Category: ISE

Max Color-TX3: The Ultimate Audio Solution Revealed at ISE 2024 by Just Add Power

AVNation.tv is at the forefront of delivering live updates from Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2024 in Barcelona. Tim Albright, in collaboration with Ed Qualls from Just Add Power, explores the latest advancements that are reshaping the Audio Visual over IP landscape.

Among the highlights is the unveiling of the AES Bridge, a revolutionary solution that seamlessly bridges Dante and AES audio, setting a new standard for audio integration. Tim Albright delves into the details, providing in-depth insights into how this innovation enhances the overall AV experience.

Just Add Power’s Max Color-TX3 takes center stage as a game-changing device with personalized and user-friendly multi-view capabilities. Tim Albright showcases the evolution of this technology, emphasizing its role in ensuring sustainable systems and protecting investments for AV professionals.

Explore more at justaddpower.com. Stay tuned with AV Nation on aviation.tv for more insights from ISE 2024!

February 2, 2024
Experience the Future of Home Automation with Crestron’s OS4 at ISE 2024

Live from the ISE 2024. Tim Albright of AVNation.tv explores the latest innovations at ISE 2024 in the Crestron Booth with Michael Short. They dive into the OS4, the next generation of Crestron’s home operating system, promising a spectacular user experience. Discover the free update for existing customers and the hidden features that make OS4 truly special.

Crestron also unveils Edge devices based on the NAX platform, catering to the Entertainment Everywhere concept. These devices seamlessly integrate sources like turntables and workstations into the system, expanding audio distribution throughout the home. The showcase includes the impressive NX SA50, a four-zone streaming amplifier, making its debut at ISC 2024.

Additionally, Crestron showcases new developments in control panels with the introduction of a Demo Box featuring Horizon keypads and a partnership with Belgian brand Lookie for premium metal finishes on C2 and Cameo keypads. These enhancements provide designers and customers with more choices for keypad aesthetics.

To explore Crestron’s latest offerings, visit crestron.com. For an in-depth look at ISE 2024 coverage, head to aviation.tv.

February 2, 2024
Revolutionizing AV Over IP: AJA Video Systems Unveils Dante AV 4K at ISE 2024

Day 1 at ISE 2024 and we chat with AV industry presenters and exhibitors. Tim Albright of AVNation.tv dives into the AV landscape at ISE 2024 with Tim Walker from AJA Video Systems. In this enlightening interview, they explore AJA’s latest innovation—the Dante AV 4K T and R models. AJA takes the lead in introducing one of the first Dante AV products, bringing high-quality conversion with ultra-low latency to the realm of AV over IP.

The decision to choose Dante was fueled by AJA’s success with Dante audio in their previous products. Dante AV, known for its simplicity and ease of use, seamlessly integrates with Dante Controller and Dante Studio Manager, making it a preferred choice for AV enthusiasts.

Discover more about AJA’s cutting-edge solutions and their groundbreaking Dante AV products by visiting aja.com or experiencing it firsthand at ISE 2024. For additional ISE 2024 coverage and exclusive interviews, head to aviation.tv.

February 2, 2024
Experience the Future of Sound with Aimline Premium Steerable Column Loudspeakers

Integrated Systems Europe returns to Barcelona for 2024, starting on January 31st. We’re interviewing AV industry presenters and exhibitors to preview the show’s offerings. Today,Tim Albright from AVNation caught up with Graham Hendry of AtlasIED at ISE 2024, and they’re unveiling something exciting – the new Aimline premium quality steerable column loudspeakers! Aimline brings digital beam steering to AtlasIED’s portfolio, enhancing their offerings, especially in transportation. With AtlasIED’s strong presence in airports (60% of US airports!), this is a game-changer.

AtlasIED has invested in the German company behind Aimline, ensuring a strong start in the digital beam steering market. The product integrates with AtlasIED’s Global Comm ecosystem, providing full telemetry and 24/7 surveillance for public spaces. Aimline enhances audio distribution and control systems in various sectors.

