Located near downtown Atlanta, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, or the King Center, was established by the civil rights leader's wife, Coretta Scott King, in 1968. What began in the basement of the King home eventually moved to its current location in 1981. In the spirit of changing for the betterment of all, the King Center recently went through a technological upgrade, with a new BLOX LED video wall and a FlatPanel audio system powered by LEA Professional.

Scott King had said the King Center is not simply a monument, but "a living memorial, filled with all the vitality that was [King Jr.'s], a center of human endeavor, committed to the causes for which he lived and died.” While guests can see his birth home and historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, the center also educates visitors in King Jr.'s Nonviolence365 philosophy.

According to William Collins, account manager for Atlanta-based S&L Integrated, which was awarded the project, prior to the new video wall, King Jr.'s speeches and other videos were simply displayed on a portable screen from an ultra-short throw projector. The installation took five days on site, with four additional days of pre-deployment shop and post deployment commissioning.

The large video wall was installed in the main lobby at the King Center to serve as the central visual element, ideal for digital signage and video content. It is a challenging space, with brick walls, large glass windows, and a tiled floor. Glares and acoustics were certainly a large consideration.

Per Collins, S&L Integrated went with a 160-inch diagonal BLOX LED dvLED video wall above the bookstore entrance in the lobby. The wall includes a NovaStar video processor for signal input and LED mapping. The system is powered by a LynTec power relay panel with four 20-amp relays. A Lumens LC200 video processor functions as a system switcher to handle multiple video inputs and enables the ability to have several multi-window options, as well as the ability to record or stream events in real time.

The content source for the video wall is a BrightSign XD235 PoE+ digital signage player, which was selected because of its ability to deliver 4K video content. The system also includes an HDBaseT receiver capable of 4K transmission up to 230 feet and a 12x optical zoom PTZ camera for live video capture. Control is driven by the Q-SYS Core 8 Flex and accessed by two Q-SYS touchscreen controllers. A NETGEAR M4250-26G4F-PoE+ serves as a managed switch.

The video wall is being used for event replays, seminars, sponsor videos, calendar, and announcements—essentially, everything from digital signage to pre-produced and live content. That meant not only was it important for the visuals to be lag-free and sharp, but the audio needed to be clear and concise as well.

With the many reflective surfaces presenting a challenge, Collins and the S&L Integrated team went with a FlatPanel Audio System and amplifier from LEA Professional. Collins said the reflective surfaces were the primary reason these were his choice. The only problem? "There were no issues with the audio other than the sub working too well at first," he joked. "One minor adjustment was all that was required."

S&L installed two FlatPanel Audio DML500 loudspeakers paired with a FlatPanel Audio LS118 subwoofer in the beautiful, but tricky, lobby. Their 165-degree conical coverage and sound waves transparently deliver FPA's signal path. The center's employees told Collins the speakers paired with the LEA amplifier yield a "significant sound quality improvement" over the previous system.

Both visitors and the King Center's staff have been overwhelmingly pleased with both the video wall and audio system supporting it. "They have been very impressed with the functionality," Collins concluded. "It was quite a change from the previous equipment, but I have been there along with our service and support team to onboard them, especially with the video scheduling. They are now very confidently using the integrated systems well on their own."

Learn more about video walls: Download the SCN Integration Guide to Video Walls.

Walk through the floor of any trade show today, or flip the pages of a trade journal, and you will find that "AI" has become the AV industry’s most pervasive marketing adjective. It is touted as a panacea for our industry’s most chronic ailments.

There is a seductive premise taking root in the C-suites of global integration and AV manufacturing firms: If AI can draft a scope of work (SOW), generate a Python script in seconds, or write grammatically correct marketing copy, we can finally decouple our growth from the scarcity of senior engineering talent. We can, supposedly, hire novices and use AI to "level them up" to expert status instantly.

This is a strategic error. AI is a revolutionary tool for efficiency, but its value is directly proportional to the user’s existing expertise. When an AV firm uses AI as a substitute for experience rather than an enhancement of it, they are accumulating "competency debt" that eventually comes due in the form of system failures, truck rolls, and tarnished reputations.

Spot the Difference

To understand the risk, we must first distinguish between the two types of AI currently reshaping our industry. The first is what we might call deterministic AI algorithms. This is the "black box" technology we’ve used for years: acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) in a DSP, auto-framing logic in a 4K camera, or background noise suppression in Microsoft Teams. These are narrow systems trained for specific tasks. They require configuration, not prompting. They are highly reliable because they don’t "think;" instead, they filter based on set parameters.

The second, and more volatile, species is the Large Language Model (LLM), driven by neural network computational systems like GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini. Unlike the narrow algorithms in our hardware, an LLM is a probabilistic engine. It doesn't follow a hard-coded logic tree of "If X, then Y." Instead, it predicts the next most likely "token" in a sequence based on vast amounts of training data. However, because it relies on probability rather than physical reality, it lacks an inherent compass for technical truth.

The difference between an expert and a novice is most visible in the "prompting gap." In the era of GenAI, your domain vocabulary is your programming language.

When an entry-level technician asks an AI to "write a scope of work for a 10-person conference room," the AI provides a beautifully formatted, professional-sounding document. To the novice, it looks perfect. But to the veteran, it may be a liability. It might omit EDID management, ignore heat load calculations for the rack, or fail to specify the PoE+ requirements for the network switch.

Contrast this with the expert’s prompt: "Draft a SOW for a high-impact boardroom using a Q-SYS Core 110f, Shure MXA920 arrays, and a Dante-backed network. Ensure the commissioning section includes speech privacy testing, 802.1X authentication protocols, and AES67 stream verification."

The expert isn't just chatting with a bot—they are applying technical guardrails. AI is used to skip the "blank page" phase, achieving a 30% productivity gain while maintaining 100% technical accuracy. The novice, lacking that vocabulary, accepts a "hallucination" as a standard.

A Lack of Trust

The greatest danger in the novice-plus-AI model is what researchers call the "trust trap." LLMs are designed to be helpful and confident, even when they are fundamentally wrong. In a technical field like Pro AV, this leads to plausible nonsense.

An AI might confidently provide a string of API commands for a control processor that looks syntactically correct but contains a command that does not exist in the current firmware version. The expert sees this and thinks, "That command doesn't exist in this API; I need to verify the documentation." The novice sees this and thinks, "The AI gave me the code, so it must be the solution."

Without the internal filter of years spent in equipment racks, the novice cannot distinguish between a brilliant shortcut and a hallucination. They treat the AI as a senior mentor—an infallible source of truth—when the expert knows it should be treated as a junior assistant whose work must be carefully graded.

This isn't just theory: Recent data confirms the emergence of an "efficiency dividend." Top-tier professionals using AI see an average 25% increase in speed for complex tasks. These figures are based on a landmark 2023–2024 study conducted by Harvard Business School in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), as well as a 2025 global productivity survey by SAP.

However, 2025 benchmarks from firms like Vectara show that for specialized technical tasks, LLMs still hallucinate at rates between 15% and 35%, incurring an “accuracy tax.” In an industry where a single transposed IP address or an under-powered PoE port can cause a system-wide blackout, a 35% error rate is not an acceptable trade-off for speed. While a novice might appear 40% more productive on paper by generating documents quickly, the likelihood of them introducing a critical error into a system design is nearly 20 percentage points higher than an expert using the same tool.

Empower Your A-Team

For the principal of an AV firm, the takeaway is clear: Do not use AI to make your C-Team look like your A-Team. Instead, use it to empower your A-Team and allow them to realize their world-class skills while simultaneously delivering astonishing productivity. To ensure future success, firms should be funding AI training for their most experienced and qualified team members, because they are the only ones who can spot the 20% of the output that will break the system.

When a novice relies on AI to bridge their lack of experience, they may be gaining speed, but they are also accelerating their arrival at a wrong conclusion. Ensure your new hires master the essentials of AV; you can't vet a machine’s logic if you haven't yet mastered the fundamentals yourself.

As we move deeper into 2026, the gap between the firms that use AI to enhance expertise and those that use it to hide a lack of expertise will widen. The former will see unprecedented productivity gains and scale, while the latter will find themselves explaining to a client why their AI-designed boardroom is dead on arrival.

Efficiency is the byproduct of AI, but judgment remains the unique product of the human professional. Firms that forget this may find their reputations "hallucinated" away.

The introduction and adoption of the Q-SYS Library represent a major step forward in the AV industry’s approach to software’s impact on system integration. For years, proven API integration between products and control platforms was often overlooked, seen as beneficial but not essential. The success of the Q-SYS Library has significantly shifted that view. Today, a product’s compatibility with AV control system platforms is no longer optional; it’s essential for staying competitive in the market.

At its core, the Q-SYS Library provides a centralized repository where programmers and integrators can access manufacturer-endorsed, supported, and maintained plug-ins specifically built for the Q-SYS platform. Although the concept may seem simple, its impact on the industry is significant. By highlighting products that support seamless API integration, ensuring adherence to strict platform guidelines, and committing to ongoing support to maintain compatibility and performance, the Q-SYS Library sets a new benchmark for what compatibility means in AV control system programming.

A Broader Truth

For programmers, the benefit is immediate and practical. Instead of searching forums, wondering if their integration still works, relying on unofficial and unsupported code, deciphering complex APIs on their own, or spending hours online with tech support, they gain access to vetted plug-ins backed by the manufacturer, control platform, and trusted software development partners. This reduces risk, speeds up deployment, lowers costs, and enhances overall system reliability. In a world with tight timelines and limited budgets, efficient programming deployment is essential.

For integrators, the benefits extend beyond technical convenience. The Q-SYS Library serves as a sign of product stability and platform alignment. When a device is included, it indicates that the manufacturer has committed to ensuring its product functions seamlessly within the platform.

This reassurance influences product selection decisions and boosts client confidence. In this way, Q-SYS Library inclusion becomes not just a technical asset but a competitive edge.

Manufacturers, perhaps more than any other stakeholder group, are feeling the ripple effects. The visibility provided by the Q-SYS Library highlights proven, supported API integrations, keeping them top of mind for specifiers, programmers, and decision makers.

As a result, manufacturers are increasingly investing in partnerships with approved AV software developers for consultation on API integration, plug-in development, support, and long-term maintenance commitments. They recognize that being featured in the Q-SYS Library can directly influence product adoption and ultimately boost sales.

The Q-SYS Library also emphasizes a broader industry truth: Integration isn't just about creating products with advanced features or tools that simplify the process, it's about going further to develop products that are truly integration and programming-friendly and reliable throughout their entire life cycle. These products must remain stable through firmware updates from both the manufacturer and the control platform.

Strategic Priority

A plug-in that works today but lacks support tomorrow poses risks for integrators, programmers, and technology managers alike. By highlighting manufacturer endorsement, support, and ongoing maintenance, the Q-SYS Library shifts the focus from basic compatibility to long-term reliability.

While recognizing all its merits, it's also important to understand that the Q-SYS Library does not include every product compatible with Q-SYS. Many products outside the collection offer plug-ins that are equally functional, developed with the same level of technical precision and reliability.

The main difference is less about capability or quality and more about endorsement and platform sanctioning. For programmers and specifiers, the primary consideration should be knowing which plug-ins are officially supported by the manufacturer’s commitment to ongoing support and maintenance, along with the credibility of the software development partner behind them.

In this way, the Q-SYS Library serves both as a resource and a proof-of-concept. It demonstrates what happens when API integration is given strategic priority rather than treated as an extra. It also elevates industry expectations. Once programmers and integrators see the efficiency of a formalized, well-maintained, and supported catalog of plug-ins that meet development and performance benchmarks, they inherently expect the same convenience and level of quality throughout the industry.

Broader Opportunity

This is where the broader opportunity emerges. Q-SYS isn't the only control platform that recognizes the importance of manufacturer and developer partnerships and the value of API integrations. However, it stands out because of how well it highlights these integrations and shares their benefits.

The Q-SYS Library’s user experience, accessibility, and clarity make it simple for professionals to quickly find trusted solutions. That visibility and ease of use have a meaningful impact on project planning and product specification.

Other control platforms could benefit from adopting similar strategies. Showcasing and maintaining repositories of manufacturer-approved API integrations with support commitments, developed and maintained by trusted software partners to meet standard requirements, would enhance confidence in the overall solution and brand. These initiatives would help distinguish official modules, drivers, and plug-ins from unofficial or unsupported ones, reducing deployment uncertainties and highlighting the extensive compatibility within each platform.

Ultimately, the significance of the Q-SYS Library extends beyond just one platform. It illustrates the industry’s shift toward truly programmer-friendly and control system-ready products, where adoption relies on the availability of officially endorsed API integrations from manufacturers and software developers. A centralized, high-quality integration hub does more than promote products—it helps ensure successful projects, boosts sales, and increases client satisfaction, reinforcing that API integrations are a fundamental product feature rather than an optional add-on.

By making control platform compatibility visible, attainable, and desirable, the Q-SYS Library has raised the bar for the entire AV industry. It encourages manufacturers to invest in official integrations, enables integrators to deploy products with confidence, and empowers programmers to work more efficiently. Most importantly, it demonstrates that when API integration is treated as a strategic asset, everyone in the AV value chain benefits.

Tammy Fuqua, Developer Partner and Community Manager, Alliances & Ecosystem at Q-SYS

How long have you been part of the AV/IT industry, and how did you get into it? I started in the AV industry in 2000 and can totally date myself by the first product I sold, a DVD/CD duplicator. I suppose that is more "AV adjacent" than fully AV? Like many women in AV, I fell into it completely by accident. It was the best-paying position at the time I was looking for a job. Since then, I have grown to love the AV industry, geeking out with each tradeshow over new technology and in awe of the growth over the years. Throughout my career, I worked for integrators and then switched my focus to manufacturers, having worked with powerhouses such as Christie, Epson, and now QSC.

What is your role at your company? When I came to QSC four years ago, my focus was on developing a program of 3rd-party developers to help build our ecosystem by developing plugins for our manufacturer partners. As I continue these efforts, I also help promote our Q-SYS Communities for Developers forum. We have some amazingly talented programmers on this forum who share some impressive talents. If you are interested in seeing what these programmers are creating, check it out!

You've been a strong advocate for women in AV. Please talk about the organizations you have been part of and why they're important to you. I'll start with the why. When I entered the AV industry, there was no talk of DEI, and I had very few female role models to look up to. I rarely saw a woman above director level, and spent many meetings as the only woman in the room. I needed to see change.

And then I was invited to one of the first AVIXA Women's Council meetings in Southern California in 2016. I met two incredible women, Brandy Alvardo-Miranda and Cory Schaeffer. I could not believe there were other like-minded women in the industry with whom I could network and learn. Missing a meeting was not an option for me. Each one was a learning experience.

Four years later, I was asked to become a leader of the SoCal group with Brandy, Cory, and Susan Wilhite. I consider them not only my AV besties, but real-life friends. They became my "tribe". Through good and bad, we are here for each other.

We saw tremendous growth in the group over the years. Mentoring, networking, and learning were key topics that drew interest from women in the industry. At its peak, we were having a meeting nearly every month and had manufacturers lined up wanting to sponsor.

Then COVID hit…

In 2022, I became the council co-chair. It was a very difficult period of rebuilding after the pandemic. The workplace model was different. The council suffered, losing many of its 50 groups worldwide. During my term, there were also changes with the AVIXA staff and the loss of my co-chair that first year, which increased the challenges. It felt like an uphill battle.

Then we onboarded Christina Cruzeiro as the new co-chair. She was amazing! She hopped right in, and the two of us worked on things together. We onboarded new groups and rejuvenated defunct groups, and came up with new ideas like virtual quarterly meetings and the state-of-the-council yearly meeting. It was a time of growth again.

I am proud of my time as the co-chair. I took the role very seriously because I wanted to be a voice for all the women we were touching through the council. I wanted to give back what I had been given throughout my career.

Do you have any advice for young women entering our industry? Join a women's group! There is strength in numbers. The networking I was privy to by attending events was invaluable. I wholeheartedly believe that I would not be where I am with my career today if it were not for my involvement in the council. Every connection was important. Every story I heard from women as the co-chair touched me. Find a group that speaks to you and get involved! This industry needs to hear from strong females, and you cannot be heard without action.

Please share something about yourself that would help our audience understand a bit more about you. In 2024, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. What a (expletive) blow that was! I have been through a hip replacement when the cancer settled into my femur and landed me in a wheelchair, opted for a double mastectomy and hysterectomy when I found out I was BRCA 2 positive, thirty rounds of radiation, and reconstruction surgery. None of my sharing is for sympathy; it's a cautionary tale. As women, we often put ourselves last, behind demands like family, caregiving, and work. When it comes to your health, please, put yourself first. Without your health, you have nothing, and none of these other things will matter. It is like an oxygen mask on a plane. You must take care of yourself before you care for others.

Through this diagnosis, I have become an advocate for women with breast cancer. I have been doing speaking engagements with Susan G. Komen, including last year's "More Than Pink" walk, where I told my story to 10,000 walkers, and I have started a course in cancer life coaching. I have a story that needs to be told to help save lives and inspire others.

This diagnosis is not curable, but through treatment, I am elated to say I am currently NED (No evidence of disease), and I hope I am here for a while. I am getting back to life as "normal," whatever that means now. But the reality is, the cancer will return at some point. Tomorrow? Next year? 20 years? I don't know, but it has taught me not to take a single day or thing for granted. My advice to the reader is to live life to its fullest while you can. You have no idea what tomorrow brings.

Check out more Women in AV/IT stories here.

For houses of worship of all types, installing a high-quality audio system that delivers clear speech from the altar, supports musical performances, and accommodates live streaming is often the most critical component of a new build or retrofit. Achieving the right balance between speech intelligibility and musical reinforcement can be challenging—particularly if acoustics, architecture, and aesthetics are not carefully considered from the outset.

The specifics of an effective audio system depend heavily on the space itself, as well as the technologies selected to support it. Two recent projects—one a modern chapel in Texas and the other a historic church in New York City—illustrate how thoughtful system design, collaboration, and planning can overcome acoustic challenges in vastly different worship environments.

Modern Problems

Located on the campus of St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano, TX, Hasley Chapel was designed to be as visually striking as it is acoustically refined. Designed by Dallas-based architectural firm GFF, with audio system specification and installation by local integrator Clear ProAV, the chapel overlooks a pond and wooded area and hosts traditional worship services, weddings, memorials, small conferences, and other events.

Compared to the church’s main worship hall, which accommodates both contemporary and traditional services, Hasley Chapel is more intimate, seating approximately 120 people on the main floor, with a balcony for overflow seating or a modest choir. Despite its smaller footprint, the space presented significant audio challenges: The area behind the stage is entirely glass, the stone side walls feature multiple windows, and the chapel’s 35-foot ceiling and high-pitched roof further complicate sound control.

While the chapel embraces a traditional aesthetic, its modern execution demanded that technology be seamlessly integrated. “The aesthetics are huge,” explained Chad Fuller, systems designer at Clear ProAV. “Everything we did, especially with the audio, had to fit into the design. The look and feel of the chapel are beautiful, but there are a lot of reflective surfaces to contend with. We really had to think carefully about the system as a whole and how it fit into the space.”

The floor-to-ceiling glass walls limited speaker placement options and increased concerns around reflections and glare from natural light. Working closely with church leadership and the architectural team, Clear ProAV focused on minimizing the visual impact of technology while maintaining consistent, intelligible coverage.

A custom-designed L-Acoustics audio system was selected for its sonic performance and its ability to visually blend with the chapel’s stone walls. Subwoofers and front-fill speakers were also discreetly integrated into the stage and surrounding steps, while an additional pair of L-Acoustics speakers supports the balcony. All audio is managed via a Q-SYS control system and a Yamaha digital mixing console.

The result is a system that delivers “natural, even sound” throughout the room, according to Fuller. “Anytime we’re designing audio in a traditional space, reflective surfaces like stone and wood are a major concern,” he added. “We also had to account for the balcony to ensure coverage to the back of the room while minimizing reflections.”

To address these issues, Clear ProAV collaborated with the architect to slightly tilt the glass balcony panels downward, redirecting reflected sound into the audience rather than back toward the stage. Speaker placement was also carefully calculated to minimize energy directed at the glass wall behind the altar.

Equally important was preserving the chapel’s visual integrity. “They don’t want to see a big PA hanging in the room,” Fuller explained. “In a space like Hasley Chapel, the audio system must become part of the architecture. So, we’re taking our technology and making it part of the room.”

While acoustic treatments such as wall or ceiling panels can help control reflections, they are not always acceptable from a design/aesthetic standpoint. “If we can find treatments that match the aesthetic, we’ll recommend them,” Fuller said. “But sometimes the client wants a nice, clean look with no visible treatment at all.”

Retrofitting History

If new builds pose challenges, retrofitting audio systems in historic worship spaces can be even more complex. Michael Walker, director of engineering at system integrator IVCi, in Hauppauge, NY, recently worked on a major audio upgrade at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City.

Preserving the church’s architectural heritage was paramount. Over nine months, the church collaborated with reseller AudioPros, design consultant Salas O’Brien, and IVCi to deploy a new audio system—including an Allen & Heath AH-SQ-5 digital mixing console, Shure microphones, and Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) AC6 ADAPTive column loudspeakers, all on a Dante network.

“One of the biggest challenges is that St. Bartholomew’s has the second-largest pipe organ in the world. There are thousands of pipes throughout the building, so you can’t just drill wherever you want," Walker noted. "Everything must be planned very carefully.”

In some cases, the installation team drilled through more than a foot of limestone to route new fiber cabling to the basement. Structural engineers were also brought in to confirm that mounting locations could safely support the selected loudspeakers.

The team chose EAW AC6 speakers for their “steerability,” which allows sound to be precisely directed to a specific area of the room, using EAW’s Resolution software. “You install the speakers, then steer the audio so it goes where you want it and nowhere else,” Walker explained. “That’s critical in a space with long reverberation times.”

EAW's Resolution software (specifically Resolution 2) is free-to-use simulation software for audio engineers to design, model, and optimize EAW loudspeaker systems. It can accurately predict coverage and performance in venues using EAW's proprietary F Chart acoustics modeling software engine for precise acoustic and mechanical analysis, which includes interactive array adjustments and real-time feedback for systems like adaptive audio.

Resolution enabled Walker and his team to use detailed sound mapping, whereby individual lobes of the loudspeaker could be focused on specific seating areas. The approach helped maintain sonic clarity while reducing reverberant buildup caused by the church’s soaring cathedral ceilings.

“Directional control in loudspeakers is extremely important in these environments,” said Bryan DiFabio, application and support engineer at EAW. “It keeps sound on the audience and off reflective surfaces like walls and balconies.”

No Substitute for Planning

DiFabio noted that EAW’s proprietary design tools such as Resolution and F Chart allow system designers to model performance in advance, experimenting with different arrays, heights, and coverage patterns before installation. “That reduces guesswork and helps ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for worshippers,” he said.

Maintaining speech intelligibility while delivering adequate sound pressure levels remains one of the biggest challenges in worship spaces. “You want a strong direct sound-to-reverberant ratio at every seat,” DiFabio explained. “High ceilings, reflective surfaces, and long decay times make that balancing act especially difficult.”

Modern IP-based audio systems rely on software tools to fine-tune performance. At IVCi, Walker’s company has developed custom internal applications for project management, system design, and pricing, alongside industry-standard tools such as sound pressure level (SPL) meters and real-time analyzers to identify and correct problematic frequencies.

Ultimately, both projects underscore the importance of planning and communication. “Everyone has to be on the same page well before you step on site,” Fuller said. “You have to understand the space and have a clear plan for how you’re going to fill it with sound.”

Whether designing a modern glass-walled chapel or retrofitting a centuries-old landmark, successful audio installations in houses of worship depend on careful coordination between architecture, technology, and acoustics—ensuring clarity, consistency, and reverence for the space itself.

In astronomy, a "singularity" is the center of a black hole. At the University of Rhode Island (URI), “The Singularity” is the name of a massive AV installation project. The Singularity's goal is to standardize and upgrade AV equipment in 150 classrooms and 14 auditoriums at URI’s main Kingston campus.

This ambitious project, which is now being executed by URI’s five-person Information Technology Services (ITS) AV department, was inspired by the university’s struggles to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. “When COVID hit, almost none of our classrooms were hybrid capable in any way, shape or form,” recalled Jeffrey Levesque, URI’s lead information technologist. “The non-standard solutions we managed to patch together served their purpose back then—but we knew we needed to come up with an approach that was consistent campus-wide, easy for staff to operate using a consistent touchpanel interface in each room and capable of being supported remotely from our office.

"This is why we decided to standardize our AV equipment campus-wide. I wanted equipment that I could put into every room no matter what it was, whether it was an auditorium, an active learning, or standard classroom, a meeting room—all of them.”

AVoIP for All

To manage the entire system, URI selected Epiphan’s Pearl Nexus AV over IP content playout and lecture capture solution. This included using Pearl’s Panopto for content management and Q-SYS Core Nano platform for control. The result is a fully automated AV environment in each classroom that allows instructors to walk in, make a few connections, and teach.

“I really enjoyed programming in the Q-SYS environment,” said Levesque. “Our rooms use Core Nano so that we don't have to run audio ins and outs into those spaces. Instead, everything is running on a Dante network."

URI uses NETGEAR AV line switches and network power supplies to run its internal AVoIP multicast network. In each upgraded room, URI installs an Apple Mac Mini computer, QSC TSC-70-G3 touchscreen controller, Q-SYS NV-21-HU ingest and receiving device, QSC SPA-Qf 60x2 audio amplifier, and two QSC AD-S8T loudspeakers. There is also one QSC NC-20x60 PTZ conference camera with audio tracking. Each lecture is captured using an Epiphan Pearl Nexus that supports automated recording.

Video is displayed in two ways in URI’s classrooms and auditoriums. Each space is equipped with Sony laser projectors (the VPL-PHZ60 and VPL-PHZ61 are the main models) and Da-Lite Model C with CSR pulldown screens. Select rooms also include Sony 4K BRAVIA monitors, which are typically 65 inches but can be as large as 85 inches.

To ensure accurate, clear, and echo-free audio capture, each space features an Audio-Technica ATND1061DAN beamforming ceiling array microphone, which can automatically focus on designated zones for audio pickup, such as the lectern or areas where students are speaking. At the same time, this system prioritizes the instructor and follows them as they move, so the lesson’s audio never gets missed.

The ATND1061DAN shares its voice tracking information with the QSC PTZ cameras in real time. This allows the cameras to automatically adjust and follow whoever is speaking, resulting in human-level tracking quality without requiring an actual operator. Plus, the ceiling mic can support up to 32 user-defined pickup zones, which are configured using Audio-Technica's Digital Microphone Manager (DMM) software. This also includes defining exclusion zones near doors and other problematic areas to block unwanted noise. For instructors who are still not ready to rely on ceiling mics, URI also has a Catchbox Plus wireless lavalier mic system available.

URI supports a BYOC (Bring Your Own Conference) approach, where users can access platforms like Zoom, Teams, and WebEx. For those instructors and students who want to plug their own devices into the classroom AV system, URI provides HDMI, USB-C, and Barco ClickShare wireless connections.

In fact, the only thing that URI’s standardized AV rooms don't have is their own scheduling system. “This is because room bookings are handled by our scheduling department on campus,” said Levesque.

Working Ahead

Installing a standardized AVoIP network to 164 locations is a tall order for any IT department, especially one with only five employees. To handle the challenge realistically, Levesque and his people resorted to intensive planning before a single cable was cut.

