AV SYSTEMS DESIGN

THE JOURNAL OF AV SYSTEM DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

Designing THE RANCH

Restaurant & Saloon
Control Room
System Design

Identifying and
Solving EDID
Issues

Summer 2012 | www.avsystemsdesign.com

 Choose Quantum.

Extron HDCP-Compliant Videowall Processors

At extron, we know videowalls. From small conference room displays to the largest command and control systems,
we know what customers expect from a videowall processor. thats why we designed Quantum to be easy to specify
and provided features that make it quick to integrate and simple to operate. With full HDmI and HDCP support, Quantum
processors are the superior choice for videowall displays.

Quantum Elite 615

HDCP-Compliant Scalable Videowall Processing System

Quantum Elite 408 Quantum Connect 408

HDCP-Compliant Scalable Videowall HDCP-Compliant Videowall
Processing System Processing System
 Choose Success.
Easy to Design, Easy to Congure, Easy to Use
QGE 100
DVI/rGB Computer Screen Capture IP encoder
Successful Designs
D Integration: Quantum videowall processor
input and output options integrate seamlessly
with your switching, distribution, and control
systems.
D Scalability: Card frame architecture lets you
customize Quantum videowall processors for
your application. Select the ideal configuration
from a variety of input, output, and card frame
options.
D Input Flexibility: Accepts a wide range of
input signals including HDmI, DVI, analog
rGB, HD, and standard definition video,
plus DVI/rGB signals streamed over an IP
network using the QGe 100.
D output Flexibility: Works with nearly any
display device including: projection cubes,
single input projectors, 4K projectors,
LCD flat panels, and microtiles.
Successful Integration
D Fast input detection: Detects and displays
input sources in less than one second.
D Simple source setup: Quantum videowall
processors allow you to quickly create
capture profiles for non-standard sources
applying them to all input channels in a
single step.
D hDCp compliance: new HDmI input and
output cards are fully HDCP compliant,
enabling presentation of copy-protected
content from Blu-ray players or PCs on
HDCP-compliant displays.
D Support: extron Videowall Commissioning
service helps ensure success. An extron
engineer will assist with pre-installation
design review, on-site programming and
optimization, and operator training.
www.extron.com/quantum
Successful Operation
D Simple control: Select window layouts
and change sources using the Quantum
control software and an extron touchLink
touchpanel, or third-party controller.
D Quality imaging: High performance, patented
scaler technology maintains optimal image
quality, keeping customers focused on their
content, not the technology.
D Reliability: Designed for 24/7 operation in
mission-critical environments, Quantum
videowall processors are the ideal choice for
your most demanding applications.
 Contents VOLUME 2, NUMBER 1

48

16 62

Cover Story

16 THE RANCH
A new, upscale restaurant and saloon brings a long-awaited performance
and dance venue for country music to Southern California.
Feature Story

48 Control Room System Design

A growing market opportunity for AV system integrators.
By Keith Scheffler

Technically Speaking

62 EDID: A Guide to Identifying and

Resolving Common Issues
By Jim Scrivner

Departments
56 Whats Inside 58 EXTRON NEW 61 Tech Watch 74 Design Forum 76 Tech Corner
The Extron XPA 2003C PRODUCTS Interesting technologies Using iPad for HDMI Cable Quality
Three Channel Combo The latest product that you need to System Control Matters in Pro AV
Amplifier 200Watts introductions from Extron know about By Derek Joncas By Ron Justice
Per Channel

2 AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 7 56 76
10,000,000:1 720 Hz
Contrast Ratio
Refresh Rate

181
Viewing Angle

9 74 86

NEWS COLUMNS

7 Company News 4 From the Editor

New North Carolina Facility Opens, Extron Expands with To Thine Own Self Be True
Eleven New Regional Offices, Extron Quantum Elite and By Casey Hall
Christie MicroTiles, University Future-Proofs Classrooms,
Secure AV for G8/G20 Summits Achieved with Extron Fiber 6 Corner Office
Making THE RANCH
10 Industry News By Andrew Edwards
No HDMI Version Numbers, New Grounding Symbols on
Audio and Control Ports, New Half Rack Standard 13 Stories from the Road
The Case of the Missing Controller
11 Now Shipping By Karl Rosenberg
The latest products available from Extron
14 The Pro Perspective
Reducing the Impact of BYOD
By Tim Siglin

80 Hidden Gems 82 Education Central 83 Company Events 86 The Last Word

Half Rack Shelf System Extron XTP Systems Extron Institute and Specsmanship
By Dave Pincek Certification: Its All Tradeshows By Steve Somers
About the Know How

www.avsystemsdesign.com 3
 From the Editor
To Thine Own
Self Be True
I m no expert on classic literature, but there are moments when
that line hits home. And it applies to Extron more than ever
these days.
A few months ago Andrew made the announcement that Extron
would no longer exhibit at the InfoComm USA or ISE Integrated
Systems Europe tradeshows. Since that time Ive heard all sorts of
wild speculation put forth as possible reasons for the decision. While
its always fun to turn the crank on the rumor mill, there really
isnt any more or less to it than what Andrew communicated in his
column. Were being true to ourselves and true to what has made the
difference for our customers since Andrew started Extron in 1983
were putting our energy into products, support and training.
Regional Sales and Support offices
Not all that long ago, the majority of AV system installations were
centered in a handful of world markets, and Extron could cover
global business from a small number of headquarter locations:
Anaheim, Amersfoort, Singapore, and Tokyo. Today, Extron has
grown to more than 20 sales and support offices worldwide, and
were committed to opening nearly a dozen new locations in the
next couple of years. As you know, Extron is not merely a sales
company. Each of our established, new, and planned regional
offices is a full service location, with local technical support and
training personnel just a phone call away. Look for us in Beijing,
Johannesburg, Moscow, New Delhi, and Mexico City; and in
Chicago, Dallas, New York, Silicon Valley, and Toronto.
Regional Sales and Technical Staff
Many of you have commented that you like having your Extron
Sales Manager in town. Were putting more feet on the street customers at the Bash was always a treat. In particular, I have
each month with the addition of Field Support Engineers, System
Design Engineers, Trainers and Field Sales Staff as fast as we can
find and train qualified professionals to fill these positions. More
Extron personnel, located down the street or the next town over,
means more timely responses to your Extron sales and technical
needs. Plus, you now have local resources to help you with needs
assessment and design reviews, present new product solutions,
and close sales with your key customers.
4 From the Editor
Training and Certification
Extron wouldnt be Extron without the S3 Technical Institute.
With everyones busy schedule during InfoComm and ISE, we
found that we could only serve a small number of students with
training at these shows, with barely enough time to skim the
surface on topics like EDID, digital rights management, and
digital signal path integrity. For 2012, were bringing Extron
Institute classes to you with expanded EI course schedules in all
of our training facilities.
In addition to our familiar schools of AV Technology and
Emerging Technologies, weve also developed specialized
Extron certification training for Configurable Control Systems,
and will soon be offering in-depth training on our award-
winning XTP Systems line of digital video products which are
now shipping.
Extron Roadshows
Our industry has changed dramatically over the past few years,
demanding efficient and effective use of every billable hour of
time. Many of you have commented that its becoming harder and
harder to find a week in your schedule to devote to an industry
tradeshow and travel, let alone send your entire staff. Thats why
were putting Extron products on the road, with regional events
planned for Europe, Asia and major US cities. Each roadshow
location will also host one of our well known Extron Institute On
The Road courses, bringing you the latest training to complement
our new product offerings.
Will we miss InfoComm USA? Certainly. It has been a great
event, and for those of us in the Support department, seeing our
always loved the high-fives we get at the end of the party as we
say goodnight to everyone. However, as good as those accolades
make us feel, Im happy to trade them for the peace-of-mind that
comes with knowing that were putting ALL of our energy into
efforts that directly support our customers and our products. And
for all of us at Extron, that rings true.
Casey Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, North America
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 XTp Crosspoint 3200
XTp Crosspoint 1600 modular matrix Switcher
modular matrix Switcher

XTp T uWp 202 XTp T uWp 304

transmitter transmitter

XTp r hDMI XTp T hDMI

XTp T uSW 103
receiver
transmitter transmitter

XTp T VGA XTp Sr hDMI

transmitter receiver

Extron XTp Systems

extron XtP Systems provide a completely integrated switching and distribution solution for multiple digital and analog formats. they
support local connectivity as well as extended transmission capability for sending high resolution video, audio, rS-232, ethernet, and
power up to 330 feet (100 m) over a single CAt 5-type cable.

Easy to Set up reliable

Xtp Systems can easily be set up and configured out of the
box to save you time and money. Intuitive control software
provides straightforward system configuration without
complicated programming.
Xtp Systems deliver robust system reliability and dependable
switching of video signals through eDID and hDCp key
management. Featuring advanced 24/7 system monitoring and
hot-swappable modular components, Xtp Crosspoint matrix
switchers are built for continuous, trouble-free operation in the
most critical applications.

performance Flexible System Designs

Xtp Systems deliver extremely high switching and transmission
performance to support a wide range of video formats,
including the highest resolution DVI and hDmI signals. the high
data-rate digital backplane provides a truly future-ready aV
integration solution.
Xtp Systems let you easily integrate digital and analog devices
into your system design. Connect and switch between local
devices, or extend to remote locations up to 330 feet (100 m)
away using just a single Cat 5-type cable that carries, video,
audio, RS-232 or IR control, ethernet, and power.

Now Shipping Select Configurations

Contact your extron Support Representative to Design your Xtp Systems

www.extron.com/xtp
 Corner Office
Making
THE RANCH
W hen I meet customers who attend our Extron Institute in
Anaheim, CA, for the first time, Im often asked Where
are you from? I guess its my accent that gives it away. Im
originally from Wilson, North Carolina. Even though Ive lived
in Southern California for the last 30 years, I still reply that Im
just visiting. You know what they say, you can take the boy
out of North Carolina, but you cant take North Carolina out of
the boy.
Along with my North Carolina roots comes a passion for
country western music and dancing. Im talking two-step and
some west-coast swing. I dont line dance. I used to dance with
my daughter, Ashton, at the Crazy Horse Steak House & Saloon,
and I met my wife, Morgan, there as well. We were regulars at
the Crazy Horse until it closed in 2005.
Since the Crazy Horse, there hasnt been a successful venue
that truly caters to the country western music crowd in Southern
California. At least until now. In January of this year I opened
THE RANCH Restaurant & Saloon, a 20,000 square foot facility
dedicated to fine dining, country music and, of course dancing.
Designing Extrons new six-story worldwide headquarters and
THE RANCH Restaurant and Saloon has been an interesting
experience to go through, and its been quite an education for me.
I thought I knew a little bit about what we do in this industry,
but I quickly learned how much I didnt know about what AV
industry consultants and integrators go through when working
with general contractors and the various trades that are involved
in such a large project. Seeing the degree of expertise required
first hand, the scheduling that has to be maintained and what
happens if you change your mind. Youve got to have people that
you can count on who are going to guarantee the job gets done
and gets done right. Let me tell you something, for big projects
like these, a 200,000 square foot Class A building in Anaheim
and 146,000 square foot building in Raleigh, NC, both built
at the same time you need special people just to install the
window shades!
Early on, there was a lot of talk about standard practices
with projects like this. Well, we dont do things the standard
6 Corner Office
way; we do them the right way, whether its easy or not. Ive
learned that you cant be penny-wise and pound-foolish in
deciding whos going to do the job. We came up with a really
good contractor and worked with them on a building that goes
far above the industry standard. In fact, weve been told that our
new Anaheim headquarters has the highest standard put into a
Class A building that theyve ever worked on.
I am a perfectionist and determined from the start that we
were going to use products, such as lighting and performance
audio systems, from manufacturers who do things the way we
would do them if we made those products. The folks at Lutron
understood what we were trying to achieve and worked with
us to create the lighting controls used throughout THE RANCH
Restaurant and Saloon, and in the corporate areas of the
Anaheim headquarters and our new East Coast headquarters in
Raleigh. For the concert sound system in the Saloon, we went
with Meyer Sound, not only because they had the best products
for the stage, but because John and Helen Meyer are people
after my own heart; they do things the right way and delivered
a system that complements top-level touring acts without
overwhelming the audience.
Doing things the right way extends to THE RANCH operations
as well. Its not for everyone. You wont find peanut shells on
the floor or folks dancing in the aisles. What you will find is a
clean, upscale restaurant and saloon with an outstanding staff
and a menu to match. Its really no different than what weve
done for years on the AV hardware side develop and deliver
the best products available, with the best customer service we
can provide.
The next time youre in Anaheim for one of our Extron
Institute training courses, youll get to experience THE RANCH
first hand. Bring your boots; were going to do a little
two-stepping!
If you have any comments, I would like to hear your thoughts.
Email me at president@extron.com.
Andrew Edwards, President
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 Company News

New North Carolina

Facility Opens
Extron has moved its East Coast operations
into a new, four-story, 146,000 square
foot building on a seven-acre campus in
Raleigh, North Carolina. The new building
includes an 8,000 square foot training
facility, and expanded areas for sales,
manufacturing, as well as research and
development. The state-of-the-art training
center will include a demo room and an
audio demo room to showcase the latest
products and technology offered by Extron,
and large classrooms to facilitate training
classes and certification programs. With
a larger sales floor and a larger sales team,
Extron can better serve its customers in
the East with continued local support and
its 24-hour tech support hotline.
The new building is part of a major
expansion effort in North America, which
includes a new corporate headquarters
building in Anaheim and recently
opened product demonstration and
training facilities in Washington, DC.
Other Extron offices are located in The
Netherlands, London, Paris, Frankfurt,
Singapore, Japan, China, and Dubai.
Extron is looking for talented people
to fill a number of job openings. For
more information, visit our Web site at
www.extron.com.

Extron Expands Washington DC Beijing

with Eleven New

Regional Offices
Extron will open eleven additional new
regional offices for training and product
demonstration worldwide. The new
offices will be located in the Silicon
Valley area, Dallas, Chicago, New York,
Washington DC, Toronto, Mexico City,
Moscow, Johannesburg, New Delhi,
and Beijing. Extron training choices, including courses receive the support needed to be
With offices throughout the world, to pursue various Extron Certifications. successful and get the job done.
Extron product demonstration and training These new facilities will bring us The Beijing and Washington DC offices
will be more accessible and available to closer to so many more people, says are now open, and the Dallas area facility
customers. Each facility includes a state- Andrew Edwards, President of Extron. is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter
of-the-art training room fully equipped to It will be much easier for our customers of this year. More details regarding the
showcase and demonstrate the latest in around the world to attend training other new offices will be announced soon.
Extron technologies and solutions. Staffed courses and learn about products at After the expansion, Extron will have
by Extron S3 Institute experts, these convenient times and locations. Our more than 30 offices worldwide to serve
facilities will feature a familiar variety of objective is to see that our customers its customers.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Company News 7

 COMPANY NEWS
Extron Quantum Elite
and Christie MicroTiles
Emerson is a diversified global
manufacturing company recognized
for its ability to bring technology and
engineering together to create solutions.
Reinforcing this brand, the Emerson
corporate lobby in St. Louis, Missouri
includes a cutting-edge videowall display
featuring an Extron Quantum Elite
videowall processor. System integrator
Innovative Technology Group sought
a processor that could provide best-
of-class scaling and drive 48 Christie
MicroTiles at their maximum resolution.
This requirement was met by Extrons
Quantum Elite videowall processor.
Capable of processing over 58 million
pixels, it allows for scaling and image
magnification across extremely large,
high resolution displays.
A variety of window layouts can be
created using Quantum Elite Control
University Future-
Proofs Classrooms
Western New England University in
Springfield, Massachusetts recently
completed the largest project in the
schools 92-year history: the construction
of a $40 million, 127,000 square foot
academic building to house programs in
8 Company News
Software, an intuitive control interface
for setup, configuration, and system
operation. Users can recall window
layouts and select sources via an intuitive
touchpanel control system interfaced
to a PC running this software. The
Quantum Elite Processor responds to
control commands with no system lag,
allowing users to quickly and efficiently
operate videowall systems in real-time.
The Quantum Elite videowall
processors best-in-class image quality
pharmacy, biology, chemistry,
physics, and psychology. The
college hired Wassmann Audio
Video to design and install the
AV systems.
The University wanted to
future-proof 31 new classrooms
by installing digital AV systems
that are able to support current
analog equipment, including
VGA laptops and document
cameras, alongside digital
sources including Blu-ray Disc players,
desktop PCs, the latest laptops, and
future digital sources such as tablets.
Wassmann selected Extrons MPS 409
Media Presentation Switcher for each
rooms AV system and used Extron
MTP/HDMI U T A D and MTP/HDMI U R
Universal Twisted Pair Transmitters and
Receivers to send HDMI and analog
coupled with its ability to drive high
resolution displays made it an ideal
solution for Emersons state-of-the-art
videowall. It also met the challenge
more cost-effectively than alternative
processors in the same class, making
it the clear choice for system designer
George Brosie of Innovative Technology
Group who stated; Quantum Elites
ability to match the high pixel density
of the MicroTiles was a key feature that
helped make the installation a success.
VGA, audio, and control signals over
CAT 6 cables to a Sanyo 1280800
LCD projector.
Extron MPA 401-70V 40 watt mono
power amplifiers were used in some
classrooms, and XPA 2001-70V 200
watt mono power amplifiers in larger
rooms, to power distributed ceiling
speakers. Both amplifiers are ENERGY
STAR qualified and feature Extrons
exclusive, highly efficient, advanced
Class D amplifier design with auto
power down.
For system control, Wassmann
used Extrons MLC 226 IP MediaLink
Controller to standardize the control
interface and provide intuitive AV control
for faculty members. The school is
considering a campus-wide deployment
of GlobalViewer Enterprise for centralized
technical support of all buildings.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

Secure AV for G8/G20 Summits
Achieved with Extron Fiber
The Joint Security Forces responsible for
information sharing and security at the
G8 and G20 economic conferences in
June 2010 required a secure AV system
to coordinate command and control
operations. Canadian AV integrator,
Applied Electronics, Inc. was selected to
design and install the AV system with
Extron products to support mission-
critical operations at and between
the four temporary command centers
spread across the Province of Ontario:
one in Barrie, one in Huntsville, and
two in Toronto. In addition to security,
reliability, flexibility, and ease-of-use
were vital system requirements, Applied
Electronics chose Extron products
for complete end-to-end routing and
control of the AV signals. We used
Extron as a single source because they
had everything required for this major
job, and their equipment provided the
ideal solution for what we needed, says
Wolfgang Pechmann, Project Manager
for Applied Electronics.
www.avsystemsdesign.com Company News
Rendering simulating actual command center
Red/Black System Design
Displays for the G8 and G20 attendees
presented event schedules and current
media information, while command
center monitors and displays provided
an extensive selection of security
graphical and contextual data. Extron
fiber optic products formed the core
AV system for the command centers in
Barrie and Toronto, with twisted pair
products supporting the command
center in Huntsville. Fiber optic cabling
and unidirectional fiber optic links
provided electrical isolation between
unclassified AV signals from non-secure
sources and classified secure data
link signals.
Video sources included secure
computer feeds, computer workstations,
satellite receivers, a traffic camera
system, and an air-to-ground camera
system. Applied Electronics integrated
Extron FOX Matrix 7200 modular fiber
optic matrix switchers populated with
FOX I/O 88 MM 88 input/output boards
COMPANY NEWS
to provide up to 72 inputs and 72 outputs
for routing digital AV signals.
Fiber for High Performance Reliability
The FOX Matrix 7200 fulfilled the
requirements for security, reliability, and
robustness. It provides dual redundant
and hot-swappable power supplies,
hot-swappable input/output boards, field-
upgradability, and the capability to switch
high speed AV signals, with any source
being routed to any destination with zero
latency or processing of the signals.
To simplify integration, Extron
FOXBOX and FOX 500 Series DVI and
RGB fiber optic extenders provided
all-digital, pixel-for-pixel performance,
and direct conversions from RGB to
DVI-D. Computer-generated data was
transmitted through FOX 500 DVI fiber
optic extenders to a local monitor and
each sites matrix switcher for system-wide
distribution. Media feeds were converted
from standard definition composite and
component signals to high resolution RGB
signals using Extron DVS 304 scalers. The
scaled signals were then transmitted via
FOXBOX VGA fiber optic extenders to the
main distribution system, while the secure
feeds utilized FOXBOX DVI transmitters.
Displays and projectors included discreetly
mounted FOXBOX DVI Plus receivers.
Reconfigurable for Future Events
With the training provided by Applied
Electronics integrators and Extron
engineers, the Canadian security forces
are capable of installing and controlling
AV systems in various configurations
for use at other events with very little
assistance. They are quite pleased with
the reliability of their AV equipment,
the ease with which system designs
are reconfigured, and the dedication
and personalized service provided
by technology experts from Applied
Electronics and Extron.
9
 Industry News
No HDMI
Version Numbers
On January 1, 2012, the HDMI
organization began actively enforcing
the HDMI Adopted Trademark and
Logo Usage Guidelines to address long-
standing market confusion about HDMI
compatibility. The guidelines require the
removal of any numeric reference to a
particular version of the HDMI standard,
eliminating possible implications of
performance that may not be achievable
by the product.
Historically, although a cable or device
was listed as complying with a numeric
version of the HDMI standard, it may
not have actually supported all features
available for the stated version, such as
deep color, 3D, alternative audio formats
and color spaces, etc. Thats because
many of the features introduced within
the various versions of HDMI are actually
optional at the manufacturer or adopter
level. Before the new rule, a product
could advertise HDMI 1.3 compliance
because it supports deep color, but only
has maximum pixel clock of 165 MHz.
Such a product would support deep color
at 720p but is incapable of deep color
at 1080p/60.
The new requirement calls for
manufacturers to promote only the
supported HDMI features on a product-
by-product basis. The only real way to
ensure that a product you are considering
will support the HDMI features
you need is to carefully review the
manufacturers specifications.
As for HDMI cables, there are
now five cable types to choose from;
each designed to meet a particular
10 Industry News
performance standard. All HDMI cable
products will now be required to be
labeled by cable type. Look for these
labels when choosing the HDMI cable
that is best for your needs:
STANDARD HIGH SPEED
STANDARD HIGH SPEED
with ETHERNET with ETHERNET
STANDARD
AUTOMOTIVE
New Grounding
Symbols on Audio
and Control Ports
Over the coming months, you may notice
a change on the back panels of many
Extron products. Extron has traditionally
used the familiar earth ground symbol,
which looks like an upside down tree, to
identify the ground pin on all applicable
ports: DC power, audio, and control. A
new directive issued by Underwriters
Laboratories UL and the International
Electrotechnical Commission IEC, has
further defined the earth ground symbol
and limits its use to the identification of
ground pins that are physically bonded
to the AC inlet ground and can sustain
high amperage.
In response to the new directive, new
Extron products will use the following
symbols for ground pins:
On DC power ports, we will use +
and - symbols
On audio ports, we will use the signal
ground symbol, which looks like an
upside down arrow
On control ports, we will use an
uppercase letter G
Look for these changes on future
products and product documentation.
New Half Rack
Standard
Extron Electronics and Middle Atlantic
Products are initiating and supporting
the establishment of a new standard
for half-width rack systems for AV
integration. Working in cooperation with
the Electronic Components Industry
Association - ECIA, Extron and Middle
Atlantic are seeking to establish and
maintain a specific ECIA standard
for what has typically been offered as
a custom rack offering until now. To
further strengthen the quality and
application of the standard, the two
companies are inviting manufacturers
of compact-format devices to join a
communication and working group for
this effort.
Extron has long advocated the use
of standard, rack-mount enclosure
dimensions as a means of improving AV
system designs and integration, says
Dave Pincek, Vice President of Product
Development for Extron. With this
proposed new standard for a compact
mounting system, key AV equipment
can now be more easily integrated
into lecterns, columns, table legs, and
similar spaces without sacrificing system
functionality, thermal management, or
room aesthetics.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 Now Shipping
TLP 710CV
7" Cable Cubby
TouchLink Touchpanel
The Extron TLP 710CV is a configurable
7" Cable Cubby TouchLink Touchpanel
that combines AV system control with
the convenience of an Extron Cable
Cubby enclosure. The TLP 710CV features
a flip-up, full-color, high-resolution
touchscreen in an elegant, metal
enclosure that can be mounted securely
into a tabletop, lectern, or other flat
surface. An integrated MTP twisted pair
receiver accepts S-video or composite
video and audio input signals over
SME 100 HD
SME 100
H.264 Streaming Media Encoder
The Extron SME 100 is a live streaming
media encoder that interfaces with DVI,
RGB, HDTV, and standard definition
signals for delivering media over IP
networks. It is designed specifically for
pro AV applications and features an
www.avsystemsdesign.com Now Shipping
TLP 710CV
CAT 5-type cable. Power over Ethernet
- PoE allows the touchpanel to receive
power and control over an additional
CAT 5-type cable, eliminating the need
for a local power supply. The touchpanel
enables integrators to deploy furniture-
mountable, fully configurable touchscreen
integrated three-input switcher with
audio, plus buffered loop-throughs for
simplified integration into AV systems.
The SME 100 employs standards-
based H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and AAC
encoding, and outputs an IP stream
that can easily be decoded and viewed
on desktop or laptop PCs. High
performance Extron signal processing
control, with cable management and easy
access to AV connectivity and power. A
built-in speaker provides audio for video
preview and audible feedback from
button presses.
www.extron.com/tlp710cv
scales and optimizes video input signals
for the intended viewing application.
Encoding controls also provide
adjustments for bit rate and quality. By
extending AV signals over networks,
the SME 100 significantly expands AV
system capability.
www.extron.com/sme100
11
 Now Shipping
MLC 104 IP Plus App
MediaLink for iPad
iPad Control App for MLC 104 IP Plus
and MLC 226 IP Controllers
MediaLink for iPad is an AV control
system app designed for the Apple iPad.
MediaLink for iPad provides users with
an additional point of control for rooms
with an installed Ethernet-enabled
MLC 104 IP Plus control
System 5 IP control
MediaLink for
Windows
Control Application for the
MLC 104 IP Plus, MLC 226 IP,
and System 5 IP
MediaLink for Windows is an AV
control system application designed
for computers running Microsoft
Windows XP and Windows 7. It allows
12 Now Shipping
MLC 226 IP App
MediaLink Controller, and its familiar
user interface looks like the MediaLink
controller on the wall. It supports
MLC 104 IP Plus and MLC 226 IP
MediaLink Controllers that are configured
using Global Configurator. Each button
press is tracked between the app and the
controller, allowing both to stay in sync.
Presenters can wirelessly control the AV
MLC 226 IP control
the classroom computer to become an
additional point of AV system control for
rooms equipped with an MLC 104 IP Plus,
MLC 226 IP, or System 5 IP. MediaLink
for Windows supports real-time button
tracking between the application and the
controller, allowing both to stay in sync.
A button press on either the application
or controller will immediately be reflected
on the other. The application is small
system using a Wi-Fi network, allowing
them the freedom to move throughout
the room. It also provides real-time status
and remote control of multiple rooms
for troubleshooting and management.
MediaLink for iPad is available for
download at the Apple iTunes App Store.
www.extron.com/medialinkforipad
in size, and may be easily docked and
hidden. This provides convenient, discreet,
and easy access to the AV control system,
while presenting from the same computer.
The familiar user interface provides a
similar look and feel to the controller
on the wall. MediaLink for Windows is
Section 508 compliant.
www.extron.com/medialinkforwindows
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

