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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The property is owned by the City of Memphis and is managed by global sports and entertainment company Oak View Group (OVG), which announced a strategic partnership with Xtract One in October 2022.

Fan Safety Ahead of USFL Season

“As we began preparations for the start of the USFL season, we wanted to optimize our security screening technology,” Thomas Carrier, Oak View Group’s General Manager at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, said in a statement.  “At the stadium and across Oak View Group, we prioritize fan safety, while simultaneously leveraging innovation to enhance the fan experience. The kickoff of the new USFL season was a logical starting point to introduce Xtract One’s SmartGateway screening solutions. It is one of many prevention strategies coming to the venue for the safety and security of fans, teams, talent and staff, which we will continue using throughout the year, including during Memphis Tigers games and for the Southern Heritage Classic and AutoZone Liberty Bowl.”

Xtract One SmartGateway System

The SmartGateway system was designed for large, ticketed venues to enable high throughput, but with customizability based on the customer’s individual needs and security requirements. SmartGateway delivers fast, reliable, and accurate patron screening, replacing intimidating metal detectors. This solution unobtrusively scans patrons for guns, knives and other prohibited items as they enter the facility, using AI-powered sensors to detect threats without invading patrons’ sense of privacy and comfort.

“It is important for community and commercial enterprises to work on collaborative solutions that allow guests to focus on fun and togetherness and cheering on their teams,” said Mayor Jim Strickland, in a statement. “The City of Memphis, Oak View Group and Xtract One are together enhancing the safety of the fans and our community.”

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will deploy SmartGateways in two phases. Phase one, beginning April 15, will leverage SmartGateways for games of the Memphis Showboats (USFL).

“We are thrilled to have been chosen by Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Oak View Group, and the City of Memphis to implement our SmartGateway technology for the safety and security of their patrons. This partnership showcases our commitment to revolutionizing the security landscape, enhancing fan experiences, and streamlining entry processes for large-scale venues,” said Peter Evans, CEO of Xtract One, in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our work with Oak View Group, and providing advanced, unobtrusive security solutions for their growing portfolio of world-class venues.”

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The AV system had to be flexible and dependable. System requirements included high-performance AV signal switching and routing, exceptional sound, intuitive system control and remote management. Images and sound had to be crystal clear at each standard and bariatric seat. The space had to offer alternative ways to communicate with vision and hearing impaired persons. To facilitate lectures and panel discussions, the stage needed to offer multiple points of AV connectivity and system control.

The Extron AV Control System Solution

Syracuse University brought in Theatre Projects to design an innovative AV system that supported vibrant imagery and exceptional sound, all within ADA guidelines. Teamed with the university ITS Learning Environments and Media Production department, Theatre Projects selected XTP Systems, along with audio and control systems from Extron.

The K. G. Tan Auditorium seats 744, with a two-tiered design that provides unrestricted visibility throughout the space. Multiple floor boxes on the stage provide AV connectivity and flexible placement for a portable lectern. Gooseneck and lavalier microphones are available for the instructor, presenter or moderator and panelists alike. The main display is a videowall that is nearly 32′ wide. Two smaller videowalls installed on either side of it are dedicated as secondary monitors. Located within this room are eight PTZ cameras that are for use with web-based video applications, including Blackboard Collaborate Ultra and Zoom.

For the hearing impaired, the installation incorporates an Assisted Listening System and support for Communication Access Real‑time Translation – CART. The AV system enables captions to be displayed on either or both smaller videowalls.

The control center is located between the tiers at the back of the room. Multiple monitors and a bank of windows enable support staff visibility into the auditorium.

XTP High Performance and Reliability Ideal for Live Events

An Extron XTP II CrossPoint 3200 modular matrix switcher provides instantaneous switching among various installed and BYOD sources. It is configured to support 3G-SDI sources and extension of uncompressed HDMI video resolutions up to 4K/60 at data rates up to 18 Gbps. The XTP II matrix switcher frame features a 50 Gbps digital backplane that supports signals up to 8K by upgrading the input and output boards. A redundant power supply ensures continuous operation, which is critical during live events such as a panel discussion among scholars or a presentation by Veterans Affairs.

To compliment a separate SDI routing system, four XTP HDMI outputs feed Extron signal processors that convert HDMI signals to SDI. The signals are then passed to a 32×32 SDI matrix switcher. When the SDI sources are upgraded in the future, the modular nature of the XTP II CrossPoint matrix switcher will allow the current 3G-SDI input board to be replaced with a 12G-SDI version. Additional XTP HDMI and twisted pair I/O boards support the other devices. Audio, video and control signals are extended from the matrix switcher to XTP transmitters and scaling receivers using a twisted pair cable infrastructure.

