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Canidae Pet Food

Canidae Pet Food – Stamford, Connecticut

Canidae Pet Food is a new client introduced to us by our friends at Coranet, a data, security, and network infrastructure partner located in NYC. Most often our new clients find us through word-of-mouth recommendations, it’s our only method of marketing. Coranet was on point for their relocation of the data and security systems from Greenwich to Stamford, they planned to integrate Microsoft Teams (Canidae had been using Teams) with a goal to increase Canidae’s Video Conferencing usage in meeting spaces at their new headquarters, allowing them to be in daily communication with their plant in Texas and distribution chain. Coranet briefed me on Canidae’s requirements and indicated they wanted to see some of our work and test drive video conferencing systems at various budget levels.

VideoSonic maintains excellent relationships with our clients, they can always count on us for any technical advice. Healthline Media welcomes us to do demos at their facility, we can book their rooms when we need to do a demo in Manhattan. Healthline has 15 various sized rooms from a 20-seat boardroom with x2 MXA910’s and DSP, to smaller rooms using Logitech Meet-up. In addition to having a variety of rooms to demonstrate, we had introduced Healthline to Liron at NY Soundproofing who provided acoustical treatments for all the rooms. When the rooms are acoustically treated to eliminate any echo and reverb, your going to have a much better conferencing experience. The cost of VTC hardware has come down in price that there certainly is enough room to add acoustical treatments to the budget.

Canidae’s CEO, their architects (Sarah Vitek and Sarah Little from Locust Design Collaborative in Greenwich) made a field trip Healthline late November to “test drive” the rooms and discuss performance vs. budget. We were able to make calls rooms to room and hear both sides of a high-end room (with beamform mics and ceiling speakers) to a basic room with a meet-up. The client was extremely impressed with the call quality and our workmanship and asked us to make the recommendations for the room systems and submit a quote.

We signed off on the final design in December 2019, which included a Town Hall Space with a 98” 4K LCD, a 20-person boardroom with a 85” 4K LCD, a 10-person conference room (85” 4K LCD), and (2) 6-Person Huddle Rooms with 75” 4K LCD screens. Sarah & Sarah from Locust Design also included extensive acoustical treatments for the rooms, which sounded amazing when completed. In addition to the conferencing systems, we also included a Cambridge Sound Masking system to cover reception and the open workspaces. We began the site installation in middle of January 2020 and managed to get most of the conference rooms and town hall infrastructure in place, and all the emitter mounts and cabling installed for the sound masking system. The next visit we brought the sound mask system online and installed all the emitters and the TV mounts.

We were working towards a completion date of April 3rd, 2020 and then Covid-19 happened. We had purchased and delivered most of the equipment for the project, and now we were sheltering in place, considered non-essential, we could not even leave the state. I am writing this post on June 8th, 2020 – looking back, who knew that we would be living through another life changing event in this century, that once again we will have to adapt to a new normal. And on top of the pandemic being the major headlines of the past 12 weeks, the wrongful death of George Floyd and the protesting combined with the rioting is now the big headline.

VideoSonic has overcome some pretty big challenges before; and we will come out from the other side of this storm doing what we do best, delivering systems with high quality performance and workmanship, exceeding the clients expectations while remaining on budget and schedule.

Town Hall:

Canidae’s Town Hall is a multifunctional, divisible space located partially in the entrance lobby and the Café Space. A 98” 4K QM-N series Samsung Commercial Duty LCD grabs your attention when getting off the elevator, with 500 nit brightness, the screen is brilliant, even under ambient lighting conditions.

A Mersive Solstice Gen3 Pod is the default source that is displayed on the screen when no meeting or presentations are scheduled for the space. Operating in digital signage mode, the POD is pointed towards an external URL, an HTML5 web page that displays company photos and news, welcome messaging to the staff to the new office space. The marketing department and the office manager curate this web page. New content is added to the web page, which automatically posts to the screen. Solstice allows ad hoc meetings to occur at the screen at any time, the digital signage feed is interrupted when a staff member connects his laptop or personal device wirelessly to the screen. The Solstice Pod pulls information from outlook and display room reservations on the screen in small border at the bottom of the screen.

For Town Hall meetings, the room functions identical to any of the other Teams Rooms. A Logitech Rally 4K Robotic Camera is installed on the ceiling opposite the screen, in most Video Conference Rooms, the camera is under the screen facing the audience. In a Town Hall space it is the opposite, the camera is focused on the presenter in the front of the room.

