September 18
2017

September 18, 2017

HARMAN Professional Solutions Delivers a World-Class Audio and Visual Experience at Cornerstone

Integrator Brad Schield installs a complete HARMAN audio and lighting solution to provide exceptional sound quality, flexibility and ease-of use for a broad range of performances

BERKELEY, Calif.—Brad C. Schield and Associates (BSA) recently designed and installed a complete audio and lighting system by HARMAN Professional Solutions in Cornerstone, a newly opened live music venue, restaurant and beer garden in Berkeley.

Cornerstone hosts performances by local bands, tribute acts and national touring artists, including The Offspring, Jefferson Starship, Third Eye Blind, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and many more. In order to deliver an exceptional audio and visual experience for both music fans and artists, Cornerstone owner Alex Popov hired BSA to install a cutting-edge networked audio and lighting system for the 600-capacity venue. BSA selected a complete networked HARMAN audio and lighting solution made up of JBL Professional speakers, Crown amplifiers, AKG microphones, Soundcraft consoles, BSS and AMX audio video control systems and Martin lighting fixtures for their professional performance, seamless integration and intuitive operation.

“HARMAN is an industry leader in innovative audio technology,” said Brad Schield. “They can provide me with a complete solution from microphones and mixers to speakers and amps, and it all works together seamlessly. I know I can shop one source, and there’s not going to be a weak link in the chain. HARMAN has been doing this longer than anyone—it’s an integrator’s dream.”

The audio system includes a main hang of 18 JBL VT4886 line array speakers, 6 JBL VT4883 subwoofers in the air, 4 JBL STX828S subwoofers built into the stage, and JBL SRX Series powered speakers for stage monitors. JBL SCS8 speakers deliver full-range audio inside the restaurant, while JBL AWC82 and JBL SB2210 speakers are installed in the beer garden. The entire system is powered by Crown I-Tech Series amplifiers and optimized by JBL V5 speaker presets. The system also includes a comprehensive collection of AKG microphones to handle any live sound scenario. To ensure maximum audio coverage in 13,000 square feet of venue space, BSA used JBL VERTEC Line Array Calculator II software to meticulously map out speaker placement and arrangement.

Plus Four Marketing commissioned, supplied and tuned the HARMAN system at Cornerstone. By using a single distributor and a complete HARMAN solution, BSA was able to streamline the installation process and complete the project quickly and efficiently.

“The HARMAN system installed at Cornerstone was near-perfect right out of the gate and needed very little EQ adjustment,” said Keith Erickson, Tour Sound & Large Venue Specialist at Plus Four Marketing. “The Soundcraft consoles are set up with preset recalls that allow audio to flow from either side of the venue. The audio is also synced with an AMX video system. The entire system is networked via Dante, without copper cable. It makes it very easy for the owner to operate the system. Plus, Alex was also able to use HARMAN's Finance program, which allowed to him to purchase all of the equipment he needed at one time. This made the installation much more streamlined and efficient.”

Soundcraft Vi2000 and Si Performer digital live mixing consoles not only provide unparalleled mixing power, they can be linked together via built-in Dante and BLU link interfaces to enable easy multi-track recording and flexible network routing options. Utilizing the Dante network and a BSS BLU link-equipped eight-channel Crown DC-I amplifier, audio can be routed to eight different zones throughout the restaurant and outdoor beer garden. The Dante network allows audio to be sourced from multiple locations in the facility. Separate shows can take place simultaneously in the venue and beer garden, or audio from the main venue can be routed to restaurant and outdoor patio, allowing guests to listen to the live performance from anywhere in the facility.

BSA also installed a lighting rig, consisting of 13 Martin RUSH MH6 CT and 4 Martin MH7 Hybrid fixtures. Controlled by Martin M-PC software, the lighting rig has more than enough flexibility for local acts and serves as a great foundation for touring acts that bring their own lighting package.

“We have the flexibility to provide a complete audio experience in every area of our space,” said Popov. “The audio systems work together seamlessly. When we were researching the sound system, we travelled to different venues around the country. I can’t think of a single place we visited that sounds better than the HARMAN system we have at Cornerstone. When The Offspring played here, they told us how great the room sounded. They’ve played some of the biggest and best venues in the world, so that was major validation of the HARMAN system. It was a great experience.”

