live audio processing workflows using NVIDIA models and other select partners. An operator can describe the desired outcome and abbe stands up the cloud infrastructure, networking, security, and software required for the audio processing use case.

Quick view:

• The new TriCaster Vizion AI/R add-on integrates real-time AI keying and augmented reality (AR) graphics directly into existing production setups.
• Vizrt restructured its portfolio into clear, scalable tiers to fit different needs: TriCaster Mini, TriCaster Prizm, and TriCaster Vizion.
• Vizrt users now experience modernized control and high-end replay features across LivePanel Pro and 3Play Vivid.

Vizrt has officially unveiled a comprehensive refresh across its live production lineup, including several major hardware and software innovations with a TriCaster Vizion AI/R add-on, 3Play Vivid, and TriCaster Prizm, alongside the enhanced LivePanel Pro feature. This reimagined portfolio aims to lower technical barriers, modernizing live production workflows while elevating replay capabilities and enabling teams of all sizes to create highly immersive virtual graphics and environments.

[Mulling Your Management Platform Options]

“TriCaster changed live production forever," said Rohit Nagarajan, CEO of Vizrt. "Thousands of teams built their success on it and our job is to make that foundation unstoppable. Today we're delivering more innovation, more control, more possibility, inside the systems teams already know and trust."

At the center of this product refresh is the TriCaster Vizion AI/R, a specialized subscription add-on designed for the flagship TriCaster Vizion platform. By pairing real-time AI keying directly with augmented reality (AR) graphics, the solution makes high-end virtual set production and visual elements accessible without requiring specialized technical skills or complex custom builds. This integrated approach allows content creators to maximize their existing infrastructure and produce broadcast-quality content flexibly, cost-effectively, and at scale. As Ryan Hansberger, VP of technology, platform, and architecture at Vizrt, noted, the goal of this customer-driven portfolio update is to simplify how storytellers launch and scale their live production journeys without introducing unnecessary system complexity.

Alongside software advancements, Vizrt has restructured its hardware offerings into a multi-tiered ecosystem designed to grow with production demands. The TriCaster Mini serves as an entry-level introduction, running on multiple hardware formats—including laptops—to help new users learn and build foundational live streaming skills. Positioned for mid-tier organizations, corporate communications, educational broadcasts, and live event teams, the new TriCaster Prizm offers a single, highly scalable solution with professional capabilities. For top-tier environments where performance cannot be compromised, the flagship TriCaster Vizion provides complete operational flexibility, operating seamlessly either on-premises or within cloud environments.

Both the TriCaster Prizm and TriCaster Vizion feature updated 2RU rack-mount hardware equipped with onboard audio and dual power redundancy. By eliminating single points of failure in mission-critical environments, this consolidated hardware architecture allows engineering teams to focus heavily on continuous software performance. Powering the entire ecosystem is NDI IP networking technology, which is deeply integrated into the system architecture to deliver native, production-grade IP connectivity and seamless third-party software integration.

Complementing the switcher lineup, Vizrt also announced 3Play Vivid, an upgraded instant replay and slow-motion capture system designed specifically for live sports and event production. Available on-premises or in the cloud, 3Play Vivid combines the best attributes of previous 3Play models into a unified platform supporting 10-bit HDR video processing. Furthermore, mid- and top-tier switchers now incorporate LivePanel Pro, a browser-based interface that streamlines control over video switching, audio mixing, media playback, and custom macros through an updated widget-based design.

Quam Nichols is officially on the network. The company has introduced its QIP line up of endpoints, bringing its audio performance and installer-first simplicity to a new family of PoE/PoE+ endpoints.

[AVoIP and Adaptability]

Built for SIP/Multicast and Singlewire InformaCast platforms, QIP gives integrators a flexible new approach to designing network audio systems for voice paging, emergency notification, tones, background music, and other critical communication applications. “QIP brings Quam quality into the digital age, delivering networked endpoints with the performance and durability of Quam’s traditional loudspeakers," CEO Randy Moore added.

While the technology behind the system may be new territory for the Quam product portfolio, the philosophy behind QIP remains true to Quam. QIP brings Quam’s focus on speech intelligibility, dependable performance, and installer-friendly design to the network. The endpoints feature digital high-fidelity audio, integrated digital microphones for two-way communication and straightforward integration with VoIP/SIP phone systems.

QIP endpoints support standard PoE (IEEE 802.3af) and PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) power and feature integrated Class D amplification with digital signal processing. SIP models support G.711µ, G.711a and G.722 codecs, while multicast supports G.711µ and G.711a.

The QIP endpoints also support full-duplex communication and a broad range of network protocols, making them suitable for today's increasingly connected communication environments. QIP was also engineered to streamline both installation and configuration, helping integrators get endpoints onto the network and get projects moving.