“Our philosophy is to do all your prep work ahead of time and get all of the parts in house before you do anything,” Levesque shared. “Once you have what you need on hand, it is time to put a prototype system together and try to break it—in other words, try to figure out what things can go wrong in the installation and what can be done to fix it. We applied that philosophy to this new install, and that's what helped make it go really seamlessly.”

That said, challenges did arise once the actual installation began. “One of the biggest challenges was learning to stand up and manage the dedicated, internal AV over IP multicast network that we needed, which is isolated from the main campus network,” said Levesque. “Luckily, the NETGEAR switches made it really easy thanks to their intuitive interface, while their support has been top notch.”

The URI IT team also had some issues when it came to adding AVoIP into larger rooms where a typical 48-port switch wasn’t enough. The solution was to start stacking switches. “That's been a little bit of a challenge to execute, but it's actually not that bad," Levesque said. "Frankly, once we had the AV over IP networks up, the subsequent issues we’ve faced are really trivial.”

Lessons Learned

Since starting The Singularity AV standardization upgrade project in Spring 2024, URI’s ITS department has completed more than 30 rooms. Because the university operates on a seven-year planning cycle, its goal is to transition the remaining rooms within the next three to four years, pending annual funding allocations.

Providing URI with a standardized AV infrastructure is proving to be a shrewd move. As for lessons learned from the project? As outlined above, extensive upfront planning and prototyping results in fewer problems during installations and faster overall delivery times. “Putting together a fully working classroom in my office first really paid off,” said Levesque.

It's also vital to have the professional installation team do all of the work themselves, rather than solicit support from people who could do some of it for less. “We’ve learned that we can't ask our student population to help us install things,” he said. “We had issues when we tried to do that.”

The third and final lesson: “While we can stand up our own networks, we're slowly reaching that point where we do need to expand our team, especially now that we’re moving to more network-based classrooms,” said Levesque. “The trend in AV these days is to put everything on the network. As a result, we really do need to hire somebody full time to help manage the AV over IP network that we're standing up all over campus.”

I’ve been a remote worker since 2014, but oddly enough, it wasn’t until the pandemic that I felt more connected to my colleagues. Today, no matter where workers are located, it’s rare for a meeting not to be “face-to-face.” Connecting via a camera has made a positive and significant difference in helping me feel more connected to individuals and the team. Rather than bumping into someone in the hallway or lunchroom, I’ll have a quick huddle via Slack.

But it takes an overall company culture to embrace videoconferencing technologies and collaboration platforms to help ensure remote and hybrid workers are integrated into the workflow. More than the feeling of inclusion, this is important for workplace efficiency and productivity.

We asked AV/IT industry thought leaders to share their insights into the elements and culture of creating productive collaboration environments near and far. Some excerpts are below, and you can read the responses from all 45 respondents here.

TYLER TROUTMAN,
Strategic Market Development,
Shure

In modern workplace and education environments, collaboration extends beyond physical boundaries. Teams are not defined by a single office, campus, or time zone. Instead, we are experiencing hybrid, global collaboration daily. To keep people connected and engaged, organizations and educational institutions must prioritize spaces that foster meeting equity, ensuring every participant can contribute, whether they are in person or remote.

Meeting equity begins with clarity. This includes clear communication, clear visibility, and clear participation. Too often, poor audio leaves remote participants struggling to keep up, which directly impacts engagement and productivity. High-quality audio and intuitive conferencing tools are essential so that everyone in the room can hear and be heard without distraction.

Creating productive collaboration environments also means designing spaces that adapt to evolving working styles. Some teams thrive in open huddle areas, while others need structured, presentation-style rooms. The most effective collaboration culture acknowledges that no two meetings are alike, and provides reliable, scalable technology that works across spaces.

Ease of use is also critical, especially when it comes to those responsible for set up. Technology should empower people to focus on the conversation at hand. For IT leaders, this means access to solutions that are simple to deploy and manage, while delivering a consistent experience for those in the meeting. For end users, it means technology that fades into the background, so communication feels effortless.

When every voice in a room is heard, everyone in the room feels connected, and teams unlock stronger engagement and decision-making abilities. By integrating intuitive, high-quality audio solutions into adaptable spaces, organizations and higher education institutions can cultivate cultures of collaboration that thrive regardless of where people are joining a meeting from.

SKYLER BOWDEN,
Senior Marketing Manager,
Mersive

The traditional meeting setup feels outdated. The default one-presenter-at-the-front approach, where someone clicks through slides while the room half-listens, is familiar, but doesn’t invite participation. And let’s be honest—meetings often start with a scramble to get the AV working before anything productive happens.

This structure is familiar because it reflects how many of us were taught: lecture-style, passive, and linear. But effective collaboration demands more than just taking turns at the front of the room; it asks for space, both physical and psychological, for contribution.

Room layout plays a bigger role than we give it credit for. Can content be shared from anywhere? Can everyone see the display—not just those at the head of the table? Do the tools invite participation or require a technical specialist to operate?

Some organizations build rooms with fully equipped workstations with individual displays and audio setups for every contributor. In the right context, this is a powerful way to invite interaction. But for many IT and AV teams, that level of design and support isn’t realistic. Overengineered spaces become more burden than benefit when the goal is simply to work better together.

That’s why the best rooms often offer the simplest design—a blank creative slate. There is no dominant display, no obvious “front”—just intuitive, flexible tools that allow people to share content, brainstorm, and collaborate however they work best. These spaces don’t dictate how meetings should run; they invite people to create their own way of working.

That’s especially critical now. Asking employees to return to the office is no longer a default; it’s a request. If the workplace is going to compete with the flexibility of remote work, it has to offer more than just a desk and a whiteboard; it has to offer value.

F. JOSEPH POMPEI,
Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
Holosonics

Collaboration has become the defining skill of modern organizations. Whether people are huddled up in an open office, gathering in a conference room, or connecting virtually across time zones, success rests first with the participants—their insight, attentiveness, and capacity to work together. Optimizing this depends greatly on the environments and technologies that enable it, and building a culture that embraces real communication.

We often focus on access and connectivity, making sure everyone can log in, join, and participate. Yet, the quality of the environment itself—how it looks, feels, and, critically, how it sounds—determines whether collaboration truly works. Even with the best tools, it is difficult to share ideas when overlapping conversations compete for attention, voices blur, and important details are lost in background noise.

Productive collaboration requires clarity of purpose, communication of ideas, and sound. The way we design for listening determines how well people understand one another and stay engaged. When sound is clear and distractions are minimized, attention improves, creativity rises, and every participant has a chance to contribute meaningfully.

This is not just a technical consideration, but a cultural one. When an organization invests in environments where every participant can hear and be heard, it sends a powerful signal: that every voice matters. It is saying that collaboration is not simply about proximity or platform, but about presence, equity, and shared understanding.

As workplaces continue to evolve, one principle remains constant: Productivity starts with connection, and connection starts with clarity. The future of collaboration will belong to environments designed not only for access, but for understanding. When people can truly hear one another, everything else falls into place.

EMMA EAGLE,
Manager of Marketing,
Atlona

I’ve learned that creating productive collaboration environments, whether in person or spread across distances, starts with a foundation of trust, clarity, and respect. Teams work best when they know their voices are valued and when everyone has a clear understanding of goals and expectations. That sense of alignment allows people to focus less on logistics and more on contributing their best ideas.

Another key element is intentional communication. In today’s hybrid and global environments, it’s not enough to rely on casual touchpoints; structure matters. Setting regular check-ins, using the right tools, and encouraging both formal updates and informal conversations help keep connections strong. At the same time, flexibility is important; recognizing different work styles, time zones, and cultural perspectives makes collaboration more inclusive and resilient.

Finally, I believe the most successful collaboration comes from creating a culture of shared ownership. When individuals feel empowered to take initiative and understand how their work impacts the bigger picture, collaboration becomes less about assigning tasks and more about building something meaningful together. Near or far, it’s about creating an environment where people feel supported, accountable, and motivated to contribute—not just because it’s their role, but because they truly care about the outcome.

GEORGE BORDEN,
Senior Reseller Account Manager, Central Region,
Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America

Creating a culture of effective collaboration means ensuring that every participant—whether seated in the office or joining remotely—has an equal voice, clear visibility, and seamless access to shared resources. The foundation of this culture begins with software. Unified chat platforms replace isolated email exchanges with searchable, topic-driven conversations, creating an archive of organizational knowledge. When integrated with video conferencing, teams can shift from chat to face-to-face discussions instantly with high-definition video, AI-generated transcriptions, and virtual breakout rooms supporting deeper engagement.

Beyond communication, centralized file management ensures that projects move forward without version confusion. Cloud-based solutions like OneDrive or Google Drive enable real-time co-authoring of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, while app integration brings business tools such as Salesforce directly into the collaboration platform. This single-pane approach streamlines workflows and reduces wasted time toggling between apps.

The physical workplace also continues to evolve for successful hybrid collaboration. Modern meeting rooms are designed for inclusivity, with intelligent audio and video systems that employ speaker tracking, noise suppression, and group framing to give remote participants the same presence as those in the room. Layouts such as Microsoft Teams and Front Row further bridge the gap, placing remote attendees at eye level and integrating chat, reactions, and shared content in one cohesive view.

Finally, interactive digital canvases, such as Sharp’s AQUOS BOARD, extend collaboration into the creative realm. These large-format displays allow dispersed teams to brainstorm, annotate, and ideate together as though standing side by side. Pairing this with one-touch meeting join solutions like Sharp’s Synappx eliminates technical barriers and ensures meetings start smoothly.

These advances result in a collaborative ecosystem that is inclusive, frictionless, and designed for how teams truly work—near and far.

GEORGE TRUONG,
Vice President of Operations,
Black Box

Modern AV collaboration platforms have evolved into mission-critical business infrastructure, requiring almost zero downtime. This evolution demands sophisticated service delivery that ensures consistent, reliable collaboration between end users and the integrator.

Collaboration environments build upon four pillars: user experience optimization, proactive monitoring support, and continuous improvement on efficiency and utilization. Service reliability extends beyond traditional uptime metrics to encompass experience quality indicators across all locations. This requires establishing global SLAs that account for regional variations while maintaining or exceeding standards on compliance. User experience optimization focuses on reducing friction in collaboration workflows, implementing one-touch join, automated room configurations, or an intuitive but simple interface that reduces support requirements.

The current demand emphasizes shifting from reactive service to preventive service models with proactive self-health. Operational capabilities that can identify degradation patterns before they impact users. This proactive stance requires cultivating analytical mindsets within operations teams, teaching them to analyze usage data and identify optimization opportunities. Organizations implementing "partnered solutions" services that provide full 24/7 remote and onsite support for customer ecosystems build user confidence while gathering insights into service improvement.

Scaling operational excellence requires establishing a culture to drive excellence that defines best practices and disseminates knowledge across the organization. Successful implementation of tiered support models that balance responsiveness with global consistency. The enabling factor for operational excellence is a sophisticated monitoring platform that provides real-time visibility into collaboration performance, enabling rapid response to issues while building historical data for trend analysis and capacity planning.

JOHN KRUSE,
Senior Field Solutions Architect,
ViewSonic

The most effective collaboration environments today are not defined by a single technology or meeting room; they are built at the intersection of space, tools, and culture. As organizations reimagine how people connect and create, successful collaboration strategies must focus on removing friction and enhancing human interaction, regardless of location.

Intentional design is the starting point. Physical environments should support a variety of work modes—from brainstorming sessions to hybrid meetings—and incorporate fundamentals like optimized acoustics, visibility, and comfort. Equally important is flexibility: Modular furniture, adaptable displays, and scalable AV systems allow spaces to evolve as teams, technologies, and workflows change.

Frictionless technology is another essential element. Solutions should integrate seamlessly across platforms, enabling intuitive, one-touch connectivity and interoperability with conferencing, control, and content systems. When technology disappears into the background, creativity and collaboration come to the forefront.

Beyond hardware, culture is the true driver of productive collaboration. Spaces and systems must support meeting equity, making remote participants feel as present and valued as those in the room. Features like AI-powered framing, spatial audio, transcription, and translation can level the playing field and ensure every voice is heard.

Looking ahead, collaboration environments will become increasingly intelligent and persistent. Cloud platforms, data analytics, and AI will not only support meetings but actively shape them—anticipating needs, connecting content, and extending collaboration beyond physical boundaries.

Ultimately, the future of collaboration isn’t about creating rooms; it’s about designing ecosystems that inspire creativity, foster connection, and empower teams to work together—anytime, anywhere.

OLIVER VAN CAMP,
Product Director, Meeting Experience,
Barco

In the rush to adopt the latest collaboration technologies, organizations often chase flashy features while overlooking the fundamentals that ensure long-term success. The most effective meeting room solutions prioritize three core elements: ease of use, trust, and smart technology.

Even the most advanced technology fails if employees struggle to use it. Collaboration tools must be intuitive, flexible, and consistent across meeting rooms and devices. When participants can connect, share content, and engage seamlessly, meetings start faster, adoption increases, and teams focus on collaboration—not on troubleshooting technology.

Collaboration technology frequently handles sensitive content, making trust a critical factor. Robust security, configurable access levels, and regular updates protect data and ensure compliance. In hybrid workplaces, teams depend on consistent performance across rooms and devices. Systems that fail or require troubleshooting disrupt meetings, erode confidence, and reduce productivity. Investing in reliable technology ensures meetings run smoothly, builds trust among users, and supports higher adoption rates.

And last, but not least, the role of intelligence in the meeting room cannot be denied. AI can enhance collaboration when applied thoughtfully. Features like automated transcription, intelligent facilitation, and real-time insights can add value when they complement existing workflows rather than creating complexity.

Technology should empower teams to work smarter, freeing them to focus on discussion, creativity, and decision-making rather than constantly adapting to new systems.

Successful technology adoption requires a clear strategy. Evaluate solutions based on usability, security, reliability, and scalability first—then consider advanced features. By focusing on the fundamentals, organizations can ensure that collaboration tools truly enhance productivity and engagement, both now and in the future.

TERRENCE BOYD,
Senior Strategy and Business Development Manager, Alliance and Technology Partnerships,
Sony Electronics

In today’s dynamic environments, collaboration is no longer confined to meeting rooms; it happens across campuses, hospitals, production floors, and retail spaces. The most productive environments connect people, content, and ideas with ease, no matter where they are.

At Sony, we believe collaboration thrives when technology works together—not in isolation. And we’re not alone; our customers and partners maintain that same philosophy. Sony’s Alliance and Technology Partner ecosystem plays a vital role in shaping environments where people create, communicate, and collaborate. Through alignment with leading partners across digital signage, AV control, unified communications and collaboration (UCC), remote management systems (RMS), and hardware and mounting solutions, we deliver seamless, end-to-end experiences that make teamwork effortless and inclusive, and remove barriers and guesswork for our customers.

Having an open ecosystem, as Sony does, gives customers the freedom to choose the technologies that best fit their needs, whether the goal is a hybrid meeting space, a digital signage network that informs and inspires, or a control system that simplifies complex workflows. Together with our partners, we integrate these solutions that enhance Sony’s core offerings and bring added value to every project because customers expect robust, turnkey options.

This collaborative approach ensures that every solution meets current requirements while remaining ready for the innovations ahead. By combining Sony’s strengths with the expertise of our partners, we create spaces that adapt to people rather than asking people to adapt to technology.

In a world that continues to change rapidly, success depends on partnership. Through collective innovation, Sony and its partners are delivering human-driven collaboration experiences that help people work smarter, connect more deeply, and achieve more together.

CHARLIE JONES, Global Partner Relations Manager,
Sennheiser

Building effective collaboration spaces relies on conferencing technology that reduces complexity to deliver a seamless user experience. Intelligent automation is driving this evolution, transforming meeting rooms into intuitive environments that enhance communication without distracting participants. The goal is a smart conference space where microphones, cameras, and control systems work together automatically to keep the focus on productivity.

To reduce complexity, IT and AV professionals can take advantage of the advancements in interoperability of audio, video, and conferencing platforms, as well as insights drawn from years of audio expertise and knowledge of meeting dynamics. For example, beamforming microphones have redefined sound quality by isolating voices from background noise, which is coupled with robust networks delivering low latency. The result makes it easier for both in-room and remote participants to follow conversations without disruption.

Building these rooms goes beyond simply deploying technology and relies on robust central management. Software and cloud platforms that tackle room planning and device management can allow for faster, more scalable deployments to meet today’s substantial workplace demands. These virtual room design tools that also monitor and manage the interoperability between AV protocols ensure consistent, high-quality user experiences across entire organizations with effective planning and reduced manual setup.

As AI and automation continue to advance, meeting environments will only become more intuitive and adaptive. While fully autonomous conference rooms are beyond the horizon for the moment, the innovations available today are already paving the way toward a future where technology supports collaboration seamlessly, freeing teams to concentrate fully on their work.

NANCY KNOWLTON,
Chief Executive Officer,
Nureva

There really are no secrets to productive collaboration; it all comes down to people, process and technology.

Productive collaboration—whether across the hall or across continents—starts with people. Valuing individuals and their experiences is foundational to any successful collaborative environment. When people feel respected and empowered, they bring their best selves to the table. That’s why the first step is to give them the tools and environments they need to create and collaborate. Comfortable spaces, intuitive platforms, and access to the right resources signal that their contributions matter.

Next comes the process. Collaboration doesn’t just happen; most often it needs to be taught, then nurtured and refined. Teams must learn how to work together effectively, understanding when group work accelerates outcomes and when individual effort sharpens focus. A well-designed process for collaboration clarifies direction, roles, and expectations, and it enables teams to work faster and better. Nobody is born knowing how to collaborate, so setting out some guidelines can be enabling, not restrictive. It helps people see how their work fits into the bigger picture and how they can contribute meaningfully to shared goals.

Technology is the final layer—the enabler that makes collaboration seamless and scalable. From cloud-based applications and unified communications platforms to high-quality audio systems and smart cameras, technology removes barriers and connects people in real time. But it’s not enough to simply deploy tools. Organizations must relentlessly research and observe: Is the combination of people, process, and technology delivering the results the business needs? Is it making teams more productive, more creative, and more aligned?

Ask. Observe. Refine. The most productive collaboration environments are those that evolve—driven by the needs of the people within them and the outcomes they’re working to achieve.

JOHN HENKEL,
Product Marketing Director,
NETGEAR Enterprise

The convergence of broadcast, unified communications, and AV infrastructure is accelerating rapidly. Creating productive collaboration environments starts with building unified IP ecosystems that don’t distinguish between near and far work; instead, they treat all collaboration as equal, regardless of location. This requires moving beyond traditional box shifting to a solution-led consultancy that embeds AV into broader digital transformation strategies.

The most effective collaboration cultures prioritize user experience over technology showcasing. Organizations succeeding in hybrid environments focus on broadcast-quality experiences as the new standard for enterprise communications—not just for special occasions. This means investing in scalable solutions that make remote participants feel as present as in-room colleagues, eliminating the second-class-citizen experience that plagues many hybrid setups.

From huddle spaces to large conference rooms, consistent, reliable technology across all collaboration points builds confidence and adoption. When teams trust that their tools will work seamlessly, whether they’re together or distributed, cultural resistance to hybrid work diminishes. This consistency requires robust networked solutions with centralized management, ensuring every space delivers professional-grade experiences.

The shift toward AI-driven AV, advanced lighting and sound, and immersive experiences is fundamentally about creating systems smart enough to adapt to how people naturally collaborate—not about adding layers of complexity. Organizations embracing this approach create environments where technology becomes invisible, allowing teams to focus on ideas rather than troubleshooting connectivity.

The bottom line: Productive collaboration cultures emerge when infrastructure supports authentic interaction regardless of physical location, when user experience trumps technical specifications, and when organizations commit to unified ecosystems rather than patchwork solutions.

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

Today’s workplaces and classrooms are no longer defined by four walls. Collaboration must be seamless, whether participants are across campus or across the globe. To meet this demand, organizations need technologies that are both robust and flexible to empower instructors, students, and employees to connect in ways that are simple, reliable, and interactive.

Panasonic recently surveyed higher education IT leaders, which revealed that 83 percent of students regularly interact with projectors and 81 percent say these technologies positively impact learning. These findings highlight that when collaboration technologies are intuitive and dependable, they become essential to how people learn and work.

However, decision-makers also flagged a growing concern: As devices become more feature-rich, they risk becoming harder for faculty and employees to manage. This underscores the importance of technology that reduces complexity rather than adding to it. Solutions must be designed for plug-and-play simplicity, while delivering professional-grade performance.

That’s why Panasonic and Artome partnered to create the PT-VMZ-AVCART, an innovative, mobile AV solution that combines Artome’s flexible design with Panasonic’s advanced projection to transform any space into a collaboration hub. These solutions eliminate the need for permanent installations, instantly transforming any classroom, huddle space, or boardroom into a connected, collaborative environment. By combining Panasonic’s advanced projection with Artome’s flexible design, organizations gain scalable tools that adapt to their unique spaces and needs.

The culture of collaboration today depends on access, flexibility, and ease of use. Whether enabling a professor to engage hundreds of students or allowing hybrid teams to brainstorm across time zones, the goal is the same: Technologies should inspire interaction, not inhibit it. At Panasonic, we believe the most productive environments are built on tools that make connection effortless anywhere, anytime.

JOEL MULPETER,
Senior Director, Product Marketing,
Crestron

We often talk about building a culture of collaboration. As people have returned to the office as part of their hybrid schedules, it’s critical that we serve the needs of those who come into that space. Technology needs to be seamless—disappearing into the background but delivering the rich experiences they expect.

Take, for example, the rich experiences you have in Microsoft Teams at your desk—can you take that experience into a conference room? You don’t want to have a different platform when you walk into the meeting room; you want to use the familiar one you’ve used at your desk.

You also want things like the “eyes and ears” in that room to be intelligent and smart. You want cameras that react to workflows in the room, and not cameras that must constantly be told what to do. You want audio that hears what you have to say and can then feed that into remote connections and the accompanying AI tool. You need to be getting tangible benefits out of that tool: translation, transcription, actionable insights, and so on. And then, you want to leverage that platform—Teams, Zoom, or whatever you prefer.

Beyond those tools, it’s also important to find the right balance of other AI features. Edge AI is especially useful and efficient in presenter tracking, for example. You don’t need to send that processing to the cloud and bring it back again—just do it in the camera. Cloud AI is better for things such as translation and transcription, identifying people, and so on. Ultimately, the goal is to create spaces that truly drive the culture of collaboration.

JOSH ARNOLD,
Director, Collaboration Product Strategy,
Q-SYS

In today’s workplace, collaboration is not confined to AV systems; it’s about crafting holistic experiences that empower people and culture. The rise of the high-performance workplace reflects a shift from static office environments to dynamic destinations that foster connection and creativity. Forward-thinking organizations are reimagining their spaces to build culture, expand mentorship, and enhance well-being across both high-impact rooms and the spaces in between. This reflects a deeper understanding: Technology should not just connect people, but also inspire and bring them together.

This transformation is already happening at scale. According to a recent whitepaper developed by Frost and Sullivan in partnership with Q-SYS, 46 percent of IT and telecom leaders are modernizing office technology, while 50 percent are investing in new perks and experiences. With over 5.6 billion square feet of Class A space positioned for high-performance transformation and 9.1 billion square feet of U.S. office space ripe for reinvention, the workplace has become a critical lever for organizational productivity.

Second, simplicity in technology is paramount. The most powerful collaboration tools are those that disappear into the background, enabling fluid interaction without friction. When technology is standardized, intuitive, and accessible, hybrid equity thrives—enabling every participant, near or far, to contribute equally. When users don’t have to think about how to connect, they can focus on what matters most: sharing ideas, solving problems, and building relationships.

Finally, smart collaboration environments should enable a feedback loop for continuous improvement. Rich spatial and usage data help organizations optimize layouts, refine workflows, and adapt to evolving needs—turning workplaces from static assets into dynamic engines for growth.

In essence, high-performance workplaces center on people and experience. They eliminate friction, create hybrid equity, and drive measurable outcomes. By embracing intentional design, user-centric simplicity, and data-driven evolution, organizations can create environments where creativity and productivity thrives.

The Belfry Golf Club, located in Royal Sutton Coldfield, has hosted the Ryder Cup four times as well as the British Masters, making it a significant venue on the international golf circuit. The resort features three championship golf courses and a range of luxury amenities, including a hotel, spa, dining options and extensive event facilities. For the most recent expansion, which included a new hotel block and a wellness hub, known as “The Club”, London-based integrator Tateside led the design and installation of audio, video, and lighting technology in various zones.

[SCN Installation Showcase 2025]

“We became involved in The Belfry project through hotel technology consultants Fluent2,” explained Jack Cornish, technical director at Tateside. “The scope encompassed a large ballroom event space in the main hotel, and various zones in The Club, including studios, a gym, a spin room, and spa areas.”

Involved from the initial design and planning stages, Tateside led on specifying a range of premium brands to fit with the Belfry’s AV needs across the different zones. With several contractors involved in the build and fit-out stages, the Tateside team needed to coordinate with various stakeholders to align on timelines, project needs, and technical requirements, ensuring the project ran smoothly.

Beginning in the Ballroom, the team designed the system with flexibility and user control in mind. A divisible space, Q-SYS Core processing provides control over audio and video across the two spaces, whether in open or closed modes. For users, two Q-SYS touchscreens mounted in the ballroom provide easy control of the room technology and routing, allowing for event audio to be played in other spaces, such as the business lounge or outdoor terrace. Audio is provided by Bose DM6C and DM8C-SUB in-ceiling loudspeakers, and the Ballroom also features three projectors and projector screens. Tateside also supplied a comprehensive events infrastructure, including custom Neutrik panel connectors throughout, meaning event companies can easily connect to the AV system without running cables across the space.

The Club at The Belfy combines innovative equipment and high-end facilities to inspire fitness and wellbeing. Here, Tateside was involved in the implementation of AV across four fitness studios, a gym and multi-purpose sports space, an outdoor spa area and changing rooms, along with background audio in corridors and bathrooms. The spin studio was the most demanding of the areas, encompassing top-of-the-line TechnoGym equipment, immersive LED lighting, performance audio, acoustic paneling, and instructor-friendly control. “We were asked to design a feature lighting system, so we created several 3D renders in advance to present to the client,” explained Cornish. “The lighting was based around an LED Snaps solution of ceiling-mounted pixel-mapped lighting to provide dynamic lighting effects, easily controlled by the instructor on a touchscreen tablet.”

For audio, four Bose Arena Match Utility loudspeakers provide a powerful workout soundtrack in a compact format, with low-end from an Audac 18-inch infra-subwoofer. Two 85-inch Samsung screens provide further visual impact and display spin sessions stats to motivate riders. Audio input is via Bluetooth plates, and a Shure wireless headset system ensures instructors can be heard clearly.

Across the other fitness studios, which are dedicated to multi-purpose activities ranging from pilates and yoga, through to BoxFit and Zumba, Tateside implemented versatile AV solutions based around Samsung screens, Bose DM8S loudspeakers and Audac 10-inch subwoofers. Each room is equipped with an HDMI wall plate for display input and a Bose digital audio controller for simplified source selection of pre-determined playlists and volume control. Bose PowerShare amplifiers power the system, and Bose ControlSpace processors provide building-wide DSP.

“It’s the details that make the difference in high-end environments like this,” continued Cornish. “For example, the Shure wireless microphone systems are always on and ready to go, so instructors don’t need to fiddle around with controllers. The system is set up to be as simple as possible, and the mics automatically duck the music out underneath, so the instructor comes in, puts the headset on, pairs their phone to the Bluetooth, and they’re ready to go.”

For self-led workouts, a fully equipped gym is installed with twelve Bose DM6 loudspeakers, accompanied by a pair of Audac double 10-inch subs and two 85-inch Samsung screens. Sonance Extreme series in-ceiling loudspeakers continue the ambience in the steam and sauna rooms, whilst Sonance satellite loudspeakers take care of audio outside in the hot tub area.