June 28
2017

June 28, 2017

HARMAN Professional Solutions Helps China’s Wanda Vista Hefei Hotel Deliver an Elegant Guest Experience

An integrated HARMAN AV solution provides sophisticated systems control and premium audio performance for five-star hotel staff and visitors

HEFEI, China—The Wanda Vista Hefei, located in Binhu New District of Hefei, China, is a luxury, five-star hotel known for its elegant atmosphere, traditional Huizhou architecture and harmony with “Hui” culture.

In addition to 205 private rooms and suites, the hotel features a lobby, 4,900-square-foot banquet hall, eight conference rooms, restaurants, fitness center, swimming pool and spa. In order to provide audio coverage for such a wide range of areas with different functions, the hotel hired Shenzhen Hongzhe Intelligent Systems Engineering Co., Ltd. to install a complete HARMAN AV solution consisting of JBL Professional speakers, Crown amplifiers, AKG microphones, BSS audio processing and AMX AV systems.

“As a five-star hotel, we strive to maintain an elegant atmosphere, and a portion of that ambience comes from the music that plays throughout the hotel,” said Mr. Chen Xiaojun, Director of AV Operations. “Our audio equipment needs to be top of the line to meet the hotel’s high standards and overcome acoustic challenges created by the traditional architecture. JBL Control Series ceiling speakers are integrated seamlessly into the hotel’s foyer and high lobby ceilings. They are unobtrusive and blend in aesthetically, while providing excellent clarity and pleasing sound quality. We also use JBL EON Series powered speakers when we host events that require portable sound reinforcement.”

The sophisticated HARMAN AV system allows the Hefei Wanda Vista staff to produce a wide range of successful events. An AKG WMS470 wireless microphone system provides smooth and intelligible speech in the grand ballroom and meeting spaces. Utilizing a BSS PDP-DSP public address processor and CobraNet network, audio signals are routed to Crown CTs Series amplifiers and configured to combine (or isolate) the speakers in each room or zone. Operators can discretely make volume adjustments in each meeting space with BSS BLU Series control panels. For convenience, an AMX NX-3200 central control panel enables remote control of all AV equipment using a wireless tablet.

“To uphold our reputation as China’s most prestigious hotel brand, it’s imperative that every guest has a memorable, top-class experience,” related Xiaojun. “When we host high-profile events, such as when Wanda Group recently held their annual shareholder’s meeting in our grand ballroom, it’s important for our AV equipment to consistently deliver the highest quality sound. Thanks to the reliability and flexibility of the integrated HARMAN solution, we can be certain that our AV experience will exceed all expectations.”

Products Used:

AKG Wide-Band UHF Antennas
AKG Gooseneck Conference Microphones
AKG Wireless Microphones
AMX NetLinx Integrated Controllers
BSS BLU Wall Control Panels
BSS System Processors
JBL Contractor Control Series Speakers
JBL CSS Commercial Speakers
JBL EON500 Series Speakers
Crown CTs Series Amplifiers
Crown XLS DriveCore Series Amplifiers

June 14
2017

June 14, 2017

The AMX by HARMAN N7142 Presentation Switcher Makes Its U.S. Debut at InfoComm 2017

All-in-one HDMI and VGA presentation switcher simplifies 4K video distribution, enabling AV professionals to instantly deliver ultra high-resolution content over a simple network connection

InfoComm (Booth #3201), ORLANDO—HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control systems, including networked AV, today presented the AMX N7142 Presentation Switcherat the 2017 InfoComm show, marking the presentation switcher’s US debut.

As the first all-in-one presentation switcher to incorporate low-latency Networked AV video distribution, the AMX N7142 enables AV and IT teams that support active learning environments to achieve efficient and scalable 4K video distribution for lectures across campus and overflow classroom applications.

“The AMX N7142 Presentation Switcher is incredibly flexible and simple to integrate on campus, allowing educators to reach students faster and more effectively than ever before,” said Andy Whitehead, General Manager Networked AV, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “When presenting to students in overflow classrooms, the AMX N7142 Presentation Switcher can deliver gorgeous 4K video over campus networks in an instant. It will also have an incredible impact on the AV and IT professionals who design and support these systems, and we’re excited for those teams to learn more this week at InfoComm.”

