Grant's Perspective on ... all the work it takes to put on an award show.
The Inland AV, Rentals Division was recently a part of the Western Canadian Music Awards held at the Manitoba Centennial Auditorium in Brandon MB.
Our client made a really cool animation of the show set-up, the show and the dismantle. The animation illustrates the amount of planning, equipment and plain hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
See hours and hours of work edited down to 3.5 minutes!
BTW - Inland AV was responsible for the video screens.
Grant
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Epson Classroom Audio System
Grant's Perspective on ... Epson AP-60 Classroom Audio System
My July 8th post InfoComm Delivers AV Wow mentioned the announcement of the new Epson AP-60 infrared classroom audio system. It has now been released and is available for purchase.
The Inland AV website has just posted a "product spotlight" outlining the features and benefits of this classroom audio system including a PDF of the systems specifications.
What is cool is that the speaker/amplifier can be mounted on the same pipe that a classroom projector is flown from. See the picture below.
Grant
My July 8th post InfoComm Delivers AV Wow mentioned the announcement of the new Epson AP-60 infrared classroom audio system. It has now been released and is available for purchase.
The Inland AV website has just posted a "product spotlight" outlining the features and benefits of this classroom audio system including a PDF of the systems specifications.
What is cool is that the speaker/amplifier can be mounted on the same pipe that a classroom projector is flown from. See the picture below.
Grant
Friday, September 18, 2009
University Audio Conferencing System
Grant's Perspective on ... Audio Zones
I spent most of yesterday slaving over a hot laptop to finish up some Crestron programming for the AV system in a brand new university boardroom. I also kept the laptop hot when I configured the new audio system. It sounds great thanks to the ClearOne components. The entire AV system was admirably designed by the University's own staff. Their proper speaker & mic selection and placement, made my job much easier.
The audio portion of the system includes 20 table microphones, 2 wireless lapel microphones, as well as recording, auxiliary inputs and audio teleconference ability. All the audio is completely automated with auto-gain and echo cancelling. The user only needs to control the volume level of the media sources (DVD, laptop etc).
Utilizing the ClearOne Converge Pro 880TA (and a few other models from the same line to increase the quantity of required inputs), the audio speaker system is organized into 4 zones and this unit managing the audio. The unit’s interface was very effective in maximizing speech intelligibility. With the built-in phone line port and the acoustic echo cancellation the room sounds great to the caller and the caller sounds great to the room. Delegates should not worry about fatigue from straining to listen.
Speaking of which, just a few clicks of the mouse enables the room's voice reinforcement. A delegate speaking at one end of the table will not be heard through the speakers in the zone nearest to him/her but the delegate's voice will be amplified in the other zones (and of course to the audio conference caller). Overall it sounds natural – so natural in fact, no one realizes there is reinforcement until the system is shut off (or someone drops something on the microphone).
The auto-gain and echo cancelling features are an example of AV technology being integrated properly, the technology becomes transparent and the professors and students can concentrate on the content of their meeting.
Another example of Improved Communication from System Integration. With the opening of hockey camps, I liken AV technology to a good hockey referee - invisible when the job is done right.
Grant
I spent most of yesterday slaving over a hot laptop to finish up some Crestron programming for the AV system in a brand new university boardroom. I also kept the laptop hot when I configured the new audio system. It sounds great thanks to the ClearOne components. The entire AV system was admirably designed by the University's own staff. Their proper speaker & mic selection and placement, made my job much easier.
The audio portion of the system includes 20 table microphones, 2 wireless lapel microphones, as well as recording, auxiliary inputs and audio teleconference ability. All the audio is completely automated with auto-gain and echo cancelling. The user only needs to control the volume level of the media sources (DVD, laptop etc).
Utilizing the ClearOne Converge Pro 880TA (and a few other models from the same line to increase the quantity of required inputs), the audio speaker system is organized into 4 zones and this unit managing the audio. The unit’s interface was very effective in maximizing speech intelligibility. With the built-in phone line port and the acoustic echo cancellation the room sounds great to the caller and the caller sounds great to the room. Delegates should not worry about fatigue from straining to listen.