To complete the project, Tateside also installed background audio throughout the rest of the club. An Android tablet in the reception area provides centralized control of club-wide AV systems. Throughout The Club, the AV infrastructure is network-based, utilizing Dante for all audio transport throughout the building via the Netgear Pro AV switching infrastructure. This allows for real-time visibility and monitoring of the system and remote management. The system is designed to be easily scalable, ensuring it can support the various audio needs across different areas of The Club if it expands.

As The Club opens its doors in September of 2025, users and staff alike will benefit from the careful integration and user-friendly technology provided by Tateside. “This is one of the larger hotel projects we’ve worked on, and we’re very proud to work with this prestigious and world-renowned brand,” reflects Cornish. “It was a very large project in a tight timeframe across distinct sites simultaneously. We took ownership from the design phase onwards, and we’re pleased with the wide scope of technologies installed and the finished result.”

Renkus-Heinz has launched new third-party control plug-in-modules for Crestron and Q-SYS, developed in partnership with Control Concepts.

[Control Concepts Introduces On-Prem Dashboard for Shure Conferencing Devices]

To simplify complex installations, users have long sought a single-platform solution for reliable system control. Always looking to improve customer experience, Renkus-Heinz partnered with Control Concepts to develop the new third-party plug-ins to enhance workflow and improve cohesive control across all Renkus-Heinz products.

The plug-ins were designed to eliminate integration hurdles by ensuring full system compatibility. They provide proven, trusted solutions that let developers focus on results and smoother workflows. The plug-ins were also created to save users hours of valuable time, by streamlining system management.

Beyond workflow improvements, the plug-ins are backed by Control Concepts’ official Supported Product Program. Control Concepts’ ongoing support of the plug-ins empowers integrators with the assurance that their API integrations are fully tested, approved, and endorsed by the manufacturer, whose in-depth product knowledge ensures responsive support and quick issue resolution. “We chose to work with Control Concepts to develop these plugins due to their long-standing relationship with integrators and manufacturing partners to deliver high-quality solutions,” Brandon Heinz, product manager, Renkus-Heinz stated.

Control Concepts delivers well-crafted software and integration solutions, helping manufacturers create products that are easier to adopt, integrate, and trust. “We are proud to be selected as Renkus-Heinz's partner for API integration with Crestron and Q-SYS,” commented Steve Greenblatt, President and Founder of Control Concepts. “We value their focus on creating products that are programmer and integrator-friendly, and the availability of endorsed and supported plugins is a strong example of this dedication.”

With the launch of these new plug-ins, Renkus-Heinz and Control Concepts are providing a new solution for seamless integration, compatibility, and user confidence in large-scale AV projects. “We have plenty more plug-ins planned for the future,” revealed Heinz. “We look forward to seeing how our customers will put them to use.”

AVT Question: Please share your insights into emerging trends and how AV/IT technologies are reshaping the higher education classroom and beyond.

Thought Leader: Manager of Business Development for Higher Education at Q-SYS

As higher education continues to evolve, institutions are reimagining the classroom experience to better support student engagement, collaboration, and personalized learning. One of the most notable trends is the shift toward blended learning models—an approach that combines in-person teaching with online components. This hybrid structure provides students with greater flexibility while empowering instructors to tailor learning experiences based on individual needs.

Active learning environments are also transforming how students engage in the classroom. Traditional lecture halls are being replaced with flexible, technology-rich spaces that encourage group collaboration, peer interaction, and hands-on learning. Educators are further supported by data-driven instruction, using real-time analytics to assess student participation and adjust lesson plans accordingly to improve outcomes.

Technology plays a pivotal role in enabling these advancements. For example, lecture capture systems allow students to revisit recorded sessions anytime, reinforcing comprehension and knowledge retention. Automated tracking cameras enhance this experience by following instructors or highlighting student interactions—especially valuable in simulation labs or dynamic learning environments.

To capture every voice in the room, ceiling microphones ensure inclusive participation, while simplified user interfaces—powered by room sensors, NFC card readers, or scheduling integrations—create intuitive, automated experiences for both faculty and students.

Importantly, cloud-based AV systems provide IT teams with the ability to remotely monitor and manage classrooms, ensuring uptime and scalability across campus.

As institutions continue to modernize their learning environments, many are turning to software-based platforms that offer long-term scalability and flexibility. These platforms can unify audio, video, and control across multiple learning spaces while supporting future technology needs. For example, universities working with Q-SYS have implemented scalable solutions that enhance both the teaching and learning experience.

Last week saw yet another flurry of Pro AV headliners. Renkus-Heinz beefed up its engineering team, ASG opened a new Burbank facility, and several new solutions are officially Zoom Certified.

[Now Available: The Integration Guide to Distribution]

Get caught up on the Pro AV week that was below.

People News

Adamson's Sylvain Thevenard Announced as Software Manager

Adamson appointed Sylvain Thévenard as software manager. Thévenard brings extensive experience in the audio industry, having roots in both recording studio and live sound engineering, and is dedicated to enhancing the enjoyment and coherence of music. His expertise in spatial audio, which he began exploring in 2010, allowed him to create elevated sound imaging experiences. As a Spatial Audio Architect at Adamson, he played a key role in developing the FletcherMachine with the European software team.

Renkus-Heinz Amplifies Innovation

Renkus-Heinz continues to strengthen its engineering department with the addition of three new team members. Hai Le joins the team as embedded software engineer, Robert Newman takes on the role of loudspeaker engineering technician, and Peng Yin joins as senior software engineer.

Le brings a wealth of knowledge, with over 20 years of experience working on embedded software development. In his new role, Le is looking forward to applying his skills to the world of loudspeaker audio.

Transferring from a technical head role at an audio engineering company is Newman. He boasts 15 years’ experience in professional audio, with a strong focus on transducer design, manufacturing and testing.

Yin will be sharing his great passion for engineering and sound as he joins the Renkus-Heinz team. Yin brings a host of valuable skills. He has held various software engineering roles since 2016, leading teams to success with his broad knowledge of programming languages and experience in testing software. Yin looks forward to bringing his enthusiasm for audio to his new position.

Le, Newman, and Yin will be working closely with engineering manager Chad DeFranco and the wider engineering team to support Renkus-Heinz's goals.

TecNec Welcomes Industry Veteran Mark Chernoff

TecNec Distributing has added Mark Chernoff to its team as a regional sales manager. With over 25 years of industry experience, Chernoff brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to the organization. In this role, Chernoff will support TecNec’s internal sales team with a boots-on-the-ground approach, meeting clients where they are and helping to shape TecNec’s future while strengthening its market position.

Prior to joining TecNec, Chernoff spent more than two decades at BTX Technologies, where he held a variety of key positions, including Northeast regional sales director, director of marketing and strategic sales, field sales manager, and technical sales representative.

Company News

ASG Opens Expansive New Facility in Burbank

As part of its continued commitment to the Los Angeles market, Advanced Systems Group opened a 5,000 square-foot-facility in Burbank. The new space features a Dolby Atmos demo theater, a video production space with a hard cyc wall, a large video conferencing room, a staging space, equipment inventory, and offices.

Designed as ASG’s anchor space in LA for testing, demonstrating systems, and an industry gathering space, the company recently held a highly successful open house to introduce the new facility to clients and vendors. ASG partners and vendors are invited to demo systems in the new space. Located a few blocks from the Hollywood Burbank airport, the office is well suited for new technology training and large meetings. ASG is grateful to our partners V2 Marketing, IMN Creative, Insomniac Games, JBL, Genelec, Harman Pro, Create LED, Stewart Filmscreen, Sony, Storm Audio, and Forecast Consoles for their generous support.

AVPro Global Appoints Commercial Reps, Midwest Region

AVPro Global has appointed Excellence Marketing, based in Eden Prairie, MN, as its commercial sales reps covering the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Western Wisconsin. Excellence Marketing will focus on bringing solutions from AVPro Edge, Bullet Train, and RTI to exceptional integrators across the region.

Founded in 1988 and based in Eden Prairie, Excellence Marketing has established longstanding relationships with top integration partners across their region. Known for product expertise and a strategic approach to sales, the Excellence team offers extensive training, events assistance, and technical support to ensure that manufacturers and integrators in the territory flourish together.

Neptune Partners with Convergence as Midwest Representative

Neptune Outdoor AV Solutions has appointed Convergence as a new independent sales representative firm for the Midwest region, encompassing Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. This strategic partnership highlights Neptune’s ongoing commitment to regional expansion and underscores its dedication to providing expert sales support for its outdoor AV product portfolio throughout the United States.

Convergence brings decades of experience as a key resource for AV products, lighting, controls, acoustical ceiling systems, and window systems to architectural and construction communities, while upholding their mission of being an advocate for manufacturer interests. With a long-standing commitment to merging technological solutions to form a unified solution for clients, Convergence is fully equipped to promote Neptune’s complete line of outdoor TVs and mounting solutions to dealers, system integrators, and retail partners across the region.

Certifications, Collaborations, and More

AVer’s PTZ231 and PTZ211 Cameras Zoom Certified

AVer Information's PTZ231 and PTZ211 have obtained Zoom Pro AV Camera Certification. Delivering 1080p visuals and AI-enhanced tracking, AVer's PTZ231 and PTZ211 create a seamless Zoom meeting environment that keeps participants engaged and connected whether remote or in-person.

The PTZ231 combines full-HD resolution with an impressive 30X optical zoom to capture both intricate details and wide-angle views, making it ideal for conferences, streaming and broadcast venues. Additionally, the PTZ211 features 12X optical zoom in a compact form factor designed for classrooms, huddle spaces and houses of worship. Now Zoom-certified, the PTZ231 and PTZ211 promote meeting equity by delivering consistent, high-quality video experiences across any hybrid environment.

New Epson Plug-in for Q-SYS Platform

Epson has a new Q-SYS plug-in integration across its lineup of 3-chip 3LCD projectors for education, corporate and large venues.

As a contributor to the Q-SYS Ecosystem, Epson collaborated with Q-SYS to create a market-ready control solution that integrates into Q-SYS. Epson worked closely with Q-SYS, who has fully vetted and endorsed the integration as “Q-SYS Certified." The Epson Projector Plug-in enables effortless connectivity into Q-SYS, a Full Stack AV Platform, and allows users to control and display information from Epson projectors, including integrating functions such as selecting the device input, controlling audio volume and mute functions, adjusting brightness, as well as navigating device menus and monitoring connection status with the device and input signals. This enhances Epson projector use in Q-SYS environments and delivers a seamless professional experience.

Insta360 Connect is Now Zoom-Certified

Insta360's dual-camera AI video bar, and USB speakerphone and camera, Insta360 Connect, is now certified for Zoom Rooms. This certification confirms that Connect meets Zoom’s performance and compatibility standards, so it works seamlessly with Zoom Rooms.

As a dedicated hardware for Zoom Meetings, Insta360 Connect enables users to enhance their Zoom meeting experience with professional audio and video, reliable performance and simplicity. Now with the bundle of Zoom Rooms certified mini-PC and Insta360 Connect setup in conference rooms, users no longer need to bring their own devices into the room or plug in cables to join Zoom meetings. With a simple tap on Insta360 touch panel installed with Zoom Controller, users are able to instantly start a Zoom meeting and even switch the camera modes or audio settings on Zoom Controller. Such simplified experience along with pro audio, video, and AI-powered features are sure to elevate your daily workflow. The certification underscores Connect’s seamless integration into Zoom meetings and its ability to deliver high-quality collaboration experiences.

The Carolina Theatre, located in Charlotte, recently underwent an eight-year restoration project to reopen the historic venue. Quince Imaging—known for its immersive productions that bring fans into the action, like we covered with the Anaheim Ducks—took this restoration to a whole new level, that we believe has never been seen before.

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The theater originally closed in 1978, but in 2012 Foundation For The Carolinas began its push to reopen the historic site, and by March 2025, it was finally ready to open its doors.

Those doors opened to what Quince Imaging calls, "the world's first blended remote-head projection mapping installation... featuring a one-of-a-kind projection mapping system that sets a new industry standard." That projection mapping system doesn't appear to be in the background on LED screens, but brings the entire theater to life—stage, walls, and all.

The projection mapping system—which includes projectors from Christie—contains six lasers that projects images and content across the audience's sightline. “This system merges proscenium mapping technology comparable with the legacy system at Radio City Music Hall and the interactive real-time rendering seen in modern Location Based Entertainment (LBE),” said Eric Gazzillo, VP, Quince Imaging on the company's website. “The result is a system that can immerse the audience in visual imagery while adding the real-time interactivity for participatory shows and events.”

Additionally, a new JBL sound system was added, as well as Digital Projection and Q-SYS solutions along with NETGEAR switches were all involved in bringing the site back to life. We'll continue to bring more details as we find them out, but for now, enjoy the video above.

Completed in Fall 2024, the Maury County Judicial Center in Columbia, TN, is a newly constructed, 58,000-square-foot facility designed to accommodate a growing region while modernizing court proceedings at the same time. Nashville, TN-based architect Workshop oversaw planning and building design, while S&L Integrated, headquartered in Thomasville, GA, deployed the courtroom AV systems.

[Here's How AI Poses Ethical, Legal Issues to Content Producers]

two-story building, the new courthouse houses six courtrooms, three on each floor. Upstairs, one jury courtroom features a traditional layout, with the jury box to the side of the bench and attorney tables. The other two incorporate the Virginia Revival Model (VRM), which puts the jury in front of the judge’s bench. Four associated enclosed spaces are assigned to each courtroom, providing attorneys and their clients with somewhere to meet privately.

For architect Workshop, one design goal was to incorporate elements referencing Maury County’s historic courthouse building a few blocks away in Columbia’s downtown core. For example, the pews positioned throughout the public hallways were extracted from the historic building and refurbished for the Judicial Center. The thin film coverings on the private conference room windows, featuring images depicting Maury County’s history, are another element.

“Recognizing that they were moving from the historic courthouse was very important to them,” James Kennon, principal architect at architect Workshop, explained in a video produced by S&L Integrated. “We worked with the county archives to develop a series of photos that told the history of the county.”

Digital Evidence Support

From a technological perspective, Maury County needed courtroom AV systems that could support digital evidence such as body and dashcam footage as well as surveillance videos, explained Stan Mobley, senior account executive for state, local, and corporate clients at S&L Integrated. This need is prevalent among the courthouses his firm works with in Georgia and Tennessee, as is the integration of reliable videoconferencing capabilities and user-friendly control.

To address this, S&L Integrated developed a courtroom AV package that can be tailored to meet specific client requirements. In general, it includes Crestron DM NVX AV over IP distribution, Q-SYS control, QSC ceiling speakers, Marshall POV cameras, LG displays, a combination of Audix microphones and Sennheiser wireless systems, and WolfVision whiteboard and annotation tools (when requested).

At the Maury County Judicial Center, the primary goal was to provide a good user experience for everyone working in the courtroom, including the judge, attorneys, court clerk, court reporter, and other staff. To achieve this, it’s necessary to understand how each judge runs his or her courtroom, explained Nathan Tomberlin, account executive at S&L Integrated. For example, do they want the ability to approve digital evidence before attorneys share it wirelessly to courtroom displays? If so, their touchpanel must be equipped with “preview” and “approve” commands.

“This is putting protections in place to follow the due process of how the judge wants to manage the court proceeding,” Tomberlin said. “It puts all of the power back on the judge.”

Control Flexibility

It can also allow for flexibility. During particularly intense proceedings, a judge may give the court clerk authorization to run the technology from their own touchpanel, so the judge can keep their focus on witness testimony. Good control programming can also simplify things for the court reporter, who may access and modify mic volumes through their touchscreen.

“They don’t have to go through their software with their mouse to click on the microphone levels to get them right,” Tomberlin said. “Instead, we give them a touchpanel and they can make any adjustments right there on the screen.”

While each courthouse is different, they all share common requirements, which is why S&L Integrated offers a courtroom AV package. As Mobley explained, this promotes standardization across courthouses, which facilitates service and support for the AV integrator. Perhaps more importantly, it provides a smoother user experience.

“Within a circuit, there may be three judges and six courts,” Mobley added. “The courtrooms may look different—some may be modern while others are historic. But when we standardize the systems, a judge coming from County A to County C doesn’t have to spend time learning a system that’s unfamiliar to him. He has a touchpanel that looks exactly like the one in his home court.”

Court-Appointed Audio Capture

Part of the AV package that S&L Integrated proposes to its courthouse clients includes a combination of Audix conferencing microphones, such as the MG18 and MG18HC gooseneck condenser mics mounted in the ATS1 tabletop base, as well as ADX60 boundary mics to capture speech from those who aren’t equipped with a dedicated microphone.

“From an audio perspective, the most important person in the room is the witness,” said Gage Helton, director of operations at S&L Integrated. “The second most important is the judge. Then, obviously, you need to be able to hear the jury. Many contractors that do general purpose installations don’t make things audible enough when they do courtrooms, or there’s feedback because they didn’t EQ the room. For this reason, we tend to use column array speakers, tune them, then the MG18 mics in most places. But for positions closer to the arrays, we’ll opt for the MG18HC, which is essentially the same mic with a hypercardioid pickup pattern.”

Witness and jury foreman mics are usually shock-mounted, with everything else mounted on the ATS1 bases. The ADX60s are placed on prosecution and defense attorneys’ tables to capture sidebar discussions.

Helton noted that the ATS1 base’s physical button is easier for non-technical operators to use, versus bases that incorporate either a touchscreen or capacitive button. “We’ve found that users can get confused by those—especially when you factor in the stress that comes with being in court—and either fail to trigger them when it’s their turn to speak or accidentally turn them on when it’s not,” he explained.

[Unheavenly Acoustics]

he unit’s detachable cable also makes for smoother installs. “A lot of gooseneck bases for conferencing have an attached cable, so you need to figure out how to dress it and route it in an unobtrusive way. With the ATS1, we can just run our own cable and terminate, which makes the install so much cleaner,” he said.

While this may seem like a lot of microphones, there is a need to take all courtroom participants into account. “One reason is, in many installs we send multitrack audio to the court reporter so they can produce the most accurate transcript possible,” Helton said. “Another is that we like to have a press feed plate for higher-profile cases, so reporters can just plug in and get a clean audio mix. For larger courtrooms, we’ll also do a mix-minus through small speakers at various locations, so the participants can hear everyone else clearly but not have echo of themselves.”

It was a big week for the company formerly known as AVI Systems. At its Global Sales Summit in Dallas, the company ushered in a new era by rebranding to FORTÉ. We had the first interview with CEO Jeff Stoebner on what was behind the name and new logo. If you missed that, you can get caught up here.

Shortly after the official change, the company announced strategic investments in System Video, based in Dublin, Ireland, and GMS, located near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The acquisition of these two audiovisual integration businesses, strengthens FORTÉ’s global presence and advances the company’s effort in transforming the modern workplace.

System Video, a provider of audiovisual and unified communication solutions, has built its reputation delivering workplace technology for multinational organizations. GMS specializes in AV integration, managed services, and smart workspace solutions, supporting some of the world’s largest corporations.

FORTÉ didn't make all the headlines though. Let's get you caught up with everything else you may have missed.

People News

AC Americas Announces Natasha Royal as Vice President of Finance

A.C. Americas welcomed Natasha Royal as VP of finance, bringing extensive experience in driving profitable growth, leading strategic initiatives, and building FP&A processes.

Royal will oversee financial planning, reporting, and risk management, ensuring the organization's long-term fiscal health and financial performance. Her responsibilities include developing and analyzing statistical and accounting information, establishing major economic objectives and policies, and directing financial and budget activities to maximize investments and increase efficiency. She also plays a crucial role in evaluating and developing her team, fostering strong partnerships with other departments.

B-Tech AV Mounts Appoint Nam Le as General Manager North America

B-Tech AV Mounts has added Nam Le to its team as the new general manager for North America. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Le oversees operations across the U.S., supporting both the internal sales team as well as B-Tech’s new and existing customers.

Le brings with him many years of experience in the AV industry, having held national and regional sales manager positions at leading companies such as ZeeVee, QSC, Crestron, and Extron. His extensive AV background makes him well-equipped to drive sales growth and lead a passionate, knowledgeable team to expand B-Tech’s presence in the market.

Nam now guides and supports the current sales team in broadening relationships and seizing new opportunities to fuel growth in the U.S. market.

Daktronics Announces Jeremy Johnson as VP of Commercial, High School, Parks and Recreation

Daktronics has appointed Jeremy Johnson as VP of commercial, and high school, parks and recreation markets.

Johnson brings deep expertise to his new role, based on his 30 years of experience at Daktronics across multiple sales and marketing responsibilities. In his most recent position as business development manager, Johnson was responsible for market management oversight for commercial, including out of home and on-premise, as well as high school, parks and recreation.

Disguise Appoints Jake Stone as New SVP of Commercial

Disguise has appointed Jake Stone as its SVP of commercial. In this role, Stone leads the global sales and business development teams as they meet increased demand for Disguise’s offering, which drives location-based experiences like Top of the Rock in New York City and live concert visuals for artists like Adele, as well as providing virtual production services for films like “A Minecraft Movie.”

A Forbes '30 Under 30' honoree, Stone most recently served as co-founder and chief revenue officer at CHEQ, where he led the company to 10 times year-over-year revenue growth before its acquisition by Cantaloupe. Prior to that, he was chief revenue officer at Independent Sports & Entertainment, where he launched the Properties division and secured over $35 million in new business. Stone has also held leadership roles at Disney and ESPN Media Networks, as well as Infront Sports & Media and has negotiated over $2 billion in partnerships across enterprise technology and content licensing.

Stone’s experience enables Disguise to push the envelope even further in the spheres of live events and shows, virtual production and broadcast, as well as location-based experiences and themed entertainment.

Yvonne Ho becomes President of PAMA Board of Directors

Yvonne Ho has become president of The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA)’s Board of Directors for a two-year term. Ho succeeds Chris Regan (RF Venue) in the role, while Regan remains on the board as a director.

Ho is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Point Source Audio, a manufacturer of innovative professional miniature microphones and audio headsets that have been used on premier stages across the globe, including on Broadway and in other top-tier theatrical and live sound productions. Its commitment to quality and innovation has earned the company a reputation as a trusted partner for sound engineers and professionals in the entertainment industry.

Earlier in her career, she worked for an assistive hearing device manufacturer, Phonic Ear, where she uncovered a passion for both helping those coping with hearing impairment, and participating in advocacy and outreach on the topic of hearing loss. This era planted a seed of interest that she now nurtures at Point Source Audio, where she is able to merge the business of audio and her desire to help people.

VTG Announces Greg Yarrington as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Technology

Virtual Technologies Group appointed Greg Yarrington as chief operating officer and EVP of technology. Yarrington oversees day-to-day operations and scales the firm’s technology and operational capabilities on a national level.

Yarrington brings over a decade of experience in operations and technical innovation within the managed IT services, cloud, cybersecurity, and technology sectors. He recently served as COO at ECI, where he led a team of more than 550 people to stabilize the firm’s workforce and expand its operations into global markets.

Company News

New ADI | Snap One Store in Omaha Hosted Grand Opening Celebration

ADI | Snap One celebrated the grand opening of its new store in Omaha, NE by showcasing product offerings from the combined business for the first time under one roof. Sponsored by Episode and Samsung, the event took place on Thursday, April 10 and gave attendees an exclusive chance to meet the store team, explore the new store design concept, spend time with suppliers, and take advantage of the expanded inventory and combined assortment of ADI and Snap One exclusive brands. 

ADI and Snap One teams worked together to develop the new, modern store design, which blends a retail storefront with its warehouse, featuring products across key categories including security, networking, AV, smart home, fire safety, and more. The Omaha location replaces the previous ADI store, offering Snap One customers a convenient shopping option that wasn’t available before. 

Additional store highlights include a 15,000+ square foot space, 2.5 times larger than the previous Omaha location, an expanded product assortment featuring 500+ Snap One SKUs, increased inventory and new brands introduced to legacy ADI and Snap One customers, including more than 100 consumer TVs from top brands, a 24-hour pick up room, customer reward benefits, a dedicated training space for in-store and virtual sessions, as well as a customer coffee and comfort hub.

DMF Lighting Expands Partnership with VITAL

DMF Lighting expanded its partnership with business advisory firm VITAL, reinforcing its commitment to dealer success through a robust offering of complimentary resources and training in 2025.

Building on the success of its VITAL Affiliate Membership program, DMF Lighting is introducing a new suite of exclusive benefits designed to elevate dealer performance, sharpen sales strategies, and drive business growth. The 2025 program includes access to workshops, a one-on-one business advisory session, and a comprehensive, downloadable Sales Mastery Tool-Kit—all offered at no cost to DMF dealers.

LG Teams Up with Mercedes-Benz Stadium 

Joining forces to enhance and extend in-stadium fan experiences in exciting new ways, LG Electronics USA and Mercedes-Benz Stadium announced a multi-year partnership.

[Boston Red Sox Get Monster Display Upgrade with LG]

As part of this new relationship, LG is providing hundreds of new LG DVLED and LCD displays for installation throughout the venue, led by a robust 98-screen pitch LED ribbon-board, that provides a vivid, field level backdrop for all Atlanta United Home matches, LG’s first such implementation in the United States.

As part of an ongoing stadium-wide display technology refresh ahead of the 2025 Club World Cup and 2026 FIFA World Cup, LG LED displays are now being installed across multiple areas of the venue, including the Gallagher Club and Lounge at Molly B’s, concourse areas, clubs and the most unique being the field level pitch boards used for soccer matches.

NETGEAR Revalidates Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Certification

NETGEAR has successfully revalidated its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) certification by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (DHS-CBP). This voluntary certification, which is granted to less than 5% of importers, is renewed every four years. Earning it again is a testament to NETGEAR’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding its supply chain and meeting the highest security standards.

The revalidation process involves an exhaustive inspection of the company’s entire supply chain network, requiring NETGEAR to demonstrate compliance with rigorous security protocols. NETGEAR’s recertification shows the company has successfully addressed a wide range of security concerns and implemented security measures that align with global best practices. This achievement underscores the company's dedication to collaborating with DHS-CBP to reduce vulnerabilities and improve security within its operations.

tvONE Adds Plug-In Integration for Q-SYS

tvONE unveiled its new Q-SYS plug-in integration for CALICO PRO video processors. As a contributor to the Q-SYS Ecosystem, tvONE collaborated with Q-SYS to create a market-ready control solution that integrates seamlessly into Q-SYS, a cloud-manageable audio, video, and control Platform.

tvONE specializes in video, audio, and multimedia processing equipment. tvONE's CALICO PRO guarantees delivery of the highest quality 4K60, 10-bit and HDR video no matter the aspect ratio, resolution or color space.

Lawo, developer of the RAVENNA audio-over-IP technology, welcomed Sound on Digital as the latest partner to the RAVENNA community. Headquartered in The Netherlands, Sound on Digital specializes in the development of software solutions for the professional audio market.

Sound on Digital’s most recent product is RAVENNAKIT— a cross-platform SDK designed to simplify and accelerate the integration of RAVENNA audio networking into third-party software products. RAVENNAKIT delivers a complete solution for OEMs and developers, offering low-latency audio transport, precise synchronization, and broad platform compatibility — including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Pro AV Around the World

1 SOUND has partnered with 7Hertz to bring 1 SOUND to the GCC, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Lebanon.