Want to know more about Aimline or explore AtlasIED’s latest innovations? Visit atlasied.com or catch them at ISE 2024! And for more exclusive videos from ISE 2024, head to aviation.tv.

February 2, 2024
ISE 2024 Day 3 Recall

Toward the finish line of ISE 2024

Almost there, kids. This show is really big. At four days, it’s also the longest show we cover so far. Shure showed off an expansion of the MXA line, AtlasIED gets into line arrays, and Sonos is headed to the commercial AV space.

AtlasIED

AVNation ISE2024 AtlasIED

Entering the world of line arrays, AtlasIED announced this week a strategic investment into Aimline. The German speaker manufacturer brings column array speakers to AtlasIED’s portfolio. This is a direct result of customer feedback in the transportation space. AtlasIED regularly hosts customer forums and the need for line array speakers for large spaces has been an ongoing request. The introduction of Aimline fills that request and furthers AtlasIED’s commitment to the transportation space.

MSG Sphere Audio

What is there to say about the MSG Sphere that hasn’t been written already? Oh yeah, we got to talk with the company that made the audio possible. The team at HOLOPLOT was rightfully proud of the X1 speaker that is the centerpiece of the Sphere audio experience. HOLOPLOT also was showing off the “little brother” of the X1, the X2 at ISE 2024. You don’t have to construct a $2 billion venue to use these speakers. The point-source experience can be utilized in lecture halls, “normal” concert venues, and more.

Sonos back at ISE 2024

Yes, I have a Sonos at my house. There’s a 75% chance you do to according to market data. However, do you have one installed in the office? That’s what Sonos has been developing for the past two years; Sonos Professional. According to the team at Sonos, hospitality, small offices, and corporate spaces were already seeing consumer versions of Sonos being used. The idea behind the commercial line is Sonos technology with hardwired connectivity and power. In addition, Sonos offers US customers a professional music service.

Shure

I use an SM7B in the AVNation studios. If you’ve heard my voice on a podcast, it’s most likely been through an SM7B. So, when Shure set up a podcasting studio at ISE 2024 with their new SM7DB, I jumped at the chance to record in it. When you watch the video, that’s the audio you’ll hear.

The company was showing off its new Microflex Wireless NeXt 2 mic system. This is the product they announced last month and features a single recharging base station that is also the receiver. You can use a handheld, boundary, or bodypack and use up to two transmitters, and comes with the Shure DSP.

Of course, Shure was also showing off their brand-new MXA 901. The new ceiling mic has a smaller form factor and up to six versions of mounting. Shure continues to leverage the MXA technology the introduced at ISE five years ago and it will be interesting to see what else the engineers have in store.

@tdulane

ISE 2024 Day 3 roll #ISE2024 #avtweeps @AVIXA

♬ original sound – Tim

BrightSign Bright Alliance

AVNation ISE2024 Brightsign

There are a handful of companies we’ve talked with this week that I wasn’t sure I’d get a customer perspective from. BrightSign was one of those. Misty Chalk, Vice President of Sales, from BrightSign, proved me wrong. SOC, system on chip, was not a direction I expected the digital signage giant to go, but there they are. Offering their software to companies looking for on-board solutions for signage. The new BrightSign Bright Alliance looks, at first, like a way for BrightSign to serve its hundreds of CMS (content management system) partners. And it’s certainly that. According to Chalk, it’s also a commitment to the IT directors and facilities managers of BrightSign’s goal of providing an excellent customer experience regardless of which CMS you use.

As I’m writing this, we have one day left. Some great AV pros joined us to record AVWeek and you’ll hear that over the next two Mondays. HETMA has been a force to watch this week as these AV end users scour ISE 2024 looking for ways to make their campuses better. While our time in Barcelona is almost done, we’ll be dissecting all we’ve learned for weeks to come. Make sure to check out our ISE 2024 coverage page for videos and more.