The Case of the
Missing Controller
By Karl Rosenberg, Regional Application Specialist
and Extron Institute Trainer
A s a regional application specialist for Extron Electronics,
Ive seen the computer and AV worlds become increasingly
intertwined. One of those points of intersection is Apples iPad,
and in particular its use as an AV system controller.
I recently visited a mid Atlantic reseller to give an Extron
training class. The reseller was using an Apple iPad as the sole
control interface for the rooms AV system. When I arrived, the
iPad turned the rooms lights on and then sat there for about an
hour while we set up for the class. Then the iPads battery died. It
turned out that someone had forgotten to charge it overnight.
The situation was made worse by the fact that the room we
were using didnt have a spare power outlet with which to recharge
the iPad; that had to be done in the next room. I asked how long
the charging cable was and was told it was the standard iPad two
or three-foot long cable, and an extension cord was not available.
I explained that I wanted to actually control the equipment in the
training room from the training room, not from the room next
door, but to no avail.
So while the iPad was charging next door, I had to stand on a
table to switch the input on the overhead projector from input one,
which was the Polycom videoconferencing/VTC system, to my
laptop on input two.
The problems kept mounting. With no iPad, we had to use the
Polycom remote control which was also missing. By the time we
found the remote, we discovered that it too had dead batteries in
it. Someone finally found a set of the right batteries.
While the iPad was dead or missing, someone began calling
into the training room, and the calls automatically routed through
the VTC system onto the screen. If the iPad had been there, we
would have been able to deny the call and go on with our
training session. Without the iPad, every time a call came in, the
system switched the screen to the VTC input; whatever I had on
the screen disappeared and everything ground to a halt. Finally,
someone had to get on a landline and call the office to ask them
to stop putting calls through to the training room.
The next morning we discovered that the iPad belonged to an
employee who took it home the previous night and forgot to bring
it back. And yes, I had a class that day too. Now, however, instead
of a dead iPad, we had no iPad at all.
The iPad owner drove home, brought the iPad back and
www.avsystemsdesign.com Column
Stories from the Road
everything finally worked out, but not without a lot of unnecessary
problems. Unnecessary because if the company had used one of
our TouchLink Touchpanels along with the iPad, when the iPad
went down, we could have used the touchpanel itself, instead of
relying on the iPad as the sole control interface in the room.
If you want to use an iPad to control
your AV system, thats fine, but use
it in conjunction with a permanent
control panel...
The iPad is a wonderful device, particularly in facilities such as
older schools where the classroom PCs are often antiquated. Ive
seen classrooms with computers running Windows 98! As a result,
teachers will often bring their own iPads to class, since the tablets
are much faster than the old desktop PCs.
However, there are problems associated with using an iPad
as your only AV system controller. I often walk into a school or
company and hear a client exclaim, Hey, look, were using an
iPad! Im excited for them; its like they just bought a new car.
But I know exactly whats going to happen and its exactly what
did happen in the aforementioned case: the batterys going to
die, or the iPad is going to go missing. Every time I hear about an
iPad being used as the sole controller of an AV system, I also hear
some horror story to go along with it.
The bottom line is that if you want to use an iPad to control
your AV system, thats fine, but use it in conjunction with a
permanent control panel, such as a TouchLink touchpanel
or MediaLink controller. That way, if the iPad isnt charged or
perhaps not even present, the touchpanel can still control your AV
system. TouchLink Touchpanels are hardwired, reliable interfaces
that, in conjunction with an IP Link control processor, work every
time, and youre not likely to accidentally take one home and
forget to bring it in or charge it.
Karl Rosenberg is Regional Application Specialist at Extron Electronics based in the Mid-
Atlantic region of the U.S. He provides product and technology training at Extron Institutes
and Extron Institutes on the Road. Karl has worked in the AV industry for 24 years, and was
named 2008 NSCA Instructor of the Year for the College of Technical Knowledge.
13
 The Pro Perspective
Reducing the
Impact of BYOD
By Tim Siglin,
Chairman of Braintrust Digital
I n the simpler days of AV system design and integration, only a
decade or so ago, most corporate boardroom, lecture hall, and
classroom systems consisted of a few dedicated sources, typically
a desktop computer and VHS or DVD player. The equipment itself
was nothing fancy and presenters brought in their presentations
on some form of electronic storage media.
Soon, presenters began bringing in their own source devices,
usually in the form of a personal laptop. From that point on, day-
to-day AV system use required a significant amount of additional
cabling and projector tweaking, especially if the presenter brought
in something really unusual, such as an Apple Powerbook or other
non-Windows device with an odd aspect ratio or resolution.
This early first wave of whats become known as BYOD, Bring
Your Own Device, meant a rethinking of AV system designs,
one driven by a number of
uncertainties that could at
least be contained. Assuming
the projector could handle
the input or youd designed
one of Extrons video scalers
into the system, problems
could be minimized. After a
few years, we became adept
at accommodating a range
of laptop choices, and AV
system design settled into a
comfortable, predictable pattern once more. One could almost
hear the collective sigh of relief from AV designers and integrators.
Recently, the iDevice* appeared like a shark in the water, and
things became unsettled once again.
This second wave of BYOD is fueled by a whole new species of
content devices: set-top boxes, handsets, and mobile tablets, with
names like Google Android, Apple iOS, HP WebOS, and Microsoft
Windows Phone. These are the new reality in AV design, and to
safely navigate the iDevice-infested waters, integrators must be
aware of hardware-software combinations and device security.
HARDWARE-SOFTWARE COMBINATIONS
Most of us have trained ourselves to read product spec sheets,
looking for standards-based inputs and outputs before creating
14 Column
our designs. Sure, weve heard the occasional fish story about the
one that got away, a product that didnt quite match up to the
standard or specification. Fortunately, those are far fewer than
the numerous stories we share of products that lack support for
a certain signal path from a specific input to a specific output.
BYOD connectivity is fast becoming the sole narrative
in our AV system designs. The software and hardware in
mobile devices, while designed for consumer use in consumer
settings, may not work so well, if at all, when connected to
a professional AV system.
Ive had one foot in the networking world and the other
in AV for the past 20 years, and Ive learned one major lesson:
when it comes to computers, tablets, and mobile handsets,
be skeptical of the spec sheet.
Even though two
devices may share the
same chipset and baseline
specifications, its up to
the AV designer to confirm
that a particular hardware-
software combination will
work before centering design
on that combination. And
even if the products list
compatibility with a popular
specification, thats no
guarantee they actually comply with that specification.
Consider Google TV. Two companies, Logitech and Sony,
launched Google TV-powered set-top boxes to capitalize on the
trend to digitize content for playback on multiple displays. Both
companies used the Google reference design and the same Intel
Atom processor, and both included integrated media players that
could play content across local area and wide area networks.
Both also claimed compliance as Google TV products. Yet one
succeeded in the marketplace while the other failed spectacularly.
The Google TV specification for media playback is based on a
table of popular codecs and signal formats that are meshed into
key combinations, such as H.264 and MP4.
Because both Sony and Logitech products were based
on the official Google TV specifications, it should have been
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
safe to assume that these products would play content in the
codec/format combinations listed in the Google TV spec.
Not quite. The Logitech product, Revue, had a significant
number of unsupported codec/format combinations, and those
combinations proved to be deal-breakers for a number of potential
users, causing a flood of product returns. Logitech ultimately
decided to discontinue Revue and all Google TV products.
Sonys products, on the other hand, closely match the Google
TV specification, albeit with a few limitations such as DTS audio
playback. Sony, for its part, says its products are selling very well
and has tripled its Google TV product line for 2012.
But even products designed to a specification are not immune
to unforeseen issues downstream. The recent update to Google TV
2.0, for example, has apparently broken workarounds used to solve
some initial product shortcomings, adding another wrinkle for AV
designers: the firmware update.
The BYOD world will have many more of these stories, from
designers and end users alike. To get out in front of the tsunami
headed our way, its best to specify not only a version of the
device and operating system (e.g., iPad 2 running iOS 5.0.1) but
also the version of the application software with which the system
was tested. Its also not a bad idea to turn off device auto-update
features for applications, at least until testing is completed.
DEVICE SECURITY
Before the era of the mobile presentation device, physical security
was also very simple: a generic key in a generic lock on a generic
cabinet. It was much harder to walk out of the room with the
desktop computer, and even providing physical security for
laptops required little more than a simple Kensington lock.
In todays BYOD environment, were dealing with personal
devices loaded with intensely personal information, and our
system designs need to accommodate the physical security
of those devices. No presenter wants to connect their iPad or
iPhone to the display system and then walk away from it for a
round of glad-handing around the room; the average presenter
will likely slip the device back into a briefcase or pocket until
their presentation starts. Because devices are now connected to
the system just prior to the presentation, the average facilities
tech has to scramble to test the system again at the last moment
if something goes awry. Long term, we need to be thinking of
ways to protect devices while also making the facilities persons
job easier. The solution could be as simple as providing an
architectural mounting frame with a clear acrylic top, where the
device is easily seen and used, but not so easily removed.
Then, theres the issue of network security. Most IT
departments are more concerned about securing the network
from the device than they are about providing easy WiFi and
Internet access to visiting presenters. Go to any RSA conference
www.avsystemsdesign.com Column
BYOD connectivity is fast
becoming the sole narrative
in our AV system designs.
or listen to any IT administrator and youll likely hear the
term sandboxing.
Sandboxing is a means of restricting browser access to the
host devices operating system, such as blocking a third-party
Web browser plug-in from accessing a laptops Web camera
without explicit permission. The idea is to place either the device
or the content in a de-militarized zone, or DMZ, between the
firewall and the outside world, so that untrusted or untested
devices have limited access to limited corporate information.
Most presenters use their own devices to guarantee that they
can control the presentation and its flow, but few have practiced
in an environment where network access is limited or blocked
altogether. One issue we often see with presenters who want to
stream content live as part of a presentation is that key ports on
a corporate router are intentionally blocked.
So, what does sandboxing mean for AV designers? I think we
find a striking parallel in the history of AV designs centered on
laptop computers: presenters looking to fully self-contain their
presentations in order to guarantee the ability to deliver.
We think this trend will re-emerge in the mobile device era, but
with a distinctive twist. Instead of forcing presenters to contain all
the content on the device, a set of trusted applications will emerge,
much like the Acrobat Reader, Flash plug-in, and Microsoft Office
applications that are accepted on corporate devices and networks
worldwide. Some of these applications may even be created by the
AV industry; first as a one-off way to provide trusted access on a
particular corporate network, but spreading to required use on a
number of customer sites worldwide.
The challenge is daunting. Our research has found over 4,400
permutations required for existing Android, Apple, Microsoft,
and RIM devices. The use of trusted applications will be the
one guaranteed way to fend off the iDevice sharks and clear the
waters for AV system design. An added benefit is that there will
be a significant amount of ongoing support work identifying and
working around the next school of iDevices on the horizon.
* iDevice is used here to describe a wide range of portable devices
and set-top boxes capable of storing, streaming, and playing audio
and video content.
Tim Siglin is Chairman of Braintrust Digital, a media production company, and co-founder of
the consulting firm, Transitions, Inc. He has been involved in AV systems design since 1992,
serving customers on five continents and focusing on the complex integrations of new media
technologies years before they reach mainstream use.
15
THE RANCH
A new, upscale restaurant and saloon brings
a long-awaited performance and dance venue
for country music to Southern California.

T
HE RANCH is a state-of-the-art, fine dining
and country music establishment located
on the ground floor of the brand new
Extron Electronics corporate headquarters
in Anaheim, CA. A personal vision and dream of Extron
President Andrew Edwards, THE RANCH comprises a
rustic yet elegantly styled restaurant based on regional
American cuisine and fine wines, and a similarly themed
saloon next door for live concerts and dancing. This new
venue delivers a unique combination of a quality culinary
experience with a seasonally driven menu emphasizing the
best local ingredients grown on THE RANCH farm, and an
intimate setting for musical performances featuring local
and prime country music artists.
Facility Design Team
EXTRON ELECTRONICS
Andrew Edwards, President
Owner
Ron Tucci, Vice President of Facilities
Project Manager

NEWSON BROWN ACOUSTICS, LLC

Michael Brown, Principal
Rolando De La Cruz, Acoustical Consultant
Acoustic Design Consultants

Technical Design Team

EXTRON ELECTRONICS
Andrew Edwards, President
John Fish, CTS-D, Consultant Applications Engineer
Principal Designer, Sound and AV Systems
Project Manager, Sound, AV and Lighting Systems

ALL STAGE PRO

Ian Ingram, Designer, C.O.O.
Theatrical Lighting Design
Sound System Design Support

MEYER SOUND LABORATORIES, INC.

Michael Creason, Design Services Manager
FOH Speaker System Design Support
 THE RANCH Saloon features a large, 47 by 26 foot (14 by 8 m) sunken dance floor for guests to enjoy country
music dancing, and be up close and personal with the performers on-stage. Inset: President and Owner
Andrew Edwards and his wife Morgan.
Inspiration for THE RANCH
The inspiration for Andrew Edwards, Extron President and Owner,
to build THE RANCH is his deep, lifelong passion for country
music and dancing the two-step, as well as fine cuisine. It also
stems from an emotional longing for a flagship destination for
country music performances and dancing, which had disappeared
in Orange County and Southern California since the closure in
the 1990s of the legendary Crazy Horse Steakhouse & Saloon. For
many years, Andrew would frequent there as well as other venues
to experience intimate performances by well-regarded country
artists, and dance the two-step with his wife Morgan and his
daughter Ashton.
THE RANCH is Andrews personal vision of a new, special
upscale destination that pays homage to the Crazy Horse, while
honoring the history of country music in North America. It is also
a place where passionate country music fans in Orange County
and Southern California can call home again.
18 Cover Story
The Extron Dedication to Customer Satisfaction
Extends to THE RANCH
For 29 years, Extron Electronics has been delivering high
quality, robust AV product solutions, together with unparalleled,
personalized customer support services. Both have always
been part of Andrews uncompromising principle of combining
customer satisfaction and product quality. THE RANCH
continues to deliver on that business principle through the
extensive, year-long culinary R&D program put in place to
ensure THE RANCH delivered the best possible dining and wine
experience from day one. For further insight on THE RANCH
restaurant, see Andrews article on page 6.
This devotion to customer service also included a
comprehensive, multi-year process of conceptualizing, designing,
and installing a state-of-the-art, live sound reinforcement system
featuring high performance Meyer Sound speakers, as well as
high performance AV systems featuring Extron audio amplifiers
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
and speakers throughout the saloon and restaurant. Simply put,
Andrew wanted THE RANCH to be equipped with The finest
sound system available, so that patrons could always enjoy a
pleasurable, high quality sound experience, whether watching a
live performance, dancing, or dining in the restaurant.

Essential AV Requirements at THE RANCH

Andrews personal vision for THE RANCH, particularly the
saloon, was a revival of the historical, intimate country music club
atmosphere that brings on-stage performers up close and personal
with the fans. The saloon features a 40 foot (12 m) wide concert
stage with backstage facilities, plus a large, 47 by 26 foot (14 by 8 m)
sunken dance floor. Its seating capacity of 178 patrons, or up to
350 with audience seating on the dance floor, makes it a small club
venue, yet one with everyone close to the entertainment on-stage.
More than two years prior to the start of construction in 2010
for the Extron corporate headquarters building, Andrew and
Extron Consultant Applications Engineer John Fish began to lay
out the essential requirements and plan solutions for delivering A flexible Extron AV routing system provides HD video to six LCD panels over
all of the AV operations for THE RANCH. Several experts in live the Longhorn and Mustang bars.

sound reinforcement, building acoustics, and broadcast video

production were also consulted.

High Performance, Live Sound Reinforcement System
and Acoustics
The most important requirement for the sound system was that
it be capable of delivering very high quality reinforcement for
live country music concerts. Basically, the system should be
capable of playing music at a moderately high volume level up
to 105 dB, with a wide, balanced frequency response and be free
of distortion. The sound should generally be perceived as being
loud, yet still comfortable to hear. The system needs to deliver
appreciable sound pressure levels as appropriate, but never
actually sound too loud to the point of discomfort, says Fish.
This is especially important during concerts, when there is a
tendency to really crank up the volume from the stage.
Andrew was absolutely insistent on the sonic character
of the room being a vital part of the sound system, since
poor room acoustics can negatively impact audio quality. He
therefore mandated a holistic approach to sound system design
that includes both acoustic treatment and equipment, with
the ultimate goal of fully appreciating the sonic performance
without acoustical issues getting in the way.
High Quality Background Audio
The requirement for high quality sound also extended to
background music for both the saloon and the restaurant. The
system design needed to include a large quantity of hi-fi quality
speakers rather than conventional paging speakers to ensure
Andrew wanted THE RANCH
to be equipped with The finest
sound system available, so
that patrons could always enjoy
a pleasurable, high quality
sound experience.
full bandwidth music delivery with even coverage throughout.
We wanted to put in a high density of speakers everywhere to
avoid the typical hot spots, while allowing us to keep the volume
at moderate, comfortable listening levels, Fish says.
AV Presentation Needs
A total of six large LCD flat-panel displays were to be installed in
the saloon, four at the 47 foot (14 m) Longhorn bar and two at the
27 foot (8.2 m) Mustang bar. Flexible switching and routing would
be necessary, so that staff could switch TV channels for any of the
displays, and select the TV channel to be played through overhead
speakers at each bar, or engage closed-captioning.
Professional Video Capabilities
Although high performance live sound reinforcement would
be the major focus for AV in the saloon, there was also the

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 19

 2 Large space acoustics

1 Performance venue

High performance sound system 4

Multiple points of Extron control 6

Design Challenges and Solutions at THE RANCH

1 Performance venue next to fine dining restaurant
DESIGN CHALLENGE
Sound isolation between the saloon and restaurant must be maintained to keep a lively concert performance contained
within the saloon, especially for deep bass frequencies.
SOLUTION
Use a wall of rooms design with functional space between the saloon and restaurant. This space, in combination with
specialized multi-layered walls creates an effective sound barrier.

2 Large space acoustics

DESIGN CHALLENGE
Create a controlled acoustical environment within a large, 122,000 cubic foot (3,450 m3) performance space with an RT60
value of just 0.8 seconds, essentially the sonic qualities of a high-end listening room.
SOLUTION
Use a generous quantity of acoustic materials integrated into ceilings and walls to limit reflections. Install an overhead 4,500
cubic foot (127 m3) bass trap to prevent low frequency resonances.

3 Hidden cable pathways

DESIGN CHALLENGE
Design a fully adaptable, flexible system infrastructure for future-proofing, with high capacity cable pathways throughout
the saloon, while also ensuring that everything is hidden from view.
SOLUTION
Install wide cable tray systems close to the ceiling that cover the stage and audience areas. Large, below-floor conduits
provide concealed cable pathways between the monitor and front-of-house locations. Large conduits also extend through
the outer building shell to allow access for production trucks in the parking lot.

20 Cover Story AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 3 Hidden cable pathways

Multiple sources & destinations 5

4 High performance sound system

DESIGN CHALLENGE
The high performance sound reinforcement system must be of extremely high quality, meet the expectations of top-level
touring acts, and be absolutely failsafe.
SOLUTION
Use rider-friendly sound reinforcement gear in all critical locations, including Meyer Sound line arrays and subwoofers,
and Yamaha consoles at the FOH and monitor positions. Create an analog backup pathway parallel to the primary digital
audio path.

5 Multiple sources and destinations

DESIGN CHALLENGE
Provide parallel, flexible signal distribution for both HDMI and composite video to LCD flat panels as well as Extron
TouchLink touchpanels for video preview. Endpoints require cabling distances well over 100 feet (30 meters).
SOLUTION
Use Extron HDMI and composite video matrix switchers for signal routing and distribution, together with Extron
DTP HDMI 301 twisted pair extenders for HDMI signals.

6 Multiple points of Extron control

DESIGN CHALLENGE
Integrate AV, audio DSP, lighting, and HVAC into a single user control interface, to enable centralized system control from
multiple locations throughout THE RANCH.
SOLUTION
Use Extron IP Link Ethernet control processors and TouchLink touchpanels, together with custom technology developed
specifically for THE RANCH, to work with AV as well as building automation systems.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 21


The cold storage area and other rooms near the Longhorn bar are designed
with multi-layered walls to prevent sound from passing between the saloon
and restaurant.
need to support presentations and video productions. This
includes adding pan/tilt/zoom HD cameras into the design
to allow image magnification - IMAG for on-stage performers
and dancers to be captured for routing to large screens and
digital video recorders. Infrastructure was also needed to
facilitate outside broadcast production crews, and in-house
video productions for capturing live performances. The plan
was to add video production capabilities sometime after the
initial opening of THE RANCH, but have all the available
facilities and infrastructure in advance.
System Control
THE RANCH had several system control requirements that
extended well beyond switching a TV channel or playing a DVD.
A single point of control using Extron technology was needed for
controlling the HVAC, lighting, sound system, and AV equipment.
This would give authorized staff the ability to tailor the ambient
lighting and audio to a particular setting or application, and
quickly and efficiently make environmental adjustments to
ensure patron comfort and satisfaction.
As a particular example, Andrew wanted the system to be
capable of maintaining temperatures on the dance floor and
on the stage below 65 F (18 C), with each zone separately
controlled. Additional zones would be required throughout the
saloon and also the restaurant, with a total of 36 temperature
sensors and 33 independently adjustable HVAC zones. All zonal
control and monitoring were to be accessible from an Extron
TouchLink touchscreen interface.
22 Cover Story
Challenges and Solutions for System Integration
at THE RANCH
The chance to design and build a restaurant and saloon from
scratch allows a very unique opportunity to assume total control
over all stages of planning and construction, while avoiding the
many integration challenges commonly associated with existing
building structures. However, many of the specific and even
unique application needs for THE RANCH presented their own
challenges that required careful planning, system design, and
well thought-out solutions.
Sound Isolation Between the Saloon and Restaurant
The saloon and restaurant are separate entities of THE RANCH.
One venue will be a lively atmosphere with music presented at
appreciable volume levels during concerts and DJ nights, while
the other will be a quieter setting with music in the background.
With the saloon adjoining the restaurant, a significant issue arises
in trying to keep the sound of a concert performance contained
within the saloon.
To address the need to attenuate appreciable sound pressure
levels from the saloon to the restaurant, Newson Brown Acoustics,
LLC, a very well-respected acoustical consulting services company
in Santa Monica, CA, was consulted during the architectural
design stage to help develop an effective solution. Working in
collaboration with GAA Architects, Inc. in Irvine, CA, Newson
Brown Acoustics performed detailed acoustical analysis and
modeled some potential solutions to isolate sound between the
two venues.
A very well-designed, single wall structure would provide some,
but not enough acoustical isolation. A barrier with two sound wall
structures and a sufficiently sized air gap in between will deliver
much better sound abatement, but substantial space would have
to be sacrificed. John Fish ultimately proposed a wall of rooms
with two reinforced walls dividing both halves of THE RANCH,
and saloon and restaurant operations spanning between them.
This offered the dual benefit of having large air gaps roughly
between 8 and 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m) to deliver very significant
noise attenuation, while maximizing space between the walls for
functional operations of the saloon and restaurant.
Successful sound isolation requires careful attention to detail,
taking into account all possible avenues for sound leakage,
including the seams where the walls meet the floor slabs and
upper floor deck, electrical junction boxes, and gaps around
conduit, plumbing, and air ducts. We really took great care to
minimize the potential for objectionable sound bleed-through
between the adjacencies for the two spaces, says Michael Brown,
Principal at Newson Brown Acoustics. The Wall of Rooms
sidebar provides more detailed information about the measures
taken to isolate sound between the restaurant and saloon.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 THE RANCH Floor Plan
THE RANCH is an upscale entertainment venue with A TECHNICAL FEATURE B ACOUSTIC CHALLENGE C UNIQUE FEATURE
a restaurant and saloon, as well as a 14,000 bottle
Restaurant AV Systems Wall of Rooms 4,500 cu. ft (127 m3) Bass Trap
wine cellar. It occupies 20,000 sq. ft (1,858 m2) of the See page 41 See page 25 See page 26
first floor in the new Extron corporate headquarters in
Anaheim, California. There are many unique structural
and system design elements in THE RANCH that
meet numerous acoustical, performance, and
operational challenges in establishing particularly
high benchmarks for live sound, pro AV, and system
control. The performance and capabilities of the AV
systems for THE RANCH are well beyond the norm
for fine dining and live sound venues.

D
Carolina Room
Monitor World

FOH E

DJ Booth

VENUE FACTS VENUE FACTS

C
The Restaurant The Saloon
8,400 sq. ft (780 m ) facility
2
8,700 sq. ft (810 m2) facility
Exhibition-style 3,000 sq. ft (280 m2) kitchen 40 ft (12 m) wide concert stage
Seating for 360 guests 47 by 26 ft (14 by 8 m) sunken dance floor
The Porch
Six separate dining areas, including The Longhorn and Mustang full-service bars
Carolina Room for private dining, and The Concert seating capacity of 350 guests
Porch indoor and outdoor patios A State-of-the-art sound reinforcement system
Background music system featuring 86 featuring Meyer Sound speakers
Extron System Integrator Series speakers 14 flown speaker cabinets in two line arrays
and nine Extron MPA and XTRA Series Five double-18 inch (46 cm) subwoofers in a
ENERGY STAR qualified amplifiers custom-built bunker below-stage
12 independently controllable audio zones 87 Extron System Integrator Series
Dedicated AV presentation systems for The Restaurant Saloon speakers installed with ten Extron XTRA
Entrance Entrance
Carolina Room and The Porch Series ENERGY STAR qualified amplifiers
Extron control system with TouchLink to support 19 audio zones
touchpanels for AV, lighting, and HVAC control AV system featuring Extron SMX 300-based
Lutron lighting control systems HDMI/DVI switching, distribution, and long
Bidirectional digital audio links connect distance transmission via DTP HDMI 301 to
restaurant and saloon audio systems six 52 inch (132 cm) LCD monitors
Extensive acoustic treatments within ceilings Extron control system with TouchLink
D UNIQUE FEATURE E TECHNICAL FEATURE
and on walls throughout touchpanels for AV, audio DSP, lighting,
Speaker Constellation in Trellis Subwoofer Bunker and HVAC control
See page 32 See page 30 Extensive acoustic treatments on ceiling and
walls, plus a large overhead bass trap

R E S TA U R A N T & S A L O O N

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 23 24

 Wall of Rooms Creating a Controlled Acoustical Environment Within a
In order to isolate and prevent live music produced in the saloon from entering the restaurant, the design team utilized Large Space
a wall of rooms concept, in which functional spaces such as the ticket booth, security booth, storage area, and The room acoustics had to be well-controlled to minimize their
restrooms were constructed between the saloon and restaurant, using multi-layered walls on both sides to block acoustic impact on sound system performance. John Fish targeted an
transmission. Each wall utilizes multiple layers of building material, such as gypsum drywall, acoustic batting, and air gaps. RT60 of 0.8 seconds for the saloon, which essentially would
The wall system transduces air vibration acoustical energy into wall vibration mechanical energy then back into air
make it comparable to a benchmark listening room in a
vibration. These changes in state greatly attenuate the acoustical energy. The functional spaces between the walls span
production studio. However, the saloon was to occupy a large,
8 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m), providing another important barrier that further reduces the acoustic energy.
122,000 cubic foot (3,450 m3) volume in an empty building
shell, which inherently presents opportunities for reverberation
because of the wide open space and the numerous
reflective surfaces.
Dual Layer
5/8" (1.6 cm) Acoustical treatments included 6 inches (16 cm) of semi-
Steel Plate Gypsum Board Acoustic
rigid fiberglass panels on the ceiling, 2 inch (5 cm) semi-rigid
Sealant
fiberglass panels on a significant portion of the walls along the
perimeter of the saloon, heavy black drapery lining the back
wall of the stage, and a combination of rigid and semi-rigid
acoustic panels on the perimeter walls of the dance floor. See
the sidebar, Overcoming Acoustical Challenges. Some elements
of the saloons interior design, including the brickwork for the
columns and the cedar beam trellis around the dance floor,
provided diffusion to give the sonic character some liveliness.
Acoustic
Batting
Acoustic
Energy
Overall, the rooms sonic character is very well-controlled
without sounding excessively damped. We determined the
appropriate quantity of acoustical treatment by detailed
calculation, to provide the optimal balance between audio
clarity, which benefits from minimal reverberation, and room
ambience, which ensures perceptible audience response for the
performers, Brown says.
To control the low frequency resonances that can give the
bass response within the environment an objectionable boomy
character, Newson Brown Acoustics took advantage of a large,
empty space above the Longhorn bar to design and install a
large bass trap. See the sidebar below. This solution proved
very effective in absorbing bass frequencies and ensures a tight,
well-defined sonic character from the subwoofers.
Designing a Fully Adaptable, Flexible System Infrastructure
Commercial AV system designs often include some form of
future-proofing to allow some opportunity for expansion. But
for THE RANCH, and the saloon in particular, there was a
wide range of potential future applications and functions to
be supported, especially video presentation and production, as

4,500 Cubic Foot (127 m3) Bass Trap

A large bass trap, measuring 7.5 ft (2.3 m) tall, 50 ft (15 m)
Triple Layer 5/8"
Gypsum Board long, and 12 ft (3.7 m) deep, was constructed over the
Longhorn bar, directly opposing the stage. It serves to
attenuate acoustic reflections and limit standing waves 2" (5 cm)
Acoustic Panel
to optimize the low frequency response of the room,
significantly improving the clarity of the sound mix. The Acoustic Energy
bass trap utilizes six layers of 2 inch (5 cm) thick semi-
rigid insulation panels, spaced out to progressively reduce Black Drapery
Covering
acoustic energy as it passes through the layers. All
surfaces of the cavity are lined with these panels, and the
AC Outlet with Restrooms, Storage opening is covered with a thick black drape to conceal
Acoustic Sealant Area, or other the bass trap.
Functional Space

Bass Trap
Acoustic energy within the saloon is fully Trellis
diminished by three sonic barriers before it
can enter the restaurant. The first barrier is
the wall boundary for the saloon. The second
barrier is the air space on the other side of the Stage Mustang Bar Longhorn Bar
wall. The final barrier is the wall boundary for
Air Gap
the restaurant, a complex structure of multi- Subwoofer Bunker
layered construction elements that complete
the acoustic attenuation.
LIFT PAGE
to see the floor plan

