Category Archives: AV Integration

Sennheiser

March 23rd, 2022

The DDMC hosted Sennheiser’s Steve Wingo who spoke about two very interesting technologies that might serve our community.

Team Connect 2

The TeamConnect Ceiling 2, with its patented automatic dynamic beamforming technology, was already a leader in conference room audio technology. Now, with the addition of TruVoicelift and advanced zone control, TeamConnect Ceiling 2 combines the advantages of a boundary microphone and a microphone array. Therefore, it is the best solution for both (video) conferencing and in-room audio, for example in classrooms, lecture halls and boardrooms. TeamConnect Ceiling 2 now offers our customers unparalleled levels of control with the addition of a priority zone (allowing a single area in the room to be highlighted), 5 advanced exclusion zones (for pinpoint targeting and removal of unwanted noise sources) and more. All of these new features are activatable and configurable via the latest firmware update for the TeamConnect Ceiling 2 and via the latest version of Sennheiser Control Cockpit. Easy to install and, due to a flexible microphone ceiling mount system, easy to integrate. Let us help you understand the difference TeamConnect Ceiling 2 can make for you and your business.

MobileConnect

MobileConnect consists of three main components: The MobileConnect Station is the “audio-to-network bridge” that picks up the audio signal in the room and streams it to any preferred streaming network. Using the pre-existing WiFi access points, the signal is provided to up to 100 smartphones per Station, using the MobileConnect App as a receiver. When using multiple Stations, the MobileConnect Manager can be used as the single point of administration for all MobileConnect Stations. If not needed, MobileConnect can also be operated in the so-called Standalone Mode, where single MobileConnect Stations can be run and administered using a local web interface.

 

Take a look at our Zoom Call for more information: https://duke.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=66a9a1eb-f4cc-498e-99ac-ae6100fed53c

POLY.com

February 3rd, 2022

As follow up to the ZOOM meeting from January, 28th. We just finished a product preview of the new POLY X70. That can leverage the ZOOM ability to share multiple screens simultaneously and be that “all-in-one” videoconference solution. The X70 combines (2) 4k video cameras with a stereo sound sound bar promising a conference room solution at a reasonable price.

 

Poly X70 Cut Sheet:

https://www.poly.com/content/dam/www/products/video/studio/studio-x70/doc/poly-studio-x70-ds-en.pdf

Along with the similarly featured (1) camera X50 all in one conference solution that brings small to medium conference rooms into reach as far as ease and simplicity is concerned.

Poly X50 Cut Sheet:

https://www.poly.com/content/dam/www/products/video/studio/studio-x50/doc/poly-studio-x50-ds-en.pdf

Some interesting audio features that may help with noisy environments are the Acoustic Fence and NOISEBLOCKAI features which allow user to set up an “audio exclusion zone” and reduce unwanted room noise.

https://blogs.poly.com/the-most-of-poly-acoustic-fence/

https://www.poly.com/us/en/innovations/noiseblock

Take a look at our ZOOM meeting for yourself!

https://duke.is/85juq

 

 

 

 

Logitech Spotlight – 4 Years Later

August 10th, 2021

Four years later, I still really like the Logitech Spotlight and enjoy utilizing it during my presentations. When I do, I usually get at least one or two “How did you do that?” type comments. The Logitech Spotlight, a “laser pointer” without a laser, highlights information on a PowerPoint, Keynote, PDF, etc. in an elegant way by “spotlighting” the information (see above graphic) via software (note, you can also have the “spotlight” act as a magnifying glass or to act as a red “dot” similar to how a laser pointer would look on a display). In 2017, this was a bit of a novelty as most of my presentations were in person, and a traditional $19.95 laser pointer would have done most of what the Spotlight can do (if not more)… THEN… COVID-19 hit, and things changed a bit. Traditional laser pointers don’t work well with Zoom, WebEx, Teams, etc. and while a mouse works well in some of those situations, there are other (specifically hybrid teaching) environments where the faculty may not have easy access to the mouse. The Logitech Spotlight solves a specific issue where the in-room participants can see where the faculty member is pointing, but more importantly, the remote participants (via Zoom, WebEx, Teams, etc.) see the same highlight. Also, the in-room lecture capture system captures the information being highlighted. Best of all, it just works.

