avpro middle east

ISSUE 3 | FEBRUARY 2012

A SUPPLEMENT OF BROADCASTPRO MEPUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

COVER STORY

The rigours of creating AV magic for live events

Bespoke HospitalityAV at the Rocco Forte Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Integrated Systems Europe 2012A preview of products and events

AV INTELLIGENCE FOR AN INTEGRATED MARKET

Live and unpredictabLe

Sounds good – and looks good too.The discussion units blend perfectly into the existing environment.

■ Timeless design.

■ Elegant black and clear lines.

■ Harmonises with contemporary architectural environments.

■ For stylish spatial concepts.

Sennheiser Middle EastOffice # 345, Bldg. 6E/BDubai Airport Free ZoneP.O. Box 371004Dubai, UAE

facebook.com/sennheiserme

ADN 165x235 Mig.indd 1 19/01/2012 14:42

February 2012 | AVPro | 1

WelcomeIntegrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2012, has a new pre-event conference titled ‘Dynamic Events’ dedicated to the use of lighting, sound, video technology and staging in large scale entertainment and sporting environments. With all eyes trained on the upcoming London 2012 Olympic games, the mission critical nature of executing live events is under scrutiny.

For the rental companies, however, all events, big or small, are London 2012 in terms of the critical importance to the client, the rental company, the production company and the industry at large. Industry veteran, Stephen Lakin says that a shoddily executed event harms not just the client and the company, in particular, but has a telling effect on the trust the industry is largely built on. Driving this trust is serious hardware and unrivaled technical knowhow ensuring that events are conducted in a smooth, seamless manner with a dash of wow.

Outsiders will tell you that there is a lot of money to be made in the AV rental industry but given the vagaries of the business, it cannot be good for your health. With 30 years of insight into the AV rental business, Lakin believes that money apart, you have to be in the business only if you like it, vagaries and all.

At ISE’s ‘Dynamic Events’, I look forward to attending the keynote address by Ric Birch, the man behind the opening and closing ceremonies at various Olympic games, listening to the presentations by the other big names in the event production industry and letting you know if these dynamic men (no woman on the list) have more in common than a low threshold for boredom.

Supriya SrinivasDeputy EditorAVPro Middle East

Editorial

© Copyright 2012 CPI. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

A SUPPLEMENT OF BROADCASTPRO MEPUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

Publisher Dominic De Sousa

Group COONadeem Hood

Managing DirectorRichard [email protected]+9714 440 9126

Sales DirectorRaz [email protected]+9714 440 9129

Group Sales ManagerSandip [email protected]+97150 459 2653

Group EditorBroadcast DivisionVijaya [email protected]+97150 768 3435

Deputy EditorSupriya [email protected]+97150 725 6701

Art DirectorKamil [email protected]+9714 4409112

Graphic DesignerGlenn [email protected]

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Sounds good – and looks good too.The discussion units blend perfectly into the existing environment.

■ Timeless design.

■ Elegant black and clear lines.

■ Harmonises with contemporary architectural environments.

■ For stylish spatial concepts.

Sennheiser Middle EastOffice # 345, Bldg. 6E/BDubai Airport Free ZoneP.O. Box 371004Dubai, UAE

facebook.com/sennheiserme

ADN 165x235 Mig.indd 1 19/01/2012 14:42

CONTENTS Issue 3 | February 2012

AVNews

4Regional roundupInstallations in the Qatar university, a Tunisian hotel and live events in Abu Dhabi

AVDebate

14

The roadblocks to going green in airports

AVCaseStudy

18Landmark installations

The CAPEX and OPEX quandary

Bespoke hotels, yacht clubs and more

AVLive

24Staging live eventsThe Coldplay concert and National Day celebrations in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi

AVSound

28Stopping sound versus controlling energyPeter Janis of Radialeng clarifies popular misconceptions about acoustics

The rigours of renting equipment for live events, conferences and corporate presentations

AVAcademy

30AV from Venus, IT from MarsThe disparate worlds of IT and AV and the need to find common ground

AVEvents

34 Integrated Systems Europe 2012AVPro ME interviews ISE managing director, Mike Blackman, and looks at new technologies that will be on show at ISE 2012

AVBuzz

40 What’s trending?Blogger Brad Grimes asks: “Do women make better project managers?”

ON THE COVER: Coldplay

8AVLead

4 | AVPro | February 2012

Iomega, an EMC company, specialising in data storage

solutions for small and medium businesses (SMBs), as well as distributed enterprises, will partner with AXIS Video Hosting System to showcase a powerful yet affordable hosted video surveillance portfolio.

“During challenging times, criminals tend to target small businesses as there is a perception that they are easier to penetrate,” said Cizar Abughazaleh, regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Iomega.

The Iomega network storage devices, along with Axis network cameras and encoders, allow

resellers and integrators to deliver video surveillance capabilities to small and medium-sized customers. SMBs in the region will only pay for the storage they need. Customers can select

different recording and retention policies for both on-site and off-site video files, and can remotely access files from any web browser.

AVNews

Customised DIS solution at Qatar University

Video surveillance for SMEs on the cloud

System Integrator, Techno Q, has installed 135 customised microphone units from Scandinavian conference specialist, Danish Interpretation Systems (DIS), at Qatar University. The silver CM/DM 6580F units feature three buttons for voting, chip card reader, channel selector, 3.5mm headphone socket, loudspeaker and the new boundary microphone BM 6620. The two distributed language channels at this location can be monitored through DH 6023 stethoscope headphones and the output box AO 6008 allows using up to eight channels for recording purposes and so on. A www.dis.cc

go.iomega.com

Cizar Abughazaleh, regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Iomega


huge SW 6000 software package opens access to additional features like delegate identification and guarantees comfortable handling of the system.

Besides the customised DCS 6000

System in the auditorium, a press room in the building features a small scale CDS 4000 System with one chairman and five delegate units.


Elements a natural fit for Matrix

Nicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enterprises, distributors of ClearCom in the UAE for the live sound market segment has supplied Delta Sound with the new Tempest wireless intercom system. Delta Sound has also invested in an Eclipse Median matrix frame, an array of the V Panels, in addition to an Encore Partyline Master Station, that were used at the recent official UAE National Day ceremonies held at the Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Operating in the 2.4GHz band, the Tempest2400 is available in a robust two- or four-channel system for indoor, outdoors and touring applications. The system is also

capable of operating in multiple modes, with each mode providing

varying levels of communication flexibility and user capacity. In addition, once registered to a base station, a beltpack needs no further configuration and roams freely within a single zone area, making it perfect for live sports, breaking news, and high-coordination productions such as awards shows.

“Delta Sound has been involved in some complex events in the UAE such as the opening of the Burj Khalifa, Atlantis at Palm Jumeirah, etc where communication is critical for the success of such high profile events,” commented Chicco Hiranandani, business development manager at NMK.

Delta Sound invests in ClearCom

Matrix Audio Visual & Entertainment, a Dubai-based rental firm has purchased the new Elements speaker system from Dubai-based distributor, Melody House. The rental firm has been using the system for various corporate and DJ events around the city.

Matrix provides both entertainment and AV services to the UAE and the region. With recent investments in a new facility at the Dubai Investment Park and purchases in AV equipment, the company is continuously growing to meet their existing and new clients’ requirements. The recent purchase of the Elements system

highlights their focus to reinforce their inventory with modular and scalable solutions.

“The Elements is a perfect fit for Matrix as they do a variety of shows for their clients,” commented Dino Drimakis, business development manager at Melody House. “The Elements system allows them to invest in a standard package which they can grow, split, combine for a everything from a band performance to a DJ performance making it a great return on investment,” he added.

AVNews

www.nmkelectronics.com

melodyhousemi.com

Rob Turner and Liam McGrath of Delta Sound with the ClearCom equipment

Amrith Varghese (R) of Melody House with a Matrix representative and the Elements system



AVNews

Techno Q announced the launch of its redesigned website, www.technoq.

com, with, what the company describes as exciting changes to the look, content, and functionality of the entire site. The new design balances high impact visuals with uncluttered layout and a larger canvas to view the information about the company’s solutions and services’ portfolio.