25 26 AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012


An extensive infrastructure of cable trays and conduit travel above and below
the stage and audience area in order to accommodate current and future
applications and technologies.
well as new technologies that may emerge down the line. John
Fish was tasked with the unusual challenge of designing a system
infrastructure with the maximum flexibility to basically allow
any sort of new technology, cable, device, or application to be
incorporated into the system, permanently or temporarily, without
major structural changes or system redesign.
Fish designed the infrastructure with a system of overhead
cable trays and vertical ladder trays that provide ample reach for
routing cables anywhere above and below the stage, and above
the dance floor and seating areas. The system originates from
the equipment racks in Monitor World, an area at stage right
dedicated to the monitor console, amplifiers, signal processing,
and audio patching. This cable management system keeps a large
quantity of cabling well-organized, and provides plenty of space
for expansion and modifications.
Additional cable paths were also provided below the stage
and under the dance floor. PVC pipes were installed at the
building exterior behind the stage, leading below-stage to a
floor box upstage center with additional conduits running to
the FOH - Front of House console area, and to Monitor World.
Having conduit access at the building exterior will allow direct
connection to a video production truck rolled in for a special
event or media coverage. The large conduit paths will provide
plenty of space for video engineers to easily run whatever cable
they need for their cameras and other video equipment in
the saloon.
We asked ourselves the question of what to provide for
a broadcast truck, whether triax, SDI, or fiber, Fish says.
Ultimately, the answer was simple none of them! Just provide
a generous conduit path so anything can be brought in with
no restrictions.
Fish also included extensive tie lines for XLR, coaxial, fiber,
and CAT 6 connections extending from dedicated patch panels
www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story
Overcoming Acoustical Challenges
A common reality, in the construction of live music venues,
is that acoustical considerations are not addressed due
to budget constraints or aesthetic demands. For example,
interior design elements can take precedence over good
acoustic principles, leading to reflective surfaces that conflict
with the intended sonic character of the venue.
The most important functional objective for the saloon
was to deliver very high quality sound with a low RT60
value for good tonal definition and intelligibility. Therefore,
acoustical treatments needed to be accommodated
within the interior styling. In the restaurant, acoustical
considerations also were very important, to create a
sonically well-controlled environment where patrons can
always converse normally and comfortably with each other,
even when the restaurant is busy.
The perimeter walls around the saloon and many of
the walls in the restaurant were treated with semi-rigid,
2 inch (5 cm) acoustic panels and covered with acoustically
transparent fabric. The walls surrounding the sunken
dance floor were acoustically treated with 1 inch (2.5 cm)
semi-rigid panels behind 1 inch rigid panels for protection
against accidental bumping. These panels limit the
bouncing of sonic waves off hard surfaces that lead to
unwanted reverberations and a degradation of the overall
sound quality in the saloon. In the restaurant, the panels
significantly reduce the hard surface reflections typical in
many restaurants that lead to elevated ambient noise levels,
making it difficult to have normal conversations.
The acoustic panels have an NRC - Noise Reduction
Coefficient rating of 0.95, meaning they absorb 95% of the
sound that comes into contact with the panel in the critical
250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz vocal ranges. While
these panels are intended to help control reflections within
the space, they also aid in reducing sound transmission
between the saloon and restaurant.
5/8" (1.6 cm)
Gypsum Board
2" (5 cm)
Acoustic Panel
Acoustic Energy
Fabric Covering
Wood Trim
Acoustic panels integrated into the interior design of THE RANCH
contribute to the desired RT60 value of 0.8 seconds, by absorbing up
to 95% of sound waves in the vocal frequency range.
27
 at Monitor World out to several locations on the stage, as well as
the FOH console area. This provides a ready-to-go interconnection
infrastructure for bringing in production equipment, placing it
anywhere on-stage or in the audience to meet touring riders with
specific audio or video connectivity needs.
A prominent engineer for a televised awards program
evaluated what we were doing with the infrastructure design,
Fish says. His verdict was, This is perfect! There is everything
we need to have a production here.
Creating a High Performance, Credible Live Sound
Reinforcement System Design
Andrew had envisioned THE RANCH as the benchmark venue
for local artists, as well as the destination in the region for
top country performers seeking an appealing, more intimate
alternative to the large arenas, stadiums, and performing arts
centers. Therefore, the mandate to John Fish was straightforward:
go for the best in performance and quality when selecting
equipment for the live performance system, to make it capable of
meeting the typical requirements in riders for these top touring
acts. The system is being designed far beyond what would be
expected in a normal club, simply because of the need to be able
to attract top-level performers, Fish says.
Despite the mandate to specify the best equipment,
designing a live sound reinforcement system that meets the
typical riders for top touring acts can be challenging in many
ways. Sound engineers for high-level acts may be particular about
the brand and model of certain gear theyll want to use, such as
the mixing console or microphones. Therefore, bringing in the
best from a specific manufacturer may be good for one artist
but not preferable for another. Another challenge is that many
products right-sized for a small club venue, such as speakers, may
not be rider-friendly. Speakers acceptable to touring acts typically
28 Cover Story
are large vertical arrays designed for much larger venues than
a club. Bringing arrays into a small club environment is an
interesting challenge for sound design, because theyre really for
big spaces, Fish says.
Fishs system design begins with 76 total available microphone
connections on-stage, from floor boxes and wall panels. These
connections are homerun to patch panels in the racks in Monitor
World. From there, 48 mic lines are available for patching into a
custom Ramtech stage box that provides two direct outputs and
two Jensen transformer-isolated outputs. The direct outputs go
to remote mic preamps, and directly to the FOH console as an
analog backup. The isolated outputs are for monitoring and for
video broadcast production trucks. The monitoring outputs go to a
Yamaha M7CL 48-channel digital mixing console, where the mic
channels are mixed, processed, and then output to the monitor
system. A Yamaha DME 64N DSP digital mixer further processes
and optimizes the audio for eight stereo wireless in-ear monitor
systems, and a variety of Meyer Sound stage monitor speakers
including the UM-1P and UM-100P, and the UMS-1P subwoofer.
Front-of-House Console
The mic channels that passed though the Ramtech stage box are
routed to seven Yamaha AD8HR high performance mic preamps.
The AD8HR preamps feature the same well-renowned microphone
preamplifier circuitry in Yamahas flagship PM5000 analog mixing
console. Here, the mic signals are converted to 48 kHz/24-bit
digital audio, and then the AES/EBU digital audio channels are
converted to EtherSound through Yamaha NAI48-ES network
audio interfaces. The result is a single STP network cable that
carries all the mic channels over to the FOH area, and into a
second Yamaha M7CL digital mixing console.
The performance of the FOH mixing console plays a very
important role in the quality of the sound mix for the main left
and right stage speakers, and therefore the overall performance
of the live sound reinforcement system. FOH engineers working
with top-level artists generally demand top-quality consoles. Since
the best was needed for THE RANCH, a high-end digital mixing
console was certainly under consideration. But the reality with
mixing consoles is that at the upper-tier of FOH engineers working
for top-level touring acts, there tend to be individual preferences.
Choosing a specific model could mean that one top-level act might
embrace it, while another may not want to work with it at all.
The Yamaha PM5D was among the top-tier consoles being
considered for THE RANCH. This console and the smaller M7CL
are very popular with FOH engineers. It was ultimately decided
that instead of choosing the higher-end touring console, the M7CL
would be a better fit for the saloon because of its wide appeal
and accessibility to FOH engineers working with a range of bands,
including local, mid-level, and also top-tier acts that happen to
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 Saloon Performance Audio System

Microphones

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
AD CONVERTOR WITH REMOTE PREAMP

1 OVER
-6
2 OVER
-6
3 OVER
-6
4 OVER
-6
5 OVER
-6
6 OVER
-6
7 OVER
-6
8 OVER
-6
+48V POWER
96kHz
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 88.2kHz
+48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12
-18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
48kHz HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30
44.1kHz -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 HPF
WORD CLOCK IN GAIN/ +48V
DIGITAL OUT A dB DATA MASTER
OFF ON
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 WORD CLOCK ON/ OFF

AD CONVERTOR WITH REMOTE PREAMP

1 OVER 2 OVER 3 OVER 4 OVER 5 OVER 6 OVER 7 OVER 8 OVER +48V POWER
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 96kHz
88.2kHz
+48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12
-18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
48kHz HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 44.1kHz -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 HPF
WORD CLOCK IN GAIN/ +48V
DIGITAL OUT A dB DATA MASTER

Analog WORD CLOCK OFF ON

ON/ OFF

AD CONVERTOR WITH REMOTE PREAMP

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 OVER
-6
2 OVER
-6
3 OVER
-6
4 OVER
-6
5 OVER
-6
6 OVER
-6
7 OVER
-6
8 OVER
-6
+48V POWER
96kHz +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V
-12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12
88.2kHz -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 48kHz
44.1kHz
HPF -30
-48
HPF -30
-48
HPF -30
-48
HPF -30
-48
HPF -30
-48
HPF -30
-48
HPF -30
-48
HPF -30
-48 HPF
WORD CLOCK IN GAIN/ +48V
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 DIGITAL OUT A dB DATA MASTER
WORD CLOCK OFF ON
ON/ OFF

Analog
AD CONVERTOR WITH REMOTE PREAMP

1 OVER 2 OVER 3 OVER 4 OVER 5 OVER 6 OVER 7 OVER 8 OVER +48V POWER
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 96kHz +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12 +48V
-6
-12
88.2kHz -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
48kHz HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30
44.1kHz -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 HPF
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 WORD CLOCK IN
DIGITAL OUT A dB
GAIN/
DATA
+48V
MASTER
WORD CLOCK OFF ON
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ON/ OFF

AD CONVERTOR WITH REMOTE PREAMP

1 OVER
-6
2 OVER
-6
3 OVER
-6
4 OVER
-6
5 OVER
-6
6 OVER
-6
7 OVER
-6
8 OVER
-6
+48V POWER
96kHz +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V
-12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12
88.2kHz -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 48kHz HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30
44.1kHz -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 HPF
WORD CLOCK IN GAIN/ +48V
DIGITAL OUT A dB DATA MASTER

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 WORD CLOCK OFF ON

ON/ OFF

AD CONVERTOR WITH REMOTE PREAMP

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 OVER
-6
2 OVER
-6
3 OVER
-6
4 OVER
-6
5 OVER
-6
6 OVER
-6
7 OVER
-6
8 OVER
-6
+48V POWER
96kHz +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V +48V
-12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12
88.2kHz -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
48kHz HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30
44.1kHz -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 HPF
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 WORD CLOCK IN GAIN/ +48V
DIGITAL OUT A dB DATA MASTER
WORD CLOCK OFF ON
ON/ OFF

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 AD CONVERTOR WITH REMOTE PREAMP

1 OVER
-6
2 OVER
-6
3 OVER
-6
4 OVER
-6
5 OVER
-6
6 OVER
-6
7 OVER
-6
8 OVER
-6
+48V POWER
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 96kHz +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12 +48V -12
88.2kHz -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
48kHz HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30 HPF -30
44.1kHz -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 -48 HPF
WORD CLOCK IN GAIN/ +48V
DIGITAL OUT A dB DATA MASTER
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 WORD CLOCK OFF ON
ON/ OFF

49 50 51 52 53 54
Remote Microphone Preamps Digital

FOH MONITOR BROADCAST

EtherSound
POWER
ISOLATED ISOLATED

POWER

Network Audio Interface Digital

EtherSound

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER
SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL
-6 -6 -6 -6 -6
-9 -9 -9 -9 -9
-12 -12 -12 -12 -12
-15 -15 -15 -15 -15

CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE -18
-24
-18
-24
-18
-24
-18
-24
-18
-24
CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE
OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER
-40 -40 -40 -40 -40
-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6
-50 -50 -50 -50 -50
-12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12

-18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 MIX MATRIX -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18

-30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30

Stage Box
-60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60

MIX / MATRIX HA DYNAMICS 1

ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON THRESHOLD ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON
PAN DYNAMICS 1

THRESHOLD

HPF
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
FREQUENCY

EQ
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

House Monitoring Broadcast

HIGH

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FREQUENCY
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 HIGH MID 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Analog Backup 10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
FREQUENCY

LOW MID
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
10

20

30
FREQUENCY
40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 LOW 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60
FREQUENCY

Digital
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
SCENE MEMORY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ST IN ST IN ST IN ST IN STEREO MONO 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
1 2 3 4
0 10
STORE RECALL MONITOR
SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL
LEVEL

CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE USER DEFINED KEYS CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE CUE

Analog Backup
OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER OVER

-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6

-12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12

-18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
1 2 3 4 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18

-30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30 -30

-60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60 -60

ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON 5 6 7 8 ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON

9 10 11 12
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Analog Backup
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
MATRIX

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 17-24 25-32 41-48 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

MIX9-16
20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
1-8 9-16 ST IN STEREO 33-40
30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
MIX1-8

40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 DCA 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60

ST IN ST IN ST IN ST IN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 STEREO MONO
33 34 35 36 37 38 49 40

FOH Mixing Console

Signal Processors
Digital Speaker Speaker
Management System Management System
Digital 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Analog
Backup
ENTER ENTER

Primary A C E SIGNAL/CLIP

MUTE
SIM
A C E SIGNAL/CLIP

MUTE
SIM

Path 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
ENTER

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
ENTER

Path
ENTER ENTER

MENU CANCEL MENU CANCEL

B D F SIGNAL/CLIP B D F SIGNAL/CLIP

MUTE MUTE

Center Fill Speaker

Dance Floor Dance Floor
Extron
MDA 3A

Left Fill Right Fill

MDA 3A
POWER
INPUT OUTPUTS
12V BAL
.3A MAX L R L 1 R L 2 R L 3 R ON

Distribution Amplifier
1 2 3

1 2 3
UNBAL

Front Fill Speakers

House Left Speaker Array Subwoofers House Right Speaker Array

CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 5 CH 6 CH 7 CH 8
VOLTAGE

AC POWER LOAD
CURRENT

Column Fill Speakers

48 V DC Power Supply

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 29

 2" Fiberglass
Panels (3)
2" Fiberglass
Panels (2)
8" CMU
Concrete Wall

Acoustically Transparent
Fabric Cover

Meyer Sound 700-HP (5)

Subwoofer Bunker
Five Meyer Sound 700-HP subwoofers were installed under
the stage. This conveniently conceals them from view, but the space
under the stage can create a resonance cavity that could affect performance.
Additionally, significant deep bass will emanate behind the subs and adversely affect
performers on the stage. An option considered was the use of cardioid subs, which limit
directionality to the front of the sub, by sending out in-phase and out-of-phase low frequencies that
cancel out around the rear of the cabinet. However, achieving this effect requires sufficient space behind the
subs, and the performers would be too close to them. The solution was to construct a special bunker under the
stage to enclose the subwoofer array. The fiberglass panels and the cement walls act to block low frequencies coming out from
behind or above the subwoofers, effectively pushing out all of the deep bass from the front of the subwoofer array and into the room.

be using the PM5D console. Furthermore, many acts can bring
in their M7CL settings on a USB flash drive and plug it right into
the saloons console, and top-level performers can have their
PM5D settings translated for use on the M7CL. For performing
acts wanting high-end consoles, THE RANCH can simply rent a
specific model for the show.
Although we easily could have had a top-end console, the fact
that everyone will work with the M7CL made it the obvious choice
for us, Fish says. Well bring in whatever is needed for the big
acts, even a legacy analog console if thats what they want.
Audio Signal Management and DSP
The resulting house mix coming out of the M7CL console travels
back over EtherSound to Monitor World, where it is converted to
AES/EBU and then sent to a system of five BSS Audio Soundweb
London digital audio processors. These DSPs process the house
mix, as well as audio from the DJ and AV systems. They then
provide centralized routing and management of audio signals to
the main stage left and right speakers, the subwoofers, and the
many other speakers throughout the saloon. As Fish describes it,
The DSPs act as the traffic cop for all of the audio in the saloon.
The Soundweb London DSPs together provide total I/O capacity
for up to 32 digital input channels, 20 analog input channels, 12
digital output channels, and 32 analog output channels. There
are digital audio links to and from the restaurant, to facilitate
expansion of restaurant operations into the saloon, or bringing
live concert sound into the restaurant dining rooms.
Meyer Sound Speaker Line Arrays
As with the FOH console, the performance of the main left
and right speakers is critical in defining the quality of the live
sound reinforcement system. Meyer Sound is a particularly
well-respected brand for live sound reinforcement. Andrew
had fostered a very close relationship with Helen and John
Meyer, and as a result, they agreed to provide close guidance
and support throughout the system design, installation, and
commissioning, using the resources and talent of the Meyer
Sound engineering team.
When evaluating the ideal speakers to provide sufficient
coverage for the size of the saloon, Meyer engineers initially

30 Cover Story AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

suggested that a horizontal speaker cluster might be ideal for the
left and right stage speakers. Each cluster would have speakers
aimed toward the dance floor and speakers facing out to the
side seating areas. But top-level acts for live sound generally use
vertical speaker arrays for projecting sound in large venues. FOH
engineers for touring acts are accustomed to mixing to vertical
arrays, and they will typically be specified in riders. So the
decision was made to go with vertical arrays for THE RANCH.
Fish selected Meyer Sound MICA speakers for the saloon sound
system. A compact array of just six speakers on each side of the
stage provides the right amount of dispersion needed to cover the
size of the saloon. Smaller array speakers with somewhat more
modest amp power could have been chosen for THE RANCH, but
since the MICA was reasonably compact, and also familiar to
touring acts alongside the MILO, its bigger brother, it turned out
to be the best choice for meeting touring riders.
The substantial power output capability of the MICA arrays,
though well beyond what was necessary, provides an important
advantage in that the speakers will be driven far below their To meet this challenge, a subwoofer array of five Meyer Sound
maximum capability, which allows the sound to be maintained 700-HP subwoofers, each with two 18 inch (45 cm) drivers, is
at a very high quality level and well below distortion. Patrons enclosed in an acoustic bunker under the stage to contain bass
at THE RANCH in turn will always be assured a comfortable, energy and direct it outward, while preserving the visual appeal
pleasurable listening experience without the sound from the stage of the stage. See the Subwoofer Bunker sidebar for additional
blasting at them. This is a critical advantage in meeting a very information. Subtle time delays of 1 ms and 3 ms were added to
important mandate by Andrew to maintain moderate volume the inner and outer subwoofer pairs, respectively, to help spread
levels at all times, even during a full-blown concert, Fish says. the bass outward from the five-sub array.
While the five double-18 inch subwoofers certainly deliver very
Meyer Sound Subwoofers clean, tight bass at notable sound pressure levels, the amount of
An ample quantity of subwoofers was needed to deliver clean, low frequencies may be too much for anyone close to the stage,
solid, undistorted deep bass, with a flat in-room response down particularly when the dance floor is used for theater or table-
to 20 Hz, at moderate levels well below distortion. But in a club style seating during special events. An additional Meyer Sound
setting, finding the space to place them can be difficult. Stacking 600-HP twin 15-inch (38 cm) subwoofer was flown above each
them vertically on-stage yields an ideal cylindrical distribution MICA speaker array, allowing some of the low-end to be directed
pattern for the room, but this method takes up considerable space to them instead of the under-stage subs. Having the 600-HPs
and performers do not like being in close proximity to them. will allow us to steer some of the bass away from the dance floor
to minimize exposure for audience members seated there, Fish
explains. The additional subs will also give us extra flexibility to
support other applications.

Additional Meyer Sound Speakers

Audience members or dancers very close to the stage will be out
of the ideal coverage pattern of the main speakers. To compensate,
Fish selected four Meyer Sound UPM-1P compact profile speakers
to provide front fill for those close to the stage. In addition, Fish
provided center fill from a Meyer Sound UPQ-1P speaker, flown
above the stage in between the MICA arrays. This was for dancers
or a segment of the audience around the center of the dance floor,
where they would be just beyond the ideal dispersion pattern of
The subwoofer bunker the arrays.
during construction
www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 31
 Above: Custom black-painted Extron SI 26CT speakers were used overhead in the bar areas to
ensure high bandwidth music delivery and even coverage throughout. Right: Custom Extron SI 28
speakers were mounted in the trellis over the audience areas using custom mounting brackets
fabricated in-house.
Certain areas to the left and right of the dance floor may be
blocked from the main speaker arrays by columns. Fish had a
Meyer Sound MM-4XP speaker attached to the rear side of each
column to help project sound from the arrays to those areas.
The speakers are remotely powered by an MPS-488HP 48 V
power supply.
All of the Meyer Sound speakers are set up and optimized with
the Meyer Sound Galileo DSP processor. The Galileo provides
dedicated calibration and DSP adjustments for each individual
speaker model, including parametric EQ, delay, matrix mixing,
and filtering.
Extron Speakers for the Perimeter Areas
The Meyer Sound speakers provide excellent coverage for areas
within and bordering the dance floor. However, many of the
seating areas are beyond the ideal reach of these speakers. This
could be addressed by turning up the volume of the stage speakers.
But then the sound can become very loud and uncomfortable for
those near the stage. One of the most important objectives for the
sound system was very good distribution of sound everywhere,
with the sound in the room seeming loud when appropriate, but
not actually loud to the point of patron discomfort.
What Fish needed to do was take the sound from the stage
arrays and project it into the outer areas beyond the dance floor.
The original design solution was to add an exploded delay cluster
with the speakers spread around the perimeter of the dance floor,
each suspended from the ceiling. But when Andrew decided
that a cedar beam trellis would be added to the interior design,
this solution would not be practical. Fish then decided to take
advantage of the trellis and design a 70 volt speaker distribution
system using black Extron SI 28 two-way surface mount speakers
mounted to the beams, firing straight downward. The speakers
were modified with high quality Altec transformers that the Extron
32 Cover Story
engineering team found to be a very good match for the SI 28. The
SI 28s were also used in conjunction with a series of transformer-
modified Extron SI 28W two-way in-wall speakers mounted into
the ceiling, in an audience area that extends beyond the trellis.
A total of 35 SI 28 and seven SI 28W speakers were installed,
effectively forming a constellation of downward-firing speakers
to fully envelop the seating areas around the dance floor. Custom
mounts were made at Extron to allow the SI 28s to be side-mounted
to the trellis beams. These speakers were powered by Extron
XPA 2002-70V two channel 400 watt, ENERGY STAR qualified
amplifiers. There are 11 speaker zones in the trellis seating areas,
all with precise delay mapping and blend from the house left/right
mix. There are an additional eight zones that cover both bars, the
lobby, smoking patio, and restrooms. This high density of speakers
for 70 volt distribution allows optimal projection of sound from the
stage without having to greatly increase the volume, which in turn
keeps the speakers operating with plenty of headroom to maintain
consistent audio quality. As Fish summarizes it, the speaker
constellation supports the main stage speakers by spreading the
sound all around to ensure even, comfortable listening levels
during concerts, on DJ nights, or when a local band is playing.
Totally Failsafe System Operation
The design for the live sound reinforcement system needed
to include sufficient measures to ensure that a concert event
continues uninterrupted in the event of any problems in the system.
Fish fulfilled this requirement by creating fully redundant digital
and analog audio paths, from the microphones to the speakers.
This approach to system design is significantly beyond the norm
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
for live performance venues, and is often considered redundant
or costly. But for THE RANCH, it was an important aspect of its
priority to maximize customer satisfaction.
Analog XLR lines from the stage box run parallel to the
EtherSound going to the FOH console. Redundant digital and
analog paths were also provided out of the FOH console and over
to the DSPs. Fish built additional redundancy into the system by
having the digital and analog console feeds going into two separate
DSPs, which send out duplicate AES/EBU and analog XLR signals,
each to its own Meyer Sound Galileo DSP that optimizes the audio
for the Meyer Sound speakers. See the diagram on page 29.
Several physical and logical access points were made available
throughout the signal chains for switching over to analog.
In the end, we have provided an analog backup for the entire
digital audio chain, Fish says. This is very unusual in live sound
systems, but for us it will absolutely ensure that the show must
go on, no matter what may happen.
DJ System
An alcove at stage left serves as a booth for the DJ, and for
housing the DJ system. This system includes two Pioneer multi-
format audio players for CDs and music files and the DJs laptop
that serve as the primary music sources. The audio players are
input into a Rane Serato scratch processor. The audio outputs
from the Rane Serato and the laptop are fed into a Pioneer DJ
mixer. Two wireless microphone systems are also connected into
the DJ mixer, for use by the DJ and the dance instructor.
S/PDIF digital audio output from the DJ mixer is sent to the
Soundweb London DSPs and ultimately to the Meyer Sound and
Extron speakers. As with the live sound reinforcement system, a
secondary analog stereo output from the DJ mixer serves as a
backup to ensure full system reliability.
Two Meyer Sound UPQ-1P speakers, installed above the rear of
the dance floor, provide back fill for the DJ. These are also used as
surround speakers when the system is used in a surround sound
application. Additionally, there are two Extron SI 28W speakers
installed on the ceiling in the DJ booth, and fed from the DJ mixer
via an Extron XPA 2002 two channel 400 watt power amplifier.
The sound system is fully capable of revealing the artifacts and
limitations inherent in compressed music files that DJs use when
playing back from their laptops. Therefore, Andrew insisted that all
music tracks must be uncompressed, sourced from CDs, to ensure
the highest sound quality. A dedicated, large capacity media
server will eventually house a comprehensive library of WAV files
sourced from THE RANCHs growing collection of country music
on CDs, and serve as the primary music source for the DJ system.

The saloon AV system in the DJ booth features an Extron DVS 510 scaling presentation switcher, an SMX 300 modular matrix switcher with
SMX 88 HDMI boards, a MAV Plus 168 AV matrix switcher, and a PowerCage 1600 enclosure designated for future system expansion.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 33

 System Fine-Tuning and Optimization
Fish performed a detailed system calibration procedure for the
Meyer Sound speakers, particularly the MICA arrays that included
frequency response optimization for individual speakers in the
array, based on spatial averaging from several locations in the
room. As a result of this detailed fine-tuning, he was able to have
the arrays perform their very best by delivering accurate sonic
detail and creating a wide, cohesive stereo image. This allows an
FOH engineer to create a true stereo mix, which is beyond the
norm for typical performance venues. According to Fish, The
engineer can actually pan vocals and instruments according to
their locations on-stage.
Fish also optimized all of the Extron distributed speakers in
the saloon with DSP processing to fully complement the MICA
arrays, dividing up the speakers into 19 zones, and then applying
the appropriate amount of delay and blend from the left and right
arrays into them. The Extron speakers work together with the
main speakers to give presence from the stage, even when youre
well away from the dance floor, he says. You really cant tell
theyre there unless someone shuts them off.
Comprehensive AV System
The saloon includes a fully equipped AV system that serves
a variety of applications, from watching TV at the bars, to
supporting the main sound reinforcement system by sending DJ
or concert sound to areas including the restrooms, backstage, bars,
and patio. The system design accommodates numerous source
devices and displays as well as local AV hookups, plus plenty of
I/O capacity to support future additions or applications.
Video
The AV system, housed in the DJ booth, provides distribution
of video to six 52 inch (132 cm) Sharp LCD displays at the bars.
The AV sources are primarily seven DirecTV HD tuners but
also include Blu-ray Disc and DVD players, a network media
player, and a triple-iPod/iPhone dock. Apart from the iPod
dock, these sources output HDMI at HDTV 1080p to an Extron
SMX 300 System MultiMatrix modular matrix switcher, with
two SMX 88 HDMI boards daisy-chained. The HDMI outputs
are then transmitted over twisted pair to the six LCD displays,
using Extron DTP HDMI 301 long distance extenders.
The AV system also provides parallel composite video
signal routing from the sources, so they can be previewed
on Extron TouchLink touchpanels throughout the saloon.
Composite video outputs from the AV sources feed into an
Extron MAV Plus 168 AV matrix switcher, and its outputs are
transmitted to the touchpanels via Extron MTP T AV RCA
twisted pair transmitters.

