Welcome to the

June Issue
of

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 YOUR INSIDER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS

MAJOR
LEAGUE AV
Toronto Blue Jays Improve Fan Experience with Display and Loudspeaker Upgrades

AVNETWORK.COM JUNE 2022

19 Executive Q&A
Magewell CEO/CTO Nick Ma
is ready to help customers
migrate to IP.
27 Back to Business
AVIXA’s Rochelle Richardson
sees “renewed energy” for
InfoComm 2022.
38 Cloud Power
Columnist Dave Van Hoy talks
19 27 38 security in the cloud.

The ®

4000
More Than Just A Video Wall

AV-over-IP Distribution over LAN, WAN or Cellular Network

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11:19
CONTENTS

32
Major League AV
Learn how the Toronto Blue Jays are
improving the fan experience with
display and loudspeaker upgrades.

People Technology Viewpoint

18 Executive Q&A 34 Big-League AV Comes to Single-A for 50 Pondering the In-Person Experience
SoundPro’s expansion into video products is being led Gameday at Chukchansi Park How has the pandemic changed our interactions?
by CEO Joshua Curlett. Major league ballparks aren’t the only ones getting AV By Sarath Abraham
By Mark J. Pescatore upgrades.
By Wayne Cavadi Departments
19 Executive Q&A 17 ASSOCIATION NEWS
Nick Ma, CEO and CTO of Magewell, is helping 36 Rust Never Sleeps 20 PEOPLE NEWS
customers prep for the move to IP infrastructures. Neither do display manufacturers. Check out some of 48 PRODUCTS
By Mark J. Pescatore the candidates for the “next big thing” in imaging.
By Pete Putman
22 On Your Business
How do you responsibly part ways with a client? 38 Cloud Power
By Steve Greenblatt, CTS What are some key strategies for security in the
cloud?
Business By Dave Van Hoy

24 Time for a Change 40 Praise the Loud

27
How have integrators survived—and even thrived— Software tools are helping houses of worship achieve
after the pandemic? better loudspeaker performance.
By Jennifer Guhl By James Careless

27 InfoComm Preview: Back to Business

InfoComm’s Rochelle Richardson sees “renewed Products
energy” for the show. Plus, read insights from
exhibitors and take a look at AVIXA’s DEI plans. 42 Look Up,
By Mark J. Pescatore Listen Up
Is a ceiling mic the
30 Planning for Disaster best option for your

40
Learn how some companies are protecting their workspace?
corporate media assets. By Wayne
By Carolyn Heinze Cavadi

Vol. 29 No. 6 June 2022 Systems Contractor News (ISSN 1078-4993) is published monthly by Future US, Inc., 130 West 42nd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036-8002. Periodical postage paid at
New York, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to: SYSTEMS CONTRACTOR NEWS, P.O. Box 1051, Lowell, MA 01853.
Subscribe online at www.MySCNews.com. Please allow 6-8 weeks for address changes to take effect. ©Copyright 2022 by Future US, Inc. PRINTED IN U.S.A.

4 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com


SYSTEMS CHECK
MARK J. PESCATORE
Content Director
EMAIL
mark.pescatore@futurenet.com
FACEBOOK
facebook.com/
systemscontractor
LINKEDIN
linkedin.com/company/
systems-contractor-news
TWITTER
twitter.com/scnmag
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®
avnetwork.com
JUNE 2022 VOL. 29 NO. 6
CONTENT
VP/Content Creation Anthony Savona
Content Director Mark J. Pescatore, Ph.D.
mark.pescatore@futurenet.com
Content Manager Wayne Cavadi
Come On, We
Contributors Sharath Abraham, James Careless,
Jennifer Guhl, Carolyn Heinze, Pete Putman,
Dave Van Hoy
Group Art Director Nicole Cobban
All Love SWAG Art Editor Rob Crossland
Production Managers
Nicole Schilling, Heather Tatrow
R
ecently, I decided to recycle my old laptops—you know, the ones preloaded A DV E R T I S I N G S A L E S
Vice President, AV/Consumer
with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. When it was time to remove the hard Electronics & Pro Audio
drives, I went straight for my Extron tweaker. Of course, my tweaker is probably Adam Goldstein, adam.goldstein@futurenet.com,
212-378-0465
older than those laptops; it reads Extron Electronics.
My father was an auto mechanics teacher. One lesson he drilled into my head was Sales
having the right tool for the job. He loved his Extron tweakers, which I collected for him at John Casey, john.casey@futurenet.com,
845-678-3839
various InfoComm shows. Yes, he had more than one, strategically positioned around the
Janis Crowley, janis.crowley@futurenet.com,
house and in the garage. 845-414-6791
Trade shows are back—and while they may not hit record numbers in terms of attend- Debbie Rosenthal, debbie.rosenthal@futurenet.com,
212-378-0468
ees or exhibitors in the near future, it’s definitely cause to celebrate. With trade shows Zahra Majma, zahra.majma@futurenet.com,
comes the promise of new business opportunities and, of course, stuff we all get, also 845-678-3752
Andi Tureson andi.tureson@futurenet.com
known as SWAG. While items like RGB Spectrum collectible coins may be in short supply, I
predict hand sanitizer will remain a bountiful SWAG staple for years (and with good reason). SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE
I’d also bank on promotional bags, because attendees always seem to accumulate printed To subscribe, change your address, or check on your
current account status, go to avnetwork.com and click
materials, purchases, samples, and other SWAG on the show floor. on About Us, email futureplc@computerfulfillment.
Do people actually use SWAG? Based on a sample size of one, I’d say yes. For example, I com, call 888-266-5828, or write P.O. Box 1051, Lowell,
only recently retired a Contemporary Research baseball cap that was given to me more than MA 01853.
15 years ago during an InfoComm golf tournament. It has been replaced by a hat from LICENSING/REPRINTS/PERMISSIONS
Advanced Systems Group, the company of SCN columnist Dave Van Hoy. (Thanks, Dave.) SCN is available for licensing. Contact the Licensing
team to discuss partnership opportunities.
Recently, I got caught in a rainstorm on my way to a restaurant. Good thing I keep my
Head of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw
trusty Network Electronics (the company is Nevion these days) umbrella in my car. licensing@futurenet.com
Speaking of my car, currently one of my most useful pieces of SWAG is a car vent phone
M A N AG E M E N T
holder, courtesy of TVU Networks. My car was built a couple of years too early for the whole
Senior Vice President, B2B Rick Stamberger
Apple Car Play/Android Auto interface, so this handy little gizmo gives me a clear view of Vice President, Sales & Publishing, B2B
Waze when I’m on the road. Aaron Kern
Vice President, B2B Tech Group Carmel King
Over the years, more than one Grass Valley pen has been used to write notes in my
Vice President, Sales, B2B Tech Group
reporter’s notebook. And I’m not sure I’ve ever actually purchased a USB flash drive. Black Adam Goldstein
Box provided my current tool for local transfer between computers, but I have others from Head of Production US & UK Mark Constance
Head of Design Rodney Dive
Arista, JVC, and Matrox—and those are just the ones within reach.
I remember one NAB where I got so much SWAG that I literally handed it out to my FUTURE US, INC.
130 West 42nd Street, 7th Floor
college students. T-shirts, pens, key rings, stress balls—college students like
New York, NY 10036
free stuff even more than you or I do. In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have
given that one kid the pocketknife. Also in retrospect, Wohler was giving away 
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will name drop your company. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I the companies mentioned herein.
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music with my NetApp earbuds as I take notes in my
AMX portfolio.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Martin by
HARMAN
Shines Light
on Iconic
Trees
W
orking with Western Australia’s
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
(BGPA), PLAN E Landscape Architects
recently enlisted Engineering Technology Consul-
tants (ETC), Light Application, and Show Technology
to design an architectural lighting display for Kings
Park using Martin Professional Exterior LED fixtures.
Kings Park is a 990-acre park in the center of Perth
that features sprawling areas of manicured green space,
natural bushland, a botanic garden, and multiple
memorials. One of the park’s most notable features is
Fraser Avenue, a picturesque path lined with lemon-
scented gum trees planted in 1938 and equipped with
in-ground lighting to highlight the trees.
When the existing fixtures came to the end of their
serviceable life, the BGPA hired PLAN E Landscape
Architects to coordinate a replacement capable of
producing a wide range of colors and effects while
AVIXA
Launches
AVIXA
Xchange
A
VIXA has officially opened the doors
of AVIXA Xchange to the entire Pro AV
industry. AVIXA Xchange is a unique com-
munity for the AV industry designed to connect
thought leaders, industry-leading solution provid-
ers, and innovative manufacturers with AV solution
seekers. AVIXA’s platform is where expertise and
experience are shared, knowledge and connec-
tions are gained, news and education are read-
ily available, and communities across every
segment of the Pro AV industry interact.
The content focus of AVIXA Xchange is
on solutions, which is the common
language between buyers and AV
providers. Current content chan-
nels include conferencing and
8 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
utilizing the existing in-ground cabling infrastructure.
ETC conducted a nighttime trial at Fraser Avenue
and compared similar fixtures from different manufac-
turers, ultimately settling on the Martin Exterior
Inground 410 for lighting the tree canopy. Part of the
Exterior Inground 400 Series, the Exterior Inground 410
is an RGBW LED wash light that delivers rich premixed
colors with high output and efficiency. Remote control
and configuration via DMX and RDM allow for easy
setup and unlimited flexibility. The durable, 19 mm
tempered glass cover is available with an optional
anti-skid surface for use in pedestrian areas, and the
top ring is available in flush or beveled varieties for
different mounting applications.
“To say that the output of the Martin Exterior
Inground 410 is impressive would be an understate-
ment,” said Matt Bancroft, Light Application. “It
certainly packs a punch for its unobtrusive inground
collaboration, content, production, and stream-
ing, digital signage, learning solutions, live events/
performance venues, and the business of AV. As
solutions continue to evolve, so will the channels.
Videos, articles, case studies, and other pieces of
content are generated by members of AVIXA Xchange.
People can add comments, like, and share the
content. AVIXA Xchange also features rooms
for conducting micro conversations on a wide
range of topics, such as CTS study groups, jobs, and
industry events.
“It’s vital to regularly engage with professionals
in your industry throughout the year—not just at an
annual event or a scheduled meeting,” said Sarah
Joyce, chief global officer, AVIXA. “AVIXA Xchange is
a digital world for maintaining those relationships
and building new ones. And digital knows no
bounds—the global AV community is at your finger-
tips on AVIXA Xchange.”
design—exactly what the iconic location along Fraser
Avenue in Kings Park required. The CREE RGBW
Quad-Color LED chipset in these fixtures allows for a
wide range of vibrant colors as well as a crisp 4000K
white, which accents the trees perfectly. In addition,
the asymmetric optics provided optimum coverage
for the tree canopies while keeping light spill and
glare to a minimum.”
INTEGRATOR INSIGHT
The hybrid
workplace is the hot
topic right now in Pro
AV. What are some of the
biggest challenges for
companies looking to
update their facilities to
help in-person and off-
site team members
collaborate?
I believe the hybrid workplace is here to stay,
and one of the biggest challenges is that
current office layouts were not designed for
hybrid work. Adding AV technology into an
existing office layout and/or existing conference
room is just a short-term fix. Companies will
need to be more creative in re-designing the
office of the future in an effort to ensure that
employees stay engaged when working
remotely.
Considering how the hybrid workplace has
forever changed the way workspaces are
utilized, new office buildings will begin to look
very different. The collaboration
between architects, building
owners, and AV designers is more
important than ever.
Ricky Cortez, CEO, MCA
Communications
NEWS

scenery and nearby activities. Guests can interrupt

the loop by selecting from a trio of on-screen buttons
to view a detailed resort map, a map of the entire
island, and daily weather and surf reports.
Perhaps the most creative aspect of the displays
is the use of eight activity “bubbles” that float
across the screen, each circular graphic corre-
sponding to a different island activity. When a guest
taps an activity of interest, they’re taken to an
informative screen with a collection of relevant
still images, text, and video content that introduces
them to the activity they selected. The guest also
has the option of scanning a QR code to view
additional information and book activities directly
on their phones.
Turtle Bay personnel can easily update on-screen
content via a custom Google Sheets interface. Almost
every element of the presentation can be updated on
demand, including the maps, images, video content,
text, QR codes, and even the border color surrounding
the interactive bubbles.
The interactive wayfinding displays were an
important element of a much broader scope of work
that encompassed the entire property. Lead

Red Dot Digital Media,

integrator Spinitar was charged with approaching
this extensive overhaul in a way that hid the
project’s technical complexities from view to

Spinitar Rebuild AV preserve the beauty of the property. This meant

accommodating multiple long-distance runs in
varying ground conditions, with careful attention to

Infrastructure at Hawaii’s ensure all AV equipment was properly weather-

proofed. Once completed, this powerful new AV

Turtle Bay Resort

network met the resort’s need to implement a
robust, future-proofed AV network that delivers
rich content at key guest touchpoints.

R
“Spinitar was a great partner to work with on this
ed Dot Digital Media, a specialty integra- experience that is as informative as it is beautiful. The project,” said Darryl Kuder, president of Red Dot
tor in the digital signage space, recently displays have become a centerpiece of the Turtle Bay Digital Media. “They did a fantastic job of managing
helped to update the AV infrastructure at experience, helping guests discover all the wonderful the environmental challenges presented by Turtle
Turtle Bay Resort, a luxury property located on the opportunities that await them at the resort.” Bay’s coastal location. The end result is amazing—a
Hawaiian island of Oahu. The project was an integral The vertically oriented displays feature an attract robust AV network that will be the centerpiece of the
component of a 2021 renovation that reimagined loop of video content giving a quick visual of local resort for years to come.”
how guests discover points of interest and activities
in and around the resort.
One of Turtle Bay’s key goals for the project was to
prominently market resort activities to guests as they
enter the property, as well as provide an elegant
wayfinding solution to acquaint visitors with the
resort. To achieve this, Spinitar engaged Red Dot
Digital Media to design a pair of interactive wayfind-
ing displays centrally located in the main resort lobby.
Red Dot developed a multi-layered interactive
experience that invites guests to engage with the
displays to learn more about the property and plan
activities during their stay.
“It was important to Turtle Bay that the touch
interactive displays project a sleek, striking look
consistent with the upscale guest experience at the
resort,” said Justin Rogina, account manager at Spinitar.
“Red Dot delivered on that front, creating an interactive

10 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com

NEWS

speakers to take advantage of the wide range of

models and seamless integration into indoor or
outdoor spaces.
The indoor spaces sport a mix of JBL Control 18CT
and 24CT ceiling speakers, deployed in different areas
depending on ceiling height. In areas with standard
ceiling height, Basesix selected the Control 24CT for
its broad, 130-degree coverage pattern. Areas with
higher ceilings received Control 24CT speakers, which
feature a narrower 90-degree cone of coverage.
The outdoor area features JBL Control 24CT
speakers in addition to wall-mounted Control 25
speakers, which feature a durable, weatherproof
design that makes them suitable for all environ-
ments. “We have used many speakers in the past,
but we trust the JBL brand because of the quality
and durability of the speakers in a never-stopping
environment like Bellyard,” added Ford.
Serving as the hub for the hotel’s extensive AV
network is the AMX NX-2200 integrated controller.
Implementing both analog and digital formats, the

Bellyard Hotel Delivers NX-2200 can effortlessly process data and automa-
tion for both modern and legacy AV technology. The
AMX EXB-COM2 serial interface establishes remote

High-End Hospitality connection to the central head-end rack via Ether-

net, enabling staff to control the system from
different locations.

with Premium Audio, To allow staff to easily control the audio and video
systems, Basesix deployed AMX MSD-701 and
MSD-1001 touchpanels throughout the lobby and