Four outputs on the XTP II matrix are connected to an Extron MGP 641 multi‑window processor. This provides high performance scaling and windowing capability for the main videowall. This display can show up to four windows over a live or static background, and the windows can be independently arranged across the single canvas.

Professional-Grade Surround Sound

In addition to high-performance AV switching with the XTP system, clear, echo-free sound from local and remote sources is vital within this large space. The integration team installed an Extron SSP 200 processor to decode and process 7.1 surround sound from various sources. The processor provides individual trim level and delay for each channel, along with internal Dolby noise and full-bandwidth pink noise to sequentially calibrate each speaker. Then, they directed audio signals to specific speakers using the included software to verify sound coverage at each section of the auditorium.

Streamlined System Control with Extron

For intuitive AV system operation, the installation offers multiple points of control within the auditorium and the adjacent control room. Extron TouchLink Pro toauchpanels are located in the control room and the front wall of the auditorium. Floor boxes in the stage also offer several connectivity points for a touchpanel. A touchpanel and display in each green room enable visibility of events taking place within the auditorium. The touchpanels work in conjunction with an Extron IP Link Pro control processor to provide complete system control. Using an iPad running the Extron Control app, instructors and presenters can use the GUI on the tablet to control all system operations from anywhere in the room.

When the auditorium serves as a large lecture hall, the instructor can present and control the system using a standard university teaching station connected to one of the stage floor boxes. The station is a Steelcase Airtouch height‑adjustable table that includes a micro-computer running Microsoft Windows and the University’s Registrar Classroom Software, as well as a variety of AV devices. An Extron Cable Cubby enclosure provides connectivity for HDMI, USB, network, and power. An Extron 10″ tabletop TouchLink Pro touchpanel provides user-friendly AV system control.

Extron SMP and Kaltura Ensure Pristine Lecture Capture and Streaming

For live and on-demand lecture video capture with content management, the installation includes an Extron SMP 351 streaming media processor with the LinkLicense SMP Enhanced Kaltura Features upgrade. The processor integrates directly into the Kaltura video platform, working in concert to facilitate media capture and video content delivery to remote locations. Some of the features include the capability to schedule recordings from Kaltura and to stream live media ad-hoc or for a scheduled webcast or lesson to Kaltura using RTMP and RTMPS. This was extremely helpful with distance learning during the pandemic.

Results

Housed within Syracuse University’s NVRC, the K. G. Tan Auditorium and multi-media center serves all students, specifically those who are or were members of the U.S. military and their families. The facility has been in constant use for lectures throughout the pandemic. Now, as the pandemic continues to wane, it is being used for an ever-expanding range of presentations. The university and various third-party entities are hosting successful community activities, public information presentations for the residents of central New York, and national convening events and conferences.

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Sightline assembles the core platforms of Crestron, including Crestron Flex Digital Workplace Technologies, DigitalMedia Content Distribution, and Control and Management, to create the ideal meeting experience by promoting natural conversation, meeting equity and enhanced collaboration across organizations regardless of where employees are.

Today’s meetings are more successful when everyone is fully connected. For employees, this means an inclusive meeting experience that empowers everyone to participate rather than observe.

For companies, this means creating meeting room environments that drive productivity and connections. While videoconferencing has expanded workers’ capabilities to meet, it often leaves remote participants missing the big picture while in-room participants struggle to connect with the people next to them and pay attention to the person on the monitor. The hybrid work problems has its challenges:

1. Remote participants want to clearly see who is in the meeting and hear every word, ensuring they feel they are equal contributors in the meeting.
2. In-person attendees must juggle the ease of communication with others in the room while also including remote participants in the conversation.

To address these challenges, intelligent video solutions are central to Crestron’s Sightline room. Speakers are tracked and framed, and multiple displays offer improved visibility of remote participants, creating more immersive and engaged calls.

Employers looking to design a best-in-class technology experience for their teams can apply the fundamentals of Sightline to scale for different rooms, especially in larger and more specialized spaces which have proven to be especially challenging in the hybrid world.

In a Sightline setup, Crestron solutions collectively deliver an equitable meeting experience for every participant.

A Crestron Sightline room uniquely provides a successful meeting experience for all parties by accomplishing a few key principles:

• Makes it easier for attendees to engage in the flow of the meeting and follow the in-room dialog as the conversation moves from person-to-person.
• Displays a view of the entire room while simultaneously framing individual speakers using intelligent cameras and AI-driven video software for remote participants.
• Removes the cognitive element of knowing where to look by having the video of remote participants in the line of sight for in-person attendees.
• Increases visibility of remote attendees and improves natural interaction to in-person cues or non-verbal body language.