Equipment racks in Monitor World at stage right house the performance sound system equipment including Extron XTRA Series 70 volt amplifiers,
remote mic preamps, DSPs, speaker management, and a custom stage box with isolated splits for monitoring and broadcast.
34 AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 Saloon AV Video System

Extron Extron
Extron DVI 201 A D Tx DVI 201 A D Tx
Transmitter Extron Transmitter
MTP T 15HD A D (Upstage Center) MTP T 15HD A D (DJ Booth)
Transmitter Transmitter
Blu-ray Players (Upstage Center) (DJ Booth)
INPUT INPUT
DVI DVI

AUDIO L+R AUDIO L+R

DIRECTV Receivers
RS-232 RS-232
PASS THRU PASS THRU

HDMI
Rx Rx

AUDIO IN Tx AUDIO IN Tx

PUSH PUSH

COMPUTER IN COMPUTER IN

CAT 5-type CAT 5-type

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

DVD Players Extron Extron

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

PUSH

DIRECTV HD
PUSH

MTP/HDMI U R MTP/HDMI U R
Receiver Receiver
POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p

SELECT
DIRECTV

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
ANALOG ANALOG
DIRECTV
SELECT
SIGNAL RGB SIGNAL RGB
VID LEVEL PEAKING DIGITAL SIGNAL VID LEVEL PEAKING DIGITAL SIGNAL
AUDIO Y/C AUDIO Y/C
RS-232 YUV RS-232 YUV
PUSH PUSH RGB RGB
POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD

DIRECTV
SELECT
MTP/HDMI U R MTP/HDMI U R

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT

HDMI RGB HDMI RGB

DIRECTV

Composite Video
Media Player

Composite Video INPUTS PIP PICTURE CONTROLS

ADJUST VOLUME

1 2 3 4 5
PIP SIZE BRIGHT DETAIL MENU MAX
ON/OFF /CONT
MID

9 10
IR

6 7 8
CONFIG PIP POSITION COLOR ZOOM MIN
NEXT
SWAP /TINT /PAN

DVS 510
DIGITAL VIDEO SCALER

Composite Video Extron

HDMI HDMI
DVS 510 SA
DVI Scaling Presentation
Switcher
I/O PLANE SELECT

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

INPUTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 CONTROL HDMI Extron

DTP HDMI 301 Tx
ENTER PRESET VIEW ESC

Extron
CONFIG

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Transmitters
P MAIN
O

SMX 300 Frame

W
OUTPUTS E
R I/O CARDS
SMX SERIES SWITCHER

with 2 SMX 88 HDMI

DTP HDMI 301 Tx

HDMI HDMI HDMI

INPUTS
Extron
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DTP HDMI 301 Rx
CONTROL I/O DVI INPUT LOCAL OUTPUT
DTP HDMI 301 Tx
Receivers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ENTER PRESET VIEW ESC VIDEO AUDIO

OUTPUTS DVI 200 Tx SERIES

RS-232 IR

CAT 5-type
Extron
MAV PLUS SERIES
AV MATRIX SWITCHER with IP LINK

Extron DVI 201 Tx

Tx Rx Tx Rx DTP HDMI 301 Rx

MAV Plus 168 AV Transmitter

Extron 16x8 Matrix Switcher RS-232 IR

MTP T AV RCA Composite Video

Tx Rx Tx Rx DTP HDMI 301 Rx

Twisted Pair HDMI

Transmitters DVI INPUT LOCAL OUTPUT

DVI 200 Tx SERIES

HDMI
Extron
DVI 201 Tx
CAT 5-type Transmitter CAT 5-type

OUTPUT OUTPUT

LCD Display
DVI DVI

AUDIO L+R AUDIO L+R

RS-232
PASS THRU
RS-232
PASS THRU
(Mustang Bar)
Rx Rx

Tx Tx

LCD Display
(Mustang Bar)
Extron Extron Extron Extron Extron Extron
TLP 1000TV TLP 1000TV TLP 1000MV TLP 1000MV DVI 201 A D Rx DVI 201 A D Rx DTP HDMI 301 Tx

10" Tabletop 10" Tabletop 10" Wall Mount 10" Wall Mount Receiver Receiver
TouchLink TouchLink TouchLink TouchLink (Upstage Center) (DJ Booth)
Touchpanel Touchpanel Touchpanel Touchpanel CAT 5-type
(DJ Booth) (Longhorn Bar) (Mustang Bar) DTP HDMI 301 Tx

RS-232 IR

DTP HDMI 301 Tx Tx Rx Tx Rx DTP HDMI 301 Rx

Extron RS-232 IR

DTP HDMI 301 Tx Tx Rx Tx Rx DTP HDMI 301 Rx

Transmitters
DTP HDMI 301 Tx

HDMI
RS-232 IR

CAT 5-type
Tx Rx Tx Rx DTP HDMI 301 Rx

Extron RS-232 IR

DTP HDMI 301 Rx

Receivers Tx Rx Tx Rx DTP HDMI 301 Rx

HDMI LCD Display

(Longhorn Bar)

LCD Display
(Longhorn Bar)

LCD Display
(Longhorn Bar)

LCD Display
(Longhorn Bar)

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 35

 Stage Lighting for THE RANCH
The saloon features a comprehensive stage lighting system to
provide a wide variety of lighting scenes and visual effects for
feature concert acts. It is also used to set the lighting ambiance
on DJ nights or when a local band is performing. The system was
designed and integrated by All Stage Pro in Santa Ana, CA, and
features a total of 83 lighting fixtures, the majority of which are
LED-based for significant electrical infrastructure and cost benefits
compared to incandescent or arc lamps. In addition to lower energy
usage, fewer electrical circuits are required for installing LED light
fixtures. We have been encouraging the use of LED lighting to
our customers, so they can benefit from significant cost savings
and be more green, says Ian Ingram, Principal of All Stage Pro.
The stage lighting system includes a combination of wash lights,
ellipsoidals, and moving lights rigged to battens over the stage
and dance floor. Additional lights, including LED striplights and
bars, are mounted to trusses at the back and sides of the stage.
Local AV Inputs and Outputs
There are also local AV source and display hookups available
in the DJ booth and on the stage, with Extron DVI 201 A D Tx
and MTP T 15HD A D Decora twisted pair transmitters, and
DVI 201 A D Rx Decora twisted pair receivers installed in
a four-gang junction box at both locations. The twisted pair
DVI and analog VGA signals with audio go into two Extron
MTP/HDMI U R receivers in the DJ booth, whose outputs then
feed directly into an Extron DVS 510 ten input scaler and switcher.
The DVS 510 provides video signal processing and optimization,
and then delivers DVI output at HDTV 1080p to the SMX 300.
Two of the HDMI outputs of the SMX 300 are sent over Extron
DVI 201 Tx twisted pair transmitters to the DVI 201 A D Rx
receivers on the stage and in the DJ booth. There are additional
video paths from the saloon AV system to the AV systems in the
restaurant, so that events in the saloon can be routed to private
parties in The Porch or The Carolina Room.
Audio
In addition to distributing video to the LCD TVs, the AV system
also provides audio distribution from the AV sources to the BSS
Audio Soundweb London DSPs, which then route the audio to the
speakers. The audio for the DSPs comes from an HDMI output of
36 Cover Story
At the FOH console station, a Road Hog lighting console from High
End Systems provides centralized control of the lighting system
through DMX512, an industry standard protocol for theatrical lighting
control. In addition to the Road Hog, there is also a virtual console
on a PC, which serves as a backup for the primary console.
A noteworthy feature of the stage lighting is a custom rotating
mirror ball, fashioned of five Fender Telecaster guitar replicas mounted
to a center cone. Full-size replicas were created from an actual
Telecaster provided by Fender. Each guitar is fully adorned with
mirrors, as well as actual Fender hardware. The center cone is covered
with dark mirrors to add an extra dimension to the glittering effect.
During the planning stages, Ingram worked closely with Andrew,
presenting 3D simulations through software modeling of the stage
and lighting system. Andrew asked me to come up with something
that he could be proud of, says Ingram, a 20-year veteran of
professional lighting and sound with over 400 installations to his
credit. In the end, we came up with a great system that will always
produce an amazing light show and make everyone say Wow!
the Extron SMX 300, which is fed into an Extron HAE 100 that
extracts the embedded HDMI audio as S/PDIF digital audio.
The AV sources also provide analog stereo audio output into
the Extron MAV Plus 168 AV. An audio output from this matrix
switcher then goes into the DSPs. This serves as a backup audio
path to the Soundweb London DSPs, similar to the redundancy
built into the live sound reinforcement and DJ systems.
In addition to the constellation of Extron SI 28 and SI 28W
speakers around the dance floor, there are many other Extron
speakers installed throughout, including 36 Extron SI 26CT
ceiling speakers at the two bars for patrons to watch TV. A few
Extron SI 26X speakers were substituted in a few locations where
unexpected obstructions above the ceiling were discovered.
These speakers were modified with 70 volt transformers. SI 26CT
speakers were also installed in the lobby, restrooms, and
backstage areas. A pair of weatherproof speakers was used for the
patio. In total, 87 Extron speakers were installed in the saloon.
COURTESY OF ELATION PROFESSIONAL
Ten Extron XPA 2002-70V two channel ENERGY STAR qualified
power amplifiers, in the rack at Monitor World, deliver 200 watts
rms power per channel to the Extron speakers in the saloon. The
amplifiers deliver plenty of headroom for the system to ensure
clear, optimal sound quality. Extron 70 volt power amplifiers were
selected because of their high energy efficiency, compact size, and
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 Saloon AV Audio System

Blu-ray Players iPod Dock

DIRECTV Receivers
PUSH PUSH
HDMI
POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
iPod
SELECT Music
DIRECTV Video
Photos
Podcasts
Extras
Songs
PUSH PUSH
Shuttle Songs
POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD Now Playing

SELECT
DIRECTV

MENU

DVD Players
PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

PUSH PUSH

POWER GUIDE MENU RES 480 480p 720p 1080i 1080p DIRECTV HD
SELECT
DIRECTV

Audio
Media Player

Audio INPUTS PIP PICTURE CONTROLS

ADJUST VOLUME

1 2 3 4 5
PIP SIZE BRIGHT DETAIL MENU MAX
ON/OFF /CONT
MID

9 10
IR

6 7 8
CONFIG PIP POSITION COLOR ZOOM MIN
NEXT
SWAP /TINT /PAN

DVS 510
DIGITAL VIDEO SCALER

Audio
Extron
HDMI HDMI DVS 510 SA
Scaling Presentation
Audio
Switcher
I/O PLANE SELECT

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

INPUTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 CONTROL

ENTER PRESET VIEW ESC

Extron
CONFIG

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 P
O
MAIN

SMX 300 Frame

W
OUTPUTS E
R I/O CARDS
SMX SERIES SWITCHER

with 2 SMX 88 HDMI

HDMI HDMI
INPUTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 INPUT
SIGNAL
OUTPUT
SIGNAL
INPUT
SIGNAL
OUTPUT
SIGNAL Extron
HAE 100
CONTROL I/O HDCP HDCP HDCP HDCP

2-CH PCM ANALOG 2-CH PCM ANALOG

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ENTER PRESET VIEW ESC VIDEO AUDIO

CONFIG
BITSTREAM S/PDIF
CONFIG
BITSTREAM S/PDIF

OUTPUTS
HAE 100
HDMI AUDIO EXTRACTOR
HAE 100
HDMI AUDIO EXTRACTOR
HDMI Audio Extractors
MAV PLUS SERIES
AV MATRIX SWITCHER with IP LINK
S/PDIF S/PDIF
Extron
MAV Plus 168 AV Audio
16x8 Matrix Switcher Extron
SSP 7.1
VOLUME
SOURCE MODE OVERRIDE INPUTS
CLIP

Extron
1 2 3 4 5
D DOWNMIX

Surround Sound
DTS PL II/IIx
PCM DTS NEO:6

SPW 82
TWO WAY IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKER
1" TITANIUM SWIVEL TWEETER
8" WOOFER

SI 28W-MOD SPW 82
TWO WAY IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKER
1" TITANIUM SWIVEL TWEETER
8" WOOFER

Extron CONFIG
2-CH TO ALL

SURROUND SOUND PROCESSOR

SSP 7.1
Processor
Two-Way In-Wall Speakers XPA 2002-70V
Power Amplifiers

1 2
OVER
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
XPA 2002
Saloon East

SPW 82
TWO WAY IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKER
SPW 82
TWO WAY IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKER
Audio
Signal Processors
1" TITANIUM SWIVEL TWEETER 1" TITANIUM SWIVEL TWEETER
8" WOOFER 8" WOOFER
(Hall)

1 2
OVER
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
XPA 2002

SPW 82
TWO WAY IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKER
1" TITANIUM SWIVEL TWEETER
8" WOOFER
SPW 82
TWO WAY IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKER
1" TITANIUM SWIVEL TWEETER
8" WOOFER

Extron
SI 28W-MOD
Two-Way In-Wall Speakers
Extron
SI 28-MOD
Surface-Mount
Speakers

1 2
Saloon East

OVER
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
XPA 2002
(Trellis)

Extron Outdoor
Speakers
Extron XPA 2002-70V

Lobby rooms Patio

SI 28-MOD Power Amplifiers
Surface-Mount
Speakers OVER
1 2
Rest-
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
XPA 2002

OVER
TEMP
1 2
LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
Extron
SI 26CT
XPA 2002
Saloon North

Two-Way Ceiling
Speakers
Extron
SI 28-MOD
1 2
OVER
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
XPA 2002

Surface-Mount
Speakers Extron
SI 26CT
Mustang

1 2 Two-Way Ceiling
Bar

OVER

Speakers
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
XPA 2002

1 2
OVER
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL
XPA 2002
Saloon West

Extron Extron
SI 28-MOD SI 26CT
Surface-Mount Two-Way Ceiling
Speakers Speakers
Longhorn
Bar

1 2 1 2
OVER OVER
TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT TEMP LIMITER / PROTECT
SIGNAL SIGNAL
XPA 2002 XPA 2002

Extron Extron
SI 28-MOD SI 26CT
Surface-Mount Two-Way Ceiling
Speakers Speakers

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 37


their transformerless amplifier designs that deliver significantly
better audio performance over typical high impedance amplifiers
with step-up transformers. Extron 70 volt amplifiers certainly
were an appealing choice for their low power consumption, but a
big plus was the fact that they dont use transformers, which can
be a limitation on audio quality, Fish says.
Integrating Traditionally Distinct Systems for Centralized
System Control
Bringing together AV, audio DSP, lighting, and the HVAC systems
into a single touchscreen control interface would be a significant
challenge. For THE RANCH, the large quantity and wide variety of
devices, and the range of controls and functions required called for
system design, integration, and configuration on a scale reserved
for the most complex AV projects. The control system design
necessitated interfacing with the HVAC systems using BACnet, an
industry standard control protocol for building automation.
From the beginning, it was determined that the project should
leverage the technologies within the Extron IP Link control
processor and TouchLink touchpanel families. THE RANCH
presented an opportunity for Extron to match the requirements
of an upscale entertainment venue with evolving Extron control
system technology. The result is an Extron control system solution
that allows access to multiple AV and environmental system
controls from a single touchpanel control interface, making it
quick and easy for authorized staff to apply system adjustments
without having to work with separate AV, lighting, or thermostat
controls at different locations.
38 Cover Story
Several Extron system control products were used for
THE RANCH, including the following:
Four Extron IPCP 505 IP Link control processors, two in the
saloon and two in the restaurant for controlling AV sources,
Extron scaling and switching devices, displays, and the BSS
Audio Soundweb London DSPs. An additional IPCP 505 is
available for controlling future equipment added to the saloon.
An Extron IPL 250 IP Link control processor for The
Carolina Room in the restaurant, dedicated to the local AV
presentation system.
Six Extron TLP 1000TV tabletop TouchLink touchpanels at
the restaurant and saloon host stations, FOH, DJ booth, The
Carolina Room, and Andrews VIP booth in the saloon.
Four Extron TLP 1000MV wall-mounted TouchLink
touchpanels for the Longhorn and Mustang bars in the
saloon, the managers office, and The Porch in the restaurant.
An iPad with the TouchLink for iPad app.
The following summarizes the various system control
capabilities available at THE RANCH, using a mix of Extron
products and technologies. System control access varies according
to location and the staff member operating the controls.
HVAC Automation
There are 36 temperature sensor locations throughout the restaurant
and saloon. At select locations, the Extron TouchLink touchpanel
GUI includes a separate floor plan for each facility, showing the
locations of the sensors and their current temperature readings.
THE RANCH management has the authorization to change climate
control set points at 33 of these sensor locations, including the
dance floor, bars, stage, and each dining area of the restaurant. On
the dance floor, there are sensors at three different heights 5, 10,
and 15 feet (1.5, 3, and 4.5 meters), a further testament of Andrews
particular dedication to ensuring patron comfort while dancing.
Lighting Scenes
All ambient lighting in the restaurant and saloon is managed by
Extron TouchLink to control the Lutron Quantum lighting control
systems. Lighting scenes are recalled by authorized staff operating
the Extron control systems. Individual dimming adjustments are
available to further fine-tune specific lighting scenes or areas. For
example, house lights are dimmed prior to performances in the
saloon, using presets at the FOH or DJ booth touchpanels.
Saloon AV System
Wall-mounted Extron TouchLink touchpanels at the Longhorn
and Mustang bars allow bartenders and service staff to change
TV channels on individual displays. They can also set the volume
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 The architectural lighting for THE RANCH establishes an appealing, welcoming ambiance
for guests. Right (top and bottom): The restaurant and saloon each have a dedicated
Lutron Quantum lighting control system with a series of Lutron LP dimming panels.

Architectural Lighting with Lutron Systems

Architectural lighting is a very
important element of the interior
design for an entertainment venue.
It defines the overall ambiance and
visual character of the environment,
while at the same time accenting key aesthetic elements of
the interior design. THE RANCH features a total of about 500
accent lighting fixtures throughout the restaurant and saloon,
including spotlights, pin-spot downlights, chandeliers, sconces,
cove lighting, and recessed lights. The architectural lighting for
THE RANCH establishes the engaging, welcoming atmosphere
that Andrew desires to bring to his guests every evening.
The lighting fixtures were integrated into a centralized lighting
management system with intuitive user controls. The Lutron
Quantum lighting control system was selected for THE RANCH,
comprising a Quantum processor and a series of Lutron LP
dimming panels. Quantum, the newest and the most advanced
of Lutrons centralized lighting automation technology, met the
requirements for managing all lighting in THE RANCH. Andrew
mandated separate Quantum systems for the restaurant and
the saloon, allowing each system to operate independently and
ensure full reliability.
The 500 fixtures were wired into groups, called zones, based
on type and location. There are 75 zones for the restaurant and 57
for the saloon. Each Quantum system was configured using Lutron
Q-Design software to arrange these zones by physical areas, such
as the Longhorn bar in the saloon, or one of the dining rooms in the
restaurant. The systems were then programmed and commissioned
using Lutron Q-Admin software, to create a series of lighting scenes
that deliver preset dimming levels for each zone within an area.
Various lighting scenes are used daily at THE RANCH, such as for
late afternoon or early evening, or after sunset.
Authorized staff at THE RANCH can engage lighting scenes
and adjust levels in individual areas through wall-mounted Lutron
seeTouch QS button panels. Lighting presets and dimming levels
can also be accessed through Extron TouchLink touchpanels
and the Extron control system solution that communicates with
the Quantum processors. The Carolina Room in the restaurant
features a dedicated GRAFIK Eye QS controller that provides
local scene programming and lighting control capabilities.
Lutron lighting systems were also installed throughout the
new Extron corporate headquarters building in Anaheim as well
as the new Extron building in Raleigh, NC. The systems feature
occupancy sensors and astronomic timeclocks to optimize energy
conservation, as well as Lutron EcoSystem digitally addressable
ballasts. Many of the systems were also integrated with the HVAC
systems to automatically adjust thermostats in unoccupied areas.
Lutron XPS systems control essential lighting for the core
and shell of each building, including the main lobby and central
hallways. Conference rooms on each floor feature Lutron
GRAFIK Eye QS lighting control to provide scenes for meetings,
videoconference sessions, and AV presentations. GRAFIK Eye QS
is also used in the Extron Institute training centers with lighting
scenes for instructor-led or group-based training sessions, as well
as video recording. Lighting scenes and levels can be accessed
through the GRAFIK Eye QS panels, wall-mounted seeTouch QS
panels, or Extron TouchLink touchpanels.
The lighting for individual offices and open office spaces
are regulated using Lutron Energi Savr Nodes connected to
seeTouch wall panels and occupancy sensors in each space.
Each individual office and conference room in the building
features Lutron Sivoia QS shading systems. Sivoia QS shades
in the conference rooms are motorized and integrated into the
GRAFIK Eye QS systems.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 39


Ten Extron 10 inch (25 cm) TouchLink touchpanels are used throughout THE RANCH.
At the bars, servers can independently select channels for each of the six displays.
Extron TouchLink GUI Interfaces
Several touchpanel interfaces were created for
Extron TouchLink TLP 1000MV and TLP 1000TV
touchpanels at THE RANCH to provide intuitive AV,
audio DSP, lighting, and HVAC control. Dedicated
GUI designs were created for specific locations
throughout, each with its own set of controls
based on the intended application and degree of
system access for the staff. For example, servers
at the bars are able to select channels for the TVs
and adjust volume levels, while the FOH engineer
has the ability to set the sound system to specific
concert presentation modes. Management
has master control of all systems from their
touchpanels, including the capability to monitor
and adjust temperatures throughout the saloon
and restaurant.

HVAC: 36 HVAC sensors in THE RANCH DSP: TLP 1000TV touchpanels at the FOH and AV: In The Porch dining room, the AV system is
can be monitored from a custom GUI, which DJ booth allow DSP settings for concert and controlled via a TLP 1000MV touchpanel.
provides controls for the HVAC system. music playback modes to be selected.

level and select the TV channel for the ceiling speakers at each
bar, bring up the channel guide, and power the TVs off or on.
Restaurant AV System
The host has the ability to select the input source for background
music, and adjust volume levels in individual areas such as the
dining rooms. Dedicated Extron TouchLink touchpanels are
provided for local AV systems in The Carolina Room and The Porch
for selecting and operating input sources, controlling the displays,
adjusting volume level, and selecting background music or one of
the local sources for the speakers. The controls also allow lighting
scene selection and setting the room temperature. In The Porch,
the user can also drop down or retract the projection screen.
DJ System
The tabletop Extron TouchLink touchpanel in the DJ booth
provides access to a series of audio DSP presets to switch between
various DJ presentation modes that focus the audio toward the
dance floor, spread the audio around the room, or bring the system
into an all-out mode with the subs and main speaker arrays
cranked up. The DJ can also control the TVs and adjust volume
levels at the bars. A potentially important function for the DJ is the
ability to engage analog backup audio for the DJ and AV systems.
FOH
The Extron TouchLink tabletop touchpanel at the FOH console
provides a series of audio DSP presets to engage various concert
modes for the system, with predetermined levels for the main
speaker arrays and subs. The presets also allow for control of the
audio content going to the front fill speakers and the subwoofers.
The FOH engineer can use the touchpanel to initiate analog audio
backup in the event of a system failure, and assist the DJ by
recalling DSP presets for the DJ system.
Master System Control
THE RANCH management, including Andrew, has master control
of all systems including HVAC, the sound system, and lighting
functions in both the restaurant and saloon. There is also the ability

40 Cover Story AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 Above: The Carolina Room features a dedicated AV system with a 70-inch (178 cm) LCD monitor
and Extron SI 26X speakers. Right (top): The Porch features its own AV system with a DLP
projector and Extron SI 26 speakers. Right (bottom): The restaurant AV systems utilize ENERGY
STAR qualified Extron amplifiers for their performance and efficiency.

Restaurant AV Systems
The restaurant has three AV systems that serve its own requirements
distinct from the saloon. The primary system supplies background
music to all areas including the lobby, bar, two dining rooms, The
Carolina Room for up to 14 private dining guests, The Porch interior
and exterior patios for up to 50 guests, the restrooms, and even
the kitchen. The Carolina Room and The Porch have dedicated AV
systems for clients to deliver multimedia presentations.
Background Music System
The background music system is tucked away behind custom millwork
recessed into the wall. It features several background music sources,
including a triple-iPod/iPhone dock, a CD changer, and a network
media player. They go into a system of three BSS Audio Soundweb
London DSPs dedicated to providing audio signal processing,
management, and routing to designated speaker zones throughout the
restaurant. Sense microphones, installed in several areas, are used by
the DSPs to detect ambient noise levels in individual zones, and then
compensate with subtle volume adjustments. There are digital audio
links to and from the saloon sound system.
The outputs from the DSPs feed into a series of Extron ENERGY
STAR qualified amplifiers, including six XPA 2002-70V two channel
power amplifiers, two MPA 401-70V mono amplifiers, and an
XPA 2001-70V mono amplifier. The XPA 2002-70Vs provide 200 watts
rms power per channel, more than ample headroom to power speakers
in individual zones. The other amplifiers provide 40 watts and 100 watts
rms for smaller speaker zones in the kitchen and restroom.
Extron ENERGY STAR qualified 70 volt amplifiers were selected for
their high quality audio performance as well as their energy and space
efficiency. They are convection cooled and generate very little heat,
allowing them to be situated close together and directly adjacent to
other AV devices, an important benefit given the limited space available
in the rack. The two MPA 401-70V amplifiers and XPA 2001-70V
together occupy just a single rack unit of space.
A total of 61 Extron SI 26 surface mount speakers are installed in the
restaurant, all modified with 70 volt transformers. Most are side-mounted
using custom brackets to cedar beam trusses bracing the vaulted
ceilings. Others are installed above custom coffered ceilings to a Unistrut
support system via Extron V-Lock mounts. Elsewhere in the restaurant,
there are several Extron SI 26CT and SI 26X ceiling speakers, and
weatherproof speakers for the outdoor patio and entrance areas. In total,
86 Extron speakers are installed throughout the restaurant.
As in the saloon, the aim of the distributed sound system design
was to create a high density or constellation of speakers with plenty
of headroom from the amplifiers. This provides even distribution of high
quality sound to everyone at moderate volume levels.
Presentation AV Systems
The equipment for The Carolina Room is housed in a small rack within
the custom cabinetry, while the system for The Porch is situated in
the background music system rack. Both are identically configured
with a DirecTV HD tuner, a Blu-ray Disc player, and digital and analog
AV connectivity through Extron MTP/HDMI U T A D Decora twisted
pair transmitters on the wall and in a floor box. They are paired with
MTP/HDMI U R twisted pair receivers that go into an Extron DVS 510
ten input switcher and scaler. The DVI output from the DVS 510,
together with the HDMI from the AV sources, are directed into an
Extron SW4 HDMI four input HDMI switcher, whose output is then
transmitted over to the display via an Extron DTP HDMI 301 twisted pair
extender. The balanced stereo audio output from the DVS 510 goes to
the Soundweb London DSPs in the background music system rack.
The Carolina Room features a 70-inch (178 cm) Sharp LCD
flat-panel display recessed behind the custom woodwork, while an
overhead-mounted Panasonic DLP WUXGA projector with a long-throw
lens is installed in The Porch. Wall-mounted microphone connections
are also available in The Porch, which are run to the background music
system rack and input to the DSPs.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 41

 to monitor sound pressure levels in the saloon through microphones
above the dance floor, adjust microphone levels for the DJ and
dance instructor, and more. These controls provide the capability
to quickly respond to any need for adjustments, but foremost, help
ensure satisfaction for patrons at THE RANCH.
Power Management
In addition to master system controls, Andrew mandated the
incorporation of active power management for the sound system
and the AV systems in THE RANCH, so they can be remotely shut
off every night to conserve energy. The Extron control system is
programmed to automatically power down all of the rack systems
in the saloon and restaurant after closing, as well as the FOH and
Monitor World mixing consoles. The systems are automatically
powered up again the following day, at specific times according to
operating hours for the restaurant and saloon. Button controls are
also available on the TouchLink GUI to turn individual systems
on or off. Additionally, any system shut down will automatically
be powered upon activation of a control function. Four Extron
IPL T PC1 IP Link controllers for AC power and eight Furman
Sound MINIPORT-20 remote power relay units were installed at
the racks to power up and shut down systems.
A Successful Extron Control System Solution
The Extron control system interfaces with the Tridium Niagara-
based network, via BACnet, to communicate with the building
automation systems for HVAC. Using features derived from the
upcoming release of Extron Global Configurator Professional, the
control system groups several Extron IP Link control processors
and control from 10 Extron TouchLink touchpanel locations.
Conditional logic allows for communication and system status
reporting between touchpanels, and also for the system to operate
the HVAC systems. The Extron control system solution also relied
on the Extron Global Configurator software and the dependability
of the Extron IP Link control processors, TouchLink touchpanels,
and Extron Certified device drivers to reliably control AV sources,
displays, and Extron devices.
Creating the GUIs
The integration team was tasked with creating touchpanel
interfaces integrating a diversity of AV and environmental system
functions into a GUI that also is easy to operate for the staff. The
visual themes of the GUI needed to be consistent with the color
scheme and styling of THE RANCHs promotional materials.
To ensure the greatest flexibility in customizing the visual look
and feel of the interfaces, graphical elements and page layouts
were created from scratch. Third-party image software was
used to craft all graphical elements, including the backgrounds,
multi-state buttons, icons, and level indicators. The team then
42 Cover Story
relied on the Extron GUI Configurator software as a powerful,
easy-to-use design tool to expedite the creation of Extron
TouchLink touchpanel interfaces. Custom graphical elements
were easily imported into the software through the resource
management tool, and then used with the GUI Configurator
customization features to create layouts for the primary, pop-up,
and modal pop-up pages. The design of the visual elements and
page layouts incorporates the principles and recommendations in
the Extron Guide to Graphical User Interface Design.
Perfecting the GUIs for the End User
The GUIs were tested on-site at various stages of their development,
by uploading them to the Extron TouchLink touchpanels at
THE RANCH, and then carefully evaluating their user-friendliness,
practical functionality, and visual presence in actual lighting and
operating conditions. Modifications and fine-tuning were applied
as necessary, ultimately allowing the team to perfect the GUIs for
the viewing environment, and to the needs of the management
and staff.
The Final Result
Since the completion of the saloon and its opening to the public,
sound system engineering experts, local and touring bands,
and veteran musicians have had an opportunity to experience
THE RANCH, and all have been extremely impressed with the
acoustics and performance of the sound system. Reactions were
all very positive from professionals and local fans alike.
We have heard many enthusiastic comments from folks in
the audio community, Fish says. Its great to get the positive
feedback for the saloon system in these early days. The saloon
regularly hosts local bands and will continue to feature headline
concerts with higher-level performers on tour. And it will always
be ready to welcome the top-tier artist looking for a flagship
country music club for a new album promotion, or just wanting
a more intimate place to audition their tunes. THE RANCH has
never had a formal promotional campaign or grand opening.
Yet it is continuing to quickly grow in popularity throughout
Orange County and Southern California, simply by its reputation
and word-of-mouth.
In many ways, THE RANCH is representative of the core
philosophies that have sustained Extron for nearly three
decades doing the job right the first time, with high quality
products backed by industry-leading service that keeps customers
coming back. I created THE RANCH as a place that country
music enthusiasts like me could call home, says Andrew. A
top-notch staff serving meals prepared from scratch, and the
high performance sound and AV systems have come together
to provide the highest quality fine dining and live performance
experience available anywhere in Southern California.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 R E S TA U R A N T & S A L O O N

AV EQUIPMENT LIST
2 BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-160
SALOON Networked digital signal processor

SOUND SYSTEM HOUSE 3 BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-800

Networked digital signal processor
2 Apple iPad 2 1 Clear-Com FL-7
StageMix app for Yamaha remote console operation Intercom call signal flasher
and SPL monitoring
1 Clear-Com MS-702
1 Dell 24 inch (61 cm) LCD monitor Intercom main station
For monitoring Tascam digital audio recorder
1 Clear-Com Tempest2400
2 Clear-Com RS-601 Wireless intercom system
Wired intercom bodypack
1 Extron DMP 64
2 Clear-Com CC-95 ProDSP digital matrix processor
Intercom headset
8 Extron MDA 3A
1 Clear-Com FL-7 Three output audio distribution amplifier
Intercom call signal flasher
10 Extron XPA 2002-70V
35 Extron SI 28 Two channel 400 watt power amplifier
Surface mount speaker, modified with 70 volt transformer
6 Furman Sound MINIPORT-20
7 Extron SI 28W Remote power relay
In-wall speaker, modified with 70 volt transformer
and ceiling-mounted 5 Furman Sound P-8 Pro Series II
AC power conditioner
1 Furman Sound MINIPORT-20
Remote power relay 2 Meyer Sound Galileo 616
Digital signal processor for management of Meyer
1 High End Systems Road Hog Sound speakers
Stage lighting console
1 Meyer Sound MPS-488HP
1 Laptop 48 volt power supply for MM-4XP speakers
Hog 3PC virtual console software for High End Systems
remote lighting operation and RMS software for Meyer 8 Meyer Sound UM-1P
Sound remote speaker monitoring Stage monitor speaker
2 Meyer Sound 600-HP 2 Meyer Sound UM-100P
Double-15 inch (38 cm) subwoofer flown Stage monitor speaker
5 Meyer Sound 700-HP 1 Meyer Sound UMS-1P
Double-18 inch (45 cm) subwoofer under stage Subwoofer
12 Meyer Sound MICA 2 Patch bay with 24 RJ-45 ports
In two six speaker arrays for stage left and right 1 Patch bay with 32 duplex LC fiber optic ports
2 Meyer Sound MM-4XP 1 Ramtech 54 channel custom stage box
Mini speakers for columns on the dance floor Two direct outputs and two transformer-isolated outputs
3 Meyer Sound UPQ-1P 1 Rosendahl Studiotechnik nanosyncs HD
Speakers for center fill and DJ back fill Video and audio sync reference generator
4 Meyer Sound UPM-1P 2 Shure PA421SWB
Speakers for front stage fill RF antenna combiner
1 Yamaha M7CL-48ES 1 Shure PA845SWB
Digital 48 channel mixing console for FOH, equipped with: RF distribution amplifier
1 Yamaha MY16-ES64 EtherSound card 8 Shure P9T
2 Yamaha MY16EX-CA EtherSound expansion card Wireless transmitter for PSM900 wireless in-ear monitors
1 Yamaha MBM7CL meter bridge 4 Shure UR4D+
1 Yamaha PW800 power supply Wireless mic receiver
1 Tascam X-48
SOUND SYSTEM STAGE
48 track hard disk-based digital audio recorder
14 Bittree 489 Series 7 Yamaha AD8HR
224 programmable audio patch bay Eight channel remote microphone preamp
1 Bittree Video Series 1 Yamaha DME 64N
224 video WECO patch bay Digital signal processor

