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| A Primedia Property | |
| July 13, 2004 | |
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Table of Contents Corporate A/V Top Story When is a display wall controller needed? Installation News Grammy HQ gets surround-sound system from Harman Pro Group Nexo Geo S line array installed in T-Mobile World Headquarters Product News CSI unveils WXGA with stereo audio over one fiber Mstar announces patent-pending line of flat-panel display mounts Tandberg re-engineers product line with MXP technology ADVERTISEMENT For over 30 years, Comprehensive has been the professional's choice for premium interface and multimedia products. The new 2004 Comprehensive catalog is packed with thousands of new products including Comprehensive's world famous cables and the latest from Belden, Canare, Kramer, Neutrik much more. Click here for your free copy or shop online at our website www.comprehensiveinc.com Corporate A/V Top Story When is a display wall controller needed? Increasingly, high-end projectors ship with built-in functions like picture-in-picture, scan conversion, and scaling. As a result, clients considering their first control-room implementation can opt for a single projector, or an array of screens each served by a single projector, as a starter solution. But most will soon face the decision to install an external display wall controller. AV systems integrators can help clients both to recognize when the time has come to step up and to select the right controller for their needs. Increasingly, high-end projectors ship with built-in functions like picture-in-picture, scan conversion, and scaling. As a result, clients considering their first control-room implementation can opt for a single projector, or an array of screens each served by a single projector, as a starter solution. But most will soon face the decision to install an external display wall controller. AV systems integrators can help clients both to recognize when the time has come to step up and to select the right controller for their needs. "A lot of people start out with a two-by-two array with four dedicated projectors, and they're happy," notes Jay Rogina, CEO of Spinitar Presentation Products in Santa Fe Springs, California. "Then their needs grow." Often a simple two-by-two display wall includes a matrix switcher that enables the client to route any input signal to any of the four projectors, but image boundaries have to correspond to the limits of each screen. Sasha Jevtich, senior systems designer at AV Washington in Sterling, Virginia, agrees. "Clients with simple requirements may well find that built-in processing works fine with basic digital signage and public display applications that might show one large image with at most a single PIP inset, but the owner will not be able to use the display wall as a 'large monitor,' moving images at will anywhere on the surface. Clients doing anything beyond this will require some kind of external display wall processor." To Rogina, a decision in favor of an external processor most often comes when a client wants to move or re-size windows on the fly, or when "you need more windows than you have screens." Spreading a single image across more than one screen is difficult to accomplish with built-in processing, he says. "How many inputs do you have, and how many do you want to look at at any one time?" Another key decision point arises when the client needs to display data inputs that are dissimilar in format or resolution, Rogina says. Jim Gavloski, director of product management, control room and videowall solutions for Christie Digital Systems in Kitchener, Ontario, says that for vendors, the key decision is how to put just the right amount of processing power into a projector. "We can have two sources come into a projector and do picture-in-picture," he notes, adding that projectors also can have the ability to spread images over portions of multiple screens. However, "if we put too much functionality into the projector, the client might end up buying something they don't need." Much better, Gavloski says, to put the projector in the service of a versatile controller. "The controller is not that intimidating or expensive," he comments. "There's nothing too magical about it." Stepping up to a separate controller brings an impressive array of benefits. "With a display wall controller you drive the projectors in the wall at their native resolutions, thus all pixels can be used for display of more detail," says Eric Wogsberg, CEO of Jupiter Systems in San Leandro, California. "DWCs also handle any configuration of projectors, not just two by two. "DWCs typically have the ability to bring in multiple video and high-res RGB signals into windows which can be positioned anywhere on the wall and made any size," he adds. Jevtich sees native-resolution displays as a big plus. "Setup, alignment, and edge-matching only have to be done with one signal source," he explains. "With a switch and signals of a variety of different formats and timings, projectors have to be set up to work properly with every signal source, a tedious task." Clients should turn to the AV integrator for guidance in making these decisions, and the first step integrator and client