The revamped site offers potential clients a more comprehensive overview of the

company’s services and a user-friendly structure, with the ability to look at the contents of the entire website by reviewing the home page footer. The detailed footer bar provides a direct link to any part of Techno Q’s website.

“We designed this new website entirely with the end-user in mind,” said Zeyad Al Jaidah, Techno Q’s managing director. ”Our goal was to create a pleasant viewing experience by making the site brighter and the information easy to find. The website and the linked Techno Q social media pages will simplify the way we interact with our stakeholders by allowing

users to engage with us through various channels.”

Over the last 16 years, Techno Q has delivered integration solutions supporting diverse industry sectors in Qatar, such as the government, the education and health sectors, in addition to the corporate, retail and hospitality sectors. Techno Q has initiated extensive programmes to enhance customer service, training and online communication, among other initiatives, according to a

company spokesman. A few of the features of the new

website include a list of partners, online registration for seminars, links to the newsletter and links to the company’s social media pages.

“The site allows users to take a closer look at some of our featured projects by navigating to the projects’ gallery page,” said Abdulla Alansari, executive director of Techno Q.

Qatar’s Techno Q launches redesigned website

“The website and the linked Techno Q social media pages will simplify the way we interact with our stakeholders by allowing users to engage with us through various channels”

www.technoq.com

Zeyad Al Jaidah, Techno Q’s managing director

Screenshot of the website

AVNews

Shen Milsom & Wilke (SM&W) has created the master plan for information technology, audiovisual/multimedia technologies, security and acoustics for the New York University, Abu Dhabi campus, working in conjunction with Rafael Viñoly Architects. This new 2,000 student campus will be closely linked to the cultural district currently under construction on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. NYU-Abu Dhabi, accommodating 2,000 students, will be a US-style research institution functioning as a branch

of NYU, New York. The campus includes substantial

instructional, residential, research, performing arts, and recreation and public facilities. Significant is the creation of the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute, a major multidisciplinary conference and

research environment for scholars in residence.

To this end, SM&W defined campus IT standards, overall campus cable distribution, the general and high performance computing data centres; audiovisual requirements for the many instructional, meeting and conference spaces; physical and electronic security requirements and acoustical standards for all areas of the campus. The NYU Abu Dhabi campus is estimated to be completed by 2013.

AV master plan for New York University, Abu Dhabi campus

www.smwllc.com

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AVLead

the roller-coaster business of av rental

From winning bids to executing the project, the

business of production rental can be a remarkably

jerky ride, but there are tried and tested ways to make money, stay afloat and enjoy the ride, says

industry veteran Stephen Lakin in conversation with

AVPro Middle East

It has been 10 years since the opening of Dubai Media City,

and those who witnessed the event recall the amazing special effects and lighting. The lighting involved 6,500 pyrotechnic effects, launched from behind and off the structures and “over 1,500 lights that were installed inside the buildings to illuminate them and a further 180 automated luminaires that were used to light the arena and landscaping, using over 260 kms of cabling”. Lighting was

just one aspect of a spectacular opening show complete with a moving stage and this was done by Production Technology LLC (Protec), a company then barely two years old in the market. Co-founder, Stephen Lakin was however in his third ‘incarnation’ having set up two leading AV rental companies, Viewplan Plc in 1979 and Gearhouse Plc in 1989, both in the UK.

His initial moves after setting up Protec in 1999, that is now considered one of the larger AV


AVLead

rental companies globally, give us an inkling into what makes for a successful venture in the sector.

Within two months of starting the company in 1999, he acquired Vari-Lite Production Services’ Middle East, giving his company a comprehensive production service including proprietary technology. Meanwhile, propelling the fledgling rental company into the big league was winning the bid for the launch of the $320 million Al Faisaliah Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s first skyscraper. While his undoubted experience and reputation must have facilitated the winning of these prestigious contracts, Lakin did not, by any account, lose sight of the basics in setting up a successful production rental business – cutting-edge

equipment – that creates the ability to offer turnkey staging services with ground support.

Updated equipment is critical“Equipment is key,” says Lakin as we toured the more than 100,000 square feet of warehousing facility at Dubai-based Protec. He adds, “There is no science to running this business. We have survived because we run our business better than most people – we’ve got more kit, ensure better service and deploy better crew, among other aspects. Where we are particularly strong is in the technical hardware that we have. Technical staging for instance – if you want to move the stage, if you want to move the screen, lift something and so on – we’ve got more expertise in that area than

anyone else in the world. We have 19 different sets with us.“

The warehouses divided into lighting, sound, video and staging equipment clearly indicate the importance Lakin gives to keeping inventory at cutting edge, while selling off old fixtures and constantly investing in new technology across all areas of the audio visual spectrum – brands such as Yamaha, Nexo, L’acoustics, JBL, among others, in audio, Avolites and Clay Paky, among others in lighting, Christie, Sony and Barco, among other brands in video, along with a whole range of solutions in the area of special effects and automation, rigging and staging equipment. Lakin reckons that Protec carries the region’s largest stock of trussing, motors, rigging and ground support.

Protec supplied lighting solutions for the Coldplay concert in Abu Dhabi. More details on page 24


Eye on trendsAcquiring cutting-edge equipment also calls for an eye for future trends. In the year 2007, for instance Protec, invested $2 million in new Christie digital projection technology. Speaking to the press, Lakin had then stated, “We were always well stocked with lighting, sound and rigging, but one weakness that we did have, was video. “Having invested an estimated $150 million in inventory since Protec’s inception, Lakin believes that expertise to put all that inventory to good use is key. He says, “For instance, during the launch of a product, when the screen or stage is lifted to reveal something – it better be a perfect presentation. We are backed by consultants who will make due measurements to ensure safety.

“Also we are in constant touch with 12 to 15 experts in the UK who keep us abreast with new technologies. The client has always demanded more. When I started, in 1979, there was not so much technology around. You had those old projectors that were phenomenal if they were operated properly and you got in specialists who made the slides.”

Slide projectors have largely been replaced by DVD media, video display monitors and video projectors, among other products.

AV rental in the regionIn a business where no one year is like the other, veterans such as Lakin continue to tackle the daily uncertainties. He has seen, for instance, warehousing that was approximately $3 per square feet soar to $11 per square feet around 2007. While more than

90% of their business comes from the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the company is expanding operations into other countries in the GCC, with a current project under way in Bahrain.

Underlying the importance of word-of-mouth publicity and, at the same time, dispelling myths about the size of the market in

the region, Lakin says, “We are a large company, but 80% of our business comes from five clients. There are two aspects to our business. We have clients who approach us directly and those that work through production companies that design the event with us, providing the equipment.

“There are more production companies around. Five years ago, these companies were not technically capable. However over the past few years, they have hired technical people and are in a better position to understand the technology behind the equipment we supply. If you go 30 years back, production companies were technical but it was the era of music and slides. When video came, they did not adapt quickly, so we had to bring in the experts to produce the software. Over the past 15 years,

AVLead

“The smaller companies are not threats, but if a job is badly executed, the client will be reluctant to spend money the next time”

Stephen Lakin, managing director, Protec


AVLead

they have brought in specialists and we’ve become more of a rental business.”