Lawo, developer of the RAVENNA audio-over-IP technology, welcomed Sound on Digital as the latest partner to the RAVENNA community. Headquartered in The Netherlands, Sound on Digital specializes in the development of software solutions for the professional audio market.Sound on Digital’s most recent product is RAVENNAKIT— a cross-platform SDK designed to simplify and accelerate the integration of RAVENNA audio networking into third-party software products

The University of Rhode Island (URI) was ranked the No. 1 public university in New England and the 35th-best public university nationally in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S., which rates the top 500 universities in the country.

At URI, enhancing education through technology is a core mission, worthy of prominence. Yet for Katie Babula, the manager of ITS-Audio Visual Systems and her AV team, remaining unseen is the goal. “We try to make everything as easy to use as possible, as seamless and as invisible to both students and faculty, to just let the teaching take center stage,” she said.

However, the stealthy approach to AV has become increasingly difficult given her team’s recent successes. Like so many schools, URI became a major player in augmented video spaces in 2020. Since then, the demand for lecture capture, video recording, and streaming has only increased, becoming a permanent fixture and expectation campus-wide.

“For better or worse, if you do good work, everyone wants more from you. We embraced that,” Babula added.

In addition to classroom capture and recording, Babula and her team support live events, lecture series, and broadcasts from various auditoriums and presentation spaces. It’s all part of the school’s mission to educate not only students but also the local community in Kingston and the surrounding region. “We need AV deployments that can do double duty for us reliably,” she said. “And as a small team, we need the ability to manage at scale and have the most impact with the least amount of lift.”

Automate Video Capture, Recording and Stream at Scale

In preparation for URI’s 45 room deployment, Babula consulted with groups across campus to gather requirements and success metrics. “The one we heard frequently was, ‘automate as much as possible.’ And that drove our design theory to make it the easiest lift for our faculty.”

Key video capture solution requirements included: Seamless integration with existing AV infrastructure; User friendly and reliable for faculty; Efficient deployment and management by a small in-house team

Ultimately, the success of the project hinged on the faculty’s willingness to adopt the solution en masse. Making video capture, recording and streaming an automated function of the teaching spaces was the only way to ensure that.

“Our faculty have heavy teaching loads. They may have only 15 minutes to change classrooms, with many things competing for their time and attention.” Babula emphasized how instructors shouldn't be expected to take on additional technology responsibilities. “Automation just relieves them of that.”

To meet the requirements, URI standardized on Epiphan Pearl Nexus as the cornerstone of its lecture capture solution. Leveraging Pearl’s flexible suite of integration options, Panopto for content management and Q-SYS for control were selected. The system is fully automated, allowing instructors to simply walk into a room and teach.

Pearls are now deployed in more than 45 classrooms and auditoriums across campus, providing a reliable, flexible, and scalable video capture environment.

"Our instructors really love the ability to stream and record their lectures. With Epiphan and Panopto, that deep integration between the two, it really is set it and forget it for our instructors," said Jeffrey Levesque, lead information technologist.

Instructors schedule their rooms at the beginning of the semester, and then recordings are captured automatically. Pearl records cameras, content, and audio, then transfers the recordings to Panopto. Integrated with the students’ LMS, recordings are instantly accessible at the instructor's discretion.

URI’s new classroom standard leverages industry-leading components to ensure reliability, scalability, and ease of use.

Babula noted that the in-house AV strategy leans heavily on the strength of partners to make AV deployments a reality. “We’ve found such a wealth of help that comes from all our partners. They are always more than willing to give us advice and proofread systems for us.”

Efficient Management with Epiphan Edge

With dozens of lecture halls and auditoriums to manage, URI needed a solution to streamline operations and ensure consistent performance. Epiphan Edge provides URI’s AV team with centralized remote management, saving time and increasing operational efficiency. "We can see what Pearls are active, diagnose issues remotely, and even update firmware across all devices from one dashboard," Levesque said. "This allows us to proactively resolve issues without having to visit classrooms, which is a huge advantage for our small team."

The fully automated solution provides a seamless user experience for instructors, enhancing the learning environment for students. Hundreds of lectures are recorded and streamed weekly, and instructors are now requesting the technology in more spaces on campus. With the reliability and efficiency of the Pearl + Panopto integration, URI’s AV team is able to meet that demand with confidence.

“What I really love is how approachable it’s made lecture capture recording to our faculty,” Babula remarked. “They do it once and they go, ‘This is great! I want to do it for all my lectures because it’s so easy to do.’”

For Levesque, selecting Pearl early in the design phase was a key to the project’s success. “Thanks to Epiphan Edge, the time saving is huge," he added. "That peace of mind to be able to see everything at a glance, that’s half the battle right there.”

Prioritizing user-friendliness and automation in the AV design standard was paramount. “It’s paying off for us because our instructors love what we have in our classrooms,” Levesque concluded.

The latest creation from the team behind MEATliquor, BLOODsports carefully combines the elements of sports bar and ‘dive’ bar into a unique nightlife spot in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. The bar broadcasts live sports all day and night, followed by late-night horror movies, with elements of classic horror films woven into the bar décor—even down to the carpet, which visitors might recognize from Stanley Kubrick’s chilling horror movie classic, The Shining. Having worked with founder Scott Collins on AV system design, implementation, and maintenance for the MEATliquor chain, London-based systems integration specialists, Tateside, were on board with the project from the outset.

With BLOODsports wanting to live stream every kind of live sport in the bar, the video requirements were a major focus. A total of 28 screens to cover every possible viewing angle in the venue were built into the system design. The spaces covered include the main bar area, alongside a games room and snug area, and a private room for events or larger parties—all without any walled separation. Even the bathrooms feature screens for non-stop entertainment. Due to the open-plan nature of the space, audio zoning was a crucial consideration, ensuring that multiple sports can be broadcast simultaneously without audio bleeding between areas. Tateside worked closely with the client and Hisense’s U.K. distributor to secure the best possible deal on a variety of screens ranging from 32 up to 75 inches.

The scope for audio was to implement a distributed system where different areas of the venue could listen to different audio feeds. The system is built with a mix of professional-grade audio brands, including Martin Audio CDD loudspeakers and XE212 subs in the main bar, Audac ceiling speakers throughout, and Void Acoustics in the private VIP area. Dante-enabled Powersoft amplifiers were chosen for audio distribution, whilst NETGEAR POE+ switches handle networked AV traffic . The overall system is controlled through Q-SYS, with a touch panel and iPad providing intuitive user control over audio sources, screen content and even karaoke playback from a karaoke system sourced by the Tateside team.

[Meet Orbi—The Emoji Lighting Up the Vegas Sphere]

Given the flexibility of the system and the ease of source selection, the karaoke system’s audio and video output can be distributed across multiple screens and loudspeakers, depending on how busy the bar is or what other fixtures are taking place at the time. Beyond sing-a-longs and sports, other entertainment options include a DJ booth with Pioneer CDJ and mixer.

Despite the project’s complexity and strict timeline, the involvement of Tateside from the design phase contributed to the smooth running of the project. Tateside will provide ongoing support for BLOODsports with a dedicated maintenance service that ensures any technical issues are addressed within four hours.

Amadeus Acoustics's new Q-SYS plug-in integration—Amadeus Immersive Acoustics plug-in—is now certified to integrate with the Q-SYS Ecosystem.  Amadeus worked closely with Q-SYS to develop the Amadeus Immersive Acoustics plug-in, which has been fully vetted and endorsed with a Q-SYS Certified badge. 

“The Amadeus Immersive Acoustics plug-in exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio technology," said Fabio Kaiser, CEO at Amadeus. "By integrating seamlessly with Q-SYS, it empowers users to unlock the full potential of immersive audio experiences with unparalleled precision and control.”

The plug-in offers innovative features designed to enhance the immersive audio experience. Acoustic preset control enables users to manage up to 100 Acoustic Presets, with intuitive display of the currently activated preset and status. 3D audio input positioning allows for control up to 64 3D source positions, including X, Y, Z coordinates, shape, and pan algorithm. These settings can be saved as snapshots within the plug-in. 

Additionally, controls allow for easy adjusting and muting of volume control and the plug-in communicates with the Amadeus ART platform to ensure real-time updates and functionality. 

“We are proud of our collaboration with Amadeus to create a plug-in integration that will enable elevated experiences across our shared customers,” said Geno Zaharie, principal, alliances and ecosystem, Q-SYS.

Magewell introduced new Q-SYS plug-in integrations for the Pro Convert family of live IP video encoders and decoders. As a contributor to the Q-SYS Ecosystem, Magewell collaborated with Q-SYS to create a market-ready solution that integrates seamlessly with the Q-SYS cloud-manageable audio, video, and control platform.

The Pro Convert plug-in integrations have been endorsed with Q-SYS Certified status and are now available for download through Q-SYS Designer Asset Manager found in the Q-SYS Designer Software.

[Eyes on ISE 2025]

Magewell's Pro Convert family of converters lets users easily and reliably bring AV signals into and out of IP-based media infrastructures. Pro Convert encoders transform HDMI or SDI source signals into NDI High Bandwidth IP streams with extremely low latency. Pro Convert decoders convert live NDI High Bandwidth or NDI® HX streams —as well as H.264 or H.265 streams in protocols including SRT, RTMP, RTSP and more—into high-quality SDI or HDMI outputs for display on devices such as monitors and projectors.

The new plug-ins enable monitoring, configuration, and control of Pro Convert devices through the Q-SYS Platform. For Pro Convert encoders, users can configure NDI encoding settings; specify the NDI transmission method; access an NDI Discovery Server; view technical details of the input source signal; and adjust image settings such as brightness and hue. With Pro Convert decoders, the plug-in lets users configure NDI transmission and discovery settings; select between available NDI source streams on the network; view technical details of the NDI streams; configure the decoder's output resolution; and adjust video output functions including tally indicators, audio meters, image flipping and more.

[NDI Reigns over AVoIP Protocols]

The new Pro Convert plug-ins are Magewell's newest Q-SYS Certified integrations, joining the previously released Q-SYS control plug-in for Magewell's USB Fusion video capture, mixing and presentation device.

Watch the video below for the full interview.

Jatan Shah, QSC President & AVIXA Incoming 2025 Chair of the Board of Directors, discusses the announcement in October of the $1.2 billion acquisition of QSC by Acuity Brands with AV Technology's content director, Cindy Davis. Topics discussed include what the acquisition of QSC means for the AV Industry, opportunities for QSC as part of Acuity Intelligent Spaces in accelerating growth and expanding into new markets, what role AI will continue to play in future Q-SYS product development under Acuity, the QSC brand under Acuity, and more. See below for some highlights, and watch the video for the full interview.

Shah explained to those unaware of Acuity Brands before the announcement of the QSC acquisition, "They're a market-leading industrial technology company based out of Atlanta, Georgia. They have two business segments. One is the Acuity Brands lighting, and the second is the Intelligent Spaces Group. They design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a difference in people's lives, and they're excited to be part of this future.

Shah continued, "This is a pivotal moment in the way we think about this because, as an AV industry, we've been talking about convergence with it for the last 15 years, 20 years or so. This is a moment where we are actually expanding beyond our traditional AV, where we are talking about adjacent industries. This is an example of how a technology play can expand AV into the spaces and make a real impact on the end users. So the way we are looking at it is that there are QSC's expertise in audio, video, and control. I mean, combining the acuities innovations in space technologies that help build smarter, more efficient, and people-centric solutions for end users. And when we think about our AV industry, we are uniquely positioned to harness the eyes and ears of every environment, and that's the data we have access to that unlocks transformative opportunities. Then, you collaborate with Acuity on what they do from their data-driven and sustainable solutions approach. It's a great combination of the two worlds. Joining Acuity is a new, exciting chapter for us, and we are just aligned in our focus to use technology and data to reimagine and elevate the potential of connected spaces."

Watch the full interview here.

[2024 AV Industry Acquisitions]

PPDS and Q-SYS have launched a new plug-in bringing Philips digital signage, interactive displays, and All In One LED walls designed on Android SoC into the Q-SYS Platform for cloud-manageable audio, video, and control.

[Acuity to Acquire QSC]

The PPDS Wave Plugin for Q-SYS offers benefits to the programmer by expediting integration, and to the users by allowing component management from a single interface, streamlining the experience and simplifying adjustments. It provides comprehensive display management, enabling users to easily access detailed display information and control settings such as power, volume, input source, brightness, and orientation, ensuring complete oversight and customization. Additionally, with a secure cloud connection and real-time status monitoring, this plug-in ensures reliable and safe operation of AV systems, providing peace of mind for users.

[USB-C and AVoIP]

Supported by The Farm—an official development partner for Q-SYS plug-ins—and available now via Q-SYS Designer Asset Manager, the platform is compatible with the range of PPDS Wave-ready Philips Android SoC displays, including the Philips Signage 3000 Series (Q-Line), Philips Signage 4000 Series (D-Line), and Philips Interactive (T-Line), among others. 

Imagine stepping into a meeting room or classroom that operates with the seamless precision of an autonomous vehicle. No fumbling with cables, no repositioning a mic, or worrying about connectivity. Tell the room to start and away the host and participants go with the room’s technology working silently in the background, enabling flawless collaboration and productivity. While fully autonomous meeting rooms aren't a reality yet, significant strides are being made toward that goal. This article will explore the innovations, best practices, and design changes that are paving the way.

Today’s Autonomous Meeting Room

The goal of the meeting room or classroom is to facilitate seamless collaboration, ensuring everyone is heard and seen, with technology operating effortlessly in the background. The most significant challenge is how to make this happen without the user having to think about the technology. Meeting participants need to stay focused on the meeting, not troubleshooting technology. To that end, the technology needs to be nearly invisible.

While it’s not practical for all technology to be invisible, audio is one component that can be. Ceiling microphones are an ideal starting point because they remove the need for visible equipment and shift the focus away from managing audio. Plus, they reduce tech clutter for a cleaner, more organized space.

While designers will choose the best microphone for the needs of the room, the ceiling mic has come a long way, thanks to beamforming microphone technology. These advanced microphones use multiple microphone elements to create a focused pickup pattern that can target specific areas of the room, effectively isolating the speaker's voice from background noise. The evolution of beamforming microphones has been instrumental in enhancing audio quality and user experience. Early models required complex setup and calibration, but modern versions are much more user-friendly and capable of automatically adjusting to the room's acoustics. Now the same technology is being incorporated into video bars, delivering an all-in-one solution that prioritizes audio intelligibility alongside video.

Additional intelligent features are simplifying the user experience. This includes meeting control and scheduling that uses heat mapping data to determine what rooms are more popular, where people are sitting, and how they use the room. On the video side, face tracking gives an equitable experience to all those joining. From a productivity standpoint, AI capabilities are enabling automatic meeting notes and language interpretation. All these components have helped to create a meeting experience that is much more automated, simpler to use, and increases productivity.

Designing a Room for a Great Installation and User Experience

Automation isn’t just for users. It’s essential that the design and configuration experience be just as seamless because in many cases there are multiple rooms to be commissioned. Designing a single room is one thing but implementing a design across 100 rooms is a different challenge altogether. This is where effective room planning and visualization tools as well as solutions designed for scalability can be beneficial.

From an audio design standpoint, it’s important to know what part of the room needs to be covered. Audio is a complex science, and it’s much easier to grasp and plan for when done visually. Tools like Sennheiser’s Room Planner and partnerships with virtual reality companies such as Modus VR can map out the room and identify the optimal placement for microphones, cameras, and other elements in the room.

[On Hybrid Work 2024: Sennheiser]

The other prerequisite for a flawless experience is ensuring that the devices in the room are interoperable. In the past, AV professionals had to do a lot of manual work to get disparate devices to work together. Now, interoperability out of the box can speed up deployments. For example, if an organization is using Crestron or Q-SYS for device control and management, knowing that the beamforming ceiling mics can talk to the system—providing information such as positioning data—ensures consistent, seamless performance for end-users and streamlines setup and management. On the backend, these manufacturer partnerships ensure that they’re using the same protocol, command structure, and network. This allows programmers to create a user control GUI that is simple and straightforward much more quickly than before. For example, a button that allows meeting hosts to walk in and get the meeting or class started, with or without camera tracking.

Interoperability also enhances user experience by delivering proactive monitoring of devices, reducing downtime, and ensuring smooth operation. Long gone are the days when users were expected to call when something wasn’t working right. Now tech managers can remotely monitor these devices, receiving alerts before a user discovers the problem and it holds up the meeting. This capability ensures that meetings can start on time and aren’t derailed. After all, research shows that focus is lost after just 10 minutes.

The theoretical benefits of autonomous meeting rooms are compelling, but practical applications and real-world examples bring these concepts to life. At Michigan State University, more than 30 Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 microphones were deployed across campus, as well as 500 Speechline Digital Wireless Microphones, and other room systems. Managing such a large-scale installation could easily have been a logistical nightmare, but Control Cockpit—Sennheiser’s powerful centralized software—transformed the experience. What once required teams of technicians darting between rooms is now handled seamlessly from a single dashboard. Every microphone in every room across an entire campus can be monitored, adjusted, and maintained remotely.

Designing, deploying, and monitoring such a massive deployment on a consistent basis without the advances mentioned above would be impractical and expensive. With intelligent, interoperable, and easily monitored and managed microphones in these classrooms, the school improved the experience all around—for installers, tech managers, staff, and students.

What’s Next?

The future of autonomous meeting rooms promises advanced features such as adaptive AI, real-time analytics, and even more sophisticated automation. Current innovations such as room planning, auto audio configuration, face tracking, real-time language interpretation, and advanced remote maintenance and monitoring are just the beginning of that reality. By leveraging solutions with these capabilities, organizations can create environments where technology produces pristine intelligibility and boosts productivity and collaboration yet fades into the background. Participants can focus on the meeting objective. As we move forward, these technologies will be crucial for enhancing the performance of these rooms for a user experience that’s as seamless and intuitive as getting into a self-driving car and simply enjoying the ride.

It was another active week in Pro AV. QSC, Vizrt, ZTransform, and AlarMax had people on the move, and AV Pro celebrates 10 years. Get caught up on the week that was below. 

The big news of course was that Acuity is acquiring QSC. SCN confirmed the entire QSC business—both the Q-SYS and the QSC Audio brands— will become a part of Acuity’s Intelligent Spaces Group business unit. You can read our full coverage here.

SCN's Top 3 Storylines from last week

• Ceiling Microphones: The Upside
• Singing the Praises of High-End Audio
• A Night on the Town

People News

AlarMax Expands Leadership, Appoints VP Sales, East Coast

AlarMax has appointed Jay Heffernan as VP of sales, East Coast. With over 30 years of security business expertise and a proven leadership record, Heffernan will bolster AlarMax’s growth initiatives as the company continues to expand its portfolio and service offerings for customers nationwide.

Heffernan began his career as a manufacturer's representative, managing key territories in New England and upstate New York, where his efforts significantly contributed to company growth ahead of its acquisition. In a later role, he was instrumental in driving the expansion of a security distributor’s eastern U.S. presence, growing from three to 15 locations. His leadership was crucial in recruiting top talent, overseeing site selection, and maintaining strong growth momentum through multiple acquisitions. These achievements led to his most recent position as VP of security at a multinational distribution and services company.

QSC Makes Strategic C-Suite Moves

QSC has promoted Christopher Jaynes to chief technology officer (CTO) of its cloud-manageable audio, video and control platform, Q-SYS, and also appointed Jason Shangkuan as chief digital officer (CDO).

As CTO, Jaynes leads all aspects of research and development (R&D), overseeing software, hardware, mechanical, test, and systems engineering to ensure cohesive product outcomes for customers. Since joining Q-SYS in 2023 as SVP of software technologies, Jaynes has driven improvements in software quality, AI research, and technology delivery, positioning the company for continued growth.

Shangkuan joins QSC as CDO, bringing over a decade of experience at McKinsey & Company as a leader in its digital and AI practice. He led digital transformations for leading technology companies to deliver business growth. In his new role, he will drive the company’s digital transformation efforts, modernize its data infrastructure, and unlock growth with AI.

Sonance Adds New VP of Professional Audio

Sonance has added Morten Jorgensen as VP of professional audio. Jorgensen brings over three decades of experience in the professional audio industry, including extensive global business leadership, to his new role at Sonance. During his impressive 30-year career at Bose Professional, Jorgensen developed deep expertise in research, product development, marketing, and engineering, and helped establish Bose Professional as a premier supplier of professionally installed audio solutions globally. Most recently, he led global sales for the professional division. His diverse background positions him well to drive growth and enhance Sonance's professional offerings.

"I am excited to join Sonance and work with a talented team dedicated to shaping the future of professional audio," said Jorgensen. "Together, we will push boundaries to continue to deliver outstanding audio solutions."

Vanessa Walmsley Named Chief Commercial Officer for Vizrt

Vizrt appointed Vanessa Walmsley as its chief commercial officer to bring together its commercial teams in one unified organization—enhancing Vizrt’s customer-centric approach.

Walmsley’s extensive background in leading commercial organizations across her over two decades of experience in media and technology, combined with her deep understanding of Vizrt’s user ecosystem, makes her the ideal candidate.

Walmsley, who has been with Vizrt for six years, most recently serving as the Global Head of Customer Success, has played a crucial role in driving customer success initiatives, improving customer engagement and ensuring strong alignment between the commercial teams to shift to a customer-first focus.

ZTransform Hires Senior Design Engineer

ZTransform welcomed Andre Ferrer as senior design engineer. With an extensive project portfolio spanning more than 25 years, Ferrer has accumulated a deep understanding of music and video production, live broadcasting, and postproduction workflows across a range of market sectors. 

At ZTransform, Ferrer brings his systems expertise to every phase of a project, from initial consultation to final acceptance to ensure the commercial, operational, and creative aspects of a client’s vision are realized. 

Prior to joining ZTransform, Ferrer recently held senior positions at NEP Integrated Solutions, Diversified Systems Group, and Venue Services Group. He accumulated understanding of the production process enabled a seamless transition to designing systems that support creative and engineering requirements. Over the course of his career, Ferrer has developed expertise in ST-2110, NDI, 4K, SDI, MADI, Dante, AES67, AES, and analog audio signal formats, conversion, processing, and routing.  

Company News

LEA Professional Partners with Canadian Distributor SFM 

LEA Professional entered a partnership with Quebec, Canada-based AV distributor SFM. This partnership will bring LEA’s rich technology catalog, featuring advancements in intelligent IT solutions, DSP, and smart power management, to customers up north.

For more than 45 years, SFM has been dedicated to achieving one goal: helping its customers meet and achieve their own. This new partnership will significantly contribute to this goal, as SFM will now offer customers LEA Professional’s award-winning Network Connect series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity. These series enable integrators to utilize cloud-based remote control, monitoring, notifications, and more from any internet-enabled device, allowing them to stay connected anywhere in the world.

AVPro Global Celebrates Ten Years

AVPro Global, parent company of AVPro Edge, AudioControl Pro, Bullet Train, ThenAudio, and Murideo audio/video distribution products, is celebrating 10 years of delivering audio/video solutions and support services that empower technology integrators. AVPro was founded in October 2014, under the vision of founder Jeff Murray.

 Today, AVPro Global brands are developing  advanced, high-performance audio/video products, backed by  training and service, to support residential and commercial integrators worldwide.

Product Introductions and Acquisitions Include:

• 2016: The AVPro AC-MX88-AUHD 18 Gbps 8x8 HDMI Matrix Switcher is released.
• 2017: An 18 Gbps HDMI extension set featuring ICT- Invisible Compression. Technology is released.
• 2019: Bullet Train introduces 10K-compatible Active Optical Cables.
• 2020: Murideo launches the SEVEN Generator, an HDMI 2.1 reference-grade test instrument co-developed with Dolby Laboratories, designed to give manufacturers a single device for product development and HDMI 2.1 video/ Dolby audio codec performance verification.
• 2021: AVPro Edge introduces the AC-MX-42X, an 8K 4x2 HDMI Matrix Switcher.
• 2023: AVPro announces acquisition of the home components division of Seattle-based AudioControl. 
• 2023: AVPro completes the acquisition of ThenAudio.

Biamp Expands Microsoft Teams Rooms Solutions

Shortly after announcing 13 new Zoom Rooms certifications, Biamp's complete line of medium and large-room conferencing bundles has received Microsoft Teams Room certification. Featuring the advanced TesiraFORTÉ and Devio audio processors, these bundles offer businesses a comprehensive solution for high-quality audio in their medium and large conferencing spaces, including industry-leading AI noise reduction to suppress distracting background noises and Biamp Launch, which automatically deploys and optimizes conference room audio at the touch of a button.

In addition, all five models of Biamp TesiraFORTÉ X and Devio SCX audio processors—the TesiraFORTÉ X 400, 800, or 1600 and the Devio SCX 400 and 800—are now certified for Microsoft Teams using either Parlé Beamtracking ceiling or tabletop microphones, offering multiple channels of AEC for further flexibility and customization in medium and large conference spaces.  

Xyte to Host AV Cloud Summit 2024

Xyte will host its AV Cloud Summit, an event designed specifically for AV professionals eager to explore the influence of cloud technology in the audiovisual industry. Taking place on November 13, 2024, the AV Cloud Summit is a virtual event, offering a focused opportunity for attendees to stay ahead of emerging trends, learn from real-world case studies and gain practical insights into how cloud-based solutions are reshaping audiovisual systems.

The AV Cloud Summit will unite industry leaders from the entire value chain—manufacturers, system integrators, consultants, and end users—to share insights into the latest cloud-based innovations that are driving the future of audiovisual technology. Featured speakers at the AV Cloud Summit include Gary Kayye, founder of rAVe [PUBS]; Pam Hoppel, president of LegrandAV; Scott Walker, president of Waveguide LLC; Ron Sklaver, global lead for in-office meeting experience at EY; and Eric Snider, CTO of conference technologies, Inc. (CTI). 

Absen is now a contributor to the Q-SYS Ecosystem. With its new Q-SYS plug-in integration for Absen’s Absenicon, Absen collaborated with Q-SYS to create a market-ready control solution that integrates seamlessly into Q-SYS, a cloud-manageable audio, video, and control platform.

[AVoIP: Beyond the Buzzword]

“We are very excited to finally have an often-requested Q-SYS plugin available for our icons products,” stated Trent Slyter, national sales director, Absen. “This plug-in is now available for any Q-SYS processor that uses Q-SYS Designer Software to control various devices in a room. This makes it faster and easier than ever to control our Icons within the Q-SYS environment.  It has taken a lot of time and effort to bring this to fruition and we are very happy to have it in place.”

Absen worked closely with Q-SYS, who has fully vetted and endorsed the following plugin integration with a Q-SYS Certified badge (developed with Q-SYS and supported by Absen and Q-SYS): 

• Absenicon display control plug-in supports X and S Series products.
• The Absenicon display plug-in enables all control functions included with the Absenicon wireless remote control within the Q-SYS platform.
• The Absenicon plug-in supports control pin connectors for intelligent automations and control schemes.

[SCN Behind the Scenes: SNA Displays Helps Create Digital Art Centerpiece]

“We are proud of our collaboration with Absen to create a plugin integration that will enable elevated experiences across our shared customers,” said Geno Zaharie, principal, alliances and ecosystem, Q-SYS.

New AV/IT products and solutions are unveiled at two distinct times of the year: Integrated Systems Europe at the end of January and InfoComm in June. We reported on the many solutions released during the first half of this year, and now we're combing through collaboration solutions that were announced to set you up for the second half of 2024. This selection is from the winners of the AV Technology Best of Show at InfoComm 2024. Watch for more in the following weeks. 

