AVoIP Archives - My TechDecisions https://mytechdecisions.com/tag/avoip/ The end user’s first and last stop for making technology decisions Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:28:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://mytechdecisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cropped-TD-icon1-1-32x32.png AVoIP Archives - My TechDecisions https://mytechdecisions.com/tag/avoip/ 32 32 NETGEAR, Panasonic Partner for KAIROS IT/IP Production Platform https://mytechdecisions.com/news-1/netgear-panasonic-partner-for-kairos-it-ip-production-platform/ https://mytechdecisions.com/news-1/netgear-panasonic-partner-for-kairos-it-ip-production-platform/#respond Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:28:22 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=49217 NETGEAR, Inc., the San Jose, Calif,-based, provider of network products powering businesses of all sizes, announced an interoperability partnership with Panasonic Connect for the KAIROS IT/IP Platform for live production. The M4350 series ST 2110-capable switches are part of NETGEAR’s ongoing initiative to develop AV-over-IP solutions (AVoIP) for the broadcast and Pro AV industries. KAIROS […]

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NETGEAR, Inc., the San Jose, Calif,-based, provider of network products powering businesses of all sizes, announced an interoperability partnership with Panasonic Connect for the KAIROS IT/IP Platform for live production. The M4350 series ST 2110-capable switches are part of NETGEAR’s ongoing initiative to develop AV-over-IP solutions (AVoIP) for the broadcast and Pro AV industries.

KAIROS is an IT/IP Platform for live production that gives professionals the ability to deliver rich content for broadcast, large screen displays and live streams. KAIROS adds ST 2110 to its standard baseband and streaming connectivity for input/output flexibility that pairs perfectly with the content creation flexibility of its GPU/CPU processing.  User will see an intuitive layer-based interface, and powerful content creation with a quick learning curve, says NETGEAR.

NETGEAR M4250, M4300, M4350 and M4500 series managed switches are unique in the industry with an AV-oriented interface. Removing all the complex menus filled with arduous IT network jargon, the NETGEAR AV OS provides a AV-friendly, template-based approach to switch configurations, says NETGEAR. This streamlined workflow enables broadcast and Pro AV integrators and installers to dive right into projects with the confidence that all the network settings are correct for their desired workflow. This eliminates the steep learning curve and cumbersome setup normally associated with network switch configurations.

NETGEAR M4350 Series Integrates with Panasonic KAIROS

The M4350 series incorporates this simplicity into enterprise-class hardware with redundant power supplies, Power over Ethernet (PoE), up to 90W per port, ultra-quiet fans and easy setup managed by the NETGEAR Engage Controller. The NETGEAR AV OS contains pre-configured profiles for all major audio, video, and lighting protocols including: AVB, Dante, AES67, NDI4/NDI5, NVX, AMX, Q-SYS, ZeeVee, Aurora Multimedia, Kramer, Atlona, LibAV, Visionary, SDVoE and others. SMPTE ST 2110 is supported on the VSM4320C (copper) and XSM4344C (fiber) M4350 models with 10G to 100G ports and PTP synchronization.

“NETGEAR has pioneered an easy configuration process to help Broadcast Pro AV engineers migrate from legacy workflows to IP workflows with more confidence,” says Tod Musgrave, senior broadcast BDM at NETGEAR. “There is no better platform to prove our interop capabilities than the Panasonic KAIROS system.”

“We are pleased to announce that we have added NETGEAR as our KAIROS alliance partner,” says Kageyuki (Kenny) Fujimoto, lead manager of KAIROS Alliance Partners. “We believe that the user-friendly design of the M4350 series with its template-based configurations will open up new opportunities for SMPTE ST 2110 in the video production market through our collaboration.”

Shop and compare the latest NETGEAR solutions on our sister-site AV-iQ here.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on February 13, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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Extron’s NAV Pro AV over IP Powers WSSU Anderson Center Meeting Spaces https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/extrons-nav-pro-av-over-ip-powers-wssu-anderson-center-meeting-spaces/ https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/extrons-nav-pro-av-over-ip-powers-wssu-anderson-center-meeting-spaces/#respond Tue, 23 May 2023 19:20:33 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=48542 The Anderson Center at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is home to several academic departments and also serves as a busy conference venue. It boasts meeting breakout rooms, a large banquet hall and a 400-seat auditorium equipped to host professional theatrical productions. The conference venues can be booked by the campus community, government agencies, corporations, non-profit […]

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The Anderson Center at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is home to several academic departments and also serves as a busy conference venue. It boasts meeting breakout rooms, a large banquet hall and a 400-seat auditorium equipped to host professional theatrical productions. The conference venues can be booked by the campus community, government agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations and business associations. The McNeil Banquet Hall recently completed a major remodel that included installation of a new audiovisual system. Thanks to the improvements made in the remodel, bookings are way up, making the banquet hall a robust profit center for the university.

