Integration 04

S O L U T I O N S F O R D E A L E R S , C O N S U LTA N T S A N D P R O G R A M M E R S
INTEGRATION
A Supplement to System Contractor News
AV Industry
Headlines in Vegas
Bigger than ever with hot trends and new products
PLUS
+ MPS Field Tested + The Benefits of Standardized Technology + Dealing with HDCP
Crestron Lighting
Totally Integrated Building Control
Crestron delivers complete building management for maximum energy and operational efficiency. Only Crestron can monitor, manage and control all the technology throughout the entire facility both centrally and globally. CRESTRON GREEN LIGHT technology provides total environmental control to conserve energy and lower costs by combining automated dimming and power switching with light harvesting and load shedding. Crestron touchpanels offer a global view and management of all systems and devices building-wide from a centralized command center, or local control from touchpanels in each room. Beyond just lighting, monitor and control HVAC, shades, audio/video distribution and presentation systems in the building from the same Crestron touchpanel. As a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Crestron is committed to provide the most energy efficient and environmentally safe solutions to lower costs and maximize return on investment.
Comcast Center in Philadelphia is one of the first green buildings and the tallest between Atlanta and New York. Crestron lighting and AV control is designed as an integral part of the building. Crestron RoomView enables facility management of all lighting, network technology, multimedia distribution and presentation systems.
Green Light
800.237 .2041
TM
| crestron.com
INTEGRATION
A S u p p l e m e n t t o S y s t e m s C o n t r a c t o r N e w s
S O L U T I O N S F O R D E A L E R S , C O N S U LTA N T S A N D P R O G R A M M E R S
12
COLUMNS
10
BUSINESS
10 The Standardization Solution 12 Turning a Green Eye on the Future 14 What Business Are You in? 15 Show and Sell
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F E AT U R E S
16 18 22
MISSION CRITICAL
Crestron Control Helps Manage the U.S. Armys New Command and Control Center Testbed
CAMPUS CONTROL
The University of Rochester Upgrades their Multi-Room Facility with a High-Powered Automation and Management System
LOG CABIN CONTROL

The Salvation Armys New Tabernacle at Camp Tecumseh Combines Solid Log Cabin Structure with Cutting Edge Audio and Video Technology
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TECHNICAL
36 Getting the Green Light 37 MPS-300 Multimedia Presentation System 38 Dealing with HDMI 39 The ABCs of HDCP 41 Adobe Flash SDK 41 Windows Sideshow Support
24 28 32
PREPARING FOR THE UNEXPECTED

Notification Software Leverages Existing Crestron Equipment to alert University Staff and Students to Out-Of-The-Ordinary Situations
MARKETING THAT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH

The M&M Store Stands Out from the Rest in New York Citys Times Square
HIGH TECH HISTORY

Jamestown Captivates Visitors with a High-Powered Automated Audio/Visual System
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INDUSTRY
42 InfoComm 2008 Highlights 44 Association Update 45 Partner Spotlight: WAVETREND
DEPARTMENTS
4 Editorial By Randy Klein 5 We Get Letters 6 News + Notes
8 New Product
Showcase
By Bill Schafer
46 Final Word
A Supplement to Systems Contractor News
EDITORIAL
INTEGRATION
ISSUE 4
New World Order

BY RANDY KLEIN
Everyone in AV and IT has been talking about convergence for years. Yet these two industries largely remained two separate worlds. Certainly, audio/video presentation, video teleconferencing, digital signage, and system control are now all on the managed network, but the perspective is still that its our stuff on their network. While all the technology works well together and everyone is happy, something incredible happened this year that fundamentally changed our worldview and took convergence to the next level. This year Microsoft chose Crestron as a business partner to supply managed systems across its global enterprise. Microsoft, the company that sets the technology standard, chose to standardize on our products for AV presentation, system management, and control. When the IT leader of the world looks to our industry for technology solutions, it sends a message around the globe that collectively we have experience, intelligence, and capability as valued partners. By partnering with Crestron and adopting commercial AV technology, Microsoft establishes our industry as credible and reliable standard providers for enterprise management solutions. The greatest impact of this business partnership is that it serves as a foundation to build an even deeper relationship between our two industries. During the evaluation and approval process, Microsoft gained a deep appreciation for the value and contributions the AV industry provides. Today, our partnership is more than a vendor/client relationship. We are technology partners collaborating together to develop new technology in the digital media space. Some of the first co-engineered solutions will be unveiled later this year. This partnership represents true convergence. Now, AV and IT are in the same business together. More than compatible protocols and technologies, the two industries and the two cultures have converged. The lines have more than just blurred; theyve merged and formed a new broader line. No longer is there a distinction drawn between our hardware and their network. Together we are developing a new technology backbone and the hardware and software to distribute, manage, and control it. Today, Crestron is the most open, standards-based company in the AV industry. The Microsoft partnership realizes the vision of true convergence. This partnership means that our industry has the relationships and resources to drive our future success. Lets continue to work together to grow our industry and fulfill our destiny as the new world technology leaders.
President and Publisher

George Feldstein
Editor
Jeff Singer
Managing Editor
Anthony Savona
Senior Editor
Vincent Bruno
Contributors & Columnists

Carolyn Heinze Don Kreski Wendy L. Ellis Joy Zaccaria Tony Caliento Mitch Brown Robert Carter Melissa Lowver Chris Wildfoerster Bill Schafer
Art Director
Todd Berkowitz
Designer
Adrianne Knapp
Graphics & Illustrations

Travis Borgess Michelle Smith Rich Valdes Crystal Kaytt Sarah Savetsky
Integration is a custom publication produced by NewBay Media and created by Crestron Electronics, Inc., 15 Volvo Drive, Rockleigh, NJ 07647. All rights reserved. The publishers of Integration have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication, but assume no responsibility for errors or omissions provided herein.
2008 Crestron Electronics, Inc.
I N T E G R A T I O N
WE GET LETTERS
True Blue Support

Our True Blue staff works tirelessly to support you and to fulfill your every need. Were pleased to help and we appreciate your kind recognition. Here are some of your comments:
Customer Service
I am writing to thank you for your teams dedication to superb customer service. Over the years I have had the extreme pleasure to work with Nina Adamsky, who is a pure joy. She is always friendly, prompt, and helpful. Recently, I have had the pleasure of working with Christine Wanner, who is also an asset to Crestrons team. Thank you for a terrific customer service support staff that is always bright, cheery, and willing to go the extra step that has made Crestron a cut above. Megan Frank, CEAVCO Audio Visual Co., Inc.
Quick to Respond
I wanted to drop you a quick note regarding Laura Carlsen. She is such a tremendous help! Every time I have a question or need assistance she is so quick to respond! Today we had a little emergency with an order that we needed to have shipped right away. Within 5 minutes she had replied to my e-mail and assured me that shed do whatever she could to help. She really saved us in a bad situation. You are very lucky to have her as a part of your team! Carolyn Haverkamp, Lander Electric Co., Inc.
Tech Support
I know that you very seldom hear about what goes right in a day, as you help customers who call in when things are going wrong, so I thought this one deserved a pat on the back. Mark Tallent is a talent! I just wanted the guys upstairs to know how good it feels to have tech support like this. What a confidence builder to us in the field to know when things dont go as planned that we can rely on the expertise of Crestron and know that they have the smarts to hire guys like Mark. He handled everything I threw at him, and he did it with a smile (I know he was smiling, you could hear it in his voice.) Below is a copy of the email I sent to Mark recently.
Happy Customers
Whenever I receive great technical support I like to let the right people know. I had a customer whose theater had been down for some time after a lightning strike. Michael Yannick stayed with me for about an hour and a half, working through the problems until everything was running and the customer was happy. It was a very good experience, and Mr. Yannicks work was excellent. Thank you. Jack Baker, Home IQ Technologies
Mark, I cant thank you enough for hanging in with me on my recent troubles. You are VERY knowledgeable and a great help, and a HUGE credit to why I am a Crestron installer and programmer... GREAT technical support! I could not have looked like the hero if it hadnt been for you holding my hand through the computer nightmare. Thank you again for making me look good. Jon Hansen, SimplexGrinnell #385
WEBSITE FEEDBACK
Just wanted you to know that I think your website is great...probably the best in the industry. I never have a problem getting ANY of the information I need on your products, either current OR discontinued. The completeness, clarity, and veracity are nothing short of amazing. Ive spent almost 20 years in desktop publishing and engineering design/ documentation, and am well aware of the attention required to maintain a body of information such as this. I also consider myself a stickler for details, and quite frankly, Im jealous! Great work, top to bottom.
Customer Care and Satisfaction

Dear Abby Davis, I wanted to personally thank you for the ongoing support and professionalism of a particular member of your team. Donna Allen has provided my company with a level of customer care and satisfaction that far exceeds all of our other vendors put together. Her willingness to promptly address any issues of miscommunication either on our part or yours is truly valued. I am not one for typically writing these kinds of emails, but I wanted you to know what a great job she is doing. Brian Jaworoski, Cabling Technologies LLC
IP and Programming Needs

I wanted to thank Mark Tallent for his assistance. Mark made sure that things were working perfectly for my IP and remote programming needs, and that I understood the principles so that my next installation (Thursday) will go smoothly. Over the years I have had to work with many Crestron technical support personnel, but I have to say that the support he provided yesterday and today was top notch. Please thank all the others (including George Tucker) who helped with the other tangential issues. David Sigel, Integrated Electronics Resource, Inc.
Shawn McDonald, SPL Integrated Solutions
NEWS+NOTES
ENTERPRISE PARTNER PROGRAM Links Dealers with Large Corporations

Successfully navigating large companies such as Microsoft and Cisco is very time consuming and requires tremendous resources. Many dealers cannot afford to dedicate several months or a year to develop the relationships and identify the true decision makers in a multi-layered bureaucracy. Crestron Commercial Market Development Managers already have key relationships and corporate experience to develop new business for its dealers. Earlier this year, Crestron introduced a new initiative to develop the corporate marketplace. We have hired market development managers in every territory across the country, explains Randy Klein, executive vice president, Crestron Electronics. We are dedicating our tremendous resources to create new opportunities to expand our industry and grow business for our dealers. The Enterprise Partner Program targets large organizations such as multi-national corporations. Commercial Market Managers will use their experience and client relationships to develop high-level leads and to motivate them to standardize on Crestron technology. Crestron is also supporting its managers in the field with marketing communications, advertising, training, and online resources to cultivate leads. Large organizations are looking for answers. They need a way to control, manage, and maintain a tremendous amount of technology worldwide, says Klein. We realized there was a need to connect the people that want the solutions with the people that have the solutions. No one knew who to talk to. So, were facilitating the conversation and putting dealers in touch with the right people in these companies, and supporting both at the same time.
TRAINING UPDATE
In an ongoing effort to support its dealers and continuing education within the AV industry, Crestron is now offering its Programming for Certification course nationwide, making these valuable classes more accessible. Crestron has also added new certification levels that recognize the high level of commitment by programmers who attend Masters Classes. Historically only offered at the Crestron headquarters in New Jersey, the CTI Programming for Certification course, the third and highest level of programming training, will now be offered at all CTI locations, including newly expanded facilities in Chicago, Illinois, Cypress, California, Dallas, Texas, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Beyond the Programming for Certification classes, Crestron offers its exclusive, specialized Masters Classes. CTI is introducing certification levels to recognize the commitment of Crestron programmers who attend these invitation-only classes. Masters Classes are an invaluable opportunity for programmers to train on the latest Crestron software and hardware and network and share knowledge with other programmers. Those who attend three annual Masters Classes receive a Silver designation. Attending three additional Masters Classes and then passing an exam elevates certification status to Gold. The highest level of certification, Platinum, is achieved after attending three more classes and passing one last exam. Being a Crestron certified programmer has always held the highest respect in the industry due to the rigorous training, extensive experience, and stringent testing required before achieving the Crestron Certified status, says Randy Surovy, CTI training manager, Crestron. These new certification levels denote our top programmers, who are truly dedicated to staying up-to-date and fresh on the latest technology from Crestron and providing their customers with the best possible service.
INDUSTRY HONORS
NSCA INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY AWARDS 2007
The Innovations in Technology Products Awards program recognizes the manufacturing companies that make exceptional contributions to the electronic systems industry. Crestron received the following awards: Best Control System: MPS-100 Convergence: TPMC-8X
SCN INSTALLATION PRODUCT AWARDS 2007 AND 2008

InfoComm International and NewBay Media LLC created the Systems Contractor News Installation Awards to recognize excellence in the integration of audio, video, control, and networking products in the installation market. 2007 Most Innovative Control Product For Commercial Installation: RoomView-Server Edition Most Innovative Video Processing or Distribution Product: MPS Series 2008 Most Innovative Control Product For Commercial Installation: TPMC-8X Most Innovative Commercial Systems Installation Accessory: MediaManifold
SYSTEM PROGRAMMING AND GUI DESIGN GALLERY RETURNS TO INFOCOMM

The System Programming and GUI Design Gallery returned to InfoComm for the third year in Las Vegas, Nevada. Programmers and GUI designers play an integral and vital role in our industry. Their expertise and talents are a driving force that ultimately makes a project successful based on the clients daily experience and comfort level. As these unsung heroes toil on their laptops, designing, programming, and creating the backbone of every working system in the field, their talents are often taken for granted. So, three years ago Crestron created the System Programming and GUI Design Gallery (a.k.a. GUI Gallery) at InfoComm to give CAIPs a forum to show off their work and expertise. This is a rare opportunity that has not been replicated any where else or offered by any other company. This innovative and informative touchpanel demonstration provides a unique opportunity for CAIP members to showcase their work. It offers visitors an insight into the complex world of system design and programming, in which programming professionals must ensure their work is appropriately integrated while enabling the ultimate end-user to easily navigate the system. Participants receive identical equipment, including a Crestron TPS-15L touchpanel and control system, to showcase their designs and programming skills. The Gallery is in a prime location at the entrance of the exhibition hall.
Eagles Program Gives Back to Soldiers

Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C. and The Wounded Warriors at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. While visiting Walter Reed and Camp Lejeune, Crestron Government Support Services Manager and retired U.S. Marine Pete Baca was impressed by the optimism and determination of the wounded soldiers and marines. When they were not in physical therapy working hard to recover, they passed time in the lounge or recreation room that provided few amenities or comfort. Learning of the basic conditions in the lounges for these heroes and their families, Feldstein was immediately motivated to take action. I believe that every company in the private sector should do whatever they can to support and honor the men and women who have selflessly sacrificed so much to defend our country, states Feldstein. Crestron is donating Adagio Media Systems for control and digital video and surround sound processing; TPMC-8X WiFi touchpanels, including docking stations and wireless gateways, and 52-inch HD plasmas. Crestron also reached out to partners LG Electronics for Blu-Ray players; Velodyne subwoofers; Triad speakers, and Marshall Furniture for custom-designed cabinets. Crestron Authorized Independent Programmer Kevin Busza of ICD Systems is donating his time and expertise to program the systems and touchpanels. Crestron also received enthusiastic support from Tom Corzine of Audio Video Innovations (AVI) and Jose Rodriguez of Dal-Media to install the first two theaters. AVI in Charlotte, North Carolina is donating the infrastructure and installation for the Camp Lejeune Theater and Dal-Media of Phoenix, Arizona is installing the home theater in Walter Reed. The Crestron Eagles Program was inspired by the ELF Foundation, which donates home theaters to Childrens Hospitals, for which Feldstein was awarded the 2006 Volunteer of the Year. We are grateful to all our partners who gave so generously, says Feldstein. We strongly urge everyone to support our troops who give so much for us.
Crestron has introduced its new Eagles Program, an initiative that donates state-ofthe-art home theater systems to military hospitals. The Eagles Program was conceived by George Feldstein, Crestron president, to provide comfort and entertainment for wounded service men and women returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first two hospitals to receive home theaters from Crestron with support from several partners are Walter Reed Army
NEW PRODUCTS
01.
NEW WIDEBAND MATRIX SWITCHER LINE
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Crestron CEN-RGBHV switchers are designed to provide flexible signal routing of high-res video and audio for the most demanding presentation environments. With extremely low crosstalk, 450 MHz video bandwidth, and professional balanced audio, Crestron switchers offer the ultimate in control system integration via Cresnet or high-speed Ethernet. Custom programming for control and integration is easy with SIMPL or Crestron award-winning SystemBuilder software. Every function is accessible through the software without deciphering cryptic protocols. All switcher functions can be remotely monitored and controlled using Crestrons RoomView Asset Management Software through any 2-Series Control System.
02.
LOW-PROFILE QUICKMEDIA RECEIVER
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The QM-RX1-3G is a low-profile QuickMedia receiver that mounts nearly flush on the wall or in the ceiling in 3-gang box behind a display or over a projector. The QM-RX1-3G provides a clean installation, eliminating black boxes mounted on poles. The QM-RX1-3G receives a QM source signal and then breaks out the RGBHV, component, S-video, composite, stereo audio, and control signals for connection to the display device. The QM-RX1-3G includes a builtin 20-watt stereo amplifier to drive a pair of 8-ohm speakers. Balanced line-level outputs are also provided to allow the audio signal to be connected directly to inputs on the display device. Audio connectors are conveniently located both on the rear and on the bottom of the receiver for a clean installation whether the cables are fed into a conduit or directly into the display.
03.
MEDIA PRESENTATION CONTROLLERS FOR CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY
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Crestron's new Media Presentation Controller (MPC) line of all-in-one classroom control solutions is a family of easy-to-install and easy-to-use systems that connect, control, and route AV presentation equipment in small, one-projector applications. Simple, secure, and scalable, MPCs are wall or lectern mount 2-Series control systems that fit in a standard 3-gang box. The MPC line is perfect for K-12 and higher education classroom applications, meeting all the different presentation needs of instructors, support staff, and AV/IT management.
04.
NEW HIGH-DEFINITION DIGITAL VIDEO PROCESSOR
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The DVPHD-PRO high-definition digital video processor accepts up to eight source signals and displays them in up to eight scalable video windows simultaneously. Featuring input and output resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 for RGB and DVI signals, and supporting 1080i and 1080p HDTV, the DVPHD-PRO is perfect for Network Operation Centers, Command and Control Centers, large entertainment venues, and home theaters. The DVPHD-PRO also handles HDMI with external adaptors. True 10-bit video processing and the latest generation of high-definition scaling and de-interlacing ensures the highest quality video images. The DVPHD-PRO also provides the same vibrant and extensive graphics capabilities featured in the latest Crestron touchpanels, such as 24-bit color, dynamic graphics, dynamic text, full-motion animation and translucent objects. Several other models are available, including the DVPHDDUAL (two windows) and DVPHD-QUAD (four windows).
SPOTLIGHT On
NEW TPS-6X TOUCHPANEL
Designed for speed, style and extreme versatility, the TPS-6X is a 6-inch touchpanel that streamlines the Crestron family of panels, combining the features and functionality previously found in nine other models and making this the one perfect solution for almost any application. TPS-6X provides a small tabletop form factor while also offering total portability. TPS-6X is a slim, lightweight RF wireless controller, providing exceptional graphical performance and communication speed. While docked, the TPS-6X is a wired Cresnet or Ethernet connected panel with full-motion video display; simply lift the panel off the dock, and the panel automatically switches to a wireless RF device. TPS-6X features two-way RF communication up to 200 feet and 1-way IR. The TPS-6X is engineered to deliver the functionality previously found in nine separate touchpanels. It is a wireless, tiltcase, and perminent panel. This is an extremely versatile and powerful solution.
05.
WIRELESS CONTROL FOR LIGHTING AND SHADES
Perfect for both new and retrofit applications, the wireless iLux CLSC6MRF part of the Crestron Green Light family of products is an integrated lighting system with a built-in motion detector operating on Crestron infiNET mesh network technology. Designed for wall mount installation, the CLS-C6MRF controls six channels of dimming and six groups of shades, expandable to 54 each. Large ON and OFF buttons and six two-level rocker buttons enable the recall of up to 15 scenes for lighting and shades, and corresponding 7-segment LED bar graphs offer easy visualization of lighting levels in each zone. The infiNET iLux operates both as a stand-alone control system or integrates seamlessly into a full Crestron control environment without the need for a control wire.
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06.
MPS WITH FULL DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
MPS-300 is the first Multimedia Presentation System (MPS) to feature fully digital audio signal processing. It is ideal for presentation and video teleconference rooms that require simultaneously active microphones and/or diverse output options. The MPS-300 is a single, fully integrated solution that, along with the system switcher and control system provided by the MPS line, has enhanced microphone performance and mixing capabilities, and greater video routing flexibility. The MPS-300 includes two gated microphone inputs complete with software-switchable 48V phantom power and digital gating plus depth adjustment that gives integrators total control over the amount of mic attenuation.
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07.
NEW GREEN LIGHT DIN-RAIL MODULES
Crestron has introduced a new line of DIN-Rail lighting and automation modules. DIN-Rail is the most popular standard enclosure worldwide, and it is gaining popularity in the United States. The DIN-Rail form factor is highly efficient, requiring only a fraction of the space of a traditional U.S. metal cabinet. More cost-effective and compact, DIN-Rail modules are perfect for small spaces that cannot accommodate a full-size enclosure, such as a classroom, boardroom, home theater, and MDU. DIN-Rail modules are extremely easy to install and completely custom configurable. Modules simply snap onto the DIN-Rail in the cabinet no tools are required. Crestron has introduced 11 new modules, including a power supply, 2-Series controller, distribution block, audio switcher and more. Standard DIN-Rail cabinets are available from a number of third-party vendors and in several sizes.
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BUSINESS
The Standardization Solution

Getting all your systems onto a single technology platform has many benefits
Organizations of all sizes around the world endeavor to gain greater control and management of resources. No longer can technology decisions be localized. Once each office, department, or school could assess its needs, request a budget, and implement an AV or IT solution. Now that everything is information on the network, from computers and printers, to audio and video, and even lighting and thermostats, managing disparate systems and assets is a challenge facing every institution on the planet. The first step to gaining control over this chaotic cornucopia of legacy systems is to standardize on a technology platform. Standardizing on technology enables consistent implementation of devices and control interfaces, which provides ease of use, efficient maintenance and support, and optimal enterprise management and control. Standardization has many benefits for the IT department in any institution. For example, standardization increases efficiencies related to system design, installation, and programming, which, over time, exponentially reduces costs and increases ROI. Additionally, standardization reduces the need for training and technical support, while increasing use of technology and information sharing. Technology standardization is more than simply having a predetermined array of AV devices. An effective standardization solution should be scalable, flexible, and networkable. In order to connect every room and every device to the managed network, the platform
selected must include a combination of hardware and software that can be implemented across multiple levels of size, sophistication, and budgets. Technology fragmentation occurs for several reasons, but it usually happens due to systems growing organically over long periods of time, purchasing not being centralized, or planning that is segmented. The first two realities are self-explanatory. The solutions are basic, although not easily implemented. Converting legacy systems can be arduous and difficult to get approved, but some vendors have programs in place to facilitate the transition with trade-in deals and assistance with installation and training. Changing the purchasing process requires internal organizational remodeling. Segmented planning is taking a narrow view of technologies and categorizing them based on function, price, or quality. You might hear IT managers say, Oh, thats our low-cost system. Or thats our switcher solution. This type of thinking results in different hardware solutions installed in different types of rooms throughout a facility, institution, or global enterprise.
Standardization in the Real World

Supporting disparate systems in dozens or hundreds of rooms throughout a campus or enterprise is even more challeng-
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ing. Industry leaders such as Lehman Brothers and Microsoft understand the value of global technology standardization, so the thousands of rooms in hundreds of buildings in multiple countries around the world can be monitored, managed, and controlled from any location with a computer and a network connection. When we began our Classroom Technology Initiative, only about 40 of our nearly 160 classrooms were fully equipped with end-to-end AV solutions. However, none of those classrooms were standardized on a single solution, so you had dozens of operating instructions floating around for the various systems on campus, explains Omar Cantu, director of video services, University of Texas-Pan America. A few were outfitted with AMX, Extron, and Crestron, but mostly they were just legacy component remotes. It was difficult for faculty who spent time teaching in one classroom to go to another classroom they would find an entirely different setup. The University of Texas-Pan American settled on Crestron QuickMedia in every classroom and auditorium. All the newly equipped classrooms are connected on the network to the Video
Services Departments Support Services via Crestrons RoomView Management and Scheduling Software. RoomView allows the technical support staff to troubleshoot, control, and maintain the systems remotely in real-time or in a web-based environment.
CONTROL IT ALL
WITH ROOMVIEW
Crestron offers the broadest range of AV, environmental and control hardware and ties it all together with RoomView enterprise management software, providing an ideal standardization solution for organizations of any size. Crestron provides simple, intuitive onetouch control. Simply connect a laptop to an iMedia transmitter and push the ON button to automatically lower a screen, turn on the projector, select the appropriate input, and open the local microphone. Remotely perform diagnostics, troubleshoot, and even control any device connected to a Crestron controller using RoomView software. Firmware updates are also uploaded through the network from any location. Interactive help desk capabilities enable local presenters or instructors to send help requests directly from their touchpanel or web browser. RoomView provides full twoway messaging between support staff and local rooms for real-time technical assistance anywhere in the world. IT managers and technical support staff can receive email messages regarding established alert conditions. For example, if certain equipment goes off-line or power is interrupted, an email notification is sent automatically. RoomView is built on Microsoft NET technology and integrates with Microsoft Exchange Server, providing robust management and scheduling capabilities. In addition to tracking projector lamp usage, RoomView features Windows Event Log and generates powerful reports. Asset management tools can also track and schedule routine maintenance. Microsoft Outlook calendars can be displayed on any Crestron touchpanel on the network to view specific room availability or the status of all rooms, schedule a meeting for an open room, and cancel scheduled meetings as necessary. Advanced plug-in modules are available for hot lists, action items, Instant Messenger, and web cameras, making RoomView an ideal system management tool. RoomView integrates seamless within a Crestron control environment to manage and control every room and every device from any computer, and schedule rooms from any touchpanel.
The Crestron Solution

Crestron is a reliable standardization solution because it offers a wide variety of products built on the same technology platform, which can be consistently implemented in every room regardless of size, specifications, and budget. iMedia provides very basic switching and control at a low price point for rooms with just a projector, screen, and maybe a microphone. QuickMedia is a scalable product line that provides a broad range of functions including audio mixing, video processing, and control. Of course, Crestron offers a complete line of interfaces, including dozens touchpanels, keypads, wall mount, lectern mount, and handheld controllers. All Crestron hardware features e-Control2 IP-based control and communication, so all Crestron equipment, and any device or system connected to a Crestron controller, is linked to the managed network. Crestron control systems also feature SNMP support so that more than just audio and video equipment can be monitored and managed. In fact, all lights, shades, screens, thermostats, and IT network devices can be monitored and controlled from a single software interface. Crestron RoomView software provides a global view of the entire network, and offers real-time help desk functionality, advanced scheduling, reporting, and asset management. Crestron e-Control2 can even turn any web-enabled device, such as a laptop or Blackberry, into a Crestron control interface. The goal is to choose a technology provider that offers solutions across the board to ensure a consistent user experience in every room, and to connect every device, room, and building to the network to achieve real enterprise management and technical support both locally and globally.
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BUSINESS
P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F B I LYA N A D I M I T R O VA
The offices of Cook+Fox Architects
Turning a Green Eye on the Future

AV Integrators play a key role in energy and environmental design
Suddenly, our world has turned green. What started out as a few rich celebrities with solar panels and electric cars has quickly evolved into a legislative and business trend. The economic climate and cultural environment has fundamentally changed in recent years, and theres no turning back. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reports that the annual U.S. green building products and services market was more than $7 billion in 2005, $12 billion in 2007, and projected to increase to $60 billion by 2010. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was established in 2000, setting quantifiable metrics for green building. With a definitive rating system, building and design professionals have confidence to support and promote the green initiative. In fact, today, any federal government or military facility new construction or renovation, must be LEED certified. Twenty-two states require LEED certification and California Title 24 continually raises the bar for energy efficient, green building codes. Seventy-five cities, including New York and Los Angeles, now require that all new commercial construction meet LEED standards. Independently, architects are actively pushing green building designs in order to add value for their clients by creating sustainable facilities that save energy and money, and increase productivity. Increasingly, universities and corporate clients are exploring, if not expecting, green solutions. In fact, major companies across various market segments such as Dow Chemical, General Electric, and Wal-Mart have established chief sustainability officers. According the New York Times (July 2007), chief sustainability officers are not simply environmental watchdogs, there to keep operations safe and regulators at bay. The new environmental chiefs are
helping companies profit from the push to go green. Installed commercial systems are increasingly going green, and most in our industry are not prepared to answer questions, contribute to the design process, or offer solutions. While many questions remain, the critical issue that must be addressed sooner rather than later is: Will you be a valued resource in this new business environment, or will you be left out in the cold?
Starting the Process

