“Through Kramer’s intuitive control platform, our Kommander amplifiers can now be implemented seamlessly into a Kramer-based control system,” explains Matteo Barbaro, software product manager at K-array. “This is an exciting step as integrators now have fewer barriers when it comes to integrating our professional audio solutions into a range of spaces, such as corporate, government or education environments.”

“The technical partnership with Kramer follows our trend of being as compatible as possible with all the control system manufacturers,” continues Barbaro. “Our goal is to improve the integration experience whilst eliminating any potential user pain points.”

The announcement of this new partnership is a continuation of K-array’s commitment to software development, following the release of plug-ins for other control platforms including Crestron, Q-SYS, AMX and Control4. According to the company, further software partnership announcements are expected throughout 2024.

“By providing consultants and integrators with all the necessary tools to interact with and manage K-array products, they will be able to work more efficiently, which in turn benefits the end user,” concludes Barbaro. “We’ll continue working to expand the technologies that our products can integrate with and in turn, ensure our solutions are at the front of the minds of integrators when they are specifying on projects.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on March 14, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post K-array Boosts Kommander Series Amplifiers with Kramer Control Plugin appeared first on My TechDecisions.

According to Extron, the products in the Zoom Rooms Certified Design Solutions have been designed and meticulously tested for best-in-class performance and ease of use.

“We are well known for our industry-leading Extron Control for Zoom Rooms – Native Room Controls,” says Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Extron. “These newly certified products enable the deployment of award-winning Extron audio technology in workspaces across the enterprise.”

Also Read: Designing a State-of-the Art EMS Simulation Suite at Wake Tech

Extron Products Certified for Zoom Rooms:

• DMP 64 Plus Series Digital Audio Matrix Processors
• DMP 128 Plus Series Digital Audio Matrix Processors
• XPA U 1002 Power Amplifiers
• XPA U 1004 SB Power Amplifiers
• SF 3CT LP and SF 3C LP Ceiling Speakers

All of the complete certified designs, featured solutions, and detailed information on the individual products they include are available on the Extron website.

With Extron control for Zoom Rooms, a single user interface is all users need to control every conferencing, audiovisual and room function. Together, Extron and its partners deliver complete AV and conferencing control across the enterprise.

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

The post Extron Audio DSPs, Amplifiers & Speakers Certified for Zoom Rooms appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Pedro Eustache, the featured winds soloist channels GoT’s iconic Songs of Ice and Fire through 15 different instruments including 2 he custom-built for the tour and a 14-foot horn that he flexes across the stage.

Pedro Eustache, is a flautist, reeds, world woodwinds, wind synthesist, composer and lecturer with extensive academic studies and more than 40 years of professional experience. He has more than seven years of symphonic experience and a collection of around 600 instruments from all over the world, many of which he has designed, built or modified himself.

His world flutes and woodwinds have been featured with artists including Sir Paul McCartney, Hans Zimmer, Mel Gibson, evangelist Luis Palau, Grammy-winner singer-songwriter Don Henley and the Yanni Orchestra where he was the principal flute for 10 years.

For someone so accomplished, it is imperative that his instruments be heard correctly by arenas throughout the country for the Game of Thrones tour. The multidirectional artist wears Point Source Audio in performances of 8 exotic flutes he plays on the tour.

“I’m telling you literally your headset mic is like a God send – beautiful.” Eustache says of Point Source Audio. “With your mic, I can get it incredibly close to my mouth to capture the sounds. A typical instrument mic is not going to work; I play too many instruments and they’re not that practical for me.

“What sold me on the Point Source mic that is also very important is the extendable length on the boom that allows me a lot of placement choices,” says Eustache. The company’s flagship “unbreakable boom” flexibility allows Eustache to practically stair step the mic boom quickly to the right angle no matter which instrument he is playing.

Another handy feature for Eustache is the collapsible earhooks on the headset mic. He cited it as one of the main reasons he switched to Point Source. “It can become incredibly compact for transportation when you move the ear pieces and you put them flat. That’s amazing.”

The CR-8D Cardioid Headset Microphone is a key member of Point Source Audio’s SREIES8 collection of miniature microphones. The cardioid headset is designed for mic’ing situations requiring optimal feedback rejection and has been selected by world renowned venues such as the San Francisco Opera and Berklee College of Music after it outperformed numerous other brands in A/B evaluations.

Immediately at the conclusion of the GoT Live Concert Experience tour, Eustache will join the Hans Zimmer Live Tour opening April 14th. According to Eustache, the compact cardioid headset will once again be his mic of choice because with hectic schedules and high profile concert performances, there is no room for error—or delicate headsets unable to withstand the rigors of travel.

The post The Flutist for Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience Uses These Microphones appeared first on My TechDecisions.