The Tech Challenge

Constructing the banquet hall improvements presented all of the typical challenges of a remodel. For the new AV system, WSSU’s Technology Support Analyst Chris Screen worked with Winston-Salem based AV integrator Recursav, LLC to meet those challenges. Although they had a blank slate of an empty room, they had to devise an AV design that could be installed with minimum disturbance to the existing walls and ceiling, while meeting the need for multiple screens on each wall to provide good viewing angles for people seated around dining tables throughout the room.

Plans also called for additional video screens in the lobby area at the banquet hall entrance, which required drilling through existing concrete structure for cable routing. To simplify cable pulls through existing construction, AV over IP signal distribution over CATx Ethernet cable was the logical choice.

The integrator selected a range of Extron switching, distribution, control, and audio products to meet system design requirements.

The Design Solution

Extron’s NAV Pro AV over IP Encoders and Decoders form the backbone of the video signal path, using 1 Gbps Ethernet cable infrastructure to send 4K video and RS-232 control signals throughout Anderson Center’s conference venues, including the McNeil Banquet Hall, the Dillard Auditorium, and their lobbies. The Ethernet cable distributes the audio, relying on Dante audio network connectivity. A NAVigator AV over IP System Manager configures the NAV encoder and decoder endpoints and also manages matrix switching between AV inputs and outputs through an IP network switch.

Signal Routing and Distribution with NAV Pro AV over IP NAV Pro provides several advantages that make it the right choice at Anderson Center. It transports video, audio, and control signals over standard CATx Ethernet cabling using readily available Ethernet network switches, saving installation time and expense, and allowing AV content routing from any source to any destination. WSSU plans to add more endpoints to the building’s AV over IP network during future budget cycles.

Projectors in the Banquet Hall

The banquet hall has five ceiling-mounted laser projectors aimed at two screens on the South wall, two screens on the North wall, and one screen on the East wall. The East wall with the single screen is considered the “front” of the room, but event organizers have the flexibility to make any wall the focal point of the room to suit varying crowd sizes, dining table layouts, or when dual screens are needed for a presentation. The projectors are fed HDMI content and RS-232 control signals from NAV decoders mounted atop each projector.

Flat Panel Displays in the Lobby

The hallway lobby at the banquet hall entrance serves as the “pre-function” area, where attendees can mingle, register and pick up badges before going into the hall. Two 65″ flat panel displays on the wall of the lobby display informational messages, entertainment, real-time views of presentations screening in the hall, or views of what is going on in the hall captured by two cameras located on the North and South walls of the hall. Extron NAV decoders mounted behind each display supply HDMI content and RS-232 control signals to the displays.

AV Connections Between Venues

The banquet hall also has bi-directional NAV AV over IP connectivity with the Dillard Auditorium, increasing event capacity by 400 seats. Content from the banquet hall can be sent to displays in the auditorium, or the auditorium can supply content to the banquet hall.

According to WSSU’s Screen, the latter option came in handy during a heavily attended strategic plan presentation conducted by the Chancellor. The event took place in the auditorium, which filled to capacity. Multiple studio-caliber cameras connected through a live production switcher to a NAV encoder allowed the overflow crowd to watch from the banquet hall, as well as streaming to YouTube via an SMP 352 streaming media processor.

Commenting on how Extron NAV technology makes this possible, Screen says, “To get that kind of AV distribution capability with just one network cable pull? I’m so impressed with that.”

Streaming, Recording & Software Codec Conferencing

An SMP 352 Dual Recording Streaming Media Processor receives HDMI from two NAV decoders, as well as two DSP-enhanced analog audio channels. WSSU uses the SMP 352 to record and stream events from both the banquet hall and the auditorium. This allows events and conferences to be disseminated to wider audiences beyond the confines of the two venues.

Distant participants can also join events interactively via web-based software codec applications like Zoom. The soft codecs run on the AV system’s PC, which is looped into the AV over IP network via a NAV encoder and decoder.

NAV Wallplate Encoders Located Near Each Projection Screen

In keeping with the concept of making the room layout flexible for all types of events, a NAV wallplate encoder is located next to each of the five projection screens in the banquet hall. No matter which screen the presenter chooses to use as the main screen, there is an encoder nearby where they can plug in their laptop or other HDMI content source. NAV wallplate encoders are also located near each of the two cameras on the hall’s North and South walls, allowing the cameras to feed their HDMI content into the AV over IP network.