Continued on next page

theranch.com

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 43

 1 Yamaha M7CL-48ES 4 Shure UR2/Beta 58A
Digital 48 channel mixing console for monitoring, Wireless cardioid handheld microphone
equipped with:
1 Yamaha MY8-DA96CA analog card DJ SYSTEM
1 Yamaha MBM7CL meter bridge
1 Yamaha PW800 power supply 1 Dell 24 inch (61 cm) LCD monitor
1 Extron IPL T PC1
2 Yamaha NAI48-ES
IP Link AC power and device controller
EtherSound digital audio network interface
2 Extron SI 28W
MICROPHONE KIT In-wall speaker, ceiling-mounted
1 Extron XPA 2002
1 AKG C 451 B/ST Two channel 400 watt power amplifier
Condenser, cardioid microphone matched pair
2 Laptop
1 AKG D 112 Playback of uncompressed WAV music files
Dynamic, large diaphragm cardioid microphone
2 Pioneer CDJ-900
1 Audix DP8 Elite Multi-format DJ audio player
Drum microphone kit
1 Pioneer DJM-900
1 Audix FireBall DJ mixer
Dynamic, cardioid harmonica microphone
1 Rane Serato SL 4
3 Audix OM2 Scratch processor
Dynamic, hypercardioid vocal microphone
2 Shure PGX4
6 Audix OM3 Wireless receiver
Dynamic, hypercardioid vocal microphone
1 Shure SRH750DJ
1 Cascade Microphones FAT HEAD II Professional DJ headphones
Ribbon, figure 8 microphone Blumlein pair
1 Cascade Microphones V57 AV SYSTEM
Condenser, large diaphragm and stereo pair kit
2 Denon DBP-2012UDCI
4 Countryman EMW
Blu-ray Disc player
Condenser, omnidirectional lavalier microphone
7 DirecTV H25
2 Countryman Type 10
HD receiver
Direct box
6 Extron DTP HDMI 301
4 Da Cappo DA12AC
HDMI twisted pair extender
Condenser, omnidirectional headworn microphone
2 Extron DVI 201 A D Rx
2 Electro-Voice RE320
DVI twisted pair receiver
Dynamic, cardioid large diaphragm microphone
2 Extron DVI 201 A D Tx
3 Heil Sound PR 20
DVI twisted pair transmitter
Dynamic, cardioid microphone
2 Extron DVI 201 Tx
1 Neumann KMS-104
DVI twisted pair transmitter
Condenser, cardioid vocal microphone
1 Extron DVS 510 SA
8 Radial Engineering J48
Ten input scaling presentation switcher
Active direct box
2 Extron HAE 100
4 Radial Engineering JPC
HDMI audio extractor
Computer direct box
1 Extron MAV Plus 168 AV
4 Sennheiser MD 421-II
Composite video and audio matrix switcher
Dynamic, cardioid instrument microphone
4 Extron MTP T AV RCA
6 Shure BETA 58A
Video twisted pair transmitter
Dynamic, cardioid vocal microphone
2 Extron MTP T 15HD A D
2 Shure BETA 87C
VGA twisted pair transmitter
Condenser, super cardioid vocal microphone
2 Extron MTP/HDMI U R
1 Shure BETA 91A
Universal twisted pair receiver
Condenser, half cardioid kick drum microphone
1 Extron SMX 300 System MultiMatrix
4 Shure BETA 98D/S
Modular matrix switcher with two SMX 88 HDMI I/O boards
Condenser, cardioid miniature drum microphone
36 Extron SI 26CT
4 Shure BETA 98H/C
Ceiling speaker
Condenser, cardioid clip-on instrument microphone
6 Extron SI 26X
1 Shure DMK57-52
Ceiling speaker, modified with 70 volt transformer
Drum microphone kit
1 Extron SSP 7.1
6 Shure SM58
Surround sound processor
Dynamic, cardioid handheld microphone

Continued on next page

theranch.com

44 Cover Story AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 1 Furman Sound MINIPORT-20 1 Middle Atlantic RM-iDock-3M
Remote power relay Triple iPhone/iPod dock
6 Sharp PN-E521 1 Western Digital WD TV Live
52 inch (132 cm) LCD display Streaming media player
1 Middle Atlantic RM-iDock-3M
Triple iPhone/iPod dock THE CAROLINA ROOM
2 Tascam DV-D01U 1 DirecTV H25
DVD player HD receiver
1 Western Digital WD TV Live 1 Denon DBP-2012UDCI
Streaming media player Blu-ray Disc player
1 Extron DTP HDMI 301
GREEN ROOM
HDMI twisted pair extender
1 Clear-Com KB-702 1 Extron DVS 510 SA
Intercom remote speaker station Ten input scaling presentation switcher
1 DirecTV H25 1 Extron IPL T PC1
HD receiver IP Link AC power and device controller
1 Extron MLC 62 RS D 1 Extron MTP/HDMI U T A D
MediaLink controller Universal twisted pair transmitter
1 Sharp PN-E521 1 Extron MTP/HDMI U R
52 inch (132 cm) LCD display Universal twisted pair receiver
1 Extron SW4 HDMI
CONTROL Four input HDMI switcher
2 Apple iPad 2 1 Sharp PN-L702B
TouchLink for iPad app for remote TouchLink operation 70 inch (178 cm) LCD display
2 Extron IPCP 505
THE PORCH
IP Link control processor
3 Extron TLP 1000MV 1 DirecTV H25
10 inch (25 cm) TouchLink wall-mounted touchpanel HD receiver
4 Extron TLP 1000TV 1 Denon DBP-2012UDCI
10 inch (25 cm) TouchLink tabletop touchpanel Blu-ray Disc player
1 Draper Access / Series V
133 inch (338 cm) 16:9 motorized front projection screen
RESTAURANT 1 Extron DTP HDMI 301
HDMI twisted pair extender
BACKGROUND MUSIC SYSTEM
1 Extron DVS 510 SA
2 BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-160 Ten input scaling presentation switcher
Networked digital signal processor 1 Extron IPL T PC1
1 BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-800 IP Link AC power and device controller
Networked digital signal processor 1 Extron MTP/HDMI U T A D
1 BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-BOB2 Universal twisted pair transmitter
Audio output expander 1 Extron MTP/HDMI U R
1 Denon DCM-390P Universal twisted pair receiver
CD changer 1 Extron SW4 HDMI
1 Extron IPL T PC1 Four input HDMI switcher
IP Link AC power and device controller 1 Panasonic PT-DZ6710
2 Extron MPA 401-70V 6,000 lumen WUXGA DLP projector
Mono 40 watt power amplifier
61 Extron SI 26 CONTROL
Surface mount speaker, modified with 70 volt transformer
2 Extron IPCP 505
17 Extron SI 26CT IP Link control processor
Ceiling speaker
1 Extron TLP 1000MV
8 Extron SI 26X 10 inch (25 cm) TouchLink wall-mounted touchpanel
Ceiling speaker, modified with 70 volt transformer
2 Extron TLP 1000TV
1 Extron XPA 2001-70V 10 inch (25 cm) TouchLink tabletop touchpanel
Mono 200 watt power amplifier
6 Extron XPA 2002-70V
Two channel 400 watt power amplifier

theranch.com

www.avsystemsdesign.com Cover Story 45

 THE RANCH Restaurant
The restaurant at THE RANCH offers a high quality fine dining
experience in an elegant yet inviting dcor, welcoming guests in
an atmosphere of comfort and old-fashioned genuine hospitality. A
seasonally driven menu emphasizes farm to table fresh ingredients,
and features dishes inspired by a variety of regional American cuisines
and flavors, frequently complemented with culinary influences from
around the world. THE RANCH Restaurant abides by a philosophy of
cooking from scratch with the finest ingredients possible, to capture
the rustic style of wine country and the freshest flavors of the farm.
Executive Chef Michael Rossi and his culinary team create
dishes featuring hand selected, organically grown produce in
season, much of it locally harvested from the Edwards Ranch
Estates, where it is picked just before the peak of maturity for
maximum flavor and served at the table within hours. Other key
ingredients include fresh, sustainable seafood selections, meats
sourced from the highest quality ranches and farms, and the
best from the California artisan bread and cheese makers.
The restaurant offers a value oriented, diverse selection
of world class international wines from THE RANCH Cellar,
which houses an extensive, 14,000 bottle collection, judiciously
selected by Vice President of Food & Beverage and Master
Sommelier Michael Jordan. The collection represents the worlds
premier wine growing regions with an emphasis on California
and the West Coast. The wine list features over 80 wines by the
glass and over 500 bottle selections to complement the dishes
which have been specifically crafted to pair with them.
46 Cover Story
The sixth floor of the Extron corporate headquarters building is
home to THE RANCH Cellar. By the summer of 2013, there will also
be a world class instructional kitchen with stadium-style seating for 18
guests, a 50 seat private dining room with its own wine cellar and 20
seat tasting room, and a 200 seat private dining and meeting facility.
A large, fully equipped kitchen will support events on the sixth floor.
To ensure the best possible service and quality to his customers,
Andrew established an internal culinary R&D program over a year
in advance of opening THE RANCH. He built an experimental
kitchen, and brought in food and wine experts to conceptualize,
create, critically evaluate, and fine-tune menu items, cocktails,
and food and wine combinations. The Executive Chef and Master
Sommelier are both highly experienced, boasting extensive
backgrounds in cuisine and wine with experience in several of
the regions most noted restaurants. Andrew absolutely wanted
to ensure that everything reflected the utmost in quality and
refinement by the time THE RANCH opened to the public.
The kitchen for THE RANCH is a state-of-the-art showcase facility,
equipped with the latest in culinary technologies and a full staff that
prepares all the essential foundations of its dishes from scratch daily.
Chef Rossi has proclaimed this facility to be The Lamborghini of
kitchens and The most beautiful kitchen in Orange County.
Please visit www.theranch.com for more information
on the restaurant and online reservations.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 800 Watt ENERGY STAR Qualied
Power Amplier for Premiere Spaces

Extron XpA 4002

extron introduces the XPA 4002 and XPA 4002-70V, the newest additions to the XtrA Series of audio power amplifiers. Both XPA
models deliver two channels of 400 watts rms for low impedance or 70 volt speaker systems. they are ideal for large environments such
as auditoriums, convention centers, and houses of worship for powering a large quantity of high impedance distributed speakers, as well
as high powered speaker cabinets or paging horns.

XtrA Series enerGY StAr qualified amplifiers are energy efficient products that conserve energy and reduce costs. they feature an
extron exclusive, highly efficient, advanced Class D design with patented CDrS - Class D ripple Suppression technology that provides
a smooth, clean audio waveform and an improvement in signal fidelity over conventional Class D amplifier designs. XtrA Series power
amplifiers are housed in a compact 1u, convection-cooled full rack width enclosure and do not require fans for cooling, making them
ideal for installation in racks as well as enclosures with limited space and ventilation.

key Features:
two channel amplifiers with 800 watt rms output for low impedance
and 70 volt speaker systems
eneRgy StaR qualified amplifiers
professional grade signal-to-noise and thD+n performance
extron patented CDRS - Class D Ripple Suppression
Convection cooled, fanless operation
ultra low inrush current - no need for power sequencing
power factor correction Xpa 4002 - two Channel Power Amplifier NoW ShIppING
Rack-mountable 1u, full rack width enclosures Xpa 4002-70V - 70 Volt two Channel Power Amplifier NoW ShIppING

www.extron.com/xpa4002
 Control Room
System Design
A growing market opportunity
for AV system integrators.
By Keith Scheffler, Systems Design Engineering Manager

T
he recent growth of the control room integration
market has been fueled by three main factors.
One is an increased need to manage information
from a central location. Since 9/11, agencies and
organizations of all types are motivated to create environments
that will enable them to monitor systems and situations so
they can respond quickly to any eventuality. Even agencies that
historically have been reluctant to share unanalyzed data are
under increased pressure to work together for the common good.
The second factor driving the growth of the market is the
affordability of new technology for aggregating and displaying
information from multiple sources. Information in the form
of video, audio, and computer data can now be collected from
around the world and streamed across the network to a central
location, where it can then be processed and displayed in real-
time for operators and decision makers.
The third factor is new types of control rooms and control
rooms in new places. Motivated by the need to centrally manage
large amounts of data and the affordability of videowalls and
other technologies, customers are requesting control room-type
systems in surprising locations.
This growing control room system market represents new
business opportunities for every AV system integrator, even if
youve never designed a control room before. To take advantage of
this opportunity, AV professionals need a thorough understanding
of the unique design considerations control rooms require.

48 Feature Story AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

www.avsystemsdesign.com Feature Story 49
 A Network Operations Center is the heart of a major data center or telecom
network, a place to keep an eye on everything and keep things running smoothly.
Types of Control Rooms
Control rooms are no longer the exclusive domain of government
organizations or giant corporations with massive budgets. School
districts, municipalities, and even medium-sized companies are
increasingly finding that they need to be able to pull together data
from a wide variety of sources into a central nerve center. These
installations can involve multiple video and audio feeds, computer
data, videoconferencing, digital signage, and telecommunications
that all need to come together for monitoring and management.
Sometimes, clients arent even aware that they need a control
room to meet their goals.
Here are a few examples of the types of facilities that fit the
control room description:
Network Operation Centers: Also referred to as NOCs, these
may be used to monitor networking applications, Internet
traffic, and firewall activity to ensure quality, reliability, and
security. Their emergency management plans usually call for
them to monitor news and weather reports and communicate
with local agencies during storms or power outages. An NOC
can be operated by a large organization for its own internal
support or by a third-party Internet service provider or
telecommunications company.
Command and Control Centers: These centers can include
government command posts for a range of activities, from border
control and police operations to missile launch and satellite
monitoring. Civilian applications include facilities for utility
companies, corporate centers, manufacturing process monitoring,
water treatment plants, and even broadcast production and
editing. Command and control systems typically have a large
number of sources, including full motion video and high
resolution graphics, so they usually require high resolution
50 Feature Story
From a Command and Control Center, officials can monitor and operate
communications, surveillance, and weapons systems essential for controlling
operations in the air and on the ground.
display systems. In most cases, security is a big concern in
terms of the technologies used and access control. Your staff
may need to follow specific security privileges and screenings
during installation.
Emergency Operations Centers: Also referred to as EOCs,
these facilities are growing in popularity and are designed to
prepare a government or private agency for potential emergencies
and provide an operations center to manage resources during
an emergency. Often a wide variety of information sources
are monitored. These may include news, weather, police, fire,
transportation, civilian communications, and telephone and
other utilities. These locations require significant interagency
communications. An EOC may serve a number of uses including
operations, training, meetings, and other uses.
Executive Briefing Centers: An executive briefing center can
take many forms, but most often it is an executive boardroom
with display wall technologies. These rooms are used for executive
level decision making and for high level presentations to
influential clientele, vendors, and partners. The display systems
in these rooms may not be extremely large, but they are typically
designed to be of sufficient quality to impress visitors.
Needs Assessment/Design Scope
The demands a control room application places on the AV system
will be dramatically different than those of a simple boardroom.
Whether you are designing a large, mission-critical emergency
operations center, or a basic control console with two operator
stations and bank of monitors, understanding the clients needs
for the environment is critical to the success of the project.
Often the initial scope or design requested from the end user
is based on control rooms they have visited or read about and not
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
An Emergency Operations Center is the central command and control
facility for emergency management or disaster management to ensure an
effective response.
necessarily the best fit for their technical needs or architectural
limitations. This occurs more often with end users that do not
have an existing control room.
A comprehensive needs assessment discussion will provide
you with a greater understanding of the clients intent for the
room. This will enable you to create an appropriate proposal and
ultimately a design that instills confidence in the end user that
your solution considers all the aspects of their application and
fits their stated goals.
Start with the basics, what is the intent of the room? Is it to
monitor critical data for operational or emergency management
purposes? Will the room be used for demonstrations to existing
and prospective clients or possibly to the media? What levels of
security will be required?
The answers to these types of questions will set the tone for
the rest of your design. For example, if the intent is to woo new
clients, then an upscale approach to furniture and fixtures is
probably in order. If the room will be used purely for operational
purposes, then perhaps more consideration should be put into
the functional elements and human interface factors. If the
room is mission critical, requiring 24/7 operation, you will
need to consider redundant power and hardware designed for
continuous operation.
There are many details that should be discussed during the
needs assessment. These details can be grouped into five main
categories: Room size and architecture, staffing and ergonomics,
technologies required, system control, and ancillary rooms.
Room Size and Architecture
Architectural considerations may drive selection of the display
technology. For example, if there is limited space you may not
www.avsystemsdesign.com Feature Story
Executive Briefing Centers are often used by large organizations to demonstrate
how their solutions work for high value prospective and current clients.
have enough floor space to install rear projection or video wall
cubes so wall mounted flat panels may be the best solution. Front
projection is another option, assuming there arent any ambient
light issues. There are many videowall solutions available these
days. Successful design is a matter of selecting the right one based
on your design discussions, architectural influences, and budget.
Sometimes, a central video wall system will not be required.
Instead, local displays at each operator console, possibly fed with
a matrix router system, may be sufficient.
The rooms size, shape, and construction will also heavily
influence your audio decisions. For some applications,
sound from all of the system sources is likely to be combined
with radios, telephones, and human voices when the control
room is operating at or near full capacity. It is important to
provide acoustic controls to absorb this ambient noise. Consider
using perforated ceiling tiles, which can be fitted with a special
sound-absorbing material. This kind of ceiling, together with
durable acoustic wall panels and a carpeted floor, provides
an improved acoustic environment. Without effective acoustic
treatment, the room can become an auditory nightmare,
compromising the ability to process information and make
critical decisions.
The age of the facility may pose problems, such as structural
vibrations, older circuitry, and inadequate ventilation. To support
voltage requirements, electrical rewiring may be required.
Projector and display mounts may have to be customized for
fit and to make them structurally sound. In older facilities,
the entire HVAC system should be examined and possibly
modified to ensure that it can provide adequate cooling and
ventilation to ensure operator comfort and reliability of the
AV equipment.
51
 Staffing and Ergonomics
It is important to discuss how the room will be operated and by
whom. The size of the operational staff and their location in the
room will influence your design choices. Youll want to know
where the decision-makers will sit, what data they need to see
to do their jobs, and how they need data to be displayed. If the
organization will run multiple shifts, it will be helpful to know
how the staff size and makeup will change from days to nights
and weekends.
Ergonomics are an important consideration. Operators face
the rigorous demands of monitoring real-time information and
complex systems. Good console design and layout will help to
reduce the operators stress, eye strain, and fatigue.
It is imperative that the operator consoles are properly outfitted
with appropriate monitors, keyboards, communications equipment,
and work surface space. What size monitors will be located at
the operators workstations and how will that affect their ability
to view a display wall? Will the operational computers be located
at the workstation or in a remote rack room? In some cases, the
spacing between consoles will have to provide a degree of privacy,
while still facilitating communication between operators.
If you are providing the operator consoles, it may be a good
idea to work with a console vendor to leverage their expertise.
If you are not providing consoles, then be sure to coordinate
with the console/furniture provider to be sure everything has
been properly discussed ahead of your proposal and certainly
before you begin on site. The rooms furniture will be
your second most critical coordination item beyond the
architectural elements.
the customers intentions. For example, if the application requires
that six computer sources be viewed at the same time and
each computer is 19201080, you will need a surface area of
approximately 2160 pixels high by 5760 pixels wide to view them
all at full uncompressed resolution. The screen size will depend
on operator locations and their viewing distances.
These answers will lead to you determining whether you need
a matrix router, a multi-image processor, or a video wall processor.
The approach you take in distributing the source content within
the control room will be critical. If your source content is high
resolution DVI signals, you will need to consider a digital matrix
or even one that supports fiber transmitters and receivers, analog
video, or perhaps a system that supports USB for keyboard and
mouse extension.
In large-scale control room environments, signals have to
travel long distances from source to display. Your system is likely
to require some form of signal extender to deliver optimal image
quality to every display. This is particularly important with HDMI
and DVI signals because signal degradation is observable in
cable lengths beyond about 15 feet (5 meters). Fiber is an ideal
method of distributing the high resolution video sources while
maintaining high quality. Fiber may also be required for secure
environments, such as military or government applications. If
appropriate, advanced twisted pair technologies can be used
instead of fiber to achieve the necessary quality at a lower price,
and with a cable type that may be more familiar to the end users.

Technologies Required
The AV system in a control room must clearly display varying
types of information in a way that minimizes environmental
noise and competing communications. System components
will be subjected to rigorous demands and are often expected
to fulfill mission-critical needs. The products that are specified
should meet the highest possible criteria for performance,
reliability, and upgradeability.
When considering the overall system design, it is best
to start with the types and locations of the environments
data sources. The nature of each data source and how the
staff will interact with and process the information provided,
will guide your display technology selection and video
distribution methodology.
For example, it is critical to understand the resolution of
each source to be viewed on the main display wall and how
many of these sources are to be viewed simultaneously. This
information will dictate the size of the display wall and what
overall resolution or pixel count will be needed to accomplish

52 Feature Story AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 Display Options for Videowall Systems
When designing a videowall system, engineers have several display types from which to choose, each with
distinct drawbacks and benefits. The best choice for any specific application is one that takes into account not
only screen size, resolution, and brightness, but also other factors that include footprint, consumable use, heat
generation, and mechanical noise. The following is a brief comparison of the display options available:

Flat Panel LCDs

THINGS TO CONSIDER
Sizes range from 40" to 108"
Bright, high-contrast images enhance
readability, even in rooms with ambient light
Bezels are typically wider than projection
cubes, but thin-bezel and ultra-thin-bezel
Projection Cubes models are available
THINGS TO CONSIDER With a depth of only two to four inches,
Sizes range from 50" to 80" they are well-suited for facilities with
Illuminated by replacement-free LEDs space limitations
Extremely thin bezel enables creation
of near seamless image
Large footprint of 18" to 34"
Mirror
Screen

Mirror

Front Projection
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Projector placement and installation are fairly
straightforward compared to rear projection
Ambient light and obstacles in the viewing room
can impact the visibility of the image
Depending on the type of projector used, lamps
can generate heat and be costly to replace
Projector fan noise can be a drawback
Rear Projection
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Projector is isolated which eliminates problems
caused by ambient light spill, room obstructions,
and fan noise
Mirrors employed to facilitate folding the
projection path increase the complexity
of installation
Depending on the type of projector used, lamps
can generate heat and be costly to replace
Generally requires the most dedicated floor
space of all videowall display options

www.avsystemsdesign.com Feature Story 53

 Most control room applications require
the capability to display multiple video
sources simultaneously on a single screen. A
multi-image processor works well for small
rooms or for desktop display. While basic
image tiling and picture-in-picture processing
are possible with a PC or with hardware built
into the display, a high quality multi-image
processor adds valuable functionality and
flexibility to your system. The best models
accept a large number and wide variety of
input signals, as well as high performance
graphics scaling for maximum image quality.
Other valuable features, such as picture-in-
picture window customization, image freeze,
bordering, text labeling, and video transition
effects will enable you to create an enhanced,
professional quality, multi-image presentation.
Larger, more complex control rooms may require a videowall
that spans an array of video cubes, flat-panel displays, or
projectors. A videowall processor system is essential for combining
various input sources and performing signal processing and
scaling. A videowall system may include multiple videowall
processors, as many as one for each display, and a matrix
switcher for signal distribution. This multiple processor approach
provides sufficient bandwidth for maximum system performance
without introducing latency or video artifacts. The display
wall processor should be easy to operate using its own control
application, and be adaptable to control with a touchpanel or
Web interface.
Control rooms often involve large budgets, so it is wise to get
the clients early buy-in on key products. One of the best ways
to facilitate critical decisions about image quality and system
functionality is through one or more product demonstrations.
Fortunately, manufacturers are typically happy to work with you
to arrange a working demonstration or proof of concept.
System Control
Enabling a control room manager to directly interact with the
video processor control software is adequate for many operations-
type systems. Usually though, control room clients prefer the
intuitive, centralized control interface that a touchpanel control
system provides. The system should make it easy for authorized
users to select videowall presets, reroute signals, adjust audio
sources and volume, and control other room elements, such as
lighting and motorized screens.
However, a combination of both types of control may be
required. It is critical to discuss the control system in detail to be
sure you are providing the right user interface for the application.
54 Feature Story
Ancillary Rooms
Control rooms often have one or more nearby or adjacent
rooms, which are ancillary to the control room. There is
likely an equipment room or rack room for housing servers,
telecommunications, networking and the AV system support racks.
You will need to consider the space requirements, power, and heat
load for the equipment room. You will need adequate pathways for
cables throughout the facility. The same is true for the workstation
and display wall systems areas.
In many cases, there will be a conference or boardroom
adjacent to the control room. The rooms often have one or more
windows between them to enable viewing of the control room
and display wall. Often there is some kind of automated shade
system for the conference room window. These rooms may be
provisioned with back up display systems or even capabilities
that duplicate the control room system. These types of rooms may
also be described as War Rooms or Crisis Management Centers,
and are designed for handling emergencies or high level business
decisions. They are typically similar to a boardroom, but may
have additional hardware features and often have higher security
than a typical boardroom.
Training rooms are also found within the control room
environment. These areas are typically used to train the support
staff. They can be simple computer based training rooms or in
some cases, a very comprehensive room with duplicate features of
the actual control room. Training rooms may also serve multiple
uses, including break rooms, conference rooms, Internet cafes, etc.,
which is a cost-efficient solution for rooms with limited day to
day usage.
Break rooms may not seem like a significant part of a control
room design. However, these areas often provide comfort and
downtime away from a stressful work environment. Break room
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

AV systems can include entertainment devices like sound systems,
large TVs, and even gaming systems.
All of the design scope information described above, including
room size and architecture, staffing requirements, traffic patterns,
analysis of source signals, and more, should be used to lead you
to the right decisions on technologies to employ. The more details
you can gather during the design scope process, the better chance
Leverage Extrons Expertise
Whether you have never designed a control room system or you have
dozens in your portfolio, you can benefit from the extensive expertise
of Extron professionals. Our team of System Design Engineers have
decades of combined experience in all aspects of control room design
and integration. One of the best ways to ensure the success of your next
control room project is to leverage our expertise by taking advantage of
the following Customer Support Programs:

you have of designing a system that meets the clients needs.

Effective Project Management

Complex control room projects involve more than just the AV
integrator and its direct subcontractors. Coordination between the
many trades, client staff, and vendors is critical to the success of
the project.
No matter how well you plan your project, progress can be Design Assistance Program
derailed by an unforeseen event. Even so, detailed planning in the The Extron Design Assistance program gives you access to our talented
team of experienced and knowledgeable AV Systems Design Engineers
early stages and effective project management throughout the life
who have extensive experience designing and integrating control room
of the project can prevent what otherwise would have resulted in systems. An SDE will work one-on-one with you to conduct a thorough
a major setback. needs assessment, review the design and product selection, and
examine various alternatives to find the most cost-effective solution.
It is important to pro-actively monitor all tasks so you can
quickly resolve issues or challenges as they arise. Assume the
responsibility to manage and schedule delivery, installation,
set-up, and end-user training from beginning to end. Youll
benefit from producing a detailed Gantt chart or timeline with
dates and person responsible for each milestone, even if another
person or trade is doing this already. This will help you keep
track of the progress and allow everyone to focus on the same Project Registration Program
dates and milestones. Keep in mind that a lot of what goes into a When you register your control room project with us youll receive system
design assistance, special pricing consideration, and product availability
control room has to be customized and will require specialized
assurances that can help you meet project deadlines. Our design engineers
manpower, all of which must be tracked. can also perform a value engineering review of your existing design.
Weekly updates and project status reports that are delivered
to each team leader will help ensure that your project is
completed on time, avoids cost overruns, and performs as
expected. At the end of the project, plan in advance to provide
your client with an on-site orientation covering the completed
install, a schedule of training sessions, and a compilation of
final engineering documents.

The Most Important Question Extron Product Commissioning

Each customer has a unique set of goals and preferences related
to the form and function of their control room project. The
most successful system designer is the one who listens well. So,
remember: As with any system design, the most important control
room design question is What does the client want?
Keith Scheffler is Systems Design Engineering Manager at Extron Electronics. He leads
a team of System Design Engineers who provide system design support and technical
troubleshooting services to system integrators before and after the sale. Keith has over
20 years of experience, including senior level engineering positions with several major AV
integration firms.
Extron Product Commissioning is a proactive program designed to
ensure optimum performance in AV systems that use select Extron
products, such as Quantum Series videowall processors, WindoWall
multi-graphic processors, VN-Matrix streaming products, and fiber
optic matrix switchers. This service involves a pre-installation design
review with Extron engineers. An Extron engineer will visit your project
after installation to optimize and calibrate products for the best system
performance possible, and will provide on-site training for you and your
customers to ensure complete satisfaction with system operation.
For more information on these and other Extron customer programs,
please contact your Extron Customer Support Representative.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Feature Story 55

 WHATS INSIDE
THE XPA 2003C
Take a peek under the hood to see what makes the XPA 2003C unique.