Two wireless microphone “Combo Kits” used to both transmit the conference audio to the far end and provide voice lift in the room (PA) simultaneously. Each Combo Kit includes a handheld mic and a wearable clip-on mic. One of the clip-on Mics is put on the presenter, the other handheld can be passed around the room for Q&A. Dialing a video or Voice call is identical to the other conference rooms, content can be shared wirelessly or by connecting a laptop to an HDMI port located on the wall below the Logitech Tap control panel. For Q&A from the audience, the camera can rotate to capture audience members. Bose DS40 pendant speaker blend in well with the other devices on the ceiling and sound amazing. A Biamp Tesira VT4 handles the audio processing providing acoustic echo cancellation and auto-mixing for the program audio, conference audio, and voice lift.

20 Person Conference Room:
Canidae’s CEO was so impressed with the boardroom system at Healthline, that he requested we do the same in Stamford. The table in the room seats 8 on each of the long sides and two chairs at each end; bench seating around the perimeter of the room allows for overflow. Two Shure MXA910 beamform mics were installed on the ceiling above the table. Using a Shure P300 for DSP provides 8 lobes of coverage in the room and except for the corners, we have full coverage of the space. Far end audio plays back through (6) Bose DS40 Pendant Speakers suspended from the ceiling with light fixtures; the speakers blend in very well and sound awesome.

A Logitech Tap for Teams serves as the control panel for the room, it is the dialer for audio calls and display room reservation information. We found the Tap product to be of excellent quality and price point and as Teams continues to develop and improve, Canidae will take full advantage of this powerful communications app.

Front of the 20-person room is an 85” Sony Pro Bravia with a Logitech Rally 4K camera installed below the screen, typically at eye level to a seated person. The architects included extensive acoustical treatments for the space, the wall at the front of the room where the screen is installed has a fabric panel system, this treatment is also one on the walls opposite the windows. Heavy felt fabric is suspended from a unistrut hanger system installed on the ceiling; the fabric is looped as it is installed creating a highly effective acoustical “trap” on the ceiling.

10 Person Conference Room:
The 10 Person Conference Room is identical to the 20-person room exc0ept for the Microphone and DSP. For this room we selected Biamp Devio Beamforming Mics (x2) for the ceiling.

A nice feature of Devio is it has internal Bluetooth that allows your personal device to connect to the room, same as if you were connecting your phone in a car. Both rooms function identically to the other rooms as they all use Logitech Tap for Teams eliminating any learning curve from one room to another.

6 Person Meeting Rooms:
There are (2) six-person meeting rooms, each has a wall mounted 75” LCD with a Logitech Meetup installed below the screen.

The the Logitech Meetup which is a self-contained device Video Conferencing device that integrates a 4K robotic camera, internal beamforming mics and speaker system for the far end audio.

Supplied as an accessory with the Meetup, we have the meetup extension microphone located on the table.

During a video conference call, the chairs between the end of the table and the wall-mounted screen are moved to the same side of the table with everyone facing the screen. With and audio call, the chairs remain and block the Meetup’s internal mics. Having the table mic prevented this from becoming an issue, and part of a good design.

Sound Masking:
With open workspaces there is a lack of privacy when seated in rows next to your co-workers. Even with acoustical treatments, its difficult to isolate or contain people’s voices from being overheard in the space. Studies have been made that prove that workflow is reduced amongst co-workers who overhear personal conversations.

Sound masking isn’t a magic curtain that drowns out the voices so they cannot be heard, but it is a scientific principle that by generating a blend of white noise and pink noise as pre-determined frequencies, he noise muddies up the consonants that disrupts your ability to comprehend every word in the conversation, and distracts what you are listening to.

We installed 72 emitters throughout the space; they are installed on the ceilings at 6’ centers and blend in well with the other devices on the ceiling. The product is Cambridge Audio and Biamp recently acquired them.

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Healthline Media

You may have heard the expression, “the third time’s the charm”; Well, it totally applies to the Healthline project. When Greg Karp-Nuefeld contacted us in November 2018 to tell me they were relocating again, I was surprised, as they had outgrown a space in just 2 years since their previous move. Greg and I discussed lessons learned on the previous projects to build out the new space with 15 rooms of various sizes as Zoom Rooms.