Commercial construction of any type is a collaborative process, and even more so regarding a LEED certified building project. The process starts early in the design, when the owners and architect set the LEED point goal. The architectural and engineering design team, including the AV consultant, lighting, and interior designers assess the project needs and create a plan to achieve the stated goals. In this way, the architect is extremely influential, and it is critical to get involved in the discussions at this early, pivot stage. Cook+Fox Architects is an established firm in New York City that designed the Bank of America Tower in Manhattan, the first Platinum LEED rated high-rise build-
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ing. This group has embraced green building to the extent that when the firm designed its new office in 2006, it transformed a 12,000-square-foot space on the top floor of an eight-story building on Sixth Avenue in New York into the first office in the city with a Platinum LEED rating. We felt we had to meet very high standards in terms of sustainability and green design, said Alice Hartley, Cook+Fox LEED AP. It was a chance to experience firsthand the process we put our clients through, and it was a great learning experience. It also serves as a great showroom for potential clients. When striving for LEED certification, architects must consider every aspect of the facility inside and out, including location, furniture, carpeting, paint, and windows. Architects rely on the expertise of various trades, especially consultants, regarding technology such as acoustics, AV, lighting, and control systems. Scott Walker, president, CEO of Waveguide Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia, has been an independent AV and acoustical consultant since 1989, and in 2007, became the worlds first LEED-accredited CTS-D. There are about 42,000 LEED APs in the world, and most of them are clients of AV consultants and integrators. I became a LEED AP to be able to have an intelligent conversation with my clients about how AV can support a projects LEED goals. AV is not directly contemplated in the LEED point system, but where it comes to energy performance or lighting control, AV solutions can play a key role.
minimum, you dont want to be the only person in the room that has no idea what everybody else is talking about. Both Walker and Beuf make the point that there are no specific AV credits in LEED certification, but they anticipate there will be. Walker asserts, We should be saying, Look, we [AV] are a significant part of your building; we should be contemplated under the LEED point system. Walker advocates a fully integrated approach, controlling heating, cooling, and lighting on the same platform as AV. The ah-ha moment for me was realizing that we can play a role in the AV industry that currently is falling through the cracks the systems integration effort, Walker notes. Thats what we do best. Maybe because weve been doing it for 25 years weve forgotten how cool that is. Other industries, such as lighting and HVAC, are very siloed. What we do as an industry is to integrate disparate systems, and thats what the world needs, an overarching solution that ties the silos together. Were really part of the intelligent building industry, Walker asserts. We enable facilities to manage audiovisual or energy. Those systems should be part of a unified, intelligent building solution. I think that we are not just AV problem solvers, we are building problem solvers.
LEED goal and plan from there its not something you can do after the fact. Were just beginning to offer our LEED expertise to our clients and architectural and design partners, and we encourage them to get us involved in those discussions early, says Beuf. We need to educate all the stakeholders about how audiovisual and control systems integrate with the complete project. Right now, a lot of what we bring to the project is a little ambiguous because there are few guidelines yet for audiovisual components. The LEED certification process and credit interpretation structure are pretty collaborative and fluid, so there is definitely an opportunity to influence that process. The good thing about LEED certification is that its tangible, says Beuf. In addition to having a positive impact on the environment, LEED often provides a better ROI than traditional methods of design and installation. Sometimes it is a matter of helping the people that make the financial decisions realize that there are numerous benefits to embracing LEED both in the short and long term, including direct benefits such as reduced utility costs and improved employee productivity and health.
The Integrated Approach

Traditionally, the wellestablished commercial construction process has not included AV integrators until after all the environmental systems, such as lighting, shades and HVAC, were already specified, and in many cases, installed. The trend toward green building is beginning to disrupt the status quo and compelling architects and general contractors to look to our industry for ideas. One of the byproducts of the green movement is that if forces more people to the table sooner, because it is an integrated approach you have to start early in the project, Walker observes. You set a
The Integrators Role

Integrators need a seat at the table, too. Architects and consultants can design systems, but they need a partner to install and program these systems who understands LEED and can contribute to the process. Carlo Beuf, CTS, LEED AP for AV integrator Cenero, LLC in Malvern, Pennsylvania, recently completed his LEED CI (Commercial Interiors) accreditation. About a year and a half ago I noticed LEED coming up in almost every conversation with our architectural and interior design partners, and we decided that the best way to be better partners and provide better solutions was to learn more about it, Beuf observes. Walker adds, If you are completely unaware of energy codes or impact AV can have on the energy consumption of the building, you need to become aware. At a
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUCK CHOI
New York Citys Hearst Tower
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BUSINESS
environmental systems, and can be monitored and managed from touchpanels and PCs on the network, provide the greatest energy and cost savings. Certainly, high-voltage commercial lighting must be installed by a licensed electrician, but dealers can sell the equipment, integration and programming. Dealers are partnering with their local electrical contractor (EC), who hangs the cabinets and pulls the wire. Consultants and dealers can design the system and provide the integration, which is what they do best, and the EC cannot touch. Clients should be able to control the lights, shades and thermostats from the same touchpanel as they control the projector, screen, and switcher. System designers and dealers that do not offer a fully integrated solution are missing an opportunity to fully serve their clients and increase their business. On our commercial side, in which IVCi is a leader in the industry, weve designed and built many conference rooms and boardrooms, explains Richard Hollander, managing
What Business Are You In?

Audio and video is only the beginning of the products and services you need to offer to remain competitive
So, what do you do? How many times have you been asked that question at a dinner party or backyard barbecue? How you answer that question may be the single greatest indicator as to whether or not you will continue to succeed or not. Pan Am, Eastern, and others were in the airline industry and failed. Virgin Atlantic, in the travel and leisure industry, has flourished. So, are you in the AV industry or the systems integration business? Too many dealers in our industry narrowly define themselves simply in terms of audio and video, and turn a blind eye to all other systems and technology that they can integrate onto the same network such as lighting, shades, and thermostats. The AV industry must redefine itself if we are to continue to grow or remain relevant in the current green and digital age. Acquiring new business is becoming more challenging and more costly. The more profitable and sustainable method of growing your business is to provide more to your existing clients. If you dont someone else will. Regardless of economic climate or degree of competition in any particular market, no serious businessperson today can afford to leave money on the table. There are dealers that won big projects this year and literally walked away from additional business worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, their competitors that originally lost the bid got that missing piece. As systems connect to managed networks and analog fades into history, our industry now manages digital information rather than signals. Everything is information including audio, video, control protocols, and lighting. Of these, however, lighting is the key. Lighting fixtures, locations, and controls must be specified before walls are closed. Wires must be dropped, walls cut, and fixtures ordered. AV systems often are not even discussed until much later. If you own the lighting control, you own the entire project. Also, lighting consumes the most energy and drives highest costs of any other system in a commercial facility. An increasing number of cities and states are requiring that new construction meet LEED standards. Many companies, now concerned with lowering costs, are looking to conserve energy. Lighting control systems that are integrated with AV and other
director of IVCi Home (a subsidiary of IVCi, LLC). In addition to videoconferencing and AV solutions, we provide lighting and shade control on a good number of these projects. There are boardrooms with windows all around, and for videoconferencing, the lighting needs to be just right. Its a logical progression for our business, and its served us really well. But more importantly, it addresses our clients needs and brings real value to something theyll use everyday. Next time youre making small talk with the neighbors while flipping burgers on the grill, tell them youre in the systems integration business and ask them if theyd like lighting control with that.
To learn more about Crestron lighting and automation solutions go to www.crestron.com/lighting. For a schedule of free training courses go to www.crestron.com/cti
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BUSINESS
storm mode icon, you hear the crack of lightning, the wind blowing, and see the storm shutters roll down and the awning being retracted. And through Crestrons robust remote control capabilities, those who cant get to Boca Raton to visit Somfy in person can soon access the companys Home Motion Center online and experience it remotely. While Somfys Home Motion Center is designed as a residential environment, the applications easily translate to commercial applications for integrated control of AV equipment, projection screens, and window coverings. Shade and drape control is really lighting and temperature control managing the amount of natural light in a room or building. Iommi explains that in a corporate conference room, bright sunlight can be a challenge as it creates glare on the projection screen and heats up the room. The Crestron system, in turn, can automatically keep that room in a comfortable state, whether or not it is occupied. Crestron and motorization can manage the rooms in a cost-efficient and comfortable fashion, and still be green by managing when energy is expended. Somfys research has found that windows are the biggest physical factor
Show and Sell

Somfy taps Crestron to control its lighting and shades control demo room
BY KAREN SUSSMAN
Motorized control of window coverings isnt always an easy sell for systems contractors. Isnt it simple enough to just get up and close the blinds? Many customers need to see this evolving technology in action to truly appreciate the concept and the value. When New Jersey-based Somfy Systems, a leading manufacturer of specialized motors and control systems for shades, shutters, and projection screens designed a new showroom, it turned to Crestron to control all of the systems in its demo facility. Somfy development manager, Steve Iommi, wanted the Home Motion Center showroom to demonstrate to architects, dealers, builders, designers, and end-users the full power and environmentally friendly benefits of its products. Somfy motorized window coverings, he says, seamlessly integrated with Crestrons control solution in this environment. Its the perfect fit, Iommi says. Crestron has the sophistication and capability to pull together all the parts, pieces, and technology together. Somfys Home Motion Center is located in a warehouse in Boca Raton, Florida, but its designed as a high-end home that includes motorized interior and exterior window treatments and a home theater with motorized projection screens and LCD screens all controlled by Crestron. After entering what seems to be an exterior door of the showroom, you walk into a big space divided into several rooms. There is a multimedia home theater entertainment area, a dining room, a full kitchen, and a patio that seems to be right on the beach. And youre not just seeing window coverings going up and down; youre experiencing light and HVAC being adjusted all at the same time. There are various modes such as day, evening, night, and storm that, with the touch of a button on a Crestron control device, can be put into action. For example, when you hit the
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CRESTRON CONTROL Helps Manage the U.S. Armys New Command and Control Center Testbed
There is not a more mission critical application of control system technology than in a military command and control center. So when designers for the new Command and Control Center Testbed for the U.S. Armys Armament, Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) wanted a robust control system, it turned to Crestron for the answer. ARDEC, located at the Picatinny Arsenal in northwest New Jersey, needed to control lighting, HVAC, audio and video distribution, CCTV and presentation cameras, and video teleconferencing (VTC) in the Testbed, as well as accommodate growth, provide cutting-edge technology, and offer ease of use. Virginia-based systems integrator Dynamic Technology Services Inc. (DTS) recommended Crestron as the best product to meet those needs. The new 7000-plus square-foot Command and Control Center Testbed, also known as ARDEC Homeland Defense Testbed Emergency Operation Center
MISSION CRITICAL
(EOC) Facility, will be the setting for various activities, including simulation and modeling, software development, training, and serving as a backup EOC for partnering agencies. Internal clients as well as those from federal, local, and private agencies will use the facility.
Total Control
Being able to grow with technology and maintain a state-of-the-art status was critical to Tom Sroka, project manager, EOC
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Facility. Instead of an overhead projector screen, we went with a video wall. For our lighting, we took a theatrical approach that called for zoning and dimming, and the need for that flexibility is what drove me to Crestron. The system was designed in 2003 and implemented in a phased approach by DTS. The facility has 87 zones of lighting and 16 zones of audio, video, and RGB distribution systems over Cat-5 that include 400 LAN drops and Crestron QuickMedia transport technology for distribution, preview of all NTSC sources and 38 computers, and access control, which will include biometrics. Eighteen touchpanels and 17 keypads control the facility, and the Crestron XPanel web browser-based control and RoomView multi-user software (for global room scheduling, monitoring, controlling, and reporting of resources and systems) will offer increased flexibility to Sroka. I ran an ops center, and was the person called at two or three in the morning to come in and warm up the place, turn everything on, and get the lights going, he says. It will be great when I can do that from home, or have it pre-programmed. Upon completion, the facility will have 17 rooms under Crestron control, including the two-story Testbed EOC, which has two rows of workstations to accommodate approximately 24 people, facing a 17-foot high, 35foot wide video wall. Within the Testbed EOC, both classified and non-classified videoconferencing and command and control activities will take place, as well as presentations and briefings. With the help of DTS, we explored different vendors and sought the best answer for the challenge created by the variety of customers and applications we will have here, Sroka explains. We had to make some assumptions and say here are probably our most typical scenarios, lets go from there. With Crestron we can always go
back and change things later, as our customer base develops. We think its very important to attain the kind of partnerships where we can test the next level of technology for our multifaceted environment, and then teach it to everyone else, to show them how it can make their jobs easier, adds Jackie Barnum, assistant project manager for the EOC facility. When we partner with an organization our goal is to find the smarter approach. We dont endorse any products whatsoever, but we share our experiences. In particular, the public safety sector is moving toward a more automated environment, but it needs guidance, and thats a big part of what were here to provide. According to James Cudney, director AV/IT systems division, DTS, most people who will be coming into the facility are not familiar with it, so the simple preset buttons on the Crestron touchpanels that provide one-touch features for VTC, full light, and presentation mode are especially useful. We took some very complex systems, including the AV, lighting, VTC, the video wall, and all the associated presets, and used Crestron technology and touchpanels to interconnect the multiple systems to achieve a super remote that anyone can use, he says.
System Security
The facility has external input boxes that do not require running cable or wire back to the main equipment cabinet, setting up a kind of firewall that prevents one room from affecting another. The infrastructure LAN server room (control room) is off limits to everyone except the in-house technical administrators. For example, a guest server room is used when someone is coming in to do an experiment. It is where they put their servers and PCs, and then bridge over to the Picatinny infrastructure. With multiple modules and lighting zones, the facility is designed so that a conference room can become an autonomous unit and, from an IT perspective, be segregated from the LAN. From a programming perspective, video signals that are generated in one area can still be distributed anywhere in the facility. Being a former support person, I always made sure that I treated my customers fairly and with a lot of truth and honesty, and thats what we look for here, Barnum says. Whether its a Crestron engineer, salesperson, or support person, theyve been extremely responsive, and thats very, very important to us.
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CAMPUS
CONTROL
Central Monitor now enables the university to manage more than 80 rooms from one touchpanel. Authorized users can control and monitor any number of classroom video projectors, public display devices, centralized AV matrix routers, codecs, lighting systems, or remote motorized cameras over an IP network. It can be used standalone for small or specialized IPbased control applications, or as an expansion module for larger systems. Using Crestrons XPanel, Central Monitor can also be used to remotely select rooms and monitor, control, and configure equipment. Functions like turning on a projector,
THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER UPGRADES THEIR MULTI-ROOM FACILITY WITH A HIGH-POWERED AUTOMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Creating an integrated control system in a campus setting is rarely easy. There are multiple rooms in multiple buildings, myriad applications, and end-users with varying degrees of comfort using AV gear. When the University of Rochester sought to create a system to meet its presentation needs for classes, meetings, film screenings, and conferences, it turned to Crestron. Mat Felthousen, assistant director for university information technology, was asked to develop a system that would ensure a consistent user experience. Felthousen chose Crestrons QM-RMC room media controller to power the universitys Central Monitor. adjusting volume, or taking control of a DVD/VCR can be performed from anywhere on the network. XPanel video-sensing information and additional controls, such as lighting, extra projectors, document cameras, microphones, and built-in computing equipment can also be accessed. Crestron RoomView Express software functions as a high-level dashboard that tracks how each room and the associated systems and hardware are being used. The Crestron QM-RMC/XPanel combination that helps make up Central Monitor can also reconfigure the programming of both the touchpanel and control system to
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facilitate the swapping out of equipment one projector brand for another, for example. Any change made via the Central Monitor takes effect in the remote room immediately and transparently to the user. The only time there is a noticeable change is when equipment is added, in which case new buttons appear on the touchpanel. If an in-room controller loses its configuration, it will connect to the Central Monitor and reconfigure itself based on a stored string that is generated as a part of the configuration process.
problems can be solved by support personnel via remote diagnosis. The Universal Program also has several built-in safeguards to help preserve the long-term functionality of equipment. The video sensing capabilities of QuickMedia enables timers to automatically shut off a projector after a prescribed amount of time. Likewise, triggers such as extended periods during which the video is muted without interruption will also cause a pro-
jector to shut off, thereby avoiding damage to the LCD grid. The Central Monitor also limits the maximum volume of the audio in real time so that users cannot cause damage to the equipment or disrupt adjoining classrooms. QuickMedia skew settings are stored in the Central Monitor system along with the configuration of each room, in case a power outage causes the in-room controller to lose these settings.
Universal Program
Soon after Central Monitor was up and running, Felthousen developed the Universal Program. Currently used in 50 rooms, Universal Program is a Crestron QMRMCRX-BA processor-based control system. It can sync up with Central Monitor for an additional level of control, or it can be used standalone to support rooms lacking a network connection. When the program is loaded for the first time in a room without a network connection, the system asks for some basic configuration settings via the touchpanel. Once the room is set up, the configuration is stored in NVRAM (nonvolatile random access memory, which wont lose data when power is turned off), and the information is sent to Central Monitor when a network connection is established. Universal Program is used in rooms equipped with only a Crestron QM-FTMCSC FlipTop and a display, or as elaborately as having podiums with any combination of equipment or systems, including a PC, document camera, laptop connection, DVD/VCR, closed-caption decoder, switchers, lighting controls, touchpanels, microphones, projectors, and motorized screens. The Universal Program simplifies equipment installation, configuration, and replacement, whether in combination with Central Monitor or by itself. When factoring in the pre-programming of the wide variety of equipment and systems available, there are literally millions of combinations the system can configure from any network connection. For example, a student or staff member can swap a faulty DVD/VCR with a unit from the school reserves, and a single touchpanel selection by the help desk via Central Monitor and XPanel will change the remote system programming. This also enables repairs to be conducted in the 10-minute gap between classes, with no reprogramming. The end result has been a vastly reduced response time even though staffing levels have proportionally decreased. Additionally, many
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AV in the Library
A major component of the universitys 2007 library renovation was a distributed and collaborative AV system, for use by both students and the general public. The design is intuitive, and enables remote and local control of the displays. The space functions in a similar manner to technology-enhanced classrooms, yet blends in with the overall aesthetics of the facility. Eleven displays are distributed across two floors and eight rooms. Four of the rooms are collaborative cubicles equipped with 42-inch LCD panels, QM-WMCs, and QM-RXs. The QuickMedia cabling from
each room is fed to a QM-MD8X8 that also receives feeds from both floors. With this design, each room is capable of displaying local signals (from a laptop or AV device) or remote signals fed from two head-end locations in other parts of the library. One room is a self-service, student-only theater, furnished with audio-visual equipment, touchpanel, speakers, projector, and furniture that can be easily rearranged for a variety of uses. Two 65-inch LCD panels are located in an information lounge and receive remote feeds, and will soon be used as part of a digital signage initiative at the University, still fed by QuickMedia technology.
QuickMedia technology with matrix switching allows all displays to receive remote AV signals when not in use locally. Rather than use a touchpanel to control most of the display devices, the video sensing ability of the QM-WMC connection plates is used to trigger events such as turning on the display. The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive, and the equipment has been in nearly constant use since the opening. There are also discussions underway of expanding the capabilities of the system to include more sources such as HD devices.
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Simple + Scalable + Secure
MPC-M25 shown. Other available models: MPC-M20, MPC-M10, MP-B20 and MP-B10
MPC-M25 rear shown.
The new Crestron MPC delivers all-in-one solutions that connect, control and route AV presentation equipment in small, one-projector applications. Secure and infinitely scalable, MPCs are wall or lectern mount control systems that fit in a standard 3-gang box with the simplicity and flexibility to meet the needs of presenters, support staff and AV/IT management.
MPC can be implemented easily and consistently in every room, lecture hall or auditorium, and the award-winning Crestron RoomView software securely connects the most basic rooms to the network for remote monitoring and control. Standardize on Crestron for the only complete, single-platform enterprise solution.
The Crestron Difference:

Simple the basic pushbutton interface is clearly labeled and easy to use. Every model delivers the same button layout so presenters can walk into any room and immediately get started. Scalable add a Crestron keypad or an iLux using the Cresnet port on any MPC. Every MPC model is available in a standard 3-gang box, so installation and upgrades are simple. Secure built-in SSL encryption makes MPC the only control system for small rooms that is safe on the network. Monitor, manage and control every room with Crestron RoomView software.
LAPTOP
EEN SCR UP EEN SCR N DOW
UME VOL
PROJECTOR
TS LIGH OFF POW ER
TS LIGH ON
O AUT E IMAG CAM DVD DOC ERA
OP LAPT PC
PROJECTION SCREEN
KEYPAD
MP
ON STR CRE
C-
0 M1
-M25 MPC
LAN
Crestron RoomView
E VOLUM
Setup is Simple using the MPC Wizard
800.237.2041 crestron.com
LOGCABIN CONTROL
THE SALVATION ARMYS NEW TABERNACLE AT CAMP TECUMSEH COMBINES SOLID LOG CABIN STRUCTURE WITH CUTTING EDGE AUDIO AND VIDEO TECHNOLOGY
BY JOY ZACCARIA
A log cabin is an unusual audio and video installation site for Real Time Services (RTS), especially a huge one that seats up to 600 people. As such, the new tabernacle at The Salvation Armys Pittstown, New Jersey summer camp held its share of logistical and technical challenges. In order to accommodate the professional audio gear, large mixer, four surround sound zones, and many plasma and projection displays, the crew was called upon to think outside the box and inside the cabin. The most challenging aspect of this project for RTS in the early stages was the lack of architectural drawings. The tabernacle is simply a modified log cabin, says project manager Paul Grandinetti at RTS. We only had basic drawings to work from for the design and installation phase. All measurements had to be done in the field to verify proper equipment locations and critical distances (i.e., projector throw and plasma viewing angles).
The goal of the system was to provide The Salvation Armys Camp Tecumseh with a facility that was flexible enough to allow one presenter to run a presentation or, in the event of a large event, to have multiple operators running different parts of the audio/video system. A summer camp in name, Tecumseh operates as a year-around facility, hosting events as large as worship services at full capacity, to a summer theatrical performance by kids, or a movie night for a small audience.
The Mission
The log cabin is in the shape of a cross with a professional-caliber sound system that could be controlled by an untrained camp counselor if need be. When Major Donald Berry, divisional commander for The Salvation Army, first started to develop his vision for a the tabernacle, he knew that a key to the success of the project would be a flexible audio/visual system that would meet the needs of a wide range of events.
In transforming his vision into a reality, Major Berry turned to Real Time Services (RTS), as The Salvation Army has done for many projects in the New York area dating back to the early 1990s. In turn, Real Times Services turned to Crestron to help meet the critical needs of the project. We wanted the flexibility of allowing the audio/visual system to be run from the pulpit for more basic events, or managed by multiple operators behind the scenes, said Major Berry. The control system features a Crestron controller and multiple touchpanels. We needed equipment that would give us the least amount of service issues, since the space was in excess of two hours away from our office, says John Vezzi, vice president and one of the founding partners at Real Times Services. This system also provides the flexibility of doing a small or large program. Implementing Crestron equipment was a key to providing the flexibility The Salvation Army desired for this project. Crestrons PRO2 controller was selected to serve as the
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brain of the entire system, while Crestrons TPS-3000 6-inch touchpanel is the user interface at the podium. Real Time Services chose the Crestron TPS-3100LB 6-inch touchpanel to be rack mounted in the balcony area. As a result, the system can be operated by someone without extensive AV technical skills, such as a camp counselor. It provides ease-of-use functionality for tasks such as raising and lowering a movie screen or playing a CD.
Touchpanel for the Masses

RTS Mike Kabatsky was the lead installer and manager for all field technicians on this project. The RTS team understood that the end-users were the primary consideration when programming the Crestron touchpanels. Kabatsky worked with the touchpanel programmer who came onsite to collaborate with the installation team to determine the most sensible touchpanel functionalities. Real estate on the touchpanel was a big consideration. There are a lot of buttons and not a lot of space, says Kabatsky. We were able to integrate a whole lot more functionality than we typically would. The team provided separate microphone controls for each of the 40 microphones. For audio level control, there is program level control, zone level control, and the computer audio level control to consider. They wanted to be able to control the whole system, but also to have the ability to individually control certain portions of the system, adds Kabatsky. Most of the operators at the tabernacle were familiar with how signal flow works. They come from a studio background, but the goal was to make it easy for anybody to use, says Kabatsky. If you come onsite and grab a touchpanel, youd be able to take any signal and route it anywhere you want with only a few presses.
itself. That challenge is compounded by the fact that there are no ceilings and no walls. Everything is made out of logs, says Kabatsky. The biggest problem on-site was locating cable in the proper locations. At one point we had to take the entire cross beam log off just to trace a single cable. The rack was located on the second floor on the other side of the cabin and everything else was on the first floor towards the center and front of the cabin. All the cables ran through the basement, says Kabatsky. There was a lot of running around up and down. The Crestron ST-COM was a pivotal piece of equipment for Kabatsky and his crew. The ST-COM is an RS-232 COM port that integrates two ports. We mounted them remotely, says Kabatsky. Since the distance is so great, a regular RS-232 signal would not reach its destination in the tabernacle. In order to get control of the plasmas, we had to extend them using the Cresnet cable, which transfers power through the cable and allows us to get longer cables out there. The PRO2, which is the brain of the sys-
tem, has only six COM ports. They needed more than 12 of them to accommodate the additional rack gear. We took three STCOMs and mounted them in the field, says Kabatsky. That provided us with control to the plasmas. Two of the plasmas sat on one ST-COM since there are two ports per unit. The team created custom brackets for the plasmas to mount the ST-COMs behind the display. There were three ST COMs mounted in the structure, adds Kabatsky. The key is to hide them. The physical installation started in June 2007 and the RTS crew was finished by late July. Feedback from the users has been very positive. Last I heard they loved it, says Kabatsky. They love the ease of the system and they love the way it sounds. They also love the way the system integrates with what theyre doing on a daily basis. They can use any microphone just about anywhere on the stage, says Kabatsky. They can view any image on any plasma or any projector. They can do any mix they want. Ease of system use makes everything so accessible.
Overcoming Challenges
For more complex activities, Crestron products help enable the system to be run from the balcony facing the stage, with multiple operators running the audio and visual aspects of the program. Theatrical lights also were installed, along with six plasma screens and two projectors, which can provide multi-imaging capabilities. Real Time Services created an innovative solution to overcome the challenge of a visual obstruction between the audio board area and the stage. A camera was placed above one of the projectors, giving the operator in the sound area a clear view of the stage via a monitor at the control board. The size of the venue is a challenge in
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UNEXPECTED
PREPARING FOR THE
N O T I F I C AT I O N S O F T W A R E L E V E R A G E S E X I S T I N G C R E S T R O N E Q U I P M E N T T O A L E R T U N I V E R S I T Y S TA F F
By Wendy L. Ellis
rooms directly and effectively. With that in mind, Michigan Tech is about to install new software conceived and designed by Kurt Elfers of AVI Systems in New Berlin, Wisconsin. The software, AVI Emergency Message Transport (EMT) is designed specifically to display messages on the Crestron touchpanels so prevalent on university and college campuses across the country. Forty of Michigan Techs newly renovated math and science classrooms already have Crestron panels controlling the AV systems. With the technology already in place, the new software promises a cost-effective, efficient way for realtime communication across campus.
AND STUDENTS TO O U T- O F - T H E - O R D I N A RY S I T U AT I O N S
The snow had been falling for hours in Marquette, Michigan, and as the inches piled up, residents of the Upper Peninsula were watching it closely. Just 90 miles away, at Michigan Technological University, David Chard, manager of instructional resources, was wondering how he would get a message out quickly to faculty and students in the classroom the school would be shutting down early if the storm got worse. In the end, Marquette received 25 inches of snow, but Houghton, home to Michigan Tech, received only six. We were lucky this time, says Chard, But we realized it would be prudent to have a way to communicate with the class-
Crestron in Control
At the heart of Michigan Techs classroom technology are networked MPS-100 systems, which provide AV control, switching, and audio amplification. We designed the classrooms according to their primary use, says Chard. Some have one projector, some have two, and some have multiple plasma monitors and projection screens. In the same way, the classrooms are equipped with touchpanels ranging from 4 to 15 inches diagonal, depending on the sophistication of the system. We have three lecture halls with video cameras mounted on the ceiling that we use for physics experiments. The instructor can
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zoom the cameras in on the experiment and show it on the plasma screens or the large projection screens so every student can view the information clearly. Each MPS-100 is tied into the universitys network, and the entire system is monitored by Chard and his team using RoomView software from the AV office. The EMT software itself actually resides on a Windows PC. The idea was that the users who need to send the message in an emergency would be more comfortable with a program on a Windows machine,
says Elfers. True emergency situations dont happen very often, so they dont want software thats confusing and hard to remember. The message is currently limited to four lines of text with 20 characters each, and the font adjusts to the screen size of the touchpanel receiving it. A Crestron AV2 controller acts as the head end of the messaging system. The Windows software actually talks to the AV2 controller over the network and the information is then disseminated to every wired Crestron touchpanel on campus. Linking
the Crestron to the Windows software was the key to the whole thing. Elfers says a small modification to each touchpanels programming, allowing it to listen for incoming messages, is all it takes to add the EMT software to the classroom.
Chiming In
Elfers software takes advantage of a feature of all Crestron touchpanels: two way communications. If you want a button on the touchpanel to close the drapes, he explains, thats one direction just the panel sending a message to the control system. But then the control system gives the panel feedback to confirm that it has received the message. If the panel does not receive that feedback, it sends the message again. In the same way, if we want to put a message on the panel, it has to come from the system to the panel, and that requires communications in the second direction as well. Though every Crestron touchpanel provides communications in both directions, for a number of reasons not the least of which is that very few universities buy wireless panels because of possible loss Elfers designed his software to work with wired touchpanels only. If university staff decides to send a message, an alert tone will emanate from any touchpanel equipped with speakers. Different tones and loudness levels indicate different degrees of urgency, as does the color of the message screen. We can use this system for any kind of notification, says Elfers. The message doesnt have to be bright red and accompanied by a loud tone if its just about the teams big win last night. For informational messages we use a mild chime. For more urgent messages we use something more like a telephones ring tone. For those classrooms equipped with touchpanels without speakers, the message comes through without the tone.
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ROOMS WITH
A VIEW AT
MICHIGAN TECH
More to Come
At the suggestion of another Michigan university also implementing the software, Elfers is adding two new features. The classrooms sound system will be muted if a message comes in, assuring that the class will hear the touchpanel chime should they be watching a video or listening to a lecture. The other programming change will allow a university to target a message to individual buildings rather than the whole campus. This change eliminates the need to interrupt a class unnecessarily if the message isnt meant for them. The main goal of the system is to reach the maximum number of staff and students in the minimum amount of time. Elfers says AVI is exploring the possibility of allowing the EMT software to address campus digital signage programs like those from Scala. The EMT software would override the messages posted on monitors in lobbies and hallways around campus and post the emergency message instead, effectively reaching anyone not in class at the time. AVI is also considering linking the EMT software to cell phone messaging systems.
A redundant system has its advantages, as it may take a combination of technologies to achieve full coverage. We could link to their systems, or they could link to ours, says Elfers. Then when the message goes out to all the cell phones it also goes out to all the touchpanels. Cell phone messaging alone has its drawbacks. Cell phone reception can be nonexistent inside some buildings, and many phones are turned off during class time. In the meantime, the EMT software offers an exciting solution to the problem of sending last-minute messages to teachers and staff. Right now, we are looking at a relatively low-cost, effective method of doing this, says Elfers. Were leveraging existing Crestron systems that are already in each room to display the message. Its much less expensive than installing new hardware and it gets the message across. The AVI-EMT software can be put to use in any educational or corporate setting where Crestron touchpanels are found. So the next time the snow begins to fall ominously at Michigan Tech, David Chard will have one less thing to worry about.
Its a Sunday afternoon in Houghton, Michigan. Bob Hansen, manager of institutional resources, is logging on to his home computer just to make sure all is well in the 40 classrooms at Michigan Tech where sophisticated AV systems play a major role. Hansen is one of a handful of Michigan Tech employees who have access to the status of those systems on a 24/7 basis with Crestrons RoomView Enterprise software. Hansen and other tech specialists no longer spend hours crisscrossing campus checking on equipment and offering solutions to equipment problems. When there is a problem, most often the techs can diagnose and solve the problem using RoomView. Maintenance, too, is simplified. Every hundred hours you have to clean the filters in these projectors. Now rather than having to run to every classroom to check, I can just open up my Crestron software, click on a room, and see how many hours its been since the filters been cleaned. Security, too, has been simplified. If somebody disconnects a projector or cuts the wires, an alarm goes off letting us know its been disconnected, says Hansen. On our screen there would be audio and then a red flashing light that tells us the projector in this room has been disconnected. For Paul Raymond, the AV specialist who programmed RoomView to fit Michigan Techs needs, flexibility was the key. The Crestron control systems have two programming components a logic component and a user interface component. The user interface is the Crestron touchpanel consisting of various sources and destinations. Available features vary in different installations. The RoomView monitoring system allows us to organize the monitored systems any way we want. In our case, we have organized the rooms according to buildings and room classifications. RoomView was designed to be flexible and customizable to fit our needs. Whatever the day brings, Michigan Techs AV support specialists are now equipped with real-time knowledge of the equipment in their care. As the university expands its classroom technology, RoomView reaches out and welcomes it into the fold.
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MARKETING THAT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH

THE M&M STORE STANDS OUT FROM THE REST IN NEW YORK CITY'S TIMES SQUARE
BY DAWN ALLCOT
Its Saturday afternoon in midtown Manhattan and a 58- x 45-foot LED screen beckons pedestrians from the street. Oversized moving graphics constantly compete for tourist attention in Times Square and on the surrounding streets, but the wholesomeness of this image tugs at your childhood memories and you stop. You pull open the heavy glass door on Broadway and are transported immediately into a chocolate wonderland, where M&MS nostalgia and modern cartoon imagery blend to create a treat for all ages. You inhale the scent of chocolate and hard candy shell and, in the background, hear the slow rumbling of a racecar engine. Lively background music is detected just above the din of excited children. The store is warm and crowded, but abuzz with New York City excitement, so you venture upstairs to see what treasures further investigation will unveil. Youre not disappointed.
Unique Venue For AV

The M&MS World store in New York City, one of only three stores of its kind devoted to the 66-year-old candy treat that melts in your mouth, not in your hand, uses high-tech audiovisual equipment and a Crestron control system to create an interactive experience that blends the concepts of theme park attraction, tourist site, and retail environment. The systems, designed and installed by Excel Media Systems of New York, New York, span three levels and
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21,000 square feet of prime real estate at 1600 Broadway, near Times Square. M&MS Candy, manufactured by Mars, Inc., has a rich marketing history, and elements of that history are evident throughout the store. The modern animated M&MS characters that star in todays television commercials stand on display next to retro t-shirts featuring weathered M&MS logos. The AV centerpiece of the store, a hightech interactive system called the M&MS Profiler, also blends new technology with retro advertising. The Profiler uses a mix of black and white and full-color graphics on video screens to set a mood, and, when visitors step into the Profiler, they are treated to a 21st century adventure. Excel Media Systems director of engineering, Eric Cox, explains: One of the highlights of the store is the Profiler. Its a graphic simulation of a video scanner, which essentially assigns visitors a random M&MS color and a cute, little personality profile that goes with that color. Interestingly, one of the key innovators of the technology behind the project, Excel Media Systems president Robert A. Menell, has never experienced the Profiler himself. Ive never stood still that long! he offers.
Challenges
Challenges to the project, according to Menell, included an extremely tight deadline, a reverberant acoustic environment, and coordination between the different contractors involved in the project, including construction, lighting, in-store display, signage, architectural, and electrical.
There are always challenges, Menell says, but this one had a particularly difficult one! Menells outgoing, no-holdsbarred personality and get-it-done attitude was evident throughout our interviews; his demeanor makes it easy to see why he and Excel Media were selected to manage the AV design and installation aspects of the M&MS World store. Menell is a New Yorker through and through fast-paced yet meticulous, personable yet business-like. We were local talent, says Menell, outlining his qualifications and the clients needs in the same breath. We knew what we had to do with the unions, we knew how to deal with the construction process in New York, and we were familiar with the technology. This fact should, perhaps, be a given on an upscale, high-profile project such as the M&MS store, but Menell reveals that his company was called in late in the game to redesign the system, working with media provider Show & Tell Productions, Brian Dixon of Dixon Entertainment Arts, and Jeff Uter, principal of Premiere Management Alliance and project manager for the M&MS store.
September to December
Excel signed on in late September; the project had to be done by mid-December. Menell got to work right away, calling all the trades together for a four-hour meeting, during which they established the clients needs, looked at conceptual drawings, then boiled those drawings down to the very fine technical details. After one meeting with all parties,
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including the general contractor, Mackenzie-Keck, we established what we had to do to meet the clients requirements and a schedule with milestone dates, Menell says. Time was running short. Drawings had to be done and approved, equipment had to be ordered, and infrastructure had to be installed. All of this was critical for the success of the project. To expedite certain aspects of the installation, Excel Media provided the electrical contractor, E.J. Electric, with cable pull schedules and diagrams of hard mounting points, which Menell says helped clarify their role within the large-scale project. Honestly, Ive never been involved in a project before where everybody was so willing to work together to get the job done. We all worked in the same direction, we all took our instructions to heart, and we got the job done. We had a great, talented staff, and everyone contributed their skills.
First Floor AV Systems

The three-level installation includes zoned paging systems and background music on every level, controlled through a Crestron system with a wired 10-inch color touchpanel and a portable 10-inch WiFi panel with dual Ethernet card for remote control from any location. The systems are easy to use: In the morning, the store manager fires up the systems storewide with the touch of one button. The manager-on-duty can control volume and on/off functions in the different zones, raising the volume levels in hightraffic areas during busy parts of the day, or lowering the background music when business is slow. The first floor includes zoned paging and background music through SoundTube RS800i ceiling speakers. The boxes are custom-painted in M&MS brown to blend in with the dcor. Tall ceilings and glass windows created acoustical challenges in the room. It took
several tries to tweak it to the point where it gave the kind of punchiness the client wanted out of the sound system, Cox explains. SoundTube 601 subs offer lowend frequencies on the first floor. The SoundTube 800i 8-inch speakers offered a wide coverage pattern, shooting down from the 21-foot ceiling, at 70 volts. The SoundTube speakers did such a good job, even at that elevation, we needed less to cover the store, Cox notes.
Second Floor, NASCAR

As the primary colors and hustle-bustle of the main floor attract people into the M&MS store, low rumblings of a racecar draw people upstairs to the second floor, where an actual NASCAR vehicle sits on a platform. The NASCAR exhibit operates in its own zone, permitting separate control of the Tannoy TS10 subwoofers that simulate the sound of a racecar revving its engine. If
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youre not paying attention to it, Eric Cox says, you just hear a quiet rumbling in the background, and then it gets louder and it sounds like the car is actually running. This AV magic is accomplished through JBL Control 28s and the Tannoy subs mounted beneath the car, playing at extremely low frequencies. Background music and paging on the second floor are accomplished through additional SoundTube 800i ceiling speakers, with Altec Lansing CommStar speakers providing coverage beneath the third-floor balcony and in the restrooms.
The wholesomeness of this image tugs at your childhood memories and you stop.
M&MS Profiler
The NASCAR exhibit, background music, and colorful displays contribute to the ambiance and magic of the stores second floor, but theres another fun reward for shoppers who venture upstairs, too: the M&MS Profiler. Anyone whos seen the current M&MS commercials, with the smiling, talking, walking candy, can relate to one character or another. Step into the M&MS Profiler, and modern technology will tell you which M&M you are! Customers step onto an M&MS circle on the floor and the scan begins. A remote control infrared lighting sensor activates moving lights when it detects a person within the circle. This simulates a scanning effect. At the same time, the customers image appears on a 26-inch LCD screen, thanks to an Elmo microvideo camera mounted above the display. The camera captures the users image as the light scans back and forth. Remotecontrolled pan/tilt and zoom functions on the camera enhance the effect of the customer being scanned. Audio files, activated through the Crestron control system, tell users that their mood is being detected through the Profiler. Dual JBL Control 23 speakers provide the audio. Moments later, an M&MS color and personality profile graphic are randomly assigned and appear on the screen. Users step out of the scanner knowing their M&MS personality profile and color for now! Two Stewart Filmscreen custom-
designed round screens, two LC-XT3 Eiki 10,000-lumen projectors, and four Firefly media players from Focus Enhancements display M&MS graphics to help set the mood with a combination of black-andwhite and full-color graphics. All of the hardware is controlled by a Crestron PRO2 Control System.
Digital Signage
Exterior signage completes the overall AV package for the M&MS World New York Store. Two large plasma screens provide ongoing content at the street level. Dual
LED displays measuring 32 x 32 feet and 58 x 45 feet provide eye candy (so to speak) for pedestrians outside the store, hinting at the level of technology they will find inside. One LED faces Broadway, while the other is located on 7th Avenue and 48th Street, facing downtown. Video content is provided via the Internet from Show & Tell Productions, the company that also provides audio content for inside the store.
This article originally ran in the July 2007 issue of Sound & Communications.
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HIGH TECH HISTORY

JAMESTOWN CAPTIVATES VISITORS WITH A HIGH-POWERED AUTOMATED AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM
BY CAROLINE HEINZE
Located about a mile from its original site, the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, Virginia, tells the story of Americas first English colonists and their interactions with Virginias Native Americans through gallery exhibits, film presentations, and impressive outdoor living-history displays recounting this integral period in 17th-century America. Not far away, the Yorktown Victory Center offers timelines, thematic exhibitions, and outdoor demonstrations that concentrate on what life was like for ordinary men and women during the American Revolution. Several years ago, the Jamestown Settlement called upon the Virginia Beachbased office of AV systems integration firm The Whitlock Group to install a turnkey AV solution for the facilitys main theater, which uses a Crestron control system to replay a short movie in 15-minute intervals and to automatically adjust the lighting levels and doors. Systems integration work on the facility resumed recently when The Whitlock Group concluded an installation in the Jamestown Gallery, a multi-exhibit space featuring a full Crestron control system that oversees functionality for the AV technology in the exhibit.
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Interacting with History