Networked AV conference rooms. With an intuitive interface for

everything from room scheduling to audio mixing,

L
the touchpanels are easy for staff members to utilize
ocated in Atlanta’s historic West Midtown in this particular area? If there’s none currently in the at a moment’s notice. The overall result is a powerful
stockyards, the Bellyard Hotel by Marriott is design, how does that impact the system? yet flexible AV ecosystem that enhances the Bellyard
the cornerstone of The Interlock, the city’s “We have used HARMAN on very similar projects Hotel’s communal spaces and enriches the overall
newest destination for high-end shopping and cul- that we’ve done in the past, so we knew it was a good guest experience.
ture. Opened in 2021, the boutique hotel offers the fit when we started working on the project.” “I have a long-standing relationship with
highest-quality experience for guests on business or To distribute clear sound throughout the facility, HARMAN, and we have a history of using AMX,”
vacation, featuring modern suites, an upscale bar, the Basesix team installed a background music said Ford. “My programmer prefers to program
and a French bakery, as well as private spaces for system that controls levels and processing for all AMX systems because of how easy and reliable they
meetings and events. communal areas from a central location. While the are. If there’s a problem with something that needs
During construction, the hotel’s leadership original design called for speakers from a different to be addressed quickly, AMX is always very quick
required guidance regarding the best AV systems in brand, Basesix recommended JBL Control Series to respond.”
the lobby, bar, conference rooms, and outdoor
section. To meet the hotel’s modern design and
commitment to quality, Basesix Systems, headquar-
tered in Marietta, GA, outfitted the venue with JBL
Professional loudspeakers and AMX networked AV
systems to deliver high-quality sound and video
content via an easy-to-use system.
“The design was probably 80% complete, but
there were several question marks,” recalled Dan
Ford, systems director of AV, Basesix Systems. “The
consultants looked for our guidance to fill in the
blanks: In this conference room, what size should the
displays be? Can we put outdoor speakers or displays

12 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com

NEWS
Meyer Sound Makes Science
Education an Adventure at
Denmark’s LIFE Campus
L
IFE Campus was created to give young Danish
students intensive engagement with a range
of learning experiences in STEM—science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics. It has
world-leading resources for giving students memo-
rable learning adventures in 360-degree immer-
sive environments created by cutting-edge digital
technologies. The facility’s extensive AV systems
and sophisticated control networks, designed and
installed by the consulting and integration firm
Stouenborg, include a total of more than 60 Meyer
Sound self-powered loudspeakers.
Located in Lyngby, adjacent to the Technical
University of Denmark, LIFE Campus is operated by
the nonprofit LIFE Foundation and was founded
with the mission of inspiring Danish school
children to become fully engaged in their formative
years with inquiry-based science education. The
14 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
new facility, opened in late 2021 by HRH Crown
Prince Frederik of Denmark, is situated in an
expansive natural area.
“The LIFE Foundation is an ambitious project with
the purpose of strengthening young students’
knowledge of—and fascination with—the natural
sciences,” said Mogens Laursen Hastrup, head of AV
operations for the campus. “Therefore, we wanted to
have only the best technical elements in our education
center. And that includes outstanding sound systems,
which afford extraordinary opportunities for auditory
support of teaching.”
For large group learning experiences, LIFE
Campus offers the innovative Kolossalen (“Colossal
Hall”), a large open space that can be divided into two
separate rooms. The walls can serve as projection
screens for 11 Panasonic projectors, and the wall
surfaces employ a perforated metal material, which
helps keep the reverb time to an intelligibility-
friendly 0.8 seconds.
One side of the room, with a tiered floor, is termed
“Auditorium 180.” Here, sound and visuals are oriented
to one side with Meyer Sound’s CAL 96 column array
loudspeakers—concealed behind the perforated wall/
screen surface—using advanced beam-steering
technology with beam-splitting capability to precisely
tailor coverage to the tiered seating areas.
The other half of the space, when divided and
enclosed, is referred to as “Auditorium 360.” From an
audio aspect, the most striking feature here is the
dynamic spatial audio enabled by Meyer Sound’s
Spacemap Go spatial sound design and mixing tool.
Using an intuitive iPad interface, Spacemap Go allows
 NEWS

the user to freely move sounds around and through
the space, directing them to the 26 full-range
loudspeakers and four subwoofers, either singly or in
loudspeaker groups.
“When designing this space, we consulted with
workgroups of teachers and tech personnel,” noted
Anders Jørgensen, project manager for Stouenborg.
“They wanted to have 360-degree projection, and
although Spacemap Go had not yet been introduced, I
knew it was coming. I recommended we support the
projection with dynamic spatial sound. The idea was
accepted by the group, and fortunately Spacemap Go
arrived in time.”
The Auditorium 360 system deploys 12 HMS-10
surround loudspeakers around the walls, with four
more in the ceiling along with 10 UP-4slim compact
loudspeakers. Four MM-10XP miniature subwoofers
supply deep low frequencies.
A key element in making the concept work,
according to Jørgensen, was the flat-profile of the
HMS-10. “The speakers are all hidden behind the
perforated walls, and the HMS-10s were the only ones
with the power to project through the walls and still
fit in the space allowed.”
The room’s capabilities have also opened new
horizons for learning. “The multiroom allows us to
present scientific phenomena—such as extreme
weather, atomic structure, or lunar landscapes—in
completely new ways to get the pupils’ attention and
stimulate their interest,” Hastrup explained. “The
dream is that, when they leave LIFE Campus at the
end of the day, they think science is cool and they
want to learn more.”
Other Meyer Sound systems are installed
throughout the campus, with Ashby-8C ceiling
loudspeakers in the three laboratory classrooms, the
large meeting room, and the foyer. In the canteen,
full-range music reproduction is supplied by two
MM-4XP miniature self-powered loudspeakers
augmented by an MM-10ACX subwoofer.
“Our AV systems are crucial to the support of
teaching at LIFE Campus,” said Hastrup. “The
projectors and sound systems are the first to be
turned on in the morning and the last to be shut down
at the end of the day.”

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©2022 Lowell Manufacturing Company LowellMfg.com

SCN342.AD_.indd
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14:36
NEWS

L-Acoustics A Series Loudspeakers Supply

High-Energy Impact at Red Bull Arena
O
pened in March 2010, the 25,000-seat Red
Bull Arena is home to the Major League
Soccer (MLS) New York Red Bulls and the
NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soc-
cer League. Located across the Hudson River from
Manhattan, in Harrison, NJ, it’s the third-largest
soccer-specific stadium in the United States and
the league. It also now has world-class sound in
the form of a new L-Acoustics A Series loudspeaker
system, comprised of lightweight and compact A15i
enclosures paired with SB18 IIi subs.
Installed just ahead of the 2022 MLS season kickoff
in late February, the system was designed and installed
by leading global technology solutions provider
Diversified. It is part of a wider sound upgrade that also
included the installation of a DiGiCo Quantum225
mixing console and new Dante-native DQ-Rack for
front of house. The A Series loudspeakers replaced the
distributed sound system that had been installed
around the venue’s catwalks when it first opened.
“At the time, when soccer was really establishing
itself in the U.S. as a professional-league sport, the
sound systems tended to be designed with value in
mind,” explained Justo Gutierrez, Diversified director
of AV & sound, sports, and live events. “And typically, Diversified designed and installed the new L-Acoustics P.A. system.
you didn’t need much for a P.A. system for a soccer
pitch; the game is continuous, and the P.A. was used The new system—which utilizes the previous amplified controllers—14 LA12X and one LA4X—and
mainly for pre and post-game and halftime announce- system’s cabling infrastructure, saving considerable is flown from the venue’s steel canopy structures and
ments. But the sport has progressed and now requires costs on installation—is designed specifically for rigged under a tension-fabric curved exterior shell of
sound that can support a lot more, including music.” enhanced speech intelligibility and music impact. It PTFE fiberglass wraps, utilizing a custom rigging
Gutierrez said the Red Bulls sought a high-perfor- not only considerably improves the stadium’s sound, design created by the Diversified team. The pairing of
mance, high-impact sound system with much higher but also helps make it more attractive to touring A15i and SB18 IIi provides a balance of full-range,
output and full coverage of seating areas. That was shows that can connect to the new speakers and use high-impact performance. A15i extends down to 41Hz
achieved with a design that called for symmetrical them as supplemental delays for music performances. and is aligned with SB18 IIi, extending the LF response
arrays of A Series enclosures, each backed by SB18 IIi “That’s a huge factor now for attracting touring to 32Hz, all while maintaining a compact visual
subwoofers, as well as two corner-fill arrays using shows,” he said. footprint and light enough weight to meet the load
A15i Focus. The design creates seamless sonic L-Acoustics worked closely with Diversified and requirements of the venue’s canopy.
overlaps between seating sections, and covers them the Red Bull Arena project team, spearheaded by John The system is also fully weatherized, which is
far more consistently and smoothly than the distrib- Amorosa, Red Bull Arena director of construction, and critical for an outdoor venue in the Northeast. That
uted speakers, which could only focus on “slices” of John Nicklas, AV engineer, on the system design protection extends down to the fit and finish of the
seating areas. beginning in 2018. They stayed in touch as the system, with sealed connector plates, gland nuts, and
The arena’s roof—the largest canopy of all MLS pandemic shuttered all sports activity for much of highly durable hardware to meet the rigorous
stadiums at 322,276 square feet—extends 120 feet 2020, continuing to refine the design. demands of professional and collegiate outdoor
from the last row of seats to just past the field’s The newly installed system is primarily configured stadium installations.
touchlines, with 60 feet of the roof being translucent with 96 A15i Focus and one dozen A15i Wide enclosures “Between how even the coverage is and how
to allow for natural light to cover all the seats. for additional vertical coverage where needed. The musical and impactful the rig sounds, we couldn’t be
However, thanks to the A Series’ highly focused design called for four arrays of seven A15i for the happier,” said Nicklas. “The Soundvision models
dispersion, the low roof design, known for providing north, south, and east zones, as well as four arrays of were impressive and accurate, and L-Acoustics went
superior acoustics by amplifying and reflecting crowd six A15i for the west zone, each paired with an array of above and beyond to make their delivery on time,
noise back onto the field, doesn’t interact at all with three SB18 IIi for additional LF impact. Two small despite the logistical challenges. Both L-Acoustics
the new sound system. “The new speakers are corner-fill arrays of two A15i Focus each are used in and Diversified provided exceptional service and
positioned equidistant between the upper and lower the northwest and southwest corners to complete the attention to detail. The P.A. they’ve installed is a
seating tiers and are firing at the best angle and away bowl system and ensure full coverage and even SPL total game-changer for us, and we’re looking forward
from the roof, minimizing any reflections,” distribution over the audience listening areas. to bringing our sports fans a new sonic experience
explained Gutierrez. The system is controlled and powered by 15 here at Red Bull Arena.”

16 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com


Pro AV Grows
Despite
Economic
Shakiness
A
VIXA’s latest Pro AV Business Index shows AV
sales continued at a remarkably high pace
in April, with the sales index (AVI-S) com-
ing in at 66.7. This was a substantial deceleration
from the single-month record observed in March
(72.7), but it still indicates extremely fast growth.
In fact, the period from February to April set a new
record for the fastest three months of growth.
Commenters pointed first and foremost to the
supply chain as a brake on
growth, particularly long lead
times. On the positive side, the
return to in-person activity is
driving sales. It’s finally
reaching the most COVID-sen-
sitive applications, too, with a
wave of positive sentiments coming from live events.
Overall economic numbers in the first months of
the year have been less rosy. U.S. Q1 GDP came in at a
contraction of 1.5%. While the economic consensus
suggests this is a product of temporary factors, declines
in inventory purchasing due to preemptive purchasing
in late 2021 and record highs in the trade deficit stand
out as major contributors that are likely to be less
negative in Q2.
“Why is AV so strong if the overall economy is less
wonderful? Return to in-person,” said Peter Hansen,
economist, AVIXA. “Decreasing avoidance of situa-
tions where COVID-19 could transfer is spurring
investment over and beyond what GDP is doing.”
Among other aspects, the market is nervous about
the possibility of a recession. Recession is an increas-
ing possibility, but Pro AV at least has the in-person
return advantage. If that continues, we could see Pro
AV growing even despite a modest recession.
AV employment is growing as fast now as it has in
NEWS
the history of the AVI-E index. This month’s number
was 64.1, right in line with the 64.9 observed in both
March and February. Together, these months set a
record for three-month payroll expansion—just as we
saw for AVI-S. Commenters note that hiring is not
easy, but clearly they’re managing to add meaningful
amounts of staff despite the difficulty.
The wider economy also continues to see payroll
expansion, as the U.S. economy added more than
400,000 jobs for the 12th month in a row. Given that a
month of 200,000 new jobs was a good month in the
pre-pandemic era, this job run is a strong positive.
For more information, keep an eye out for AVIXA’s
2022 Channel Employment Report.
The Pro AV Business Index report is derived from a
monthly survey of the AVIXA Insights Community, a
research community of industry members that tracks
business trends in commercial AV. The report com-
prises two diffusion indexes: the AV Sales Index
(AVI-S) and the AV Employment Index (AVI-E). In
each case, an index above 50 indicates an increase in
sales or employment activity.
Visit www.avixa.org/AVindex to access the free
monthly Pro-AV Business Index reports and learn more
about the methodology. For more information about
joining the AVIXA Insights Community, visit www.
avixa.org/AVIP.
avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 17
PEOPLE EXECUTIVE Q&A
Above and
Beyond Audio
SoundPro CEO Curlett Leads Expansion into Video Products
By Mark J. Pescatore
: How long have you been with this company,
and what are your responsibilities?
Joshua Curlett: I joined SoundPro in 2010, serving in
various leadership roles, most recently as president
and CEO. My responsibilities include setting the
vision and direction for the company, while providing
guard rails for SoundPro team members and removing
roadblocks along the way. I work alongside the team,
getting my hands dirty, but I am also a true believer in
hiring the right people and giving them the tools and
empowerment necessary to be successful. My vision
for the company focuses on the personal growth of
each team member, which will result in growth and
additional capacity for the company. I’m involved in
all aspects of the company from operations to sales
and marketing to planning for future growth.
Collaboration
technology is
ineffective without
high-quality
audio products
and excellent
integration.
: How has your background prepared you for
your role?
JC: During my early years, I spent hours setting up
technology and equipment for my local church
production, and while I was studying business
management at Baylor University, I worked backstage
for on and off-campus concerts/events. It was during
this time that I fell in love with the AVL industry,
along with the gear and people that make it so special.
After college, I became a management consultant,
which eventually led me to SoundPro, when I was
hired for a consulting engagement.
18 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
My two worlds collided, and once the consulting
project concluded, I stayed on at SoundPro as the
company’s CFO/COO. With my education, experience
as a management consultant, and my understanding
and love for the AVL industry, my role as CEO of
SoundPro feels like it was made for me.
: Where do you see the pro AV industry
heading?
JC: The pivots to remote and hybrid work, education,
and entertainment over the past two years have
brought the “audio” in AV to the forefront.
Collaboration technology is ineffective without
high-quality audio products and excellent
integration. This is great news for the Pro AV industry,
as it has created additional demand for both audio and
video technology to address new and innovative use
cases. In addition, live events are coming back. With
this, we are seeing more desire and need for small to
medium-sized live events such as regional
roadshows, in addition to more DJ-style events.
: What new initiatives are we likely to see
from your company?
JC: We have embarked on several new initiatives over
the last two years. First, right before the COVID-19
pandemic hit in 2020, I made the decision to open a
new office in Madison, WI, to better serve our
customers in the Midwest. While many would have
paused that project with the uncertainty of live
events, I decided to move forward with it, so the
company would be well-positioned once the industry
recovered from the pandemic.
Shortly after we opened the Madison office, we
expanded our product and brand offerings to include
video equipment as schools, businesses, and churches
needed more tools for live streaming and working and
learning from home. We currently offer a wide variety
of video products from video switchers to cameras to
projectors and displays—anything needed for a live
production or streaming setup. During this time, I
brought in an experienced leadership team with
decades of industry experience to help me grow and
manage the company.
And finally, about this time last year, we launched
a new website to help our customers find and buy the
gear they need from the brands they trust, easier and
faster. With these recent changes, we will now be
focusing on operational efficiencies and utilizing
Joshua Curlett
Position: CEO
Company: Sound Productions
Overtime: I enjoy the tranquility of quiet time in and
around nature, activities such as playing golf and
spending time outside with my wife and children. I
also enjoy not-so-quiet time with my family in our
music room at home, listening to music as well as
singing and playing the guitar and saxophone.
technology to increase capacity as the company
grows.
: SoundPro is known for delivering solutions
for houses of worship. What makes HoW such a
unique market segment?
JC: It’s a truly inspiring, important, and large market
with over 380,000 faith facilities in the U.S. It’s a
unique vertical as it combines the best of installed AV
expertise with live performance demands. It’s also
unique in that many of the technicians working
everything from small services to big Christmas
productions are volunteers with various levels of
technical expertise.
Each facility is different, ranging from a small
chapel in need of microphones and speakers to
large mega churches with full music, speaker, and
congregation live production needs. At SoundPro,
we’re passionate about this market, with many of
our team members having hands-on experience
improving worship experiences using the best
AVL tools.
: Early in the process, what are some of the
common misunderstandings clients have about
live audio system installations?
JC: Some people aren’t aware of the difference
between audio and video setup challenges. Video
travels at the speed of light and does not bounce
around the room like sound waves do—causing
distortion, echoes, and delay problems between the
front and back of the room. Video systems, while they
can be complex, have fewer and easier to control
room-specific variables such as viewing distance,
resolution, and ambient light.
However, creating excellent audio in a worship
facility, concert venue, or for a large corporate
event requires “tuning” the space and considerable
attention to the dynamics and challenges of the
area. The good news is that new generation mixers,
signal processors, and loudspeakers now have
more robust digital architecture and more robust
software platforms that take some of the time-
consuming work out of audio design and setup,
making pro audio more accessible and affordable
for our customers.