All the rooms would have scheduling panels located outside the doors, and all the new rooms, the LCD screens and cameras will have 4K capability even if they were not using the higher resolution yet.

The story begins back in 2014 when we did our first project for Healthline (their 5th Avenue location) and it was the first time for us using Zoom. Healthline HQ is in San Francisco, one of earliest corporate users for zoom, when most corporations were using hardware codecs, Zoom was one of the first software codecs available. The web cams with USB were 320 x 240 resolution which we later upgraded to 600 x 800. We used combination mic / speaker pods manufactured by Phoenix Audio, you could daisy chain up to (12) Phoenix Spider Mics, and they could be used as the audio dialer for voice calls.

For the new location, we were given a budget to deliver the (15) rooms as a design build project where we would be re-purposing some of the equipment from 28th Street at their current location on 7th avenue and 25th street where they would occupy the entire 24th floor.

From lessons learned, we discussed that all the rooms should have an acoustical treatment, and the cost for treatments should come from another budget other then AV. We recommended New York Soundproofing whom we have worked with on several projects. Liron and his team are experts and their manufacturing facilities are in Brooklyn, have been a great local resource. We highly recommend their work to all our clients.

Large Conference Room, facing east, a total of (8) QSC shallow profile speakers are used for program and far side audio playback. Two Shure MXA900 Beamforming Mics are installed on Chief RPA266 ceiling mounts, connected to two CMA443 above tile suspension plates with 3” pipes. Existing sprinkler pipes and air handlers prevented us from installing the mics flush into the ceiling, using the suspension mounts enabled us to locate the mics on the “tweens” between devices.
Large Conference Room, facing east, a total of (8) QSC shallow profile speakers are used for program and far side audio playback. Two Shure MXA900 Beamforming Mics are installed on Chief RPA266 ceiling mounts, connected to two CMA443 above tile suspension plates with 3” pipes. Existing sprinkler pipes and air handlers prevented us from installing the mics flush into the ceiling, using the suspension mounts enabled us to locate the mics on the “tweens” between devices.

For the Large Conference Room (20-person room), Greg asked us to duplicate an engineered by Zoom Room whose plans can be downloaded from Zoom. We used (2) Shure MXA-910 beamform mics on the ceiling connected over Dante to a QSC 110F DSP processor to manage the rooms audio. (8) shallow can QSC speakers are installed in the ceiling for far end audio playback. An 82” Samsung 4K LCD screen is installed at ether end of the long narrow room. (2) 49” Samsung LCD’s are installed opposite the table’s long side as additional screens which usually display shared content.

Large Conference Room, facing east, the center three rows of ceiling tiles have been replaced with 4” thick acoustical tiles which aide in absorbing reverberation echoes in the room.
Large Conference Room, facing east, the center three rows of ceiling tiles have been replaced with 4” thick acoustical tiles which aide in absorbing reverberation echoes in the room.

Below the 82” screen on the east side of the room, installed at eye level is a Logitech Rally 4K PTZ Camera. The build quality, and optics are amazing for a camera in this price range, we can capture the entire table using a couple of preset lens positions. The Mac Mini, DSP Processor and Amp reside in a Salamander Design Credenza – the architect did his homework and provided the rack in the furniture budgets.The normal fiberglass ceiling tiles have been replaced with 4” thick acoustical panels running the length of the room which provide a noticeable difference then if they were not installed in the room.

Zoom Control panel installed in an elegant Heckler Design iPad Stand, note that Heckler stand provides a 1GB wired ethernet connection over POE to supply power and data for the iPad, this prevents the battery from swelling over time when remaining on the charger 24/7. One HDMI cable is located on the tabletop for connecting a visitor’s laptop who is not on Healthline’s network, the wired screen share starts automatically when laptop is connected to HDMI cable.
Zoom Control panel installed in an elegant Heckler Design iPad Stand, note that Heckler stand provides a 1GB wired ethernet connection over POE to supply power and data for the iPad, this prevents the battery from swelling over time when remaining on the charger 24/7. One HDMI cable is located on the tabletop for connecting a visitor’s laptop who is not on Healthline’s network, the wired screen share starts automatically when laptop is connected to HDMI cable.

Most people in the meeting share content wirelessly through zoom, for guests not on the Healthline network, there is a HDMI cable on the table for wired screen sharing. Also located on the table is the Zoom Room control panel, it is an iPad installed in a Heckler Design’s tabletop mount. The Hecker mounts are a very elegant, high quality industrial design that not only looks great, it provides POE power to the iPad so that the batteries inside the iPad des not overcharge and swell up.