The XTRA Series XPA 2003C is an ENERGY STAR qualified, three channel power amplifier for low impedance
and 70 volt or 100 volt applications. It delivers 600 watts of output power with professional grade signal to
noise and THD+N performance. XTRA Series amplifiers include several efficiency characteristics such as low
power draw and very low waste heat, as well as many innovative technical features.

Convection Cooled, Fanless Design

for Quiet, Reliable Operation
Regulated Switchmode Power Supply
The efficient design of the XPA 2003C allows it to operate and remain
with Power Factor Correction cool without the use of a fan or vents. This keeps the amplifier sealed
from any dust or contamination, eliminates the possibility of failure
XTRA Series amplifiers are
from overheating, and allows the XPA 2003C to be installed in tight
powered by an Extron-designed
spaces adjacent to other equipment.
and manufactured switchmode
power supply that is fully
regulated, so that it maintains a
constant output voltage regardless
of AC line variances. It also
features power factor correction
to prevent noise from entering the No Vents
AC line, which can lead to audio
artifacts from other equipment
sharing the same line. No Fans

XPA 2003C-70V Rear Panel

56 WHATS INSIDE AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 WHATS INSIDE

Program and Distributed Amplification

in a Single Enclosure
The XPA 2003C combines two amplifiers. One is a two channel amplifier that outputs
200 watts per channel into 4 ohms for stereo program reinforcement. The other is a
mono, 200 watt amplifier for 70 volt or 100 volt distributed speaker systems.

Program speakers, 8 ohm Distributed speakers, 70 or 100 volt

Automatic Clip Limiter

At the amplifier gain stage, signal waveforms are compared before
and after amplification for clipping distortion. At the onset of clipping,
amplifier gain is momentarily reduced to maintain signal integrity,
prevent overheating, and protect the speakers.
1 Signals compared
CDRS Class D Ripple Suppression
Class D amplifiers deliver very high efficiency by rapidly
switching between output transistors in off and on states.
However, there may be a residual high frequency switching
ripple on the output that can compromise audio fidelity and
lead to RF emissions. Extrons patented CDRS technology
completely removes the switching ripple, ensuring optimal
audio performance while preventing RF interference.

Before amplification 2 Level reduced CD R S

Clipped signal
before after

After amplification 3 Clipping eliminated

www.avsystemsdesign.com WHATS INSIDE 57

 EXTRON
NEW PRODUCTS

XPA 4002

XPA 4002
Two Channel Amplifier 400 Watts Per Channel

The Extron XTRA Series XPA 4002 is a 1U, convection-cooled power amplifier delivering two channels of
400 watts rms. This professional grade amplifier features a 100 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 0.1% THD+N.
The XPA 4002 is an ENERGY STAR qualified amplifier with an Extron exclusive, highly efficient, advanced
Class D amplifier design. It also features patented CDRS - Class D Ripple Suppression technology that
provides a smooth, clean audio waveform and an improvement in signal fidelity over conventional Class D
amplifiers. The XPA 4002 is half the size of comparable amplifiers, conserving rack space and weighing only
9 lbs (4 kg). The Extron exclusive, high efficiency design generates very little heat and allows the amplifier
to be convection cooled.
There are two XPA 4002 models. The XPA 4002 is a two channel low impedance amplifier that
delivers 400 watts rms per channel into 4 ohms or 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms for program
audio reinforcement. It features a bridged mode that provides a single 800 watt output into 8 ohms.
The XPA 4002-70V two channel amplifier delivers 400 watts rms per channel for 70 volt high impedance
speaker systems in voice reinforcement and distributed audio applications.
The XPA 4002 and XPA 4002-70V are ideal for large environments such as auditoriums, convention
centers, and houses of worship for powering a large quantity of high impedance distributed speakers, or
high powered speaker cabinets or paging horns.

www.extron.com/xpa4002 for more information.

58 Extron New Products AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 EXTRON NEW PRODUCTS

HDMI DA2

HDMI DA2
Two Output HDMI Distribution Amplifier

The Extron HDMI DA2 is a one input, two output distribution amplifier for HDMI video and embedded multi-channel digital audio. It
supports HDMI specification features including data rates up to 6.75 Gbps, 12-bit Deep Color, 3D, Lip Sync, and HD lossless audio
formats. The HDCP-compliant distribution amplifier supports HDTV 1080p/60 and PC resolutions up to 19201200. The HDMI DA2
features two Extron-exclusive technologies: EDID Minder, which maintains continuous EDID communication between connected devices,
and Key Minder, which continuously authenticates HDCP encryption between all devices, ensuring the simultaneous distribution of source
content to both displays. The HDMI DA2 is ideal for applications that require the distribution of a HDMI source signal to two displays.

www.extron.com/hdmida2

FOX AEX 108

FOX AEX 108

Eight Port Fiber Optic Audio Extractor

The Extron FOX AEX 108 is an eight-port, fiber optic audio extractor for independent processing and routing of audio signals in a fiber
optic AV distribution system. Each port accepts signals from a FOX Series transmitter, extracts the two-channel audio signal to provide
a balanced or unbalanced analog stereo output, and re-transmits the original signal to a FOX Series receiver. Output reclocking on
the buffered pass-through maintains signal integrity, transmitting the fiber optic signal at original power levels. Featuring high-speed, all
digital signal transmission of pixel-perfect video, audio, and control signals over fiber optic cabling, the FOX AEX 108 is ideal for use
in FOX Matrix system applications that require extraction of audio signals for local independent distribution and processing within an
equipment room.

www.extron.com/foxaex108

www.avsystemsdesign.com Extron New Products 59

 EXTRON NEW PRODUCTS

Retractor VGA SM

VGA SM/6

VGA SM
VGA Show Me Control Cable

The Extron VGA SM Show Me Control Cable is a male-to-male VGA cable that provides remote input connection and selection for
Extron VSW 2VGA A and SW VGA Ars switchers. The cable features male 15-pin HD connectors and a 3.5 mm stereo audio jack for
optional stereo audio. Operation is simple and convenient: Connect the VGA Show Me cable to your laptop's VGA output, and press
the Share button to share the content of your desktop on the main presentation display. The VGA SM Show Me Control Cable
is available in two versions that are ideal for use in collaborative learning and similar applications: the VGA SM/6, a six-foot (1.6 m)
cable; and the Retractor VGA SM, a unique cable retraction and management system designed to work with Extron Cable Cubby and
TouchLink Cable Cubby enclosures.

SHARE CONNECT EXTEND

your desktop the cable to the Show Me
with the press your laptops cable from the
of a button VGA output Cable Cubby

www.extron.com/vgasm6 for more information on VGA SM/6 and Retractor VGA SM.

Retractor VGA-A Retractor DC

Retractor VGA-A Retractor DC

Cable Retractor VGA & Stereo Audio Cable Retractor DC Power Extension Cable

The Retractor VGA-A combines VGA and 3.5 mm stereo
audio in a single Retractor module, providing a cost-effective
option for VGA and audio source connectivity. Retractor
modules are available in versions to support most AV and
data signal types and fit any Cable Cubby or TLP TouchLink
Cable Cubby enclosure.
The Retractor DC is a special-purpose module which can be
used to extend DC power, from a remotely-mounted laptop
power supply*, for many Dell, HP, and Compaq PCs. Retractor
modules are available in versions to support most AV and
data signal types and fit any Cable Cubby or TLP TouchLink
Cable Cubby enclosure. (*Laptop power supply not included.)

www.extron.com/retractor www.extron.com/retractor

60 Extron New Products AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

TECH
WATCH
U.S. Tablet
Ownership Doubles
The number of Americans who own a tablet jumped
from 10 percent to 19 percent during the 2011
holiday season. A survey by the Pew Internet &
American Life Project showed that, while tablet
ownership stayed steady from mid-2011 to the fall
months, holiday shopping brought a sharp jump
in sales. The increase was driven partly by the
introduction of the Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes
and Noble Nook Tablet, according to researchers.

iPad (Apple)
www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, Nook (Barnes & Noble)

and www.apple.com Kindle Fire (Amazon)

Large Screen OLED

TVs Astound at CES
Both Samsung and LG made a big splash at this years
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with 55-inch OLED
TVs, the largest ones to hit the market so far. While OLED
has been viewed as the future of display technology, smaller
screen sizes and high costs have limited its acceptance.
These new models suggest that both of these barriers are
OLED TV (Samsung) on the verge of being overcome.
According to a recent report from the global market
research firm, NPD DisplaySearch, 2011 saw rapid
advancements in organic light emitting diodes (OLED)
technology. NPD DisplaySearch forecasts that this trend will
continue through this decade. OLED offers amazing picture
quality, beginning with the potential for absolute black levels,
wide viewing angles, and near-instantaneous response times.
However, manufacturers have yet to demonstrate the ability
to scale OLED display fabrication and the cost of larger
panels is not yet clear.

55EM9600 OLED TV (LG) www.samsung.com and www.lg.com

www.avsystemsdesign.com Tech Watch 61

 TECHNICALLY
SPEAKING
EDID: A Guide to Identifying and
Resolving Common Issues
By Jim Scrivner, Manager of Product Marketing
T he professional AV industrys
transition from analog to digital video
technologies continues with the rapid
adoption of HDMI, DVI, and DisplayPort.
Though largely successful, this transition
brings with it many challenges in
delivering a solidly robust, trouble-free
video system to the end user. Such
challenges may be associated with the
integrity of digital video signals as they
travel along cables and pass through
equipment, and the reliability of the cable
connections as well as terminations.
They may also be related to the
62 Technically Speaking
two-way communication used in HDMI,
DVI, and DisplayPort.
This two-way communication first
encompasses EDID exchange, with HDCP
authentication to follow if the content to be
displayed is HDCP-encrypted. Successful
completion of both is prerequisite to
enabling the flow of digital AV content
from source to display. Problems with
EDID or HDCP are major causes of
system failure leading to this very common
symptom: a blank or blue screen with a
message that reads No Signal Present
or something similar. Issues with HDCP
handshaking are well-known in the field.
EDID also has a long history in AV and is
widely familiar to integrators. However, it
is also difficult to fully understand, and
perhaps more importantly, to effectively
troubleshoot when things go wrong in a
digital video setup.
This article aims to bring the
AV professional to a comfortable
understanding of EDID, starting with a
clear explanation of EDID. This will be
followed by identification of EDID-related
issues commonly encountered in the field,
with suggested guidelines for successfully
resolving them. This information can
then be used to help develop and apply
sound EDID strategies to ensure reliable
and consistent operation within any
AV system.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

What is EDID?
EDID - Extended Display Identification
Data consists of 128-byte data structures
stored in a video display device
also referred to as a sink. The EDID
specifies a sinks characteristics and
must contain a primary data block, also
known as VESA block 0. Block 0 lists
the displays preferred resolution and
refresh rate, other resolutions and refresh
rates that will be accepted, and color
characteristics. The preferred resolution
is usually, but not always, the same
as the displays native resolution. EDID
also contains a wide range of ancillary
information including the vendor, model,
serial number, date of manufacture,
physical image dimensions, display
transfer characteristics gamma, and
color characteristics RGB primaries
and white point. For more information
about whats in an EDID, refer to
the sidebar.
In addition to a sink, EDID may also
be stored in repeater devices situated in
between a source and a sink. Switchers,
DAs, and signal processing equipment
are common examples of repeaters.
Consumer televisions or monitors with
HDMI ports require EDID with additional
128-byte extension blocks, standardized
as CEA-861 by the Consumer Electronics
Association, to define parameters for
compatible DTV/HDTV and audio formats
when connected to a consumer device
such as an audio/video receiver, Blu-ray
Disc player, mobile device, or a PC.
The CEA-861 block data also specifies,
whenever appropriate, 3D video formats,
via the sinks DVI port, and responds in 1994 for analog VGA. At that
accordingly by sending video to the time, the proliferation of CRT data
sink at WUXGA. EDID is intended display models with various preferred
to enable a simple plug-and-play resolutions prompted a desire to simplify
connection while automatically optimizing connection from a PC, by automatically
video compatibility between source communicating attributes of the display
and sink. to the graphics card. As a result of its
EDID exchange is standardized by wide implementation for VGA, EDID has
VESA - Video Electronics Standards been incorporated into the HDMI, DVI,
Organization. It was first introduced and DisplayPort standards.
Whats in an EDID?
Here are the some of the essential details contained within an EDID. The Extron control
software for matrix switchers was used to display the information.
Original hex-encoded
data for the EDID. The
software translates
the data into readable
information.
Model name of
the display
Preferred or native
resolution and
refresh rate
Full list of timings
supported by
the display
Supported audio
format
List of audio formats
supported by the sink
or repeater

color bit depths for Deep Color, color Speaker allocation

space compatibility including xvYCC, for a specific audio
and parameters for lip sync. format

When a source device connects Additional information,

to a sink, the EDID is sent over to the such as compatible
3D video formats or
source, which then reads the information
color bit depths
and uses it to produce a video output
properly formatted for the display. For
example, a PC receives EDID from a
sink indicating WUXGA native resolution

www.avsystemsdesign.com Technically Speaking 63

 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

EDID EXCHANGE
Display is Connected

Just got hooked up.

Its time to assert myself.

I sense a disturbance
in the video output lines...
HPD went from LOW to
HIGH so it means something
Initial Connection HPD Display drives HPD changed at my output port.
signal HIGH I must investigate!

Zzz...

HPD goes HIGH

My name is Elsie Dee

I was born on... Video Output
I prefer to display 1080p/60
and I can play stereo audio.
Heres a list of other video
resolutions that I can
handle: 720p, WXGA... The user commanded
me to generate 720p, so
thats what youll get. This
video is protected content,
so next lets exchange
Tell me about yourself HDCP Keys...
so Ill know what
signals to generate. Video and DDC
lines active
DDC lines active

EDID Exchange

EDID Communication
Protocol, Step by Step
The protocol for establishing the
exchange of EDID is standardized
by VESA as the DDC - Display Data
Channel, which is based on I2C, a
standard serial bus protocol for two-
way communication in many types of
electronic devices. The DDC specifies
three pins on the HDMI or DVI
connectors for signal transmission and
data exchange, including the SDA - serial
data line and SCL - serial clock line
for I2C, and a +5 volt supply from the
source.1 Signals passing through the
DDC are separate from the TMDS lines
that carry video and audio.
1. Initial source connection A source
device is connected to the sink
and is powered up. Per the DDC
specification, the source supplies +5
volts to the sink. This powers the
sinks EDID circuitry so that EDID
exchange can take place without the
need to fully power the display.
2. Acknowledgement of source
connection and handshaking
Once the sinks EDID circuitry is
powered up, it signals confirmation of
the connection by driving the HPD -
Hot Plug Detect signal from low to
high. The HPD pin is separate from
the DDC and its +5 volt supply line.
3. Request for EDID from the sink
When the source has received an
HPD high signal, it then sends a
command requesting the sinks EDID
via the DDC.
4. Transmission of EDID to the source
The sink receives the command and
responds by sending its EDID to the
source through the DDC.
5. Source video output based on
EDID The source reads the data

1
DisplayPort supports DDC but does not utilize the I2C bus for transmitting DDC signals or EDID between devices. Instead, it translates the I2C bus into a designated auxiliary
channel at the source and sink connections.

64 Technically Speaking AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012


within the EDID and responds
accordingly by sending its video
output to the sink at the preferred
resolution, refresh rate, and color
space. The preferred resolution may
be overridden if the user selects
an alternate output resolution that
complies with the supported video
timings in the EDID.
6. HDMI sinks and sources such as
consumer televisions and Blu-ray
Disc players For HDMI sink devices,
the EDID usually contains one or
more extension data blocks providing
compatible timings relevant to DTV,
as well as supported audio formats,
speaker allocation, and if present,
lip sync delay. The source detects
the presence of these extension
blocks via a flag in the primary EDID
block, and then requests them from
the sink.
The HPD and EDID handshake
process is illustrated on the left. It is
important to mention here that HDMI
and DVI specifications require successful
EDID communication before a source will
output its video. EDID communication,
in turn, is dependent on successful
HPD handshaking.
Additionally, for HDCP-encrypted
content, EDID communication must
be completed first before HDCP
authentication can occur. Exchange of
information for HDCP occurs over the
same DDC lines for EDID exchange.
EDID Communication Issues
Problems related to EDID communication
are very common in the field. They may
occur as a result of DDC or HPD signal
degradation due to cable losses, poor
terminations, or EMI/RFI interference.
They may also originate in the sink,
source, or sometimes a repeater such as
a switcher, and be related to how HPD
or EDID are being handled or managed
within the system. The symptoms
www.avsystemsdesign.com Technically Speaking
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
often are common: no image is shown Figure 1
on-screen, or the image is present
but appears distorted, fuzzy, or does
not fill the screen see Figure 1. This
can make it particularly difficult for AV
integrators to isolate the problem. The Normal image display
balance of this article identifies the
most prominent field issues related to
No Signal!
EDID, with suggestions for successfully
overcoming them.
No image on-screen
Common Field-Related
EDID Issues
Signal Integrity Problems in the
DDC or HPD Lines
Typical system scenarios. (1) A source Image does not fill the screen
is connected to a sink over a long HDMI
or DVI cable connection. (2) A source is Common symptoms of an EDID-related problem
connected far away from a sink over a
twisted pair extender.
Common symptom. No image seen
at all. Or if the source is a PC, the image Similarly, signal integrity problems can
seems to be at a low resolution and affect the DDC and HPD lines and affect
appears fuzzy, stretched, or does not fill image display reliability. Signals passing
the screen. through DDC and HPD essentially follow
Explanation. Integrators working standard TTL binary logic. According to
with HDMI and DVI in the field are very the specifications for HDMI and DVI, a
well-aware of the dramatic effects on low signal is detected if it falls within the
image quality that result from a loss range of 0 to 0.8 volts. A high signal is
of signal integrity in the TMDS video detected if it is sensed within the range
lines. Signal degradation can occur as a of 2.0 to 5.3 volts.
result of transmission over long cables, Long cables can cause logic signals
poor connections, the use of barrel to drift lower, possibly causing an
connectors to extend cables, cascading intended high signal to be misinterpreted
multiple devices in the signal path, and at the receiving end. Figure 2 illustrates
other factors. the effect of HPD signal loss over a long
Figure 2
HPD HPD
signal
"High" Threshold "High" Threshold
signal
time time
HPD
HDMI
Laptop Projector
Long cables can result in HPD signal loss, causing an intended high signal to be misread by the source.
65

Figure 3. In the event of an EDID communication failure, a PC usually will send out a default resolution,
such as 1024768, and provide very few options for adjusting the output.
HDMI cable. The signal from the sink has
lost enough voltage that when it reaches
the source, the signal is detected below
the range defining high HPD. As a result,
the source fails to request the EDID from
the sink and the handshake process
terminates. Similar problems can occur
with signal extenders and twisted pair
cables that are too long.
Even if the DDC or HPD lines have been
affected, the TMDS video lines may still
be intact since they are handled differently.
Many sources fail to output video if the
handshake fails, but PCs typically will send
an output at a default low resolution, such
as 1024768, to ensure the user can still
work with the PC.2 In this scenario, just a
few selectable low resolutions are available
when manually configuring the output from
the PC. See Figure 3.
Recommended solutions. To
help prevent DDC and HPD signal
degradation, employ the same practices
recommended for good digital video
signal integrity by keeping cables
as short as possible, ensuring that
connections are solid and robust, and
2
Although a source usually requires EDID exchange to output its content, a sink device can display incoming signals without EDID communication.
66 Technically Speaking
Normal
simplifying the signal path by minimizing
discontinuities in the chain. If using
signal extenders over twisted pair cable,
cable lengths should be kept within
manufacturer guidelines.
A signal test generator can be used to
test the integrity of the TMDS video lines
see the sidebar for more information.
If the TMDS lines are found to be good,
an EDID management device, such
as the Extron EDID 101D, can provide
a quick and effective solution when
system modifications are impractical
or inconvenient. Typically, the device is
connected at the source output over a
short cable. The EDID 101D automatically
manages EDID communication with the
source, so that the device essentially
simulates the function of a sink. The
source then outputs its content to the
EDID 101D, which passes the signals
through to the display.
Extron technologies for EDID
management are EDID Minder and
EDID Emulation. They enable EDID
communication with the source using
pre-stored EDID tables, available at
EDID Failure
various resolutions with or without
audio that can be selected by the
user to match the displays native or
preferred resolution. EDID Minder builds
on EDID Emulation by allowing the
EDID management-equipped device to
initiate a handshake with the display
to receive its EDID, which can then be
stored and subsequently communicated
to the source. This can reduce some
uncertainty associated with determining
the best resolution for the display.
EDID management devices improve
system reliability by keeping the EDID
handshake closer to the sources,
eliminating the uncertainties associated
with sending HPD and DDC signals
over extended cable lengths or through
successive devices in the signal path. It
is generally recommended that EDID be
delivered from as close to the source as
possible or practical.
Other considerations. Signal
degradation effects caused by EMI/RFI
interference, ground loops, and more can
cause voltages to drift upward, potentially
leading to misdetection of low logic
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

signals. When extending HDMI or DVI
signals over CAT 5-type cables grouped
with other cables, or in close proximity
with power sources, shielded twisted pair
cables and connectors are recommended
for protection against EMI/RFI.
EDID Management Not Configured
Typical system scenario. An AV device
with EDID management is installed right
out of the box and put into operation.
Common symptom. Theres no
problem getting image display on-screen.
But the image seems to be at the wrong
resolution for the display, looking slightly
fuzzy, possibly distorted, or not filling up
the screen.
Explanation. Many types of AV
products, including those from Extron,
incorporate EDID management. Examples
include switchers, matrix switchers,
DAs, video signal processors, and long
distance HDMI or DVI extenders. Having
EDID management in these products can
improve system reliability by keeping the
EDID handshake closer to the sources,
eliminating the uncertainties associated
with sending HPD and DDC signals
over extended cable lengths or through
successive devices in the signal path.
These devices likely have factory
default settings for EDID management.
Extron AV products are shipped from the
factory with a default pre-stored EDID
setting to 720p or 1024768, depending
on the model. The 720p resolution is
widely compatible with todays televisions
and monitors, while the 1024768
resolution is generally compatible with a
wide variety of desktop monitors.
These default settings usually ensure
reliable image display, but the image
may not be optimal. For example, if a
system includes a source capable of
1080p output, and a sink at 1080p native
resolution, the default 720p EDID will
force the source to output at 720p for the
display. The image, upscaled to 1080p,
then doesnt appear to be as sharp as it
www.avsystemsdesign.com Technically Speaking
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
should be. Aspect ratio issues can also is at a resolution that a source, such
occur in addition to resolution mismatch, as a PC or its graphics card, does not
such as in a system with a 1440900 recognize or accept. In this case, nothing
monitor and a PC. A default EDID at may appear at all on the display. Or a
1024768 will force a lower resolution PC will send out an image at a default
output to the sink, which will then distort low resolution, often 1024768, and
it by stretching it to fill the screen, or just a few selectable low resolutions are
display the image within a black frame. available when trying to configure the
Recommended solution. Set output. Again, properly setting up EDID
up the EDID management feature to management will resolve the issue.
capture the EDID from the sink and Be aware that Blu-ray Disc players
then communicate it to the source. usually will only output HDTV resolutions.
Alternatively, set the EDID management If connected to EDID management that is
to communicate pre-stored EDID at the set to a computer resolution, the player
preferred or native resolution of the sink. most likely will send a low resolution
Other considerations. Problems can output at 480p that is universally
occur if the pre-stored or captured EDID compatible with sinks.
Essential Troubleshooting Tools for
EDID-Related Field Issues
Having a number of tools on hand can save a lot of time and effort, and expedite the process of
troubleshooting digital video-related problems in the field, including those related to EDID. One
of the most effective tools is a Quantum Data 780 test generator and HDMI analyzer. However,
many other tools can also be effective without requiring significant capital outlay.
Viewing and confirming EDID. Free software, including Extron EDID Manager and Monitor
Asset Manager from EnTech, are available for viewing the contents of an EDID. Monitor
Asset Manager should be used when using a PC running Windows 7. Examining an EDID is
usually the best way to determine a displays preferred and compatible resolutions, as well
as audio formats and other attributes.
Video test generator. A video test generator such as the Extron VTG 400DVI can output
test patterns through the TMDS lines without requiring EDID handshake with the sink. It
can also show the native resolution of an attached sink device by reading its EDID, making
it handy for quick validation. Extron video processors similarly have built-in test pattern
generators, so having one on hand can be very helpful whenever troubleshooting is needed.
EDID management device. The Extron EDID 101D and similar products are small and
compact, and can be used to help quickly debug field issues related to integrity of the DDC
or HPD lines, or some other problem related to EDID.
HDMI or DVI line tester. Affordable line testers are available that can provide a quick
integrity check of the TMDS, DDC, HPD, and +5 volt supply lines.
Network cable tester. Testers for network cables can be very useful in installations with
twisted pair extenders. They can be used to check for problems related to terminations,
shielding, and signal integrity, and to determine whether there may be significant crosstalk.
The quality of connector terminations plays an important role in the performance of systems
with twisted pair signal transmission.
67
 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Slow or Unreliable Source Switching
Typical system scenarios. (1) A basic or
low-cost HDMI or DVI switcher is used
in an AV system. (2) A system design
includes multiple HDMI or DVI sources
connected directly to the inputs of
a display.
Common symptom. Switching
between sources is slow. For some
displays, the built-in switching may even
be unreliable with some source devices.
Explanation. Basic HDMI or DVI
switchers handle transitions between
sources by simply disconnecting the
signal lines including TMDS video, DDC,
and HPD. When the lines are reestablished
following an input selection, the EDID
negotiation process has to be reinitiated
between the display and the newly
selected source device. This renegotiation
of EDID can result in some switching lag.
This latency may be prolonged if the new
source presents a different resolution or
color space to the sink.
Switching lag can be especially
noticeable when switching between a
Figure 4
Display
EDID
Extron
SW2 HDMI
Switcher
1 2
EDID
EDID
Laptop Blu-ray Player
An Extron SW HDMI Series switcher actively maintains continuous EDID communication with all
connected input sources, resulting in consistent and reliable operation. Generic switchers simply pass
DDC information from only the selected input directly to the output. This necessitates reinitiating EDID
communication between the source and display upon each switch, which can contribute to unreliable
operation, switching lag, and visible glitches of the displayed image.
68 Technically Speaking
displays built-in HDMI or DVI inputs.
Additionally, a display may handle a new
input selection by switching only the
TMDS or DDC lines from the previous
source, but doing nothing with the HPD
line. This can be a problem, because
some sources wait for the HPD line to
change state before sending video. In
such cases, switching between inputs on
a display can result in no viewable picture
until the system is power-cycled.
Recommended solution. Avoid using
a displays integrated switching whenever
possible. Instead, use a switcher with
EDID management, such as the Extron
DVI Plus and HDMI Series switchers. They
speed up switching by exchanging EDID
with each connected source. The HPD
and DDC lines are never disconnected,
so the sources continuously output video
regardless of the input currently selected
on the switcher. See Figure 4.
By default, the DVI Plus and HDMI
Series automatically capture the EDID
from the display device when it is
connected to the switcher output and
Display
EDID
Generic
Switcher
1 2
EDID
No EDID communication
! for unselected input
Laptop Blu-ray Player
powered on. Then this EDID is stored for
each of the inputs and communicated to
the sources. No EDID management setup
is required, which simplifies installation.
Other considerations. EDID
management in a switcher usually ensures
consistent signal resolution and color
space format between sources, further
contributing to quick source switching.
Images Look Great on Some
Displays but Not on Others
Typical system scenario. A matrix
switcher with EDID management is used
so that several displays can reliably
display content from an HD source.
The displays are LCD flat panels and a
combination of smaller 720p and larger
1080p models.
Common symptom. The picture
looks very good on the 720p
screens, but not sharp enough on
the 1080p panels.
Explanation. Matrix switchers
with EDID management are similar to
switchers in that EDID is communicated
to each source connected to an input.
EDID management in a matrix switcher
can be very effective in managing
resolution compatibility between sources
and various displays.
A common practice, when using
EDID management in a matrix switcher,
is to determine the native resolutions
of the displays to be tied to an input
source, and then determine the highest
common resolution between them. Pre-
stored or display-captured EDID based
on this resolution is then communicated
to the source, so that the output will be
compatible with all displays. Figure 5
illustrates EDID management setup for
an Extron XTP CrossPoint matrix switcher.
For example, a 1080p television and
a 720p display are to be fed from a
PC via a matrix switcher. The highest
common resolution is 720p, so the
EDID management would be set to this
resolution. Although an image will be
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 Figure 5. The Extron XTP Configurator software for XTP CrossPoint Systems includes a user-friendly GUI for managing EDID throughout the system.

reliably shown on both displays, graphics
will look sharp on the 720p display but
may appear somewhat fuzzy on the
1080p TV. See Figure 6. Additional issues
can arise when mixing and matching
displays of various aspect ratios.
Recommended solution. Complaints
and service calls can be avoided by
taking an important step during the
needs assessment phase of system
design. During this time, discuss with the
end user the application requirements for
displaying sources on multiple displays.
Determine what sources will be used,
their content resolutions, and what the
native resolutions will be for the displays.
graphics for digital signage and other If an end user is using a mix of
applications should be presented pixel- smaller 720p and larger 1080p flat-panel
for-pixel to ensure that details are sharp displays, and insists on the best image
and clear. quality for 1080p, 720p-type televisions
Other considerations. When may accept 1080p input, making
combining televisions with PCs and them ideal in many system designs if
desktop monitors, be aware that many they are to present the same images
TVs may only accept a very limited with 1080p displays. Smaller flat-panel
range of computer resolutions. In displays increasingly feature 1080p native
these situations, 720p may be the best panels, which will soon make this a
common resolution. moot issue.
Figure 6
Native 720p Native 1080p
FCC Compliance Testing at Extron
Military, Government,

Ask about the end users expectations

Medical Apps
Other
10
10

for image quality, and whether some 15

Pro AV
65
ITE

compromises will be acceptable if Commercial Consumer Military

a source is to feed a mix of display

Desktop PC
resolutions and aspect ratios. FCC Compliance Testing at Extron
Military, Government,
Medical Apps

The importance of image quality may

Other
10
10

15
Pro AV
65
ITE

depend on the nature of the content. Commercial Consumer Military 720p Output HDMI Matrix Switcher

Video and photos are more likely to be

acceptable than graphics, if they need
to be scaled up or down in resolution. Graphics formatted for 720p are likely to appear fuzzy when scaled up on a native 1080p display.
Whenever possible, high resolution

www.avsystemsdesign.com Technically Speaking 69

 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Color Space Switching or
Compatibility Issues
Typical system scenario. A source
is connected to a sink through a DVI
switcher. The source is sending RGB
color space video to the sink. A user
then selects a new source that outputs
component color space video to the sink.
Common symptoms. The screen
momentarily flashes magenta, the image
is permanently tinted in magenta and
green, or there is no image at all.
Explanation. The DVI specification
supports RGB color space only and
does not mention component color
space. HDMI expands on the DVI
spec to include optional support for
component color space, so a displays
HDMI input will usually accept it. When
suddenly receiving a different color
space into an HDMI input, some displays
smoothly handle the transition with no
glitches. But others may exhibit a brief
visual artifact. This can occur when
a display, receiving RGB color space
through its input, suddenly senses a
component color space from a newly
switched source. The screen may
momentarily flash magenta as the display
adjusts to the new color space.
In switching systems combining
sources that output RGB and component
color space, problems may occur if
there are monitors with DVI inputs.3 If a
component color space video signal is
switched to a displays DVI input, the
result may be no image display, or a
picture tinted with magenta and green.
Recommended solution. Though
not directly related to EDID, EDID
management can avoid these potential

Additional EDID-Related Pitfalls and color space issues by communicating

Issues to be Aware Of EDID to all input sources that only

specify RGB compatibility. The HDMI
specification requires that sources and
In addition to the common field-related EDID issues discussed in the article, there are several
other situations and instances that can be related to EDID. sinks, at minimum, be compatible with
RGB color space.
HDMI and DVI inputs. Many sinks designed for commercial applications have separate Other considerations. If EDID
HDMI and DVI inputs, which may contain different EDID content between them. The management does not resolve color
EDID for the DVI input likely will not have CEA-861 extension blocks, so an HDMI source
space issues, then it may be necessary
connected into this input may not output HDMI audio. Additionally, the EDID for the DVI
to check the color space settings on the
input may specify a computer resolution in its preferred timing, while the EDID for the HDMI
input specifies an HDTV rate. sources and sinks. Changing the color
space format to auto on the source,
Cascading devices with EDID management. In some systems there will be more than sink, or both often resolves the problem.
one device in the chain with EDID management capability. Generally, it is best to manage
EDID as close to the source as possible, so EDID management should be limited to the
Source Compatibility Problems
device connected directly to the source, and disengaged for devices further downstream.
Typical system scenario. A PC had

EDID from the sink required. In some applications, the original EDID from the sink must be been configured to a specific output
used when applying EDID management. A particular example is 3D video from Blu-ray Disc. resolution. It is then connected to a
The EDID within a 3D-capable sink will specify the 3D video formats supported, which need new display, either manually or through
to be conveyed to the Blu-ray Disc player. EDID management can be used to capture this a switcher.
EDID from the sink and then communicate it to the player.
Common symptoms. The image
does not look right fuzzy, stretched,
Corrupt EDID in display. This is not very common, but may happen with legacy displays.
Corrupt EDID is not likely to be an issue with newer HDMI-equipped sinks. These devices or partially filling the screen. There may
conform to the CEA-861 standard, which requires that the EDID be write-protected in the even be no image at all.
display to prevent accidental corruption. Explanation. After connecting to
the new sink, the PC failed to follow
Customizing an EDID. There may be circumstances in which neither the EDID in the sink
its EDID, and retained its previous
or the emulated EDID will be ideal. For example, a source needs to send an HDMI output to
resolution setting that doesnt match the
a display at a specific resolution, and also send out audio. Emulated EDID can be provided
by the EDID management but with no provision for audio. The solution would then be to sinks native or preferred resolution. If
customize the EDID, which can be done using a software application. But doing so requires the sink is incompatible with the PCs
sufficient knowledge of the EDID data structures and syntax. output resolution, an error message may
be displayed.