As Lakin points out the famous sets for stars such as Kylie Minogue, among others, he says that the cost of staging a show is higher here than in Europe because the company has only six or seven busy months in a year. “We use the down-time to test and maintain our equipment,” he adds. He acknowledges that there are more companies fighting for the business, but accepts jobs only with a decent margin. Underscoring the key role trust plays in the industry, he says, “The smaller companies are not threats, but if a job is badly executed, the client will be reluctant to spend the money the next time. While estimating for a job is never an exact science, an on occasion we have underestimated the costs, we deliver anyway. We always honour our commitment to the client.“

With an average lead time of two days for many projects, Lakin admits that this industry is not

for the faint-hearted. “People will book a kit just days before a show despite the fact that they have had the venue booked months or even a year in advance. Last year was a bit slow – the year before was a good year. It was a good year because all the jobs worked well with our schedule. You had a big project followed by a two-day break and then another job. Every seven to eight years, you get a year like that. Last year, we had a number of jobs coming in at the same time, so you could work only for the regular clients. Live events represent 20 to 22% of our work. Corporate work tends to be around 38%. Largely, we have been lucky with our clients who were not affected by the recession.“

Apart from the regular challenges in getting leads and working on proposals, to planning logistics, inventory handling, execution of projects and so on, Lakin says that convincing a client is the most challenging of all tasks. “A degree of client education in understanding

the logistics and effort behind putting such shows together is necessary. Like in most jobs, there is an initial learning process to go through, which, once achieved, makes implementing shows easier. We understand clients’ anxieties over what could be a make or break project for them. Every job is as critical for us as it is for the client.”

Crew training and retentionExecuting the many projects at Protec are a team of project managers, designers and a crew of more than 92 men and women from various nationalities. Quality of crew is critical, says Lakin. “Most of our staff members have worked for many years. I’ve had crew members that have been with me for 32 years. Also we train them well. We’ve probably lost two persons in the labour department in the last 15 years. When we recruit new labour, they work in all the four departments of light, sound, video and structures/sets, and then choose the department they prefer. They will typically spend three to four months in each department.”

As the rental business evolves, new opportunities and business models are emerging. Hotels and rental companies are forging alliances as the latter seeks to reduce the vagaries in the business.

Having retired twice before, accountant-turned stage designer (among other roles) Lakin, has no plans to quit even as his sons, James and Mathew, join him at Protec. Lakin says, “I’m in a business that allows me to do five different projects in a day. While the money is there, you have to be in this business because you enjoy it.” PRO


AVDebate

Finding green in the capeX and OpeX quandary

Today, there is little argument about the need for sustainability.

At a recent conference held in Dubai for emerging airports, the thrust from airport owners was all about building a sustainable facility. Suppliers we spoke to, believe, that while the consensus to go green exists, the path forward is not as straightforward. Speaking to AVPro Middle East on the sidelines of the conference and subsequently, Richard Wilks, aviation business development manager, EMEA for NEC Display Solutions, defined

environmental sustainability as “meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. So this is about the total life cycle management of products from manufacturing through to disposal.”

In other words, buying a product that would translate to reduced operating costs over the life-cycle of the product, makes economic sense. Where green technology companies once had trouble raising sufficient finances to support their operations, today there are few who will find cause to dissent - but

As more airport owners in the region understand

the cost implications of the total life-cycle of products, talk of going green will be matched by appropriate buying

decisions, says Richard Wilks, aviation business development manager,

EMEA for NEC Display Solutions

Gatwick Airport was the first airport globally to make the decision for greener display technology when refurbishing its North Terminal check-in area

AVDebate


many potential customers still aren’t able to make the switch for a number of reasons. The foremost reason is the dilemma faced by decision makers between operating and capital expenditures – OPEX and CAPEX.

Roadblocks to going greenGiven the scale of operations of a typical airport, operators are well-placed to usher a green revolution with the buying decisions they make. And most would want to make a switch given the choice between new lighting fixtures, for instance, that use a third less energy than the old, fluorescent lights. However, even though the fixtures pay for themselves from reduced operating expenditures in a relatively short time, the fact of the matter is that they’re more expensive to purchase as the old fixtures. So while one might be tempted to tread the green route over the potential savings in the OPEX budget, the CAPEX budget for the year would make the buyers pause, since they would most likely not have the cash to make the purchase today in order to reap those future savings.

Wilks says: “The real roadblocks are simply the way budgets are handled within an airport when it comes to IT infrastructure. Typically IT procurement departments are not tasked wholly with buying the more green technologies, but instead have a project budget to meet or reduce. This capital expenditure is fixed at an early stage of the project and normally operating expenditure is not typically considered and certainly not taken into account during the procurement process.”

A Dubai-based AV integrator puts the price difference between an LCD and the more sustainable LED display option for a specified dimension between a whopping 50 to 60%. Despite the LED option being more expensive initially, this AV integrator would recommend the LED display for its “limitless possibilities, seamless display surface and long life. The more sustainable LED option will accrue better returns in the long run.”

Helping us understand the potential of the sustainable AV technology, Wilks says, “The new NEC X Series, for instance, utilises new LED backlighting technology that has many benefits for airport operators. NEC’s LED technology has been specifically designed to operate 24/7 at a very high brightness level making it ideal for the high ambient light environment of modern airport terminal designs.

However the real benefit is that the X Series can do this whilst consuming up to 50% less power than traditional CCFL backlit LCD displays. Couple this with features such as ambient light sensing and automatically scheduled power down, even with only 200 46” displays in your airport, that’s a saving in electricity running costs of $17,000 over five years and 42,000kg of CO2.”

Participation of stakeholders in buying decisionsWith benefits clear for all to see and measure, there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way decisions are made with the involvement of other stakeholders responsible for the operating of the airport. Wilks concurs and says “If other stakeholders (maintenance department) are involved at an early stage to scope out the overall total cost of ownership of an IT product then this can be taken into account during procurement. This requires an understanding of the life cycle of the particular product, from installation, operation, through to final disposal.”

At AVPro Middle East, we would go so far as to include, not just the maintenance department, but other tenants of an airport. With a ten-year lease, airport tenants would opt for the green option that could slash their energy bill, making it easier for airports to adopt green technology.

“Typically IT procurement departments are not tasked wholly with buying the more green technologies, but instead have a project budget to meet or reduce”

Richard Wilks, aviation business development manager, EMEA for NEC Display Solutions


AVDebate

Reduced carbon footprintGiving the readers a powerful instance of the sustainability of the product, Wilks says, “As opposed to CCFL backlights, LEDs do not contain mercury, making them safer to manufacture and easier to dispose of at end of life. Gatwick Airport was the first airport globally to make the decision for greener display technology when refurbishing its North Terminal check-in area with the new NEC 55” X551S. The introduction of LED backlighting technology on our LCD display products installed at Gatwick further reduced our use of toxic materials, as traditional backlighting technology has heavy use of mercury. This helps at both ends of the product life cycle, manufacture and disposal. These new products consume far less power during operation, and further recommendations were made to also to turn off the displays using NEC’s real time automated scheduler system when not in use. Gatwick’s decision to use the greener solution was justified with the operating cost reductions they would realise over the life of the product.”

The NEC installations at the busy Gatwick airport illustrate the level playing field between Greenfield and existing airports with regard to installing sustainable technology. “We have deployed over 450 NEC Displays into Gatwick Airport since the beginning of 2011 and can happily report that we have had zero dead-on-arrival or display failures to contend with,” commented Richard Reid, managing director of RCS ProAV, Gatwick’s main design and installation service partner. Underscoring the ease with which legacy equipment can be

replaced with newer, lighter and technologically advanced solutions, Wilks says: “Most existing airport sites undertake regular planned refresh of display technology. Typically this is done every five to seven years. It’s getting simpler to manage this refresh cycle as in the case of the new NEC X Series LED backlit displays – the products are smaller and much lighter than previous models. This makes installation cheaper as less rugged structures are needed to hold up the displays, and existing structures can be modified to take the new products with smaller bezels without too much trouble. Lighter displays also means less manpower/genie lifts that are needed for installation. With NEC X Series, for instance, now featuring a slot for the PC that drives the displays, less

complicated bracket systems can be implemented. Traditionally an extra space/bracket is needed to store the PC. Now the PC slots into the side of the display, which means maintenance is really simple and only one power socket is needed per display system rather than the two needed for the old PC and display systems.”