In order to improve the listening and learning environment for every child and strengthen the connection between teachers and students, NEISD needed to amplify 2,500 classrooms.

The Tech Decision

To manage such a large rollout, Hoyer began by doing campus walkthroughs with administrators from each campus to determine eligible instructional settings for the installation. He and a team of 22 instructional technology specialists then worked to verify and ensure all appropriate classrooms were accounted for and identified for installation of the new systems.

When it came to training teachers, Hoyer said the simplicity of the product needed to allow the district to offer simple advice: You plug it in, turn it on, and it works. Strap the mic around your neck and go do what you do.

NEISD chose Lightspeed Technologies Topcat ceiling-mounted all-in-one systems, Redcat Access portable speakers, and Flexmike microphones for teacher and student use. The impetus of the large-scale classroom implementation of Lightspeed Technologies is the instant impact to all learners in the classroom.

The Solution

Lightspeed classroom audio systems allow teachers to speak in normal conversational tones while being assured that every child has an equal opportunity to hear all of the instruction.

The Redcat provides clear, low-volume, highly intelligible sound that is evenly distributed throughout the classroom so every child hears every word.

The company’s audio system for small group instruction, Flexcat, gives teachers the ability to gain insights into small group interactions and learning.

David Solomon, the executive vice president and general manager of Lightspeed Technologies says that it has been a privilege to be a partner in NEISD’s innovative and straightforward approach to leveraging instructional technology.

The Impact

The Lightspeed team and the district worked together seamlessly. Hoyer, who has been in district-level educational technology for 17 years said that he has been involved in a number of technology initiatives, and none has been as easy to implement or as functionally reliable as the Lightspeed amplification systems. It’s some of the best instructional technology money he has spent during his tenure.

The district is encouraging all teachers to use their Lightspeed systems. Throughout the year, random Mondays are deemed “Mike-Up Mondays,” where district specialists and campus leadership make special note to encourage all teachers to use the systems and provide assistance when needed to ensure the system is functioning properly. District employees also use the Lightspeed systems when they gather teachers for professional development events.

The NEISD Technology Services team has been a model example of how to manage installation, implementation, and teacher participation. It is gratifying to see so many teachers embrace solutions quickly and experience immediate benefits in the classroom.

The post North East Independent School District Amplifies 2,500 Classrooms appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The unique collaboration began when David Solomon and Tom Gilmartin from Lightspeed Technologies came to the central office’s Manager of Supplemental Support and suggested that we pilot a portable amplification system that delivered clear audio to the entire classroom. I looked at the system and said, “Fine, but we don’t teach the whole class that often. We do an introduction, and then move into small groups, then do a summary of the lesson.”

David, Tom and I then took a walk through some classrooms, where they saw Columbus Park’s approach to teaching and learning firsthand. I also had teachers talk to them about their framework for supporting all students to meet the standards stipulated by No Child Left Behind (NCLB). I suggested that instead of a one-way speaker, what we needed to support the way we taught was a two-way system that would allow teachers to have conversations with many groups throughout the classroom.

They agreed, and starting that day I worked with David, Tom, and their team to keep refining the product. My NCLB Implementation teacher Jayne Cardin and Literacy Coach Donna Mastrovito used prototypes based on existing products in their classrooms and offered suggestions for how to improve the system. Our teachers used a series of new prototypes for three years of the four-year development process. Each of them suggested features that would make the system more valuable to classroom teachers. We tried the system in different settings to test its varied benefits. A professor from a local university conducted research on how use of the product increased student engagement and on-task behavior for typically developing students; English language learners; and students with disabilities, including those with social-emotional challenges.

As we moved closer to the release of the product that would be called Flexcat, David and Tom approached us to help deepen the knowledge of the sales staff.  We developed a guide about why the tool could be valuable to other districts. I also went to the Lightspeed sales meeting and the Education Research & Development Institute conference to see how district-level decision-makers would respond to a product like this. We talked to district leaders about how the Flexcat could help their teachers and students foster the growth of 21^st-century skills in the classroom.

The end result of this collaboration was a wireless audio system that includes a lightweight, wearable microphone for the teacher and up to 12 two-way communication pods that can be placed anywhere in the classroom, allowing teachers to monitor the collaborative learning process so they can reinforce and redirect as needed.

If I were offering advice to school leaders about how to collaborate with vendors, I would recommend Roger Schwarz’s work with mutual learning in teams. The guiding principle is to state your views, then be really curious about the other’s information. My team at Columbus Park learned about the engineering requirements of the Flexcat by listening with curiosity and trying to puzzle through.

Also, there’s no way a collaboration like this can be successful unless there is a core team that is willing to put in the time. That means hours of talking and being available. Everyone who worked on the Flexcat put in a lot of face-to-face time, not just phone calls. It wasn’t quick meetings; we had time enough to talk through dilemmas.