Speaking of which, just a few clicks of the mouse enables the room's voice reinforcement. A delegate speaking at one end of the table will not be heard through the speakers in the zone nearest to him/her but the delegate's voice will be amplified in the other zones (and of course to the audio conference caller). Overall it sounds natural – so natural in fact, no one realizes there is reinforcement until the system is shut off (or someone drops something on the microphone).
The auto-gain and echo cancelling features are an example of AV technology being integrated properly, the technology becomes transparent and the professors and students can concentrate on the content of their meeting.
Another example of Improved Communication from System Integration. With the opening of hockey camps, I liken AV technology to a good hockey referee - invisible when the job is done right.
Grant
Friday, September 11, 2009
VideoChampion.com
Grant's Perspective on ...Getting Your Organization Into Videoconferencing
Many organizations discuss the idea of implementing videoconferencing. Often someone is appointed to research the technology and report back to the group. This person typically will start their research on the internet to find the pertinent information relating to videoconferencing and the associated costs. They then do a Return on Investment Calculation to see if the investment makes sense.
The report is presented and the group thinks the project should go ahead. Then either the researcher, or perhaps an IT person, is assigned with implementing a videoconference system because either they have the best understanding of it or it is believed this area falls under their profession.
This person is now the company's video champion.
TANDBERG has a website dedicated to supporting the video champion. With sections dedicated to securing executive sponsorship, getting set up, promotion, training, measuring success and more.
This leads me to two points:
1) Hats off to TANDBERG for doing this – once again they’ve demonstrated the leadership that clients I work with love.
2) All who work with video conferencing should register and use the video champion website.
Grant
Many organizations discuss the idea of implementing videoconferencing. Often someone is appointed to research the technology and report back to the group. This person typically will start their research on the internet to find the pertinent information relating to videoconferencing and the associated costs. They then do a Return on Investment Calculation to see if the investment makes sense.
The report is presented and the group thinks the project should go ahead. Then either the researcher, or perhaps an IT person, is assigned with implementing a videoconference system because either they have the best understanding of it or it is believed this area falls under their profession.
This person is now the company's video champion.
TANDBERG has a website dedicated to supporting the video champion. With sections dedicated to securing executive sponsorship, getting set up, promotion, training, measuring success and more.
This leads me to two points:
1) Hats off to TANDBERG for doing this – once again they’ve demonstrated the leadership that clients I work with love.
2) All who work with video conferencing should register and use the video champion website.
Grant
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sales Staff Tribute
Grant's Perspective on ...Sales personnel in the Inland AV world
I have some observations about the sales staff I work with that I want to share. No this isn't a complaint, more of me wanting to show my respect to good sales people. Here at the big AV company I've observed the sales staff designing their own systems, and they absolutely love doing it.
I think this is really cool as, and I'm being frank here, they're not just people who are out to sell something in a box and put another notch on their pencil. If I were the customer, I'd notice that and appreciate this dynamic. The biggest trait I brag about when I talk about the big AV company is their passion. Perhaps they don’t want anyone knowing this about them but they get totally pumped about deriving an innovative system that will work for their clients.
See the picture below of Brian and Glenn discussing ideas with a client at our open house.
Yes they're a different breed than us mellow designer types, but hey, the only thing worse than an over eager sales person, is one who isn't passionate about what they do. Everyone benefits. So hat's off to the passionate Inland AV sales people.
Grant
I have some observations about the sales staff I work with that I want to share. No this isn't a complaint, more of me wanting to show my respect to good sales people. Here at the big AV company I've observed the sales staff designing their own systems, and they absolutely love doing it.
I think this is really cool as, and I'm being frank here, they're not just people who are out to sell something in a box and put another notch on their pencil. If I were the customer, I'd notice that and appreciate this dynamic. The biggest trait I brag about when I talk about the big AV company is their passion. Perhaps they don’t want anyone knowing this about them but they get totally pumped about deriving an innovative system that will work for their clients.
See the picture below of Brian and Glenn discussing ideas with a client at our open house.
Yes they're a different breed than us mellow designer types, but hey, the only thing worse than an over eager sales person, is one who isn't passionate about what they do. Everyone benefits. So hat's off to the passionate Inland AV sales people.
Grant
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