February 2, 2024
A Closer Look at VuWall’s SOC 2 Certified TRx Software for Video Wall Management

Integrated Systems Europe returns to Barcelona for 2024! The show starts on January 31st, but we’re on our own journey on the road to ISE 2024, talking to presenters and exhibitors in the AV industry to see what’s in store for the show. Today, Tim Albright of AVNation caught up with Fadhl Al-Bayaty from VuWall at the ISE 2024 show. In this insightful interview, they delved into VuWall’s latest TRx centralized management software, now SOC 2 certified for enhanced security. Fadhl explains how this certification extends beyond the product, emphasizing VuWall’s commitment to organizational security practices.

SOC 2 is crucial for control room markets, especially for government entities like the Department of Defense in the US and NATO in the EU. Fadhl highlights that it encompasses not only the software’s features but also how the company handles security internally and communicates with customers about potential issues.

Looking at VuWall’s offerings, Fadhl emphasizes their holistic approach. Beyond software, VuWall provides hardware for operator workstations and video walls, along with design services. This comprehensive solution aims to meet the needs of AV integrators seeking reliable deployments for command centers.

To explore more about VuWall and their offerings, visit vuwall.com. For additional ISE 2024 coverage and exclusive interviews, check out AVNation.tv.

February 2, 2024
ISE 2024 Day 2 Recap

The Adventures at ISE 2024

After a harried kick-off to the week, Day 2 provided even more connections. We were able to chat with Biamp, Snap One, QSYS, Legrand, and more. We went from Hall 7 to Hall 2 and everywhere in between. This show is massive, but with 800 media partners around the world, hopefully, you’re getting a good sense of the scale.

Midwich VC

Midwich announced on Tuesday the creation of a VC arm called Midwich Ignite. What makes this interesting is the levels of consolidation happening in the AV industry. Midwich being a part of those, just acquiring The Farm in the US.

The distributor is looking to invest in, and help grow, innovative audiovisual firms. When the term “VC” is associated with an AV company, it’s usually to announce that some private equity has purchased another AV mainstay. This announcement will be one to watch as now we have AV firms investing in AV firms.

Biamp Meetings

AVNation Albright Biamp

I’ve known Joe Andrulis since his days at AMX. He’s always good for a chat and industry insights. At ISE 2024 this year, the company is showing off the inclusion of Evoko. See above for mergers and acquisitions. This one makes sense to me. Much like Midwich’s VC, Biamp buying Evoko keeps it in the AV family. Biamp is leaning in hard on the hybrid work discussion. Room scheduling, hot desking, and the ability to collaborate with your team are areas where Biamp and Evoko have deep history. Andrulis indicated they had interviewed and talked with clients around the world about their needs, wants, and desires and came up with a way that IT, facilities, and employees can all get something that makes their work better.

Legrand at ISE 2024

Legrand | AV has the best coffee on the show floor at ISE. It’s been that way since I started covering the show. Not sure how they continue to find these baristas, but this coffee lover is forever grateful.

Of course, Legrand is a massive company that carries a number of brands. Here are the

AVNation ISE2024 Vaddio AV Bridge Nano

highlights. Tempo mount by Chief is something we have seen at CEDIA. It’s now shipping and taking a prominent place in the stand. Sightline was Da-Lite’s answer to “can we get rid of the black drop”. Yup, you can. And now they are introducing Myriad with Sightline. Myriad is a wider screen with longer cable drops and the ability to mount either in-ceiling or wall-mounted. Middle Atlantic continues their furniture innovations with Forum Podium. As you’d expect with a Middle Atlantic product, this podium comes with rack spaces for mounting as well as useful features like power and USB charging.

Finally, Vaddio comes away from ISE 2024 with an award for their AV Bridge Nano. This little device is a half rack with a single HDMI but the inside allows you to do virtually everything a full-size AV Bridge is capable of.