The medium sized conference room (10 person) was built out using existing equipment relocated from 28th street. At the front of the room is an 82” wall mounted LCD on a Chief XS1U mount. We like the Fusion mounts as they have micro-adjustment for leveling, and with the ability to slide the LCD screen left or right, enable us to mount the equipment behind the screen.

The camera is a Logitech PTZ Pro (1080P) installed below the screen. A soundbar is also installed below the LCD Screen. Above the screen is another microphone manufactured by Phoenix; they were ne of the first to market with beamform technology and was available at the time. This was also a “zoom” specified room and it worked quite well. Located on the table is a wired HDMI connection and the Zoom Control panel.

The next (12) rooms are all identical 4 to 6-person Huddle Room spaces. These rooms are treated acoustically with a mixture of ceiling and wall hung panels. Al of the rooms have dual 55” or 65” mounted on Chief mounts. In a dual screen set-up, we can “part” the two screens in the middle o gain access to the equipment installed behind the screen, makes for a neat and clan installation.

Dual 82” Samsung 4K LCD in the “All Hands” space, note simple mixer on wall for controlling voice lift.
Dual 82” Samsung 4K LCD in the “All Hands” space, note simple mixer on wall for controlling voice lift.

Each room has a Logitech Meet-up with an extension mic connected to a Mac Mini. They are good quality, cost effective rooms that work very well due to the acoustical treatments.

Popular with corporations today everyone has an “All Hands Room” or “Town Hall” which is a reconfigurable multi-purpose used for presentations, birthday parties and holiday celebrations, or a place where the entire company can get onto a Zoom Call.

This space is set-up like a Zoom Room with dual 82” screen in the front of the room. There are two Logitech Rally cameras, one facing the presenter, and the other the audience. The presenter has an assistant that can control the cameras from the iPad control panel. Two wireless microphone systems and a “Throw Mic” are included. The presenter has her choice of a handheld mic, or a clip-on wearable mic. Both voice lift (amplification of voice in the same room) and transmit audio to the far end are managed by a Biamp Tesira VT4 DSP. For Q&A, either a handheld wireless mic can be passed around, or, the client provided a “Throw Mic” which we connected.

A Throw Mic is basically a square, fuzzy, pillow branded with the company’s logo branded on it. Inside the pillow is a shock mounted microphone. The idea is to “toss” the mic to the person who has a question. Bose DS16SE surface mount speakers are installed on the cable tray in the space.

NY Tribeca Room, available for meeting.
NY Tribeca Room, available for meeting.

Located outside all the rooms are Crestron Room Scheduling panels. Indicator light glows green if the room is available, and red if it is booked. Staff can book the room from the panel, or through outlook on their desktop or personal device.

In summary, VideoSonic was able to use our experience, resources, and skill to deliver 100% of this project on time and without exceeding the budgets. It is especially important to maintain repeat business clients, they are you best from of advertising as they are usually first to suggest that they could be a great reference for us. With over 4 decades in the industry, you learn to give a little love to get a little love, and we love or clients!

 

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Mount Sinai Medical School, Anesthesiology Department

For doctors entering into the field of anesthesiology, Mount Sinai offers a hands on program where medical students learn the skills by participating in “real life” simulations where they need to react to situations that can occur while a patient is sedated. Two operating rooms complete with interactive life sized “High Fidelity Human Patient Simulator” and a complete array of life support equipment are used by the students to revive a patient that has had a cardiac arrest or other conditions and to monitor them while sedated.
Because of the limited space in the “mock” operating rooms, groups of students can observe from a conference room adjacent to the operating room on several LCD screens, or in the case of overflow for a larger group, content can be sent simultaneously to a smaller conference room across the hall.

As part of a major renovations of the 8th floor Sim Labs to be scheduled during winter recess of 2019, the legacy system which we installed in 2010 was beginning to shows sign of age, in both technology, and wear and tear causing failures of equipment that was out of warrantee. The previous system which consisted of a Crestron DM32X matrix, Extron Quad Processors, and NLE format recorders (which were never used) not to mention that the floor mounted 36” deep and 42RU tall, took up a lot of valuable “real estate” in Sim Lab 1.