[Winners Announced: Best of Show at InfoComm 2024 for AV Technology]

[20 Products and Solutions that Facilitate Hybrid Collaboration in 2024: Part 1]

Shure Microflex Wireless neXt 2 Microphone System

In today’s hybrid environments, AV/IT professionals require user-friendly, high-quality audio solutions. Shure’s Microflex Wireless (MXW) neXt 2 Microphone System is a two-channel wireless system that offers an intuitive, all-in-one audio solution for hybrid environments. MXW neXt 2 takes minutes to set up out of the box, simplifying complex installation workflows for AV/IT professionals. It provides high-quality audio for higher education and corporate spaces that only require two wireless microphones, and connects seamlessly to video conferencing systems for remote presenters. The all-in-one base unit combines a wireless access point, docking charger, and onboard IntelliMix DSP to reduce the amount of hardware required.

Barco ClickShare Bar Pro

Barco’s ClickShare Bar Pro is a premium, carbon-neutral, all-in-one video bar that enables engaging, effortless wireless conferencing in medium-sized meeting rooms with any video conferencing platform. Thanks to its advanced AV capabilities (dual screen and 4K content sharing) and interactive features (touchback, annotation, and blackboarding), it enables crystal-clear audio, sharp views, and enhanced interactivity for meetings where all participants feel heard and seen. This solution offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing IT managers to easily equip their meeting rooms. Paired with a five-year warranty, the bar overall reduces the total cost of ownership by consolidating all collaboration, audio, and video functionalities into one powerful device.

ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP92UW Interactive Display

ViewSonic’s ViewBoard IFP92UW Interactive Display, with its unique 21:9 aspect ratio and 5K resolution, provides increased width for more usable interactive areas while delivering stunning visuals for making presentations, producing content, and sharing ideas. Designed specifically for Microsoft Teams Rooms, the IFP92UW is perfect for Front Row, decision-making, and collaboration. The 92-inch display provides up to 33 percent more screen space when compared to an equivalent 4K 16:9 display, and comes with multiple connectivity options including USB-C with 100W of charging, HDMI, DisplayPort, and RS232. It also features dual-pen 40-point touch, allowing multiple users to interact with the screen simultaneously, wireless/cable-free casting and sharing, digital whiteboarding, and remote monitoring and management.

Q-SYS VisionSuite

The Q-SYS VisionSuite represents a shift in intelligent video solutions for educational and collaborative spaces. By integrating cutting-edge AI technology from Seervision with the robust capabilities of Q-SYS, this solution offers a sophisticated and versatile platform that redefines the standards of presentations. At its core, the collaboration between Q-SYS and Seervision establishes an AI-driven presenter tracking system that seamlessly adapts to various presentation styles. Seervision's AI accelerator, powered by computer vision, enables precise presenter tracking and framing, allowing for dynamic adjustments and customization to suit specific preferences.

Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System

Jabra’s PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is an Android collaboration bar to facilitate next-level hybrid meeting experiences. It is an integrated solution with speakers, microphones, video camera, and an Android-based compute unit, as well as a 10.1-inch-high resolution Touch Controller. It delivers all the features and functions of the Jabra PanaCast 50, including the Panoramic-4K 180-degree field of view, Virtual Director, Intelligent Zoom, and Dynamic Composition. It offers a full suite of flexible, scalable deployment options with a one-touch start/join controller, offering a collaboration experience on native UC applications like Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms.

Hall Technologies ComAlert System

Hall Technologies’ ComAlert System is for use in conference rooms, classrooms, or wherever mics or wireless lavalier mics are needed. The system can be used with Hall Technologies collaboration solutions as well as any system capable of accepting a microphone or USB input. The heart of the system is the ComAlert Microphone Controller, named OSIRIS-DSP1, which is a central audio processing device for extending sound pickup systems in classrooms, conference rooms, et cetera. It has a web interface for controlling the unit and easy setup; it can send alert messages to safety and emergency systems; and it provides mixing and DSP control of all connected microphones.

Bose Professional EdgeMax LP

Bose Professional’s EdgeMax LP combines high-fidelity sound with patented directional technology to break free from the limitations of the in-ceiling loudspeaker category, delivering the coverage patterns, high SPL, and frequency response of larger surface-mount loudspeakers, but with a clean visual aesthetic. The secret to EdgeMax speakers’ room-filling sound lies in their patented PhaseGuide technology, directing sound asymmetrically into the room and creating coverage found in no other loudspeaker. All models offer the same impressive output and tonal performance that set EdgeMax apart, allowing you to mix and match between them. The series is designed for easy installation; our QuickHold spring-loaded mounting system and magnetically attached grilles are designed to provide quick access to wiring and tap settings. 

ENCO enCaption Sierra Live Captioning and Translation System

ENCO’s enCaption Sierra Live Captioning and Translation System represents the next generation of the groundbreaking enCaption solution for fast and accurate automated conversion and delivery of captions in AV and broadcast environments. For the first time, enCaption Sierra brings ENCO’s market-leading automated captioning technology together with an SDI captioning encoder to create an all-in-one solution for on-prem environments and containerized deployment options for the cloud. enCaption Sierra’s modern GUI features a simple calendar scheduler and various configuration settings, including custom dictionaries, word models, filtering, and bilingual language options. ENCO has also sharpened the listenability and responsiveness of the system, improving performance in challenging audio environments.

Arthur Holm DynamicCableRetract

Arthur Holm’s DynamicCableRetract is an innovative motorized retractable cable system designed for seamless integration into modern furniture. This cutting-edge solution combines functionality with elegance, offering a user-friendly experience that enhances any living or working space. For added convenience, the DynamicCableRetract can be controlled remotely, by RS-422 and by the wireless App: AHlink. This feature allows the cable to extend or retract from a distance, making it perfect for meeting room tables where all the AV is remotely controlled. And beyond USB-C, the patented DynamicCableRetract is also available with HDMI cables, catering to a wide range of connectivity needs.

Biamp Kleeo Desk Manager

Biamp’s Kleeo Desk Manager is the perfect desk booking device for any office using flexible seating. Primarily for organizations with a workforce of 20 or more persons, the Kleeo is designed to reduce stress at all levels of the organization, while boosting productivity. For the user, the experience often starts with the mobile app; the Kleeo will signal to all workers which workspace is available, checked in, or waiting for the reserved worker to sit at the booked desk. Administrators can utilize the Workplace Admin app to easily set up and administer everything from locations, users, rooms, and desks to analytics designed to help managers make more informed decisions.

HP Poly Studio G62

HP’s Poly TStudio G62 is a modular video conferencing system that brings enterprise-grade video and audio to large and flexible spaces. The Poly Studio G62 seamlessly integrates with various peripherals such as cameras, microphones, and controllers, making it an ideal solution for board rooms, classrooms, and flex spaces. With sustainability top of mind, the Poly Studio G62 is made up of 80 percent post-consumer recycled plastics and 20 percent recycled metals. And it’s a breeze to set up, with flexible mounting options to suit any space. Poly Studio G62 is certified for Microsoft Teams and is pending certification with Zoom and Tencent.

Optoma Creative Touch 5-Series Interactive Flat Panel Displays

Optoma’s Creative Touch 5-Series Interactive Flat Panel Displays offer advanced tools and added functionality, supporting educators and professionals with enhanced learning and remote, real-time collaboration. Enterprise Device Licensing Agreement certification gives users access to the full Google Workspace experience, and the Optoma Solution Suite offers several annotation tools; a file manager; display share; and a digital whiteboard with an improved floating toolbar, customization tools, and an infinity canvas. The next-generation 5-Series is compatible with the Optoma Management Suite. This intuitive display management solution streamlines operations, offering IT administrators and technicians a real-time remote platform to monitor, manage, and diagnose multiple displays simultaneously.

Crestron 1 Beyond Cameras

Newly released 1 Beyond Cameras by Crestron captures everyone in the room clearly. With 1 Beyond PTZ cameras’ broadcast-quality video and optical zoom of up to 20x, AV/IT teams can be confident that they are bringing in-room participants closer without losing resolution. The 1 Beyond cameras deliver a premium experience for both in-person and remote participants that matches the level of professionalism required for meeting room discussions, classroom lectures, or auditorium presentations. 1 Beyond cameras work with Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms software to bring a one-touch join experience to your medium and large rooms with clear, crisp, intelligent video.

Lumens VC-TR60A Voice Tracking Camera

Lumens’ VC-TR60A Voice Tracking Camera is the world’s first professional voice-tracking and motion-tracking PTZ camera. It is also the first cost-effective dual-camera unit that offers both dual video and picture-in-picture output. In all modes, VC-TR60A offers fully autonomous operation, with no need for external processing, dongles, or additional software. It features a six-microphone beam-forming array, allowing the camera to compute the angle of the voice in relation to the camera and immediately focus on that individual to deliver a perfectly framed shot. Additionally, VC-TR60A has multiple video outputs (HDMI, USB, and IP) for integration with AV, video conferencing, broadcast, and streaming platforms. 

Samsung WAD Series Interactive White Boards

Samsung’s WAD Series Interactive White Boards are the brand’s first Google Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement (EDLA)-certified interactive displays. Powered by Android 13, the WAD Series—available in 65-, 75- and 86-inch models—provides teachers and students with a seamless, intuitive experience. It provides access to educational apps through Google Play, while allowing access to Google services such as Google Classroom and Drive. It offers a natural writing experience with infrared (IR) touch and supports up to 40 simultaneous touchpoints. A three-in-one USB-C port simplifies connectivity and allows connected devices to be charged at up to 65W, and an HDMI output enables easy content sharing.

Owl Labs Meeting Owl 4+

Owl Labs’ Meeting Owl 4+ is an all-in-one camera, speaker, and mic device that combines 4K Ultra HD, 360-degree video with award-winning software and enterprise features to power engaging hybrid collaboration in any space. The flexible, plug-and-play Meeting Owl 4+ is enterprise-ready and takes less than six minutes to set up. Features include upgraded video quality, including a 64-megapixel camera; and wide-range audio, including powerful, 360-degree speakers and smart mics with an 18-foot pickup radius. The Meeting Owl 4+ also pairs with other Owl Labs’ devices to capture 360-degree angles of workplace discussions, so remote meeting participants don’t miss a thing. 

SMART Technologies SMART Board QX for the Modern Workplace

SMART Technologies’ SMART Board QX Pro is a revolutionary interactive display designed to meet the highest demands of IT buyers in business sectors, including those in architecture, engineering, design, manufacturing, and more. The QX Pro boasts a 4K UHD resolution, ensuring crystal-clear visuals that enhance presentations, collaboration, and interactive learning experiences. Utilizing SMART’s proprietary HyPr Touch with InGlass technology, the QX Pro offers a highly responsive and precise touch experience, supporting up to 20 simultaneous touch points. Additionally, the QX Pro is equipped with multiple HDMI, USB, and wireless connectivity options, easily integrating with existing IT infrastructure. It supports seamless connections with devices running Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS.

MAXHUB XBoard Interactive Flat Panel Series

MAXHUB’s XBoard Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) Series—available in 55-, 65-, 75-, 86- and 92-inch sizes—provides an advanced video conferencing experience and is ideal for daily collaboration sessions. Powered by the MAXHUB MeetingOS, these displays have a built-in three-camera system with advanced AI capabilities (65-inch and above display size) as well as the ability to support active speaker tracking and auto framing. The XBoard IFP Series offers 4K touch displays with a modular PC running Windows IoT. This provides a wealth of interactive capability using a wide range of source content. To ensure superior audio quality, these displays also provide 16 built-in microphone arrays with AI noise suppression. 

Salamander Designs Acadia Tabletop Display Mount

Salamander Designs’ Acadia Tabletop Display Mount empowers effortless, compact conferencing system deployment in under 40 minutes, providing the ideal solution for smaller, retrofit, and temporary spaces while also accommodating traditional meeting rooms. The Acadia Tabletop mount is the first purpose-built tabletop display mount made for video conferencing with on-board equipment storage. It empowers integrators, businesses, and all stakeholders to deploy a sophisticated video conferencing solution most quickly and efficiently, without the need for any construction whatsoever. The Acadia Tabletop is compatible with large screens ranging from 43 to 65 inches and features a universal camera mount for flexible positioning above or below the display to optimize the field of view. 

JVC Professional Video KY-PZ540 Series PTZ Cameras

The multi-award-winning KY-PZ540 and KY-PZ540N PTZ Cameras by JVC Professional are JVC’s first PTZs to incorporate a 40x focal length and are ideal for large event spaces and instances when the need to zoom in from a distance is essential. The cameras feature JVC’s 4K imager and renowned Variable Scan Mapping technology, which dynamically scans the 4K sensor to produce a seamless and lossless image transition up to 40x in full-resolution HD. The cameras also incorporate the brand’s award-winning features, such as AI-enabled advanced SMART auto-tracking operation and NDI-supported IP-based remote operation capabilities. Additionally, presets for exposure, color, and image are included.

DTEN Vue Pro Meeting Camera System

DTEN’s Vue Pro Meeting Camera System is a set of side-mount cameras that work in tandem with AI technology to further enhance video coverage, clarity, and convenience for D7X Series All-in-One Video Meeting appliances. Vue Pro 4K cameras can be installed in seconds, and are cleverly designed to capture in-room participants at eye level, providing up to four additional cameras to provide eye-to-eye connections for in-room participants to interact with remote colleagues. Additionally, Vue Pro’s 4K camera lens systems utilize advanced, smart-framing AI to identify and dynamically frame participants with crisp headshots, regardless of distance from the front-of-room system.

EPOS IMPACT 700

The IMPACT 700 by EPOS is an on-ear, wired USB headset that uses industry-leading microphone technology to deliver rich, natural sound, no matter the level of background noise.

With a rich feature set powered by second-generation EPOS AI, which runs continually within the headset, the IMPACT 700 is designed to isolate and relay incoming and outgoing voices with complete clarity. IMPACT 700 headsets are carefully crafted with a lightweight design and soft memory foam earpads to deliver unprecedented levels of comfort for extended use. Additionally, to protect users’ hearing from all-day audio exposure, the IMPACT 700 leverages best-in-class passive noise dampening and EPOS ActiveGard, which works to prevent loud spikes of sound and supports noise-at-work compliance.

Ikan LBX8-POE

Ikan’s LBX8-POE is a cutting-edge and compact panel soft LED light that is designed specifically for studios, conference rooms, classrooms and various spaces with low ceiling clearance. Engineered for easy installation, this light is simultaneously powered (via PoE++) and DMX controlled (via ArtNet or sACN) through a single Ethernet (RJ45) cable. Boasting high CRI LED chips and a soft panel, the LBX8-POE emits a gentle, wraparound light, crafting artifact-free shadows. With a broad 110-degree beam angle, coverage is extensive, and the sturdy yoke, featuring tension knobs, ensures effortless adjustments and secure placement at any angle. The intuitive yellow control knob on the back, paired with the LED readout, simplifies fine-tuning of brightness, color temperature, and DMX channels.

Sharp 4W-B Series AQUOS BOARD

Sharp’s 4W-B Series AQUOS BOARD interactive display puts collaboration and communication at users’ fingertips in the classroom, workplace, and virtually everywhere else through precise 20-point, multi-touch functionality and versatile connectivity. Key product features include wireless casting, precise multi-touch detection, simultaneous writing for multiple users, and a user-friendly Sharp Pen Software interface. Sharp’s Pen Software gives users access to pen settings and functions to personalize the user experience for stand-out perks like handwriting recognition, whiteboard mode, and overlay mode. The 4W-B Series AQUOS BOARD also includes an HTML5 browser app to allow users to leverage web-based content, an additional feature promoting productivity.

Insta360 Connect

Insta360’s Connect is an all-in-one, dual-camera video bar designed for small- and medium-sized meeting rooms, delivering exceptional audio and video quality that will transform your meetings. Insta360’s first-ever video bar, Connect, seamlessly blends cutting-edge hardware and AI algorithms to provide an immersive and realistic experience for both in-room and remote participants. Connect boasts a dual 4K camera setup, consisting of a wide-angle camera and a telephoto gimbal camera. The two work seamlessly together, capturing 4K group views and individual close-ups for unparalleled visuals. With a 14-microphone array and a cutting-edge 3A audio algorithm, Connect picks up voices from up to 33 feet away with balanced volume, supreme clarity, and a natural, immersive sound. 

AV/IT TEAM: Waikuen Yee, director of IT Project Management; Lubomir Smilenov, IT project manager; Thomas Mariutto, senior manager of Telecommunications; Joseph Blando, senior manager of Network Services; Bradford Terry, manager of Educational Media; Oneil Morgan, AV technician supervisor; Georgia King, AV support specialist; Constantine Vasilevsky, operations supervisor of Educational Media; George Chacko, director of Educational Media

GOALS: The goal of this project was to make 15 Beekman, a building on Pace University’s NYC campus, a leader in technology innovation when it comes to teaching and real hands-on learning experiences. Consistently integrating state-of-the-art technologies into classrooms, event spaces, and innovation labs, we aim to create an immersive and dynamic learning environment that empowers students and faculty to actively engage, collaborate, and excel in their academic endeavors.

CHALLENGES: The development of Pace University’s 15 Beekman building faced several challenges, including supply chain disruptions, change orders impacting project scope, budget constraints, unforeseen design changes, and a critical time constraint—all of which required strategic planning, collaboration, and problem solving to successfully overcome and meet project goals.

FINAL INSTALL/USER BENEFITS:  This project benefits the Pace community by providing an enhanced learning environment with innovative classrooms and technology, access to state-of-the-art facilities for events and workshops, seamless technological integration for ease of use, opportunities for creativity and innovation in dedicated spaces like the innovation lab, and ensured accessibility and inclusivity for all users—ultimately contributing to a vibrant and impactful academic and community experience at Pace University’s 15 Beekman building.

AV/IT TEAM: Jeff Levesque, lead information technologist; Ethan Hicks, senior information technologist; James Xiong, information technologist; Katie Babula, AV manager 

GOALS:  The Robert J. Higgins Welcome Center is the heart of the public-facing side of the University of Rhode Island. Built in 2018, it hosts dinners, board meetings, and retreats, on top of being the entry point for all prospective students and their families. The original AV design did not take into account the variety of happenings in the space, and the emergence of hybrid events meant the system needed an overhaul to meet the necessity of current demands on the building.

The main purpose of this project was to update the AV in two presentation rooms and a conference room, in addition to adding audio playback and announcement functions in the public-facing spaces. This redesign needed to take into account the flexibility of functions in the building and allow the building to work as both individual spaces and a cohesive unit.

CHALLENGES:  Consolidation of three separate AV systems into one building-wide system necessitated the installation of an entirely new dedicated AV network. It took a coordinated effort by our entire four-person team to find pathways all throughout the building and pull the thousands of feet of category cable necessary for installing over 60 new network drops. Once all the new cabling was in place, standing up the new network became the next challenge to ensuring that all audio, video, and control passed along this network without any issues.

Furthermore, the size of the main presentation space presented challenges from an audio perspective. Vaulted ceilings and no attic access meant traditional ceiling or suspended microphones were not an option. A combination of several solutions was required to adequately amplify presenters’ voices while also capturing audience interactions for hybrid events.

FINAL INSTALL/USER BENEFITS: The most immediately apparent benefit of the project is the ability for the spaces to quickly pivot between the different events happening each day. When the morning’s information session wraps up, tour guides in the lobby can easily make announcements to direct families out into the campus. As they file out to explore the beauty of Rhode Island, the presentation room is already being flipped into lecture mode for that evening’s presentation on the similarities between poker and personal finance. The interconnectedness of the spaces allows for events to overflow into other spaces at a moment’s notice, without requiring the full team of AV technicians on site. 

With the addition of cameras and microphones, each meeting space can host hybrid meetings or presentations, whether from the in-room computer or the user-provided laptop. The combination of the Shure microphones and QSC PTZ cameras within the Q-SYS environment allows for automatic preset recall to supply meaningful camera shots as the speaker moves around the room, which elevates the hybrid experience in any of the three presentation spaces.

SpinetiX has joined the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program. This program enables software and hardware technology partners to create market-ready solutions that integrate seamlessly with Q-SYS.

SpinetiX is streamlining the process of programmatic content integration for digital signage. SpinetiX and Q-SYS work together to leverage control systems and devices to trigger content on display via the cloud in smart corporate, educational, hospitality, public environments and beyond.

"We are extremely excited to join the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program. This collaboration allows us to provide customers with advanced capabilities to help them communicate to their audiences with dynamic, engaging, interactive and automated content. This is a game changer! This collaboration reflects our shared vision for the future of digital signage as an interactive storytelling platform that engages audiences in new and exciting ways," said Francesco Ziliani, CEO of SpinetiX.

[It's (Almost) All Good News for Digital Signage]

As part of the program, SpinetiX has worked closely with Q-SYS, who has fully vetted and endorsed the SpinetiX ARYA CMS Plug-in integration with a Q-SYS Certified (developed with Q-SYS and supported by SpinetiX and Q-SYS) badge. SpinetiX ARYA is the first CMS integrated with Q-SYS. 

The SpinetiX ARYA CMS plug-in establishes a secure connection with SpinetiX ARYA Enterprise accounts. It is designed to fetch Alerts configured in a user’s SpinetiX ARYA Enterprise account. These alerts can range from alarm alerts (Fire, Biological, Hazardous, Environmental, Natural, National Security, Civil, Admin) to welcome messages, news, advertisements, live streams, videos, and animations.

Joe Pham, chairman and CEO of QSC | Q-SYS, shared his insights on AI and its rapidly evolving integration into the AV world—and the world in general—in his InfoComm keynote, “Everything Has Changed: AV’s Infinite Potential in an Exponential Age.” Using everything from amusing pseudo Tweets from historical figures to cell-phone videos of his family’s adventures at a Taylor Swift concert last year, Pham’s hour-long talk discussed human progression through crucial eras of history—the scientific revolution, the industrial revolution, and more up to the current day—before postulating where we may be headed in the next 10 years and how the AV industry can not merely participate, but make a crucial difference in the burgeoning integration of AI into everyday life.

Discussing how the data that powers AI will in turn be able to be harnessed to aid AV, Pham explained, “We need our AV system in a single platform and [to] build an ecosystem around it because you need everything connected in a smart platform. And once you have this, that's really when you can enable data and AI.

“I'm talking about this grand vision in terms of what we need to do—what I'm really talking about is a full-stack AV platform. And that's three pieces. Multimodal IO, which connects the platform to the physical world. An Intelligent Data Pipeline that intel and routes intelligently to other devices and other platforms. And then a Cognitive Cloud that leverages the best in machine learning and AI to deliver insights, outcomes, and experience. So, what we're really talking about here is a real-time platform that integrates device operations, Edge processing, cloud computing, and AI in a unified and extensible way—real time and synchronous across devices, unified across applications and experiences, and extensible to other platforms. Once we have this, then we can enable all sorts of AI in our industry to serve our clients and just bring human connection and joy and elevate experience together.”

After discussing how six types of AI will integrate into AV work—audio, video, control, data, workflow, and generative—Pham closed the hour discussing the near-future in technology innovation, kicking off his observations noting, “When there is a time of change, there's opportunity—but in a time of exponential change, there's exponential opportunity, and then you grow on top of it. The AV industry? This is an absolutely massive opportunity for our industry.”

Pham went on to detail how there will be changes in education, with broad access to the best teachers and tutors; autonomous vehicles; health care that will see AI help discover drugs and cures; and similar advances in the ongoing development of agriculture and climate solutions, Smart Cities, quantum computing, artificial general intelligence, and far more. It was a lot to fit into one hour, much less in such an animated fashion, but Pham left the packed house with plenty to consider as they left to see the show floor.

On June 11, the winners of SCN Installation Product Awards 2024 were revealed during a ceremony at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Winning products were recognized across 11 categories, including a new category, Most Innovative Camera.

"Every year, the SCN Installation Product Awards provide an opportunity to recognize innovation in the Pro AV industry," said Mark J. Pescatore, content director, Systems Contractor News. "It's always nice to see enthusiasm about new products from so many different categories. We should never take product development for granted, especially in an industry that is seemingly in a constant state of change. Congratulations to all our 2024 winners."

And the winners are:

Most Innovative App

Sony Electronics: Device Management Platform (DMP)

Most Innovative Audio Hardware

AtlasIED: Aimline Series ALX-D 

Blaze Audio: CBL528      

Shure: Microflex Advance MXA901 Conferencing Ceiling Array Microphone

Most Innovative AV Installation Accessory

BZBGEAR: BG-AVTPG-MINI-G2 | 8K HDMI 2.1 Test Pattern Generator 

Chief, a brand of Legrand | AV: Tempo Flat Panel In-Wall Mount System  

Vanco International: EVMX42MV 4K 4x2 HDMI Matrix with Multiview

Most Innovative Camera

BirdDog: X1 Ultra             

Crestron Electronics: Crestron 1 Beyond i-Series  

JVC Professional Video: KY-PZ540 CONNECTED CAM PTZ Camera

Most Innovative Collaboration Product

Atlona: AT-OME-CS31-SA        

Sennheiser: TeamConnect Ceiling Medium                 

WolfVision: Cynap Videobar            

Most Innovative Digital Signage Product

22Miles: AI Solutions    

BrightSign: XT5

ViewSonic: ViewSonic LDS135-153 Direct View LED Display Solution Kit 

Most Innovative Emerging Technology

Listen Technologies: ListenWIFI

Q-SYS: VisionSuite

Sony Electronics: ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Display     

Most Innovative Sustainable Product Strategy

LED Studio: EDGE Series 

PPDS: Philips Signage 3650 Series EcoDesign QE-Line          

Most Innovative Videoconferencing Product

Samsung Electronics: Interactive Display WAD Series

Vaddio, a brand of Legrand | AV: Venture VideoBAR + TableMIC  

Most Innovative Video Display

Avocor: X Series

MAXHUB: Raptor LX Series/LX165V07 

Planar: DirectLight Pro Series 

Most Innovative Video Projection Solution

Epson America: EB-PQ2010B 10,000-Lumen 4K 3LCD Laser Projector

LG Business Solutions USA: ProBeam BU53RG Laser Projector

Optoma Technology: ZU607TST Short-Throw WUXGA Laser Projector  

Each nominated product was submitted by its respective manufacturer. Each of the nominated products were submitted by their respective manufacturers. Winners were chosen by industry professionals through a ballot accessed through avnetwork.com. Up to three winners were selected in each category, based on the number of entries. The nominated product must have first shipped between January 1, 2023, and May 10, 2024. Products that won in last year’s awards program were not eligible in any category this year.

Middle Atlantic Products, a brand of Legrand | AV, today announced the availability of the new Q-SYS Certified control plug-in for its NEXSYS Series UPS Backup Power System with RackLink. Developed by Control Concepts, the new Q-SYS plug-in enables control of NEXSYS UPS via Q-SYS.

"RackLink is built around enabling native support for its intelligent system control, logging and data management, environmental control, and protection features," said Nyron Kahrim, UPS product manager, Legrand | AV. "With this latest plug-in, we have enabled Q-SYS integration across our entire power distribution and control family, making it much easier for integrators to install and manage NEXSYS products with the Q-SYS Platform."

[Exclusive Video Interview: Joe Pham on AI and a Preview of His InfoComm Keynote]

The new Q-SYS Certified plug-in for the NEXSYS Series UPS Backup Power System with RackLink is now available for download in Q-SYS Designer Asset Manager. The new NEXSYS firmware update (1.10 0.08) is available from the product pages and Power Downloads page on legrandav.com and is required to activate the functionality.

A Q-SYS Technology Partner since 2023, Middle Atlantic also has Q-SYS Certified plug-in integrations for its Premium+ Series PDUs with RackLink and Select Series PDUs with RackLink.

It might be the hottest buzzword in Pro AV right now, but manufacturers have been incorporating AI in products and services for some time. Here are just a few examples of what's already out there improving the user experience.