Clear, Powerful Sound in All Venues

The IP network also distributes audio, relying on Dante and AES67 network connectivity. Audio sources include program audio from presenters’ laptops, delivered through NAV wallplate encoders. Eight wireless mics provide audio from presenters and attendees. Sixteen SoundField ceiling speakers in the dining hall are driven by a NetPA four channel amplifier with 100 watts per channel.

A NetPA amplifier with two 100-watt channels drives six SoundField speakers in the pre-function area. Both amplifiers receive their inputs from the Dante audio network. Assistive listening transmitters at the North and South walls connect to the Dante network via AXI 22 AT D Dante audio interface wallplates and provide full coverage of the room for attendees who are issued portable auditory assistance receivers.

AV System Operation Through Touchpanels

Event organizers and presenters control the AV system at five TouchLink Pro 10″ touchpanels on the banquet hall walls next to each projection screen. Intuitive GUIs control the AV system power, raise and lower projection screens, route any AV source to any screen, and set up streaming and Zoom sessions. By entering a password at the home screen, AV technicians access a set of technical GUIs for performing advanced system configuration.

The touchpanels work together with an IPCP Pro xi control processor, an IPL EXP expansion interface, and the NAVigator AV over IP system manager to control all AV system functions. Using Extron Control for iOS, the control system mirrors the touchpanel GUIs via Wi-Fi to an iPad, enabling wireless control from anywhere in the room. Recursav designed and implemented the touchpanel GUIs using Global Configurator Professional and GUI Designer software.

A Flexible Space

On his first walkthrough of the McNeil Banquet Hall, WSSU Chancelor Elwood Robinson was inspired to post a panoramic photo of the space to his Facebook page with the comment, “The transformation of the Anderson Ball Room into a ‘State of the Art’ teleconferencing and technology center is amazing. I was blown away during my visit this morning!”

If the banquet hall’s packed booking schedule is any indication, those in the academic community and in the surrounding Winston-Salem community are blown away too. The hall hosts everything from educational symposiums to awards ceremonies, business meetings, weddings and memorials. First class food catering service and sophisticated multimedia capabilities make the McNeil Banquet Hall a natural choice for those seeking a convenient, cost-effective event space.

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Audinate Introduces Transferrable Licensing for Dante Virtual Soundcard https://mytechdecisions.com/audio/audinate-dante-virtual-soundcard-transferrable-licensing/ https://mytechdecisions.com/audio/audinate-dante-virtual-soundcard-transferrable-licensing/#respond Wed, 17 May 2023 18:12:04 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=48462 Audinate, the Portland, Ore.-based developer of the professional AV-industry Dante AV-over-IP solution, announced the availability of transferrable licenses for the Dante Virtual Soundcard audio interface software. This new license type allows users to easily move a license from one computer to another. Dante Virtual Soundcard runs on Windows and macOS computers and provides an audio […]

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Audinate, the Portland, Ore.-based developer of the professional AV-industry Dante AV-over-IP solution, announced the availability of transferrable licenses for the Dante Virtual Soundcard audio interface software. This new license type allows users to easily move a license from one computer to another.

Dante Virtual Soundcard runs on Windows and macOS computers and provides an audio interface to applications for up to 64 Dante-enabled channels on the connected network. It is used extensively in recording and live events, ingesting and delivering 100% lossless audio with minimal latency.

Previously, the Virtual Soundcard installations were locked to a single computer as per the license agreement. The new transferable license option allows a user to overcome that limit and move their license from one computer to another with ease. This is especially useful when purchasing new computers, using disk images to deploy machines, or if a repair causes significant hardware changes to a computer.

The new transferable license option is available for new purchases and is also offered as an upgrade to existing DVS single machine licenses. The cost of a Dante Virtual Soundcard transferable license is $79.99 USD, while the cost of a non-transferable single machine license is $49.99 USD. Single machine licenses may be upgraded to transferable for USD $30 each.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on May 17, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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Extron NAV Pro AV over IP Modernizes Corporate Boardroom https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/extron-nav-pro-av-over-ip-modernizes-corporate-boardroom/ https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/extron-nav-pro-av-over-ip-modernizes-corporate-boardroom/#respond Mon, 01 May 2023 18:37:52 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=48184 UFlex, a provider of sustainable flexible packaging and polymer sciences serving corporate clients such as Coca-Cola, L’Oreal and Mars Wrigley, sought to modernize its corporate boardroom at its headquarters in Noida, India. The boardroom makeover would feature enhanced functionality with no visible hardware for an aesthetically pleasing look. The Tech Challenge The corporate boardroom is […]

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UFlex, a provider of sustainable flexible packaging and polymer sciences serving corporate clients such as Coca-Cola, L’Oreal and Mars Wrigley, sought to modernize its corporate boardroom at its headquarters in Noida, India. The boardroom makeover would feature enhanced functionality with no visible hardware for an aesthetically pleasing look.