If I were offering advice to vendors about how to collaborate with school leaders, I would say that the company needs to work at a speed that connects with academic discovery. The first step is to slow down and listen openly without any aim other than to learn about teaching and learning.

Ultimately, the collaboration between Columbus Park and Lightspeed worked because both sides committed to the goal of improving learning. The core values of the company mirrored the core values of the school, so we worked from a space of commonality. We all learned every day from the students. The Columbus Park team had a rare opportunity to help create a tool that supported the way we taught, and the Lightspeed team saw how the product could help in a variety of teaching and learning situations.

Our students had always been active agents in their own learning, and the Flexcat supported them by allowing their teachers to connect with a group without interfering with the learning of the rest of the class.  As teachers were able to communicate with small groups without calling across the room, students’ on-task behavior increased.

The school administration benefitted from the collaboration, too. Throughout the process, we had to clearly communicate our teaching approach so Lightspeed understood what we needed. This clarity helped us to refine our practice. By offering feedback on how the system was working in our classrooms, we were able to solidify the intents behind our practices and serve our students better.

The post Why Becoming a Partner of Tech Providers Helps Schools appeared first on My TechDecisions.

While the community has enjoyed the arena for decades, it became clear this past year that the arena’s audio system was in need of an upgrade.

“The old system was very 80s. It had a couple of really large, heavy power amps that generated a lot of heat for very little return,” says Brian Baumann, A/V systems design engineer at Soundworks Systems, Inc., the integration firm hired to design and install the new audio system. “There were four speakers in a cluster in the middle of the rink that just blasted out sound in every direction. It made lots of noise but you couldn’t understand a word that was said because of the reflections off of the glass, concrete walls and wooden bleachers. There was a lot of noise but no intelligibility.”

Located just a mile down the road, Soundworks Systems, Inc. was hired to install a Powersoft loudspeaker solution into the arena. The project included the installation of two amplifier models, Powersoft’s Ottocanali and Deucanali amplifiers.

“The real star here is the Ottocanali 12K4 model which has eight channels of amplification. It has enough power of each channel to run the speakers that we put in, which were One System’s 112IMs,” says Baumann. “In one, two space amplifier I have eight channels of amplification or zones, and I have ten zones total.”

Powersoft’s Duecanali powers the ninth zone which amplifies sound on the ice and the tenth zone which amplifies the concession area and locker rooms.

The installation of the new audio system went smoothly, although Soundworks did have to do some problem-solving.

“In order to get all of the wattage available out of the amplifier, it needed a 240 volt power from the wall, and everything that existed in this system was 120,” says Baumann. “So we had to call an electrician to come in and run a circuit. Fortunately, Powersoft built in a low voltage relay on the back of the amplifier that I could pretty easily wire into the existing 120 volt sequencer with just a simple 120 volt relay closure.”

For other arenas, gymnasiums and auditoriums looking to implement an audio solution such as Powersoft’s, it’s important for project leaders, especially those unfamiliar with audio technology, to communicate with integrators as to the goals they are trying to achieve with the new installation.

“When it comes to the education arenas, what we often find is there seems to be a fear of audio from an educator’s side. It’s really important to communicate with the integrator as to how you’re using the space and to ensure the system gives you the results you need,” says Baumann.

With the installation of Powersoft’s Ottocanali and Deucanali amplifiers, players and fans can now clearly hear announcements during games and performances at Willett Ice Arena. According the Baumann, the project was a success.

“The feedback we’ve received has been mostly from venue manager Bob Gregorich and it’s all been positive.”

The post Community Ice Arena Gets Complete Audio Transformation with Powersoft Amplifiers appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Adrian and Gabriel De Pamphilis, from Los Angeles-based Fyxx Entertainment, which handles integrations for dozens of restaurants and other facilities in and around the metro area, specified the audio, telephony, surveillance and IT systems for the restaurant.

“Lately, we’ve been using Powersoft with speakers from Martin Audio — this combination works the best,” says Adrian. “The reason we pick Powersoft amps is because we don’t have to deal with them. We install them, they sound great and we know they are going to do what they are supposed to do.”

The rack, which is located in the restaurant office, includes three Powersoft Ottocanali 4K4s driving the audio for the entire facility. Each channel on the Ottocanali is capable of delivering 250 watts over 8 Ohms, and the systems design of the restaurant is set up into 16 zones — all controlled by the central rack unit.

“With the three Powersoft amplifiers, we have complete control of the audio for each area: the bar, dining rooms, kitchens, patio, entrance, hallways and the rest of the restaurant. The result is a cohesive system where patrons don’t perceive any dips or valleys in the audio coverage or sound pressure level. Early on, when the decision to have a stereo set up in the main areas of the restaurant was made, we knew that the 8 channels capabilities of the Ottocanali was the right and the only way to go,” says Gabriel.