[Integrators and AI]

22Miles

22Miles has introduced three solutions that leverage artificial intelligence: the AI Assistant chat interface for wayfinding or delivering product information to consumers; AI Backoffice, an internal-facing tool organizations can use so employees can access corporate information based on their roles and authorizations; and AI Command, a backend CMS interface that lets users edit content and execute digital signage commands quickly. According to Tomer Mann, chief revenue officer and global enterprise lead, these tools are built on a “walled garden” model, which means they leverage only the customer’s data. This results in more accurate responses, as well as a more secure environment. “We train it to be really responsive to that individual client’s needs,” he said.

Crestron

Crestron’s 1 Beyond cameras come equipped with AI-directed tracking and framing. For larger, high occupancy spaces, up to 12 1 Beyond cameras can leverage Crestron Automate VX, which is a visual AI-driven, voice-activated speaker tracking system. Crestron's Sam Kennedy explained that visual AI auto-frames the individual who is speaking and centers the frame, even if they move away from the microphone that has been sending location data. “This frees collaborators to move naturally around the room as they speak—an especially common occurrence in longer meetings—without participants having to concern themselves with staying in the frame,” he explained. “This is where the AI solution shines, since it’s able to discern between slight movements, where no reframing is necessary, and larger moves.”

Hailo

An “edge-focused" chipmaker, Hailo produces AI processors that render smart devices capable of performing tasks such as object detection and segmentation in real time. Because the technology operates at the edge, it decreases challenges associated with network latency. This is important for Pro AV, argued Avi Baum, co-founder and CTO, because of the rich data that is captured by multiple cameras and microphones. “Our [solution] was designed with edge in mind—it’s not like we’ve transitioned the technology from cloud to edge,” explained Baum. “The ability to do advanced analytics or process this amount of data very close to its source is favorable if you want to be able to address the full capacity of that data. Edge AI enables us to do it on the fly—the indexing, the filtering, and all the analysis that is needed. It allows us to address the full content without losing anything.”

Jabra

Released last year, Jabra’s AI-driven PanaCast 50 videobar delivers a panoramic 180-degree field of view via a 4K multi-camera array, and voice detection and intelligent algorithms eliminate echoes and static noise. Its Intelligent Meeting Rooms Experiences offer features such as Virtual Director, Intelligent Zoom, and Dynamic Composition, which all work in conjunction to create meeting equity. Joshua Blalock, chief video evangelist, said that at the end of last year, the manufacturer issued what it calls a value pack, a firmware update that introduced these new features. “That’s an important part of our value proposition—you’re purchasing a premium device up front, but the value is unwrapped and over time,” he added.

Nureva

Nureva’s Microphone Mist technology powers its family of audioconferencing solutions. Designed for meeting and learning environments, this platform enables intelligent sound targeting, position-based gain control, and echo cancellation with the goal of delivering clear speech intelligibility. At the core are thousands of virtual microphones—individual audio pickup points that result when two or more mics work in conjunction to capture sound in a zone. Nureva's solutions are self-contained and operate at the edge, eliminating the need to send signals to the cloud for processing. “The foundation of our Microphone Mist technology are really elegant algorithms created by developers who have a really strong understanding of acoustics,” said James Rempel, director of product management.

Perifery

Perifery has developed an AI-powered conversational interface to simplify media asset management. The Intelligent Content Engine (ICE) lets users manage, organize, and curate audio files, documents, images, and videos by simply talking to it, and will examine and catalog every file within its scope, whether or not traditional metadata is attached to the asset. “By leveraging AI agents and advanced machine learning models across a wide variety of media content types, it empowers users to have intuitive interactions with media storage by using natural language requests,” said Jason Perr, CTO of M&E solutions. “In effect, users can now speak directly with their content to achieve the next evolution of media content management, and finally go beyond metadata.”

Q-SYS

Following Q-SYS’ acquisition of AI-driven camera automation software developer Seervision, it released the Q‑SYS VisionSuite. These solutions combine to deliver a better hybrid meeting experience for all participants whether they’re on site or remote, thanks to features such as AI-driven presenter tracking and audio-based multi-camera switching. “Imagine a scenario where the camera not only recognizes individuals but also distinguishes between them, ensuring seamless tracking and coverage—that’s precisely what Q-SYS VisionSuite enables,” explained TJ Adams, vice president of systems product strategy and development. “By acting as a co-pilot, AI should empower teams to deliver more consistent and elevated experiences across projects, leveraging automation to optimize system setups, provide valuable usage statistics and analysis, and a simplified user experience."

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

[Hybrid: The Next Generation]

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

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

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

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

 [Blueprint for Success: CAIO and Arrivederci]

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

The Sales Pitch

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

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

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

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

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

Keep It Secure

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

[Cybersecurity and Pro AV]

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

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

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

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

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

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

In an exclusive interview, QSC | Q-SYS Chairman and CEO, Joe Pham, sat down with AV Technology's content director, Cindy Davis, to discuss his thoughts on the impact of AI in the AV/IT industry and provide a preview of his InfoComm Keynote, Everything Has Changed.

View the full interview below. 

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most significant topics discussed, and it could impact virtually every aspect of our lives. AI's potential within the AV/IT industry is far-reaching. "It's all around the compute, the data, and the neural network algorithms," Pham said. "We as an industry have an immense amount of data that is extremely valuable, not only in our AV systems and our AV platforms but in other platforms where we can really be a major player in terms of enhancing human connection and experience and outcomes."

Pham likes to have fun and said his keynote "will be a playful look at our world, our industry, the technology." He is also a student of the historical impact of technology. "I will speak about a very, very large view of technology acceleration, putting AI in the context of all of the revolutions that we've had in humanity." Pham added, "Then we'll go through my arguments on why the AV industry is so uniquely positioned to really take advantage and be a driver and be such an influential industry in this world of AI. And then, finally, we'll get down to real practical things of what we need to do as an industry."

If you've never experienced a keynote or presentation by Pham, I can tell you firsthand that you should prepare for an inspiring hour that will leave a lasting impact. He is a visionary technologist and an unwitting motivational speaker.

Make room on your calendar for the Q-SYS Keynote: Everything Has Changed on Wednesday, June 12, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., in North Hall meeting rooms N245-N251.

[On Hybrid Work 2024: Q-SYS]

So many awards programs in the Pro AV industry recognize new products and technologies. (At SCN, for example, we have our upcoming Installation Product Awards at InfoComm, as well as the Pro AV Best in Market, which we share with other Future B2B properties.) That's why the SCN Stellar Service Awards are so special. They provide an opportunity to recognize excellent service and the manufacturers, distributors, and integrators that deliver it.

[SCN Installation Product Awards 2024 Now Accepting Entries]

As in years past, we received thousands of votes from you, our readers, to determine the winners of the 2024 Stellar Service Awards. Thank you for your participation. We now proudly present your exceptional service providers.

Best Design Services/Tools

Platinum: Extron

Extron offers a wide selection of system design tools, including system builders, design guides, online calculators, and technical resources to help AV professionals design their ideal systems and select just the right products. In addition, Extron system design engineers are available to work with integrators to provide system design support and technical troubleshooting services to system integrators throughout the project lifecycle, from sales to system installation and commissioning.         

Gold: Crestron Intelligent Video Room Designer

Silver: SoundTube EASE Audio Design

Best Online Training  

Platinum: Q-SYS Online Training

Q-SYS Online Training is an award-winning program crafted by Q-SYS experts. The company strives to deliver a unique approach to learning, with trainers that are not only knowledgeable but also fun and engaging. Since its training videos are modular, participants can easily navigate to a previous course or skip a module to come back to it later. Whether it is a general introduction to the Q-SYS Ecosystem or how to build a control system in a hands-on Q-SYS environment, there are hundreds of video courses. Whether participating remotely or at Q-SYS training facilities, users can access resources to enhance their understanding and application of the Q‑SYS Platform. Utilize real Q-SYS hardware simulations to apply learning in practical scenarios and get real-time feedback and guidance from the instructors. Classes are available in several languages and are free.

Gold: Shure SAI Wireless Workbench (WWB) Tutorials       

Silver: SynAudCon Online Audio Training

Best Value-Added Services

Platinum: Exertis Almo AV Outsourcing

Grow workforce, not overhead. It's not enough to just sell boxes of hardware. As the first Pro AV distributor to offer value-added services well over a decade ago, AV Outsourcing from Exertis Almo helps reseller partners create a path to grow their current business model and recurring revenue without the need to add or maintain staff. Services include:
•Connectivity: Internet, bandwidth, voice services, and live TV programming with recurring commissions.
•Control Systems and DSP Programming: remote and onsite programming for any size job.
•Labor and Project Support: contracted skilled technicians nationwide for full service hourly projects, including site surveys and service calls.
•Engineering, Drafting, and Consulting: CAD designs and schematics for signal flows, bill of materials, room elevations, and conduit and riser runs with Revit, AutoCad, and Sketchup Pro programs.

Gold: Digital Projection Concierge Service & Support          

Silver: The Farm AV FarmAssist     

Best Sales Operation    

Platinum: Shure

Delivering an excellent experience to customers has been at the heart of Shure’s mission for nearly 100 years. Key attributes of its sales process include communication, collaboration, planning, thought leadership, strategic advice, and commitment. The strong relationships built with partners allow Shure to deliver professional support at every stage of the buyer's journey.

Gold: Extron  

Silver: Sound Productions

Best Supporting Content

Platinum: Exertis Almo E4 Experience

The E4 Experience is well-established in the AV industry as a valuable, free, one-day traveling education, training, and product showcase for integrators, consultants, and end users. E4 stands for the four main pillars of the experience: Explore, Engage, Educate, and Expo. The E4 Experience brings together top educators, manufacturing partners, AVIXA CTS Renewal Unit certified training, technology firsts, and endless networking opportunities. It includes a “crown jewel” showroom packed with the newest AV gear in use, making it an ideal place for integrators to bring their local end users. Attendees can expect to learn the latest business and industry trends necessary to stay productive and gain valuable skills that can immediately be implemented. Thanks to Exertis Almo’s exhibiting partners, the E4 Experience is free to attendees and includes breakfast, lunch, and parking.    

Gold: Biamp Cornerstone     

Silver: BZBGEAR Technical Support Knowledge Base

Best Tech Support  

Platinum: Prysm Service and Support Team

With a clientele of global enterprise companies relying on Prysm for multiple installations around the world, it is essential that Prysm’s support service matches the requirements and mindsets of these businesses. The company has a well-defined, four-stage program that transcends the customer journey to ensure an informed service from true solution experts.

• Planning: understanding the client’s unique use cases and a site survey to evaluate the environment and identify other technologies in the ecosystem.
• Install and Commission: support team works in tandem with onsite engineers to configure software and hardware.
• Customer Success: tailored user adoption training ensures each client is able to maximize Prysm’s features for their specific requirements.
• Technical Support and Service: local specialists in the United States, Middle East, and across APAC ensure quick response times in local languages for the optimize support.         

Gold: Sound Devices Service and Support Department       

Silver: WyreStorm Tech Support

Best Website Dealer UX   

Platinum: Extron Insider

The Extron Insider website offers a seamless user experience for AV professionals, streamlining access to the tools and up-to-date information they need for superior project outcomes. Its intuitive navigation and user-centric design facilitate easy access to product and training videos, certification programs, configuration tools, software, and more. Users benefit from the comprehensive, user-friendly platform for MSRP and—depending on account type—reseller pricing in local currency for use in bids, proposals, and project budgets.     

Best Project Management Tools 

Platinum: D-Tools System Integrator (SI) V21

The newly released D-Tools System Integrator (SI) V21 allows integrators to stay on top of project timelines and budgets with easy-to-use task tracking and collaboration tools that streamline workflows and effectively manage installations, service orders, and job costing. Moreover, SI V21 users can schedule and dispatch field technicians with D-Tools Mobile Install 2.0 to assign installation tasks and service orders, then monitor the timely completion of those tasks. Among the key features is a mobile view and in-app chat that keeps field technicians in constant contact with the office and projects on track. Plus, field technicians can use SI V21 to upsell clients with additional products or services with on-the-spot approvals. To assist SI users, D-Tools has a team of 15 individuals in its support and training departments.        

Gold: XTEN-AV           

Silver: Jetbuilt

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

Thought Leader: Angela Comitini, Director, Alliances and Ecosystem at Q-SYS

Creating spaces where employees can connect, collaborate, and share knowledge has been a fundamental component of business success. Before the pandemic, huddle rooms were a popular way to have quick, informal meetings for basic video collaboration and impromptu brainstorming. However, after the pandemic hit, employees no longer wanted to return to the office to simply sit in a small meeting space; instead, they learned to collaborate productively—and often more efficiently—from home. 

Now, employers are seeing a need to repurpose existing meeting spaces into spaces that are going to attract employees back to the office. These spaces are used to gather large groups and teams to create an elevated and inclusive experience for those both on and off-site, which also means enabling professional-grade AV and control technology that is purpose-built to the needs of the space. Frost and Sullivan have identified the emergence of meeting spaces they categorize as “high-impact spaces,” and estimate these will increase to more than 11.3 million worldwide by 2025—equal to 11 percent of all meeting spaces worldwide. 

High-impact spaces deliver elevated experiences for all meeting participants, combining state-of-the-art technology with a dynamic, scalable environment for hybrid, remote, and in-office spaces. These dynamic environments are meeting spaces that employees want to return to, as they enable enhanced collaboration and lead to positive meeting outcomes. 

High-impact spaces can serve unique purposes in a range of environments, from small business settings to large enterprises. Q-SYS, a division of QSC, is investing in the development of these spaces by creating a single ecosystem that is easy to deploy, manage, augment, and upgrade according to your specific needs. Via the Q-SYS Platform, companies can purpose-build their high-impact spaces, implementing everything from cutting-edge AV solutions to AI and automation. 

It was another busy week in Pro AV. Here's a quick look at some new hires, promotions, and big company announcements you may have missed.

[SCN 2024 Stellar Service Awards Open for Entries]

People News

Lightware Names Christopher Chandler SVP of Sales for the Americas, Clint Hoffman Lightware US CEO 

Lightware Visual Engineering recently appointed Christopher Chandler as the SVP of sales for the Americas and announced that Clint Hoffman, president of Lightware Americas, will assume the duties of chief executive officer of Lightware US. 

With nearly 40 years of success in sales, marketing, operations and product development within the professional AV industry, Hoffman brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role at Lightware. Throughout his career, Hoffman has worked with manufacturers such as Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi and Kramer Electronics. He has played a pivotal role in channel and brand strategy and product development for many industry-leading brands. 

Hoffman's dedication to promoting and championing the professional audiovisual industry is evident through his leadership roles at AVIXA International. Currently serving as an adjunct faculty member, Hoffman has previously chaired the AVIXA Membership Committee, been a member of the steering committee of the AVIXA Exhibitors Committee, served on the AVIXA Foundation Board, and acted as vice chairman of the AVIXA Manufacturers Committee.

As the new SVP of sales for the Americas, Chandler leverages over 25 years of experience in the audiovisual industry, demonstrating a history in sales and management. Before joining Lightware, Chandler held diverse positions at Biamp, including Sales Director, where his contributions significantly fueled the company's growth. Additionally, Chandler brings a wealth of expertise gained from his time at Harman International, Pelton Marsh Kinsella and Shen Milsom & Wilke, LLC. Chandler's background as a senior consultant and AV project lead promises to strengthen relationships with consultants and integrators, thereby advancing Lightware's presence and offerings within the market.

Draper At Home Announces Residential Sales Director

Draper At Home has announced the appointment of Chris Sitarov who assumes the role of director of sales-residential. Sitarov will be responsible for Draper At Home regional residential sales managers throughout the United States.

Sitarov joined Draper in 2019 as the architectural regional sales manager for the Mid-Atlantic states and was most recently director of sales for the Eastern United States. He has extensive knowledge and expertise gained while working with Draper and other solar control providers.

Marc Glattes Joins L-Acoustics to Lead Sales and Business Development Teams

L-Acoustics has recently appointed Marc Glattes as executive director of sales and business development. In this role, Glattes will be responsible for driving the company’s global sales and business strategy while providing leadership, guidance, and resources to the global sales and sales operations team headed by Jacob Barfoed, the market intelligence function led by Stephane Ecalle, and the global business development team to which Scott Wakelin has been appointed global director.

Prior to joining L-Acoustics, Glattes held senior leadership positions at Daimler, Bain & Company, and Sony, where he was member of the team that conceived, built, and launched PlayStation Vue, the first and highest-rated streaming pay television service in the United States.

Heading up the new business development team and reporting to Glattes, Wakelin has been promoted to the position of global director of business development. Having joined L-Acoustics in 2015 as regional sales manager, Wakelin then successfully led development of the key hospitality vertical market, and now takes on the responsibility of leading the company’s global business development efforts across all vertical segments. 

EAW Adds Live Sound Expert Robert Scovill as Senior Live Sound Market Manager

Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) welcomed Robert Scovill to the position of senior live sound market manager. Bringing a wealth of practical experience as both a professional mixer and a manufacturer, Scovill provides a unique perspective to EAW and will contribute to a wide breadth of the company’s live sound business.

Scovill’s new role will be to work tightly with existing teams on product definition and positioning, in-person demos and trainings, as well as providing thought leadership. This will include refining and shaping all public-facing communication. These duties will include assisting with written product descriptions, as well as the listening and voicing of new and existing production-level audio systems. Scovill will drive the creation of educational how-to pieces on industry topics such as tuning and deploying large-scale ADAPTive systems, passive and active articulated systems and subwoofer arrays.

Jim Thivierge Joins NSI Industries as Building Technology Division Director of Operations

James (Jim) Thivierge has joined NSI Industries as director of operations for its building technology division. Thivierge will oversee the unit’s operations in California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

With a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance from Southern New Hampshire University, Thivierge joins NSI after more than 17 years at Allied Wire & Cable, a part of Genuine Cable Group (GCG), most recently serving as director of operational excellence and customer experience. He also oversaw the operations of all the company’s satellite branches. Prior to his time at Allied Wire & Cable, he held several roles at both Anixter and Anicom.

Nic Dugger Becomes Executive Director of Midsouth Emmy Chapter

TNDV Founder Nic Dugger has accepted the role of Executive Director for the Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) effective immediately, following a nearly five-year run leading the Board of Directors. The announcement was made Saturday, February 17 at the 38th Annual Midsouth Emmy Awards in Nashville.

Dugger takes the reins following the recent passage of longtime executive director Geneva Brignolo, whom he interned with as a college freshman in 1996. In his new role, which is a full-time position, Dugger will report to the Board of Directors—of which he was previously president—and evolve the chapter’s mission of recognizing artistic, educational and technical achievements of professionals and students in the region. The Midsouth Chapter encompasses Tennessee, North Carolina, and the TV market of Huntsville, Alabama.

Dugger formed TNDV: Television in 2004 and led the company through substantial growth over nearly two decades. The TNDV business today is part of Live Mobile Group which includes 35 HD and 4K mobile production trucks and audio facilities, as well as production and secondary services for broadcast TV, live entertainment, and AV-related productions. He has served the Midsouth Chapter for 26 years, including time as Student Awards Chairman that brought new perspective to the Midsouth Regional Student Production Awards. 

Jimmy Liang Joins Genelec 

Genelec has expanded its team in China with the appointment of Jimmy Liang as sales manager, with special responsibility for developing Genelec’s presence in both the Studio and AV Install segments in South China. This new appointment is part of Genelec China’s continued commitment to elevating the customer experience and has also seen the establishment of a new office and listening room in Guangzhou, with plans to further strengthen technical support and services for customers in the south of the country.

Liang has previously held positions as technical sales director at Sound Works & Supplies Limited (SWS) and technical sales manager at Digital Media Technology (DMT). With over a decade of experience in professional audio, Liang has been responsible for the system integration of projects for many broadcast and institutional clients across the region.

Company News

Sennheiser and Q-SYS now certified for Cisco Collaboration Devices

Sennheiser's and Q-SYS combined solution, a cloud-manageable audio, video, and control (AV&C) Platform, has achieved certification for use with Cisco’s Collaboration Devices. 

This certification represents the integration of Cisco’s Collaboration Devices with Sennheiser’s TCC 2 and the Q-SYS Core Nano processor, delivering enhanced audio connectivity and intelligent control features for contemporary meeting and learning environments. The Cisco Collaboration Devices serve as the video conferencing engine that brings robust computing power to support a wide range of collaboration scenarios.

Participants using Cisco’s conferencing solutions in a meeting room, lecture hall or collaboration space can experience the superior audio and automatic beamforming capabilities of the TCC 2 with control from Q-SYS and Sennheiser.

Adapting meeting rooms to hybrid work requires a unique blend of collaboration technology, integrated workflows, and workspace intelligence. The certified integration of Sennheiser and Q-SYS with Cisco’s video bars, room kits and integrated video conferencing systems facilitates a seamless blend of physical and digital workspaces, promoting scalable and flexible collaboration.
As s part of the Cisco Collaboration Devices Partner Ecosystem, these solutions ensure participants get the best experience and make integration as seamless as possible.

With a coverage of up to 800 square feet, the TCC 2 is a great solution for large meeting rooms and lecture or collaboration spaces. With its functional square form, the TCC 2 gracefully integrates into the design of modern meeting rooms simply by replacing a ceiling tile.

RGB Spectrum, Russ Bassett Partner on Control Room Solutions  

RGB Spectrum and Russ Bassett have partnered to transform the utility industry's control room landscape. These two companies will unveil new products and technologies specifically designed for energy and utility environments. 

Recently, the focus has been on the operator console. RGB Spectrum offers its scalable XtendPoint KVM-over-IP solution, expanding the possibilities for sharing data and work output over networks and allowing for removing computers from the console and into IT spaces. The system further replaces the clutter of a multitude of single-use monitors with typically two multiviewers, and all inputs are controllable by a single keyboard and mouse, resulting in better operator focus. To further enhance the user experience, RGB is debuting 43-inch curved monitors for a unified, wraparound display surface.

Attention to ergonomics is critical. But still to be addressed was the physical console itself. And for this purpose, RGB Spectrum recently teamed up with Russ Bassett for its control consoles to enhance operator comfort and efficiency. With adjustable surfaces and monitor heights, Russ Bassett's consoles provide operators with optimal viewing positions, minimizing strain and fatigue during extended shifts. Together, RGB Spectrum and Russ Bassett deliver an optimal solution combining cutting-edge technology with ergonomic design, enabling utility operators to navigate complex environments confidently and precisely. 

Bogen Communications Expands Technology Partnerships

Bogen Communications unveiled a lineup of new technology partners to enhance and expand functionality for its Nyquist E7000 and Nyquist C4000 systems IP-based paging and intercom solutions. 

• Early Warning Labs (EWL): An officially licensed partner of the U.S. Geological Survey with a focus on earthquake early warning technology offers innovative solutions that integrate with Nyquist (and prior Bogen systems) that enable facilities to automate audible and visual notifications as well as implement other crucial safety measures. These technologies are designed with the intent to help reduce injuries and mitigate other losses during an earthquake by providing advanced warnings before the shaking arrives. This allows individuals to take proactive safety measures before the shaking starts, such as seeking shelter and initiating other pre-defined safety action, aiming to significantly reduce the risk of injuries and mitigate potential damages. 
• IPVideo: The HALO Smart Sensor, an IPVideo product from Motorola Solutions, is an award-winning IoT smart sensor for vaping and THC detection. As a multifunctional device, HALO provides comprehensive health, safety, and vaping awareness while protecting the privacy of individuals as the device has no cameras and it does not record conversations. A single HALO device offers a variety of sensors and event-based triggers including health monitoring; indoor air quality monitoring; vape and THC detection; gunshot detection; emergency keyword alerts; audible alerts; emergency escape and alert lighting; motion detection; chemical alerts; VOC alerts; tamper alerts, and temperature and humidity alerts. There are additional add-on options for panic button alerts and people counting. Alert notifications from the HALO system can now be distributed via Bogen Communications’ Nyquist system to increase the protection of students and faculty in education, or any staff member or guest in a commercial space. 
• Lightspeed Technologies: Nyquist interfaces with the Lightspeed Cascadia Networked Instructional Audio platform to enable key functionality, including a mobile solution for the teacher to initiate multiple levels of alerts in the classroom directly from the pendant microphone. The teacher can initiate a help request, emergency alert, or check-in which are then distributed through Bogen Communications’ Nyquist system. Cascadia interfaces with a digital mute function, ensuring important and even emergency school-wide messages broadcast through the Nyquist system are never missed.   
• Omnilert: The Omnilert integration offers a powerful solution to help enhance campus safety by detecting potential gun threats and activating responses. Omnilert Gun Detect is an AI-powered visual gun detection system that monitors existing security cameras 24/7 for gun threats. Once confirmed, automated emergency responses are activated, including locking doors, alarm activation, pre-recorded announcements, and escalation to first responders within critical seconds of an incident, significantly improving overall security measures. 
• Raptor Technologies: Raptor Alert expedites and streamlines emergency response by allowing users to initiate an alert directly to 911 and provide critical information to first responders, law enforcement, and campus personnel. In partnership with Bogen Communications, an alert initiated through Raptor Alert can automate and expedite public address announcements and security alerts that can be distributed with Bogen Communications’ Nyquist system for small incidents and school-wide emergencies.
• TeachLogic: The Nyquist system can interface with multiple TeachLogic instructional audio systems to streamline paging and security alert functions between the systems. The Nyquist system can recognize and help respond to an emergency alert from any of the TeachLogic Ovation, Maxim, Spectrum, and Matrix systems. The teacher can easily activate the alert wirelessly from their pendant microphone, and the alert is passed from the amplifier to the Nyquist system. Additionally, TeachLogic systems recognize an incoming page from the Nyquist system to mute all audio sources in the room. 
  

Nanolumens Announced as Presenting Sponsor of INSPIRE Conference

Nanolumens is a presenting sponsor of the Themed Entertainment Association’s INSPIRE Conference. Scheduled to take place from March 14–15, 2023, in Hollywood, CA, INSPIRE will unite leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts from the themed entertainment industry to explore the latest trends, technologies and best practices in creating immersive experiences.

Nanolumens’ immersive LED displays an ideal choice for themed entertainment applications. Designed for a variety of use cases, including dark rides, outdoor signage, marquees, wayfinding, advertising, digital art and entertainment, Nanolumens’ LED displays enable creators to bring their visions to life with stunning visuals and seamless integration. Tailored to enhance visual storytelling, Nanolumens’ line of dvLED products features the original True Curve technology, providing a versatile solution for immersive entertainment applications.

INSPIRE Week promises to be a dynamic gathering of leading professionals, designers, and innovators in the themed entertainment industry. Through a series of presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants will gain insights into the latest trends, best practices, and emerging technologies driving the evolution of themed entertainment experiences.

With the American Gaming Association (AGA) reporting $7.5 billion in sportsbook revenue in 2022, an increase of 75% percent compared to 2021, venues across the United States are looking at better ways to incorporate legal sports betting into their entertainment offerings and existing facilities. Thirty-eight states as well as Washington, DC, have moved forward with legalizing some aspect of sports betting, and that number is predicted to rise. 

[The Integration Guide to Video Walls]

With sports betting officially becoming legal in Connecticut in September 2021, the XL Center—a multipurpose arena and convention center located in downtown Hartford—unveiled a $5 million sports betting venue last September. One of the largest in the state, the sportsbook is outfitted with a 300-seat restaurant, bar, and betting terminals.

The XL Center is owned by the City of Hartford and is managed by the Capital Region Development Authority and operated by Oak View Group. Its new sportsbook is now the 10th of only 15 that will be allowed by law in the state. Data compiled by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection reports that since October 2021, about $175 million has been gambled in retail sports in the state, amounting to a monthly average of $7.6 million. 