[Quick Logitech Spotlight video]

What’s changed over the years? Originally, the Logitech Spotlight software used to generate the highlights was a bit clunky and installation was a bit of a pain. Over time, as I’ve installed the software on a few devices, Logitech seems to have cleaned up that process a good bit (or, perhaps Apple has streamlined the peripherals platform access). You still need to enable a good number of OS-level security items, but it’s easier in 2021. Also, in 2017, I was a little perplexed as to why Logitech selected USB-C as the charging connector (I wanted my USB-A!). But, the USB-C port has proven to be useful now that just about everyone has a USB-C charger or open port to charge the device. Lastly, I still enjoy the flexibility of the device. The remote can communicate by either a dongle (that tucks away nicely in the base of the unit when not in use) or via Bluetooth. There are pros and cons to the two communication methods, but having flexibility is nice. Overall, the ROI of the Logitech Spotlight has been great, and I don’t see it losing space in my backpack anytime soon.

Middle Atlantic RackLink 9 Outlet Select PDU – RLNK-915R

May 5th, 2021

WAIT!!! Before you let out an audible groan and skip to the next Duke Digital Media Community (DDMC) post… hear me out. This isn’t your grandfather’s power strip or sequencer. This RackLink PDU is somewhat unique, and that difference can be significant when managing anywhere between 1 and 1,000 conference rooms or learning spaces.

The background:
With most AV deployments, there is a range of boxes that are required to complete a modern AV system. All these boxes require power, including a control processor, matrix switch, DSP, lecture capture appliance, Bluray player, network switch, VHS cassette player, and reel-to-reel tape recorders (OK, those last two were a joke), etc. Basically, you need a bunch of available outlets, and the two or four that are behind your rack simply won’t cut it. You could easily run to your local Walmart and pick up a $14.97  power strip and call it a day (many people do – sigh) and that may work… but you may be limiting the control you have over your AV for the life of the system.

So, why should you spend $400+ (usually education folks can get it at a discounted price) on something that seems oddly similar to a $14.97 device?
Where do we begin? First of all, the RLNK-915R is built like a tank with heavy metal construction engineered to endure the harsh higher-education environment (only half-joking). It is designed in a way to allow for easy install in a rack enclosure, giving the installer eight outlets in the back, away from curious hands. The “cord retainer” for the power cable connected to the wall will prevent accidental disconnects, or worse… partial disconnects when the rack is moved for maintenance. Finally, the back also has an Ethernet port for control and monitoring. Moving to the front of the unit, there is an additional power outlet that can come in handy for a laptop charging in a pinch. The eight LEDs on the front of the unit provide a quick reference to the state of all of the back outlets… more on that in a moment.

Now, we get to the meat of why AV professionals purchase such a device. Dumb power distribution devices and basic surge protection (see Walmart above) is OK (but perhaps not recommended), and power sequencing (turning on-off each of the individual power outlets, one at a time with a pre-defined delay) isn’t anything new. The RLNK-915R can turn on/off or toggle each outlet individually from anywhere using the RLNK-915R’s build-in web page. Best of all, it can also be integrated with a control system (Extron, Crestron, etc.) to allow for deep AV integrations.

For example, you could program your AV system to tell the RLNK-915R to power down amps (or any hardware) outside of normal business hours (yet turn them on if someone has a spontaneous 4 am meeting). Also, if you have a piece of hardware that won’t respond (think control processor, DSP, etc.), you can perform a quick power cycle to see if that brings the device back to life. Finally, such a device will also allow you to intelligently power sequence devices in a more meaningful way. Instead of waiting 60 seconds between each outlet, you could spend 2 minutes powering up your amp and DSP, and five seconds for other devices that don’t require as much time (saving a significant amount of time on full system reboots).

Overally, seeing intelligent power devices integrated into modern learning spaces makes perfect sense when considering the limited resources facing AV managers, especially when looking at locations that aren’t easily accessible. Is it worth the additional cost to install such devices in every classroom? Probably not, but having such devices in key locations, especially those that are higher profile or challenging to send technicians to, is the future… or more to the point is here today.