3
While this is generally the case for computer monitors with DVI inputs, many PCs, graphics cards, and displays have DVI ports that are actually HDMI compliant.

70 Technically Speaking AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012


Recommended solution. Go
into the display settings or open the
program for the graphics card. Select
the native resolution for the display.
Make sure the new resolution setting
will be retained if the PC is to be
switched with other sources. If the issue
persists, connect an EDID 101D or other
EDID management device to the PC
output, or use a switcher with an EDID
management feature.
Other considerations. A somewhat
similar situation may occur when a
laptop is newly connected to an external
display. The laptop may switch over to
a specific presentation display mode,
known as Duplicate in Windows 7, in
which the desktop is duplicated on the
laptops internal screen and the display.
The video output is identical to both
displays, so the resolution chosen by
Windows 7 must be mutually compatible.
This resolution may not be optimal for
either or both displays, unless they share
the same native resolution.
For example, if the laptops internal
screen resolution is 1440900 and the
external projector is 19201200 native,
1440900 will be sent to both. This may
even happen without the internal screen
being active. If the best possible image
is desired for the external display, this
www.avsystemsdesign.com Technically Speaking
Figure 7. Setting the HDMI
output as the default audio
device usually solves
HDMI audio problems.
issue usually can be resolved easily in
Windows 7 by pressing the Windows logo
key, and tapping P to cycle through
the available display modes to Projector
only, or Extend if you intend to use the
external display to extend your desktop.
Some presenters like to use the
laptops internal screen as a confidence
monitor. If the laptop screen resolution
equals or exceeds the native of the
presentation display, this should not be a
problem. But the presentation image may
be less than desirable if the laptop is
connected to a higher resolution projector
or flat-panel monitor.
HDMI Audio Issues
Typical system scenario. A source,
such as a PC or Blu-ray Disc player, is
connected to a sink over HDMI. The
intention is to watch video and listen to
audio through the speakers in the sink.
Common symptom. The audio
is missing.
Explanation. HDMI provides the
convenience of sending audio together
with the video on a single cable, which
can simplify integration in applications
where audio presentation is needed.
For some systems, HDMI audio will be
carried through to a flat-panel display and
output through its built-in speakers, while
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
in other installations, an intermediary
device will extract the audio for playback
over a sound reinforcement system.
Consumer AV receivers commonly
extract HDMI audio to provide surround
sound. The Extron HAE 100 HDMI Audio
De-Embedder is an example of a product
ideal for commercial AV systems.
An HDMI sink sends one or more
EDID extension blocks to an HDMI
source, which includes information
establishing the sinks compatible
audio formats, including PCM or the
multi-channel audio formats from Dolby
and DTS. The sink must specify the
channel count and speaker allocation.
The source outputs audio compatible
with the sink as specified in the EDID.
Usually the format most relevant to
commercial AV systems is two-channel
or 2.0 PCM.
There are many instances in which
a source may not send out audio
over HDMI as expected. A PC may be
overriding the EDID and defaulting to
a mode with its analog audio output
active and the HDMI audio turned off.
Or a Blu-ray Disc player may have been
manually set to output Dolby Digital 5.1,
regardless of the EDID, which the sink
does not accept. In this case, crackling
artifacts may be audible through the
sinks speakers.
A less common situation, leading to
no HDMI audio, is failure to transmit the
EDID extension blocks to a PC. This is
caused by the PC not following HDMI/
DDC specifications when requesting
EDID from the sink.
Recommended solution. For a
Blu-ray Disc player, select two-channel
PCM output in the configuration menus.
For a PC, be sure the driver for the
graphics card or integrated graphics is
up to date, and then go into the sound
settings to activate HDMI audio output.
See Figure 7. Ensure that settings will be
retained if the system requires switching
with other sources. If the issue persists,
71
 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Figure 8 If the pre-stored EDID tables do

not support a specific format that is
needed, such as multi-channel high
resolution audio, it will be necessary
Projector
to capture EDID from the surround
HDMI Matrix Switcher sound processor.
Desktop PC
Identify special EDID requirements.
Support for 3D video necessitates
Power Amplifier HDMI use of EDID from a 3D-compatible
Audio Extractor
display device. Many professional
displays do not support audio, so
EDID management with audio support
Extron SI 26CT Two-way Ceiling Speakers will be necessary if sound system
playback is required.
In systems requiring HDMI and sound reinforcement, it is best to keep the video signal path to the Identify where EDID is being
display as simple as possible. In the application shown here, this is accomplished by dedicating a
provided to each source device.
matrix switcher output for the display, and another for the audio system.
A system design may include several
AV system components that manage
EDID. To ensure the most consistent
connect an EDID management device to simplify the digital video signal path to and reliable system operation, always
the source output, or use a switcher with the display. apply EDID management from the
EDID management. device nearest the source, and
Other considerations. Some Develop an EDID Strategy turn off EDID management in all
projectors do not specify audio output Every AV integrator has engineering other devices.
in their EDID, even over their HDMI standards in place to provide guidelines Design systems with EDID
ports, so there may be no HDMI audio for system design. An EDID strategy management to every source.
output from the source. This is also section should be incorporated within The system design should include
likely the case for flat-panel displays these standards to address EDID AV devices that provide active
with no speakers. The lack of audio in management. A well thought-out, EDID management to every source
the EDID will be a problem if there is a documented EDID strategy applied in device. This will ensure robust
product in between that is intended to the early design stages can greatly system operation and reliable
extract the HDMI audio for output to a reduce the potential for on-site issues video output from the sources,
sound reinforcement system. The Extron during installation and commissioning. especially in systems with switching
HAE 100, switchers, and matrix switchers The following are key points to and distribution.
with EDID management can resolve consider when designing a system: Determine whether multiple
this issue by sending EDID directly to EDID settings should be used. In
the source device that specifies audio Identify destination resolution most AV systems, a common EDID
output as well as video at the projectors requirements. The native or preferred setting can be used for all sources.
preferred resolution. Pre-stored EDID is display resolution will determine However, a specific EDID may be
available that includes two-channel PCM the EDID setting. For systems that required for some source devices.
or the multi-channel audio formats via incorporate multiple display devices, For example, a system with 1080p
the EDID extension block. EDID for the highest common sources and displays may include
In addition to EDID management with resolution should be selected. a videoconference codec that only
support for audio formats, the HAE 100 Identify audio application needs. supports 720p output, or the system
extracts embedded HDMI audio, while Two-channel audio is used for most needs a specific surround sound
passing the HDMI signals on to the sound reinforcement applications. If format from a Blu-ray Disc player.
display. If possible, the HAE 100 should there is a need to support surround
Jim Scrivner is Manager of Product Marketing at Extron
be connected to a separate switcher sound, select pre-stored EDID that
Electronics for signal processing and twisted pair
output, as illustrated in Figure 8, to help includes multi-channel audio formats. transmission, and has been with the company for 20 years.

72 Technically Speaking AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 Extron TLP 710CV
The Industrys First 7" Flip-up Touchpanel
the extron tLP 710CV is a configurable 7" Cable Cubby touchLink touchpanel that combines AV system control with the convenience
of an extron Cable Cubby enclosure. It features a flip-up, full-color, high-resolution touchscreen in an elegant, metal enclosure that can
be mounted securely into a tabletop, lectern, or other flat surface. An integrated mtP twisted pair receiver accepts S-video or composite
video and audio input signals over a single CAt 5-type cable. Power over ethernet - Poe allows the touchpanel to receive power and
control over an additional CAt 5-type cable, eliminating the need for a local power supply. the touchpanel enables integrators to deploy
furniture-mountable, fully configurable touchscreen control, with cable management and easy access to AV connectivity and power.

key Features:
7" color touchscreen with 800x480 resolution and 18-bit color depth
Full motion video display for preview and monitoring using extron
twisted pair technology
power over ethernet allows the touchpanel to receive power and
control over a single Cat 5-type cable, eliminating the need for a local
power supply - poe injector included
Built-in speaker provides audio for video preview and audible
feedback from button presses
Light sensor adjusts screen brightness as the ambient room lighting
changes
Cable Cubby design offers easy access to aV, data, and power
connections
aC power modules available for uS, europe, and other major world
markets
aV connectivity options:
- holds up to 11 single-space aap-architectural adapter plates
- holds up to 6 aV and data cable retractor assemblies

www.extron.com/tlp710cv
 DESIGN
FORUM
Using iPad for
System Control
By Derek Joncas,
Manager of Product Marketing
W ithout a doubt, this is a very
interesting time to be designing
AV systems in our industry. The new
Bring Your Own Device - BYOD
movement presents a new set of
challenges for AV system administrators
and designers alike. Most of the new
technology is touch-centric, with users
becoming very accustomed to the
concept of touchscreens, high-end
graphics, and ever-increasing sources
of data.
More than ever, new technologies
are forcing designers to expand their
repertoire of traditional designs to meet
these new user requirements.
The iPad, and mobile devices in
general, have altered the expectations
and perspective of all device users, not
just the mobile ones. At one time, a
mobile phone was nothing more than
a single-purpose device optimized for
making phone calls on the go. Times
have certainly changed.
The accessibility of personalized
information, communications, and
entertainment is neatly bundled into an
environment that is customized by an
individual. Prioritize the functions you
want, download and install the software
features that you need.
If there was any hesitation in my
mind that this change of expectations
was starting to take place, it was quickly
reinforced during a recent trip to the
gas station. As I was pumping gas, I
observed a young woman pull up to an
74 Design Forum
adjacent pump, exit her car, presumably
to pump gas. Glancing back in her
direction moments later, I saw that the
woman was trying to interact with the
LCD screen at her pump. She was
double tapping and two finger swiping
all over the LCD screen on the pump
console. Unfortunately the LCD wasnt
a touchscreen, but she was clearly
expecting one. Lesson learned for me.
AV designs have always incorporated
some quantity of owner-furnished
equipment. In years past, this might
have required the inclusion of the odd
DVD player or tower PC into the new
systems designs. Fast forward to 2012,
and that owner-furnished equipment list
might include a variety of hand-carried
technologies. The new class of owner-
furnished equipment is far more capable
than those of the past, while adding a
new layer of versatility for the designer
and user alike.
The BYOD movement presents a
number of new challenges especially
for the control system designer, because
users are fast becoming the new experts
on the touchscreen. There are many items
to take into consideration when promoting
the use of iPhones, iPads, or Android
devices with your AV system installations.
First, we need to truly understand
the user goals and the nature of the
devices they would like to incorporate.
Will the additional devices perform a
troubleshooting role or will it be used to
select sources and adjust volume during
a presentation?
When you receive a request to
include or feature a mobile device in your
designs, be sure to do the following:
1. Research the users needs.
2. Validate the mobile
devices capabilities.
3. Document the functionality.
4. Deliver the expectations.
And remember, ranking above all of
these is setting the right expectations.
Mobile devices are truly personal
devices, designed to satisfy the goals
of the person using them, and nobody
else. They are designed for the use
of individuals and set up according to
their preferences. The individual decides
how these will operate by customizing
their appearance and performance. For
example: although all iPads may look the
same on the outside, the content they
contain will differ greatly based upon
applications installed. In addition, these
personal devices require minimal set-up
as they are rarely shared, and are already
customized by the users.
This is a big difference from what we
normally see and design for AV systems.
Mobile devices are often tailored to a
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

users preferences, while AV system
controls are designed to meet the needs
of a larger pool of users. Touchpanels
or button panels are purpose-driven
machines. In their best form, they are
designed for broad accessibility and
consistency among all potential users.
They are rarely set up to meet the needs
of a single user.
Another way to compare mobile
devices with AV devices is by using a
simple radius comparison scenario. Most
mobile devices are never more than a
few feet away from their owners, which
means they can be removed from the
room at any time. In comparison, most
touchpanels never leave the room they
were designed to control. If you design
for safety, you can ensure that a primary
control device always remains in the
room, while also providing a method for
control from a mobile device.
In a previous article, I wrote about
designing for edge cases. AV Control
systems require that we design for the
most common required functionality
as part of the objective to achieve
broad usability. Designers must also
study the edge case scenarios. This
ensures that the system will be ready to
accommodate critical functions.
How does this begin to translate
to mobile devices? Here are some
design considerations:
Identify if mobile device control use
will be limited to the edge case: Is
the system designed only to meet the
needs of one or two individuals, or is
widespread general use required?
Will mobile devices be portable or
remain in the rooms being controlled?
Since mobile devices are portable, it
is difficult to prevent their unintended
transportation to other areas of the
customers facility without notice. And,
a mobile device is generally operated
by the person who owns it. The
implication is that it might be shared
www.avsystemsdesign.com Design Forum
between the persons home and
work environments.
Design for user safety: Be certain the
user knows what they can and cannot
control in any environment. Network
accessible devices may be controlled
from anywhere. Be sure the user
interface identifies the room being
controlled, and that the control system
prevents access to unauthorized
users. Furthermore, create user
confidence by incorporating at least
one permanently installed point of
control in your design that remains in
the physical room.
Know the mobile device ecosystem
the customers organization prefers:
The ecosystem information is important,
as it will help to determine device
compatibility and project approach.
Apple and Android devices each come
with their own unique operational
requirements and it is important to
know who is using them and how. No
doubt that the IT organizations you will
be working with have already begun to
adopt policies as they relate to mobile
devices. Adding network access to
control systems, from this same pool
of devices, adds an additional layer of
complexity and coordination for the
designer and the IT organization who
manage the network.
The truly great of thing about
purpose-built AV control devices is that
they are designed with the AV system
user in mind. The same cannot be
said about the iPad since it is clearly a
consumer-oriented device, and it is full
of distractions for the user.
Extron believes that user-facing
controls should be as simple and clear
as possible, and the same philosophy
extends to our apps, like MediaLink for
iPad. MediaLink for iPad is designed
to replicate the controls of an existing
MediaLink MLC 226IP or MLC 104
controller directly on the iPad. The app
DESIGN FORUM
includes Connection Manager, which
permits control of up to nine different
rooms from an easy drop-down menu.
MediaLink for iPad does not require
any programming or custom graphic
work to create or operate. Simply enter
the IP address and permissions for an
Ethernet connected MediaLink controller
with Connection Manager and you are
ready to provide a convenient, additional
point of control from the iPad. Its a tool
to satisfy the needs of technicians and
AV control system users alike.
And best of all, the convenience of
iPad control for your MediaLink devices
only costs $.99 USD. You can learn more
by visiting www.extron.com/mltlipad.
iPad control of your AV systems
can add value to many system designs.
Beyond the wow factor, design your
systems and make certain the apps
you deploy truly serve a users goals.
iPads, iPhones, and Android products
are multi-purpose devices first and AV
controls second. Just as you would never
willingly abandon your mobile device in a
conference room, make sure you never
willingly abandon control system users
by giving them a safe way to operate a
room in your mobile devices absence.
Oh, and dont forget to disable Angry
Birds prior to your next service call.
Derek Joncas is Manager of Product Marketing at Extron
Electronics for control systems hardware and software. He
has worked in the AV Industry since 1988, holding senior
engineering and management positions with companies
focused on AV integration, managed services, broadcast,
broadband data services, and software development.
75
 TECH
CORNER
HDMI Cable Quality
Matters in Pro AV
By Ron Justice,
Director of Technical Services
T heres a popular belief, widely tossed
around on the Internet, that all HDMI
cables are the same. If theres a picture
at the end of the cable, its impossible
to tell the difference between a cheap
cable and one that costs two or three or
ten times as much. I suppose thats a
fair statement if one is connecting
a $99 Blu-ray player to a $500 flat
panel purchased from the local
discount warehouse. In the typical,
simple home entertainment
system, the source
and display are rarely
more than a few feet
apart. If the signal is
occasionally intermittent,
the system can usually be
fixed with a little judicious
wiggling of cables.
76 Tech Corner
But the typical home AV system
intended for entertainment is not the
same as a custom-designed, fully
integrated conference room, boardroom,
or classroom thats essential to the
productivity or institutional mission of
an organization. In these environments,
signal integrity and system reliability go
hand in hand. Saving a few dollars with
bargain cables, against a total AV system
cost of perhaps $25,000 to $50,000
or more, is simply bad economics. In
commercial AV, you truly do get what
you pay for, and cables can be the
determining factor in whether or not
the system works.
Theres more to an HDMI cable, for
that matter any pre-terminated cable,
than just the wire from which
its constructed.
The quality
of the raw
want to get the products repaired and
cable, connectors, termination, moldings
and strain reliefs, and how theyre all
put together, are equal contributors to
cable performance. And even if theyre
purchased from well-known, established
brands, low-cost or seemingly bargain
cables are not immune from quality
issues. In practice, these cables may not
save you any money at all.
Cables Can Damage Your Equipment
A few months ago, we began
hearing about HDMI connector failures
on competitors products. About the
same time, calls starting coming in
on our technical support line about
intermittent performance and damaged
HDMI input/output connectors on our
DXP HDMI and SMX HDMI Series digital
matrix switchers. What was puzzling is
that weve shipped thousands of these
switchers over the past couple of years
without any mechanical issues, and
nothings changed on our bill of materials
in regard to the HDMI connectors that
we use. Connector damage is highly
unusual with Extron switchers, and
the number and frequency of these
complaints merited a full investigation.
We take issues such as this to heart: we
back into service as quickly as possible,
but we also need to determine the root
cause of the problem so that we can
advise our customers on preventative
actions. Further troubling, but hinting
toward an underlying cause, was the
fact that the repaired switchers were
exhibiting the same problems after they
were reinstalled by the customer.
As our technical support team began
digging into the issue, we found a
commonality among these failures in all
cases, the HDMI cables in use were from
one popular, on-line supplier of low-price
cables. When we put these cables under
the microscope, we discovered that
some cables had connectors that were
damaged in manufacturing, and others
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

HDMI connector, damaged by a faulty cable; pins
are lifted or pushed back, resulting in intermittent
or lost signals.
had a particular HDMI connector design
that causes pins in the switcher I/O
connectors to be lifted or pushed back,
resulting in intermittent or lost signals
and fatal damage to the I/O ports.
When repaired switchers are reinstalled
with Extron HDMI cables or those from
a different manufacturer, no additional
damage occurs and the switchers work
as expected.
Given our recent experience, I think
its safe to say at this point that all
HDMI cables are not the same. As I
mentioned earlier, a cable is more than
just wire. Extron HDMI cables are built to
our specifications, starting with the bare
wire. All attributes of the cable the wire
gauge of the conductors, jacket material,
construction, connectors, molding
and strain relief are made to Extron
specification. How the cable is designed
and manufactured has a huge effect on
its performance in an AV system. Often,
its the details that help to separate a
merely-functional cable from one that
you can rely upon for critical AV system
performance, day in and day out.
Its Whats Inside That Counts
Lets take a look inside an Extron
HDMI Pro Series cable and Ill show
you what I mean. First, we start with
a very high-quality HDMI connector,
with gold-plated contacts and shell for
www.avsystemsdesign.com Tech Corner
optimum conductivity and corrosion
resistance. We sell products worldwide
for installations in virtually every type
of climate. We want to be confident
that our cables will work equally well
whether ambient conditions are dry
or humid, or where theres a high salt
content in the air as is typical in many
coastal environments.
How the connector and wires are
terminated is absolutely critical to overall
cable performance, and this is an area in
which many manufacturers take shortcuts
in order to meet cost targets. In the
Extron HDMI Pro Series cable, notice
that all of the signal grounds are tied
together, and then tied to the connector
shell. This provides better grounding
and better EMI immunity, helping to
protect the HDMI signal from external
interference. We use this same technique
in our other HDMI cable lines as well.
Anatomy of High Quality HDMI Cable:
Extron HDMI Pro Series
Gold-plated contacts and
connector shell for
exceptional conductivity
and corrosion resistance
TECH CORNER
There is a cost to terminating cables in
this fashion, but we feel that its the best
way to ensure signal integrity within a
complex AV system design.
Next, wire gauge is an important
contributor to signal integrity, particularly
as cables grow in length, although
advances in technology are helping to
increase performance with smaller gauge
wires. Rather than take a one AWG
fits all approach, we offer a range of
high quality, high performance cables
that fit specific integration needs. For
connections between devices within
the rack, we have the MDC HDMI
Series MicroDigital cables in 36 AWG,
and the HDMI Ultra Flex Series cables
in 30 AWG. These lightweight, highly
flexible cables are available in lengths
from 1.5 to 15 feet, and were created
in response to integrator requests for
high performance cables that could be
Solder Braid
Inner Mold
Foil Shield
Conductor wire gauge is optimized by
cable length for superior performance
Continuous connection between Connector Shell,
Solder Braid, and Foil Shield provides maximum
rejection of EMI/RFI interference to maintain signal
integrity throughout the length of the cable
Molded Strain Relief provides 360
bend radius, reducing cable stress
for long-term reliability
TMDS signal grounds are tied together
for improved grounding and additional
EMI immunity
77
 TECH CORNER

easily and neatly dressed within the rack.
For longer cable runs, from the rack to
the display, for example, our HDMI Pro
Series is available in two wire gauges:
24 AWG for lengths up to 12 feet, and a
heavier 22 AWG for lengths from 12 feet
up to 200 feet.
Finally, all Extron cables are fully
tested and run through a rigorous QA
process before delivery. We take the
same conservative approach with cable
another time at which the meeting can
be rescheduled. A lost client is worth
far more than the few dollars saved
on cables.
As I said at the outset, in commercial
AV, you get what you pay for. When
asked, we will always recommend
that you use Extron HDMI cables for
your AV system installation. While our
HDMI cables will likely never be the
lowest-priced on the market, theyre
always fairly priced, manufactured to
our exacting standards, and backed by
the Extron 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
And when you do install them, you can
be confident that Extron cables will work
as advertised for the life of the project,
with the quality and performance youve
come to expect from all Extron products.
Ron Justice is Director of Technical Services for
Extron Electronics.

specifications that we do with specs

for our powered products. Rather than
simply say meets HDMI High Speed
specifications or exceeds HDMI Extron HDMI Cables
Standard Speed specifications and
assume that the average customer
knows what those terms mean, we
clearly spell out the tested performance
HDMI Pro
criteria that a particular cable, or cable
length, meets or exceeds data rate,
resolution, refresh rate, color bit depth,
and at what length an external cable
HDMI Ultra
equalizer is needed. We think its
important to provide cable performance
criteria up front, so that you can make
an informed purchase decision before MDC HDMI
the installation begins.