Driving Traffic

Housed along the building’s exterior, which previously consisted of nondescript concrete and steel structures that limited access to the street, the new sportsbook is expected to increase downtown foot traffic and attract businesses to the surrounding area. “There has been a lot of excitement for the space itself and having a different kind of bar/restaurant in downtown Hartford,” said Pearson Davis, assistant general manager with the XL Center.

[Executive Q&A: All About the Pixels]

With the Capital Region Development Authority managing the restaurant and the Connecticut Lottery and partners operating sports betting, the new sportsbook serves as a standalone space from the arena, with daily access to the public whether the XL Center has an event or not. Still, the design incorporates a glass wall that gives visitors a glimpse into the arena and, in a way, connects the two spaces.

“During events, the glass wall is open into the arena, so the atmosphere and noise from the games reverberate through the sportsbook and add to the excitement,” Davis explained.

The relaxed surroundings, including beautiful city views and a barreled ceiling in the center of the room, make it a comfortable setting to catch professional, college, and other high-profile sporting events. To create a unique, immersive experience for sports fanatics, the sportsbook knew that incorporating high-end AV technology into the design would allow visitors to view multiple games while accessing vital betting statistics and updates, ensuring they have everything they need to make a winning bet.

Metinteractive, known for its expertise in the development of immersive digital environments and entertainment systems, collaborated with SCI Architects and AV designer Coherent Design to integrate 90 LG FHD Multi-Vision LCD displays, most of which were incorporated into a 131-foot-long video wall managed through a Q-SYS Control engine, along with a C-Scape LED ticker run to keep visitors completely engaged through live scores and updates. The bar also includes a line of LCD screens providing ample viewing opportunities, regardless of location. DirectTV was also integrated into the network, allowing the venue to stream leading sports broadcasts and events.

[Who Needs the Front Row?]

EAW speakers encompassing the entire sportsbook to help create the feel of an authentic sports bar, and private booths outfitted with personal LCD screens ensure an experience unlike anything they can find at home. Metainteractive also handled all the networking and Wi-Fi needs to ensure information and updates were always quickly available.

A Different Approach

The technology integration was left to the final two months of the eight-month-long construction project, prioritizing larger structural changes before technology integration could begin. But that didn’t worry Jeffrey Mele, Metinteractive CTO.

"There are always idiosyncrasies with sports betting that will challenge your team," said Mele. "It's not always as simple as it seems from the outside. However, it wasn't very challenging for us because we understand what's required in a sports betting operation, having roughly half a dozen other sportsbooks completed in the last three years."

With that in mind, it was imperative to understand how the technology would streamline the process of providing information to the user, including timing logistics for various games. “They have to have it well scripted out for them so that they can make educated decisions on what games to show and when and how to display odds,” Mele explained.

The unique shape of the video wall, which juts out at various angles, provided some dimensional challenges when marrying the multiple components together, including applying custom-built trim to the bottom of the video wall. The trim had to be field-measured due to the unusual angles, and the final dimensions for the video wall were complex to discern until the project was close to completion. "We have full metal fabrication capability, so we're able to do things that system integrators typically don't do," said Mele.

Usually, sportsbooks are enclosed spaces that are dark because of the contrast of the screens, but the XL Center took a very different approach. "This whole venue has windows, giving you a great view of downtown Hartford," Mele observed. "It's a radically different approach, and you would be concerned that the ambient light would negatively affect this. But it doesn't. Here, it works out."

[Real Problems with Fake Products]

The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive since the venue was unveiled to the public on September 18, when guests were able to experience the new sportsbook during a Monday Night Football doubleheader. Building on the initial excitement, Davis said they will look to add additional speakers to the upper-level concourse overlooking the sportsbook. The area offers a fantastic vantage point overlooking the bar with a direct view of the video wall; with the audio upgrade, the space could be sold as a VIP or group space.

Audio-Technica, in collaboration with The Farm’s FarmAssist development team, has released a new Q-SYS-certified plug-in for its Engineered Sound Wireless (ES Wireless) system. The new wireless mic solution was designed to add simplicity, flexibility and scalability to the Q-SYS Ecosystem.

Engineered Sound Wireless is optimized for voice applications in meeting rooms, presentation halls, classrooms, and other installed audio-conferencing environments. The system utilizes DECT technology to provide high channel counts with high-quality audio in a simple, smart, and scalable manner.

[Integrators: Ready for Plug-In Possibilities?]

The integration of the Q-SYS control plug-in empowers users to easily connect to and manage the DECT-based system. This includes convenient functionalities like individual or group channel muting, preset loading, and real-time monitoring of RF and charging parameters via a Q-SYS network touchscreen controller. Moreover, live remote monitoring capabilities enable users to oversee connectivity status, microphone and charging statuses, battery levels, and battery life, providing full operational oversight.

“The roaming feature native to the microphones allows for an incredible amount of flexibility,” said George Seruset, regional service manager at The Farm. “Take a museum for example. It has eight exhibits, each featuring a wireless receiver with an LED trigger. With the new plugin, a tour guide can seamlessly connect to an LED transmitter link, triggering a range of actions such as spotlight activation, video playback, music cues, or spoken commentary. And, the availability of multiple channels enables the incorporation of numerous triggers, further enhancing the system's versatility and utility.

[The Dante (R)evolution]

“The integration of Audio-Technica and Q-SYS via Dante simplifies our workflow and really helps us to explore more advanced possibilities in our programming.”

ISE 2024 is right around the corner. Before you hit up the show floor at the Fira Barcelona, Gran Via, find out what you don't want to miss with our weekly ISE 2024 Info updates.

Today, we look at Magewell, Navori Labs, Kindermann, Hive, and the openGear Leader Partners. 

Magewell Joins Q-SYS Technology Partner Program, Will Debut First Plug-In

Magewell is heading to ISE 2024 (booth 5E710)  as the latest member of the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program. The first result of the initiative—the Q-SYS Control plug-in for Magewell's USB Fusion video capture, mixing and presentation device—has been endorsed with Q-SYS Certified status and is now available for download through the Q-SYS Designer Asset Manager found in Q-SYS Designer Software.

Magewell's USB Fusion hardware and accompanying app let users easily combine cameras, wired or wireless screenshares, and media file sources into visually compelling live presentations for streaming, live event production, online lectures, webinars, video conferencing and other applications. Users can switch between sources or combine inputs into attractive scene layouts.

The initial release of the Magewell USB Fusion plug-in for Q-SYS supports basic source switching and scene layout capabilities. All functionality available through the front-panel buttons on the USB Fusion hardware can be replicated inside Q-SYS Designer Software. Support for additional USB Fusion features is planned for a future update of the plug-in.

Navori Labs to Showcase Unified Signage and Analytics Solutions

Navori Labs will showcase its QL digital signage and Aquaji analytics software solutions at booth 6H460. The roadmap includes a preview of Aquaji modules that will allow operators of retail media networks and DOOH advertising campaigns to access and analyze key metrics within the QL software environment. Navori Labs will also preview a similar integration within its next-generation media player dongle scheduled for release later this year.

Navori Labs will demonstrate how its customers in retail and other verticals benefit from the convergence of QL and Aquaji today, while also discussing plans to add key audience measurement metrics such as people counting within QL.

Key demonstrations for attendees will include how Navori's innovations in AI and computer vision solutions enable data-driven, context-aware content automation for audience engagement. In its present-day workflow, Aquaji monitors consumer behaviors and anonymously gathers audience demographics. That information is reported to QL, which can trigger content and ads that cater to specific consumers. 

Navori Labs will also preview the benefits of its next-generation StiX media player dongle, the StiX 3800, in a real-world retail environment. Benefits include the ability to measure foot traffic or vehicle counting around the screen. The StiX 3800 will also add audience metrics to QL’s playback reports and activate screens only when an audience is detected, reducing energy consumption and costs. 

Navori will also discuss an on-demand AI content generation service to generate visual content tailored to specific industries or use cases, along with enhanced real-time data integration features that allow Navori customers to develop their own connectors for data retrieval.

Kindermann to Feature New Klick&Show K-FX Plus

At booth 2S300, Kindermann will present its new dual-screen collaboration system Klick&Show K-FX Plus. Together with the new transmitters, which can now stream laptop content in true 4K resolution, Kindermann helps enhance wireless meetings.

Klick&Show K-FX Plus enables the connection of existing USB devices in the conference room, such as video or soundbars, cameras, and speakerphones. These can be used wirelessly with the notebook, regardless of the UCC platform.

With the integrated dual-screen functionality, two main displays can be used directly on a K-FX Plus base unit, making meetings clearer and more productive. Content can be streamed to the host laptop so that it can be shared with external users. The new Klick&Show K-FX Plus also supports the input of two USB cameras in order to offer different perspectives for external online participants. The cameras can be used both wirelessly via a laptop and wired via USB from a stationary PC. Wired HDMI sources, such as a local computer or a document camera, can be connected thanks to the integrated 4K-compatible HDMI input.

Kindermann is also presenting two new Wi-Fi transmitters, available with an HDMI or USB-C connection. The new 4K transmitters not only enable wireless mirroring of content in 4K quality, but also have two auxiliary buttons that can be used to trigger various additional functions. The new Klick&Show 4K transmitters shine with an exceptional design and connect laptops to the Klick&Show base unit with a "plug-and-play-"like user experience. 

Hive to Launch New Products

Hive will showcase the Beeblade Minima, Osmia, and Pluto, and the new Beehive chassis in Barcelona. The expanded ecosystem offers users more media playback solutions that work in harmony with a wide range of project types. Additionally, Hive is also launching the brand-new Beehive 5U rack mountable chassis at ISE 2024.

Beeblade seamlessly integrates into any Smart Display Module (SDM) compatible display or projector. Joining the Pluto Beeblade, the Beeblade Minima is Hive’s newest HD player with the lowest technical specification. The new Beeblade Osmia is a mid-range solution that can achieve 4K media and 4K output capacity. The Beeblade family can also live in Hive’s Beebox and Beehive units. 

The Beebox is a custom designed portable enclosure that can be placed next to display technology if there is no in-built SDM slot. Beehive is a 5U chassis that can hold up to 16 Beeblades so that you can create a system that suits the unique nature of your project.

Additionally, you can manage each player in the Beehive through Hive’s software that’s naturally easy to use, from any device, anywhere. Designed to be better for the planet, the product ecosystem is constructed without any unnecessary features, creating more compact, intuitive, and greener systems.

Newest openGear-compatible Products to Be Highlighted

openGear Leader Partners will be showcasing their newest openGear-compatible products during the Integrated Systems Europe Conference (ISE) 2024, announced Ross Video, the company behind the open-architecture, modular frame system. AJA (4F100), Apantac (5H600), Ross Video (5J880), VITEC (5C300), Cobalt, and MultiDyne will demonstrate on the show floor and their websites how the openGear platform supports the deployment of technologies within the DashBoard common control and monitoring ecosystem.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2024: David Ross]

New this year, the openGear frame will be on display and in use at the HDBaseT Alliance booth 2P500. openGear Leader Partner Apantac’s two new HDBaseT 3 extenders and receivers for transmitting uncompressed 4K, 2K, HD, 3D, audio, and control signals (RS232, IR), controlled with HDBaseT technology will be featured and demonstrated on the HDBaseT stand.

What to expect from openGear Leader Partners:

• AJA Video Systems will feature its latest 12G-SDI openGear cards, which pack all the functionality of AJA’s popular 12G-SDI audio and HDMI conversion solutions into an openGear rack frame-compatible form factor. Designed to meet the demands of high resolution, high frame rate workflows, OG-12G-AM and OG-12G-AMA enable 16 channels (8 2-channel pairs) of AES and analog audio embedding/disembedding respectively, and support 12G-SDI input and output up to 4K/UltraHD. AJA OG-Hi5-12G and OG-HA5-12G facilitate 12G-SDI conversion to and from HDMI, and are also available in LC and ST Fiber models. Each hot-swappable card is built for use in high-density openGear 2RU frames, including the OG-X-FR.
• Apantac expands its openGear ProAV card portfolio, including high-performance SDVoE (Software Defined Video-over-Ethernet) cards that support HDMI 2.0 over fiber or copper. These cards can work as standalone extenders or in an AV over IP environment as matrix switches. The new HDMI KVM extender/receiver openGear boards are based on HDBaseT 3 technology and extend keyboard, mouse, HDMI, and USB 2.0, with support for 4K 60 Hz. The new HDBaseT 3 extender/receiver set are high-density openGear boards that are designed to fit 20 transmitters or 20 receivers in a 2RU openGear frame, which will also be showcased on its ISE stand. These boards let you extend HDMI sources, ethernet, and controls using HDBaseT technology, and over a long-distance cable.
• Ross Video, in addition to showcasing their LED solutions, will highlight their Quorum meeting control solution for governments, legislators, and corporations. Quorum is completely based on the DashBoard system and offers both ease of use and the level of customization possible with openGear DashBoard.
• VITEC will showcase its EZ TV and Avedia IPTV distribution solutions fed by its openGear IP video products. Powered by MGW Diamond openGear card series, live video feeds are encoded in HEVC or H.264 for in-house or remote IPTV distribution. MGW Diamond encoders support MPEG2, MPEG4, and HEVC encoding and handle a variety of professional video distribution protocols: UDP transport protocols, SRT, ZIXI, RIST, as well as RMTP for OTT delivery.

It was a busy week for Nureva. The company joined the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program and announced a new bundle with MAXHUB for Microsoft Team Rooms. Here's everything you need to know. 

Nureva Joins Q-SYS Technology Partner Program

Nureva has joined the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program. The program enables technology companies to create market-ready solutions that integrate seamlessly with Q-SYS, a cloud-manageable audio, video and control platform. Nureva has developed a Q-SYS-certified plugin for its HDL310 and HDL410 audio conferencing systems (the HDL pro series) to deliver audio control that will enhance and simplify the remote experience.

The Q-SYS plugin enables customers to adjust the HDL pro series systems from the Q-SYS audio, video and control platform. They can recalibrate the microphone system and adjust the speaker volume, microphone mute and EQ. The HDL pro series systems’ sound location data is also included in the plugin and can be used to automate Q-SYS cameras without additional programming. The microphone status can also be monitored inside the plugin and connected to a monitoring proxy to enable monitoring and management with Q-SYS Reflect Enterprise Manager.

[How Tony Stark Can Save Pro AV (and Other Trends for 2024)]

MAXHUB, Nureva Team Up to Offer Certified Bundles for Large Microsoft Teams Rooms

MAXHUb and Nureva have teamed up to offer two plug-and-play bundles fully certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms. The bundles deliver uncompromised audio and video performance that is easy and cost-effective to deploy, operate and manage across virtually any number of spaces.

The MAXHUB–Nureva bundle certified for medium and large Microsoft Teams Rooms consists of the following components:

• The Nureva HDL310 audio conferencing system, which delivers pro AV performance without the cost and complexity of a custom pro AV system. It combines a powerful connect module with an integrated microphone and speaker bar to deliver full-room microphone pickup and advanced features in spaces up to 30x30 feet (9.1x9.1 m).
• The MAXHUB ND75CMA (CMA-T Series) 75-inch diagonal 4K UHD display for front of room placement.
• The MAXHUB XCore Kit for Microsoft Teams Rooms, which enables organizations to make the leap to Microsoft Teams Rooms smart spaces in BYOD scenarios, enhancing Teams-native audio and video experiences while accommodating cost-balance requirements.
• The MAXHUB UC W31 4K 120-degree FOV USB Camera for front of room placement. The camera boasts a 12MP 5x zoom Sony image sensor with incredible image quality—leveraging Ultra HD 4K resolution for an exceptional video conferencing experience.

Additionally, the MAXHUB–Nureva bundle certified for Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms consists of the following components:

• The Nureva HDL310 audio conferencing system, which supports Teams’ spatial audio feature to deliver a better hybrid experience without the cost and complexity of a custom pro AV system.
• The MAXHUB UW105NA (UW Series) for front of room placement with an ultra-wide display. Featuring a 21:9 aspect ratio for an ultra-wide panoramic view, this 5K display provides a highly immersive experience.
• The MAXHUB XCore Kit for Microsoft Teams Rooms.
• The MAXHUB UC W31 4K 120-degree FOV USB Camera for front of room placement.

Shure has joined the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program. This program enables software and hardware technology partners to create market-ready solutions that integrate seamlessly with Q-SYS, a cloud-manageable audio, video, and control platform.

As part of the program, Shure has worked closely with Q-SYS, which has fully vetted and endorsed Shure’s MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone Plug-in integration with a Q-SYS Certified badge (developed with Q-SYS and supported by Shure and Q-SYS).

[Expert Insights and 16 Speakerphones to Know]

“Joining the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program is a phenomenal milestone that ensures AV integrators and IT professionals benefit from streamlined deployment and scalability, making it easier than ever to deliver outstanding performance in collaborative, modern conferencing environments,” said Jose Rivas, VP Global Sales at Shure. “Moreover, this certification enables easier integration for Q-SYS users to experience Shure high-quality audio standards with the MXA920”.

Thanks to this certification and participation in the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program, AV integrators and IT Professionals can now access and download the MXA920 Control Plug-in through Q-SYS Designer Asset Manager within Q-SYS Designer Software. This compatibility ensures smooth integration with the Q-SYS Platform for easier installation and management, ideal for professionals who utilize Q-SYS Designer Asset Manager to install and monitor AV tools in corporate, higher education, and government spaces.

[New from Q-SYS: A Spatial Audio Solution and New Loudspeakers]

The Shure MXA920 is also selectable within the Q-SYS Automatic Camera Preset Recall (ACPR) v3 plug-in (version 3.1). Customers can use the MXA920 seamlessly as part of a Q-SYS camera control system without the need for an additional plug-in. This update makes use of the MXA920’s Automatic Coverage Mode and Talker Position command strings to provide accurate data to the ACPR plug-in.

Get caught up on a few new products from Q-SYS.

A Certified for Microsoft Teams Solution Supporting Spatial Audio in a Microsoft Teams Room

Q-SYS introduced the first Certified for Microsoft Teams solution for Microsoft Teams Rooms that supports spatial audio.

[Q-SYS Acquires AI Technology Company]

This solution includes any Teams-certified Q-SYS Core processor, SPA Series amplifiers, AcousticDesign Series surface mount loudspeakers, and the Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) beamforming microphone array. By adopting this innovative solution, organizations can enjoy crystal-clear spatial audio in their meetings, with voices coming from their relative positions on the Signature Teams Rooms screen. This advancement enhances meeting equity by creating natural and engaging discussions for in-room and remote participants.

“Spatial audio is another example of the advanced features and functionality Q-SYS brings to elevate experiences in high-impact spaces,” said Vic Bhagat, principal, Alliances and Ecosystem, QSC. “The software-based nature of the Q-SYS Platform allowed for quick adaptation to offer this new feature. We are excited to continue our partnership with Microsoft, as it allows us to further our dedication to enhancing the way organizations collaborate, communicate, and connect.”

Zero-Bezel Models of AcousticDesign Series

Q-SYS has introduced its “zero-bezel” refresh of the 4-inch and 6-inch AcousticDesign (AD) Series ceiling  loudspeakers.  

The new models, including the AD-C4T-ZB, AD-C4T-LPZB, AD-C6T-ZB, and AD-C6T-LPZB,  feature a white grille without a bezel, designed to meet the architectural needs of modern  applications while preserving the premium acoustics that the AD Series is renowned for. Additionally, retrofit accessories are available to add the new grille to recent Q-SYS  loudspeaker models (NL-C4, AD-C6T-HC, AD-C6T-HP), and black grilles are also available separately for all models. 

[I Love It Loud: The Evolution of Loudspeakers] 

“We are thrilled to announce the new models that not only add a touch of modern elegance to  any space, but also deliver the same premium audio quality that our customers expect from  the AD Series,” said Dan Saenz, product manager loudspeakers and amplifiers, Q-SYS. “With  retrofit options available, we’re making it easier than ever for our customers to keep their audio  systems in line with the latest design trends.” 

Since its founding in 1956, live music has always been a highlight of services at the Village Community Presbyterian Church in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Every Sunday, traditional and contemporary services occur at the 300-seat venue. Instrumental performances, choirs ranging from 15-150 members, professional classical and jazz ensembles, and even the San Diego Symphony have used the space for concerts and other events.

[The Integration Guide to House of Worship 2023]

To continue to provide vibrant musical performances while ensuring improved sound coverage for an enhanced listening experience, the Village Community Presbyterian Church turned to integrator Sound Image to install a d&b audiotechnik Soundscape system with En-Scene object-based mixing for a more distributed, immersive auditory experience.

Speech intelligibility is critical for houses of worship, but it can often be difficult within spaces known for reverberation issues. "The spoken word in a church is really what people come to hear," said Jake Henricksen, design consultant and account executive with integrator Sound Image. "If you can't understand the message or are distracted by echo or reverberation of sound, the message is lost."

The Soundscape system provides a highly intelligible system through modern object-oriented mixing for a natural sound, allowing the entire congregation not to be audibly distracted and focus on the messages being presented. "The d&b Soundscape system gives us the ability to create sound in a new way, by virtually placing audio inputs and moving them around in the system creates a whole new layer of sound," explained Adrian Narlock, director of media ministries.

Preserve the Peace

Previously, the church had been outfitted with column speakers that were too far apart, causing a gap in sound coverage. With an older congregation, the church was constantly inundated with complaints from those unable to hear the service. The speakers were also visually unappealing and did not blend in or complement their space.

"The sanctuary is so beautiful that they didn't want any aesthetic changes at all," recalled Henricksen. "They didn't want to see big line arrays showing and didn't like the current speakers, which were column speakers mounted on the walls down low. That was the biggest challenge to overcome. How do we put speakers that don't look like speakers in this space?"

After reviewing its options, as well as video testimonials from other churches discussing their experiences using immersive audio systems, the Village Church decided it needed the upgrade. From start to finish, the project was a three-year process, including a lengthy exploration and design phase.

[How d&b Helps a Church Create an Engaging Environment Worldwide]

It was not ideal to immediately close the church again after only recently reopening during the pandemic. Still, it would have been too difficult with the level of access and time needed for the installation to remain open. The sanctuary closed for three weeks, church services moved outside, and the technology installation progressed smoothly.

Protecting the church's interior was one of the team's significant challenges. The solid wood pews, some 40 feet long, needed to be moved out of the space, and the beautiful tile flooring required protection before the installation could begin.

Even though the system requires more loudspeaker positions than a traditional PA integration, the cabinets are smaller and can be positioned to limit sightlines. The loudspeaker elements were also color-matched to the ceiling using a standard RAL color chart and discretely rigged, allowing them to integrate seamlessly.

Sound Image Integration had to get creative when attaching everything due to the curvature of the interior beams, and worked closely with a structural engineer to ensure everything was placed precisely. There were also no conduit pathways on the ceiling, so all cabling had to be discreetly routed on top of the beams and tucked away so none of the wirings were visible.

[I Love It Loud]

The complete audio system configuration includes five 12S-D main loudspeakers, two 44S loudspeakers for out fills, two flush-mounted 44S loudspeakers for front fills, two 16C column loudspeakers for stage fills, two 27S subwoofers, three 30D amplifiers, one DS10 Dante network bridge, and a DS100 signal engine with En-Scene for Soundscape. The mixing console was also upgraded to a Yamaha QL5, including Dante networking that was needed for the Soundscape system. Additional Shure UXL-D wireless microphones were added to their existing network, and a small package of DPA 4098 and 4099 microphones was added to better amplify the choir.

With both level and delay processing independently utilized per loudspeaker position in real time, the loudspeakers produce sound simultaneously, creating accurate localization no matter where members of the congregation are seated in the sanctuary. The d&b Soundscape system provides a natural mix, so the listener's attention is drawn to the actual audio source, providing a stronger connection between the stage and the congregation.

Visual Upgrade

Although the sound was a critical focus, the church knew it also needed to upgrade its video and streaming capabilities to better provide for the needs of their congregation. When the pandemic impacted its services, the church relied on a temporary production system to allow them to stream services—but needed something more permanent moving forward to maintain and increase their online presence.

Its previous video and projection system offered poor quality, with an image that never looked bright enough, even in a dark environment. The screen was also loud and disruptive when coming down mid-service for use. The new system includes Strong/MDI screens and 11,000-lumen Digital Projection E-Vision 4K projectors, a significant improvement over the previous 5,000-lumen projectors. The upgrade also dropped the distracting noise level when the screen moved by four decibels.

The Village Church had relied on consumer camcorders on tripods, but Sound Image recommended transitioning to a PTZ solution. Panasonic AW-UE150 4K PTZs were installed, along with a Blackmagic Design ATEM 4 M/E 4K production switcher.

Video is sent to an upgraded production suite. After improving the infrastructure with new cable pathways and connection panels, the suite was outfitted with Samsung monitors, Blackmagic recording hardware and web presenters, and Dynaudio studio monitors. The suite also includes ProPresenter for media playout and a Panasonic AW-RP60 compact remote PTZ camera controller.

Lighting was also upgraded with the help of ETC ColorSource PARs and spots, helping the church take its existing system from full white to full-color mixing capabilities. Lights were also placed on the stage deck to uplight the organ, providing a stronger focus on it during musical performances. The ETC ColorSource 20 DMX console was also added, and the ETC Paradigm was reprogrammed to strengthen the architectural lighting needs, allowing the church to do everything from basic lighting to complex production schemes.

With an all-volunteer AV team (led by Narlock) with different levels of experience, it was critical that the system was designed to be easy to use. Sound Image helped train the team and was on site for the first few services to address any tech issues. MxU, an online training resource for house of worship production teams, also offered training and resources.

[How Desert Reign Church Brings Inspiring Digital Experiences to Congregation]

For those with limited training on the system, Q-SYS Control allows for a simple control option through front-of-house touchscreens. This allows basic control of the projectors and wireless microphones, making it easy for anyone to walk into the space and operate some basic functions.

Live streaming has continued post-pandemic, with traditional services streamed every Sunday. The system is capable of 4K streaming, and the church is looking to archive in 4K in the near future. The streaming capabilities have opened the Village Church's services to worldwide viewership, and allows a congregation known to travel to engage with services, no matter their location. The church hopes its experience will be a lesson for other houses of worship on the possibilities of embracing more advanced technology integrations and strengthening the all-important spoken word.

Lightware Visual Engineering has had a busy September, releasing a new USB-C extenders based on SDVoE technology and teaming with Q-SYS. Here's what you need to know. 

Lightware Joins the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program

Lightware Visual Engineering has joined the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program. Within the program, Lightware has collaborated closely with Q-SYS to introduce a Q-SYS Certified plug-in that is tailored to integrate Lightware's extensive video matrix range. This plug-in provides comprehensive control over various video matrix devices. At launch, the plug-in will support the Taurus UCX, an HDMI 2.0 switcher with breakout audio in addition to occupancy sensor input with various control features.

[Q-SYS Acquires AI Technology Company]

The Q-SYS Platform plus Lightware video matrices have become an integral part of dynamic AV systems. This plug-in, available in Q-SYS Design Software, streamlines the design and integration of both solutions and offers enhanced flexibility and efficiency in design, commissioning, and deployment.

Introducing the Taurus TPX for Long-Distance USB-C Extension

The Taurus TPX is a lineup of USB-C extenders for high-resolution transmission over long distances. Based on SDVoE technology, the Taurus TPX features a transmitter (TX) and a receiver (RX) that enable users to connect their devices, share their content, switch hosts and control their meeting room easily and intuitively.

The Taurus TPX is built on the foundation of Lightware’s Taurus UCX, its unified communications (UC) connectivity solution that bridges the gap between BYOM applications and USB-C devices. However, every meeting room is different, and the distance between the table (the host’s laptop) and the different peripherals such as the webcam or the high-quality mic is often beyond the native capabilities of USB technology.