 

Middle Atlantic RLNK-215

January 25th, 2021

Technically, this isn’t an “AV specific” piece of hardware, but the Middle Atlantic RLNK-215 makes its way to AV racks regularly and for good reason. The two-outlet “intelligent power” control device provides basic metal oxide varistor (MOV) surge protection to your AV system, network device, or server. What makes this device unique is that when you connect the RLNK-215 to your network, it offers an easy to use web interface that enables you to independently turn the outlets on and off. While this may not sound like such a modern marvel, consider a scenario where you need to perform a quick hard reboot to your fancy new AV system after a failed firmware update. One quick power cycle should do the trick. Oh, did I forget to mention that the AV system is 100 miles away, on an island, and it’s a Saturday afternoon? Having the ability to remotely hard reboot a system can come in handy in several situations and this device allows you to easily and securely perform that task. The RLNK-215 is also capable of fully integrating into your AV system of choice (Extron, Crestron, etc.) to power devices on or off (amps, lights, fans, etc.).


[Above: Screenshot of the various ways to password protect the Middle Atlantic RLNK-215 for users, admins, and control systems.]

I know what you are thinking, “But didn’t I see something like this for $29.95 online?” Perhaps, but there are reasons you buy such a device. First, it’s not an Internet of Things device, pinging home to a centralized server. This device is fully self-contained and does not require access to the greater Internet. Also, the device is well constructed with a metal outer shell and locking power cable to prevent accidental power disconnects. The device is RoHS and UL listed (60950-1) which is important in many installations. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the device is backed by a three-year warranty and a group of people that stand behind the device should you experience issues.

Bottom Line: While these devices may sound like a luxury at times, it allows you to more centrally manage AV systems, especially when you have limited staffing resources or a large AV footprint across a sprawling campus.

Ultra-Cheap HDMI to USB Capture Device

June 23rd, 2020

In the golden age of AV, when confronted with the joyous task of converting an HDMI signal to something a local computer could easily ingest, you would simply fork out $2,500+ on a proper 1U device that would elegantly make that digital transition with ease, and call it a day. The single-purpose device was robust, came with dozens of features and capabilities (many of which weren’t utilized in the higher education market), and would work well for five to seven years with minimal issues (except for the faculty and staff that would tinker with the settings – which I’ve been guilty of!). This is during an era when HDMI to USB conversion was a luxury, reserved for those with deep pockets.

But, during the past 3-4 years, we’ve seen the rise of HDMI to USB dongles. Generally speaking, these dongles were much less expensive (usually in the $500 to $300 range), offered fewer features, and generally worked well. But, they were still $300+ and not something most technicians felt comfortable simply handing to a faculty, staff, or student in fear of the device going missing.

Enter 2020… and Amazon seems to be awash with this very inexpensive HDMI to USB thumb-drive style devices, listed under multiple manufacturers (usually not a good sign). Willing to roll the dice on a $32 purchase, my supervisor gave me permission to test the device. To my surprise, IT WORKED! I plugged it in, and the device was immediately recognized as “USB Camera” in Quicktime, Zoom, etc. by using the universal UVC (USB video device class) driver that ships with all modern Mac and PC computers, no driver software needed!

To check compatibility, I threw some oddball hardware at it to see how it would respond. First, I connected my aging Canon 5D MkIII DSLR at it, and it performed well. This is how good a proper DSLR can look in Zoom.

I then connected a game console to the device, and sure enough, it worked! I kept the connection alive for a few hours, and the image never dropped.

Conclusion:
So, do I completely trust this device? Maybe… it hasn’t failed me yet, but it was only $32, and it should cost $300! It’s hard to wrap your mind around such a device when the cost is so low. “There must be something wrong with it!” I keep thinking to myself. That said, I’m probably not going to recommend it as a complete replacement for our more reputable dongles for the foreseeable future. That said, this does make a nice device for testing or possibly handing out to faculty/staff/students to try in unique setups.

Here is my shortlist of Pros/Cons:

Pros:

  • It works!
  • The video quality looks great
  • It’s incredibly flexible for situations where you would like to capture a higher-end video camera, document camera, etc. Anything with an HDMI out!
  • Audio also seems to work (but honestly, I’d like to spend some additional time testing how robust the audio capabilities are).
  • It is C-H-E-A-P!!!