The only gear that we would repurpose for the legacy system are the cameras as they were 1080P (Vaddio RoboSHOT’s), the 4 control processors (they were 3 series) and the ceiling speakers. Because of the reduction in the amount of equipment used (matrix switching was replaced by IP encoding and streaming content) we were able to fit everything into a wall mounted rack. After re-arranging the furniture, the end result freed up a lot of floor space in Sim lab 1 for additional students.

Additionally, the faculty instructors were already quite familiar with user interface from the legacy system, although we were upgrading the equipment, the lessons and simulations were pretty much the same, over the years faculty had come up with “work-arounds” and other “creative solutions” (i.e., point a camera at a medical display to see it on the projector). One of the goals was to restore this functionality with the new system “transparently” to the end users.

I’m writing this article on November 9th, 2020; who would have known that exactly a year ago when we started to install the updated system exactly how timely and contemporary the system turned out to be. The client had still been using Cisco Video conferencing, and one of the goals for the system was to be able to broadcast programs and classes to a remote audience over Zoom, and to be able to record and archive content, and stream to the Mount Sinai network.

Before I get into the inner workings of the system, I would like to tell you how timely this system was – we completed the system and had trained the client days before we were locked down for Covid. The doctors at Mount Sinai were able to use the system to record and stream and meet with people remotely over zoom to develop the methods for two people to share a single respirator done in conjunction with Nasa JPL in Pasadena.

Link to Nasa JPL Video

As things started getting back to normal around July / August 2020, Mount Sinai knew that they would have students returning back to school under restricted conditions. The classes would be reduced in size by 50% and the students would alternate between attending classes or working from home. With the new system upgrade, Mount Sinai has the resources in place to support “hybrid learning” and “recording / streaming” of content that the students can download and view at any time.

Briefly, the system consists of the following devices and technologies to accomplish the goals of the system with as minimal amount of equipment possible, also being contemporary in its design using the latest technology vs the tail end of legacy technology which are acceptable common practices. Most of the equipment are fully updatable via software updates as released, and most likely will be the last microphone, speakers, or DSP they will ever purchase.

3 Epiphan Pearl 2 – used for routing, streaming, recording
8 Vaddio RoboSHOT ceiling and wall mounted cameras
2 Logitech Rally 4K USB3.0 Cameras
8 Shure MXA910 Beamforming Mics – used for voice lift, recording, and transmission to far end
8 Extron Flat Felid Ceiling Speakers (from legacy System)
1 Biamp Tesira DAN and Biamp 8 Channel Amplifier
4 Crestron CP3N Control Processors (from legacy system)
1 Kramer 8×8 HDMI Matrix (2RU) – real time routing to local displays
10 Mersive Solstice Pods (allows anyone to connect their personal device wirelessly, display and medical monitor on the network as a content). BYOM Video Conferencing and room sharing.
Displays of various sizes including 100” laser projection
1 Wired HDMI input at table for guests not on MS network
5 iPad Control panels installed in Heckler wall mounted enclosures with GB Ethernet and PoE

The system is used for a variety of lesson simulations and procedures in which the content is somewhat choreographed; images and camera shots displayed to the students with “live” narration by the instructor. A handful of students participate “hands on” by being in the Sim Lab with the instructor; other students observe and participate from an adjacent conference room. Typically, a 2nd instructor inside the conference room can also switch what the students are looking at to support what is being discussed.

The instructor in the Sim Lab speaks in his normal speaking voice; the Shure Beamform mics have been configured for voice lift; his voice is heard back over the ceiling speakers in the conference room(s); sent to the far end (over zoom), and / or simultaneously being recorded.

Students in the conference rooms can ask the instructor in the lab questions, beamform mics in the conference room ceiling are also used for voice lift and transmits the questions to the speakers in the Sim Lab, by using a PTS (push to talk) button on the control panel.

The (3) Epiphan Pearl 2’s provide a high degree of functionality, flexibility and features for the system that will continue to benefit Mount Sinai and their ability to manage and control content. The Epiphan Pearl 2’s enables the following functionality and features:

• By use of “layouts” in Epiphan provides the end user with the ability to pre-setup screen shots consisting of multiple cameras and recall of their positions and lens setting presets.
• Ability to record (6) simultaneous “streams”; content that can be used later in post-production for editing the final presentation video
• By using Epiphan “Live” software enable the instructor to remotely control the recording and capture functions from a user interface that can be operated for any place in the space.
• Epiphan can record and stream is several formats making it extremely flexible and easy to use.