A Time of Transition
Magewell CEO/CTO Ma Helps Prep Customers for Move to IP
By Mark J. Pescatore
: How long have you been with this company,
and what are your responsibilities?
Nick Ma: I co-founded Magewell in 2011, and I have a
joint role as CEO and CTO. As CEO, I lead the
development of the company’s short-term and
long-term business strategies, oversee execution of
our mission and corporate values, and make top-level
executive decisions. As CTO, I evaluate technology
advances to ensure our product roadmap addresses
customers’ current and future needs.
: How has your background prepared you for
your role?
NM: My education prepared me for my CTO duties,
while my professional experience prepared me for my
CEO role. Passionate about electrical engineering
since high school, I worked as a software engineer
after graduating from university. The working
environment was unpleasant, which drove me to
establish a workplace that employees could enjoy. I
co-founded a software startup in 2001 and gained a lot
of experience in how to run a company. I learned a lot
from some great business leaders I worked with, and
at Magewell, I have fantastic colleagues who
complement my own experience.
: Earlier this year, you announced a
partnership with Barco. How important has
videoconferencing become for your business?
NM: Videoconferencing has always been a popular use
case for our plug-and-play video capture devices,
allowing people to easily bring HDMI or SDI signals
from video cameras or wired screenshares into
conferencing software. As the use of
videoconferencing software grew exponentially
during the pandemic, it became an even bigger
portion of our business. Videoconferencing is
intrinsic to AV environments’ “new normal,” and
we’re excited to partner with Barco and other
innovators to enhance user experiences and expand
the source signals they can incorporate.
: What should integrators tell clients to expect
when migrating them from a traditional HDMI or
SDI signal architecture to an IP-based workflow?
NM: First, customers who have investments in HDMI
or SDI equipment such as cameras don’t need to
jettison all of their existing gear. Solutions such as our
Pro Convert family seamlessly bridge baseband
signals with IP-based workflows, extending the
lifecycle of that gear.
AV-over-IP enables one-to-many distribution
without expensive routers, distribution amplifiers,
and extenders, but the network architecture becomes
crucial. You’re often transporting multiple signals
over the same IP network, so bandwidth considera-
tions become an important factor. Integrators will
need to work closely with the customer’s IT staff to
optimize the infrastructure.
Some people know
AV very well, some
know IT very well,
but the real value
today is being an
expert in how they
intersect.
: You offer products for multiple streaming
approaches, from software-based streaming to
standalone appliances like the Ultra Stream. What
are the advantages of each approach?
NM: Our standalone streaming appliances such as
Ultra Stream and Ultra Encode are designed to make
live streaming exceptionally easy, even for non-
technical users. Both can also be integrated into
third-party software solutions through an API,
allowing users to manage the devices through
software they’re already using.
For users who prefer to encode and stream in
software, our USB Capture devices bring an HDMI or
SDI signal into Windows, Mac, Linux, or ChromeOS
applications. Software-based streaming typically
offers the greatest creative flexibility, but some
customers may find using a standalone hardware
device simpler.
: Last year, Magewell celebrated its 10th
anniversary. What changes in the AV industry
have most impacted your business over the last
decade?
NM: The market is now embracing trends we’ve been
advocating for since we started: the transition from
traditional AV signals to IP-based infrastructures, and
the use of software-based solutions rather than
dedicated hardware. We were a bit ahead of some Pro
AV vertical markets in these respects. The live
production market was faster to begin these
EXECUTIVE Q&A PEOPLE
Nick Ma
Position: CEO
and CTO
Company: Magewell
Overtime: I enjoy
reading books – with a
particular interest in
books about history – as well as studying technologies.
transitions, but that gave us the opportunity to refine
our feature sets for Pro AV users. As streaming became
mainstream and software-based conferencing took
off, our solutions were perfectly positioned to help
customers take advantage of these technologies.
: Where do you see the Pro AV industry
heading?
NM: I believe the transition to software and AV-over-
IP will keep accelerating, although hardware will still
be needed to bridge them with traditional signals. I
also expect to see greater adoption of open standards.
While the broadcast market has long embraced open
interoperability standards, the use of IP in Pro AV has
been characterized by multiple, proprietary
specifications. Embracing open standards in Pro AV
will free customers from having to stay within any
particular vendor’s ecosystem.
: What are the short and long-term goals for
Magewell, and what new initiatives are we likely
to see from your company?
NM: Our goal has always been to offer solutions that
make the latest technologies so practical, simple, and
affordable that they achieve “technical invisibility”—
where the technology is so easy to use and pervasive
that you don’t even notice it any more, you just use it
naturally. In the short term, we want to continue
improving the hybrid meeting user experience not
only for large companies, but also small and medium-
sized businesses with limited infrastructure budgets.
Beyond that, we’re looking to efficiently stream
higher-quality AV at lower latency beyond the
boundaries of local networks.
: How can systems contractors better position
themselves to profit from products and/or services
you have to offer?
NM: Gain as much IT and IP networking expertise as
you can. Some people know AV very well, some know
IT very well, but the real value today is being an expert
in how they intersect. The move to software,
streaming, and IP also opens up new customer types
that you might not have focused on previously. Also,
consider service-based revenue models, such as
remotely managing devices for your customers
through tools like our Magewell Cloud.
avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 19
PEOPLE NEWSMAKERS
BROADSIGN has expanded its
programmatic team by appoint-
ing JOHN DOLAN as vice
president, global head of media
sales. Bringing more than a
decade of programmatic mar tech
John Dolan experience to the newly formed
role, Dolan will oversee Broadsign’s global sales team
in identifying new growth opportunities and amplify-
ing revenue with a data-driven approach. He comes to
Broadsign from Integral Ad Science, where he
spearheaded agency and programmatic development
for the company as global vice president.
CHRISTIE LITES has welcomed
CHRIS PATTON as its vice
president of rentals and MARK
BURNETT as a new rentals rep.
Patton’s new role comes as part
of a wider expansion of the
Chris Patton Christie Lites management team,
bringing increased focus to both
client and rep support. He will
join Ken Alexander, senior vice
president of rentals, to lead,
develop, and support the Christie
Lites rental rep team. A UK
Mark Burnett native, Patton has 20 years of
professional experience, including business and team
development manager for a large rental operation in
the UK and senior product manager for several key
professional U.S. lighting manufacturers. Burnett will
be based out of Coventry, UK, and will focus on
developing market share in theatrical rentals.
With more than 25 years of
prominent financial roles within
the construction, engineering,
and consulting industries,
SIMON HEMMING has been
appointed the new global chief
Simon Hemming financial officer of ELECTRO-
SONIC GROUP. He will be responsible for leading the
finance function across all three divisions of the
Electrosonic Group—including Design Consulting,
System Integration, and Support and Managed
Services—for EMEA and the Americas. His interna-
tional experience has given Hemming a strong
skillset in supporting global teams and functions,
vital to Electrosonic’s worldwide reach and local
support mantra.
INFILED has hired JON CHAVEZ
as regional sales manager
covering the Central Region of
the United States for both fixed
installation and the rental and
staging markets. Chavez had his
Jon Chavez career start at TMB as a product
specialist working with entertainment production,
20 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
media servers, and lighting, eventually moving to
project management and technical sales for VER and
PixelFLEX LED. His Nashville base and experience will
lend itself to INFiLED’s team with concentration in
those sectors.
AMIT ANCIKOVSKY has joined
KRAMER ELECTRONICS LTD. as
the new president of Kramer
Americas. He previously served
as president of Mimosa Net-
works, a wireless technologies
Amit Ancikovsky provider. Before that he held
varied executive positions at Ceragon Networks,
leading the company’s ascent to its dominant
market-share position, as well as Airspan Networks.
In assuming his new position, Ancikovsky will be
building on Kramer’s trajectory of success in terms of
market penetration and brand recognition.
In an effort to strengthen its
commitment to its North
American customer base, LAWO
has relocated chief commercial
officer JAMIE DUNN to the United
States. With more than 40 experts
Jamie Dunn in North America, Dunn’s move
represents a logical step to support and steer the
organization through the next stage of planned growth,
as Lawo executes on delivering its next evolutionary
chapter of IP and cloud-enabled media infrastructure
solutions. A member of Lawo’s Executive Management
Board, Dunn will maintain his global responsibility as
CCO and head of Lawo’s global sales organization.
MXL MICROPHONES, a division
of Marshall Electronics, has
promoted GINA STIMLER to
global sales manager. Stimler’s
diverse professional experience
includes more than 17 years
Gina Stimler working with the company’s core
customers, dealers, distributors, manufacturer
representatives, and system integrators. Since 2005,
she has worked in international sales for MXL, and
has also spent the last four years as senior sales
operations manager for Marshall Electronics. In her
new role, Stimler is tasked with developing and
instituting strategies to maximize profit across
international markets, as well as expanding the brand
across the globe.
PLANAR has announced an
expanded role for senior sales
director AMBER KING to include
the Mid-Atlantic region. With
more than 30 years of sales and
management experience in the
Amber King AV industry, King will oversee
Planar’s sales efforts in Washington, DC, Maryland,
and Virginia, in addition to
continuing to manage New
England, Upstate New York, and
Canada. Amber brings more than
30 years of sales and manage-
ment experience in the AV
Adrian Bullock industry. Planar has also added
ADRIAN BULLOCK and MIKE
BEADENKOPF as regional
account managers. Bullock, who
brings more than 20 years of
progressive IT and AV experi-
ence, will manage the company’s
Mike Beadenkopf sales efforts in Western Canada,
as well as Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest
Territories. Beadenkopf, who has nearly 24 years of
sales and operations experience in the AV industry,
will join Planar’s Mid-Atlantic team.
PROSOURCE has added JIM
PEARSE as president. The
expansion of the senior manage-
ment team supports the contin-
ued growth of the ProSource
buying group. Pearse brings more
Jim Pearse than 30 years of extensive retail
experience from his leadership roles at Wireless
Advocates, Sears Holdings Corporation, and Ultimate
Electronics. His involvement in the consumer elec-
tronics industry has earned him a reputation as an
executive that maintains a high level of integrity and
partnership focus. Pearse will report to Dave Workman,
who continues to serve as CEO of the group.
DAN O’BRASKY has joined
SHOW SAGE as its newest sales
representative. A 13-year Pro AV
industry veteran, O’Brasky is
taking on the newly-created role
of regional sales manager for the
Dan O’Brasky Western United States and
Western Canada. Prior to coming to the Pro AV
market, O’Brasky worked in IT and media sales
businesses, and also owned a high-end consumer
audio business in New York City.
Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS)
solution leader XYTE has
launched its dedicated opera-
tions in North America, which is
led by its new vice president of
sales, ANDREW GROSS. Gross
Andrew Gross has more than a decade of
experience driving revenue growth and building
successful sales teams. Most recently, he served as
vice president of enterprise sales and in other
leadership roles at Crestron Electronics, where he
oversaw the video collaborations and IoT cloud
business, created go-to-market strategies, and
formed new divisions within the company.
PEOPLE ON YOUR BUSINESS
Choosing Not to
Work with a Client
There Are Important Questions to Ask When You Have to Part Ways
By Steve Greenblatt, CTS
I
t can be trendy and empowering for a busi-
ness to say that they are “firing” a client. Many
times, deciding to part ways with a client can
prove to be a smart business move; however, it is
something that needs to be taken seriously and must
be handled in a responsible manner.
Since businesses exist to serve clients and clients
want to rely on businesses to satisfy their needs,
having to fire a client or terminate a relationship is
not something to revel in and should not be a regular
occurrence. While it may be the best decision for a
given situation, the outcome can be both unsettling
and disruptive for both the client and the business.
The client will likely continue to have unmet needs
and the business will be losing revenue.
Not An Overnight Decision
There are various reasons why clients and businesses
choose to part ways. Some are a result of an improper
fit, where the client’s needs and provider’s offerings
don’t align to provide a mutually beneficial engage-
ment. Other rationale can stem from a variety of
differences related to pricing, scheduling, and scope
of requirements. Finally, conflicts do arise related to
differences in values, personalities, difficulties in
communication, unrealistic expectations, or even
inappropriate behaviors.
Whenever businesses are parting ways with a
client, they need to ask themselves some important
questions: Why did it occur? Could it have been
GETTY IMAGES
22 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
prevented? What can be learned? Was this a relation-
ship that should have been pursued in the first place?
If parting ways with clients becomes a regular
occurrence or if the same cause is consistently
identified, businesses need to look within and reflect
on what they could be doing differently. While it may
be easy to pass the blame to an unreasonable client, a
business engagement is a product of two parties, and
neither should be completely devoid of responsibility.
No different from personal relationships, it can be
valuable to comprehend why some business connec-
tions work while others don’t and determine if
improvements can be made to avoid similar occurrences
in the future. This process can lead to difficult conversa-
tions and reflection, which involve honest feedback and
introspective evaluation of one’s behaviors and actions
that can reveal unexpected discoveries.
The more clearly an organization can
define the persona of an ideal client, the
more successful they will be in marketing
to them, attracting their business, and
achieving success.
In some cases, findings can lead to ownership of
conduct inspiring tangible adjustments to practices
that provide lasting impact and limit future situa-
tions from going awry. In other cases, a determina-
tion can be made that there was an incongruence
between the business and the client from the
onset—and the business needs to do better at
identifying, defining, and attracting clients that will
be the right fit while avoiding others who fall outside
of those parameters.
There are also cases where businesses or individu-
als may not have an interest in making changes to
their perspective, actions, or practices. In these
situations, separations may be harder to avoid, and
are likely to occur with a greater probability and
higher frequency than for other businesses. In any
case, it is important to remember that whether it is an
unhappy client who takes their business elsewhere or
the business who “fires” the client, neither will truly
result in a positive outcome.
Deciding to part ways with a client is often linked
to bad experiences or difficult situations. While these
may be unavoidable from time to time, they should
not be the norm. Organizations who are facing these
challenges should consider how outcomes could be
different if they could attract more clients who are the
right fit and steer clear of those who are not.
While many businesses may feel that they are not
in the position to choose their clients but instead
hope their clients choose them, others have learned
from past mistakes and bad experiences. Those who
have either been burned enough times or have found
their guiding light now take their time better under-
stand and define their “ideal” client profile.
After years of being in business and working with
clients of different types, it should become more
apparent which are a good fit and which are not. By
clearly understanding these characteristics, both
 ON YOUR BUSINESS PEOPLE

good and bad, an ideal client profile can be developed.
With a better awareness of the characteristics of this
ideal client, businesses will have greater success in
building relationships that work, while avoiding
those that lead to bad experiences and ultimately
need to be terminated. The more clearly an organiza-
tion can define the persona of an ideal client, the
more successful they will be in marketing to them,
attracting their business, and achieving success.
provides an opportunity to reflect, learn, and
adjust. Clarity and insight can turn that negative
situation into something positive that can contrib-
ute to more favorable future results. Choosing not
to work with a client can produce tangible reward,
as long as it is done for the right reasons, is handled
professionally, and can produce a valuable learning
opportunity.
Steve Greenblatt, CTS, is the founder of Control
Concepts, Inc., which provides specialized software
and services for the Pro AV industry. Contact him at
steveg@controlconcepts.net.