Despite political upheaval, Middle East airports, that are expected to handle over 400 million passengers by 2020, are pumping more than $119 billion into airport expansions. The coming months and years will reveal the varying strengths of the CAPEX/OPEX quandary as airports weigh current expenses against long-term benefits. PRO

“If other stakeholders (maintenance department) are involved at an early stage to scope out the overall total cost of ownership of an IT product, then green technologies can be taken into account during procurement”

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AVCaseStudy

a sense of place: cutting-edge technology at rocco Forte Hotel in abu dhabi

With a prestigious hotel chain and a designer in Olga Polizzi who is a

self-confessed perfectionist, it must not have been simple winning the AV integration contract for the newly opened Rocco Forte Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The Dubai-based Visionaire team had to prove themselves – and apparently they did so successfully. Aneeta Gupta, president and CEO of Visionaire, says, “Visionaire came in to the project to design and implement

the AV and LED lighting solution for the Brazilian Bar which is a prestigious area of the hotel. The professionalism, the project management skills combined with the technical competence of Visionaire convinced the client and the consultant to award the complete project to Visionaire, replacing an earlier contract. The project was awarded to us in August 2011 with a challenging schedule of completing it by the end of October 2011, as

the hotel was due to open in November, and we managed to achieve this mandate.”

Visionaire’s team relished the opportunity of working with Olga Polizzi whose exacting standards have ensured that the Rocco Forte chain of hotels exude a certain timeless quality. Speaking to the press at the time of the opening in November 2011, Polizzi said, “The Rocco Forte Collection prides itself in giving people a sense of the place. If you are in our hotel


in Rome we make you feel you are in Rome. If you come to Abu Dhabi, our hotels make you feel the splendour and ambience of Abu Dhabi.”

On the scope of work, Falguni Jesrani, chief programme manager, says, “We were entrusted by the client and the consultant to design, procure and implement the AV systems for the Rocco Forte Hotel which included the boardroom, meeting rooms, ballroom, digital signage for the hotel and retail area, video conferencing, AV systems and LED lighting for the bar area and more.”

Technical highlightsCommenting on the technical highlights of the project, Gupta says, “The technical highlights included the control of the BGM (background music) from multiple

locations within the hotel through the user control panels, the integration of the Tandberg video conferencing system with the Cisco unified communication manager, and the combined and individual control of three conference rooms and three ballrooms.

“Another aspect that contributed to the success of the project is the keen support of the project consultants, EC Harris, and the client’s own team.” PRO

AVCaseStudy

Kit list

Speakers - Tannoy, JBL, BoseLCDs - Samsung , Ad Notam Control system - AMX Audio Mixers - BiAmpSwitchers - ExtronChristie projectorsCayin signage players Pulsar LED lighting

The client brief: Ravi Veerasawmy, director of IT, Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi, says:“We required a state-of-the-art solution to be designed and implemented by the integrator while maintaining the Rocco Forte standard of aesthetics and quality. As a client we expected the highest level of project management from the provider. We wanted timely completion of the project without compromising on the quality and functionality of the requirements. We had to ensure the smooth integration of the AV equipment with third party systems.”

www.visionaire.com

The hotel’s 281 spacious bedrooms are state of the art, with LCD flat screen television sets and iPod docks, among other features


You don’t redefine a classic partnership without murmurs from both the

purists and the trade. Kartik Sharma, sound engineer at Dubai-based Thomsun Trading Est., has always believed that Genelec speakers hitherto renowned for its ‘dead-on accuracy’ within all the major studios across the globe, had the potential to deliver outside the studio as well. The management team at the Dubai Marina Yacht Club was looking to revamp their sound system at the ‘Aquara’ restaurant and the ‘25°55° Sports Lounge’ and Kartik

sensed an opportunity to prove the capability of the Genelec speakers outside the studio.

“While bidding for the job, we offered to give the club a demo of the product for one month. And only when they were happy with the quality of sound, did we finalise the contract,” says Kartik, whose previous stints included assisting the renowned Oscar and Grammy-winning music director from India, AR Rahman.

Despite the murmurs from competing sound specialists on using Genelec in what is essentially an outdoor/indoor restaurant with a

sports bar on the level below, the client was happy with what he heard.

Phil Blake, general manager at the Dubai Marina Yacht Club, says, “Earlier, we had these long-throw speakers that our customers had issues with on both counts – decibel levels and clarity. Given that our restaurant is open till 1am and we are surrounded by residential towers, acoustics management was a crucial issue.

“Also we have around 700-800 visitors here on a daily basis and live entertainment is a vital part of the overall experience. When we decided to overhaul the system, we were

AVCaseStudy

Stepping out of the studio in style at dubai Marina

Sound specialists at Thomsun Trading Est. install Genelec speakers at the Dubai Marina Yacht Club


approached by many companies. Among the factors that helped us ink the deal with Thomsun was that their bid was well within our budget. Also the company had installed the sound system in the Address Hotel which is part of our group and they gave us a positive recommendation and lastly, and most significantly, Thomsun gave us a one-month trial of the products. So we actually experienced the improved output before we decided to go with the product.“

As we sat in the picturesque outdoor restaurant, Aquara, overlooking the super-luxury yachts bobbing in the water, I experienced what Kartik describes as sound that is not ‘coloured’.

Kartik explains, “The top studios in the world opt for Genelec because of its clarity. In this environment where sound does not have to be directed to one place unlike in a studio, there is no need for calibration or equalising. The superior technology of the product ensures output that is clear without the need for unnecessary volume. I have worked professionally with Genelec speakers for the past 20 years, so I was confident about the performance. Moreover, the manufacturers themselves did the research and assured us that as long as the speakers do not face direct sunlight, they will work perfectly outdoors.

“ The system provided is scalable and we have a flexibility of outputs. In addition, the mixer we have provided allows for the recording of music and is compatible with an array of software. Shortly we will install the Airport Express router, that allows you to play music that you have on your ITunes on the system, redefining the whole exercise of song requests to the DJ.“

Installation was tricky, according to Kartik. “The speakers are active

speakers – they need a special wiring. They have audio as well as power lines going through them, so we used specialised cable. Moreover, the owners did not want to disturb the regular working hours of the club and they did not want any of the cabling to show. So to ensure that the transition from the old system to the new system was seamless, there were daily challenges during installation.”

With the AV integrators having demonstrated both quality and the all-important after-sales service, client representatives told this writer that the change was palpable with regular patrons commenting favourably about the qualitative change in sound. And the possibilities with the new digital system it seems are exciting, according to Blake. He says, “The Thomsun team has been giving us a lot of ideas as to how we can make our system more user friendly. For instance, we have a number of boat owners who are patrons of our club and others who enjoy the live music. Through the WIFI system,

AVCaseStudy

Kartik Sharma, sound engineer, Thomsun Trading Est.

1) Genelec - 6010 AWM nos 18 2) Genelec - 5040 AWM Sub nos 43) Genelec - 7271 Digital Sub nos 14) Genelec - 8250 digital monitors nos 45) Genelec – Hybrid cable 150mts6) Yamaha - O1V96 VCM nos 17) Yamaha - MG166CX USB nos 18) Yamaha - MG82cx nos 19) Yamaha - MSR 400 nos 210) Yamaha - MSR 800 nos 211) Apart - PXQ2215 Crossover12) Wall mounted brackets - Genelec

Installation and commissioning by Thomsun Trading Est. and Reportronics

Technical Support (Thomsun Trading Est.): Kartik Sharma, Devdas

“While bidding for the job, we offered to give the club a demo of the product for one month. And only when they were happy with the quality of sound, did we finalise the contract”

we can give them the option to download the music. Also on days when we do not have sports events in the sports bar downstairs – there is an option to stream live music into the sports bar.”

At the outset, Kartik commented that he wanted to change the popular misconception that “Genelec is only for the studio and that the product is not for the installed market.” From creating the buzz of a live stadium in the sports bar to allowing the dining guests to carry on a conversation comfortably in the Aquara restaurant, Kartik’s team has created the perfect makeover for a world-renowned product. PRO

www.thomsun.com


Housed in the Maison Blanche hotel in Tunis, Le Madison, one of the

finest bars and lounges in all Tunisia, has invested in a new sound reinforcement system. Tunis-based Acoustic Design and Broadcast (ADB), was responsible for the planning and installation of the new system. ADB’s sound specialists opted for systems from Dynacord. The following components formed part of the installation: D-Lite series loudspeakers systems (comprising sixteen Dynacord D8W cabinets and four Dynacord Sub 118

bass units); two Dynacord DSA 8212 amplifiers and a Dynacord DSP 260 signal processor to guarantee flawless system management; and a compact, ten-channel Dynacord CMS 1000-3 mixer.