In summary, VideoSonic was able to deliver a contemporary system that was able to exceed the clients goals and deliver a product on time without exceeding the budgets, if fact, the cost of the project was only 25% of the cost for the legacy system purchased on 2010 – It was a win-win for all and the client is extremely satisfied with the results.

Wall Mounted Rack in Sim
Wall Mounted Rack in Sim
Sim lab 1
Sim lab 1
Wall mounted rack, swings open to access equipment
Wall mounted rack, swings open to access equipment
Original rack from 2010 legacy system, decommissioned and replaced by wall mounted rack
Original rack from 2010 legacy system, decommissioned and replaced by wall mounted rack
NY Times, April 23rd, 2020 – Using space to simulate two patents sharing a ventilator
NY Times, April 23rd, 2020 – Using space to simulate two patents sharing a ventilator
NY Times, April 23rd, 2020 – Using space to simulate two patents sharing a ventilator
NY Times, April 23rd, 2020 – Using space to simulate two patents sharing a ventilator
Camera control panel
Camera control panel
Large Conference Room – setup for Zoom meeting
Large Conference Room – setup for Zoom meeting
Conference / Classroom – Students are able to view procedures from Sim Labs
Conference / Classroom – Students are able to view procedures from Sim Labs
Conference Room Classroom showing instructors position near room control panel
Conference Room Classroom showing instructors position near room control panel
Sim Lab 1 with Sim Lab 2 in background
Sim Lab 1 with Sim Lab 2 in background
Infant simulator
Infant simulator
Audio Control panel - press “On Air” button to route push to talk-back to Sim lab or Small Conference room.
Audio Control panel – press “On Air” button to route push to talk-back to Sim lab or Small Conference room.
Students using throat simulator, Solstice app installed on simulator allows displayed to be shared as content to any screen in space, or recorded
Students using throat simulator, Solstice app installed on simulator allows displayed to be shared as content to any screen in space, or recorded
High Fidelity Human Patient Simulators
High Fidelity Human Patient Simulators
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AI Now at New York University

The AI Now Institute at New York University is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to understanding the social implications of artificial intelligence. They often hold meetings and symposiums and needed a flexible space to host 30 to 40 people locally and at the same time the ability to stream or video conference to a remote audience. VideoSonic designed and built a Town Hall multipurpose meeting space that would provide the ability host these events.
Sony FHZ66/W 6100 Lumen laser Projector with Short Throw lens allowing projector to be installed above and in front of lighting fixture, “stealth” installation removes projector from sight-line.
Sony FHZ66/W 6100 Lumen laser Projector with Short Throw lens allowing projector to be installed above and in front of lighting fixture, “stealth” installation removes projector from sight-line.

The AI Now Institute at New York University is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to understanding the social implications of artificial intelligence. They often hold meetings and symposiums and needed a flexible space to host 30 to 40 people locally and at the same time the ability to stream or video conference to a remote audience. VideoSonic designed and built a Town Hall multipurpose meeting space that would provide the ability host these events. It was completed in May of 2019.

The room is 25’ wide x 40’ long, with 14’ ceilings. The room is divided from the rest of the space by a 6’ tall bookcase running almost the entire length, one of the perimeter walls is plaster covered with a felt wall covering, the floor is polished concrete, and the narrow end has windows. The only acoustical treatments in the space are suspended wood fiber acoustic panels that reduce the reflection off the hard ceiling.

Bose DS40F Speakers with Pendant Kits provide even sound coverage in the space; eight speakers can be driven at a lower sound pressure level reducing any echo or reverb
Bose DS40F Speakers with Pendant Kits provide even sound coverage in the space; eight speakers can be driven at a lower sound pressure level reducing any echo or reverb

Folding tables can be removed from the space entirely or arranged in the space as a 20+ -person conference table, horseshow shaped, on in rows like a classroom. A lectern can be set-up at the front of the space, and HDMI jack is provided for wired screen sharing.

Crestron Control is provided using a DM150 for video switching for local presentations. A Shure QLX-D wireless microphone system consists of (4) receivers, (2) handheld mics, (2) lav mics, (1) wireless gooseneck, and (4) tabletop boundary mics providing the ability to support a variety of room configurations. DSP and AEC are managed using a Crestron DSP processor. Two Logitech Rally cameras handle the video calls and streaming, one facing the presenter, and the other facing the audience, all camera switching is done using Zoom control panel.