Find the Right Clients

For starters, businesses need to understand that they
can’t be everything to everyone. Therefore, it is
important to identify a few key elements that will
help to define what types of clients to pursue.
Start by intimately knowing the organization’s
strengths. What services do they perform particularly
well? What are their competitive advantages? Do they
have a quick response time? Are they particularly
detail-oriented and thorough? Are the priced more
aggressively than others? Does the team have
standout skills?
On the flip side, businesses need to be just as clear
and honest about their weaknesses. What are some of
their struggles? In what situations do they not
perform at their best? What products or services are
less than ideal as compared to others? What types of
clients do they regularly find difficult to satisfy?
Once the business strengths and weaknesses are
identified, the strengths should be cross-referenced
with additional criteria, including the needs of the
market, the profitability of their stronger offerings,
the appreciation they receive for exhibiting their
stronger qualities, and the characteristics of clients
with whom they enjoy working. The result of this
brainstorm and mapping should paint a general
picture of the types of clients for whom they are likely
to be a good fit.
Taking it one step further, and just as important,
this exercise will provide a general idea of the
characteristics of clients who will not be a good fit. By
piecing these two elements together, a description
and checklist of criteria can be defined describing how
to qualify as an ideal client.
While working with ideal clients is an ultimate
goal for most business, it will take time to identify
and attract them. During this time and likely beyond,
there will continue to be relationships that don’t
work out for one reason or another. When situations
arise that call for “firing” a client, consider the
learning moments and be thoughtful about facilitat-
ing a responsible handoff. If a client has good
qualities and is just not a proper fit, consider re-
homing them to another provider that is better
suited to service and support them in a way that both
can benefit (rather than casting them aside without a
solution for their needs).
For those who are focused on ongoing personal
and professional growth, firing a client or a failed
relationship can be the gift of a life experience that

avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 23

BUSINESS INTEGRATOR STRATEGIES
Integrators have expanded
pandemic-related technology
offerings, including virtual patient
care for the medical industry.
Time for a Change
How Integrators Have Survived (and Thrived) After the Pandemic
By Jennifer Guhl
T
his can clearly be stated: The pandemic has
changed the AV industry forever. But in the
eyes of many top integrators, those difficult
changes may have been for the industry’s better-
ment in the long term. Working through these hard-
ships has separated the integrators that previously
were faking their way through the tough projects
from the ones that focused on scalable, flexible
efforts, allowing them to truly prosper in this post-
pandemic environment.
“We all know that we’ve emerged from the
pandemic a changed workforce in many ways, but
perhaps the most predominant and lasting changes
are related to our newfound agility,” said Michael
Strand, chief revenue officer for Diversified. “We’ve
had to pivot—and sometimes pivot again—in terms
of how we deliver projects, how we engage our teams
and even the solutions and services we offer.”
Traditionally, some integrators have over-relied
on product offerings, struggling to find a balance
between products and service offerings. “Those that
just did a basic install, left, and never returned really
didn’t fare well during these times,” said Bill Law-
rence, vice president of technical operations for Kinly.
“The folks that were service deep are the ones that
survived.”
Recurring Revenue
Clients are looking for integration partners able to
deliver on all fronts, providing service offerings that
are efficient and easy to standardize. This has caused
integrators to view the client-integrator relationship
as a true partnership, one that focuses on under-
standing critical functions while suggesting solutions
24 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
that support real use cases. And integrators are
putting a stronger focus on recurring revenue streams
through managed service offerings that allow
integrators to bundle services for a fixed monthly fee.
“We’ve been gaining traction, particularly with
our corporate customers, by demonstrating how
managed services reduce their cost of doing business
and improve their bottom line,” said Jeff Davis,
president and CEO for Avidex. “For example, install-
ing, implementing, and monitoring a turnkey ‘easy
room’ solution within an AVaaS framework creates an
intuitive and reliable user experience without upfront
costs. Remote monitoring also frees up IT staff
resources while providing insights into AV system
utilization to increase user/meeting room efficiency.
AVaaS also ensures, through periodic component
upgrades, client AV systems do not become outdated.”
With many clients looking to create a more
engaging experience that would bring people back
into offices, retail stores, etc., integrators have used
this as an opportunity to expand within two impor-
tant strategic growth areas: digital media and
managed services. These services include on-site
support, content creation, and creative services, all
driving new forms of engagement for their client’s
intended audience.
“A lot of companies are saying the old way
of doing it was ‘best of class,’ but there is a
‘good enough’ movement that is working its
way into the corporate enterprise.”
Jack Steinhauer, Kinly
Diversified has introduced its new Global Payment
Solutions as an additional revenue stream apart from
products or support. “It’s all about financially
positioning our clients so they can leverage the latest
in technology without capital expenditures,” Strand
explained. “With this outcome-based technology
financing model, we’re meeting our clients where
they are in terms of how they want to procure on an
as-a-service model.”
Integrators have also expanded pandemic-related
technology offerings, including virtual patient care
and temperature-scanning kiosks, as hospitals have
turned into an area of considerable growth for
integrators. The pandemic has accelerated the
adoption for virtual patient care, and the demand is
high for AV communication systems that better
support patients. “The ability for nurses and doctors
to videoconference with highly contagious hospital
patients increases workflow efficiencies while
helping patients feel less isolated,” said Davis.
Higher education, with students participating in
remote learning at higher rates, offers another growth
vertical. Campuses have large numbers of meeting
rooms and classrooms in need of unified AV platforms,
giving integrators the opportunity to not only integrate
the technology but provide long-term service packages
that support these spaces for years to come.
Addressing the Supply Chain
As backlogs due to supply chain issues continues to
grow, planning and project management has become
more critical than ever for integrators. Timelines are
extending—and that leads to many uncomfortable
conversations between integrators and clients, which
many integrators say they are having on a daily basis.
This has caused integrators to better educate the
main point of contact for clients, their sales team.
"They have almost become more like educators and
have to understand the nuances of the supply chain and
how it impacts our clients," said Lawrence. "We need to
offer solutions that will help them in the long run."
As clients grow tired of the long waits for their
ideal solution, an openness is beginning to appear for
system architecture based on the continued supply
chain issues. With clients willing to accept options
that may not be perfect in their eyes, integrators are
guiding them through solutions that meet their use
case and are available now. “A lot of companies are
saying the old way of doing it was ‘best of class,’ but

there is a ‘good enough’ movement
that is working its way into the
corporate enterprise,” noted Jack
Steinhauer, Kinly’s senior vice
president and head of sales and
marketing, Americas.
New Work Models
Like many industries, integrators
adapted to working remotely during the
pandemic, and many have fully
embraced the benefits of hybrid work.
The new reliance on hybrid work has
allowed integrators to recruit the best
talent, no matter their geographical
location, and focus on building internal
structures that provide the appropriate
resources for employees to prosper
within this new working environment. Top from left: Michael Strand, Bill Lawrence, Jeff Davis Bottom from left: Jack Steinhauer,
John Day, Jeremy Blanton
Talent is currently in high-
demand, and integrators have been navigating
challenges surrounding labor costs and hiring. During
this era, known as the Great Resignation, many
people have left their positions, requiring integrators
to focus on talent retention strategies and develop
cultures based around supporting employees and
INTEGRATOR STRATEGIES BUSINESS
their development.
Technician availability has been another hurdle
many integrators have had to navigate. “Definitely
having a lot more integrators reaching out to us and the
issue is staffing,” said John Day, founder of AV HERO,
an on-demand service provider focusing on connecting
talented AV technicians with integra-
tors and other businesses in need of
their help. With many technicians
joining the gig economy and not looking
to work for just one company, integra-
tors turn to AV HERO to hire technicians
in various locations across the country,
helping them to properly address their
project needs and save on costly
overhead costs like travel.
“In a time when workers are hard
to find and travel costs have increased
or are limited, AV Hero has been able
to provide a quicker solution to the
service needs of our clients, minimiz-
ing downtime and eliminating the
high cost of travel,” said Jeremy
Blanton, design consultant with
Conference Technologies, an integra-
tor that has utilized AV HERO to
address their staffing needs. Day feels that there is a
great chance the labor force may become an on-
demand service long-term—for integrators and
manufacturers—with technicians enjoying their
independence and deciding what jobs to take based on
their own terms.
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Back to Business
Rochelle Richardson Sees ‘Renewed Energy’ for InfoComm 2022
By Mark J. Pescatore
A
fter its return to Orlando, FL, last October
(following a pandemic-induced, two-year
layoff), InfoComm 2022 is heading back to
Las Vegas. Educational workshops and other training
opportunities run June 4-10, while the exhibit hall
will be open June 8-10. In an exclusive interview,
Rochelle Richardson, CEM, senior vice president of
exhibition and event services for AVIXA, discussed
show floor pavilions, off-site tours, and the impor-
tance of trade shows.
: On the heels of the pandemic, InfoComm
2021 wasn’t expected to break any attendance or
exhibitor records. How did AVIXA define success
for InfoComm 2021, and did you achieve that?
Rochelle Richardson: In close collaboration with the
InfoComm Exhibitor Advisory Committee members,
exhibitors, and attendees, we made the decision to
move forward with the InfoComm 2021 trade show in
October to reunite the Pro AV industry.
The consensus was positive following the show.
Although InfoComm was not its traditional size as in
previous years, we achieved the objectives of provid-
ing a platform for commerce between exhibitors and
Pro AV buyers, the opportunity to have meaningful
and engaging discussions, the exploration of solu-
tions and products, and much more.
: What will be different for attendees at
InfoComm 2022?
RR: The ribbon cutting ceremony will have a new
meaning, as it will mark the opening of an InfoComm
show in Las Vegas for the first time in four years
[since 2018]. InfoComm 2022 is also the first time we
are holding the show in the new West Hall, in addition
to the North Hall, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The West Hall is a $1 billion expansion to the LVCC,
providing an additional 1.4 million square feet of new
space and featuring the largest digital display
experience in a convention center in the U.S.
: What industry buzz will be some of the main
topics of conversation on the show floor this year?
RR: The buzz on the trade show floor at InfoComm
2022 will be about the 500+ companies and their new
and existing solutions and products. This year will be
the first year many are returning to an in-person
event, and we anticipate there to be a few companies
making big announcements in order to make a
significant impact with the return to InfoComm.
InfoComm 2022 will focus on the following key
INFOCOMM 2022 PREVIEW BUSINESS
Pro AV solution areas on the trade show floor and
Technology Innovation Stage as well as in education
sessions: audio, conferencing and collaboration,
content, production, streaming, digital signage,
learning technologies, and live events. We’ll also be
hosting show floor tours tailored by solution areas.
The North Hall will feature “AV Solutions for
Experience and Engagement,” and attendees will find
the Digital Signage and Events and Entertainment
Pavilions as well as Content, Streaming, and Produc-
tion, and general exhibits. The West Hall will feature
“Productivity Tools in AV,” and attendees will find
the Audio and Conferencing and Collaboration
Pavilions, Control, and Learning Technologies, and
more general exhibits. The Technology Innovation
Stage, also located in the West Hall, will offer
attendees trend forecasts, updates from exhibitors,
and product announcements.
: Beyond the show floor, what are some of the
other attractions for attendees this year?
RR: While I may be a little biased, it’s gratifying to
collaborate with many people within AVIXA and other
organizations who have worked diligently to build a
robust program. There is something for everyone,
from the essentials to the more advanced and
premium workshops.
For attendees looking for deep dives into network-
ing systems, design thinking, and project manage-
ment, we encourage you to register and plan to attend
the three-day courses beginning Saturday, June 4. In
addition, the Education Pass offers attendees the
opportunity to select from 80+ sessions and will
appeal to attendees looking for a wide range of courses
including conferencing and collaboration, digital
signage, audio, manufacturer’s training, and more.
Also, this year’s off-site integrated experience
tours provide behind-the-scenes looks at AV solutions
in the real world. You’ll have the opportunity to select
from seven exceptional and unique tours curated
specifically with Pro AV professionals in mind.
Tuesday’s tours include the University of Nevada
Las Vegas, where you can explore the UNLV classroom
renovation that features a Dolby Atmos theatre. Or
plan to join the experimental artist Valentino Vettori
as he gives a tour of Arcadia Earth. The Resorts World
tour will show you the Zouk Nightclub, Ayu Dayclub,
theater, outdoor screens, and much more.
On Wednesday, there will be a tour of the Illumi-
narium, which features 4K interactive projection,
360-degree audio, in-floor vibrations, and scent
systems. A tour of Las Vegas nightclubs led by Gerardo
Gonzalez, senior director of technical services for Tao
Group Hospitality, will take attendees through JEWEL,
Hakkasan, and Omnia to see how each showcases their
style of audiovisual guest experiences. On Thursday, a
tour of Omega Mart will take visitors inside the
interactive art installation created by Meow Wolf,
which features contributions from over 300 artists.
: Finally, there are some people who think
trade shows can be replaced by webinars and
videoconferencing. Why do you think it’s
important for systems integrators and other
members of the Pro AV community to attend
InfoComm?
RR: If there was any question prior to the pandemic, we
certainly all should have a definitive answer: There
simply is no replacement for face-to-face trade shows.
Trade shows are a powerful platform for profes-
sionals from multiple vertical sectors to come
together for business—to build relationships, learn
and discover, and so much more. Trade shows are a
valuable tool for companies and attendees to recon-
nect, while providing the opportunity to grow their
network and strengthen the communities we serve.
There is an even greater necessity following a
two-year global pandemic where many were limited
to connecting virtually.
The momentum and excitement are palpable,
and there is an increased interest from individuals
and companies planning to attend this year’s event.
There is a renewed energy around getting back
together in person, meeting with customers,
unveiling new solutions and products, seeing
existing and new companies, and reconnecting with
the Pro AV community.
There is something magical happening, and it is a
wonderful feeling to know we’ll have the opportunity
to see many from the Pro AV industry in Las Vegas for
InfoComm 2022!
"There simply is no replacement for face-to-face trade
shows," according to AVIXA's Rochelle Richardson.
27
BUSINESS INFOCOMM 2022 PREVIEW
What trends and
technologies can
attendees look
forward to seeing at
InfoComm this year?
David Bacher
Head of Marketing,
LG Business Solutions USA
Attendees can look forward to seeing
the latest in dvLED technology on the show floor.
LG is introducing a variety of new dvLED displays
designed to support integrators servicing markets
such as retail, venues, transportation, and beyond.
Another technology that is sure to generate buzz at
InfoComm is the LG CLOi ServeBot, an autonomous
robot that uses multiple cameras and sensors to
navigate complex commercial environments. The
robot demonstrates how U.S. workers can safely
use robot assistants to carry up to 66 pounds of
food or goods, assist with employee workloads,
enable better customer service, and increase
operational efficiency.
Joel Hall
Senior Sales Development
Manager,
Leon Speakers
Our approach to AV is rooted in the blending of art
with audio and design with technology. End users
want all the benefits that tech gives them, but
they’re notorious for not wanting to see it...at all. This
poses a real challenge for consultants and integra-
tors. Leon exists to help bridge the gap between AV
designers and end users through our extensive
pallet of customizable technology concealment
solutions and handcrafted speakers.
Charlie Jones
Insights Manager, Global
Alliances, Sennheiser
I expect Artificial Intelligence (AI) will
be a big buzzword on the show floor as more
manufacturers find creative ways to bring this
technology into the meeting environment. For
instance, our newly launched TeamConnect Intel-
ligent Speaker (TC ISP) will be showcased at Info-
Comm, and it is one of the first intelligent solutions
for this market, enabling users to start and optimize
Microsoft Teams meetings by talking to Cortana via
28 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
voice recognition, calendar syncing, and automatic
transcription. Coming out of the pandemic, so many
of us have more work than we know what to do with,
so at Sennheiser we are eager to find ways to enable
hybrid and remote workers to work smarter, not
harder, with solutions like the TC ISP.
Chris Kopin
Executive Vice President of
Technology, Kramer
Creating meeting space solutions not
confined to a particular conferencing platform, but
rather rooms designed to be agnostic.
Sam Nord
Vice President of Global Sales,
Listen Technologies
With the changes in how work looks
today compared to even a couple years ago, I’m
curious to see the hybrid work solutions that will be
displayed at the show, and learn how they enable
productivity and collaboration regardless of the work
environment.
Scott Normand
Commercial Market Director,
Snap One
I think the expansion of remote
management platforms and services is going to be
big this year. Integrators want and need these
solutions more than ever to be able to scale their
businesses and generate recurring revenues. The
Snap One booth [will be showcasing] our OvrC cloud
management platform.
Jason Polk
Marketing Coordinator, Absen
New technologies like Micro LED are
driving [the display technology]
movement and are going to bring us higher resolu-
tion in a smaller form factor. Other new technologies,
like flip-chip technology. will bring high brightness
and high contrast with a wide viewing angle in a
form that protects the pixels from the type of
damage that they can sustain today. These new
technologies are more efficient in terms of power
consumption and heat dissipation, adding the
element of sustainable design to the solutions.
Bryan Reksten
Vice President of Marketing,
VITEC
We expect there will be two topics that
will be on the minds of our partners. First, the
explosion of video on enterprise networks as
organizations rely on video for communication and
hybrid work arrangements like never before. IPTV
solutions need to be efficient, reliable, and scalable
as organizations adjust to new workflows. Second,
the need for clear, dynamic communication on the
IPTV platform will see the deployment of digital
signage on networks like never before. From
employee communication to customer engage-
ment, an IPTV platform must be flexible to meet a
broad set of requirements.
Sean Sheridan
Regional Technical Manager
(Americas), Brompton
Technology
As resolutions increase, and with the explosive
growth of remote and hybrid work, the proliferation
of video-over-IP standards like NDI will continue to
flourish, with further standards like ST2110 and IPMX
breaking through as well. The marriage of AV and IT
is stronger than ever, and looks to only be getting
stronger.”
Lauren Simmen
Director of Product Marketing,
Crestron
At InfoComm, Crestron is going to
showcase the next phase of intelligent video and give
attendees a look at an approach that the industry
hasn’t really seen before. Videoconferencing has
enabled us to continue to be productive and collabo-
rate during COVID, but now we need to take it to the
next level to adjust to the modern workplace.
 INFOCOMM 2022 PREVIEW BUSINESS