Atlona serves education

Atlona has developed a new offering in their Omega line just for education. This AT-OME-CS31-SA gives classrooms a complete system in one box. The source audio can be ducked (volume lowered) if the instructor is speaking, you can feed a signal from the PA system to mute the classroom audio in case of an announcement, and it has some built-in automation.

@tdulane

♬ original sound – Tim

NEAT

We ended our day at Neat with a couple of their new products. First, the Neat Board 50 shows off versatility and the ability to raise and lower the display depending on the needs of the meeting. Plus the new Neat Hub allows users to download apps to enhance the Neat devices. The new Neat Center is an add-on camera that gives remote participants the ability to see everyone’s bright and shining face in the meeting. Now, it’s an add-on and not a stand-alone camera. You can’t just plug this into your laptop. It needs to be attached to an existing Neat product.

One of the taglines of ISE 2024 is “Your Destination for Innovation”. While I will need to write another piece soon on that phrase, there are certainly examples of innovative AV technology around the show floor. LG showed off its Times Square 3D block display, there are several examples of transparent displays, and hybrid work is everywhere on the show floor. Check out our ISE 2024 coverage for videos and more.

February 1, 2024
Peerless-AV® Launches New SmartMount Carts at ISE 2024

Peerless-AV, the provider of high-quality products, has been in business for over 80 years, renowned for its passion and innovation. They offer a wide range of services, including global deployments and custom projects, backed by an award-winning team.

Peerless-AV® is reimagining its mobile cart solutions with new models featuring lower costs, greener footprints, and unique features. The SR860 and SR898 SmartMount® Flat Panel Carts and PR565 Paramount® Flat Panel Carts will be shown at ISE 2024.

The SR860 and SR898 SmartMount® Flat Panel Carts, and new PR565 Paramount® Flat Panel Carts, expand versatility, providing customers with more options for deploying large format or interactive displays. These carts cater to various settings such as corporate environments, educational institutions, public sectors, houses of worship, events, or showrooms.

AV technology pioneer Peerless-AV® will be announcing a total reimagining of its range of mobile cart solutions with the launch of all-new, redesigned models boasting a lower cost design, greener footprint, and a host of new and unique design features. The new, fully featured SR860 and SR898 SmartMount® Flat Panel Carts and new PR565 Paramount® Flat Panel Carts complement the existing range, offering customers a wider choice of options for large format or interactive display deployment in any corporate, education, public sector, house of worship, event or showroom application. See the first-time showing of these new models on Booth 3R300 at ISE 2024.

“We’re thrilled about the unveiling of our latest innovation, and we’re confident that our customers and valued partners will share in our excitement,” said John Potts, President at Peerless-AV. “Through a commitment to ongoing enhancement, environmental mindfulness, and a keen understanding of evolving user requirements, our latest cart solutions will meet the needs of consumers, ensuring seamless installation, effortless handling, and convenient storage.”

First impressions from visitors to the Peerless-AV booth at ISE will be the difference in the overall appearance of the new SR860 and SR898 from the existing SR560M and SR598 models, that are continuing alongside. The elegant, tubular design is a significant evolution from the existing range and the functionality improvements will make these a winner amongst the competition.

The frame is tested to UL load requirements for peace of mind when hanging larger heavier displays and can easily glide through small doorways as small as 30” wide – a unique selling point. The frame is also optimized for transporting and storing multiple carts in a reduced footprint. The legs offer more space when interacting with the display, making it more accessible to people in wheelchairs, and the carts will fit under a table for video conferencing use. Vertical adjustment settings allow users and presenters to achieve the optimal height. On the SR860 and SR898 five height settings can be adjusted at increments of approximately 100mm, 1.26m to 49.8 – 65.9” from the floor. Users have up to 5° of plumb adjustment for display leveling.