The initial QIP family provides multiple form factors, allowing integrators to choose an endpoint based on the application rather than forcing every installation into the same solution. QIP covers most indoor environments, and includes the QIP 1x2-foot Tile Replacement Endpoint, the QIP 2x2-foot Tile Replacement Endpoint, QIP 2-Way 2x2-foot Tile Replacement Endpoint, QIP All-in-One Cut-In Ceiling Endpoint, and the QIP Wall Mounted Endpoint.

“We see QIP as much more than a product launch,” concluded Moore. “This is a long-term commitment to PoE and network audio. More QIP endpoints are already planned, giving integrators an expanding ecosystem for designing network audio systems around the needs of the space. We want integrators to know that as their network audio needs evolve, Quam intends to evolve right alongside them.”

Introducing AVORA, the new standalone, all-in-one solution Grass Valley launched at IBC 2026. This new live production solution brings the tools needed to create and deliver sophisticated live shows together in one streamlined system.

[Tackling a New HQ]

“AVORA answers a very clear market need,” said Jonathan Lyth, product director for live applications at Grass Valley. “Production teams increasingly need professional capability, operational simplicity, and the flexibility to scale around the show. AVORA brings the whole live production together in one system, giving teams a simpler way to create, operate and repeat sophisticated live productions.”

At the heart of AVORA is a simple idea: make professional live production easier to create, operate, and repeat. AVORA gives production teams a complete environment to prepare, produce, and deliver live content, from switching and graphics to audio, remote guests, content, replay and delivery. Instead of building a production around multiple separate tools, AVORA brings everything together around the show.

Production resources can be prepared, saved, duplicated, and recalled as a complete show, making it easy to move between recurring events, formats and productions without rebuilding the workflow each time. Teams can configure the production around the needs of each show and adapt it as those needs change.

AVORA supports both visual, shot-based production and more traditional program/preset operation, allowing operators to work in the way that best suits the production. Its web-based user experience also enables multiple production roles to work with the same AVORA system from their own browser interfaces where required.

Remote guests can join productions through private invitation links, with low-latency connectivity, mix-minus and talkback built directly into the workflow. Content, graphics and prompting are integrated too, while replay, recording, monitoring, playout and delivery extend AVORA beyond production switching into a complete live production environment.

AVORA is built on GV AMPP, while operating as a standalone Grass Valley solution. It brings Grass Valley’s software-defined production experience into a self-contained all-in-one system, giving teams the flexibility to configure their production without the complexity of assembling and operating multiple independent tools.

AVORA is designed for a wide range of live productions, including sports, live events, venues, education, corporate and enterprise media, regional production, and other repeatable workflows. The same system can be configured for different productions, formats, and operating models.

Riedel Communications unveiled its new OnAir headset platform. This new family of professional intercom headsets were designed for broadcast, live entertainment, sports, and other live production applications. The platform includes the OnAir 200, 400, and 500 Series, covering applications from lightweight single-ear communication to dual-ear headsets for high-noise environments.

[Tech Perspectives: Mulling Your Management Platform Options]

Riedel developed the OnAir platform with a focus on speech intelligibility, ergonomics, integration, and serviceability. Speakers and microphones are optimized for intercom audio, while the 500 Series also provides passive isolation for use in demanding environments. The 400 and 500 Series also feature integrated Push-to-Talk (PTT) controls, allowing users to respond directly from the headset rather than operating a key on the connected intercom device.

“With OnAir, we wanted to rethink our headset portfolio around the practical requirements we see in live production every day,” said Kristina Uhlitz, product manager at Riedel Communications. “A headset is something operators may wear and interact with for hours, so audio quality and comfort were just as important to us as intuitive control and flexibility. Features such as integrated PTT, the reversible design, and exchangeable cables on the 400 and 500 Series allow the headset to adapt to different users, devices, and workflows.”

The OnAir 200 Series is designed for lightweight, single-ear communication. It is available in two versions: an analog model with a fixed XLR4F connection and a digital model with a fixed USB-C connection. Both versions feature mic mute, reversible designs, and easily replaceable parts.

The OnAir 400 Series is available in single and dual-ear versions and adds integrated controls, and flexible connectivity. An integrated PTT button on the mic boom allows users to respond directly from the headset. The 400 Series also features a reversible design, a pressure-reducing headband cutout, and an exchangeable Mini XLR7 connection at the ear cup, allowing cables to be changed for use with different devices.

The OnAir 500 Series is designed for demanding high-noise environments such as motorsports. Its dual-ear design combines high passive isolation with expanded controls directly on the headset. In addition to the reply key on the mic boom, two PTT buttons on the ear cup provide additional access to intercom communication. A dedicated radio mode enables the buttons to operate with radios. Like the 400 Series, the 500 Series features a reversible design and an exchangeable Mini XLR7 connection.

Riedel has also designed the OnAir platform with serviceability in mind. On the 400 and 500 Series, components including the ear and head cushions, dust protection, mic boom module, and cable can be replaced individually, while the 200 Series features replaceable ear and side cushions. Beyond serviceability, OnAir has been conceived as a platform with room to evolve as production needs continue to change.