The client wanted something user-friendly that would allow them to do more than just display artifacts, says Rodney Coronel, account manager at The Whitlock Group. There are some interactive exhibits with newer content, as opposed to a traditional museum where there is a lot of reading involved. They are doing a lot with film and interactive displays. Therefore, a Crestron IP-based control system, featuring e-Control2, enables wireless remote operation of all systems on the site. There are approximately 16 exhibits that are tied to the Crestron control system, says Phil Raymond, AV systems design engineer at The Whitlock Group. Everything is automated: it is set up so that it comes on at a certain time and goes off at a certain time in the evening, and it runs all day long. According to Brian Eckenroth, senior project manager at The Whitlock Group, the new gallery features three exhibits with interactive audio, one of which also features theatrical lighting control. All the exhibits feature the same equipment two audio players, an amplifier, and two Soundstik handheld loudspeakers from Vista Group that are triggered magnetical-
ly. The Crestron system detects this trigger and tells the [audio player] to play the audio track, Eckenroth says. When the Soundstik is hung up, the Crestron stops playback of the track. The audio tracks feature background sounds such as birds, water movement, or trees being chopped. One of the tracks also features background audio that changes to match day and night scenes. Raymond notes that the open-concept configuration of the gallery called for highly directional loudspeakers. Since the gallery is one big, open box, there had to be a lot of point source loudspeakers in there that would still fill a large space without bleeding over into the rest of the gallery, he says. The Whitlock Groups solution was to install a number of SoundTube 6.5-inch coaxial open ceilingand surface-mount loudspeakers.
Total Control
The Contrasting Technology exhibit is equipped with a 42-inch Panasonic plasma, a touch-sensitive 19-inch NEC LCD monitor, and a Tannoy in-wall loudspeaker. The NEC monitor allows visitors to choose one of three options. The monitor then communicates their choice via the video distribution system to a Dell computer that stores
the media. The chosen media is displayed on the 50-inch plasma, with audio played through the loudspeaker. The African Object Theater, which is equipped with three Panasonic projectors and Soundtube loudspeakers with an 8channel amplifier, does not feature handson functionality, but a Crestron Pro2 control system controls its lighting to correspond with the movie, displaying the different exhibits as they appear in the movie. The Crestron control system in the museum is very detailed, Eckenroth says. It is constantly controlling the interactive displays, as they are in use all day. There are controls to allow for extended times in the busy visitor season. The wireless controller allows the [Jamestown staff] to walk around from exhibit to exhibit and make on-the-fly adjustments for sound levels if needed. Also, for special occasions, any movie that is displayed can be stopped and restarted to allow for questions. The control system at Jamestown is linked with other systems at the Yorktown Victory Center, as well, allowing Jamestowns AV specialist, Jan Heuvel, to monitor and control the Yorktown systems from his office at the principal site. I can sit in my office and check the system out, Heuvel says. We
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have a lot of functions here, which are after hours, so we need to turn the system on and off and put it back into automatic mode. He adds that Crestron RoomView software helps him to keep track of lamp life on the projectors. Raymond adds that Heuvel and his team have manual control over the system when necessary a feature that comes in handy during special events. We have given him manual control over everything, as well as full automation, so that if, for example, they have a large group coming in for an exhibition, he can restart things and make the system work without having the automation take control, Raymond says. They wanted it to be automatic and userfriendly, but they also wanted manual control. Heuvel says that the simplicity of the system also makes it easier for other staffers to operate it. We tried to simplify the touchpanel, he says. If something goes down, they are able to turn the system back on. I dont find it a hard system to use its pretty simplified.
ronmental controls, Schafer says. As technology continues to progress, how museum visitors interact with various kiosks and displays will grow more sophisticated, too. After a decade of rising dominance, the convergence of AV and IT remains an issue that still retains its significance. Today, however, Schafer says there is another convergence taking place: that of lighting and video. Those two are merging, and I believe that they will have a future in a lot of museums, he says, noting that the technology exists to enable lights to play back video, or have their color temperature adjust in accordance with a video clip or even an audio clip. They are definitely making an impact in the theatrical world, and I believe that [the technology] will have an impact in the museum market as well. In the end, the pressure in the Jamestown installation stemmed from its historical importance. It isnt just any
museum its Jamestown, Eckenroth says. There was a lot of pressure for this to all work and look and sound the best. After all, the Queen and President Bush came to visit for the 400th anniversary celebration. This made it even more important to ensure that the AV and control technology was kept out of sight. Nearly everything is invisible, Eckenroth says. I spent more time hiding and disguising equipment so it could not be seen than probably anything else. This museum flows well. All exhibits play their part and tell a story. The equipment we installed fits perfectly into creating what the customer wanted. The museum is unique for having actual historical artifacts on display, and the installation is unique in that it is able to work around all of those irreplaceable items, and in the large number of audio and video files that work together to tell the story of our country.
Lighting and Video Convergence

Bill Schafer, director of product and channel development at Crestron Electronics in Rockleigh, New Jersey, notes that museums such as the facility at Jamestown are demonstrating considerable use of automation technology in all aspects of their operations these days. Behind the scenes, control technology is used for primary building functions, such as lighting and HVAC. One area is running the building: we have a lot of lighting control systems that are used to manage the property as well as envi-
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Amplifier
Models available with choice of 40 w stereo, 70V, or 100V amplifier built-in to support screen-oriented or distributed ceiling speaker systems.
2-Series Control System

Features a built-in Crestron 2-Series Ethernet control system with e-Control Web server, RS-232, IR, digital input and relay control ports for integration with third-party equipment.
Crestron MPS System integrates a 2-Series Control System, Multimedia Matrix Switcher, Amplifier, Mic Mixer, Audio Processor, and QuickMediaTM distribution center all into a single rackmountable package. MPS brings a complete presentation control and signal routing solution to boardrooms, classrooms and auditoriums. MPS works right out-of-the-box; no separate control system, no programming, and no laptop for configuration.
8-Channel Mic Mixer

2 gated mic/line inputs included on most MPS models. Up to 6 additional microphone signals accepted through 3 QM inputs. Features 4-band EQ per mic.
Professional Audio
8 stereo inputs accept balanced or unbalanced line-level signals. 3 QM inputs for additional audio sources. Discrete PROGRAM, SPEECH and RECORD outputs feature matrix-mixing, 12-band parametric EQ and speech delay.
QuickMediaTM Matrix
In addition to conventional video and computer signals, MPS also accepts and routes Crestron QuickMedia signals.
System Switcher
MPS provides high performance switching of video and RGB computer sources. Video switching provides discrete and simultaneous RGB, composite, S-video, and component outputs.
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Dedicated touchpanel preview output Gated mic inputs and mic mixing Compatible with RoomView Remote Asset Management 12-band parametric equalization & delay Out-of-the-box switching & audio control Balanced audio inputs and output Discrete program, speech, & record outputs QuickMediaTM Connectivity Seamless plug-and-play connectivity Easy setup with MediaManager Wizard True native HD & high resolution RGBHV signal outputs
800.237 .2041
| crestron.com
TECHNICAL
Getting the GREEN LIGHT

Crestron offers a real solution for companies looking to go green
The need for real green solutions is rapidly increasing as state and city governments are passing legislation requiring new commercial construction projects to attain LEED certification. Even the Federal government now requires all new government and military spaces be LEED certified. Unfortunately, most companies in our industry lack the vision or leadership to provide little more than marketing tag lines. Dealers hunger for answers and grow more frustrated each day as they sit across the table from potential clients empty-handed. With one exception, the brightest ideas that our industry has provided is to dim the lights and automatically turn off a plasma or projector. Crestron has published a research study, which is cleverly dubbed a green paper, that provides compelling data to support the concept of a fully integrated solution in which AV and environmental systems all intelligently communicate with each other via a central control system, and react to varying conditions to optimize energy and cost savings. Variables such as natural light, temperature, time of day, occupancy, and room usage are all weighted in an algorithm and each device or sub-system is then adjusted, turned on, or turned off. For example, a room that is not used every day is booked for a meeting. The normal state for that room is unoccupied in which the shades are closed, the temperature is set to a certain level (lower in the winter and higher in the summer shades may also raise or lower based on time/season to keep a consistent room temperature) and all the AV equipment is off. Fifteen minutes before the meeting is scheduled to begin, the temperature is automatically adjusted to a more comfortable level; ten minutes before the meeting begins the projector turns on to warm up; five minutes before the room is scheduled (or if occupancy is sensed prior) the shades raise and the lights turn on. When the meeting is finished and vacancy is confirmed, the room returns to the unoccupied or normal state. This type of high-level functionality requires sophisticated programming, is not for the novice, and could certainly be time consuming. Crestron has that covered, too. As part of the CRESTRON GREEN LIGHT product line, developers are writing the code for a green module. Once the control module is complete and fully tested, it will be posted free of charge to all Crestron dealers and programmers on the Crestron website. Once downloaded, as with all Crestron control modules, the program will reside as an icon within the SystemBuilder application. At that point, providing the most powerful, fully integrated green solution is as easy as drag-and-drop. The plan for the green module is to provide the basis for robust control of all Crestron lighting solutions, including dimming, switching, motor, and fan control, thermostat and humidistat control, shade and drape control, and audio-video control (such as sync sensing, auto standby features, etc.). Advanced features such as automatic load shedding, daylight harvesting, and power conditioning will also be included. The module will provide an excellent template from which programmers can modify controllable systems, dimming and temperature levels, and schedules for each project. Crestron features a look at its new green graphical interface on its website. The GUI demonstrates yet another impressive feature of CRESTRON GREEN LIGHT solutions. The GUI design and functionality is based on data collected from the
award-winning EcoManor project in Atlanta, and research conducted by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), which suggests that people will modify their behavior to conserve energy if they see what they are consuming and spending. Bi-directional communication directly with lighting loads, rather than with dimmers, provides true real-time information back to the control system, which in turn can be graphically displayed on touchpanels. Some touchpanels even support Flash 9 for incredibly dynamic graphics and animations. The touchpanel displays intuitive and interactive graphics that illustrate precise levels for every load, thermostat, and shade in a room, floor, or building. Furthermore, calculations made in the background determine current energy usage, costs, and carbon output, which are all displayed on the touchscreen. By using the touchpanel to select different pre-set conditions or scenes, or to manually adjust individual loads, the user can watch the energy consumption, costs, and carbon output change on the fly. For example, selecting green mode dims the lights 10 percent and sets back the temperature a few degrees. The real dollar savings and carbon footprint reduction is immediately quantified and displayed. Next, select Statistics to see, based on the current settings, real energy and cost savings over various time periods such as month, year, five years, and ten years. Projected lamp life is also indicated on the GUI screen. While no single system can achieve LEED certification, its this type of creative vision and leadership our industry needs to remain relevant and competitive in the future.
To experience live CRESTRON GREEN LIGHT demonstrations online, go to www.crestron.com/gogreen.
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TECHNICAL
MPS-300 Multimedia Presentation System

A real-world review from an integration expert
Reviewer: Tony Caliento, President and Chief Engineer, ATC Audio Key Crew: Bob Pelletier, Systems Specialist/Programmer Wayne Krupa, Systems Specialist/Programmer
MPS-200: 5 Questions
Mitch Brown, CTS, Assistant Director of Media Technology Services, Claremont McKenna College offers his views on the MPS-200
Describe the application or environment in which you installed MPS. MITCH BROWN: All the MPS-200 units are installed in classroom locations. The majority of them are 70V systems that replaced an existing control system. Most of the rooms contain an LCD projector, DVD, VCR, and two VGA sources. They also have a 70V audio system, as well as ceiling mics and one wireless mic. How easy is it to install? Does it change the way you design or install systems? The installation process was fairly simple. All the connectors are provided and the manual is very detailed. This system streamlined our equipment needs. We were able to remove two switchers, an amp, an equalizer, and a feedback suppressor. What features are particularly important to you? For our applications, the important features are the number of conventional inputs and the network interface. We are able to upload and troubleshoot via a network connection from anywhere on the network. Having the combined switching, audio amplification, mixing, and control all in one box is a great advantage. What challenges did the technology help to overcome or improve? We improved the reliability of the system by eliminating quite a few older components and consolidating them into one unit. We have less equipment to monitor. Network management was one of the greatest improvements. Also, the use of RoomView with this system enables reporting and real-time status, which is used by our help desk to solve minor problems. Would you standardize on MPS for presentation and classrooms? The unit works very well. We have standardized on this unit for our classroom installs. We currently have 14 rooms installed, and will be adding 18 more this summer.
Based in West Springfield, MA, ATC Audio specializes in the sale, installation, design, service, and rental of pro audio, video, and lighting equipment. The company is also factory-trained in product system design and has won a number of awards for its customer service. Recently, ATC Audio received the very first shipment of MPS-300 Multimedia Presentation Systems and successfully integrated the solution in a multi-use room in Western Massachusetts.
For our most recent project a multi-use room in a military institution that we do a lot of work with we originally designed the whole system with QM routers. The client needed a reliable solution that would give them superior audio performance in a single- or split-room setup, as the room can be split down the middle and used as two separate spaces. So our original plans called for QM, but when we saw that the MPS-300 would soon be available, we waited the extra time for the product to ship so we could fit them into the design we had in place. From a functionality standpoint, it offered us the same versatility and power that a lot of our previous MPS-200 projects demanded, but with the front-panel controls we were able to provide the level of control redundancy that is vital for military facilities. The MPS-300 also condensed a lot of everything we love about a Crestron solution into one unit. We choose a number of QM-WMC panels with microphone inputs for the room, and routing those inputs through the 300 via CAT5 and Cresnet just made the entire system so much more streamlined and neat not to mention less wire to pull. This solution took the place of bulky analog cabling and line driving amps, which would have meant just a mess of audio, video, and control cabling. The DSP capabilities on the MPS-300 are just outstanding. It was very easy to setup and calibrate the systems using the Crestron Toolbox aligning video signals and also laying out various EQ functions to account for room EQ, feedback, time delay, noise gating, and compression on the mics. We installed one MPS-300 in the front of room rack with other sources for the room, and another MPS-300 in the back of the room rack. If the operators need to split the room for a certain function, they can do so very quickly with one button touch via any of the touchpanels that are mounted throughout the room. We worked very closely with Crestron tech support throughout the entire project, and they were very helpful, especially with the SIMPL programming. Mark Reilly and his team were great. All-in-all, we are only scratching the surface with regard to the functionality of the MPS-300. While this is the first shipment of the MPS-300, we have had no problems or glitches with the units, and we have it quoted for future jobs already. It speaks volumes about Crestron and quality of product they manufacture. The MPS-300 gives us a whole new way of designing. With the QM I/O built in, we can design a system that runs source and control signals at almost any distance without concern. The product is truly a joy to work with.
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TECHNICAL
Dealing with HDMI