The carts come out of the box in reduced size, greener packaging and have an even easier-to-assemble consolidated set-up, with only one tool needed to build in full, by one person, in under 15 minutes. Cable tubing runs up the legs and, on the SR860 and SR898 models, a hinged rear cover hides storage for the integrated 1.5m IEC power cable that is kept tidily, and quietly, in place with a magnetically secured cord wrap for when moving or storing – another USP. A fixed shelf on all three models provides a convenient location for laptops and stationery.

A further design feature on the two new SmartMount models, that raises the bar for cart aesthetics, is the removable rear cover that sits behind the display to conceal, and provide ample space, for cabling, media players, or mini PCs, secured in place by an optional ACC-UCM accessory. Made from ABS plastic, the cover has been constructed of ideal materials to permit the pass-through of Wi-Fi signals. This cover feature is ideal for meeting rooms with glass walls where a display cannot be mounted so a cart solution is needed that looks attractive from both sides of the glass.

The SR860 supports 43” to 75”+ displays with a maximum load of 125lb and the SR898 supports 55” to 110”+ displays with a load of 300 lbs. The PR565 supports 55” to 75”+ displays with a load of 150 lbs.

All the existing carts, including the SmartMount SR560M, SR560-FLIP2, and SR598 now feature a three-part base, which means smaller, more sustainable packaging with a reduced carbon footprint and lower shipping and logistics costs for customers.

Visit the Peerless-AV Booth #3R300 to see these new mobile carts, together with a host of coming soon, redesigned SmartMount articulating mounts and an all-new installer-friendly, integrated mount system, plus must-see custom and Universal dvLED, kiosk, outdoor, and EV charging solutions. Register for ISE 2024 for free using code A8FZZ74K.

January 31, 2024
Crestron Celebrates the Professionals and Projects that Have Powered One MillionMoments with DM NVX

Crestron builds technology for various work environments, enhancing communication and collaboration through cloud-based platforms, devices, and systems. They provide simpler solutions for faster, better, and more productive work.

Crestron Electronics announces DM NVX® AV-over-IP platform will reach one million units sold this year, focusing on reliability and security for various applications in the workplace and smart home.

The platform, known for its reliability and security, has been widely adopted for diverse applications in workplaces and smart homes, including control rooms, sportsbooks, classrooms, and residences. Crestron intends to recognize this milestone with the Crestron DM NVX Technology Awards Program, highlighting outstanding projects leveraging the platform’s capabilities.

Crestron Electronics, a global leader in workplace and smart home technology, today announces that the esteemed DM NVX® AV-over-IP platform will reach a monumental milestone this year as it approaches one million units sold. What began as the introduction of innovative technology has become a successful industry mainstay through the ingenuity of the professionals who trust the solution for some of the most iconic installations. At the core of the solution is a focus on reliability and security. This has made the technology a market-leading standout among its competition for a wide variety of applications, including powering mission-critical control rooms and high-traffic sportsbooks as well as serving as the backbone for frictionless workplaces and classrooms and seamless home entertainment.

As Crestron gears up to ship its one-millionth device this year, the company will be honoring the experiences that have led up to this point and looking ahead to all the projects yet to come. Since its inception in 2017, the partners who have championed the DM NVX technology have played a vital role in contributing to the adoption of the platform. Crestron will host the Crestron DM NVX Technology Awards Program to celebrate these projects and highlight the best installations across various verticals.

“Over the years, we have made continuous investments to the DM NVX platform, refining the technology to create one of the most effective solutions on the market trusted by both our partners and users alike,” says Dan Feldstein, president and CEO of Crestron. “The DM NVX product line has always been an important part of the Crestron portfolio, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with those who have embraced this solution, as their contributions have been at the heart of this success and intrinsic to this prodigious journey.”