The N7142 Presentation Switcher features a comprehensive I/O designed to deliver top-quality audio and video in classroom and small conference room applications. The N7142 Presentation Switcher distributes UHD content from the latest 4K sources to most modern displays, with four 4K60 HDMI 2.0 and two VGA inputs that can be independently switched between two HDMI 2.0 outputs. Each output has a mirrored HDMI port for connecting to an additional display, encoder card, or other video distribution equipment. Two available Networked AV slots and an integrated Gigabit Ethernet switch make distributing classroom presentations to overflow seating as easy and immediate as a single LAN connection.

In addition to audio from the HDMI inputs, the all-in-one presentation switcher supports multiple high-quality audio sources with powerful built-in DSP and a 60W stereo amplifier. The N7142 Presentation Switcher includes two microphone inputs with phantom power, as well as six independent stereo inputs that can be used to incorporate different audio sources into presentations, including digital devices like smartphones or tablets.The audio amplifier can also operate in 4Ω/8Ω, 70V, or 100V modes via a user-selectable switch, making it easy to integrate the N7142 Presentation Switcher with existing AV infrastructures.

The N7142 Presentation Switcher features an intuitive web interface that makes it easy to configure, control and use. Instead of requiring an expensive auxiliary control system, educators and presenters can quickly select inputs using straight forward front-panel controls. Because the N7142 Presentation Switcher has Panel Builder on board, the video switcher can be controlled from a mobile device from anywhere in the room without loading an app.

The AMX N7142 Presentation Switcher is available in two configurations: the NMX-PRS-N7142 and the NMX-PRS-N7142-23, which adds an AMX N2312 Encoder and an AMX N2322 Decoder to the base configuration. Both solutions offer a solid, cost-effective foundation for delivering full-quality UHD content to next-generation active learning environments.

June 14
2017

June 14, 2017

HARMAN Professional Solutions Introduces AMX Acendo Conference Room Solutions to InfoComm 2017

Acendo Book, Acendo Room and Acendo Core enable enterprise office teams to increase efficiency, enhance collaboration and make optimal use of huddle spaces and small meeting rooms

InfoComm (Booth #3201), ORLANDO—HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control systems, including networked AV, today presented the new AMX Acendo family of conference room solutions to audiences at InfoComm 2017.

AMX Acendo Core is complete meeting room solution that features direct integration with Microsoft® Exchange scheduling, one-touch Skype for Business integration, native document viewers, email document sharing and more. AMX Acendo Vibe is a new line of premium conferencing sound bars with a powerful feature set that includes JBL speakers, far-field microphones, a wide-angle camera and a modern office design aesthetic. AMX Acendo Book scheduling touch panels build on the success of AMX RoomBook touch panels, with a new firmware update that offers full scheduling integration with other Acendo products, plus enhanced usability, networking and setup.

“Teams in enterprise office environments need to make optimal use of huddle spaces and smaller meeting rooms, and outdated conference room equipment can cause unnecessary delays and frustration,” said Shaun Robinson, Vice President, Corporate, Education and Government CSU, HARMAN Professional Solutions.“New AMX Acendo solutions enable teams to optimize their time, enhance collaboration and get to the heart of their meeting as quickly as possible. From audio conferencing to scheduling to document sharing, the Acendo family provides the industry’s most intuitive, responsive and worry-free conference room solutions. We’re excited to introduce these powerful solutions to our customers at InfoComm 2017.”

Acendo Core provides tremendous value for huddle spaces and other small meeting rooms. Featuring direct integration with Microsoft® Exchange, Acendo Core provides a comprehensive scheduling system to ensure that meetings begin and end on time. Users can easily start a meeting with the click of a button or a touch on the screen. If the meeting is scheduled as a Skype for Business meeting, participants can press a single button to join without having to search for a link in a meeting invitation. Built-in document viewers and rendering allow users to present content without bringing anything to the room. Users can simply start a session, navigate to their document on a USB drive, network drive, or the Web and begin their presentation. For enterprises who store documents on network drives, Acendo Core integrates natively with Microsoft Active Directory so users can authenticate into a meeting and instantly access stored content.