Be prepared to service your clients with the digital video standard
Like it or not HDMI is here to stay. Presentation systems display content, usually from computers, laptops, and DVD players. Dell PCs and DVD players all have DVI or HDMI outputs, and Macs have DVI connectors. Up until today, dealers have been able to tell clients that HDMI is not ready yet and avoid switching and distributing these types of signals. Often a HDMI signal is knocked down to an analog component signal for distribution. Soon, however, clients that are spending big money on 1080p displays and are used to true HD quality images at home will demand the same quality in the office or university. High-end displays, video games and Blu-ray players are driving HD specs and customer expectations through the roof. Todays HD displays are capable of 1080p, 60 Hz and 24-bit color. The HDMI 1.3a specification increases its single-link bandwidth from 165 MHz (4.95 Gbps) to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps) to support the capabilities of next-generation displays such as 1440p (2560x1440), 120 Hz, and Deep Color. Deep Color enables the processing and transmission of billions rather than millions of colors, greatly increasing a displays contrast ratio, vividness, and accuracy. While HD content such as HDTV (satellite and cable) and Blu-ray are delivered as compressed MPEG streams, all outputs on the playback devices are uncompressed video. Only HDMI can transmit full uncompressed HD signals with Deep Color and deliver optimal refresh rates, which eliminates jerkiness of movie content and optimizes the displays capabilities. More importantly, now that the HD signal wars are over, DVD players will join VCRs in trash bins and yard sales, replaced by Blu-ray players, which will be integrated into laptops and computers. Content is king, and Blu-ray embeds High-Definition Content Protection (HDCP). Component HD signals do not carry HDCP encryption, so all HD signals must be transmitted as HDMI. HDMI signals deliver full picture quality, but are limited to short cables, making true HD digital distribution nearly impossible. In-line amplifiers may not help if they simply boost the signal, adding noise that may result in lost data, rather than regenerating the digital signal. A bad HDMI signal can result in dropped or frozen frames, HDCP errors, or complete signal loss, which will stop playback. The critical issue with distributing HD content, however, is not driving the signal over long distances. Certainly the HDMI 1.3a specification of a mere 50 feet is a challenge, but one that is being addressed by several experienced distribution and switching companies in our industry that are making better line drivers. The problem lies in processing and distributing the control signal embedded in the content and transmitted via HDMI or DVI. HDCP is a highly complex technology developed by Intel to control the distribution of digital content. (See related HDCP story on the next page.) In this digital age, where anyone can record or download content, and instantly distribute that content globally on the Internet, movie studios are understandably concerned about piracy. Financial institutions and universities are also concerned about protecting content. Investment banks and hedge funds conduct morning video teleconference meet-
ings in which they discuss stocks and commodities they will buy and sell that day. Millions of dollars are at stake if the information is intercepted. Universities record and distribute classes and conduct distance learning courses. Students are now recording these lectures and posting them on YouTube, which costs universities thousands of dollars in lost tuition each semester.
HDMI distribution is a control and communications challenge.

HDCP is designed to prevent content from being recorded, played, displayed, or distributed without authorization. A simple digital video switcher cannot manage the multiple levels of encryption, key codes, and handshakes that are required to distribute an HD signal. HDCP is designed to block noncompliant signals. If the HDCP encryption is not properly managed by the mid-stream device, the signal will not be displayed. Technically, HDMI distribution is a control and communications challenge. As the control systems leader, Crestron has been managing HDMI/DVI with HDCP for years. For example, the DVPHD is a multi-window HD video processor that accepts multiple HDMI signals and processes and decodes all the layers of encryption, then regenerates them on each of the outputs to deliver pristine 1080p or 1920x1200 HD signals in multiple video windows simultaneously. No other multi-window display or video processor available today can do that. Similarly, the Adagio Media System with Advanced Image Processing (AMS-AIP) features an integrated video source switcher that accepts HDMI and DVI signals and processes the selected signal, including the content protection, then regenerates the signal to the display to deliver a pure HD image. Crestron is also introducing a revolutionary new technology called DigitalMedia, which is designed to route and distribute HDMI signals over extended distances while processing and managing HDCP content protection.
For a sneak peak at DigitalMedia go to www.crestron.com/digitalmedia.
38
TECHNICAL
The ABCs of HDCP

Understanding the copy protection system that protects content transmitted over HDMI
four differential pairs from the source to the sink. DDC. The Digital Display Channel (DDC) is a communications interface. This interface provides two-way communication in a master-slave relationship. The upstream device is the DDC master and the downstream device is the DDC slave. Hot Plug Detect. The sink indicates its presence to the source with the Hot Plug Detect (HPD) signal. The sink can toggle the Hot Plug Detect signal to reset the HDMI connection (and thus the HDCP session). RxSense. Though not specifically defined by HDMI, many devices support a feature known as RxSense. Similarly to HPD, this signal can be used to detect the presence of a sink.
HDCP Overview
To protect content, the HDCP system first authenticates HDCP devices and then encrypts the content. Authentication occurs over the DDC channel and assures that all devices receiving the content are licensed and authorized to receive the content. After successful authentication, the TMDS data streams are encrypted to prevent other devices from eavesdropping on the content during transmission. HDCP devices are organized in a tree topology, as shown in the figure 1. The tree may have at most 127 devices and may be no more than 7 levels deep. A single point-to-point HDCP link can involve only one HDCP transmitter and one HDCP receiver. As such, a repeater must decrypt the content at the HDCP receiver on each of its inputs. The repeater must then re-encrypt the data with an HDCP transmitter on each of its outputs. The repeater must inform the upstream device of its downstream connections, and it is the repeaters responsibility to maintain those connections. (See figure 2.)
Figure 1: An example of an HDCP tree.
BY ROBERT CARTER
Digial content providers and institutions that distribute digital content are increasingly concerned about pirates copying and sharing copyrighted material. To protect digital content as its transmitted over cables between devices, Intel developed a DRM scheme known as the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection system (HDCP). HDCP has recently enjoyed rapid, widespread adoption in the consumer electronics space, but has been plagued by interoperability issues.
HDCP Implementation Elements HDMI

HDCP was originally designed to protect AV content transmitted over the Digital Video Interface (DVI), then the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). The HDMI specification defines an interface for carrying digital audiovisual content from a source to a display device. Repeaters, such as switches or AV receivers, may accept and re-transmit HDMI content. Repeaters have two separate HDMI connections: the upstream connection with the source and the downstream connection with the sink (or another repeater). Within each connection, the upstream device sends audiovisual data to the downstream device. The physical HDMI cable carries many signals: TMDS. The audiovisual data is encoded into three Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) data channels. These channels and a TMDS clock are carried over The HDCP specification doesnt address implementation, but, in practice, device manufacturers typically buy HDCP chips from a DCP-licensed silicon vendor. These chips usually also provide TMDS encoders or decoders and other HDMI-specific features. Every transmitting device will have at least one HDCP transmitter chip and every receiving device will have at least one HDCP receiver chip. The HDCP transmitters and receivers frequently require a microprocessor to implement the authentication.
39
TECHNICAL
Figure 2: Repeater diagram.
To support HDCP, each transmitter and receiver must possess the following elements: Keys. Each HDCP transmitter and receiver has 40 unique 56-bit private keys. KSVs. Each HDCP chip also has a public 40-bit value known as the Key Selection Vector (KSV). The KSVs and keys of all licensed HDCP devices are mathematically related according to a cryptographic key exchange protocol similar to Bloms scheme. In this scheme, any two licensed devices can swap KSVs and use them, along with their private keys, to come up with a shared secret key. This shared key can be used to encrypt and decrypt the TMDS stream. The KSV can also be used to uniquely identify a transmitter or receiver. HDCP Cipher. Each chip must implement the HDCP Cipher. The cipher accepts a seed value and uses it to generate a deterministic pseudo-random stream of data. This publicly defined cipher is used during both authentication and encryption. Registers. Each HDCP receiver must provide a series of pre-defined DDCaccessible registers. All of the HDCP communications between the source and sink occurs by the source reading from and writing to these registers.
encryption is enabled and AV content transmission begins. Part 2. This part is only used if the downstream device is a repeater. The repeater authenticates with the devices connected to its output(s) and passes the HDCP tree topology information up to the source. Part 3. The source performs periodic checks with the downstream device to ensure that encryption is in sync. HDCP also supports a key revocation mechanism that is designed to prevent content transmission to hacked devices. If any part of authentication fails or any revoked devices are found in the HDCP tree, the transmitter must stop sending protected content and authentication starts over at Part 1.
Interoperability Issues
Consumers have been plagued with flashing and snowy screens, long authentication times, disabled outputs, and complete failure. Many of the problems can be ascribed to the following causes: Complexity. The HDCP protocol is managed by a microcontroller running complex state machines. Many manufacturers didnt initially appreciate this complexity when selecting components and establishing development schedules. Implementation differences. Manufacturers implemented some seemingly minor details in different ways. HPD and RxSense behavior, for instance, isnt well standardized. Small differences can wreak havoc on the HDCP state machines
The Authentication and Encryption Protocols

HDCP authentication consists of three parts: Part 1. The source authenticates with the device connected to its output. If successful,
of attached devices and cause video problems for the customer. Requirement Confusion. There is confusion regarding legal requirements for HDCP. Some device manufacturers have encrypted everything regardless of whether or not the content required it. Some disable analog outputs while HDCP is active. Some restart their content from the beginning upon authentication failure. Others sources completely ignore authentication failures and transmit content anyway. Repeaters. Adding an HDCP repeater to an installation greatly increases occurrence of problems. Repeaters are especially prone to problems because they have responsibilities of both a transmitter and a receiver. Add multiple inputs and outputs to the repeater, and the problem increase accordingly. HDMI. HDMI has its own complexity issues. Resolution, color space, and audio problems cant be blamed on HDCP. Furthermore, HDMI problems can cause screen flashing just like HDCP . Implementing HDMI and HDCP is a complex process that can cause serious problems for those unfamiliar with the layered and nuanced communication required among all devices in the system. Fortunately for our industry and our clients, more sophisticated HDMI solutions are in development and scheduled for release later this year.
This article is excerpted from the engineering white paper, HDCPP Nuts and Bolts. For the full paper, go to www.crestron.com/hdcp.
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TECHNICAL
e-Control Software Development Kit for Adobe Flash

Create interactive content and add a world of new possibilities for GUI design and control with video, graphic effects, action scripts, and animation
The Adobe Flash CS3 Professional software, featuring a streamlined user interface and advanced video tools, has been seamlessly integrated with Crestron control systems with the Software Development Kit (SDK). The new Adobe Flash ActionScript 3.0 scripting language was used to develop this SDK for use with Flash Player 9 or later. The addition of the e-Control component to the Adobe CS3 development suite allows for a direct socket connection to one or more Crestron control processors. Multiple control processors can be connected through a single web interface. Full two-way communication of digital, analog, and serial Crestron data is available through the e-Control component, allowing a Flash developer to merge Crestron control capabilities with the power of the Adobe development environment. Control functionality can be added to any Flash CS3 elements.
Platform/Program Support
WINDOWS
Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, AOL, Internet Explorer, Opera
MACINTOSH
Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, AOL, Safari
SOLARIS
Firefox, Mozilla, SeaMonkey, Opera
LINUX
Firefox, Mozilla
In Touch(panel)
Crestron touchpanels and control systems now support Windows SideShow, providing access to a wide-range of PC and web-based content such as newsfeeds, sports scores, stock tickers, weather alerts, media guides, email messages, and appointment notifications all through a simple network connection to a Windows Vista computer. SideShow content can be viewed on all Crestron touchpanels and 2-way devices that support dynamic text such as the APAD wall mount controller and MLX-2 handheld remote. Windows SideShow is a new technology in Windows Vista that supports a secondary display screen to view flight reservations, news, weather, sports, or read email even if the laptop is off or in sleep mode. Crestron now provides support through its SIMPL Windows program to also deliver SideShow data to its touchpanels and controllers, including the APAD and MLX-2. Crestron has provided access to RSS feeds
Windows SideShow now delivers information from your computer to Crestron devices
SideShow data from any mobile or desktop PC running Vista via basic Ethernet communication. SideShow sends data from the SideShow gadget, displaying text information and even providing some control functionality. For example, Crestron SideShow-enabled controllers can access the Windows Media Player gadget to allow users to browse media lists and play selections directly from touchpanels. One of the nice things about SideShow is that there are already a bunch of applications stocks, RSS newsfeeds, etc., Pavlik says. It doesnt take a whole lot of configuration. Just set it up in Vista by checking a couple of boxes. Its just a very simple design. Windows SideShow is available in Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Windows Vista Ultimate.
and other services on touchpanels for several years, but only for its Isys i/O line with Windows XP Embedded. We wanted to have it work with every Crestron touchpanel, even those without full graphics capabilities, says John Pavlik, senior marketing and development engineer for Crestron. The SideShow support adds no cost to the Crestron controllers, Pavlik notes. Its just something else you can do with a Crestron touchpanel. Crestron control systems retrieve
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INFOCOMM
InfoComm 2008 Highlights:
BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER

Crestron had an incredibly successful show this year at InfoComm 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 10,000 square foot booth was the largest InfoComm booth ever, anchoring the new North Hall Exhibits. The gorgeous and dramatic booth design made quite an impression on all who visited, as did the 70 new products that were introduced at the show. The Crestron Research Center, which houses more than 300 full-time engineers, is in full swing, producing an unprecedented number of new products and technologies at a breakneck pace. This impressive dedication of resources certainly underscores the companys commitment to delivering the solutions our industry needs today and the vision to create opportunities for tomorrow. Some of the exciting new products on display at InfoComm included the TPS-6X touchpanel, MPC AV presentation controllers, HDMI and RGB switchers, Software Development Kits, and several new QuickMedia solutions, including the MPS-250. Looking ahead, Crestron showcased innovative new technologies and integration solutions. Crestron DigitalMedia (DM) is revolutionizing the way the industry is thinking about HD and digital content distribution. DM does not merely route and distribute HDMI it manages all the data transmitted on the signals as well, including HDCP and EDID. In addition to HDMI, DM accepts, manages, and distributes all analog video, all analog audio including stereo, SPDIF, and 7.1 surround sound Ethernet, USB, KVM, power, and control over CAT5e or fiber.
Crestron also highlighted its new Green control module and GUI template. Following up on its recent white paper (a.k.a. green paper), Crestron is offering a program that intelligently integrates all environmental systems, such as HVAC, lighting, shades, and AV. The sophisticated communication and algorithms behind the intuitive interface provides high-level integration and coordination among the various sub-systems, and then calculates and displays energy usage, costs, and carbon output in real time. Crestron was also on display in 68 other exhibits throughout the show floor. As a testament to the strength of the industry and the Crestron Integrated Partner program, dozens of partner manufacturers showcased Crestron control and integration of their products in their booths. Each exhibitor indicated that demonstrating Crestron control of their product generates interest from attendees, adds tremendous value, and ultimately has a positive effect on sales.
42
INFOCOMM
System Programming and GUI Gallery