The Tech Challenge

The corporate boardroom is used daily, which made it difficult to find a time on the schedule to complete the installation. While the director was abroad, the team had just two weeks to complete all major installation work. The client also wanted a clean, stylish installation that was powerful, yet largely invisible to the end user. In addition, the new system had to incorporate user-friendly, intuitive control, reliable, seamless AV switching among multiple formats, and efficient, remote system monitoring.

The Extron NAV Pro AV over IP Solution

The boardroom features two professional displays along the side walls and a four-display videowall at the front of the room, Extron NAV Pro AV over IP encoders, scaling decoders, and system manager, as well as AV switching and control systems, room automation and sound reinforcement products.

In the boardroom table, four Extron Cable Cubbies, equipped with Show Me cables, connect to Extron SW HD 4K switchers to provide HDMI content switching for source signals up to 4K resolution. Room control is handled with an Extron IPCP Pro 250 IP Link Pro control processor and Extron NAVigator System Manager conveniently accessed wirelessly via an Apple iPad running the Extron Control app.

Installing the Extron NAV Pro AV over IP System

UFlex India boardroom display
The team used Extron’s NAV Pro AV over IP encoders to stream ultra-low latency, high-quality video, audio, and control signals to NAV Pro AV over IP scaling decoders located by the Panasonic videoconferencing system and behind each display.

Given the need for a discreet installation and very tight deadline, the ability to minimize cabling was critical to the project. Using LAN cabling, the installation was done using existing raceways, which saved the time and expense associated with running new cables. The team used Extron’s NAV Pro AV over IP encoders for their ability to stream ultra-low latency, high-quality video, audio, and control signals to NAV Pro AV over IP scaling decoders located by the Panasonic videoconferencing system and behind each display.

The compact, one-inch (2.5 cm) high, half rack width form factor of the NAV enclosures were easy to conceal beneath the conference table and behind the displays for a discreet installation. NAV endpoints also accept PoE+, eliminating the need for bulky power supplies and making concealment even easier for an aesthetically appealing installation.

Remote Monitoring Made Easy

The end user reported they were delighted to find that the entire system could be monitored and managed via LAN without affecting the main network, allowing the IT professional (located in another building) to monitor systems without needing to travel to UFlex’s headquarters and enter the boardroom.

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Philadelphia Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field Relies on Visionary’s AVoIP & IPTV Solutions https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/philadelphia-eagles-visionarys-packetav-matrix-series-and-packetv-iptv/ https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/philadelphia-eagles-visionarys-packetav-matrix-series-and-packetv-iptv/#respond Mon, 13 Feb 2023 22:05:40 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=47045 The Philadelphia Eagles, having been beat by the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LVII, have made major technology upgrades to its home-game venue at Lincoln Financial Field. Nestled within the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, the Lincoln Financial Field is a nearly 20-year-old stadium with a seating capacity of approximately 70,000. In August 2003, Lincoln […]

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The Philadelphia Eagles, having been beat by the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LVII, have made major technology upgrades to its home-game venue at Lincoln Financial Field. Nestled within the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, the Lincoln Financial Field is a nearly 20-year-old stadium with a seating capacity of approximately 70,000.

In August 2003, Lincoln Financial Field opened for visitors. Since its grand opening, the Philadelphia Eagles have invested in a number of physical and technology upgrades. The upgrades included seating expansion, two new HD videoboards, upgraded amenities, Wi-Fi, and two new connecting bridges for upper levels. Since the initial upgrades, the Philadelphia Eagles found themselves reevaluating its outdated, legacy AV system. “The system was traditionally serviced by a large HDMI matrix but the system was reaching the end of its life and it was time for us to build a future-proof solution,” says David Sullivan, broadcast and AV engineer for Philadelphia Eagles. Sullivan and his team wanted a solution that was capable of distributing high-definition and 4k video through multiple buildings.

The Visionary PacketAV Matrix Series Solution

Sullivan adds, “We explored an IP-based solution to create a future-proof system. The goal was to leverage a network-based solution, provide greater flexibility and lower our troubleshooting calls. We were led to Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series due to their tight integration with QSC Q-SYS. We were incredibly excited to deploy our first PacketAV Encoder and Decoders in the meeting rooms and training rooms. Although, both are very high-value spaces for us. The football operations primarily use the meeting rooms and training rooms so we required a seamless integration.”

Visionary’s IP video technology provides flexible, scalable and reliable solutions suitable for large-scale installations. An IP-based solution enables the end-user to monitor and control remotely using an IP network as the system’s backbone. “Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series paired with QSC’s Q-SYS platform provides us with a piece of mind that the video is coming into the system and being distributed to the display,” says Sullivan. “With a traditional fixed HDMI matrix solution, you have no monitoring capability unless you’re in the room. Visionary’s IP-based solution enables us to sit in our office in a different zip code and pull up any stream from any room and quality control the signal. We can state with confidence that the video is leaving the decoder and going to the display, or a number of displays.”