Acendo Vibe premium conferencing sound bars harness HARMAN’s deep history and expertise in audio technology to deliver outstanding performance that greatly exceeds traditional conferencing solutions, all in an intuitive and easy-to-install package. Featuring an industrial design that aligns with the latest interior design trends of the modern office and a comprehensive feature set, Acendo Vibe is the ideal audio/video solution for small meeting spaces. Unlike other solutions that are comprised of several individual components that need to be separately installed and integrated, Acendo Vibe is an all-in-one solution that requires no programming or installation of additional equipment. Acendo Vibe comes in three colors and features softened materials and finishes to augment the interior design of the modern office environment.

Acendo Book scheduling touch panels are standalone scheduling panels that integrate directly with popular room scheduling software like Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, and Google Calendar without additional system software or hardware requirements. The user interface background color and built-in room availability bars change between red and green to show room availability, enabling users to easily locate and book an available room directly from the panel. If that room is currently booked, the “Browse Rooms” feature allows users toquickly locate the nearest available room or the next available time from either Acendo Book or Acendo Core. Leveraging the style and cost-efficiency of HARMAN’s award-winning Modero S Series Touch Panel, Acendo Book touch panels enable a simple swipe to glide through the room’s calendar to check availability, a brilliantfull-color high-resolution display, wide viewing angle of screen and availability bar LEDs and a low-profile design. The panels can be mounted on any flat surface, including drywall, gang-box, glass, or stone, inside or outside a conference room or huddle space.

June 14
2017

June 14, 2017

AMX by HARMAN Debuts Enova DGX Dante Audio Switching Board Kits to U.S. Markets at InfoComm 2017

New audio switching board kits expand the capabilities of Enova DGX Digital Media Switchers with up to 16 stereo channels of direct Dante networked audio feeds

InfoComm (Booth #3201), ORLANDO—HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control systems, including networked AV, today presented AMX Enova DGX Dante Audio Switching Board Kits to the U.S. market at InfoComm 2017.

Enova DGX Dante Audio Switching Board Kits add up to 16 stereo channels of direct Dante networked audio feeds to and from Enova DGX 100 Series Digital Media Switchers, offering a flexible and feature-rich solution for providing pristine networked audio in multi-room or configurable-space applications.

"AMX Enova DGX Dante Audio Switching Board Kits have generated intense interest since they were announced at ISE, and we are pleased to announce their availability at InfoComm 2017,” said Paul Hand, Digital Video Product Manager, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “Enova DGX Digital Media Switchers offer exceptional performance for large venues who need advanced centralized AV solutions, and the new Dante Audio Switching Board Kits extend their capabilities even further with support for the latest Dante networked-audio devices. The integration of traditional AV with industry-leading Dante networked technologies provides unmatched flexibility and versatility, and we’re excited to share these cutting-edge solutions with our customers at InfoComm.”

Audio Switching Boards with Dante bring audio insertion and breakaway switching capabilities, as well as Dante networked-audio compatibility to the Enova DGX platform. With support for up to 16 stereo decoded inputs and outputs, users can independently route audio from traditional and networked AV sources to virtually any other directly connected or networked AV device via internal switching and standard CAT5e, CAT6 or fiberoptic network connection. A few simple clicks in an intuitive web interface enable users to enhance audio from a computer or live presentation with a networked DSP solution, or extract audio from an HDMI-connected set-top box and distribute that feed to a building-wide networked audio system.

In addition to bridging the gap between traditional AV distribution and the latest networked solutions, Audio Switching Boards with Dante feature powerful integrated DSP on every output. For environments where audio is switched to multiple zones, an on-board 10-band parametric EQ allows precise tuning for each acoustically different space, ensuring the same audio source will be heard perfectly in each location.

Like other audio switching boards for the Enova DGX platform, Audio Switching Boards with Dante are offered in pairs, with one board providing direct Dante networked audio connections on the input side, and a separate board for the output side of Enova DGX enclosures. The new audio switching boards are available in two models, each compatible with varying Enova DGX solutions. The DGX3200-ASB-DANTE kit brings 8 stereo decoded inputs and encoded outputs to Enova DGX 800, 1600 and 3200 enclosures, while the DGX6400-ASB-DANTE kit brings 16 stereo decoded inputs and encoded outputs to Enova DGX 6400 enclosures.