AVIXA initiative, speakers were asked to encourage colleagues

to present sessions to amplify more diverse voices and
points of view.
Women’s Council, which will host a breakfast at
InfoComm on June 9. “It has truly been wonderful to
work on this and bring it forward,” Lloyd added. “The

Embraces
Other organizational efforts include the AVIXA feedback has been outstanding from our industry
Diversity Council, which is designed to encourage leaders and companies, as well as from the individuals
inclusion throughout the industry, and the AVIXA who take part.”

DEI for
Pro AV
By Mark J. Pescatore

D
iversity. Equity. Inclusion. To AVIXA, DEI is
not a trendy catch phrase, it’s a commit-
ment. The organization has made it part of
its mission to provide DEI resources and training for
Pro AV companies.
“Companies are made better by diversity, but not
everyone can hire a chief diversity officer,” explained
Joé Lloyd, AVIXA senior director of communications.
“For AVIXA, DEI is really about the creation of a
community—and belonging to that community.”
While AVIXA was committed to DEI initiatives
internally, its external efforts rose in May 2020, during
the cultural upheaval surrounding the death of George
Floyd. Rather than just stopping at a statement,
however, the organization committed to curating
available DEI resources for the industry. “If we were
going to say something,” Lloyd recalled, “we had to
have the structure in place to back that up.”
AVIXA offers a number of resources on its website to
support a culture of inclusion. For example, “Let’s Talk
About Equity” is a virtual DEI microlearning module
presented by NonProfit HR. The recently updated “AV
Industry Inclusive Language Guide,” available for
download, provides general guidelines and best
practices to help industry members avoid problematic
words and phrases.
There will also be a focus on DEI at InfoComm,
with gender-neutral restrooms in both the North
Hall and West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention
Center, as well as wellness rooms that can be used for
prayer, personal medical needs, and pumping for
new mothers. Attendees will also have the opportu-
nity to sign the “AV Industry Pledge for an Equitable
Future,” a personal pledge to support inclusive
behavior across the industry.
AVIXA worked with Equity Intelligence CEO Chris
Hope to create programming with a DEI focus for
InfoComm. On June 9, a panel discussion, “Designing
for Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility,” will discuss the
importance of accessible technology and inclusive
design. Several other education sessions during the
show will touch on topics such as inclusive workplaces
and meeting equity. Plus, through the “Pass the Mic”

29
BUSINESS ASSET MANAGEMENT
Telestream’s Kumulate content management software automates content movement between storage tiers.
Planning for Disaster
How the Cloud Can Protect Corporate Media Assets
By Carolyn Heinze
W
hile the pandemic has been credited with
accelerated cloud adoption, the enter-
prise market has embraced the cloud for
some time.
Sunil Mudholkar, vice president of product manage-
ment at EditShare, a networked shared storage and
workflow solutions developer headquartered in
Watertown, MA, noted that in large part, this is because
these organizations have been running IT operations on
providers like AWS. “What we find is that the cloud
knowledge of our enterprise and corporate customers,
on average, tends to be a little bit higher than your
average post house, who may have had limited experi-
ence with the cloud in the past,” he said.
Still, organizations require assistance to optimize
the protection and storage of their AV media assets
in the event of a disaster, which requires the AV
integrators that serve them to be fluent in the cloud.
Here are some things to consider.
Evolving 1-2-3 Model
Even the most basic disaster recovery policies should
mandate the need for three copies of every asset, each
residing in a different location. Liz Davis, vice president
of the Media Workflow Group at Diversified, a global
technology solutions provider with headquarters in
Kenilworth, NJ, noted that as recently as three years ago,
she was advising clients to adopt the following model:
Store high-resolution files on-premise, utilizing
Tier 1 high-performance storage for editorial and Tier 2
slow-spinning disk for nearline. A second copy sits in a
data center on LTO (Linear Tape Open), while the third
30 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
copy is sent to a preservation and archiving service, such
as Iron Mountain.
These days, however, Davis is urging her clients to
do away with LTO and archiving services in favor of
migrating to the cloud. Here is a version of her new
storage model:
The high-res file is stored locally, utilizing Tier 1
high-performance storage for editorial—or it can be
directly migrated to the cloud, utilizing VDI for virtual
editorial in a cloud environment and eliminating the
on-prem Tier 1 from the start. Davis counsels clients to
evaluate their project life cycle, and keep project files
and related assets on Tier 1 storage for up to 12 weeks
after final render, as there’s a good chance a modified
project file will be created or newest assets repurposed.
Meanwhile, the second copy sits in public cloud S3
Hot Storage, such as Wasabi, while a third copy resides
in a separate public cloud provider, in cold, less
expensive storage. On top of this, Davis layers an HSM
(hierarchical storage manager), which automatically
moves assets from between storage tiers based on the
organization’s storage policy. She says that HSMs also
allow for more efficient editing for those who need to
access stored assets for repurposing.
“As an editor, if I need a partial file restore of a
full-res file to render out a final deliverable, the HSM
will pull back that clip from wherever it’s available, the
quickest,” Davis explained. “Additionally, a HSM
allows for mezzanine workflows, requiring less
intensive compute and proxy editorial from a MAM.
For example, I can begin editing in the proxy, while my
full-res file is being pulled back from one of my storage
tiers—the intelligence of the HSM is doing this in the
background—and sync the proxy with the high-res file
on render.”
This approach, Davis argued, is more cost-effec-
tive than on-prem storage or even off-site LTO.
Tape-based storage, she noted, requires rack space,
heating and cooling, as well as the manpower to
maintain it. “It’s not just the initial purchase cost;
there’s ongoing support costs for this, and they’re
quite pricey,” she noted.
Davis added that on-prem infrastructures are also
more expensive because they need to be designed for
peak. “By nature, that means you’re [incurring] a
capital investment for a future that you don’t know
exists,” she said. “The cloud will meet your demands
when you have them, not when you think you’re going
to have them.”
Hybrid Balance
While most enterprise-level clients are cloud-savvy,
there are instances where they prefer to keep assets on
site. Still, Davis urges her clients to take advantage of
the cloud.
In this model, she proposes the deployment of an
object storage platform (such as DataCore Swarm, born
out of DataCore’s acquisition of Caringo). This enables
companies to leverage the cloud while maintaining an
on-prem model by either virtualizing media assets on
commodity hardware, or even allowing them to create
their own private clouds located in several data centers
across the organization. “It’s much more scalable, it’s
cheaper to run and maintain, and the refresh time [is
faster],” she said.
Savva Mueller, director of business development at
Telestream, the Nevada City, CA-based developer of the
Diva and Kumulate content storage management
platforms, relayed that many of his organization’s users
opt for a hybrid model. This could involve some type of
on-prem solution in conjunction with cloud storage, or
cloud storage in a multi-cloud environment.
“Hybrid is important, because nobody really
wants to put all of their eggs in one basket,” Mueller
said. He added that the multi-cloud approach requires
content storage management systems to be able to
not only migrate assets to the cloud, but between
clouds when necessary.
Regardless of the specific model, Mueller urges
organizations to enlist several storage vendors rather
than, for example, trusting one vendor to store assets
on multiple systems within their own environment. A
single vendor solution exposes companies to all sorts of
potential issues, such as security issues or cloud-based
outages. “That becomes problematic because that one
storage vendor now becomes your single point of
failure,” he explained. “Spreading your content out
across different storage vendors is the wisest choice
that you can make.”
Egress Fees and Analytics
While cloud storage may be more cost-effective in many
cases, clients must understand their providers’ fee
structure related to egress fees, Mueller noted. This
requires not only a clear understanding of the provider’s

terms, but also of the organization’s own usage
patterns. Analytics—something Telestream provides—
help companies determine what these are.
“Even with vendors who say they have no egress
fees for their cloud storage, there can be ‘gotchas’
because they may not charge egress fees only once the
content has been in their system for a certain number of
days,” Mueller illustrated.
Telestream’s ability to perform partial file restores
addresses the issue of egress fees. “If you’re dealing
with an hour-long video file, the ability of the system to
restore just the 30 seconds that you need becomes very
important, because you’re getting it quickly, and if it’s
in cloud storage, you’re egressing a much smaller file
than you would have otherwise,” he said.
One of the main issues Davis runs up against is her
clients’ reticence to transfer old assets to cheaper
storage. Their argument: They never know when they
may need those files.
Upon analyzing file usage, however, Davis said that
in many cases clients rarely revisit those assets, if ever.
She and her team spend a significant amount of time
working with clients to develop sound data storage
policies that both decrease data clutter and lower more
expensive storage consumption costs.
This exercise is critical, Davis said, because stor-
ASSET MANAGEMENT BUSINESS
age—even in the public cloud—has its limits. “As we
create more data clutter in the public cloud sector,
public cloud providers then have to develop more data
centers, and we are going to get to a place where we’re
beyond capital gains,” Davis offered. “So, I’m a huge
proponent of deleting the clutter.”
Phased Deployment
At EditShare, Mudholkar and his team strive to simplify
the deployment of content management and storage
solutions by breaking up the project into a number of
phases. Instead of painting a picture of the ideal
model—which, in many cases, can seem overwhelm-
ing—he said they make smaller implementations over
the course of weeks and then months.
According to lessons learned, this phased
approach makes the final goal more attainable, and
“Spreading your content out across
different storage vendors is the wisest
choice that you can make.”
Savva Mueller, Telestream
enables teams to make tweaks along the way. “You’re
able to bring them along the journey and make it
easier for them,” he explained, “so they don’t feel like
they have to make some big, huge, scary commitment
when they really don’t know what they’re going to be
using in six months.”
This approach is largely influenced by the pan-
demic, which drove organizations to rethink their
planning. “Their long 12, 18, and 24-month IT planning
cycles became smaller projects—smaller chunks—
because they just didn’t know who was going to be on
staff and where they were going to be working,”
Mudholkar said. “Personally, I think that’s good for all
of us. It makes it easier to plan things. Instead of trying
to answer 100 questions about what you’re going to do
in two years, you’re answering 10 questions on what
you’re going to do in two weeks.”
31
TECHNOLOGY STADIUMS
Major League AV
Toronto Blue Jays Improve Fan Experience with Display and Loudspeaker Upgrades
By Wayne Cavadi
O
ver the past few seasons, the Toronto Blue
Jays baseball team has experienced an
exciting transition. Younger, fresh players
have taken the league by storm and the wins are
mounting up. And as the on-field product improved,
so did things behind the scenes.
Part of a $200-million budget to renovate the
Rogers Centre and surrounding area was focused on
the technology in the team’s stadium. With the
previous AV upgrades completed circa 2012, it was
simply time for a reboot.
“When you get clients like this, to me it’s a special
project,” said Michael Martin, director of broadcast
services at Anthony James Partners (AJP). “[The Blue
Jays] understood that where they were at required a
complete overhaul—and they wanted a fresh look.”
Martin and his team at AJP collaborated with Rogers
Communications, which owns the Toronto Blue Jays;
however, the finished product was a long time coming.
32 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
The discussions, plans, and bids began as early as 2018,
and when everything looked set to go, the world shut
down. The new-look Rogers Centre was put on hold.
The project was back on track around May 2021.
According to Martin, the day after the last game of the
2021 season, the control room went down and the
much-anticipated upgrades—including a new LED
display system, new video control room, and rein-
forced, dynamic sound system—were underway.
Centerfield Considerations
The main AV attraction is the Daktronics videoboard
in centerfield. It spans 4,873 square feet, nearly
1,400 square feet larger than the previous score-
board. However, AJP and its team of integrators had
the unique challenge of a confined space: There is a
hotel in centerfield.
“We were able to work with the design team at AJP
to come up with a scoreboard layout that maximizes
all the available space in the outfield, considering we
are land-locked around a hotel,” said Mike Christian-
sen, director of technical production and broadcast
services for the Toronto Blue Jays. “AJP helped us
envision use of the available space in the best possible
way through their renders and guidance.”
AJP and its integrators went to work to structurally
fit the 10mm pixel pitch, curved HDR videoboard—
but there was more work to do in the outfield.
Surrounding the main videoboard are two upper
ribbons (four foot high and more than 75 feet wide)
and two lower ribbons (13.2 feet high and 77 feet
wide), which combine five vibrant LED displays into
one monster visual experience in centerfield. Now,
the Blue Jays content team has multiple zones to
bring a wide variety of graphics to its fans, including
replay, player stats, and sponsor messaging.
Also new are left and right foul pole displays, left
field and right field wall displays (each measuring 10.5
feet by 63.5 feet), and a left and right parapet ribbon
board that encircles nearly the entire stadium.
“The technology improvements help with the
overall fan experience as we begin to renovate this
30-year-old stadium,” Christiansen said. “After the
product on the field, the sound and LED systems are
 STADIUM TECHNOLOGY

the most noticeable things in

the stadium, and doing these
massive upgrades shows our
fanbase that we are commit-
ted to improving their
experience at the ballpark.”