Cons:

  • My main beef with the device is that I don’t like “hard” dongles connected to my desktop. AKA, I wish it had a flexible USB connector between the device and my laptop to allow for some flex. It acts as a perfect lever and could damage your computer if directly connected and someone pulls on the HDMI cable. This wasn’t an issue as I was using my MacBook Pro dongle to connect the device
  • It’s “only” 1080p – 30 fps or 720p/60fps (no 4K here!)
  • The latency is surprisingly good for $32, but it’s not amazing
  • If you are buying this to stream games… you may want to spend the extra money
  • The HDMI to USB processing happens on your computer (some more expensive dongles perform the processing on the dongle, freeing up those extra processing cycles for your computer. This WAS a big deal, but modern computers have the extra bandwidth)
  • It’s USB 2.0, so the image quality is somewhat limited to USB 2.0 speeds, but it also works with older devices, so perhaps this is a pro?

Purchase Location: Amazon

Sony Virtually Visits Duke

June 15th, 2020

Our good friends at Sony visited Duke, virtually, this past week to have a conversation about two of their key market segments. First, Sony is updating the projector that has become our “go to” ~5,000-lumen laser projector (VPL-PHZ10) for many of our classrooms. It’s a minor update, but they are breaking out Ethernet/HDBT connection to have one dedicated Ethernet port and one dedicated HDBT connection. Best of all, they’ve let us know that the price should be nearly the same!

Second, Sony conveyed that they will be introducing a new line of “pro-sumer” displays that should better compete with other manufactures when it comes to price. “Pro-sumer” displays aren’t designed to run 24/7/365, but rather 12-16 hours a day, perfect for higher education. We look forward to seeing these new devices enter the market.

Cisco Visits Duke

February 10th, 2020

This past Friday, Cisco visited the Technology Engagement Center on Duke’s campus to provide an update on their software and hardware offerings. While much of the conversation revolved around “behind the scenes” updates to the platform and general trends (on-prem vs. hybrid installs vs. Cloud), they did mention a range of new AI-based features that may be available in the near future, specifically transcription, translation, and virtual assistant services.

No Cisco conversation would be complete without an overview of their existing and soon-to-be-released hardware. While many of their offerings are unchanged, they do plan to offer a version of the Cisco Webex Room Kit Mini without the codec, for rooms where you simply need BYOD support. If a codec is needed for the room, a simple software key will bring the room up to a full Webex Room Kit Mini.

Zoom Room Appliances

October 29th, 2019

It’s no surprise, but I’m a fan of Zoom and Zoom Rooms. The platform is easy to understand, flexible, and users simply like it. While many people are familiar with Zoom, they are generally less familiar with what a Zoom Room is. In essence, a Zoom Room is a computer attached to a display, mics, speakers, camera, and a control interface, that is always on and ready to host a meeting. This is in sharp contrast to a bring your own device (BYOD) space where the user brings a laptop and connects to the AV in the space, wasting precious conference time and adding complexity to the essential task of having a meeting. With a Zoom Room, similar to a Cisco WebEx Room Kit, you walk in, touch a button on the control interface… and away you go! But, unlike a Cisco WebEx Room Kit, a Zoom Room is hardware agnostic which, relying on a Windows or Apple computer at the heart of the system, attached to anything from consumer to professional peripherals. This nearly infinite flexibility of the Zoom Room platform comes at a cost of reliability. Maintaining a Zoom Room can be challenging… keeping the local computer up-to-date with the OS, security, virus protection, not to mention all the drivers of the peripherals! If only Zoom offered a Zoom Room codec style device!

Enter Zoom Room Appliances… While these haven’t shipped, they may resolve many of the issues many Zoom Room managers have experienced. By eliminating the need for an in-room computer attached to a camera, mic, and speaker… it dramatically reduces the overall complexity of the platform.  Install the soundbar like device, enter the Zoom Room activation code and BOOM! The system is connected to the hardware and you’re ready for the next meeting. No more worrying about Windows updates, what feels like weekly security patches, etc. etc. It should just work! We can’t wait to get our hands on the devices to properly test these in higher education!