The installation of a high end audio system was very important for the owners of the facility. “Otium is a very fun place with an open kitchen floor plan — there is a lot of energy coming from the kitchen and they wanted to continue this energy throughout the whole environment,” says Adrian. “They didn’t want to see any speakers, but wanted the perfect sound system.”

To pair with the Powersoft Ottocanalis, the Fyxx team integrated 24 Martin Audio CDD5 surface-mounted speakers and 36 Martin C6.8T ceiling mounted speakers, coupled with four Martin Audio CXL112 B subwoofers for the interior areas. The speakers were placed in a symmetrical pattern.

“It was a highly reflective acoustic environment, with square lines,” says Gabriel. “We chose the CDD5 because of their wide dispersion pattern, and essentially put them all over the place.”

The subwoofers, along with the surface mounted speakers, were neatly concealed in the ceiling and custom made furniture so they would not be visible to patrons.  In addition to the Martin Audio speakers, 8 QSC AD-S32T waterproof speakers were installed for the exterior patio area, along with three EAW SB 120zp waterproofed subwoofers.

Just before opening, the Fyxx Entertainment team came in to test the audio. “When we put it all together and fired up the audio, it sounded great with relatively flat EQ settings — that is the mark of a great audio system,” says Adrian. “If you use the best ingredients to create a meal, you won’t need a lot of salt or pepper — it is just going to taste good. I am always explaining to our customers that every element of an audio system has to be of the highest caliber to achieve a great result. And put simply, Powersoft makes the best amplifiers.”

Perhaps the most important reason Powersoft was specified for the job was because of performance reliability. “This restaurant is operational around the clock, so the amplifiers have to work all the time,” says Gabriel. “We know that Powersoft amps won’t fail, and that we will never have to send techs out to fix anything. To be frank, if we chose another brand of amplifier, there is a much higher chance we’d get service calls, and we don’t want that.”

The post How This Audio System Complements Meals at LA Restaurant appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The gym was constructed 10 years ago and although the structure is acoustically sound, the same cannot be said of its original sound system. As it turns out, the equipment installed by a previous integrator was positioned ineffectively and the technology itself was not a good fit for the space.

“The original system had no intelligibility,” explains Eric Harter, President of Montpellier, Ohio-based Harter Sound. “There was a tremendous amount of reverberant reflections. The speakers were in the wrong places. They didn’t have enough power [and] they were the wrong type.”

Ottawa Hills’ old sound system consisted of four powered cabinets located at center court. The district’s technical crew tried to compensate for the inefficient speaker placement by pointing the speaker cabinets in different directions depending on the event taking place inside the gym. But, this wasn’t a great solution so they eventually opted to bring in Harter sound and replace the system with something more efficient. Harter’s firm was chosen to install a new PA system on the recommendation of one of the district’s technical directors who had worked with the company in the past.

Here you can part of the newly installed PA system at Ottawa Hills. Fans now have no problem hearing game announcements as they cheer for the Green Bears.

“Our goal was to analyze the environment, make a determination as to what needed to happen, make recommendations and have the opportunity to be of service,” Harter says.

And that’s exactly what the integration firm did. After looking at the space, Harter chose to install a sound system that included speakers by Eastern Acoustic Works, three Powersoft K Series amplifiers, 12-inch woofers and a single 1.75-inch driver for high frequencies. Harter says he chose the Eastern Acoustic Works speakers because he’s had great results with them in the past.

“This particular model of speakers is compact in size and aesthetically pleasing. They sound good and they’re easily adjustable,” Harter says.

As for the Powersoft amplifiers, those were chosen specifically with the gym space in mind.

“They have a tremendous amount of power per a square inch. They only take up one rack space,” Harter explains. The amplifiers also have internal processing that eliminates the need for any additional processing for loudspeakers or zone control.

In addition to intelligibility issues, Ottawa Hills’ original sound system also posed another problem. It was easily accessible to anyone in the gym, meaning people without technical expertise were often fiddling with the system turning zones on and off and altering various settings for their own convenience.

“Too many chefs spoil the stew,” Harter says.

The new system allows for settings to be locked down, which preserves its intelligibility and ensures optimal performance. The sound system also hooks up to Wi-Fi and can be controlled remotely using Powersoft’s Armonia software.

The system installed by Harter sound certainly wasn’t the cheapest option on the market, but it was the one that really fit the needs of the school and delivered the kind of value Ottawa Hills was looking for. The entire install took about a week and was completed shortly before students began the school year in September.

“They love it,” Harter says. They think it’s great. Even better, spectators and fans can actually hear the games as they cheer the Green Bears to victory.

The post Sound System Enhances Game Day Experience for HS Sports Fans appeared first on My TechDecisions.