“The Dynacord systems impressed our clients with both their sonic performance

and aesthetic appeal,” stated Manel Khammouma of ADB. “This is a particular merit of the D8W loudspeakers, which are compact, extremely stylish, and perfectly suited to the ambience of this elegant and exclusive lounge.” PRO

tunisian hotspot features dynacord system

AVCaseStudy

“The Dynacord systems impressed our clients with both their sonic performance and aesthetic appeal”Manel Khammouma of Tunis-based, Acoustic Design and Broadcast, the AV integrators for the project

www.dynacord.com


AVLive

Stirring lyrics…amazing guitar…awesome

drums…and of course, Chris’ vocals. As 20,000

fans sang along to Yellow and Hurts like Heaven, lights, sound

and psychedelic visuals powered the high energy performance by Coldplay

at the Abu Dhabi Corniche Breakwater

Sizzling performance by coldplay

Andrew Jackson, director, Delta Sound LLC

www.deltasound.co.uk/dubai.htm

Showcasing the sound

“Tony Smith (system designer, Coldplay) sent me his current touring rider. We used that as a template to rework the system design based on the venue layout and equipment available. It is obviously a benefit that we have worked with the Coldplay team before. The site was quite straightforward, though it was quite long and narrow. Also,the site was very exposed to the elements.

The system was a L-Acoustic V-Dosc system. The two shows (Metallica and Coldplay) are a testament to the flexibility and quality of the V-Dosc. Although Metallica

had a larger system, we work to provide the visiting engineers with a system that is pre-aligned and pre-equalised. This then allows the engineers to stamp the band’s personality on the system.”


AVLive

Tony Smith, system designer, Coldplay

FOH Engineer: Dan GreenMonitor Engineer: Chris WoodsStage/Monitor Tech: Nick ‘Mystic’ DavisRF Tech: George HoganDelta crew:System/Crew Chief: Rob EatockTechs: Craig Harvey and Phil Down

“I am given a site drawing. From that I will specify what is needed for the site in terms of audio and other aspects of production. I definitely ask for inputs from Delta’s Andrew Jackson after they have done a site visit and have an understanding of the site.”

“I do the system design with the help of my team and Andy from Delta. My other responsibilities include looking after the Coldplay

audio package as audio crew chief, the setting up and maintenance of the front-of-house (FOH) package and getting the system aligned and equalised and ready for my colleague, Dan Green, to mix the show.

“The site was fairly simple – it was outdoors, so little [by way of] reflections. The only hindrance was what the weather would do, it was windy and a little colder than I was expecting. No rain this time round though, which was good!”

“To test the equipment and sound quality before a live performance, I use Tune Capture for EQ, alignment and SPL. Along with some of my favourite system tune CD’s, I use Cubase to play back the last live show to do the final system tuning.”

Lighting up the event

Vari*lite 3000 Spot x 48Vari*lite 3500 Wash x 40Clay Paky Alpha Wash 1200 x 24Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 700 x 16Martin Atomic 3000 Strobe x 12GLP Impressions Moving head LED x 16Falcon Flower x 4Molefay 8 Lights x 32Plus spareswww.productiontec.com


AVLive

Each year on December 1st, the United Arab Emirates celebrate its independence.

The celebrations were especially lavish in 2011, as December 2nd marked the formal 40th anniversary of the coming together of the seven emirates to form the UAE. A comprehensive programme of cultural and sporting events kicked off on December 1, 2011, to make this a memorable jubilee event.

The organisers entrusted responsibility for providing the sound reinforcement at two of the most important functions to Dubai-based Sound On Stage Events, an established company in the pro audio sector. For this year’s celebrations, the team from Sound On Stage Events was responsible for prominent stage productions in Abu

Dhabi and Al Ain, where well-known Arab artists performed with ensembles of up to 45 musicians.

Celebrations in Abu DhabiThe event in the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre in the nation’s capital drew over 10,000 visitors. The main PA comprised 12 Electro-Voice X-Line line array elements and six Xsubs, whilst 14 XLD281 very compact line array elements served as side and front fills and 16 Xw12 monitors (along with Plasma P1 and Plasma P2 drum fills) rounded off the sonic image. The power was provided by 24 TG7 and TG5 amplifiers. The integrated RCM-26 modules afforded the Sound On Stage Events team the luxury of remote control and supervision.

“We wanted to make sure that

uae celebrates 40 years of nationhood with electro-voice

Electro-Voice systems -- including X-Line

and XLD line array elements, Xsubs, Xw12 monitors and TG7 and TG5 amplifiers – were

out in force at the shows organised by

UAE-based Sound on Stage Events

Stage set for UAE National Day celebrations in Al Ain


AVLive

all those who attended would retain positive memories of this event,” says Mazen Saad, co-owner and managing director of Sound On Stage Events.

“The competition in the market is stiff, which is why, whatever the production, we do our utmost to deliver the finest sound quality possible.”

Sound On Stage Events has reportedly had outstanding experiences with X-Line, and that’s why it was the first choice for this prestigious event, as Rawad Saad, technical manager, co-owner and sound engineer for this production explains, “Our calculations showed that the X-Line was ideally suited to the demands of this event. Unlike rival systems, it offered optimal coverage

and plenty of headroom – and even required fewer boxes!”

Celebrations in Al AinIn Al Ain, the second largest city in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the celebrations were equally lavish.

“Our calculations showed that the X-Line was ideally suited to the demands of this event. Unlike rival systems, it offered optimal coverage and plenty of headroom – and even required fewer boxes!”

Here again, it was Sound On Stage Events using Electro-Voice equipment that set the tone. The audience of 3,000 in front of the open-air stage in the Al Ain Heritage Village, for example, was served by a main PA comprising 16 Electro-Voice XLD 281 line array elements and four Xsubs, complimented by four Rx 112/75 (front fill), 12 RX 115/75 (monitors and side fills), and TG and P3000 amplifiers. “The XLD system combined with the TG amps delivered a level of performance at the open-air stage in Al Ain that was more than remarkable,” reports Rawad Saad, “whilst the director of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Committee, our client in the nation’s capital, told us that of all the stages in Abu Dhabi, ours had the best sound – something of which we are rather proud and that allows us to approach future events with even greater confidence and motivation.” PRO

Rawad Saad, technical manager, co-owner and sound engineer of Sound on Stage Events

Electro-Voice line arrays provided the coverage at the National Day celebrations in Abu Dhabi

www.electrovoice.com


AVSound

Stopping sound versus controlling energy

The greater the amplitude of the sound – the more mass

you need to stop it. Think of a discotheque; even behind the massive concrete walls you can hear the bass. This is because bass contains much more energy than high frequencies. I remember doing a clinic once and a question came from the audience asking: I live next to the subway and I hear the trains in my studio – what should I do? The easy answer: move. Stopping bass is extremely difficult while stopping high frequencies is relatively easy.

To control bass, you must not only build up massive walls, you also have to decouple the mechanical structure to

stop sound from travelling. In professional studios, the floors are often floated whereby a second floor will be built on top of the first using isolation ‘pucks’ or rubber springs.

This same mechanical isolation is used to stop industrial machines from vibrating into adjacent offices. Only here, instead of isolating the office, we mount the machines on top of specially designed isolation springs. So if you have a sub woofer that is causing havoc with the condominiums next door, try isolating the subs so that the mechanical vibrations are not travelling through the floor, the walls and building next door.

Stopping sound from travelling between the boardroom and

adjacent offices is a common problem. This energy tends to be in the voice range whereby most of it is in the mids. And as depicted above, the higher the frequency, the easier it is to control.