The Taurus TPX is uniquely designed to connect devices and peripherals, such as web cameras and microphones, across long distances in large-scale applications. Lightware’s newest development, and a natural progression from the widely popular Taurus UCX, the Taurus TPX creates a reliable, high-performance solution for extending 4K60 4:4:4 video resolution across distances up to 100 meters. The Taurus TPX features two USB-C inputs, two HDMI inputs and USB ports for host devices, such as laptops, on the TX device, and together eight USB type-A connectors for peripherals, specifically four on the TX and four on the RX. This unique connectivity platform allows users to share their content, switch hosts and control their meeting room easily and intuitively. In addition, Taurus TPX provides fast charging of laptops, tablets and smartphones. 

[One Standard to Rule Them All?]

By harnessing SDVoE technology, users can enjoy the same benefits of simplified video, audio, control, Ethernet connectivity and charging over one single CATx cable in rooms where longer distances need to be bridged. Ideal for corporate, higher education, and government and security applications, Taurus TPX enables users to utilize third-party video conferencing applications within a collaboration space, including Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. It creates a simplified and intuitive solution for users to switch between multiple third-party applications depending upon their meeting needs. 

Additionally, Taurus TPX can automate room assets like lights and shades without the complexity of using another control platform. Notably, the TX supplies power to the RX, eliminating the need for additional power sources and reducing power consumption across devices. The Taurus TPX can be controlled via button panels, web browsers or by connecting a source. Together with the auto-switching and room control capabilities, the Taurus TPX creates a simplified collaboration solution.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record,  AV/IT technology managers, directors, and other decision-makers must install new or upgrade audio solutions in any space that isn’t optimized for speech intelligibility—on the near and far side.

Louder is no longer good enough when microphone and speaker technologies have advanced so that participants in the back of the room can hear as clearly as those in the front of the room. In today’s hybrid world, it’s imperative for participants at the far end of video conference and collaboration session to hear and be heard by every person in a meeting space.

Below are 21 outstanding audio products to help you make some sound decisions. 

Sennheiser’s TeamConnect (TC) Bar Solutions

Sennheiser’s TeamConnect (TC) Bar Solutions deliver trusted Sennheiser audio quality to every meeting with the TC Bar S and TC Bar M. Designed to maximize meeting and collaboration spaces, the TC Bar Solutions will easily integrate with your favorite meeting platform and can be further enhanced with compatible products. Featuring the latest advances in meeting technology, like the 4K Ultra HD camera that comes with AI-powered autoframing and person tiling, the TC Bars enable remote participants to clearly see and hear everyone in the room, so even the smallest gestures and facial expressions are conveyed to maximize meeting inclusion and engagement.

Audix’s M45 Shortgun 

Audix’s M45 Shortgun miniaturized shotgun condenser installed ceiling mic is able to cover up to 150 square feet of area with remarkable sensitivity and exceptionally clear sound. It is ideal for use in corporate- or educational classroom-style setups, boardrooms, and conference rooms, as well as larger lecture venues and hospitals. 

Highly versatile and amiable, it features a low-profile, swivel-and-pivot base for convenient positioning. The M45 is optimized for vocal intelligibility and offers high sensitivity of 98 mV / Pa at 1 kHz, a maximum SPL of >124 dB, an integrated preamp, immunity from RF interference, and is easy to install in a 1.5-inch hole with no additional tools required. 

Shure’s MXA902 Integrated Conferencing Ceiling Array

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

EPOS’ IMPACT 1000 Headset

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

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

Atlona’s AT-CAP-SP100 Speakerphone

Atlona’s AT-CAP-SP100 Speakerphone is a USB and Bluetooth speakerphone designed for use with popular conferencing and unified communications platforms including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco, and many more. Combining microphone and speaker audio in a single, elegant enclosure, the CAP-SP100 provides 360-degree coverage to capture voices within a radius of up to 16 feet. Its six-element microphone array focuses audio pickup while suppressing background noises, allowing individual meeting participants to be heard loudly and clearly. USB-C, Bluetooth, and analog audio connectivity ensure compatibility with a wide array of computers and mobile devices, while the included battery allows operation up to eight hours without a power connection.

Vaddio’s EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D

Vaddio’s EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D is an in-ceiling audio solution with an overhead microphone and a built-in speaker amplifier—both featuring Dante networked audio. The EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D features a PoE+ network connection, an overhead microphone, and one powered speaker output, making it a convenient and cost-effective two-in-one solution for incorporating a microphone and a passive speaker with an EasyIP or Dante audio system. Dante makes installing any-size project easy by providing digital signal transmission over the network. The EasyIP CeilingMIC/AMP D is part of the expanding family of Vaddio’s EasyIP AV-over-IP ecosystem.

Yamaha UC’s CS-800 Video Sound Bar

Yamaha UC’s CS-800 Video Sound Bar features a 4K AI-enabled video camera that supports auto-framing and allows for three modes: speaker tracking, individual tracking, or group mode. Audio and video information are used to determine the section of the space or meeting room where relevant participants are located to direct the focus to that area.

Through a simple HDMI connection, users can easily launch video calls on the CS-800. Whether used in a BYOD environment or with installed equipment, the product supports auto wake up when someone enters the meeting space and provides on-screen guidance regarding how to start the meeting. Additionally, the technology enables companies to add customized images and corporate messaging.

Panasonic Connect’s WX-AM800 Ceiling Array Microphone

Panasonic Connect’s WX-AM800 Ceiling Array Microphone, designed to cover a 30-by-30-foot area with four adjustable zones, automatically adjusts its sensitivity based on the location of the speaker and features built-in integration with one Panasonic PTZ camera for voice tracking without a control system. With the new WX-AU202 Antenna/Receiver, users can add up to two Panasonic DECT wireless microphones without having to use rack space. Corporate meeting rooms and classrooms need crisp, clear audio technology to ensure all participants, whether they are in-person or tuning in remotely, can actively participate in the conversation.

Nureva’s HDL310 and HDL410 Audio Conferencing Systems

Nureva’s HDL310 and HDL410 Audio Conferencing Systems give customers a plug-and-play system with pro-AV-quality audio that lets every voice be heard. The simplicity of installation, setup, and device management gives IT professionals new opportunities to accelerate the cost-effective deployment of their large and extra-large conferencing spaces without compromising the collaboration experience. These unique systems are powered by Nureva’s patented Microphone Mist technology, which fills a space with thousands of virtual microphones to deliver the full-room audio pickup and clarity required for an inclusive meeting experience, regardless of where participants are located or facing.

Bose Professional’s Videobar VB1 and VB-S

Bose Professional’s Videobar VB1 and VB-S conferencing devices are all-in-one USB meeting solutions. The Videobar VB1 is specifically designed for medium-sized meeting spaces up to 20 by 20 feet. Its counterpart the Videobar VB-S is more compact, with plug-and-play simplicity enabling a quick and easy setup—ideal for small meeting spaces of up to 10 by 10 feet. The Videobar VB1 provides six automatic beam-steering microphones (four for the Videobar VB-S), a 4K Ultra HD camera, and signature sound—together removing videoconferencing hardware headaches. The Bose Professional Videobar conferencing devices help you huddle up, connect, and get more done.

Sony Electronics’ SLS-1A High-Performance Line-Array Speaker

Sony Electronics’ SLS-1A High-Performance Line-Array Speaker is purpose-built to create new sound field coverage for education, corporate, retail, and faith applications. The speaker solves common pain points for large and medium spaces with large-format displays; for example, unfavorable acoustics and architectural challenges, unintelligibility, separation of visuals and sound, and the inability to create a listening experience prioritized for each participant. The SLS-1A minimizes sound distortion and enables beam steering to accurately control the direction and angle of sound delivery. It features center-screen sound localization technology for a uniform sound experience, regardless of location.

Jabra’s Speak2 75 Professional Speakerphone

Jabra’s Speak2 75 Professional Speakerphone is the best for hybrid working. It is a personal, pocketable device for the coffee-table-conferencing, dining-room-dialing, hotel-hot-desking meeting rooms of today’s hybrid world. It’s the next generation of Jabra’s world-leading Speak Series of professional, portable speakerphones, and it is packed with the latest technology, including a 65mm speaker, super-wideband audio, full-duplex audio for the most natural conversations, and four beamforming microphones. It’s also the only speakerphone in its class to feature an intuitive Microphone Quality Indicator, and both USB-C and USB-A connectors on the same cable.

Crestron Flex Pods

Crestron Flex Pods by Crestron provide flexible, high-quality audio for hybrid meetings and are scalable across many spaces. All components are designed to be used out of the box with no audio setup. No matter where the people are in the space, the solution can be moved to ensure optimal range and reach so everyone can hear, and be heard, clearly. In-room participants experience consistent audio as volume levels are synchronized across all Crestron Flex Pods in the room. Users can easily mute, unmute, and adjust the speaker volume right on the Crestron Flex Pods, putting control where the people are.

Logitech’s Rally Series All-in-One Video Bars

Logitech’s Rally Series All-in-One Video Bars deliver easy, equitable, and consistent video conferencing experiences across various-sized rooms, and feature impressive audio. A natural meeting experience for remote employees is created with the twice-as-loud Rally Bar Huddle’s redesigned ported-audio system, advanced sound pickup via beamforming mics, and AI-based noise suppression.

Similarly, Rally Bar’s advanced audio engineering—high-performance speaker drivers, adaptive beamforming mics, port tube for enhanced low frequencies, and patented anti-vibration suspension system for full duplex—deliver powerful, room-filling sound so everyone is heard. AI sound optimization is made possible for auto-level loud and soft voices while suppressing unwanted noise with RightSound technology that improves over time.

SoundTube’s STNet IPD-Hub 2 Amplifier

SoundTube’s STNet IPD-Hub 2 Amplifier, a versatile, Dante-enabled two-channel amplifier, is ideal for audio conferencing applications. Plenum-rated with onboard DSP and AES67 compatibility, it is a cost-effective alternative to conventional audio distribution. The optional Remote Volume Control enables seamless integration with RDL Format A input devices. Operating via PoE, PoE+, or MSE’s High Power PoE @ 40W means flexibility and efficiency. It’s perfect for small- to medium-sized areas, with the capacity to link multiple units for larger spaces or eight-zone setups. Optimize your conferencing audio experience with the STNet IP-enabled IPD-Hub 2 amp and SoundTube IPD speakers

Q-SYS’ NM Series Network Microphones

Q-SYS’ NM Series Network Microphones are ideal for any collaboration space. They feature advanced beamforming technology with four software-configurable zones and up to 360-degree coverage, allowing designers to minimize noise and refine intelligibility for optimal collaboration experiences. The tabletop NM-T1 enables users to easily manage meetings with a fully programmable RGB LED light ring for visual indication of the microphone mute state. For touchless operation, it includes an integrated proximity sensor that is activated with a simple hand wave over the microphone. All processing on the NM-T1 is centralized on the Q-SYS Core processor, providing processing flexibility and headroom for additional field-deployable microphone enhancements via software, now and into the future. 

Biamp’s Desono C-IC6LP

Biamp’s Desono C-IC6LP low-profile ceiling mount loudspeaker provides an ideal choice for any conferencing space that demands superior speech reproduction in narrow-depth ceilings. The powerful and versatile shallow, low-profile ceiling loudspeaker features just a 4-inch (10cm) mounting depth. Optimized for superior speech reproduction in conferencing environments, the C-IC6LP is a two-way 6.5-inch (16.5cm) passive coaxial loudspeaker with either a standard category cable or a traditional speaker cable installation connection. The C-IC6LP also directly integrates with the Tesira AMP-450BP, a four-channel “backpack” PoE+ amplifier that reduces wiring requirements and installation time.

ClearOne’s BMA 360D

ClearOne’s BMA 360D Beamforming Microphone Array Ceiling Tile delivers unrivaled audio performance. It’s the industry’s only ultra-wideband, frequency-invariant beamforming mic array with uniform gain response across all frequency bands. Dante integration enhances the array’s functionality by delivering unprocessed beam audio on individual Dante transmit channels, and a smart-switched output is delivered on a separate Dante channel to provide the optimal mix of active inputs while enabling ClearOne’s full suite of audio enhancements. The BMA 360D now incorporates the world’s most advanced audio technology and is compatible with any Dante-enabled DSP mixer.

ATEN Technology’s AS Series Ceiling Speakers

ATEN Technology’s AS Series Ceiling Speakers deliver excellent sound quality through their 100-20kHz bandwidth, allowing maximum listening space efficiency with fewer sets of speakers. They come in pairs of 4-inch (AS104) or 6.5-inch (AS106) coaxial two-way loudspeakers with a 20mm dome tweeter; 30W RMS and 60W peak power, and 60W RMS and 120W peak power, respectively; and matching transformers running on 70/100V lines or 8 ohm to suit various applications. Phase issues are minimized by adopting coaxial neodymium magnetic drivers. 

The AS Series is manufactured with UL94-V0 materials, improving flame and fire protection. ATEN ceiling speakers are ideal for auditoriums, HoW, sports venues, and mid-size meeting spaces.

Listen Technologies’ ListenWIFI

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

AtlasIED IsoFlare Series

The AtlasIED IsoFlare Series of premium ceiling loudspeakers is the perfect accompaniment for any corporate conference room. The IsoFlare series uses a specialized core based on next-generation point source technology and offers outstanding stereo imaging with constant directivity for more immersive sound quality. The series includes coaxial high-frequency compression drivers for consistent audio quality and high-caliber transformers to prevent distortion. It is available in seven models, including full-range models in four-, six-, and eight-inch sizes, a 4-inch low profile model, an 8-inch subwoofer, and two pre-install models.

The Washington Commanders, one of the oldest NFL franchises, have certainly not been strangers to change over the past few seasons. Now, with the help of Anthony James Partners, the Commanders are bringing more transformation, this time ushering in a new era of gameday AV experiences to Commander fans.

FedExField—which is located in Summerfield, MD and plays host to Commanders football, a slew of musical acts and tours, and even Premier League soccer matches—opened its doors in 1997. Then named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, the stadium changed its name entering the 2000 NFL season to its current moniker. From 2004-2010, FedExField seated 91,000 people—the most in the NFL—until the stadium contracted the seating to the nearly 68,000 capacity it holds today.

While stadium seating, team ownership, and even the team name have been through numerous transformations over the past decade, the facility's AV offerings had not. According to Royce Wall, vice president, construction services at Anthony James Partners and the lead on the LED design, procurement, and construction oversight at FedExField, the Daktronics displays at the stadium needed to be updated. More than a decade old, the previous displays were faded—and with so many different modules replaced over the years, it took on the appearance of a checkerboard more than a fan-friendly display.

Flash and Flare

The LED enhancement began as early as July 2022, when AJP designed the system and began fielding bid offers. By December, the Commanders had selected ANC to provide not only new gameday and ribbon board displays, but an entire graphics package for the first year. The North American representative for Lighthouse, ANC turned to the company's LED screens for the north and south endzones, game-in-play displays, and the LED ribbon displays encircling the bowl.

"There are endless benefits to working with a trusted single-source solution partner,” explained Alison Burke Benesta, senior director, marketing and branding for ANC. “More than simply adding new digital screens is required to improve a venue's experience fully. Beyond the required technical integration expertise, teams want to take the latest display technologies to the next level.

"Venue display systems must deliver a connected experience visually and behind the scenes. To achieve that, there needs to be a strategic network of complimentary technology and venue solutions, including powerful control software, creative content production, multimedia advertising solutions, ongoing maintenance, and reliable partners that build custom solutions that ensure our client’s success for years to come.”

The main end zone Lighthouse displays are 8mm HD displays (tighter than the previous 23mm displays) that measure 95x26 feet. A pair of ribbon displays flank each scoreboard and measure 2.95x674.5 feet with a 10mm pixel pitch. Four 8mm game-in-play displays were installed throughout the stadium measuring at 4.4x31 feet. ANC also provided a one-year unlimited graphics package that includes, well, everything.

Wall said ANC will handle marketing and other graphics for both main displays and ribbon board displays. "In terms of fan engagement, just think about the ability to highlight 30 sponsors throughout the stadium throughout the experience, along with continued game prompts, touchdowns, get loud, scoreboards, things like that," he added. "ANC is creating all content for the whole year for them."

"ANC Studios designers have an extensive understanding of unique aspect ratios, wrapping content, and visibility,” added Burke Benesta. “Additionally, we utilize the primary objective of the location to creatively produce content for the purpose of the different displays. It’s important when starting the process to keep the big picture of the fan experience in mind. Hence, all boards deliver a fun but cohesive look and still play to their strengths.”

We always hear that new LED displays—which made their FedExField debut during a Premier League doubleheader on July 30—bring a better gameday experience. But what exactly does that mean? "The flash and the flare," Wall explained. "When you sit in these stadiums, you can see the action on the field, but you get more out of it when you watch the high-definition boards. FedExField's new 8mm displays are probably the tightest pixel pitch in the industry; most venues are at about 10mm. Before the upgrade, you really didn't even pay attention to [the displays] because they had no impact. Now it's bright, it's clean, it's fresh, and with the enhanced audio, it's just going to be incredible."

All About the Experience

The audio Wall referred to is a work in progress. As with the LED displays in place, the sound system was old and needed to be replaced. Jack Covert, director of audio and AV engineering at AJP, quickly realized he had a monster on his hands. 

“We recognized based on the complexity and the size of the stadium and access, it was going to be broken into two phases," Covert explained. “The stadium doesn't stop; it doesn't shut down. They've got events, they've got soccer, they've got Beyoncé coming in in a couple of weeks. The amount of staging they do takes—let's put it this way, it's not as fast as halftime at the Super Bowl."

Phase one was ready for the Commanders first NFL preseason home game in mid-August, and phase two will begin as soon as the NFL season ends. During the first phase, AJP identified existing components that could be used for another year.

“It's a distributed system around the stadium everywhere, and you can tell that although it was a thoughtful design originally, a lot of delay fill speakers have been added in different places,” Covert explained. “We had to get around and identify all of that, the condition of that, and the reason it was put in. So, phase one: a new front-of-house mix position refit and a completely new loudspeaker system.” 

With the help of Washington Professional Systems (WPS), AJP selected and installed more than 40 Fulcrum Acoustic FH15 Series loudspeakers, which, according to Covert, cover the majority of the stadium. A Powersoft Unica amplifier system was chosen for its power and reliability. A QSC Q-SYS system is being used for processing, Shure digital wireless improves speech intelligibility for the PA announcers and hosts, while a DiGiCo FOH mixing console brings it all together. 

Phase two will literally take the audio to new heights, as the plan is to install Fulcrum Acoustic AHC Series loudspeakers and US221 subwoofers on the lighting towers at season’s end. 

Covert said the challenge is to offer enhanced live sound that is comparable to audio performance from quality headphones or earbuds. “It's twofold. Number one, certainly we want to enhance the experience for the audience, which means the subwoofer, the sub-low content of the sound system, needs to go down to the bottom of the spectrum,” he noted. “At the same time, we need to be able to have efficient coverage from the upper mids to the high frequencies, defining speech intelligibility, as well as providing that kind of sparkling clean sound that everybody's used to from a full range device.”

Elevated Expectations

Whether it is football or fútbol, fans at FedExField are now engulfed in an experience that touches all the senses. “There's absolutely no doubt in our minds that this upgrade is exactly what is needed at FedExField and is going to elevate the client expectations for the NFL games and other performances in the stadium exponentially," said Covert.

"The upgraded video displays and audio systems are the next steps in modernizing our stadium to create an exciting and immersive gameday experience," added Trista Langdon, senior vice president of operations and guest experience for the Washington Commanders. "The upgraded resolution will immediately improve the in-game experience for our fans by providing crisp views of video content and game information, as well as immersive play-by-play engagement."

According to Wall, with the recent change in ownership, if a new stadium is on the horizon in the not-so-distant future, the Commanders are ready to move forward. “The buy-in to replace these displays was that potentially in the next three to five years, if the team ends up with a new home, the intent is to take the displays with them,” he explained.

Not only did this project expand AJP’s audio portfolio into the sports world, but for Wall, there was some personal satisfaction with the successful installation. “I've been a Washington fan my entire life,” Wall said. “Being part of this build and working in the stadium was something that my family and I were excited about. We've watched them since forever. On a personal level, it meant a lot to be at FedExField getting to know all the folks there. They're just incredible people.”

Daktronics Delivers at Lambeau Field

The Green Bay Packers selected Daktronics to manufacture and install two main video displays, two auxiliary video displays, and 60 concourse LED displays at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. The installation of approximately 24,500 square feet of LED displays totaling 79.5 million pixels took place in the spring, and the technology was set to debut at the beginning of football season this fall.

Each main end zone display will feature 6mm pixel spacing and measure more than 10,500 square feet at 48x220 feet. The Packers displays will be one of the few 4K displays in professional football. These displays are also HDR-capable and feature environmental protection to keep them operating as expected in the Green Bay weather.

The east and west auxiliary scoreboard displays will each measure more than 7x74.5 feet and feature 6mm pixel spacing to share all the scoring and statistical information fans expect to see as they follow along with the game.

All 60 displays in the concourses will feature 2.9mm pixel spacing as they connect with fans away from their seats and keep them immersed in the action while moving about the stadium. Varying in size, each display is optimized for its location inside Lambeau Field for maximum impact on audiences, whether showing live game feeds, concessions, pro shop promotions, live data updates, or other special messaging.

“Daktronics is proud to once again have a significant presence inside Lambeau Field,” said Tony Mulder, Daktronics regional manager. “We have been fortunate enough to work with the Packers recently as they have updated their outdoor marquees and some of their club area high-resolution displays, but the in-bowl displays are certainly our core business. We couldn’t be happier partnering with the Packers organization and such a legendary stadium on those centerpieces once again.” 

The innovation of AI-driven camera automation is sweeping the AV/IT industry, and the latest announcement out of Q-SYS only punctuates the importance of videoconferencing technologies. 

Q-SYS, has announced the completion of its acquisition of Seervision, a Swiss-based industry pioneer in AI-driven camera automation software. This first integrated AI solution for Q-SYS will deliver a more engaging real-time remote experience, setting new standards for intelligent video in hybrid learning and high-impact collaboration spaces. 

Starting August 7, 2023, Q-SYS customers will have the option to purchase Seervision solutions through Q-SYS sales channels in a select number of countries with a planned global phased rollout in additional countries in the coming months.  

Seervision’s AI and computer vision-based scene analysis enables best-in-class presenter tracking in higher ed or corporate collaboration spaces. Combined with Q-SYS Automatic Camera Preset Recall (ACPR) audio-based camera technology it extends the experience to include audience participation, ensuring that the far-end always sees who is talking. The result is a scalable, intelligent video solution capable of addressing the varying presentation and collaboration needs found in classrooms, lecture halls and high impact collaboration spaces. 

“This is just the beginning of exploring what’s possible as we begin to fully integrate Seervision into the Q-SYS Platform,” says Jatan Shah, President & COO, Q-SYS. “With the addition of advanced Seervision technologies plus the engineering talent and resources from the Seervision team, we look forward to changing the landscape of intelligent video collaboration across many markets and applications.” 

“We want to uphold our steadfast commitment to support excellence with the rollout of this exciting new technology,” says Anna Csontos, EVP, CMO and Chief of Staff, Q-SYS. “That is why each of these systems will be paired with Q-SYS support teams, who will provide initial design and commissioning support for Q-SYS + Seervision solutions, allowing customers to leverage our expertise to guide and optimize the integration process.” 

For more information about the first Q-SYS integrated AI solutions, visit: www.qsys.com/seervision. 

[Analog Way Joins Q-SYS Technology Partner Program]

K-array has extended its control plug-in offerings. This focus reinforces K-array's commitment to empowering integrators and users via improved control and integration capabilities of their audio systems.

K-array's control plug-ins provide integrators with the flexibility and convenience to manage and optimise audio solutions within the leading control systems. The latest additions to K-array's control plug-in portfolio include integrations for Q-SYS, Crestron, Crestron Home, AMX, RTI, and Control4. By forging these key partnerships, K-array ensures its products integrate seamlessly with some of the industry's most widely used control platforms, across both commercial and residential markets.

[Takeaways from the 2023 Crestron Modern Work Summit]

The integration of K-array's audio solutions with leading control platforms offers significant advantages and benefits to integrators and users alike, who can enjoy a more intuitive and user-friendly control experience.

“These partnerships are beneficial as they allow our customers to choose their own control processor, enabling them to easily include and integrate our products with the platforms they are already familiar with," explained Matteo Barbaro, software product manager at K-array. “By providing them with all the necessary tools to interact with and manage our devices, integrators are able to work more efficiently, which in turn, benefits the end user.”

The extension of K-array’s plug-in range also fits with the brand's ongoing commitment to software development, with these plug-in announcements coming shortly after the launch of K-array’s own software suite, a series of tools intended to streamline monitoring and system control.

[AMX by HARMAN Receives JITC Certification for 66 Products]

“By expanding our control plug-in library, we empower integrators and provide greater control capabilities to end users,” confirmed Barbaro. “We’re currently working with companies like Savant and Symetrix to integrate our products into their platforms and will soon offer plug-ins for several residential-focused control systems too. Through implementing OSC protocol to control our devices, we present the opportunity for other companies that already work with this well-established protocol to partner with K-array."

Analog Way recently joined the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program. This program enables software and hardware technology partners to create market-ready solutions that integrate seamlessly with Q-SYS, a cloud-manageable audio, video and control platform.

[Pro AV Newsmakers: A Q-SYS Acquisition, Promotions and Partnerships]

As part of the program, Analog Way has worked closely with Q-SYS, which has fully vetted and endorsed the Analog Way LivePremier plugin for Q-SYS with a Q-SYS Certified badge (developed with Q-SYS and supported by Analog Way and Q-SYS). This plugin allows easy control of any presentation switcher of the LivePremier series, including screen and layer content control, preset recall, Preview/Program transition, multiviewer management and audio routing.

“We are delighted to become a member of the Q-SYS Technology Partner Program and to provide our customers and partners with a Q-SYS certified plugin, designed to greatly simplify the integration of our powerful LivePremier 4K/8K presentation switchers into the Q-SYS control environment,” said Philippe Vitali, director of product, Analog Way.

Q-SYS and Lenovo are collaborating to provide a seamless way to purchase and deploy high-impact spaces by bundling Lenovo room compute solutions with Q-SYS audio, video and control. This will be available through Q-SYS channels and partners to better serve the needs of the UC market.

[Christopher Jaynes Joins Q-SYS as Senior Vice President of Software Technologies]

“Lenovo is an ideal partner for Q-SYS as they deliver an advanced compute solution for the major UC vendors,” says Jason Moss, vice president, corporate development and alliances, Q-SYS. “Working together, we can expand the reach of both Q-SYS and Lenovo and bring our solutions to even more customers looking to deploy high-impact spaces for their employees."

“Integrating Q-SYS innovative audio, video and control platform with Lenovo ThinkSmart’s intelligent computing provides customers with a complete offering,” says Shannon MacKay, general manager of worldwide smart collaboration business, Lenovo. “Now, more customers will be able to create more powerful workspaces and experiences for smarter collaboration.”

[A Meeting Equity Progress Report] 

“The high-impact space market is driving the collaboration space and we foresee the market rising to 11.3 million spaces by 2025 with the potential for nearly $140 billion in revenue,” concludes Rob Arnold, industry director, information and communications technology, Frost & Sullivan. “The vast opportunity makes this a very unique partnership to provide customers a top to bottom offering that makes it easier to adopt and deploy dynamic and scalable meeting spaces that deliver an elevated user experience.”