should take together, Jevtich says, is "a proper needs analysis." Installation News Grammy HQ gets surround-sound system from Harman Pro Group Harman Pro Group has announced the completion of a new, state-of-the-art sound system in the boardroom of the Los Angeles headquarters of the Recording Academy. Conceived, designed, and installed by leading lights of the recording community, the room is the brainchild of Phil Ramone, producer of numerous iconic albums and chairman of the Producers & Engineers Wing (P&E Wing) of the Recording Academy. Ramone corralled a veritable dream team of audio experts including Peter Chaikin of Harman Pro Group; John Eargle, a widely recognized expert on audio design; George Augspurger, a distinguished consultant and recording veteran; and Leslie Lewis, director of the P&E Wing. The result is an astonishingly clear, beautiful-sounding room that allows listeners to truly appreciate the depth of the music in that room for the first time. The 5.1 surround-sound system consists of soffit-mounted JBL Professional LSR6332 three-way 12-inch studio Monitors. The low end is comprised of two LSR6312SP Subwoofers with JBL RMC room mode correction. Only the cleanest, most powerful amplifiers were considered for this project, so the system includes three Crown Reference 1 power amplifiers. Surround processing is via a Lexicon MC12, and a JBL Synthesis system serves as the graphic room EQ. When the installation was complete and the room was tuned to the desired specifications, the committee gathered to listen as the final test. "The sound quality is better than ever," said Recording Academy president Neil Portnow. "We are grateful to our wonderful partners at the Harman Pro Group for bestowing upon us a state-of-the-art sound system worthy of our organization, and for their invaluable expertise and support." "The room sounds superb," Chaikin says. "Given the high profile of the Grammy Awards and the supreme level of talent that would be listening to music in the room, we viewed the system as a reference test for our professional and consumer components. It's very reassuring to get the vote from such an esteemed, talented group." For more information about the Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. Headquartered in Northridge, California, the Harman Pro Group is part of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-fidelity audio products and infotainment systems for the automotive, home, and professional markets. Harman Pro Group companies include AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, dbx, Crown International, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Soundcraft, and Studer. Nexo Geo S line array installed in T-Mobile World Headquarters The Walters-Storyk Design Group Europe has just completed the installation of a Nexo Geo S line array system at the world headquarters of T-Mobile in Bonn, Germany. The hall also features the world's largest LED Screen in 6mm resolution technology that has been built to date. WSDG was responsible for the specification of an electroacoustical sound reinforcement system for a wide range of usage, from DVD/movie replay to single-speaker presentations. The hall can be used in various configurations, all of which have been carefully analysed. The system spec consists of a Left, Center, Right Nexo Geo S design, with the center channel located above the screen, and an additional front fill below it. All speakers are hidden behind sound-transparent "Texaa Aeria" fabric which covers the entire front wall. Connectivity and processing is built around a Biamp Audia network / DSP mainframe. Control data and audio data are transmitted over CobraNet from the control room (at the rear of the hall) to the amp rack, which is filled with CAMCO Vortex amplifiers - there is just one CAT 5 Ethernet connection between the two locations. The Biamp DSP can be accessed over the Internet. "All in all, for a room with four out of six walls being glass or stone, and no option to change this, the result is rather nice," according to Dirk Noy, general manager of the Walters-Storyk Design Group Europe. The local installation and project management has been performed by Matija Bilandzija, Mr. Petzke, and Joerg Buening from Kuchem Konferenztechnik. For further information, visit www.nexo-sa.com. Product News CSI unveils WXGA with stereo audio over one fiber Communications Specialties, Inc. (CSI) introduces the first fiber optic link to digitally transmit high-resolution RGB (up to WXGA) and stereo audio over one single mode or multimode fiber optic core - the Pure Digital Fiberlink 7220 Series. The 7220 Series is compatible with any type of display device that supports VGA, SVGA, XGA and WXGA, plus HDTV resolutions of 480p, 720p, and 1080i (RGBHV format only). The system uses all digital processing and transmission and requires no adjustments, equalization, or de-skewing during installation. It transmits signals over one single mode or multimode fiber optic core at 1550nm wavelength. A complete kit is available for a "ready to install" solution, including transmitter, receiver, power supplies, 250m of fiber, and various audio and VGA cables. Box and card units also sold separately. For more information, visit www.commspecial.com. Phone: (631) 273-0404; fax: (631) 273-1638; e-mail: info@commspecial.com. For product specifications, click here. Mstar announces patent-pending line of flat-panel display mounts Mstar, a leading manufacturer of premium mounting systems, announced today the Mstar line of patent-pending universal flat-panel display (FPD) mounting systems. With its new line of FPD mounts, Mstar revolutionizes the way displays are watched with the flattest mounts with the largest tilts and largest extensions available on the market, which feature simple, three-step installation. Mstar universal mounts are slim, sleek and clean-looking, with no large wall-mounting panels. The Mstar line works with all displays, handling displays up to 63 inches and 200 lb. The Mstar mounts are installed virtually flat with only .830 inches between the screen and the wall. Mstar's three-step installation achieves quick results, and the patented anti-sway and tilt lock box mechanisms provide worry-free, lightweight fingertip-control adjustment. These mechanisms are guaranteed for a lifetime. "We designed our systems with the user, decorator, and installer in mind," said Dale Fedewa, president of Mstar. "Our sleek, soft tubular design will blend into any décor - no large panels or brackets to distract your view. Our systems are designed to hide behind the display. In fact, you will love what you can't see." Mstar flat-panel mounts are covered by a lifetime warranty and are immediately available through authorized dealers and distributors. The Premium Cantilever - PCS200 is priced at $775.99 SRP; Premium Tilt - PTS200, $299.99 SRP; Standard Cantilever - STS145, $389.99 SRP; and Flush Tilt - FTS200, $179.99. For more information, visit www.mstarglobal.com. Tandberg re-engineers product line with MXP technology Taking a major step to improve how video communication is experienced, Tandberg has re-engineered its product line with a powerful new technology called MXP. This critical innovation takes visual communication into the future, introducing the industry's highest-quality audio, superior video quality, state-of-the-art collaboration tools, and advanced multiple-site capabilities. MXP is based on industry standards and is SIP-ready to protect customers' investments in video. Tandberg is focusing on enriching the visual communication experience at a time when a new wave of users is discovering that video systems are no longer simply a boardroom luxury, but a practical and affordable tool for increasing productivity throughout the business process. Video systems are also increasingly used to bring both participants and rich media into an environment of productive collaboration. The new MXP technology delivers: - Digital audio technology with true CD-quality sound and the dynamic experience of stereo. MXP embraces the MPEG-4 AAC-LD standard ratified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). - SIP readiness to take advantage of future IP telephony applications and infrastructure, extending the enhanced feature set of IP PBX solutions to video. With MXP, the foundation is in place to work with leading IP PBX vendors as their SIP, H.323, or proprietary technology develops to ensure a streamlined user experience. - H.264 support for high-quality video on lower bandwidth when sharing rich media while maintaining face-to-face communication, when keeping a call secure, and when collaborating among multiple sites. - An expanded embedded multipoint capability that enables up to 11 audio and video participants in a single call. All participants can link to the call at the highest quality supported by their video systems. - Advanced display technologies to fully leverage digital displays and projectors. The preferred layout of participants and rich media on a single monitor can be selected with the touch of a button. Additionally, a digital video interface provides for accurate imaging. - An easy on-screen menu is designed for first-time video users and to simplify adding participants and multimedia to a video call. The MXP technology can now be found on Tandberg's product portfolio for medium to large groups, including set-tops, rollabouts, portables, and codecs. Additionally, MXP is supported by the new large multipoint control unit, Tandberg MPS. "MXP represents a critical breakthrough in video communications," said Andrew Miller, Tandberg's chief executive officer. "Sustaining industry growth and driving customer adoption calls for a dramatically improved user experience. MXP makes video communication even more true-to-life through the best audio in the industry and the energy of real-time collaboration." In addition, Tandberg introduced MXP on two new products that allow video to be accessed in new environments: - Tandberg Maestro turns projectors and large-screen displays into interactive video systems. The Maestro, equipped with camera and menu display, offers true CD-quality audio, stereo, and Digital NAM. - The 3000 MXP delivers state-of-the-art features with a flexible codec for integrating video into diverse applications. The 3000 MXP is available as a codec and in portable and rollabout versions, and it has wireless capability. Please visit www.tandberg.net for more information. |
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