Project Expansion

The Philadelphia Eagles initial success with Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Visionary led to a significant expansion in the project’s scope. Sullivan explains, “We started with a few training rooms and we’re finalizing a large-scale replacement where we have phased out every single large-frame video matrix and replaced it with Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series. Today, we are utilizing Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series to distribute video through our training facility and stadium.”

Sullivan adds, “We integrated Visionary’s PackeTV AVN series H.264 IPTV Encoders to distribute local video feeds from the scoreboard, production, and television truck to the stadium suites. There are 1,400 HD television endpoints in the stadium complex. The televisions were initially integrated in 2014, therefore, the system had higher latency and lower picture quality. The PackeTV AVN Series H.264 IPTV encoders provided a solution to update our existing infrastructure and provide a solution with lower latency and higher video quality. We were transitioning to 1080p and required an encoder that could handle 1080p. The PackeTV AVN series H.264 IPTV encoders created a reliable solution to distribute time-aligned video between each display in the stadium suites.”

Visionary’s PackeTV IPTV ecosystem, including the PackeTV AVN Series H.264 IPTV Encoder, is a modular, end-to-end solution for any organization. It is designed to deliver and manage real-time and recorded video over virtually any network. The PackeTV AVN Series H.264 IPTV Encoder transforms live video sources into full-screen, full resolution, Internet Protocol Digital Video, compatible with multicast, webcast, and video-on-demand protocols.

Reconfiguring Meeting Spaces with Visionary PacketAV Matrix & Q-SYS

Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series has provided the Philadelphia Eagles with a new level of flexibility. “During COVID-19, we had to relocate and reconfigure the traditional meeting space,” says Sullivan. “We cleared an entire building floor. It was originally cubicles, but we turned the floor into a large meeting room because those individuals were staying at home. We took one encoder from the auditorium and sent it to 10 decoders across different rooms within the building. Traditionally, it would require a large AV integration and a significant investment. With Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series, we could repurpose Ethernet connections and add a few displays to create a new meeting space. Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series, paired with QSC Q-SYS, is the Swiss Army Knife of AV integration.”

Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series provides powerful cinema-quality, ultra-low latency video resolutions while bypassing the constraints of traditional switch matrix distribution systems.

“We were concerned the coaches would notice a difference in quality, compression and latency between the HDMI and IP-based solutions,” notes Sullivan. “The football coaches are using a handheld trigger and they are expecting an immediate response when they press play. Immediately, we realized Visionary’s IP solution paired with a capable network was able to handle this type of bandwidth. Overall, the end user experience has been really great.”

Sullivan calls Visionary’s customer service unparalleled, saying the company quickly addresses issues, which is particularly important in the fast-paced world of the NFL

“We’re wearing many hats, but, if something is broken, we are responsible for getting the system up and running,” Sullivan says. “We’ve found Visionary’s customer support to be incredibly helpful.”

Sullivan adds, “We’re really excited about the future of Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series. The latest addition with Bluetooth-enabled Wall Plate Encoders has been an exciting development for us. We’ve been purchasing a competitor’s Bluetooth-enabled Wall Plate Encoder for years. Today, we are integrating Visionary’s new Wall Plate Encoders as a reliable, future-proof solution.”

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NETGEAR M4250 AV Line Series Switches Are Now Available Through Crestron https://mytechdecisions.com/it-infrastructure/netgear-m4250-av-line-series-switches-crestron/ https://mytechdecisions.com/it-infrastructure/netgear-m4250-av-line-series-switches-crestron/#respond Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:05:12 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=46649 NETGEAR, Inc., a provider of networking products has announced that four models of its versatile M4250 AV Line Series switches are now available directly through Crestron. The N.J.-based Crestron, is of course, the global provider of workplace collaboration automation technologies. As a dominant player in the growing transition to AV-over-IP, Crestron will resell select NETGEAR […]

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NETGEAR, Inc., a provider of networking products has announced that four models of its versatile M4250 AV Line Series switches are now available directly through Crestron. The N.J.-based Crestron, is of course, the global provider of workplace collaboration automation technologies.

As a dominant player in the growing transition to AV-over-IP, Crestron will resell select NETGEAR AV switches as a part of the Crestron DM NAX Audio-over-IP and DM NVX AV-over-IP solutions.

“As leaders in our respective spaces, NETGEAR and Crestron share a similar vision for flawless AV-over-IP deployments,” says Laurent Masia, director of product line management, managed switches at NETGEAR. “We’re pleased to enhance our partnership ensuring our customers are able to bring their projects to life as seamlessly as possible.”