Mission Control
The “fresh look” directive was
also applied to the video replay
control room. While a com-
plete facelift wasn’t required,
AJP decided to bring its unique
style to the project, adding
branding to the space.
“Any picture of one of our
control rooms, you can tell
exactly where it’s at,” said
Martin. “That’s because of the
branding of the countertops,
the side modules, and the
building itself.”
The control room was
completely gutted. “Every
single table was stripped out;
we took it down to the bare
core,” Martin recalled. “So, when we say we rebuilt it, 2022. “It was a nice smooth transition,” said along the way,” added Christiansen. “It was comfort-
when the room was done, it was a brand-new build at Martin. “Alpha and Unity up in Canada did such a ing to have a team of professionals in our corner
that point. It was a total change to the look of the great job. The whole team worked in such great representing our interests along the way, so we could
room, but we never changed the layout.” collaboration—we did not squeak into the end; we focus on the other day-to-day work that doesn’t stop
With the design upgrade in place, AJP worked with went in comfortably.” during upgrades and construction projects like
Alpha Video and its partner Unity-SI on a new video That comfort was the result of a “very proactive this. We look forward to using AJP’s services as we
replay backed by an HDR system. As Martin team,” according to Martin. “Mike Christiansen and move through the rest of the stadium renovations in
explained, the Blue Jays are wisely taking their time his team made my life easy—from the start to the the next couple of offseasons.”
taking in the new system. end, they were a part of
“Next year it will be flipping to HDR,” he said. the whole project,” he
“That was intentional, [the Blue Jays] wanted to get explained. “Nothing was
used to the control room before having to overcome being done that they
learning HDR. But they are fully capable right now— weren’t a part of the
it’s just flipping a switch and creating the content.” decision. What that does
While they stuck with the existing wireless toward the end, is they
systems, they also added five Sony HDC-3500 start learning beforehand.
cameras, six Sony BRC-X1000 4K PTZ cameras, and a They were training well
complement of Marshall CV565-MGB POV cameras. before the system was
“Graphics were the switch,” explained Martin. built. When the system
“They left Chyron and moved over to a Ross Xpres- was ready for a test, they
sion. They have a three-channel Xpression unit as already knew how to run
their main CG, but their LED front-end is a full everything, and their
[Biamp] Tesira system, which is running all the front graphics guys already had
end for the back system.” the graphics built. It
makes the system come
Opening Day Comfort together so smoothly.”
The sound system was also upgraded, including the “The relationship with
replacement of all loudspeakers and amplifiers. Now, AJP was fundamental to
EAW QX series loudspeakers keep the main seating help us through the
areas bumping, while QSC Q-SYS processing solu- multi-year process,
tions and amplifiers can be controlled remotely from navigating vendors,
anywhere in the stadium. contractors, bidding,
The upgrades were ready to entertain fans with pricing, and dealing with
stunning new visuals and sound for Opening Day challenges that come up

avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 33

TECHNOLOGY STADIUMS
Big-League AV
Comes to Single-A
for Gameday at
Chukchansi Park
Improvements Include New Scoreboard, Networked Audio
By Wayne Cavadi
W
hen Chukchansi Park, home of Minor
League Baseball’s Fresno Grizzlies,
opened 20 years ago, it was the begin-
ning of the Fresno revitalization. Hopes were high
that the stadium would be the cornerstone to the
downtown district. In the 20 years since, the Fresno
renaissance has seen a brewery district, shopping
experiences, and more develop, which has brought
more fans to the stadium.
Although there had been physical renovations to
the ballpark—a new splashpad and kid zone as well as
a standing-room bar area were added—the technol-
ogy in the park was lagging. Although Chukchansi
Park is one of the largest in the minors, it was
operating with an outdated scoreboard, one old,
single-source speaker in centerfield, and the original
lights from 2002.
In 2020, the minors reorganized, and the Grizzlies
34 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
went from a Triple-A club to the home of the Colorado
Rockies Single-A affiliate. This enormous ballpark,
which seats north of 10,000 fans, suddenly became
the largest Single-A stadium in MiLB.
“Our thought process was every single night we
want to be able to provide a Triple-A experience for
our fans, and that’s where the new sound system, the
new videoboard, and the new lights really come into
play,” said Jonathan Bravo, director of marketing and
communications for the Fresno Grizzlies.
One-for-Two
The transformation began with the centerpiece of the
upgrade. The past saw two videoboards: a main board
that displayed headshots, promotional graphics, and
lesser-quality live shots, as well as an auxiliary board
featuring additional sponsor messaging, players
stats, and content.
“You had to think of it in two pieces,” Bravo
explained. “You had to think what was going on the
main board and then the smaller auxiliary board. With
this new board, the ability to partition things is pretty
much endless on our side. We’re able to have player
headshots, lineups, and the line score—but also
upcoming promotions and different sponsors. We
used to have six or seven static signage abilities for
partners, but now theoretically we can have as many
partners as we want.”
The Grizzlies turned to Visua to install the
2,000-square-foot VisuaLED videoboard as well as
three BirdDog A200 PTZ cameras (one in centerfield
and one in each dugout) and a pair of JVC GY-HM850
wireless cameras. Also installed were a Teradeck 4K
Max wireless receiver and transceiver, NewTek
TriCaster TC1 production system, and NewTek 3Play
3P2 replay solution.
“One of the other cool things we implemented
was using the cellphone as a wireless camera,”
explained Matt Baker, general manager of Visua/
VirtCh. “With the new NDI technology, we are able to
take any of their cellphones, scan a QR code, and we
can turn that into a wireless camera that we can bring
into the TriCaster, basically adding a third wireless
camera to their show.”
Visua’s virtual producer service VirtCh helped
install MotionRocket, a content and graphics solution
for the scoreboard. Fresno now has a strong partner-
ship to create the content needed to bring the
videoboard to life.
“We are lucky with Visua and VirtCh. If we need a
motion graphic for home runs, that’s something
they can brand for us and pump out,” Bravo added.
“A lot of the specific content, like most recently the
Jackie Robinson Day graphic, is in house. It’s
working hand-in-hand with VirtCh. It’s a great
partnership where we really treat them as members
of our front office.”
Built to Last
Weather—particularly the intense heat of the Central
Valley—was a strong consideration for the equipment
installed. “It’s great peace of mind,” Bravo said. “Our
Fourth of July game is the biggest game of the year. To
know that videoboard will turn on and will function as
it’s supposed to is a huge weight off our shoulders.”
However, VirtCh’s help extends well beyond the
videoboard. “They are also remotely producing games

for us Sunday through Thursday,” Bravo explained.
“Our upstairs control room looked like 1960s NASA, and
now to have all modern flat screen TVs, a brand-new
TriCaster, and the fact that they are able to remote in is
great for us because we get directors that produce games
for a living. That kind of experience is invaluable.”
Visua also brought digital signage to the conces-
sion stands. Using SAVI controls and 18 new LG TVs,
Fresno has control of sending new content to its
menus and the live in-house feed directly to the
screens for a completely immersive experience
anywhere in the park.
Gone is the big old speaker; Visua replaced it with
125 all-weather JBL Professional AWC Series speak-
ers. Whether they are in one of the more than 30
suites, in a row along the second and third decks, or
the concourse itself, the new sound system brings a
completely new auditory experience to the fans and
employees alike.
The audio upgrade required all-new cabling and a
BSS networked audio system that controls the zones,
inputs, and outputs. The Grizzlies production team
has full control and can partition sound throughout
the ballpark. For example, they can play kids music at
the splash pad while simultaneously having game
audio in the concourse.
The lights hadn’t been updated since the original
2002 ballpark construction, and brought an unnatural,
orange tinge to the field. The Grizzlies installed 172
Musco fixtures with its Total Light Control (TLC for
LED) technology for a simplified, true daylight look for
the games. The lights are managed via Musco’s
Control-Link Central control and monitoring system.
Now, the production team simply flips a switch—
whether it is on one of the two tablets or cellphones
deployed throughout the park—and the all-LED
system is up and running. There is no more warming
up or cooling of the outdated ballpark lights, and
Bravo and his team can create light shows that chase
each other around or shoot up the foul poles in the
entire gauntlet of colors.
For the Fans
Despite ongoing congestion issues from the pan-
demic, the install was ready just in time for Opening
Day 2022. “We got there literally the week before
opening, so we hustled to install,” Baker recalled.
“But we had it up and running and it looked beautiful
that opening night.”
Having the Visua team on hand for that opening
weekend made sure that fan experience went
smoothly. “Any time you bring in a new system you
STADIUMS TECHNOLOGY
expect there is going to be a learning curve,” Bravo
said. “We’re extremely fortunate to have a great
production crew, but also we had the production team
from Visua and VirtCh out here for opening weekend
so they could troubleshoot things in real time.”
Chukchansi Park has become the centerpiece in
the heart of Fresno. Concerts are frequently held at
the venue, as is “Taco Truck Throwdown,” a food
competition that consists of 30-plus taco trucks. Most
of the bands bring their own equipment that easily
connects to Fresno’s new system, and the videoboard
is used for promotions and sponsors during the Taco
Truck Throwdown.
In the end the more than $2-million upgrade—
made possible by the city of Fresno and naming rights
group Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino—is all
about the unique experience that is minor-league
baseball. “To see the videoboard, see the lights, hear
the sound system for the first time on opening
weekend, it was instantly clear how much this
impacts the fans’ enjoyment,” Bravo added. “So
much about minor-league baseball is the entertain-
ment, family-fun aspect. For us to be able to com-
pletely skyrocket our production value and bring this
experience to the fans has us very excited for what we
can accomplish for the rest of this year.”
avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 35
 TECHNOLOGY DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
This large,
transparent
OLED display
has 45% light
transmissivity.
LG DISPLAY
Rust Never Sleeps
And Neither Do Display Manufacturers
By Pete Putman
T
he title of Neil Young’s memorable 1979
album could just as easily describe the elec-
tronic display industry, which is constantly
in search of the “next big thing” in imaging—and is
engineering a major paradigm shift as you read this.
That shift represents a move away from displays
that use shuttered, transmissive light with color filters,
such as liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), to emissive
displays that produce colors of light via high-intensity
emissions of photons, such as organic and inorganic
light-emitting diodes (OLEDs and iLEDS), along with
enhancements like quantum dots (QDs).
LCDs have been with us for over a quarter-century
in consumer televisions and commercial displays, and
long before that as simpler, alphanumeric indicators
in products like calculators. But R&D on the underly-
ing technology has essentially plateaued: You can
now purchase a 70-inch LCD Ultra HDTV with
“smart” Internet functionality for less than $600,
compared to the $15,000 price tag on a 28-inch VGA
LCD TV 20-plus years ago.
The End of LCD?
Prices for finished LCD panels have dropped so low
that they are basically consumable and disposable
items. The handful of companies that manufacture
LCD panels (mostly in China) are cautious about
investing substantial sums of money in the technol-
ogy. And two of the largest players, Samsung Display
Company (SDC) and LG Display (LGD), are now
36 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
winding down LCD panel production in favor of
next-generation emissive displays.
Going forward, LGD has placed its bets on large
OLED panels. These panels use underlying IP
licensed from Kodak (of all people), based on
patents from the mid-1980s. An array of white
OLED emitters (made up of blue and yellow com-
pounds) generates bright light that then passes
through red, green, and blue color filters. Addi-
tional white pixels provide a luminance boost.
The advantages of such a display are many.
Emissive displays have much wider viewing angles
than transmissive displays. Unlike LCDs, color
saturation and contrast is consistent for any viewer at
any angle. While OLEDs can’t quite achieve the peak
brightness of a full-backlight-array LCD, they can
smoothly reproduce very low levels of luminance
right down to a deep black. And OLED pixels have
faster on-off cycles than LCD pixels, making for
sharper rendering of motion images. Plus, they can
reproduce over 20 f-stops of light, more than enough
for high dynamic range imaging.
The manufacturing process for white OLEDs
(WOLEDs—the display industry does love its acronyms)
took many years to perfect and reach acceptable
manufacturing yields. An equally difficult challenge was
to manufacture the tiny indium-gallium-zinc oxide
(IGZO) transistors that switch individual OLED pixels on
and off. But WOLED is now considered a mature,
affordable, and practical display architecture for
everything from computer monitors to digital signs.
The fact that they can be fabricated onto flexible,
bendable, and even transparent substrates makes them
attractive for custom installations, with individual
screen sizes from 42 inches up to 97 inches available.
iLED Evolution
While WOLEDs are carving out bigger spaces in digital
signage with each passing year, their inorganic LED
cousins are absolutely dominating the high-lumi-
nance indoor and outdoor display markets. iLEDs
aren’t all that new but couldn’t get any real traction
until blue and green LED emitters were perfected in
the mid 1990s. Not long afterward, the first super-
sized LED walls, scoreboards, and billboards showed
up—but not without lots of teething problems.
iLEDs use stable, inorganic compounds (usually
doped compounds of gallium nitride) to emit intense
colors of light when low voltages pass through them.
Early models had large diode junctions and very
coarse dot-pitch measurements (6mm to 10mm).
Uncomfortable to watch up close, these displays were
perfect for super-sized applications like stadium and
arena scoreboards that were viewed at a distance. And
they were bright: A typical 6mm pitch outdoor display
This exploded diagram
shows the five layers
in a bottom-emission
white OLED display
with color filters.

PETE PUTMAN
Here is a prototype high-brightness blue microLED
emitter, targeted at near-to-eye display applications.
could achieve peak luminance levels of 4,000
candelas per square meter (cd/m2).
Plus, iLEDs are modular. They continue to be
manufactured in tiles, which are large blocks that
snap together in tight alignment. If a tile goes bad,
it’s a relatively simple job to swap it out, although not
always convenient with large outdoor signs that run
24/7, such as in Times Square.
Over time, recurring problems with power supply
failures and overheating (including some prominent
outdoor LED displays actually catching fire) have
largely been solved. Simultaneously, we’ve seen pixel
pitches drop well below 2mm and even 1mm (known
as “mini” LEDs), making it practical to develop
smaller displays for indoor, close-up viewing.
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
iLED displays retain all the advantages of their
emissive OLED cousins, but with more firepower.
iLEDs also have very fast switching times and are
usually operated in a pulse-width modulation (PWM)
mode, cycling on and off as fast as 3000 Hz with 10-bit
and 12-bit sampling to produce smooth gradations in
luminance and color shades.
The next step with iLEDs is the development of
“micro” LEDs (pitch <100 µm) for use in handheld
and personal electronics like smartphones and
near-to-eye displays. Early prototypes of green
microLED emitters have achieved over 20,000 cd/m2
luminance levels. Many display analysts (including
yours truly) believe that “micro” and “mini” iLEDs
will eventually push all other emissive displays off the
stage, something that could happen as soon as the
end of this decade.
The Case for QD-OLED
We’re also seeing some interesting hybrid emissive
display designs, such as Samsung Displays’ new
quantum dot OLED hybrid (QD-OLED), which made
its debut at CES 2022. SDC was looking for a new
product to replace its sunsetting LCD panel fabrica-
tion business, and the QD-OLED fits the bill nicely. It
combines a blue OLED emitter (manufactured by
sister company Samsung Mobile Display) with a layer
of red and green quantum dots.
Quantum dots are tiny, metallic compounds
(indium phosphide with a zinc shell) that convert the
light energy from the blue OLED into intense,
narrow-bandwidth red and green energy. Additional
blue light from the emitter is then combined with the
red and green to produce a large, bright gamut of color
shades and high dynamic range images.
On paper, the QD-OLED could be a real game
changer. It has only four layers in its “stack,” compared
to five in a WOLED panel and typically 10 in an LCD
panel. This design (in theory) should simplify manu-
facturing complexity and costs, and (again, in theory)
get production and manufacturing yields up to usable
levels in less time. As of this writing, however, reports
from some Asian electronics industry sites cite very low
yields on both the QD-OLED layer and the oxide
(presumably IGZO) transistor pixel switching layer.
Indicators are that the next generation of
direct-view displays will all feature emissive
architectures, and for now, it appears they’ll use
OLEDs and/or iLEDs to generate light, with or
without quantum dots. To be sure, LCD displays
aren’t going away any time soon—but their days do
appear to be numbered.
avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 37
TECHNOLOGY CLOUD POWER

AGES
GETTY IM
Security in
Layers of Protection
We add a second layer of security called two-factor
authentication. Whether you’re accessing a network
that is local, in the cloud, or a hybrid of the two, you

the Cloud
need a unique, one-time authorization code that
could only be issued to the user via text, phone, or
physical token. This security tool is familiar to anyone
who’s accessed their bank account via the cloud.
Understand the Tools and Manage Your Risks In a high-traffic network environment like a
real-time production infrastructure, we add a third
By Dave Van Hoy software tools and methodologies that restrict layer of security with a virtual private network. The
access and systems to your assets in the cloud. VPN is typically encrypted and extends the private