But the same rules apply. To stop mids and highs, you must stop the vibrations. This is where people often confuse absorbing sound with stopping sound. When you absorb sound energy, you are actually converting sound into heat. Sound causes the minute fibres inside a glass wool panel to vibrate. Similarly with low density foam; the membrane between the bubbles absorbs energy when it is set into motion. The higher the density of the material, the lower the frequency it will absorb. Too dense – think

There are many misconceptions about acoustics that have made their way into the world of audio. Peter Janis of Radialeng clarifies those misconceptions and argues that in order to stop sound, you must also increase the mass

Bass energy waves versus high frequencies


concrete – and then it only works on the deepest bass and all of the sound in the audio range reflects back into the room.

When you mount a bunch of acoustic panels inside a room, you are in fact taking energy out of the room, which gives you the impression that you are stopping sound. But you are only reducing the secondary impulses, not the original sound. You still have to contain the original energy burst. This is most often done by layering two sheets of gypsum

board on top of each other to increase the mass. To further improve the efficiency, an air cavity is often created between the two layers of gypsum board, with the outer board floating on what is commonly known as ‘resilient channel’ or a form of spring. This U-shaped metal extrusion allows the outer wall to vibrate without touching the inner wall. To further improve the efficiency, varying the mass of the two layers by using two different thicknesses of gypsum board will cause an

impedance mismatch. This will make it more difficult for sound to pass as the two panels will not share the same resonant frequency.

Today it is common for offices and restaurants to employ ceiling tiles on a suspended T-bar grid to create a false ceiling. The cavity above is known as the plenum. This area is used to pass HVAC ducts (hot ventilation and air conditioning) and low voltage wiring. Regular light weight acoustic tiles allow sound to pass through – as they have no mass – and magically get lost, up in the plenum. The problem of course is that the sound simply migrates through the plenum into the office next door. Combining sound absorption to reduce the reverberant field will improve intelligibility... but in order to stop sound, you must also increase the mass. PRO

AVSound

To stop mids and highs, you must stop the vibrations. This is where people often confuse absorbing sound with stopping sound

Peter Janis is the president of Primacoustic (a division of Radial Engineering ltd.) and has been involved with designing and supplying acoustic materials for more than 20 years.

Sound inhibiting wall40mm gap between walls


AVAcademy

AV/IT convergence is not just about technology. There are

similarities and differences in the people and cultures. For example there can be confusion with terminology, the same words mean different things.

• Rack in AV is the same as enclosure in IT. Rack in IT means poles, no enclosure.• A switcher in AV directs signals to different routes or multiple places. In IT a switch directs network packets to the port for which they are intended, without broadcasting them to all connections.• In AV we sometimes use the term “routing switcher”. A router in IT

is a computer networking device which sends data packets across a network toward their destinations.

IT and AV professionals have been living in very different worlds. It is important to understand them both. The chances are good that any of us will have more experience with one area or the other. So let’s meet a typical IT professional. They are likely to:

• Have a high degree of training, often holding a degree such as EE, CS• Be certified by Cisco, Microsoft, BICSI• Have a highly structured environment – by-the-book, out of necessity

av from venus, it from Mars?The training, the

jargon and the culture are distinct. AVPro

ME partners with InfoComm Academy to

help you unravel the disparate worlds AV and IT professionals

inhabit

An AV professional has a high degree of training, but AV career paths are less defined than those of IT professionals


AVAcademy

• Have business-critical responsibilities• Report to the chief information officer

IT management has, by necessity, been highly structured and standardised. Otherwise, the internet, for example could not function. Standards have been developed, and are still being developed and maintained. They are strictly followed because they have to be. There is no wiggle room.

Compare the AV professional, who is likely to:

• Have a technical and/or creative background• Possibly be certified by InfoComm, CEDIA, manufacturers• Work in a multi-faceted environment• Responsibilities are becoming more business-critical (medical, financial applications)• Reporting hierarchy depends on the organisation

An AV professional also has a high degree of training, but AV career paths are less defined than those of IT professionals. In the past AV was not mission or business critical, but that is changing.

Working with IT professionalsIT personnel have to implement systems according to strict network structure and standards. Things like how their cables are labelled, how they document workstation locations in a building, etc. They must comply with international standards from organisations like EIA, TIA, ISO, ITC which define industry standard construction methods The physical wiring domain for the IT environment is relatively

simple, with only one or two cabling types.

IT professionals test in a laboratory before they embrace new technologies; they want to see the documentation of standards and structure. They are resistant to change, and with good reason. They are responsible for environments working reliably 24/7, and the cost of new licensing and implementation can be enormous.

IT personnel are concerned with data. To them, all content is treated as data. They just want to know what type of data it is and how much bandwidth it will use. Delivery of the data is what is important. IT people don’t care about cables coming out the front

of a rack, and IT equipment is hands off, the door is locked, there is no access (AV persons are just the opposite!).

The bottom line for IT is to avoid “downtime”, not lose data and operate securely.

Working with AV professionalsThe AV environment is somewhat the polar opposite of the IT environment. IT networking made standardisation and documentation a necessity. There was no such requirement for the AV industry.

The AV field is constantly changing as technologies and proprietary techniques change rapidly, often before any type of standardisation is possible. We are

Today up to 95% of AV dollars are controlled by the IT professionals. This compares with about 80% just two or three years ago

AV in education calls for a high degree of convergence between the AV and IT spheres of work


AVAcademy

always coming up with new media, formats, and machines to play them on – and we continue to drag around our legacy equipment!

Cabling is challenging and there are many different signal and cable types, both digital and analogue, making that portion of the AV professional’s job more difficult. AV content is “multimedia” – AV people care about what the ‘data’ looks like.

AV venues often require diverse interaction with their environments, architecture, lighting, acoustics, and other factors which must be balanced with a wide variety of content. Room use and content type plays an important role in determining AV designs.

AV professionals are concerned with the outcome – that the result is a pleasing event, be it a

show, a meeting, or a lecture. After all, humans respond to sight and sound. So with AV it is the product, not the process, that is the focus – the end to the means; whereas for IT it is the process, the means to the end.

Working togetherToday up to 95% of AV dollars are controlled by the IT professionals. This compares with about 80% just two or three years ago. In universities, corporations, hospitals, museums, and other venues, it is far more common now that the technology manager works in the IT department than the facilities department.

In many organisations there is no longer a separate budget allocation for AV – it’s all IT. AV departments still exist, but

they collaborate with the IT department, and it becomes difficult when the area is large and the agendas are different. (e.g., banks are very protective, schools cover large geographical areas).

Because of this trend close cooperation and clear communication between AV and IT professionals is absolutely necessary. Understanding and accepting their different needs, roles and responsibilities will help AV and IT professionals work better together. PRO

An excerpt from InfoComm University’s onsite course AVIT211 AV/IT Integration for Technology Professionals.

What they care about...

AV professional:

• “The Show Must Go On”• Environmental factors – lack of feedback, screen brightness…• Media compatibility – laptops, international media (e.g. video formats)…• Batteries, frequencies, lamps• People skills – very important because end user contact is frequent

IT professional:

• Smooth operations• Unified “build” of computers• Bandwidth usage• Security of network• Scheduled backups• Help desk operations

www.infocomm.org

Confusion with terminology... rack in AV is the same as enclosure in IT. Rack in IT means poles, no enclosure

Boardroom technology leads the convergence between AV and IT

Conference: June 9-15Exhibits: June 13-15Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, Nevadainfocommshow.org

InfoComm Returns to Las Vegas

Communications Intensified

IC12Ad_Final.indd 1 1/23/12 11:08 AM


AVEvents

The 2011 show demonstrated record levels of growth

in terms of attendance and exhibitor numbers. You spoke of an expanded show in 2012. What do you believe is driving this growth?“Compared with our 2011 event, we are occupying one additional hall of our Amsterdam RAI venue, and our total exhibition space will be over 31,000 square metres – so surpassing the 30,000 mark for the first time. This represents a 15% increase on 2011, when we grew 11%. So, if anything, our growth rate has actually accelerated.