Making the Right Choice: Why

Wire gauge is an important contributor to signal integrity, particularly as cables grow in length. Rather
Cable Quality Matters
than take a one AWG fits all approach, Extron offers a range of high quality, high performance
At its core, your choice of cables cables that fit specific integration needs. The Extron MDC HDMI MicroDigital Series and HDMI Ultra
for an AV system installation ultimately Flex Series of lightweight, ultra-flexible cables are available in lengths up to 15 feet, and are ideal for
interconnection of devices within a rack, or for use within a Cable Cubby or TLP TouchLink Cable
comes down to the intended use of the
Cubby enclosure. For longer cable runs, from the rack to the display, for example, Extron HDMI Pro
system and its importance to the day Series is available in two wire gauges: 24 AWG for lengths up to 12 feet, and a heavier 22 AWG for
to day needs of the client. If your home lengths from 25 feet up to 200 feet. An Extron HDMI 101 Plus Cable Equalizer is recommended for
use with cables longer than 75 feet.
entertainment system, for example, fails
just before the big game because of Max. Data
Series AWG Lengths (in feet) HDMI Spec Resolution Supported
a bad cable, its upsetting and youre Rate
19201080 @ 60 Hz,
disappointed, but life goes on you MDC HDMI 36 1.5, 3 High Speed 10.2 Gbps
16-bit color
can catch the game at a neighbors 19201080 @ 60 Hz,
MDC HDMI 36 6 Standard Speed 4.95 Gbps
8-bit color
house or a local sports bar, or watch
19201080 @ 60 Hz,
it online. If a bad cable causes the HDMI Ultra 30 6, 9, 12, 15 High Speed 10.2 Gbps
16-bit color
boardroom AV system to fail in front of 19201080 @ 60 Hz,
HDMI Pro 24 3, 6, 12 High Speed 10.2 Gbps
16-bit color
your clients CEO and other senior staff,
25, 35, 50, 75, 100, 19201080 @ 60 Hz,
theres likely hundreds if not thousands HDMI Pro 22
125, 150, 175, 200
Standard Speed 4.95 Gbps
8-bit color
of dollars worth of productivity on the
line there may not be another room Please visit www.extron.com/hdmicables for more info.

available with the same capabilities, or

78 Tech Corner AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

 Advanced Conguration for AV Control Systems

Extron Global Configurator professional

GC Pro is designed to combine the flexibility of touchLink with the power of advanced configuration. As AV systems scale in size
and complexity, AV control systems must be designed to efficiently handle these new demands and also be easy to use. GC Pro is
extrons next generation configuration software for larger, more sophisticated touchLink-based control systems. It offers an integrated
environment for defining advanced AV control system functionality from an easy-to-use graphical user interface. Powerful features, such
as controller groups and conditional logic with local variables, provide greater flexibility for more elaborate control system designs. GC Pro
is ideal for any touchLink-based control system requiring enhanced functionality and advanced configuration.

key Features:
Supports larger, more sophisticated touchLink-based control systems
Conditional logic with use of local variables allows button operations to be
contingent on a variety of separate conditions
Controller groups enables multiple control processors to function together as one for
more complex systems
Virtual touchLink support touchLink for ipad and touchLink for web provide
additional points of control for rooms equipped with touchLink touchpanels
Controller macros allow several commands to be connected for fast and easy
implementation of control system configurations
Controller templates Import and export an entire configuration project for creation of
a new configuration project or to merge into an existing file
touchLink for ipad
enhanced user interface helps streamline configuration iPad Control App for touchLink touchpanels
configured with GC Pro
enhanced button grouping ability to create up to 20 different button groups

www.extron.com/gcpro
 HIDDEN
GEMS
Half Rack
Shelf System
Half-Rack Width Rack Shelf
and Accessories
By Dave Pincek, Vice President
of Product Development
H ave you ever thought about the
19" EIA equipment rack? Its
probably the most ubiquitous item in
AV system design after cable and may
hold the record for the oldest product
still employed in the electronics industry
at large. The racks that we use today
have been around for more than 100
years and came into their own with the
rise of radio and television broadcast,
telecommunications, and computer
networks in the mid-20th century. The
typical 44-space, 19" equipment rack
has a practical side as well; with an
overall width of about two feet, a rack
will fit through a standard 84" door and
can reside in an equipment closet. But
times and practices change, leading to
the inevitable conflict between the 19th
century equipment rack and 21st century
facility designs. Rising real estate and
construction costs mean that every
square foot of space has to be used
efficiently, and the days of a dedicated
AV equipment closet for every room are
largely over. Equipment closets have been
taken over by IT infrastructure, pushing
AV system hardware into the presentation
space itself.
Over the last decade, weve had
numerous conversations with architects,
consultants, and AV system designers
about their desire to shrink the footprint
of AV systems to better fit the places
where AV is going. Clients want all of the
80 Hidden Gems
capability of a full-size AV system, but
installed within the room and hidden from
sight in a credenza, table leg, or a slimmer,
more architecturally appealing lectern.
Most often the conversation would come
around to, Why cant we build an AV
system in a half-rack width shelf?
When we looked at the components of
a system audio amplifier, DSP, control
system processor, video processor,
switcher the barrier to a complete
half-rack width system was pretty clear.
Although many system components
were half-rack, there was always some
critical part of the system that was only
available in a full rack-width enclosure.
That would end the conversation, and we
would go back to finding ways to hide a
full-width rack and equipment in furniture,
which introduced a whole new range of
challenges, from aesthetics to cabling
to serviceability to thermal management.
About a year ago, as we talked through
the architectural constraints on AV system
design and placement with a group of
customers, I started to realize that virtually
all of the pieces needed to make a half-
rack width AV system are now available.
Extron has a full line of control processors,
audio amplifiers and DSP, video
processors and switchers, all in half-rack
width or smaller enclosures, and theres
a good amount of source equipment
available as well, including small PCs like
the Mac Mini, Blu-ray disc players, and
wireless microphone receivers.
We sketched out several typical
small AV systems, looked at the ideal
dimensions for a half-rack mounting
system, crafted several different trial
product designs in our shop, and quickly
realized that the time was finally right
for the half-rack concept. What was
missing was a cabinet and enclosure
system. We started talking with Middle
Atlantic Products about the concept and
found that theyve made custom half-rack
shelves and enclosures for years. Feeling
confident that we were on the right track,
we built up a sample system for InfoComm
2011 and showed it to a number of AV
furniture manufacturers. The response
was overwhelmingly positive and late last
year we formally introduced the Extron
Half Rack Shelf System. Later this year, we
hope to see the first lines of presentation
furniture designed around half-rack width
shelves and product enclosures.
Recently, Middle Atlantic and
Extron announced that we are working
in cooperation with the Electronic
Components Industry Association, the
successor to the EIA, to establish a
specific ECIA Half Rack standard, and are
inviting other manufacturers of compact-
format devices to join a communication
and working group for this effort. Extron
has long advocated the use of standard,
rack-mount enclosure dimensions
as a means of improving AV system
designs and integration, and we are fully
supportive of this initiative.
The 19" EIA rack has served us well
for many years, longer than any of us
has been in this industry, and will remain
a standard for many years to come. But
times and needs have changed. Half
Rack is a standard whose time has come,
for the next 100 years of AV.
Dave Pincek is Vice President of Product Development at
Extron Electronics.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 High Resolution Video Scaling
for Fiber Optic Systems

Extron FoXBoX Sr hDMI

the extron FoXBoX Sr HDmI is a high performance fiber optic-to-HDmI scaling receiver for the FoX Series transmitters. It accepts a
fiber optic signal with HDCP-compliant HDmI, DVI, VGA, or component video, stereo audio, and rS-232 control, scaling the video to
the optimal output resolution up to 1920x1200. engineered for reliability and exceptional high resolution image performance, the
FoXBoX Sr HDmI also provides many integrator-friendly features such as audio de-embedding, Auto Input memory, Key minder for
continuous authentication of HDCP compliance, internal test patterns, and a compact enclosure for discreet placement. Available in
multimode and singlemode models, the FoXBoX Sr HDmI is the preferred choice for fiber optic AV systems that include sources and
displays with a wide variety of resolutions.

key Features: Simplifies integration of multiple sources to multiple displays

accepts fiber optic signals from FoX Series transmitters and provides
Blu-ray Laptop Computer
scaled hDmI video, stereo audio, and RS-232 control output signals 1080p
STANDBY/ON
PQLS HDMI OPEN/CLOSE FL OFF

1280x800 1920x1200
USB

HDMI VGA DVI

upscales/Downscales hDmI, DVI, RgB, and yuV video for optimized POWER
12V
RGB INPUT
AUDIO RS-232
POWER
12V DVI-D INPUT AUDIO RS-232

display of high resolution computer-video signals

1.0A MAX OVER FIBER ALARM 1.0A MAX OVER FIBER ALARM

POWER FOXBOX Tx HDMI Tx Rx FOXBOX Tx VGA Tx Rx 1 2 FOXBOX Tx DVI Plus Tx Rx 1 2

12V RS-232
LINK

LINK

1.0 A MAX OVER FIBER ALARM

Tx Rx Tx Rx
AUDIO
AUDIO

LINK

LINK
LINK

LINK

TEMP
TEMP

OVER
OVER

RGB

DVI

Tx Rx 1 2 CONFIG CONFIG
HDMI INPUT AUDIO INPUT OPTICAL

provides selectable output resolutions up to 1920x1200, including Extron

Extron
FOXBOX Tx VGA OPTICAL

Extron
FOXBOX Tx DVI Plus OPTICAL

FOXBOX
hDtV 1080p/60 for high performance video scaling Tx HDMI FOXBOX FOXBOX
Fiber Optic Tx VGA Tx DVI Plus
Transmitter Fiber Optic Fiber Optic
hDCp compliant to ensure display of content protected media and Transmitter Transmitter
interoperability with other hDCp-compliant devices REMOTE

RS232/RS422
OUT 1 IN OUT 2 IN OUT 3 IN OUT 4 IN OUT 5 IN OUT 6 IN OUT 7 IN OUT 8 IN

FIBER OPTIC ADDRESS FIBER OPTIC

RESET

Key minder continuously verifies hDCp compliance for quick, reliable

LINK
LAN

ACT

switching
100-240V , 50-60Hz

hDmI audio de-embedding provides a balanced or unbalanced analog

1.3A MAX.

Extron
stereo output signal SMX 200 Frame POWER
12V
Tx Rx
HDMI AUDIO
OUTPUTS
AUDIO
LINK

LINK

RS-232 REMOTE
1.0 A MAX ON L R OVER FIBER ALARM RS-232

OPTICAL FOXBOX SR HDMI OFF HDMI Tx Rx 1 2 Tx Rx

Extron
Compatible with extron FoX Series hDmI, DVI plus, DVI, Vga, and POWER
12V
Tx Rx
HDMI AUDIO
OUTPUTS
AUDIO

FOXBOX SR HDMI
LINK

LINK

RS-232 REMOTE
1.0 A MAX ON L R OVER FIBER ALARM RS-232

Extron
Vga/yuV transmitters, distribution amplifiers, matrix switchers, and Fiber Optic
OPTICAL FOXBOX SR HDMI OFF HDMI Tx Rx 1 2 Tx Rx

FOXBOX SR HDMI
Scaling Receiver
switchers Fiber Optic
Scaling Receiver
Flat Panel
Flat Panel Display
Display 1368x768
1080p DVI
HDMI

www.extron.com/foxboxsrhdmi
 EDUCATION
CENTRAL
Extron XTP Systems Certification:
Its All About the Know How
S ince the introduction of digital
technology, there has been a need
for concise and in-depth instruction
on how it all works. In addition to the
existing Extron certification programs
covering AV technologies ranging from
general application through advanced
System Control methodologies, Extron
now offers advanced online and
instructor-led training for digital AV
system design and implementation.
The Extron XTP Systems Certification
program provides a clear pathway for
you to gain the knowledge needed to
design and integrate enterprise-wide
digital AV systems, but also validates
that understanding through testing.
Extron XTP Systems provide a
completely integrated solution for multiple
digital and analog formats. It supports
local connectivity as well as extended
transmission capability for sending high
resolution video, audio, RS-232, Ethernet,
Extron XTP Systems Certification Path
Step 1
Online Self Study
Successfully Complete
Online Video Course & Exams
82 Education Central
and power up to 330 feet (100 m) over a
single CAT 5-type cable. The certification
program provides a balanced approach
to theory and hands-on application with
an emphasis on the practical aspects of
designing, integrating, and supporting
these digital AV systems. The end
result is a thorough understanding of
the ins and outs of XTP Systems, and
recognition and validation of your newly
acquired expertise with enterprise-wide
digital applications.
Certification in Stages
The first stage of certification requires
that enrolled students pass an online
exam for Digital AV Technologies. A
selection of online tools can help
students prepare for the exam. For
example, a series of online videos identify
common digital system issues what
they look like, why they occur, and
how to fix them. Subject matter covers
Step 2
Certification School
Two Day Instructor-Led
Course & Exam
ensuring signal integrity, enabling EDID
communication, and supporting HDCP
compliance. Created to explain how to
troubleshoot a digital AV system, each
video concludes with a short quiz on the
issue and its solution. These online tools
allow students to study for the exam at
their own pace, and to the depth that
best meets their needs.
The final stage of certification requires
that students attend concentrated
instructor-led training and sit for a final
exam in the students core discipline. All
students are taught foundational system
design for Extron XTP Systems, with
the focus being on general principles
of system design and management,
maintenance, and support. Successful
candidates earn certification as either an
Extron XTP Systems Design Engineer or
an Extron XTP Systems Technician.
Skill Set Specialization
For system designers, coursework covers
complex digital systems with such
complications as analog inputs to digital,
multiple signal conversions, routing of
RS-232 to shared lines, and how to
power system components. Students
must apply theories learned in class to
create practical system designs.
For the technician, coursework involves
a series of hands-on workstations, each
representing one or more common issues
found in the field. Students are required to
use software to configure and validate a
system on the fly.
Value Add
Extron XTP Systems Certification is an
industry-recognized way to demonstrate
acquired expertise related to digital AV
system design and implementation. The
program launched in July of this year. As
with other Extron certification programs,
training is offered at no charge. To find
out more about this program, please
contact your local Extron S3 Customer
Support Representative.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
COMPANY SCHOOL LOCATION DATE

EVENTS
School of AV Integration for Dubai, UAE Sep. 26
the Sales Professional
Configurable Control Systems Anaheim, CA Sep. 27
XTP Systems Certification Anaheim, CA Sep. 27-28
for Design Engineers
Configurable Control Systems 4 Paris, France Sep. 27-28

2012 Extron Institute Configurable Control Systems

for Higher Education2
Monterrey, Mexico Oct. 1

SCHOOL LOCATION DATE School of AV Technologies Amersfoort, Oct. 1-2

for System Designers The Netherlands
School of AV Technologies Anaheim, CA Aug. 6-7
for Higher Education Configurable Control Systems London, UK Oct. 1-2
for Higher Education
School of AV Technologies Washington, DC Aug. 7-8
for System Designers School of Emerging Technologies Montreal, Canada Oct. 1-3
Extron School of Digital AV Shanghai, China Aug. 8 School of Emerging Technologies2 Monterrey, Mexico Oct. 2-3
Configurable Control Systems Anaheim, CA Aug. 8 Configurable Control Systems Montreal, Canada Oct. 3
for Higher Education for Higher Education
Extron School of AV Signal Transmission Shanghai, China Aug. 9 XTP Systems Certification Singapore Oct. 3-4
for Design Engineers
Configurable Control Systems Anaheim, CA Aug. 9
for Higher Education School of AV Integration for Amersfoort, Oct. 4
the Sales Professional The Netherlands
XTP Systems Certification Washington, DC Aug. 9-10
for Design Engineers School of AV Integration for Paris, France Oct. 4
the Sales Professional4
School of Emerging Technologies Calgary, Alberta Canada Aug. 20-22
Configurable Control Systems2 Monterrey, Mexico Oct. 4
Extron School of Digital AV Beijing, China Aug. 22
Configurable Control Systems Montreal, Canada Oct. 4
Configurable Control Systems Calgary, Alberta Canada Aug. 22
for Higher Education XTP Systems Certification Design Raleigh, NC Oct. 4-5
(Consultants only)
Extron School of AV Signal Transmission Beijing, China Aug. 23
XTP Systems Certification Montreal, Canada Oct. 4-5
Configurable Control Systems Calgary, Alberta Canada Aug. 23
for Design Engineers
XTP Systems Certification Calgary, Alberta Canada Aug. 23-24
School of Emerging Technologies 3 Amersfoort, Oct. 8-9
for Design Engineers
The Netherlands
School of Emerging Technologies Dubai, UAE Aug. 26-28
School of AV Technologies London, UK Oct. 8-9
School of Emerging Technologies Amersfoort, Sep. 3-4 for System Designers
The Netherlands
School of Emerging Technologies Paris, France Oct. 8-9
School of Emerging Technologies London, UK Sep. 3-4 for Higher Education4
School of Emerging Technologies Bangalore, India Sep. 4-6 School of AV Technologies Raleigh, NC Oct. 8-9
Extron School of Digital AV Changsha, China Sep. 5 for Higher Education
School of Emerging Technologies-Audio Amersfoort, Sep. 5 School of Emerging Technologies Mumbai, India Oct. 9-11
The Netherlands School of Emerging Technologies-Audio3 Amersfoort, Oct. 10
School of Emerging Technologies-Audio London, UK Sep. 5 The Netherlands
Extron School of AV Signal Transmission Changsha, China Sep. 6 School of Emerging Technologies-Audio Paris, France Oct. 10
Configurable Control Systems Dubai, UAE Sep. 9-10 for Higher Education4

School of Emerging Technologies1 Frankfurt, Germany Sep. 10-11 Configurable Control Systems Raleigh, NC Oct. 10
for Higher Education
School of Emerging Technologies 4 Paris, France Sep. 10-11
Configurable Control Systems Mexico City, Mexico Oct. 15
School of AV Technologies Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sep. 11-12
for Higher Education2
for Higher Education
School of Emerging Technologies-Audio1 Frankfurt, Germany Sep. 12 1 Conducted in German, 2 Conducted in Spanish, 3 Conducted in Italian, 4 Conducted in French
Configurable Control Systems Dubai, UAE Sep. 12-13
To view the current Extron Institute schedule, please visit www.extron.com/edschedule.
Configurable Control Systems Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sep. 13
for Higher Education
XTP Systems Certification Design Anaheim, CA Sep. 13-14
(Consultants only) 2012 Tradeshows
Configurable Control Systems Amersfoort, Sep. 17-18 SHOW LOCATION DATE
The Netherlands
TecnoMultiMedia InfoComm 2012 Mexico City, Mexico Aug. 8-10
School of Emerging Technologies Orlando, FL Sep. 17-19
Integrate Expo in association with Sydney, Australia Aug. 21-23
Configurable Control Systems Orlando, FL Sep. 19
InfoComm International 2012
for Higher Education
IBC Amsterdam, Sep. 6-11
School of AV Technologies Chongqing, China Sep. 19-20
The Netherlands
for System Designers
PALME Thailand 2012 Bangkok, Thailand Sep. 19-21
Configurable Control Systems Orlando, FL Sep. 20
InfoComm Middle East & Africa Dubai, UAE Oct. 14-18
XTP Systems Certification Orlando, FL Sep. 20-21
for Design Engineers Integrated Systems Russia Moscow, Russia Oct. 30-Nov. 1

School of AV Integration for Dubai, UAE Sep. 23 Inter BEE 2012 Tokyo, Japan Nov. 14-16
the Sales Professional
Configurable Control Systems Frankfurt, Germany Sep. 24-25
Extron, AVTrac, Cable Cubby, CrossPoint, EDID Minder, Flat Field, GlobalViewer, IP Link,
for Higher Education1
Key Minder, MediaLink, PoleVault, Pure3, Quantum, System Integrator , VN-Matrix, VoiceLift,
Configurable Control Systems London, UK Sep. 24-25 WallVault, and WindoWall are registered trademarks of RGB Systems, Incorporated.
Configurable Control Systems Paris, France Sep. 24-25 S3 Service Support Solutions is a registered service mark of RGB Systems, Incorporated.
for Higher Education4 AAP, Auto-Image, CDRS - Class D Ripple Suppression, EDID Manager, LockIt, SIS - Simple
Instruction Set, SpeedMount, SpeedSwitch, TouchLink, XTRA, and ZipClip are trademarks of
School of Emerging Technologies Anaheim, CA Sep. 24-26
Extron Electronics.
School of AV Technologies Anaheim, CA Sep. 25-26
All other trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
for System Designers
2012 Extron Electronics.

www.avsystemsdesign.com COMPANY EVENTS 83

 N
O
W
H
Extron has great career opportunities! IR
IN
G
Extron USA and EMEA are seeking qualified applicants for a variety of career opportunities in Sales, Technical Support,
and Product Support. As an industry leader, Extron is committed to maintaining the outstanding level of quality services our
customers expect. We strive to continually provide Service, Support, and Solutions to our customers: dealers, consultants,
and AV professionals. Our customers are our most important asset, and our employees are essential to maintaining that
asset. We seek individuals who can help us grow and who desire to achieve a rewarding career in a technical environment.

Extron USA West, Headquarters Extron USA East Extron Europe

Extron Middle East Extron Asia Extron Japan

SALES Embedded Linux Software Engineer Streaming Technical Support Manager

Applications Engineer - CA, NC Protocols - CA, NC, NJ, TX Vertical Market Support Representative
Applications Technology Engineer Intl. Support Japan Embedded Linux Software Engineer Video/Audio MARKETING - EUROPE
AV Systems Design Engineer - No CA, So CA, IL, NY, Processing - CA, NC, NJ, TX Desktop Publisher
Toronto, TX Embedded Software Engineer Marketing Communications Coordinator
Consultant Applications Engineer - Location Flexible Embedded Software Test Engineer ENGINEERING - EUROPE
Educational Market Developer Engineering Project Manager Application Software Engineer - UK, Dartford - Kent
Integration Support Specialist - No CA, So CA, NC Engineering Trainer Application Software Engineer Web Applications -
Regional Accounts Specialist Sales Professional - NY, PCB Designer - AZ, CA, NC UK, Dartford - Kent
Toronto, TX Product Support Engineer Design Engineer Hardware - UK, Dartford - Kent
Regional Applications Specialist Trainer - No CA, Video Hardware Engineer Embedded Software Engineer - UK, Dartford - Kent
So CA, NC, Toronto, TX Video Processing Algorithm Engineer TRAINING - EUROPE
Software Applications Engineer - CA, NC Web Application Developer Sr. Technical Trainer
MARKETING Web UI Developer JavaScript / CSS / HTML / MVC SALES - ASIA
Adobe Flex / .Net Developer PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Applications Engineer - India
Director of Marketing Applications Engineer Applications Engineers - Singapore
Marketing Communications Manager Applications Engineer Audio Products Applications Engineer - Thailand
Product Marketing Manager Applications Engineer Control Systems Regional Account Specialist - Vietnam
Web Analyst Applications Engineer Streaming Products Regional Account Specialist Education Market
Web Application Developer Network Engineer - Singapore
Web Designer Product Manager Control Systems ENGINEERING - ASIA
Web Manager Streaming Product Manager - CA, IL, NC, TX, DC Supplier Quality Engineer - Taiwan
ENGINEERING SALES - EUROPE SALES - JAPAN
AC DC Power Electronics Design Engineer Applications Engineer France Applications Engineer
Application Software Engineer .NET / C# / WPF Applications Engineer Germany
Application Software Engineer C++ / MFC / ActiveX Applications Engineer Russia
Application Software Engineer Embedded Linux Applications Engineer Turkey
Application Software Engineer Mac OS / iOS Applications Engineer Education Team
Application Software Engineer Video Streaming - CA, NC Control Application Engineer - Paris, France
Application Software Test Engineer Control Application Engineer - UK, London
Audio Repair Technician Customer Support France
Battery-Powered Systems Design Engineer Customer Support Germany
Cable Assembly Engineer Customer Support Turkey
Compliance Engineer Customer Support UK
Component Engineer - CA, NC Order Processor Dutch / English For a complete list of current career opportunities
worldwide, please see our Web site at
DC DC Power Electronics Design Engineer Order Processor France http://www.extron.com/jobs
Design Engineer System Design Engineer - Frankfurt, Germany
Design Engineer, Hardware System Design Engineer - UK, London
Design Engineer, Embedded Software System Design Engineer Vertical Markets Extron USA
Digital Hardware Design Engineer Technical Account Manager - Italy 1025 E. Ball Road
Anaheim, CA 92805
DSP Engineer Technical Account Manager - Paris, France
EMAIL: jobs@extron.com
Embedded Linux Software Engineer Platform - Technical Account Manager - Scandinavia
CA, NC, NJ, TX Technical Account Manager Russia EOE M/F/V/D

84 AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012

Easy-To-Install Two-Way Ceiling Speakers

D Drops into standard suspended ceilings

D Steel grille matches look of air handling vent
D offers quick installation and theft deterrence

Extron SoundField SF 228T Speaker

the extron SoundField SF 228t is a two-way ceiling tile speaker for low impedance and 70 volt/100 volt systems. this extron
exclusive design features a low profile, 2' x 2' (61 cm x 61 cm) by 5.3" (13.5 cm) deep enclosure that is uL 2043 plenum rated,
weighs less than 20 pounds (9 kg), and drops directly into standard suspended ceilings, providing quicker installations. the
two-way ported design includes an 8" (165 mm) woofer and a 1" (2.5 mm) silk dome tweeter that provides a frequency response
of 50 Hz to 20 kHz for high fidelity music and speech reproduction. the SF 228t offers 60 watts continuous pink noise and
120 watts continuous program output. this speaker is sold in pairs and is designed for fast and easy installation into sound
systems requiring high quality, wide bandwidth audio playback.

key Features:
2' x 2' (61 cm x 61 cm), 18.5 lb (8.4 kg)
drop-in ceiling tile speaker for
suspended ceilings
uL 2043 plenum rated enclosure
1" (2.5 cm) silk dome tweeter
8" (20.3 cm) long-throw woofer with
tuned bass reflex port
mDF front baffle reduces unwanted
enclosure resonances
extron exclusive hybrid mDF / aluminized
composite enclosure weighs less than
20 pounds (9 kg)
white perforated grille matches
appearance of air conditioning vents
8 ohm direct or 70/100 volt operation SF 228T Dimensions:
with 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 watt selectable
power taps accessed via speaker wiring
connections inside the rear panel
Frequency response: 50 hz to 20 khz
60 watts continuous pink noise, 120 watts
continuous program
5.3" (13.5 cm) deep low profile enclosure
for plenum environments
23.75"
5 year parts and labor warranty
Designed and manufactured by extron
23.75"

5.30"

www.extron.com/sf228t
 The Last Word
Specsmanship
By Steve Somers, Vice President of Engineering
S pecsmanship. Beware of it in
product advertising. It seems we
all know what specsmanship means,
although neither the Merriam-Webster
Dictionary nor the Oxford Dictionary
recognize or define it. In fact, The Online
Slang Dictionary has no reference to it.
Yet, it is prolific in our industry as well
as many others. To our etymological
rescue comes Wikipedia with: the
often inappropriate use of specifications
or measurement results to establish
putative superiority of one entity over
another, generally when no such
superiority exists.
My simple web search yielded
38,900 results relating to specsmanship
10,000,000:1 720 Hz
Contrast Ratio
Refresh Rate
86 The Last Word
on virtually any topic imaginable. Like
a computer virus in wait of activation,
specsmanship permeates the marketing
strategy of many electronic product
organizations. It cloaks the true value
of something like a thin coat of hastily
applied paint; readily chipped away by
those having tools of knowledge. The
real problem is that it makes things look
great for a time long enough perhaps
to create a stir, or otherwise roust others
to their support battle stations in defense
of realistic specifications.
Once upon a time, specsmanship
may have been, or could have been, a
respectable avocation. Manufacturers
historically took pride in extolling the
181
Viewing Angle
capabilities of a product by illustrating
it in specific applications and citing the
details upon which it could be specified
along with the expected performance.
Some still do. Today, specsmanship most
often carries essentially the opposite
meaning. Its far easier to broadly state
performance of products in sensational
terms that render any real substantiation
or comparison to another product
virtually impossible. In his 2003 Imaging
Science & Technology Conference
paper, Debunking Specsmanship, Don
Williams of Eastman Kodak Company
characterizes it succinctly: The greater
the numerical extreme, the greater
the allure.
By now, you have likely assumed
that I dont like specsmanship. I dont.
We at Extron do not like specsmanship.
When we conceive of a new product,
specsmanship may be a consideration
driving its design. Not the hype
type of specsmanship, but a set of
conditions and expectations we can
clearly state and defend with confidence.
Specsmanship should describe the ideal
environ of a products performance
expectations; yet, it has developed
into a negative connotation. Those
who take part in specsmanship make
greater than expected, or extreme,
claims; yet they take no responsibility
for the readers understanding. Fairly-
stated product specifications carry the
burden of establishing a test reference.
Further, good specifications may
require education.
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN Summer 2012
 CORPORATE
Digital products create some division by zero and provides some really EXTRON USA West
interesting challenges to aligning great contrast ratio numbers for the 1025 E. Ball Road
Anaheim, CA 92805
specifications with traditional analog marketing department. The method has USA
Sales/Tech Support: +800.633.9876,
experience and expectations for no correlation to how the human eye
+1.714.491.1500
example, crosstalk between channels. perceives lightness to darkness within Fax: +1.714.491.1517

Even small amounts of offending signal
information can degrade an analog
signal or at least color its performance.
Whereas in the digital realm, small
amounts of noise usually do not correlate
with the timing, thresholds, and coding
of a digital channel. If that channel
incorporates forward error correction,
or FEC, this further improves reliability
and is not easily correlated to random
small or large image areas; nor does it
EXTRON USA East
take ambient light into account. Further, 2500 N. Raleigh Blvd.
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it does not account for light measuring USA
instrumentation accuracy, repeatability, Sales/Tech Support: +800.633.9876,
+1.919.850.1000
or sensitivity in very low light levels. So, Fax: +1.919.850.1001
when measuring so close to the value
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of zero, when do we decide that the Hanzeboulevard 10, 3825 PH Amersfoort
method and specificity are good enough? The Netherlands
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How do we correlate a number to our +31.33.453.4040
perception of contrast ratio? Is it just Fax: +31.33.453.4050

noise. If the offending noise is very a number? EXTRON ASIA

small, the probability of it impacting
channel integrity is very close to zero.
The value is so low that digital channels
are typically specified by a bit error
rate, or BER, described as an order of
magnitude to some negative exponent
such as 1 10-12. Another way to look
at this example is to say that an error
The antidote to specsmanship is real 135 Joo Seng Road, #04-01
PM Industrial Building
testing and technology education. At Singapore 368363
Phone: +65.6383.4400
Extron, we want to provide you with
Fax: +65.6383.4664
those technical tools of understanding.
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We encourage you to do actual
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will likely occur once in one trillion data
bits, or 1000 gigabits. Would it be fair to
say that the digital system in question
has zero channel crosstalk? Would one
bit error in a trillion affect our perception
of the products quality? If the offending
noise is not correlated, meaning that it
is not similar to the makeup of normal
data within the transmission channel,
can we dismiss it entirely? At what
level would it become a problem? That
level would be highly dependent upon
its makeup.
This is somewhat analogous to the
never-ending debate on contrast ratio
in displays. Seldom do two people
measure it the same way and the display
sake of brevity, an advertisement may
not have the space to specify the full set
of operational parameters of a product
or feature. Do not hesitate to ask how
something is specified.
In a coming issue of AVSD, among
other educational information, there will
be an article addressing the importance
of thorough product testing. Not only
do we hope you will read these articles,
we hope to get your feedback. I hope
we can steer our industry in a new
direction where specsmanship reverts to
the original concept of fair specification
and full disclosure. Otherwise, I believe
it should remain omitted from the
dictionary for fear that our children might
EXTRON JAPAN
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Japan
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EXTRON MIDDLE EAST
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Fax: +971.4.2991880
AV SYSTEMS DESIGN magazine is published by
Extron Electronics/RGB Systems Inc. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from Extron Electronics. Every effort has been
made to ensure accuracy in content; however, Extron
assumes no responsibility for errors and omissions in the
information provided herein. AV Systems Design is sent
free of charge to AV industry professionals and end-users.

market is rife with extreme contrast one day say, When I grow up, I want to Subscriptions
To receive your free copy of AV Systems Design
magazine, please contact your Extron Customer
ratio claims. What is the correct way be a specsman. A future where good Support Representative.

to measure and specify contrast ratio?
Simply stated, contrast ratio is the peak
light output level of a display, think
numerator of a fraction, divided by the
lowest output level, think denominator
of zero in the fraction. This results in
specsmanship follows good penmanship We welcome your comments and contributions! Please
submit ideas to the editor at editor@extron.com.
in schools seems foreboding to me. But, Extron Electronics
1025 E. Ball Road Anaheim, CA 92805
unfortunately, for some there will be
money in it.
Steve Somers is Vice President of Engineering at
Extron Electronics.
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