S
ystems security, whether in the cloud or
on-premises, has been a critical issue fac-
ing systems integrators for as long as we’ve
had buildings, facilities, and networks. On-prem,
we’ve traditionally managed security largely by
limiting physical access, whether it was a badge
required to get into the facility or certificates on
devices limiting physical network access to those
with authorization. Or we’ve air gapped the sys-
tem, isolating it from the public internet or other
unsecured networks.
But when you move some or all of your operation
and infrastructure from on-prem to the public
cloud—where there are potentially millions of
users—the only way to create security is through
Tiered access, also called hierarchical access, is
typical for any networked facility. Administrators or
engineers may have access to control everything
within the environment, while end users like editors
or graphic artists will have access and visibility only
to the tools and assets required to do their job.
In the public cloud, access to tools like virtual
editing, virtual video switching, or a storage pool is
commonly accomplished through authentication
management with profiles defining classes of users,
with each user having an individual password.
Passwords, however, are the biggest vulnerability for
businesses. Whether bad actors get the password
from phishing, stripping emails, or using key loggers,
it can take a long time for them to be discovered
because they’re using a legitimate password.
network across the public internet, emulating the
concept of an on-prem closed network where you
must have authorization to access anything on it.
Still, you’ll want to limit the targets for bad actors.
For example, you might have a laptop allowing
you to set up a lighting console from home. But if that
laptop happens to be sitting on the VPN that also
contains the organization’s entire accounting system,
is the risk of having your bank account hacked worth
the benefit of being able to work remotely? Every
benefit brings with it an inherent risk that you need to
consider carefully.
The security layers of tiered access, two-factor
authentication, and a VPN also give you the option to
create single sign-on (SSO), which is all about not
making users type their passwords over and over to

38 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com

 CLOUD POWER TECHNOLOGY

access the correct IP address, internet traffic routing, environment, with the ability to bind into the client’s If you’re working in the public cloud, it’s already
or assets they’re entitled to use—while still making it existing security environment, so users don’t have to implied that you’re taking some risks. So, educate
harder for anyone to hack into the system. go through double authentication. Combined, these yourself on security tools, solutions, best practices,
Another strategy that’s rapidly being imple- many layers of security tools have resulted in a VPCR and tradeoffs. You’ll take a big step toward minimizing
mented in cloud networks is the concept of zero trust, that is consistent, portable, and implementable in the those risks, while delivering the incredible flexibility
which focuses less on your password and more on environments of many different types of organiza- and ease of use that working in the cloud offers.
biometrics or the device you’re using to access the tions, without the need to re-engineer the system Dave Van Hoy is the president of Advanced Systems
cloud, not unlike Face ID on your smartphone. As time from scratch for each client. Group, LLC. Contact him at dvh@asgllc.com.
goes on, other forms of zero trust like trust certifi-
cates—explicitly installed on your web browser and
required to log onto certain assets—will become more
prevalent in enterprise applications.
Mobile phones are actually a great place to use
trust certificates because they’re hardware-based and
come with numerous ways of communicating.
Whether you use them on your laptop or your phone,
apps are much safer than browsers for accessing
content, because they’re inherently designed with
zero trust already built in.

Most Vulnerable Player

The organizations that are most vulnerable to security
breaches generally aren’t the hyperscalers who provide
your cloud, networking, and internet services via IaaS
models, such as AWS, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, or
Alibaba. They have large, sophisticated security teams
working on these challenges every day, can easily
implement zero trust and one-time passwords, and can
even use AI to detect a breach very quickly.
Instead, the greater challenges are for the creative
production houses, corporate facilities, houses of
worship, and other mid-size organizations who don’t
have the skills or the resources to implement that
level of security. That’s why the hyperscalers are
increasingly offering these tools as a service, provid-
ing users with a system where the security is already
baked in.
Just as they must be able to evaluate the audio and
video technologies they recommend to their clients, it
has become the job of systems integrators to evaluate
all available security technologies and recommend
the solutions that address their clients’ immediate
and future needs. For a mid-size organization, using
trust certificates and a VPN is the foundation of
security that’s going to make them roughly 90% safe
from the casual hacker. But this is just the beginning
of an overall security strategy.
When we created our Virtual Production Control
Room—designed with best-in-class components
from multiple vendors—we considered security so
important that we hired DoD-level experts to help us
architect the security environment, ensuring that it’s
secure in every way possible. The result is a single
system inside a secure VPN to control routing of the
audio, video, and metadata traffic over IP.
Tiered access lets us restrict users to only the parts
of the system required to do their jobs, delivering
secure control of the devices. SSO streamlines the
process for users. Two-factor authentication provides
additional security. And it’s created as a zero trust

avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 39

TECHNOLOGY LOUDSPEAKERS
Praise
the Loud
Software Tools Help Houses
of Worship Achieve Best
Loudspeaker Performance
By James Careless
I
n February 2022, Harvest Christian Fellowship’s
2,500-seat church in Riverside, CA, needed to
install new loudspeakers. The vastness of the
church’s main hall, plus the depth of its under-
balcony area, motivated the designers to be extra
careful in their speaker selection and placements.
They planned, selected, and configured the new
loudspeaker system using d&b audiotechnik ArrayCalc
simulation software to determine the best speaker types
and locations in the space. Armed with this data, the
team then used d&b’s ArrayProcessing to analyze each
loudspeaker’s reach and sound across various points in
the church to balance the overall system for best results.
“Given that the room has a main floor and a
balcony, ArrayProcessing allows us to contour the
tonality and level loss for these two vastly different
listening planes,” explained Zach Brady, d&b applica-
tions specialist. “In this way, one mechanical array
shape can provide very even tonality and coverage
front to back across both main parts of the room. This
is key to assuring that no matter where you sit, you get
as close to the same experience as possible.”
Harvest Christian Fellowship used simulation software when it upgraded its loudspeakers.
40 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
“We had a 15-year-old d&b Q-Series system so it
was time for an upgrade,” added Christopher
Eguizabal, production supervisor at the church. The
Q-Series was replaced by d&b Y-Series loudspeakers
in the two main hanging speaker arrays, plus E6
loudspeakers for the under-balcony zone in the
sanctuary. The new system was designed and
installed by E2i Design of Brighton, MI, with the
support from d&b audiotechnik US.
Every Space is Different
The success of the Harvest Christian Fellowship
installation illustrates what is possible when the
elements of building layout, loudspeaker models, and
audio simulation software are used together. If every
house of worship featured the same space, layout, and
acoustically-reactive interior finishes, a one-size-
fits-all speaker system could be installed universally.
But actual churches tend to be one-of-a-kind in all of
these areas.
Case in point is the wide array of sound solutions
from Renkus-Heinz, a loudspeaker brand that has
carved out a strong niche serving houses of worship
with challenging acoustic environments. According
to Graham Hendry, vice president of strategic
development at Renkus-Heinz, the diversity of
house-of-worship deployments worldwide that
Renkus-Heinz serves is a testament to the versatility
and performance of the company’s solutions.
“There are many different types of worship
spaces—from contemporary to traditional, new
construction to historic, ornate spaces that are
hundreds of years old—and each comes with unique
architectural challenges, and each space is acoustically
different,” Hendry said. “Rooms can be very live,
highly reflective, and cavernous, or they may be
acoustically designed spaces akin to theatres. Often,
houses of worship will incorporate stained glass,
wooden pews, and other non-absorbent material
surfaces that create acoustical challenges.”
Renkus-Heinz’s speaker software tools include
EASE Data for acoustic modeling and system design, as
well as EASE Focus for system simulations. “It goes
beyond measurement,” Hendry explained. “Under-
standing the room and how it’s used is absolutely
critical, but you also need to be able to address the
findings with solutions that sound good, that don’t
require major architectural retrofits—important in
historic buildings—are actionable by volunteer
technical staff, and that work with the budget.
Steerable solutions facilitate all of the above.”
When it comes to achieving consistent, intelligible
full-room audio coverage, major challenges for
churches can include sightlines, reflective surfaces like
walls and ceilings, and “overall consistent coverage
from side to side, front to back,” said Darren Butt,
Yorkville Sound’s pro audio product specialist. “Best
practices would include keeping loudspeakers away
from walls and ceilings, and distinguishing whether
the space needs a point source cabinet or a line array.”
Of course, the science of successful speaker choice
and placement is as much about the listener as it is the
space, a point that has not been lost on d&b audiotech-
nik. “While it is important to know what the acoustic
characteristics of the room are, we really want to know
where the people we’re trying to cover are in relation-
ship to the loudspeakers,” Brady said. “This is where
ArrayCalc really helps, because it gives us insights into
the likely listener experience, as well as the system’s
overall performance.”
Software Simulations
Once the particular physical/acoustical characteristics
of a HoW space have been fed into a software tool like
ArrayCalc or EASE, the results can be used to virtually
test the best loudspeaker options. In other words, the
likely performance of these speakers can be simulated
in software first.
The modeling data generated by the software for
each speaker option should be assessed against
generally accepted sound reinforcement guidelines.
“The directional characteristics of the loudspeaker
should be the same over the entire operating band-
width, with as low and as high of a frequency range as
possible,” Hendry explained. “Changes in the
loudspeaker’s directivity should occur gradually, not
abruptly, and be consistent, either increasing or
decreasing. And if the directivity response changes are
inconsistent, the bandwidth over which they occur
should be minimized.”
According to Butt, the final speaker selection will
come down to either line array or point source options,
so both options should be evaluated in the simulation
software. “Line arrays are a great option to cover a wide
space, and they also have the advantage of tight
vertical dispersion, allowing you to stack multiple
boxes for optimal coverage,” he said. “Point source
 LOUDSPEAKERS TECHNOLOGY

Designing a quality audio system for a house of worship can be complicated because most installs need to optimize
spoken word intelligibility and live music reproduction.

boxes are another great option where one single

loudspeaker per side is sufficient. They have good
side-by-side coverage and throw well. This is a great
option when the space doesn’t require a line array.”
Today’s speaker modeling/simulation software is
so useful that HoWs would be smart to acquire these
tools before installing loudspeakers. After all, it is
possible to buy too many loudspeakers for a space, if
the combination of them results in interference and
distortion. It makes sense to inquire about what kind of
software tools are available, the cost of the software,
and if the tools require audio professionals to operate
them correctly.
In selecting these tools, HoWs should look for
software that optimizes spoken word intelligibility
across the room as well as clear musical full-frequency
reproduction. Be aware: These two goals can conflict
with each other when it comes to speaker selection and
placement, which is why “designing a quality system
for worship can be a rather complex affair,” said expert as early in the project as possible.” “Everyone is super happy with the amount of
Hendry. “To aid designers and the customers they All told, employing software tools to ensure the intelligibility and clear sound reproduction that you get
serve, there are acoustic simulation software tools best speaker selection, placement, and balancing can from the front seat to the back,” Brady said. “And
which take the bulk of the guesswork out of the appear daunting and time-consuming to the uniniti- honestly, using modeling software gave the end
process. However, these results must be interpreted ated. But for projects such as the Harvest Christian user—the church—so much confidence by knowing
properly to be effective when installing loudspeaker Fellowship’s Riverside church speaker replacement, that what I’m seeing on the screen translates well to
solutions. So, it is well advised to engage a qualified the results justify the effort. what we will be hearing in the room.”

avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 41

TECHNOLOGY CEILING MICS
Ceiling microphones offer several benefits over other types of conferencing equipment.
Look Up, Listen Up
Is a Ceiling Mic the Best Option for Your Workspace?
By Wayne Cavadi
W
elcome to hybrid life, 2022. Whether
you’re in the classroom or conference
room, you now have to consider both
remote and in-person participants. Having crys-
tal-clear audio is more important than ever, with
those calling in not wanting to miss anything their
in-person colleagues have to say. That’s where
ceiling microphones and beamforming technology
come into play.
Simply put, a beamforming mic is “an array of
microphones that use a beamforming algorithm to
combine the signal of separate mics into a single
stronger output signal,” according to Chris Swartz,
42 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
product manager for Sony Electronics. However,
not all beamforming mics are the same.
“One issue with traditional beamforming
microphone arrays is that their pickup pattern may
vary with frequency,” explained Derek Graham,
senior vice president research and development at
ClearOne. “The pickup pattern of an imperfect
beamforming microphone array typically has a
main lobe that points in the ‘direction of look’ of
the beam, along with undesirable sidelobes that
point in other directions. A second issue is that the
main lobe is typically wider at lower frequencies and
narrower at higher frequencies. A third issue with
common beamforming microphone arrays is that
the sidelobes may be relatively large compared to
the main lobe at some frequencies, so the amount
of reverberant speech energy picked up by the
sidelobes can be significant.”
Finding the right beamforming ceiling micro-
phone is good for a wide variety of use cases, be it in
an educational or corporate setting. Along with
beamforming technology, there are quite a few
benefits ceiling mics offer versus other types of
conferencing equipment.
“One is aesthetics,” said Graham. “Ceiling mics
in the form of a drop ceiling tile can blend in
unobtrusively with other elements in a room.
Another is that table microphones may be covered
up by documents on a table and are closer to noise
sources like rustling papers, potato chip bags, and
eating utensils. A single beamforming ceiling
microphone array can replace several table micro-
phones, which reduces the number of cable runs
and the associated installation time and cost.”
While ceiling microphones certainly help avoid
clutter, there are also two extremely large benefits:
They are relatively easy to use and install. “The mic
is actually always on, and that is a feature,” added
TECHNOLOGY CEILING MICS
From left, Derek Graham, Chris Swartz, Doug Daube
Swartz. “You never have to turn it on from a switch
or make sure the power is connected. That being
said, one can easily mute the microphone from
manager software or the control system.”
“Thanks to steady improvements in micro-
phone and DSP performance, as well as new form
factors and mounting options, ceiling microphones
take less time to install and configure than ever,”
added Doug Daube, director of microphone systems
44 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
around all over the room.”
Ease of installation and
use. Innovative beamforming
technology. A clutter-free
workspace. It does seem that
ceiling mics are the ideal
solution for today’s age of
hybrid work. But how many
ceiling mics are the right
amount?
“The number of micro-
phones needed depends on
many factors like the micro-
phone’s capabilities, the room
size, acoustics, ceiling design,
number of people, seating
layout, and purpose [whether
at Shure. it is] videoconferencing,
However, it is important to know your sur- presentations, or distance learning,” said Daube.
roundings. There are environments in which a “It’s important to have a qualified system designer
ceiling mic is less than ideal. Daube advised to keep or integrator figure out the right solution for each
ceiling mics away from noise sources like HVAC client’s situation.”
vents and loudspeakers. As with any technology, ceiling mics come in
“It’s not a good idea to use these mics in wide different shapes and sizes with different features
open spaces,” Swartz added. “Specifically, where and functionalities. Several current models from
the ceiling is very high, and noise is bouncing manufacturers follow for your consideration.