Crestron once again sponsored the third annual System Programming and GUI Gallery at InfoComm 2008. A beautifully designed exhibit was on display outside the
main entrance to the Las Vegas Convention Center. This years GUI Gallery was more than three times the size of previous years and featured two dozen exhibits. The Gallery provided CAIPs with a fully functioning, interactive display to educate the industry about the tremendous value
independent programmers offer and to showcase their creativity and talents. Participating CAIPs displayed their designs on Crestron TPS-15L wall mount touchpanels and on the new TPS-6X.
Party Time
Las Vegas is great place to play and have fun, which is exactly what Crestron employees, dealers, and partners did. The MGM Grand Pool was a beautiful setting for the cocktail reception, which featured synchronized swimming mermaids in the pool. The drinks were refreshing and flowed freely to cool off the guests who enjoyed the sunshine after a full day in the convention center, but needed relief from the desert heat. Next, Crestron reserved the KA Theater where guests were treated to an exclusive performance by Cirque du Soleil. The party continued at Studio 54 after the show. The famed club was open to invited Crestron guests only, who hit the dance floor and got their groove on well past the midnight hour.
43
INDUSTRY
Association Update
Crestron works with leading industry associations to help dealers work more efficiently As an innovator and leader, Crestron remains committed to various associations and groups that continue to drive growth and productivity within our industry. This involvement underscores Crestrons commitment to its dealers as we continue to play an instrumental role in many of the industry initiatives that will ultimately help dealers work more efficiently and effectively.
To start 2008, Rosanne Lang, Crestron tradeshow manager, was elected by the members of InfoComm International to serve as the 2008 InfoComm Exhibitor Committee Chair. As Chair, Lang becomes an active member of the InfoComm Board of Governors, and will play an integral role in representing all of InfoComm. Im honored to sit on the InfoComm Board, says Lang. InfoComm was nominated as one of Tradeshow Weeks fastest growing shows, so its very exciting to be part of the organization that best supports our industry and contributes to its continued growth. Crestrons Dave Silberstein also plays intricate role in a number of industry associations, including the InfoComm Manufacturers Council. As one of the largest companies on the 300- to 400-member council, Crestron is very actively involved, taking part in annual leadership forums and steering the council to make decisions that will benefit all of the parties involved with InfoComm. Just getting all of these manufacturers together in the same room is an accomplishment in itself, says Silberstein. Once we are there though, the ideas start to flow, and we get the opportunity to weigh in on what works best for the industry and our dealers. A perfect example of this would be the creation of the EZip Format Committee. The EZip Format was a direct result of the InfoComm Dealer and Manufacturers Councils. This co-council initiative helped create a standardized electronic method for dealers to download pricing information for every manufacturer they represent. The format eliminates the need for dealers to enter this information by hand, saving them countless man-hours and helping them prepare bids and proposals even quicker. Crestron played an instrumental part in developing the format, as Silberstein lent a hand writing help files and determining the format for price sheets. Crestron is also highly involved in the Professional Education Training Committee (PETC). The PETC is responsible for overseeing the educational programs and developing curricula offered by InfoComm, including the CTS certification. Again, Silberstein sits on the PETC steering committee and recently helped drive an InfoComm certification initiative from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). One of the newest PETC initiatives is the Systems Commissions Taskforce, says Silberstein. The Taskforce is developing, essentially, a final checklist that technicians can use when a project is completed, to determine whether a project has, in fact, been completed correctly. The goal is to eliminate guesswork and ensure that, when a contractor leaves a site, they wont be called back again in short time to correct what may have been an obvious mistake. Crestron is a founding member of the Dashboard for Controls Steering Committee. The Committee has created a set of basic touchpanel commands, configuration, and
designs that have help standardize touchpanel GUI layout. The basic concept is to make operating a touchpanel as easy as driving a car, says Silberstein. Any time you pick up a touchpanel, you should expect to at least find the basic functions listed. Similar to when you get behind the wheel of a car. While the Committee was instrumental in creating these designs, this year they are supporting InfoComm in having the designs tested by a leading usability testing group. This group is frequently tasked with testing the usability of gadgets and interfaces that we interact with in our daily lives ATM machines, ticket machines, etc., continues Silberstein. They examine every aspect of how a user interacts with something and rates how user-friendly that product is. Each of our GUI designs will go through a rigorous testing phase typically on Crestron solutions and receive a rating as to how effective they really are. These are just a few of the industry initiatives that Crestron is involved with, but watch this space for even more from us in the future.
Upcoming Events:
July 29-July 30, 2008 Campus Technology 2008 Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel Boston, MA October 20-October 23, 2008 SATIS 2008 Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, France October 28-October 30, 2008 EDUCAUSE 2008 Orlando County Convention Center Orlando, FL October 30-November 1, 2008 Integrated Systems Russia 2008 Crocus Expo Moscow, Russian Federation November 6-November 7, 2008 WFX Fall 2008 George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, TX November 19-November 21, 2008 InfoComm Asia 2008 Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Hong Kong S.A.R., China
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New Partners
Here is a list of the latest additions to Crestrons Integrated Partner Program.
Alrolith Arrive Ashly Audio, Inc. Benq Bid Magic Broadata Communications, Inc. BSS Sound Web Channel Master Color Kinetics Community Professional Loudspeakers Contemporary Research Daikin DVDO EIKI Electrograph Elmo USA Focus Enhancement Harman Music Group JK Audio Lencore Acoustics Corp. Listen Technologies Corp. Meridian Technologies Salitek Sierra Video Olevia TIVO Totevision Trak Kit Vbrick Wavetrend WolfVision Inc. Zektor
Show and Sell (continued from page 15)

that affects the environment within buildings. We get heat, heat loss, heat gain, natural sunlight, glare, privacy, and UV protection of the interior contents, Iommi says. If you look at the way homes and buildings are being constructed right now, it seems like they cant get enough windows. You can program the Crestron control so that at six in the morning, before anyone comes into the office, its turning the heat up and opening the window treatments, letting the morning sunshine in and quickly bringing that room to business-time comfort and efficiency, Iommi adds. By daylight harvesting, you dont have to use as much fuel to heat up a room. When you manage the light coming through your windows properly, youll reduce costs and be green. But Crestron/Somfy solutions arent just limited to temperature control applications. Consider an auditorium, boardroom, or lecture hall. It could have windows, a projection screen, stage draperies anything that can be motorized. When the facility needs to be prepared for a particular event, one touch on a Crestron touchscreen can put everything in motion and bring it to the desired mode. You have the customer whose conference room is used for several meetings throughout the day, each one is different and you dont want to have to call the facility manager every time to prepare the room, Iommi says. It may be private, it may be all projector or all presentation, or it may be that we need the windows closed or kept open to let the sun shine through. With the touch of an icon, Crestron is able to convert the environment to exactly what is needed by the people who are going to be there. Iommi could not be happier with Crestrons contribution to his corporate showroom, and the expertise of its integrator, Florida-based ETC. Crestron makes the best product in the world, and its amazing what can be done with it when it is placed in the hands of the best integrators in the world, he says. Our Home Motion Center had to rock. It had to stimulate all the senses. I dont know how we would have done it without Crestrons help.
Partner Solutions:
TANDBERG
Traditionally, visitations within the prison environment are an inherent security risk. Moving the incarcerated individual to and from secured detention can put guards, employees, or other visitors at risk. A new visitation solution from TANDBERG and Crestron can minimize these risks, allowing visitation while keeping the incarcerated individual in secure detention and the visitor away from the secure area. or connectivity with the courtroom, the Visitation Solution from TANDBERG and Crestron is an IP-based correctional facility visitation system that includes: Endpoints or Stations Easy-to-use administrative connectivity hardware/software provided by Crestrons network of authorized dealers Features Complete system in an enclosure designed specifically for the environment Hands free (visitor station only) or handset operation Simple administrative controls The TANDBERG End-to-End Solution, including an integrated Crestron control system, provides a complete solution for courtroom and jail/prison visual communications. Crestron Administrative Control Administrator control Touchscreen Specialized feature sets for jail/prison visitation environments - Icon based connectivity between visitor and inmate stations - Visitation timing functions - Lockdown functions - Visual feedback of status - External connectivity - Administrative help
Why TANDBERG and Crestron?

For over 20 years, TANDBERG and Crestron have been working together to provide innovative, reliable, and high-quality solutions for video communications. As a result, all TANDBERG codecs seamlessly operate in a Crestron system environment, and Crestron and TANDBERG have worked together to create a seamless visitation solution.
The Visitation Solution from TANDBERG and Crestron

In addition to increased safety and convenience, the Visitation Solution from TANDBERG and Crestron allows a facility to control contraband and conduct more visits with fewer personnel at more available times. This results in more civilized visits, better treatment of the incarcerated individual, and budget savings. With systems that fit anywhere and that can also be used for visitation
45
FINAL WORD
short again of addressing the lighting and building management sides of the property. Today there is more to consider than just the meeting rooms, ballrooms, and common areas. What about the hotel rooms themselves? It is common for most hotel rooms to be empty about 12 hours a day, and in most cases the lights, HVAC are running non-stop! Currently Crestron has several products such as infiNET that are perfect for the hospitality market combine these with new, compact, lower cost processors and you can have a managed room that will use less energy, and save money, when unoccupied. The room on its own would only be partially efficient if we could not adopt the Intelligent Efficiency concept. To do that we count on the power of Crestron e-Control and our extensive integrated partner relationships. New relationships with companies that provide Property Management Systems and hospitality networks make it easier for you to connect the hotel room and not only provide convenience, but also provide proof of savings with real-time logging made available via CRESTRON GREEN LIGHT and RoomView. This is just a couple of ways to find new business, but I would caution that you do your homework before you just jump into markets like lighting or hospitality. Both require some additional knowledge knowledge that is easy to obtain, but does require time and effort. The larger point is to avoid being discouraged by the medias daily trumpeting of woes here and abroad. Trends reverse themselves, some sooner than others. In the meantime, get ready for the next bountiful period by taking time now to reinvent your business. Foresight pays off sometimes literally.
Take Charge of Your Own Success

Tips on being successful in a rough economy
BY BILL SCHAFER
Good news doesnt exactly abound these days, as even a cursory look at the daily headlines indicates. Its times like these when getting back to business basics is a good idea. Its also a good time for refocusing your businesss strength in tough times, with an eye towards long-term prosperity when the current climate abates. Weve been fortunate in this industry for the past ten-plus years all you pretty much had to do was hang out your shingle and the business seemed to find you. Now we are faced with having to dig up new business and many integrators are feeling anxious about it. Its not that we arent willing; we just havent had to do it for some time. So, where are you going to find this new business? We have all heard the phrase, you cant see the forest for the trees. Well, sometimes thats how it is. So start with the business you already have! Over the past ten years technology has increased at such a rapid pace, it is time to go back to your existing customer base and sell them those upgrades. I know you have been selling them systems for additional rooms as corporations have expanded or universities have upgraded and built new campuses, but what about adding new things to existing rooms? This issue of Integration is full of case studies and technical information about going Green and selling towards LEED certification, so why not go back to those existing customers and look to sell upgrades such as lighting or shade control? Today, video is a constantly moving target, and the new products and technologies discussed in this issue are available to those customers as well. What about new markets? In the past year we have seen a spike in the hospitality market. Now I know some of us are currently doing work in hotels on the AV side, but stop
46
Microsoft chose Crestron
Microsoft chose Crestron as its certified partner to manage all AV and meeting room resources worldwide.
Crestron delivers the only solution that can monitor and control all the technology, including audio, video and lighting, in thousands of rooms around the globe on the Microsoft network. Microsoft uses the Crestron TPMC-8L and TPMC-8X touchpanels for room control and scheduling, and connects all their rooms on the managed network with Crestron RoomView Server Edition software. RoomView enables room scheduling using Microsoft Outlook via Exchange Server directly from any Crestron touchpanel or any remote PC, and the ability to monitor and control all devices in all rooms throughout the enterprise. Crestron and Microsoft, two technology leaders, are working together to develop future digital media solutions to grow the AV industry. This certified partnership is the true convergence of two industries and two great companies that will create new opportunities, and make our industry the technology leader of tomorrow.
TPMC-8L
Using Crestron RoomView Server Edition Software
800.237.2041
crestron.com
extraordinary
GENERATION NEXT The TPS-6X has arrived.
800.237.2041 crestron.com

Integration 04

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Integration 04

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S O L U T I O N S F O R D E A L E R S , C O N S U LTA N T S A N D P R O G R A M M E R S

LOG CABIN CONTROL

PREPARING FOR THE UNEXPECTED

MARKETING THAT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH

HIGH TECH HISTORY

A Supplement to Systems Contractor News

New World Order

President and Publisher

Contributors & Columnists

Graphics & Illustrations

2008 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

True Blue Support

Customer Care and Satisfaction

IP and Programming Needs

Shawn McDonald, SPL Integrated Solutions

ENTERPRISE PARTNER PROGRAM Links Dealers with Large Corporations

SCN INSTALLATION PRODUCT AWARDS 2007 AND 2008

SYSTEM PROGRAMMING AND GUI DESIGN GALLERY RETURNS TO INFOCOMM

Eagles Program Gives Back to Soldiers

LOW-PROFILE QUICKMEDIA RECEIVER

MEDIA PRESENTATION CONTROLLERS FOR CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY

NEW HIGH-DEFINITION DIGITAL VIDEO PROCESSOR

WIRELESS CONTROL FOR LIGHTING AND SHADES

MPS WITH FULL DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING

NEW GREEN LIGHT DIN-RAIL MODULES

The Standardization Solution

Standardization in the Real World

The Crestron Solution

The offices of Cook+Fox Architects

Turning a Green Eye on the Future

Starting the Process

The Integrated Approach

The Integrators Role

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUCK CHOI

New York Citys Hearst Tower

What Business Are You In?

Show and Sell

(continued on page 45)

Simple + Scalable + Secure

MPC-M25 rear shown.

The Crestron Difference:

EEN SCR UP EEN SCR N DOW

TS LIGH OFF POW ER

O AUT E IMAG CAM DVD DOC ERA

Setup is Simple using the MPC Wizard

Touchpanel for the Masses

PREPARING FOR THE

TRUE High-Definition Display

MARKETING THAT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH

Unique Venue For AV

First Floor AV Systems

Second Floor, NASCAR

HIGH TECH HISTORY

Interacting with History

Lighting and Video Convergence

2-Series Control System

8-Channel Mic Mixer

Getting the GREEN LIGHT

MPS-300 Multimedia Presentation System

Dealing with HDMI

HDMI distribution is a control and communications challenge.

The ABCs of HDCP

Figure 1: An example of an HDCP tree.