Some of this growth is the result of existing exhibitors enlarging their stands, while the rest is down to the arrival of new exhibitors, of which we are hosting over 100, plus a few companies – most notably Sony – who are returning to the show after being absent for a year or two.

The fact that we are still growing, speaks volumes about ISE, but it is also a testament to the robustness and resilience of our industry. Professional AV weathered the financial storm of 2008-09 so well because our industry’s products and services actually help businesses to save money and become more efficient. When an enterprise – whether state-owned or private – invests in a well-designed AV system, it can

generally expect to get a very rapid return on its investment.

This is truer than ever today, and at ISE 2012 we will see even more compelling evidence that AV is no longer a luxury – it is a neccessity that companies and organisations simply cannot afford to do without.

What would you describe as an improved feature of the 2012 edition?As ISE grows, our biggest challenge is making sure that attendees can navigate the event quickly and make efficient use of their time. Our Amsterdam RAI venue is the biggest single user of digital wayfinding among European convention centres, and ISE is now the biggest single user of the ‘RAI Live!’ system. Given the nature of our industry, it is only natural that we should use digital signage very

“iSe 2012 will surpass 30,000 square metres for the first time”

In conversation with Mike Blackman,

managing director, Integrated Systems

Europe (ISE)


AVEvents

extensively, and we are investing additional time and energy into making the system even easier to use in 2012. We will also be introducing large-scale, interactive floorplans, using technology from Sharp, which will be located at strategic points around the venue.

The venue itself has also been the subject of a great deal of investment since our 2011 show. This year, attendees will benefit from a completely redesigned Europa Entrance, which will ease the flow of human traffic into the RAI – especially on the Tuesday and Wednesday mornings when we typically see very large crowds at both of our entrances.

The fact that we have now signed a five-year contract extension with the RAI gives our host venue additional incentives to invest, and we expect to see fresh results of this investment each year.

You said that this is not a gadget show. What in your view is the ISE event about and how will the 2012 event reflect that?We refer to ISE as ‘technology enabled’ rather than technology driven. New products are important, and in 2012 we will see more global product launches than at any previous show. Many of our biggest exhibitors now see ISE as ‘the’ launch platform in the global tradeshow calendar.

But what is arguably more important is that our integrator audience does not just buy and sell products. It adds value by combining technologies together, using them in creative ways that enable our industry to enter new markets.

How are regions and AV sectors represented in this year’s event?One of the things that make ISE unique is its mix of commercial and residential AV technologies. Our exhibitor base is tilted slightly in favour of commercial but, nonetheless, the ‘Residential Solutions’ area of ISE 2012 will be our largest ever, and additionally there are many companies – particularly in the fields of projection and display, signal management, audio and multimedia control – that ‘cross over’ between the two segments. The same is true of our visitors, over 60% of whom are active in both residential and commercial markets.

North America, Europe and the Far East provide the majority of our exhibitors. We continue to see an increase in the percentage of Chinese manufacturers, as we have seen at every show for the past three or four years, but this is not so significant as to dramatically alter the balance of the event. This year we also have plenty of new exhibitors from Europe, particularly in professional audio and digital signage, while we continue to attract North American companies who are entering the European market for the first time, and for whom ISE is the perfect place to meet new distribution partners.

As for additions, many of our most important innovations for 2012 are taking place away from the show floor. We are delighted that our two association owners, InfoComm International and CEDIA, are hosting a combined ‘Education Zone’ at ISE for the first time. This will make it more convenient for attendees to

participate in the sessions of their choice, while also giving the educational component of ISE a higher profile generally.

On the eve of the show (Monday 30 January), CEDIA and InfoComm will also be co-hosting an opening reception at the RAI to which all attendees are cordially invited. This will be preceded at 18:00 by the first-ever ISE keynote address – to be delivered by Gerhard Schulz of Ingram Micro. Gerhard is an inspirational speaker and his ‘Blueprint for Business Growth in the Digital Age’ will, we believe, resonate with every visitor to ISE, regardless of their background.

With Dynamic Events and DISCO, you have a number of pre-event shows other than the Infocomm Academy. How would a person within the AV industry benefit from attending these shows?The purpose of our pre-show conference programme is two-fold. First, we want to encourage new kinds of visitors – particularly end customers – who might otherwise feel a bit intimidated by the sheer volume of technology at ISE to come to the show. Second, we want to add debate and discussion about the future of our industry to our event experience.

For an AV integrator or reseller, attending one of our conferences is a great opportunity to acquire the kind of market intelligence that is not so easy to find on the show floor – to hear from their peer-group how current business challenges are being met, and what trends are likely to impact on our industry in the years to come. PRO


AVEvents

Danish Interpretation Systems (DIS) launches Digital Discussion System DDS 5900. In the new system, the microphone unit DC 5980P can not only be configured as delegate or chairman, it can even be configured as the interpretation unit.

The EYE-10 from Wolfvision is a high resolution CCD with a sophisticated firmware and progressive scan lens that the manufacturer claims offers exceptional picture quality with perfect edge focus. With 30 frames per second, this camera can be used in all applications in which PAL/NTSC video camera resolution (even 3CCD video) is not good enough. The camera can be used on the ceiling, for distance learning, videoconferencing, surveillance and telemedicine, among other uses.

An Android support suite for multi-user multi-touch displays has been introduced by MultiTouch, developer of the modular multi-touch LCD screen for large-scale displays. The support suite is designed for the company’s MultiTaction platform, and provides developers with an elegant, open means of porting and developing Android applications for MultiTouch’s range of displays, says the company.

It means that the new MultiTouch MultiTaction Cell 55in display can be used as a huge Android tablet, providing greater interactivity, social media integration, and augmented reality hooks on a grand scale.

The RTiPanel app connects the control solutions of Remote Technologies Inc. (RTI) to the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. With the app installed on any of these popular Apple products, users will have control over any RTI XP remote processor and all connected electronic systems from virtually anywhere in the world. The RTiPanel includes full two-way feedback, dynamic scrolling lists, a customisable user interface, and more. Support for Android devices will be available in 2012.

DIS’ Digital Discussion System

Wolfvision’s eye on innovation

MultiTouch displays get Android support

RTI connects with Apple

Booth # 3C119

Booth # 1M11

Booth # 11K37

Booth # 4S60


AVEvents

In a significant development that reflects the ongoing rise of Audio Video Bridging (AVB), Biamp Systems is launching Tesira, the company’s first DSP-based networked media system to employ AVB as the primary digital media transport. Tesira is an enterprise-wide solution made up of intelligent network modules designed to share and boost performance. It is equipped with modular scalable inputs and outputs, DSPs and networked end-points, providing system design capabilities for unlimited scenarios, including centralised, distributed and hybrid-type applications. Biamp will be hosting product demonstration sessions on its stand to showcase Tesira’s partition features and AVB functionality.

Seeburg acoustic line’s L16j is a slim column loudspeaker designed for particularly demanding applications in acoustically problematic spaces. The manufacturer claims that due to its optimised waveguide and special curving, the L16j is particularly suited for homogenous reproduction of speech as well as music, at distances of up to 25 metres.

The company says the system can be easily extended and adapted to suit a string of different applications by linking multiple L-Series speakers together; and that by summer 2012, a total of six L-Series models, ranging from 4 x 3in to 16 x 3in, will be available.

Sharp’s new PN-E702 (70” class, 69-1/2” diagonal) LED-LCD display comes with an integrated slot for optional media player. The PN-E702 is reportedly designed to meet the rigors of a wide range of commercial display and digital signage applications. Sharp’s UV2A photo-alignment technology helps create colour images, and the full-array LED backlight design positions energy-efficient LEDs evenly across the panel for uniform brightness and greater legibility of text, ideal for conference rooms and classrooms, retail signage and other public display applications.

Biamp’s AVB DSP system in action

New L-Series speakers from Seeburg acoustic line

Sharp thinks big

Booth # 1H80

Booth # 7H200

Booth # 11F78

At a comparatively affordable cost, according to the manufacturer, the C2N-AMP-4X100 delivers a high-performance audio distribution solution for smaller houses and condominiums. In combination with the new TPMC-3SM touch screens and any two-series or three-series control system, a luxury Crestron solution is reportedly available at a budget price. Features include integrated amplifier that delivers 50 W/ch. @ 8 Ohms, 75 W/Ch. @ 4 Ohms, six stereo line inputs with loop-thru for easy expansion and programmable volume, bass, treble, balance, and loudness controls for each room

Four-room audio processor amplifier from Crestron

Booths #1F2, #1F6, #1F7, 1F17


AVEvents

With the new DS-VW765 models, Peerless-AV has, the manufacturer claims, taken all the measurements and tedious calculations out of the installation of any video wall array with custom, screen specific wall plate spacers available to perfectly position every mount. Limitless display configurations are reportedly achievable in both portrait and landscape orientations, with the assurance of perfect alignment and a sleek, flush appearance even over problem walls. This design combines with a mount that is ready to install straight out of the box and is loaded with features such as multi point, tool-less micro adjustment in three planes for seamless alignment.

The company will showcase the Meeting Room Scheduling Appliance with interactive touch screen for meeting room scheduling management with an optional digital signage platform. Features include an on-board Intel Celeron M Processor, 8.4” high brightness TFT LCD display, a slim, fanless, rugged system with embedded support from Windows XP, among other features.

Peerless AV video wall mounts

Arrive systems Inc

Booth # 11E64

Booth # 12C74

Additions to the Enova family include the Enova DGX 16 and 32 digital media switchers, which the manufacturer says are the industry’s first modular digital media switchers with a built-in central controller. AMX says its DGX 16 and 32 models are designed to cope with copy protection issues, centrally managed connected devices, and overcome many of the challenges facing integrators today.

Both models manage and distribute analogue and digital audio and video including HDMI with HDCP (HDMI/HDCP) control and Ethernet without any of the typical problems associated with HDCP authenticated content distribution and switching, says the manufacturer.

AMX expands Enova media switcher range

Booth # 2C50

The BDXTT stereo Bluetooth receiver from Xantech provides a wireless connection between any A2DP stereo Bluetooth-enabled audio source and any single or multi-zone audio system.

Products that may be connected using the Xantech BDXTT stereo Bluetooth receiver include the Apple iPad, Apple iPhone or Apple iPod touch2G, a large array of smart phones, and personal computers. The Xantech BDXTT pairs with Stereo Bluetooth A2DP devices over an operating distance of up to 80ft.

Each Xantech BDXTT stereo Bluetooth receiver features an individual alphanumeric ID, allowing multiple units to be installed in a multi-zone application. Graham Hallett, Xantech president said: “The BDXTT is a solution for integrators to bridge the gap between mobile devices and an installed audio system.”

Bluetooth receiver from Xantech Booth # 1N73


AVEvents

Mediasite 6, the latest version of Sonic Foundry’s lecture capture platform includes a family of features aimed, says the company, at radically accelerating the adoption of lecture capture and video content management for education institutions at all stages of the blended learning life cycle.

New Mediasite 6 capabilities include live or on-demand streaming of a Mediasite presentation to iPad, iPhone, iPod, Blackberry or Android device using HTML5 and H.264. It will also perform a system-wide search for words and phrases within a presentation, a presentation catalogue, or across a Mediasite library.

Lecture capture with Mediasite Booth # 10N129

The video wall controller V-Match C9 allows creating unique video wall designs for eye-catching presentations of media content at exhibitions, sales environments, and on stages. Using V-Match C9 video wall controller, video walls can be shaped in a completely flexible way. Video walls can be shaped combining different types of displays such as projectors, monitors, LCD TVs, LED panels of any screen size and resolution. Input and output ports accept both analogue and digital signals. As pure hardware V-Match C9 is made for 24/7 use in professional video installations where real time video performance and quick setup is required.

Video walls from HetecBooth # 3C140

The WT22M-RH from AOpen is an interactive ultra-slim 21.5” Multi Touch Panel PC with a LED backlit panel. The WT22M-RH features the latest Intel Sandy Bridge mobile CPU’s and dual channel DDR3 memory support which allows for high definition 1080p interaction and Intel WiDi wireless screen sharing technology. The WT22M-RH also comes with Intel vPro and Intel AMT technology which allows for remote hardware and software diagnostics.

Multi-touch display with AOpenBooth # 10N129

The Polycom UC Board solution, the manufacturer says, transforms any whiteboard or LCD monitor into an interactive video whiteboard space and it natively integrates with the Polycom HDX video system in the room. From doctors illustrating a diagnosis to a patient, to an architect sketching the next concept for green construction, to a student solving a problem with classmates from around the world, the Polycom UC Board solution enables users to interact naturally and efficiently.

Interactive video whiteboard from Polycom

Booth # 12C86


What’s trending on the blogoshpere

Well, do they? Do women make better project managers? Or for that matter, does anyone make a better AV project manager than the folks that companies typically put in that role? And generally speaking, what are the traits of a good project manager?

These questions came up recently when I was talking to InfoComm senior instructor and president of Twin Star Consulting, Brad Malone. As we talked, it was clear that at the heart of the matter wasn’t simply a question of male versus female, though he makes a persuasive argument in favour of traits typically seen in professional women. At the heart of the matter, really, is the evolution of project management into a practice that’s less about technology and more about collaboration. It’s more about detaching oneself from a way that things have always been done in order to see the bigger picture.

At one point, Brad told a story about an AV company that had turned to him for advice on project management. The company was used to putting very good, very competent technical people into project management roles. Brad suggested they hire a bunch of English majors instead and leave the technical people to

do what they do best. The results were very positive.

The point is not to hand over the project management reins to people who don’t know AV integration. It’s to invite people into the role who have other skills that lend themselves better to today’s project management task: communication, coordination, flexibilty. Brad would argue that today’s female project managers – among others – exhibit these critical traits and offer lessons in how to do the job better in a changing AV industry.

What do you think? Do women make better project managers? And gender aside, what characteristics do your best project managers have in common?

Some responses to “Do women make better project managers?”“Well the title is certainly going to catch a lot of attention and generate a certain amount of fury.“

“AV project management has more to do with skill sets, competence, attitude and

organisation skills rather than gender. Project management is not gender based or biased. The focus should be on an individual’s capabilities and talents and the way they present those talents in a project management role.”

“I think the traditional female traits of relationship-building, listening, empathy, and diplomacy comes into play in project management roles. Let’s face it, project management is really about managing people and expectations than it is about managing technical details and deliverables.” PRO

Visit www.broadcastprome.com for news, technical reviews, case studies and interviews

AVBuzz

At the heart of the matter, really, is the evolution of project management into a practice that’s less about technology and more about collaboration

At AVPro ME, we couldn’t resist picking Brad Grimes’ blog titled ‘Do women make better project managers?” at blog.infocommblog.org/allvoices

SE-2800 Multi Format HD/SD Switcher

HDR-500 19” rackmount HD/SD Broadcast Recorder

HS-600 Light weight Hand Carry Studio

- 8 Channel input (6 CVBS and 2 DVI-D SD grade)- 17.3” multi-image video monitor- 8 input talkback system with tally feature- Effects Wipe and Dissolve- SMTPE Pattern Out- 2 PIP functions- Frame Still Store- Luma key function for text overlay- 2 AUX Out

- 12 Channel HD/SD switcher

HD-SDI, SD-SDI, and HDMI- SDI output with embedded audio- Powerful multiscreen via 2 HDMI outputs with 3 way selection- 2 Channel DSK- Logo insertion- 2 PIP display with border- Wipe with border- Clock on screen- Countdown timer- PC remote control- 19” rack mountable processing unit

- Input: HD/SD-SDI, HD/SD-YUV and Timecode- Output: HD/SD-SDI, HD/SD-YUV and HDMI- Support embedded audio- File system: NTFS- File format: MXF OP1A- HD: 120Mbps 4:2:2 l-frame only- Removable HDD storage - also suitable for SSD drives

Al Shirawi Building, Airport Road, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 2821337 - [email protected] - www.oasisppd.com

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