DM NVX technology offers unrivaled 4K performance and low latency streaming for immersive multimedia content distribution, delivering a cutting-edge audiovisual experience. DM NVX technology features a network-based design, which results in simplified integrations and a future-proof approach that ensures scalability and compatibility with emerging technologies. By combining video, audio, USB, and control into a single distribution platform, users can be confident that they can get the signals they need where they need them.

January 31, 2024
ISE 2024 Day 1 Wrapup

ISE 2024 aims for innovation

AVNation ISE2024 Blackman

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) is back in Barcelona this week. The show kicked off on Tuesday morning with a press conference by Mike Blackman, ISE 2024 show director. Blackman indicated this was the largest ISE ever in terms of square meters as well as vendors. The show takes up 82,000 square meters with just over 1400 exhibitors sharing the eight halls. This is a far cry from the show 20 years ago that started with just 120 vendors.

The show has made tremendous efforts the last ten years gathering AV press as well as influential content creators. Hall 4 is where the “Influencer Lounge” is this year but you’ll find these folks throughout the Fira. Iffat Chaudry, Justin Dawson, and the HETMA group are all around the show floor. In addition, AVNation joins 800 other fellow members of the press.

AVNation Tweetup

AVNation ISE2024 Tweetup HDBaseT

We partnered with HDBaseT and Commercial Integrator for this year’s ISE 2024 Tweetup. Hundreds of AV pros from around the world gathered in Hall 2 to network and get together.

Crestron goes AI

Similar to how CES was all about AI, this year’s ISE seems to be following that trend. Crestron showed off their new One Beyond cameras. These AI-driven cameras give colleges and corporations an extra set of hands when live switching a meeting, lecture, or presentation. With four new cameras, the i12 and i20 models, the company aims to support meetings equity. The optical zoom and intelligent Speaker Tracking allows companies to hone in on the speakers and give far-end users a better experience.

@tdulane

♬ original sound – Tim

VuWall

AVNation ISE2024 VuWall

Command and control projects have seen a sharp rise in recent years. Corporate and government customers are outlining the need for a centralized hub where facilities and operations can gather. VuWall focused on their SOC2 security certifications. With their products going into command and control systems, it’s imperative AV end-users feel safe putting them in.

Just Add Power

Over the summer I was able to visit the new Just Add Power facilities outside of Tampa, Florida. The company’s focus on sustainability goes deeper than just their products. The entire headquarters emits the founder’s, Ed Qualls, desire to take care of the environment and his customers.

At ISE 2024 Just Add Power added to that legacy of ESG (environmental, sustainability, governance) with MAX Color Multi Tiler. Like all other J+P products, this one will be upgraded throughout its life through firmware upgrades. The system allows users to recall presets with a control system. In addition, anyone on the network can use an attached keyboard and mouse and craft their own multi-tiler layouts and recall with three memory recalls.

RTI

Control is still my favorite aspect of the AV industry. So visiting with RTI is a treat. The company fits well in the ISE 2024 ethos, having both residential and commercial offerings. But what we talked about was not primarily control.

This year they announced their Meeting Ecosystem. This suite of products looks to break into the meeting and huddle space market. The default display output shows everything from login, password, and instructions on connecting to their new video bar. RTI has their own flavor of connected sharing pod, wireless mic, and touch panel that rounds out the Meeting Ecosystem line.

ISE 2024 Shows Off

AVNation ISE2024 Blackman

The thing that Mike Blackman and his team does particularly well is to take the show beyond the venue. While in Amsterdam, the show facilitated projection mapping, tech tours, and other activities that brought AV to the city. The ISE team has elevated that idea since arriving in Barcelona. Marrying projection mapping technology with an artist like Gaudi seems to be a natural fit. And the team has worked with the city to achieve just that yet again. In addition, there are places all throughout Barcelona to experience the technology that gets any AV user’s attention. Day one was a whirlwind. This four day show certainly has more to unveil. Check-in tomorrow and go to our ISE 2024 coverage page for announcements, videos, and more.

January 31, 2024