1
1 Angekis Technology ASP-C-01
Angekis ceiling microphone systems provide
all-around audio in videoconferencing and live
production environments with its USB and REC
outputs. Crafted with innovative processing tech-
nologies, Angekis ceiling mics provide excellent audio
quality with features that include adaptive echo
cancellation, noise suppression, speech gain adjust-
ment, and smart mixing. The ASP-C-01 can adapt and
expand, equipped to intake two suspended ceiling
microphones, output to two external speakers, and
intake one wireless microphone, a sound console, and
output to a recording system.
2 Audio-Technica ATND1061
The ATND1061 beamforming ceiling array micro-
phone is an ideal solution for conference rooms,
CEILING MICS TECHNOLOGY
2
boardrooms, and meetings spaces large and small.
Designed in a familiar form factor—roughly the size
of a wireless access point—the ATND1061 is easy to
install, setup, and operate. It may be used by itself or
in multiples for larger meeting spaces to capture
every person speaking in a room with clear, natural
audio that reduces distracting environmental sounds.
Room configuration, zone setup, and other settings
are handled through Audio-Technica’s user-friendly
Digital Microphone Manager software application.
The ATND1061 has six individual output channels,
3
which collectively can be configured with up to 32
user-defined microphone pickup zones, providing
the flexibility to cover a wide variety of room sizes and
meeting types.
3 Audix M45 Shortgun Ceiling Mic
The M45 Shortgun miniaturized shotgun condenser
ceiling mic covers up to 150 square feet with remark-
able sensitivity and exceptional audible sound,
making it ideal for use in boardrooms, classrooms,
large lecture halls, and hospitals. Both versatile and
avnetwork.com // June 2022 // SCN 45
TECHNOLOGY CEILING MICS
4
5 6 Sennheiser TCC2
6 people speak naturally—whether they are sitting,
amiable, the M45 features a low-profile, swivel-and-
pivot base and is optimized for voice intelligibility,
offers high sensitivity and immunity from RF inter-
ference, and is easy to install. Mic-level signal and
LED control is via an RJ45 connection, and an adapter
is included to convert from RJ45 to an 8-conductor
pluggable terminal block.
4 Biamp Parlé TCM-X Ceiling
The TCM-X is an AVB, high-quality, low-profile,
unobtrusive ceiling microphone for use in Biamp’s
Tesira systems. Each TCM-X—comprised of a
network box and a ceiling mic—has Biamp’s
Beamtracking technology with four 90-degree zones
enabling 360-degree coverage of the meeting space
or classroom. With active tracking and intelligent
mixing of conversations, far-end participants can
experience conversations anywhere around the
table, much like an in-person experience. The
TCM-X is ideal for many use cases in various room
sizes with 10-inch ceilings or lower.
46 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
5 ClearOne BMA 360 with Voice Lift
Not only does the BMA 360 with Voice Lift deliver on
high-quality audio performance and deployment
ease, it offers a variety of other features, including
echo and noise cancellation, auto-mixing, power
amplifiers, and camera-tracking functions. The BMA
360 is unique as an ultra-wideband, frequency-invar-
iant beamforming mic array with uniform gain
response across all frequency bands. With FiBeam
technology, conference participants experience
natural and full-fidelity audio across all beams with a
single beam. DsBeam provides sidelobe depths below
-40dB, resulting in superior rejection of reverb and
noise while creating superb clarity and intelligibility.
With its patented automatic dynamic beamforming
technology, the TeamConnect Ceiling 2 automati-
cally follows the active speaker’s voice, letting
standing, or walking. With TruVoicelift and
advanced zone control, TCC2 combines the advan-
tages of a boundary microphone and a microphone
array, offering unparalleled levels of control with a
priority zone (allowing a single area in the room to
be highlighted), five advanced exclusion zones (for
pinpoint targeting and removal of unwanted noise
sources), and more. Via the latest version of
Sennheiser Control Cockpit, the ceiling microphone
can easily be operated and monitored from any-
where in the campus network.
7 Shure MXA920
The brand-new Shure MXA920 ceiling array
microphone delivers Automatic Coverage
Technology and provides pre-configured audio
capture with minimal setup required, dramati-
cally reducing the time and cost of deployments for
integrators. The MXA920 also employs Next Genera-
tion Array Architecture for enhanced directional
pickup and more natural speech. Plus, the onboard
IntelliMix DSP delivers noise and echo-free perfor-
mance as well as unprecedented audio clarity
and intelligibility for AV conferencing across various
room types, including executive boardrooms, hybrid
classrooms, and meeting spaces. Two form factors
support design integration into even the most
sophisticated facilities and meeting spaces.  
8 Sony MAS-A100
The MAS-A100 beamforming ceiling microphone
is a hands-free lecture and presentation solution
with advanced speech reinforcement technology
7
enabling truly hassle-free lectures and presenta-
tions. This microphone system has dedicated
channels for speech reinforcement and recording,
with comprehensive audio volume stabilization and
clear audio processing to produce sharp recordings.
The dedicated record channel provides a wider
capture range and optimal intelligibility—perfect
for lecture capture. Supporting Dante and PoE, the
MAS-A100 links with third-party systems via a
single cable connection. Auto-calibration stream-
lines system configuration, and settings can easily
be adjusted via the network using free MASM-1
management software.
9 Yamaha RM-CG
The Yamaha RM-CG Dante-enabled ceiling-mount
microphone includes all of Yamaha’s powerful tech-
nologies—including automatic voice tracking, auto gain
control, adaptive echo cancellation, noise reduction,
and reverberation suppression—for optimal collabora-
tion experiences, while seamlessly integrating with the
room’s existing conferencing equipment or a variety of
third-party components. The RM-CG also features
Yamaha’s dynamic beam tracking, which utilizes
multiple beams to automatically track voices within the
room simultaneously, eliminating the need to program
fixed lobes, which can often lead to dead spots with the
meeting space. Design changes or room setup flexibility
can also be done without the need to reprogram
microphones.
8
9
TECHNOLOGY NEW PRODUCTS

Chief TiLED i-Style

The new TiLED i-Style
dvLED wall mounting
system is designed for
Samsung IER Series and
Unilumin USLIM Series
displays. Like the
existing TiLED H-Style
dvLED Wall Mounting
Systems, i-Style is
designed with the Genelec 4410 and Smart IP Controller Extron VCA 100
installer in mind. Both Genelec has expanded its Smart IP family of Designed for centralized AV control across an
are modular mounting installation loudspeaker systems with the compact organization, the VCA 100 virtual control appliance
systems featuring X, Y, 4410 loudspeaker and new Smart IP Controller app. with integrated virtual control processors (VCPs) helps
Z-axis adjustment to The free Controller app provides the end user with organizations easily deploy, scale, and manage AV
create perfectly flat instant and intuitive control of key loudspeaker systems by hosting AV control resources in a central
dvLED video walls. system functions including mute, volume control, location—alongside the resources already managed by
Offset mounting slots and power on/off, plus overall zone control. The active the IT team. Up to 50 IPCP Pro xi Series virtual control
protect LED displays two-way 4410 is perfectly suited to smaller spaces, yet processors can be hosted on a single VCA 100. Monitor
from damaging friction its proprietary internal power supply helps to produce the health and status of deployed virtual control
during installation. New an impressive 100 dB of short-term SPL. It is available processors using the web-based management console
i-Style mounts feature left, middle, and right in black or white finishes, and a wide range of on the VCA 100. As an organization expands its AV
structural components that are combined to create accessories ensures that the 4410 can be mounted control system needs, new VCPs can be activated and
video walls. Components can be mixed and matched quickly and conveniently in almost any location. All configured or programmed to accommodate. While an
for an endless variety of video wall designs. Spacer Smart IP models are compatible with both Dante and entry level VCA 100 includes five VCPs, additional VCPs
brackets are included and vary by model. Optional AES67, and derive power via PoE and PoE+ power- are enabled by applying compatible LinkLicenses,
trim kits are also available. over-Ethernet formats. which have no recurring licensing fees.

Broadcast Pix FX Hybrid

The FX Hybrid integrated production switcher
brings the company’s new hybrid architecture to
the AV market. A replacement for the legacy FX
series, it offers extensive flexibility—from HDMI to
SDI to network inputs at 4K resolution—at an
affordable price point. The FX Hybrid also includes
Commander, the totally configurable browser-
based remote user interface, media aware macros,
and the recently released GuestPix as standard,
providing control, automation, and connectivity.
Inputs include six network, four HDMI/SDI, and one
HDMI/SDI/analog ports. There are also one NDI, one
HD/SDI, one SD/SDI, one HDMI, and one analog
outputs. Other features include built-in 3D motion
CG graphics, eight channels of clips and graphics
with 60 hours of storage, three keyers with DVEs
and virtual studios with ClearKey chromakey,
internal audio mixing, integrated PTZ camera
control, BPview customizable multi-view
monitoring, and more.
LG Electronics LG OLED Pro UltraFine
Monitors
The new 65-inch monitor (model 65EP5G) is a 120Hz
UHD model that combines more than 8 million
self-illuminated RGBW pixels with advanced
calibration capabilities to achieve reference-quality
performance and high color accuracy and uniformity.
It includes LG’s proprietary SuperSign software for
white balance and natively supports Calman color
calibration software for spectacular picture quality.
The convenient set of user-programmed function
keys provides quick access to on-screen features such
as markers, zoom, time code functions, and audio
meters. A profile button also allows instant switching
between user display presets for monitor settings and
picture quality options. All LG OLED Pro UltraFine
models offer 10-bit color depth and use the DCI-P3
(for cinema) and Adobe RGB (for digital imagery) color
space standards to deliver reference-grade
performance.
JVC Professional Video KY-PZ510 Series
The new series of PTZ cameras includes four models
that feature 4K60p HEVC SRT streaming with
multi-slice encoding technology to reduce latency
and provide superior image quality. The cameras also
boast a super-wide, 80-degree field of view and offer
enhanced SMART auto-tracking, which can be set to
automatically follow one person and allows users to
select one of multiple people within its field of view.
Incorporated Vertical Interval Time Code (VITC) with
Network Time Protocol (NTP) provides the new JVC
PTZ cameras with multi-camera synchronization for
seamless live event production. Plus, all models
support Secure Reliable Transport (SRT), which is
resilient to bandwidth fluctuations, data loss, and
intermittent connectivity, to ensure secure and
error-free video delivery over the internet. The
KY-PZ510N can simultaneously output NDI, SRT, and
RTMPS for hybrid local/remote workflows for
distribution to the world’s most popular CDNs.

48 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com

 NEW PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY

Hollyland
Solidcom C1
The Solidcom C1 is
a new full-duplex
wireless intercom
headset system
featuring advanced DECT 6.0
with encryption technology. Its
1.9GHz DECT ensures reliable
and secure communications in a radius up to 1,000
feet. This comfortable headset-based system boasts
battery life up to 10 hours and is portable and hands-
free—it requires no beltpacks and can operate
effectively without hubs or base stations. The
Solidcom C1 headsets ensure clear, accurate audio
quality for effective teamwork, even in noisy
environments, thanks to a wideband frequency
response of 150Hz-7KHz and premium AEC (Acoustic
Echo Cancellation). The directional microphone
captures the speaker’s voice clearly while minimizing
unwanted noise, and it mutes automatically when the
mic boom is raised. A dual-antenna diversity scheme
helps ensure uninterrupted team communication in
complex environments. Each intercom headset also
comes with a spare lithium battery for convenient
field replacement.
NETGEAR M4250 Desktop Switches
Two new, smaller M4250 desktop switches are
designed to allow for streamlined installation in a
range of space-limiting applications. From
conference rooms to digital signage, the new M4250
compact desktop models are small enough to fit
behind a monitor or under a conference room table,
allowing full functionality in a compact form factor
with the horsepower needed for complicated
installations. The new M4250-9G1F-PoE+
(GSM4210PD), targeting audio installations, is
fanless and comes with eight 1G PoE+ ports and
another 1G standard port, along with one SFP port for
uplinks. The companion model M4250-8G2XF-PoE+
(GSM4210PX) has adjustable fans and eight 1G PoE+
ports, with an additional two SFP+ ports for higher
bandwidth uplinks needed in video installations.
NETGEAR M4250 AV Line Series switches are unique
in the industry with an AV-oriented GUI that
provides a simple, template-based approach to
switch configurations.
Sonnet Technologies Allegro Pro USB-C
8-Port PCIe Card
The new Allegro Pro USB-C 8-Port PCIe Card enables
users to connect and power up to eight high-
performance USB peripherals to their computer at the
same time—and provides a full 10Gbps connection
through each port. It supports USB bus-powered SSD,
SSD RAID, and hard drive devices with up to 7.5 watts
of power to every port, without the user having to
connect auxiliary power to the card or AC power
adapters to the devices for operation. The card fits
neatly inside a single-width card space, and is
compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux computers
with an available x16 PCIe slot, as well as Mac and
Windows computers with Thunderbolt ports when
installed in a Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion
system with an available x16 PCIe slot.

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VIEWPOINT
Pondering
the In-Person
Experience
How Has the Pandemic Changed Our Interactions?
By Sharath Abraham
W
hile commuting into New York City
on the bus, I ponder a lot of things
while I stare at the everchanging
skyline. One thing I have been thinking about
recently is if people still give out business cards
when meeting in person these days.
Before the pandemic, many people would go to
meetings or in-person events and always leave with
at least a few business cards. Now, I think about
where the business cards have been before me—
and how sanitary there are. This, of course, is my
own self paranoia.
In addition, isn’t it more sustainable to not use
paper to print out business cards? I personally don’t
care for business cards and find it much easier to
say, “Let’s connect on LinkedIn.” I would think in a
nearly post-pandemic world that this simple
interaction provides the most up-to-date informa-
tion that a business contact would want to know.
Business cards do have a certain
interaction aspect; the ritual of
handing a card to someone
while talking to them
sends a message: “I like
you, we should talk
more.” In that case,
maybe the answer is to
have a premium
business card,
perhaps including
some type of metallic
foil finish, so it’s
memorable.
50 SCN // June 2022 // avnetwork.com
Puzzle of Personality
Also during my commute, I often find a TED Talk to
watch after my pondering. Recently, I watched a
psychologist named Brian Little talk about the
“puzzle of personality.”
In the TED Talk, he explained that extroverts need
stimulation that can be achieved by finding things
that are exciting, such as social events or parties.
Introverts, on the other hand, like to spend time in
quiet spaces with reduced simulation—but they are
typically misconstrued as being antisocial.
They also communicate differently. Extroverts
like to stand close for comfortable communication
and simple language, where introverts prefer
contextually complex, contingent sentences.
As we attend more in-person meetings and
events, is this something we should all be mindful of?
Yes, it’s good to know, but Little said a very interest-
ing thing: “You’re like some other people and like no
other person.” That got me thinking: My in-person
interactions must be more thoughtful. I need to be
more curious about who I am talking to and where
they came from before our interaction.
Are You Ready?
Right before my bus rolls into the Port Authority, I
think about what events are coming up soon.
InfoComm 2022 is one that is on my mind a lot these
days. It’s been maybe three years since I have been to
one in person, and a lot has changed. One thing that
hasn’t changed, though, is the value of in-person
interaction. These personal interactions can be more
meaningful if you have a couple of things ready.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date.
Update it to include your most recent bio and career
information. If you are going to use business cards,
review them with your co-workers to see if there is
any way to make them stand out more. No better time
to make new ones.
Figure out why you are going to the in-person
event. Is it to make new connections? Learn some-
thing new? Find new things? All of the above?
Do you know how you want to greet someone?
Handshake? Fist bump? Namaste bow? Pick one and
stick to it. Still feeling a little unsure about COVID-
19? Bring some masks and hand sanitizer. Most
InfoComm 2022
Health and Safety
Protocols
As of May 5, the following safety protocols are in
place for InfoComm 2022:
• InfoComm requires proof of full vaccination
or a COVID-19 negative PCR or rapid antigen
test for all attendees, exhibitors, and Info-
Comm staff participating at InfoComm 2022.
The negative test result must be administered
by a healthcare professional no more than 72
hours before picking up badge.
• InfoComm will follow CDC mask recommen-
dations based on community levels in Clark
County:
Low: Wear mask based on personal
preference.
Medium: If you or someone you reside with
are at risk for severe illness, masks are
recommended.
High: If a high level is reached during
InfoComm trade show dates, all participants
will be required to wear a mask indoors.
• Advance registration is required; no on-site
registration will be permitted. InfoComm
badges can be picked at the Las Vegas Airport
or the Las Vegas Convention Center. Bulk
badge pickup is not allowed this year.
• COVID-19 testing is available at the OnMed
telehealth station at the LVCC as well as six
off-site locations.
• Shuttle busses will follow the same mask
mandates as InfoComm. Hand sanitizer will
be available on each bus, and high-touch
areas will be wiped down after the completion
of each trip.
importantly, bring your wholehearted genuine self
and beautiful smile.
Personally, I can’t wait to see old friends and make
new ones. I can’t wait to hear stories of everyone’s
trials and tribulations and getting through them. I
can’t wait to hear stories of accomplishments and
new feats. I can’t wait to hear about new hobbies and
family updates. I can’t wait to hear stories that will
inspire me to think differently and be creative in a
new way.
Virtual events have been a great placeholder for
in-person events, but I am ready for 2022. See you all
at InfoComm in Vegas!
Sharath Abraham, CTS, is an experienced
technical professional with a demonstrated
history of working with products that are designed
and built to work together as a complete system
for the best end user experience. He is currently a
digital workplace consultant for Accenture.
Abraham was featured in the 2020 class of SCN:
The Nine and holds a master’s degree in computer
information systems.