“Hybrid work has opened many opportunities and over the last two years, we have learned how to leverage technology to remain connected, even when physical proximity is not possible,” says Crestron’s EVP, Global Marketing, Brad Hintze. “However, this working style also creates a different subset of challenges for the meeting experience, most notably in larger rooms. Sightline delivers upon our legacy of making the complex simple; it truly creates an inclusive hybrid meeting experience in every space.”

To achieve the optimal meeting experience for all participants, a Crestron Sightline room would include:

Crestron Flex Digital Workplace Technologies 

• Multi-camera Intelligent Video (such as 1 Beyond Automate VX) brings together multiple standalone camera solutions into a fully automated experience
• Multiple camera technologies ensure the right frame is always available
• 1 Beyond AutoTracker tracks the presenter so they can freely move around
• 1 Beyond AutoFramer frames the participants, so they are the focal point of the space
• 1 Beyond PTZ cameras provide dedicated video for each participant
• Crestron Flex Video Conferencing Solutions provide a dedicated Microsoft Teams or Zoom Rooms meeting experience for every space. BYOD capabilities provide the flexibility to choose the preferred platform.
• Crestron AirMedia wireless presentation makes it simple for participants to connect and share content instantly.
• Microphones
• Speakers

DigitalMedia Content Distribution

• Crestron DM NVX AVoIP technology enables users to push content and video feeds to multiple displays throughout the room, either over the network or local to the room.
• Crestron DM Content Distribution provides content share from the network and distributes it throughout the room.
• Displays

Control and Management

• Occupancy Sensors determine when there is a presence in the room and will trigger the Crestron Control System to activate to a predetermined state.
• Crestron XiO Cloud Technology Operations Platform provides monitoring and management of all workplace technologies.
• Environmental control for lighting, shades and temperature can be used manually or pre-programmed based on the individual needs of the space and optimal room comfort.
• Scene management delivers configuration for any type of meeting environment and room setting adjustments with a simple touch of a button.

Cestron DM NVX AVoIP technology

Crestron’s DM NVX software-based video encoding platform has the ability to simultaneously encode four 4K streams, enabling the distribution of native 8K content.

The resolution that 8K provides has implications for everything from dazzling signage to critical government applications.

Crestron DigitalMedia content distribution debuted in the digital age when 1080p resolution became the standard and, as resolution demands have increased, the DigitalMedia portfolio has continuously evolved to support the next generation of resolutions, now up to 8K.

The new DM NVX encoding software features an innovative approach to AVoP content distribution with multi-stream GPU-based encoding that delivers a visually stunning image composed together with multiple streams on a video wall or large format display.

“There are strong indicators that 8K video displays will first appear in retail settings and then quickly emerge in other markets such as government and enterprise. These use cases require a proven AVoIP platform like DM NVX that can equip these environments with the best quality content,” says Andrew Ludke, senior director of product management AV solutions at Crestron. “As companies work to make the office a more appealing place for hybrid workers, these videowalls will play an important role in crafting an engaging content in spaces large auditoriums and training rooms that can replicate the successful experiences created across retail, government, and live event environments.”

There’s something of a “demand loop” created by increased resolutions: An image with more pixels brings a sharper, clearer image to larger screens — which, in turn, helps drive demand for bigger displays. Instead of chaining smaller displays together for large installations like videowalls, one screen will be able to provide the sharp image quality that’s needed for these monumental effects. This translates to more easily discernable details and allows videowalls and signage to handle multiple duties in the modern environment.

8K digital displays in commercial environments

• Retail displays: Video displays have proven to be an enticing tool for attracting and selling to customers in retail establishments. As retail recovers from lockdown, 8K screens are likely to become a differentiator, used both to lure customers into a store and to market products and brands.
• Videowalls:8K is increasingly important for large communications and content display at greater distances. From corporate lobbies to college campuses to government centers, 8K panels will bring much higher resolution and clarity at significantly greater distances.
• Live events: Concerts are designed to be spectacular, and 8K video is likely to become more common across broadcast, sporting events and more.

Per a Mordor Intelligence report, the videowall market is expected to grow at 11% CAGR over the next 5 years, and much of this growth will come from non-traditional installations in corporate and campus spaces. Whether supporting an organization’s brand, providing messaging from other departments, or acting as a delivery medium of company news – digital signage helps workers and students feel connected and informed.

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