Enova DGX Audio Switching Board Kits with Dante are now available worldwide.

June 14
2017

June 14, 2017

HARMAN Professional Solutions Announces AMX Incite Professional Digital AV Presentation Solutions

All-in-one AV presentation solutions leverage industry-leading technologies by AMX, BSS, dbx and Crown to deliver exceptional video and audio performance in any presentation scenario

InfoComm (Booth #3201), ORLANDO— HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control systems, including networked AV, today introduced AMX Incite presentation switchers, new professional AV management devices that deliver powerful audio and video capabilities for a wide range of presentation scenarios, including classrooms, conference rooms and more.

Combining industry-leading AMX video technology with BSS, dbx and Crown audio technologies, AMX Incite systems include video scaling, windowing, audio amplification and processing, support for 4K60, integrated central control and distance transport, all at a price point that supports large-scale deployments and price sensitive rooms.

“Universities and corporate facilities with small and medium-sized conference room spaces need unified audiovisual solutions that are easy to purchase, design, install, configure and maintain,” said Shaun Robinson, Vice President, Corporate, Education and Government CSU, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “The new Incite presentation switchers eliminate the need to purchase multiple signal management devices, and provide exceptional value for customers who need a robust and easy-to-use presentation solution. Leveraging industry-leading technologies by AMX, BSS, dbx and Crown, Incite delivers exceptional video and audio performance for any presentation scenario.”

AMX Incite offers the highest quality video switching, scaling and distance transport on the market. Support for 4K video at 60fps on input and scaled outputs provides current and future support for permanent and visiting source devices connected simultaneously, including 4K and non 4K. Current HD signals can be upscaled, while 4K/60 can be downscaled, providing flexible compatibility from source to display. HDBaseT-based distance transport provides full 4K/60 at 4:4:4 capability over a cost-effective category cable for simple point-to-point applications.

Featuring BSS, dbx, and Crown audio technologies, AMX Incite delivers legendary HARMAN sound quality.

An integrated BSS digital signal processor allows for precision tuning to match unique source and room attributes, and includes advanced capabilities like an independent 10-band parametric EQ, independent input gain adjustments and variable compression. Enhanced microphone processing includes a three band EQ, compression, gating, auto-ducking and limiting on each microphone input to ensure crystal clear communication.
dbx AFS (Advanced Feedback Suppression™) takes the guesswork out of controlling feedback. Simply enable AFS per audio output group and Incite automatically stops feedback to prevent distractions and avoid damage to speakers and ears.
Crown DriveCore™ amplification technology seamlessly integrates the amplifier drive stage into the power output stage. DriveCore's front-end drive circuits leverage the efficiency of Class D output stages while also maintaining superb sonic characteristics, resulting in an ultra-efficient one-piece audio amplifier circuit that exhibits the pristine audio quality of a highly evolved Class AB design.

AMX Incite is capable of advanced video windowing with scaling. Users can send two sources to a single display in various preset configurations (side-by-side, top-bottom, and picture-in-picture), and the AMX Incite will automatically scale the sources to fit the resolution requirements of the destination display. Incite also includes “live production” style video features, such as transition effects when switching between sources, enabling presenters to add a professional look and feel to presentations.

AMX Incite is easy to purchase, install, configure, and maintain. Flexible interface options include integrated web GUI, front control panel and on-screen menu setup. Incite is a Native NetLinx device which can be controlled via native NetLinx ICSP commands. Full feedback and notifications are provided for NetLinx integration.

In addition to the base model, two models will be available with additional features and hardware options:

A version with the addition of a 70/100V and a Stereo DriveCore (from Crown) amplifier is available in the same one-RU footprint.
A version which includes a full AMX NX-2200 central controller is available in a two-RU footprint. This version includes full NX-2200 control port and processing capabilities, along with integrated private control network (ICSLan) functionality.

Incite presentation switchers will be available this fall.

For more information, visit:

http://trade.amx.com/products/NCITE-813.asp, base unit

http://trade.amx.com/products/NCITE-813A.asp, unit with Crown DriveCore™

http://trade.amx.com/products/NCITE-813AC.asp, unit with Crown DriveCore™ and NX central control.