NETGEAR AV’s M4250 line of switches are designed to work out of the box for most AV-over-IP installations—and this is the case for Crestron DM NAX and DM NVX endpoints as well. Most other network switches require complex and time-consuming configurations to function properly. M4250 switches provide an incredibly simple configuration for AV-over-IP deployments, enabling streamlined integration with Crestron DM NAX and DM NVX solutions. The result is less time spent configuring the switch and more time to focus on the other parts of the installation.

“Our goal is to continuously evolve our ecosystem to fit into as many use cases as possible, including conference rooms, active learning classrooms, huddle spaces, homes, and many more,” says Ekin Binal, director of product Management AV solutions at Crestron.

“Working with NETGEAR and making these switches available through our extensive network ensures that our dealers have the best technology and scalability available to support their growing AV deployments.”

NETGEAR AV M4250 Series Switches Support AV-over-IP Systems

The NETGEAR AV M4250 Series switches are unique in the industry through its built-in AV-oriented GUI, which NETGEAR states, provide integrators with a clean aesthetic and multiple mounting options. The AV GUI provides a simple AV friendly, template-based approach to switch configuration removing all the complex menus filled with arcane IT network jargon. This streamlined workflow enables AV integrators and installers to dive right into projects with the confidence that all the network settings are correct for their AV application.

With both desktop and rackmount models, the M4250 switches offer multiple mounting options depending on the installation. In addition, to further support the deployment of these products, all Crestron M4250 models provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) for single cable power and data delivery.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site CEPro on January 18, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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Audinate Adds Subscription Model for Dante Domain Manager https://mytechdecisions.com/it-infrastructure/audinate-subscription-dante-domain-manager/ https://mytechdecisions.com/it-infrastructure/audinate-subscription-dante-domain-manager/#respond Fri, 06 Jan 2023 18:38:41 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=46425 Portland Ore.-based, Audinate Group Limited, is now offering a subscription model for Dante Domain Manager, its network management solution that brings enterprise-grade system administration to the AV world. “Dante Domain Manager has become a critical solution in the AV industry, allowing for user authentication, role-based security and audit capabilities for Dante networks,” says Joshua Rush, […]

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Portland Ore.-based, Audinate Group Limited, is now offering a subscription model for Dante Domain Manager, its network management solution that brings enterprise-grade system administration to the AV world.

“Dante Domain Manager has become a critical solution in the AV industry, allowing for user authentication, role-based security and audit capabilities for Dante networks,” says Joshua Rush, chief marketing officer at Audinate. “In addition to lowering the up-front costs of acquisition, the subscription model allows buyers to treat Dante Domain Manager as an operating expense rather than a capital expense ensuring it is even more accessible.”

Dante Domain Manager Subscription Plans

Available in three editions, Silver, Gold and Platinum, Dante Domain Manager can be tailored to meet user needs and budgets while maintaining the agility, scalability and security necessary to create a trusted audio network, says Audinate.

Dante Domain Manager Silver Edition supports 20 Dante devices in two Dante Domains. It is thus an ideal solution for smaller installations such as houses of worship, recording studios and broadcast facilities. The Silver edition is available in the following editions:

  • Annual subscription with ongoing support and maintenance: $398/year
  • Perpetual license including one year of support and maintenance: $995

Dante Domain Manager Gold Edition supports 100 Dante devices in 10 Dante Domains, and is perfect for medium-sized installations, including schools, small businesses and larger houses of worship as part of a comprehensive AV management strategy.  The Gold edition is available in the following editions:

  • Annual subscription with ongoing support and maintenance: $1,598 per year
  • Perpetual license including one year of support and maintenance: $3,995

Dante Domain Manager Platinum Edition supports 250 Dante devices in 50 Dante Domains. It thus provides enterprise AV management for the largest mission-critical systems found in universities, stadiums, public spaces and corporate offices. The Platinum edition is available in the following editions:

  • Annual subscription with ongoing support and maintenance: $3,998 per year
  • Perpetual license including one year of support and maintenance: $9,995

Add-on packs are available to match the number of Dante Domains and required devices.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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Userful Launches Ecosystem Partner Program https://mytechdecisions.com/it-infrastructure/userful-ecosystem-partner-program/ https://mytechdecisions.com/it-infrastructure/userful-ecosystem-partner-program/#respond Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:06:57 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=46381 Userful Corporation, the San Ramon, Calif.-based platform-as-a-service (PaaS) provider in the enterprise AV-over-IP market, announced the launch of its new Ecosystem Partner Program aimed at strengthening the integration and interoperability between Userful and other leading companies, delivering enhanced solutions for mission-critical environments. Userful’s Ecosystem Partner Program provides opportunities for solution validation and helps technology partners […]

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Userful Corporation, the San Ramon, Calif.-based platform-as-a-service (PaaS) provider in the enterprise AV-over-IP market, announced the launch of its new Ecosystem Partner Program aimed at strengthening the integration and interoperability between Userful and other leading companies, delivering enhanced solutions for mission-critical environments.

Userful’s Ecosystem Partner Program provides opportunities for solution validation and helps technology partners enhance their products, expand their market reach and increase revenue. From smart displays and network equipment manufacturers to AI control room software and web-based IoT software solutions, integration with Userful’s software-defined AV-over-IP platform enables partners to scale faster to deliver applications to any end user in an organization, amplifying the products’ value to customers.

“We are experiencing the coupling of multiple ecosystems like IoT, video, data, and SCADA platforms. Userful’s Ecosystem Partner Program helps the world’s leading technology companies in those sectors to both modernize and validate their offerings through integration and certification, providing customers with interactive, proven solutions,” said Robert Huijsmans, chief operating officer, Userful.

The new program includes three partner certification tiers: Solutions Partner, Certified Solutions Partner and Preferred Solutions Partner.

A Userful Solutions Partner is engaged with Userful engineering and marketing to establish a joint solution that ensures compatibility and enhances customer experience.

Both Certified Solutions Partners and Preferred Solutions Partners complete rigorous testing of the compatibility and reliability of the combined solution. Testing is completed end-to-end, from source to screen, from subnet to datacenter to cloud, from end node to network-management interface, across multiple APIs. These partner tiers invest in new features to support continued technology compatibility, enhancing customer experience and creating customer loyalty.

According to Userful, its Preferred Solutions Partners possess a deep certified technical integration that enhances the single end-to-end solution. These partners also share alignment at an executive level on the evolution and future development of their solutions.

Userful’s latest initiative also provides dedicated resources including technical documentation and training materials to ensure technical, marketing and sales efforts grow to develop deep and profitable relationships.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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University of Québec in Montréal Transforms Campus to AV-over-IP https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/university-quebec-montreal-transforms-campus-av-over-ip/ https://mytechdecisions.com/project-of-the-week/university-quebec-montreal-transforms-campus-av-over-ip/#respond Mon, 07 Nov 2022 22:49:26 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=45644 The University of Québec (UQAM) is known for delivering educational programs driven by cutting-edge research and innovation. Rather than depending on legacy technology for its infrastructure and communications, the University is continually exploring and implementing the latest cutting edge solutions to foster a superiors educational environment for both students and faculty. Prior to the onset […]

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The University of Québec (UQAM) is known for delivering educational programs driven by cutting-edge research and innovation. Rather than depending on legacy technology for its infrastructure and communications, the University is continually exploring and implementing the latest cutting edge solutions to foster a superiors educational environment for both students and faculty. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jean-François Duguay, AV and multimedia technical specialist, began implementing a transition to an AV-over-IP (AVoIP) system in the School of Management, ESG UQAM, which included over 200 Sennheiser Team Connect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) ceiling microphones.

The overall goal of the AV system was to maintain the integrity and dependability of every device on the network. Hybrid and remote learning were major components in the design program, and ensuring high-quality audio was an essential outcome for both teacher and students.

“If you have any interruptions in the voice-feed, especially for remote students who are learning in different countries, it will disrupt the classroom,” says Duguay.  They needed an overall solution that had to be both nimble and reliable. “The goal is to connect the students via broadcast across either Zoom or Teams, which was best achieved by AVoIP because all the devices are connected and can be monitored in one center. If there is a problem it can easily be identified and addressed.”

AV and IT Align

Transitioning over to an AVoIP system required a collaborative effort between both the AV and IT departments. Duguay reports that both groups had to be aligned on equipment choice, since achieving end-to-end AV quality was of the utmost importance.

François Wermenlinger, eastern Canada sales manager of Sennheiser, says, “They required great microphones, PTZ cameras as well as other devices to grab the teachers screen over the platform.” The TCC2 was the perfect solution especially considering the University faculty was comfortable with the Sennheiser SpeechLine Digital Wireless microphone system that was integrated across the entire campus in 2020.

After Jean-François did his research and tested the product with the manufacturer he decided to move forward with the TCC2.

Capturing the perfect sound

Classroom at the The University of Québec in Montréal
The new TCC2 system has been up and running for two full semesters, and the amphitheater in particular is getting heavy use. Photo by Miville Tremblay.

“The TCC2 is plug-in-play, it’s simple,” Duguay says. “Even the control software is easy to use with Control Cockpit.” Capturing Sound with 25-foot High Ceilings The integration itself was particularly challenging given the amphitheater’s 25-foot high ceiling as well as the frequent rumble from the subway stop that ran directly beneath the building. The TCC2’s also had to circumvent pre-existing elements in the facility, including a projector, roll down screen, camera, sprinklers and air patterns within the building.

Wermenlinger was an active participant in exploring design options — including strategic placement of each TCC2. “At first, I was not sure it was going to work, but we looked at the design drawings and placed five TCC2’s around the amphitheater,” says Wermenlinger. “We climbed up on ladders and taped the ceiling in mock positions.” Since the facility was undergoing simultaneous renovations, Jean François and his team were able to look at the wiring and infrastructure usually concealed by the ceiling further assisting with the install.

Sennheiser TCC2 delivers strong signal over the network

Ultimately, Duguay and his team achieved their goal. Each TCC2 device delivers a strong signal over the network. The patented Beamforming technology is able to capture the voices of both students and faculty with superior intelligibility — without the noise.

“The clarity is perfect, especially with a lot of reverberation in the big amphitheater,” adds Duguay. “The recordings are clean, and the students sound as if they are speaking into a close mic. It is an avant-garde system that is future-proofed with flexibility to be improved upon over time.”

The new TCC2 system has been up and running for two full semesters, and the amphitheater in particular is getting heavy use. It hosts roughly 300 students from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., five days a week as well as additional weekend events. The ability for staff to run diagnostics and monitor the devices remotely greatly improves the continuity.

 

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Platform-as-a-Service Provider Userful Introduces Partner Program for Delivering AVoIP Solutions to IT https://mytechdecisions.com/managed-service/platform-as-a-service-provider-userful-introduces-partner-program-for-delivering-avoip-solutions-to-it/ https://mytechdecisions.com/managed-service/platform-as-a-service-provider-userful-introduces-partner-program-for-delivering-avoip-solutions-to-it/#respond Mon, 07 Nov 2022 19:50:07 +0000 https://mytechdecisions.com/?p=45640 Userful Corporation, the San Roman, Calif.-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provider in the growing AV-over-IP market (AVoIP), announced the launch of its enhanced Partner Program. According to the company, the program provides amplified support and resources aimed at empowering system integrators to win business and proficiently deliver Userful’s integrated software-defined AVoIP solution to IT organizations. Userful says […]

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Userful Corporation, the San Roman, Calif.-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provider in the growing AV-over-IP market (AVoIP), announced the launch of its enhanced Partner Program. According to the company, the program provides amplified support and resources aimed at empowering system integrators to win business and proficiently deliver Userful’s integrated software-defined AVoIP solution to IT organizations.

Userful says it has achieved success in the AVoIP market by offering enterprise customers flexibility in their deployments — local application server, multi-application/private cloud in data centers or multi-application/public cloud on AWS. Additionally, the company’s integration with LG’s webOS ​​has further optimized its technology and business opportunities for the channel. 

Leveraging LG’s technology leadership and global market share in the commercial display business, channel partners can take advantage of Userful’s integration with LG to offer a single end-to-end solution to enterprise customers.

Userful’s Modernized Platform

Userful has introduced enterprise customers to SaaS/PaaS business models that reduce total cost of ownership by 20% or more and have allowed companies to benefit from an OPEX spending model rather than CAPEX spending on immediately outdated AV hardware.

Additionally, earlier this year, Userful announced its new DVLED solutions along with a series of new applications that run on its software-defined AVoIP platform. Userful’s platform model allows channel partners to offer enterprise customers the application they need today for each deployment with the flexibility to expand when needed.

“The market is embracing Userful and we are expanding our work with channel partners to meet the market’s needs at its core and provide a first-of-its-kind solution to enterprise IT customers. Userful has developed an exceptional Partner Program that truly supports and rewards partners looking to win together with us,” says Userful’s CRO, Jay Phillips.

Having established this, Userful says it is committed to entering the next phase of advanced service delivery for AVoIP and AV to IT and establishing a world-class Partner Program. The program provides invaluable rewards and strongly supports each channel partner every step of the way.

Partners will have access to Userful’s global team, dedicated to providing ongoing support with a go-to-market approach designed to generate leads and succeed together. With Userful, channel partners are backed up by an entire company committed to their success.

Setting Partners up for Success

The Userful Partner Program will help channel partners raise awareness and generate demand while providing sales enablement tools and resources to make selling its solution easier. Userful’s Partner Program includes rewards and recognition as well as access to a the Partner Portal, brimming with customized marketing content that can be co-branded to increase engagement with the customer, build knowledge and win deals.

According to the company, the enhanced Partner Program is a testament to its dedication to continuously augment  support and services for channel partners, and forge ahead together to continue modernizing AV services for enterprise IT organizations.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

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