Bookcase serves as room divider between multi-purpose space and open seating plan workspace. Note Logitech PTZ pro installed on column at eye level for a standing presenter.
Bookcase serves as room divider between multi-purpose space and open seating plan workspace. Note Logitech PTZ pro installed on column at eye level for a standing presenter.

A total of (8) Bose DS40 pendant Speakers are located on 8’ centers running parallel with the room. This quantity of speakers allows even coverage throughout the space, the far end audio does not have to be cranked up to hear it, you get a nice even sound distribution in the room for both seated and standing audiences.

A Draper Targa 104” wide by 65” tall projection screen was furnished with extra drop allowing the screen to roll down to eye level. We typically order the quiet motor option, it’s worth the extra cost

The Sony 6000 Lumen laser projector is hardly noticeable in the space, it is installed above the lighting fixtures where is blends in and is hardly noticeable, its invisible in the sight lines. A short throw lens enabled us to put the projector closer to the screen adding to this “stealth” installation.

Microphone and speakers are hidden out of site, above slatted ceiling, a Panopto wide angle camera captures the entire table.
Microphone and speakers are hidden out of site, above slatted ceiling, a Panopto wide angle camera captures the entire table.

At VideoSonic we have always been big fans of Sony Projectors, the latest 3 LCD laser projectors represents the ability to do high quality, no compromise projection and are the best in class in the market. One of VideoSonic’s trademark is “Perfection in Projection Since 1981” – and Sony has proven time and again to be a leader in this technology.

In addition to the Town Hall space, we also fitted out two conference rooms for zoom using Sony 75” Pro Bravia 4K LCD screens, in one room we have a Panopto Camera and the other a Logitech Meet-up.

Notice in the room with the slatted ceiling, there are no visible microphones or speakers in the room. We call this a “clutterless” conference room, there are no cables, the norm is to wireless screen share. An HDMI jack on the wall below the screen is connected via a USB Capture device provides “wired” screen sharing for visitors not on the client’s network. The mics and speakers are located above the ceiling out of sight.

Another angle of the Sony FHZ66/W Laser Projector, notice it is installed perfectly level, with the bottom of the projected image 60” above the floor.
Another angle of the Sony FHZ66/W Laser Projector, notice it is installed perfectly level, with the bottom of the projected image 60” above the floor.

Now in its 2nd year of operation, VideoSonic, as part of our system warranty, will schedule a site visit to do Routine Maintenance assuring that the system is functioning the same as it was signed off. At this time any firmware updates are done, and the system are tested and demonstrated to the client.

About a week after we signed-off as 100% complete on this project, I received a call from Casey Gollan who is the facilities person at AI Now. He called specifically to tell me about their first event in the space the evening before and the system had performed flawlessly exceeding his expectations. The event went off without a glitch, and he received compliments on the system the entire evening.

 

 

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The Shed at Hudson Yards

Digital Signage System using Samsung 55” Video Wall LCDs in a custom enclosure. The distribution is SDVoE, and the video is distributed uncompressed over a 10GB network backbone, HDR 4:4:4, 60fps.

 

The Shed at Hudson Yards
The Shed at Hudson Yards
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FLASHBACK: Monster ‘X’ Display Video Wall Built With Speed and Precision

When Monster.com relocated to their new headquarters, one of the most prominent building features was the large atrium space with a 30-foot ceiling off the reception lobby. To promote what Monster does for their clients they wanted to build a large scale dynamic video display for this space. They came up with a concept design that included a banner running around the wall that led to a central large monitor with an ‘x’ design leading to four monitors at each end. They asked WSP, one of the world’s leading professional services firms, to aid them in the build. The challenge was to finish within five weeks in order to present the system to Monster’s Board of Directors.

WSP brought Monster to VideoSonic in NYC to showcase some LED displays. VideoSonic assured that they could get the displays shipped from China by the time of installation, a task that many in the industry would call a miracle.

The project was finished on time and the Board of Directors was very impressed. Today, Monster utilizes the system to showcase user success stories, track social media, exhibit company goals and values, and greet and present to guests visiting the building. The system stands as a testament to what can be done, and how quickly it can be done, when distributors, integrators, and end users work as a team on a project.

Here’s a video from behind the scenes, presented by our content specialist, Frank Coleman: