AV SYSTEMS DESIGN

THE JOURNAL OF AV SYSTEM DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

Selecting the Right Codec

Case Study: Kennesaw State Goes Digital

Certifying Your Fiber Optic Infrastructure

Summer 2011 | www.avsystemsdesign.com

Global Configurator Professional
and TouchLink

Advanced Configuration Software

Global Configurator Professional supports larger, more sophisticated TouchLink-
based control systems.

New TouchLink Touchpanels

New TouchLink Touchpanels with thin-bezel designs that complement the aesthetics of
any environment.

Powerful Control Processors

New, control processors with more port options and powerful features enable designers
to create larger, more advanced AV control systems.

Enterprise-wide Resource Management

Enterprise-wide scheduling and monitoring capabilities of GlobalViewer Enterprise and
Extrons new TouchLink for iPad and Web and MediaLink for iPad provide powerful,
flexible resource management.
 The Next Generation of
Configurable Control

GC Pro is designed to combine the power of TouchLink with the flexibility of advanced configuration. As AV
systems scale in size and complexity, AV control systems must be designed to both efficiently handle these new
demands and be easy to use. Extron is meeting the challenges of accommodating larger, more sophisticated AV
systems in several ways. We are offering new TouchLink Touchpanels, new control processors, and configuration
software designed to handle advanced system configurations.

Extrons new TLP 710 Series, 7" touchpanels feature the same contemporary thin-bezel design as our
TLP 1000 Series, but with a more compact form factor. The wall mount TLP 710MV and tabletop TLP 710TV
feature high resolution widescreen color displays and incorporate Power over Ethernet for streamlined integration.
All TouchLink Touchpanels and Ethernet-enabled MediaLink controllers can now be wirelessly-controlled from an
iPad with Extrons new iPad for TouchLink and iPad for MediaLink apps. These apps give presenters the freedom
to roam throughout their room or multiple rooms with the convenience of Wi-Fi.

To learn more, visit www.extron.com/controlproducts or contact

your Extron Customer Support Representative.

www.extron.com/controlproducts
 ContentS volume 1, number 2

34

28 46

CoVer Story

28 Goal Driven Control System Design

Enhancing the user experience by reducing control system complexity.
By Derek Joncas

FeAture Story

34 Selecting a Streaming Codec

Factors to consider when choosing the right codec for your streaming application.
By Karl Johnson

SpeCiAl SeCtion

46 Extron New Products at InfoComm 2011

A roundup of news, activities, and new products featured
by Extron at InfoComm 2011 in Orlando.

DepartmentS
64 teCh WAtCh 66 teChniCAlly SpeAking 70 DeSign Forum 75 hiDDen gemS
Interesting technologies that Why use a 70.7 volt Certifying Your Fiber Dataviewer
you need to know about Speaker System? optic Infrastructure By Dave Pincek
By Pat Brown By Andrew Evans

2 AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011


neWS
7 Company News
extron patents Flat Field Speaker
technology, multiSwitcher
Streamlines av Design,
Fiber backbone at la eoC
9 Industry News
leeD Credit for av System,
Displayport expected to
Grow over 150%, InfoComm
names Sustainability officer,
uSb 3.0 Chips for 2012
10 Now Shipping
the latest products available
from extron
78 eDuCAtion CentrAl
extron Control
System Certification
www.avsystemsdesign.com
8 24 70
16 66 78
ColumnS CASe StuDieS
4 From the Editor 16 Going All-Digital for AV
the ever expanding toolbox at Kennesaw State university, a
brand new, modern academic
6 Corner Office building looks to the future with
embracing Configurable Control complete digital av systems.
By Andrew Edwards By Tim Schnabel
13 Stories from the Road 24 Eyes on the Roads
every project Is a Demo a streaming solution plays a key role
By Roy Hermanson in monitoring londons road projects.
By Karl Johnson
14 The Pro Perspective
In the end, Its Still analog
By Bill Nattress
79 CompAny eVentS 80 the lASt WorD
2011 extron Institute Did You enjoy the
and tradeshows analog Sunset?
By Steve Somers
3
 From the eDItor
CORPORATE

EXTRON USA West

1230 South lewis Street
anaheim, Ca 92805
uSa
Sales/tech Support:
+800.633.9876, +1.714.491.1500
Fax: +1.714.491.1517

The Ever EXTRON USA East

2205 Westinghouse blvd.
Suite 102

Expanding Toolbox raleigh, nC 27604

uSa
Sales/tech Support:
+800.633.9876, +1.919.863.1794
Fax: +1.919.863.1797

EXTRON EUROPE
hanzeboulevard 10,

W hy does it seem that nothing in AV ever

becomes completely obsolete?
Despite the sky is falling claims we often
a bigger toolbox. It gives us more to offer our
customers in terms of products and design
capability. The challenge it presents, of course,
3825 ph amersfoort
the netherlands
phone: +800.eXtron.S3
(+800.3987.6673)
+31.33.453.4040
hear about technology sunsets or connector is keeping pace with it all. In an informal Fax: +31.33.453.4050
flavors of the day, it seems that new technologies survey that I recently conducted among AV
EXTRON ASIA
dont replace older ones, they just get added to professionals, almost half admitted difficulty 135 Joo Seng road, #04-01
pm Industrial building
the toolbox. This is a good thing too, because keeping up with technology. And, the rate of
Singapore 368363
commercial AV customers generally consider advances in technology is not only increasing, phone: +65.6383.4400
Fax: +65.6383.4664
their technology purchases as investments, and its increasing exponentially, according to futurist
dont relish the idea of accelerated replacement Ray Kurzweil. The author of The Age of Spiritual EXTRON CHINA
686 ronghua road,
cycles. This is in sharp contrast to the consumer Machines says that we wont experience 100 Songjiang District
Shanghai 201611
technology market, where fashion and satisfying years of progress in the 21st century; it will be
phone: +86.21.3760.1568
the often created needs of the early adopter are more like 20,000 years of progress at todays rate Fax: +86.21.3760.1566

primary market drivers.
Its one of the challenges that you face every
day designing professional AV systems. Even
though customers express the desire for the
latest, most state-of-the-art AV technology
available, you can be sure that they wont be
pleased if they cant interface their old VHS
player, or whatever the visiting lecturer brings
in that has a VGA connector. We need to
plan and design for todays, tomorrows, and
yesterdays technology.
This goes far beyond the fantasy of digital
replacing analog. Other fallacies we shouldnt let
our customers fall for include:
The iPad is going to make dedicated
touchpanels obsolete.
Digital video files will replace film.
Videoconferencing will replace
business travel.
- and even that rate is increasing.
Staying current with technology has always
been a challenge, but in recent years its become
and even greater one. At the 2009 InfoComm
100, a gathering of AV system integrators,
manufacturers, and consultants, the challenge
was evident throughout their published findings.
A major theme was the need to facilitate the
redefining and reinvention of the industry.
With challenge comes opportunity for AV
professionals willing to invest the time and effort
to maintain a current level of education in AV.
Extrons new School of Emerging Technologies is
a great place to start (www.extron.com/training).
AV designers need to maintain an understanding
of legacy AV products and technologies, and
know how to interface them with current and
future products and technologies. Beyond that,
we need to be able educate our customers that
the latest and greatest rarely obsoletes the tried
EXTRON JAPAN
Kyodo building, 16 Ichibancho
Chiyoda-ku, tokyo 102-0082
Japan
phone: +81.3.3511.7655
Fax: +81.3.3511.7656
EXTRON MIDDLE EAST
Dubai airport Free Zone
F12, po box 293666
phone: +971.4.2991800
Fax: +971.4.2991880
AV SyStemS DeSign magazine is
published by extron electronics/rGb
Systems Inc. no portion of this publication
may be reproduced in any form without
written permission from extron electronics.
every effort has been made to ensure
accuracy in content; however, extron
assumes no responsibility for errors and
omissions in the information provided herein.
av Systems Design is sent free of charge to
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Subscriptions
to receive your free copy of av Systems
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We welcome your comments and
contributions! please submit ideas to
the editor at mmayfield@extron.com.

Fiber optic cable will replace copper.
The great thing about new technologies and
the persistence of older ones is that it creates
and true, at least not completely. extron electronics
1230 S. lewis Street anaheim, Ca 92805
Oh, and youre gonna need a bigger toolbox.
Mark Mayfield, Editor

4 From the eDItor AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 Five Input HDCP-Compliant Scaler
with Seamless Switching

Extron DVS 605

The Extron DVS 605 is a high performance, HDCP-compliant
video scaler that includes three HDMI and two universal analog
video inputs, and simultaneous HDMI and analog high resolution
outputs. Create professional quality AV presentations with true
seamless switching and flexible picture-in-picture capability.
The DVS 605 streamlines system integration and operation with DVS 605 A

Auto Format Input Detection and ultra-fast source switching with

DVS 605 A & DVS 605 AD audio features:
continuous EDID management and HDCP authentication. With
Adjustable input gain and attenuation
advanced Extron 30-bit video processing to deliver optimized
HDMI audio embedding and de-embedding
scaling quality, the DVS 605 is ideal as the integration centerpiece Selectable audio delay
for incorporating digital and analog AV sources. Audio breakaway

Key Features: HDMI Audio Embedding

Integrates HDMI, RGB, HDTV, and video sources into
presentation systems
Three HDMI inputs and two universal analog video inputs May be sent to
Advanced scaling engine Any audio the HDMI output
input to accompany
Auto Input Format Detection and auto-switching between inputs the video
Key Minder continuously authenticates HDCP-compliant
devices for quick and reliable switching
EDID Minder automatically manages EDID communication, HDMI Audio De-Embedding
ensuring that all sources reliably output content to the display
Enhance AV presentations with true seamless switching and
advanced PIP - picture-in-picture May be
Audio sent to the
Simultaneous outputs for HDMI and analog RGB or accompanying analog or
HD component video any HDMI digital audio
input output
Flexible system control options including RS-232, Ethernet,
USB, contact closure, and front panel controls

www.extron.com/dvs605
 Corner oFFICe
Embracing
Configurable Control
By Andrew Edwards
S ometimes its hard to listen to your customers. Especially if
what they have to say is at odds with your business model.
Ive always preferred to hear it straight. I like to know where I
stand. I like it when people get their true feelings out in the open.
After 28 years, you know that I do!
When it comes to control systems, there are some resellers
and consultants that arent listening to their customers, and
in some cases its costing them business. Heres the situation:
End-user customers are embracing Extron configurable control
systems and they are requesting Extron configurable control
systems from our resellers. The demand is incredible, yet some
resellers and consultants are trying to switch them to other
products that require programming.
Our configurable control products were embraced by the
end-user right from the start. First it was the universities. Next,
came corporate and government customers and finally K-12
schools. All can easily recognize and understand the benefits of
a control platform that an installer or project manager can install
and doesnt lock them into only one company or one person for
support. To a reseller who sells programming, this can threaten
his hold on the customer.
Lets say that a university needs to change out a projector. We
are told it is frustrating for the school to call the integrator and
learn that, because the projector they are removing is no longer
available, they have to pay to have their system re-programmed,
at $125/hour.
Ive had some experience with this myself. I recently
purchased a home with a previously installed Crestron control
system. What an ordeal it turned out to be to try and get a few
changes made to the home theater system! The company who
originally installed the system didnt have the programming code
on file. They told me that the programmer no longer worked for
them, but they suspected he might have the code on file. I tried,
but couldnt track him down. Every other programmer I talked
to assured me that even if I located the code, unless I worked
with the original programmer, they would be better off starting
from scratch, rather than modifying someone elses code. Do you
know what it costs to have a system reprogrammed? I am in the
6 Corner oFFICe
process of installing our new TouchLink configurable touchpanel
control system now.
Now, Im not bashing programming, and Im certainly not
bashing programmers. These guys are some of the sharpest
minds in our industry. It takes a high level of expertise to
design and install control systems in larger, more complicated
applications, whether you configure or program them. Its
for this reason that our new Global Configurator Professional
software will only be available to individuals who demonstrate
previous programming expertise. GC Pro is a powerful tool. Its
not programming, but it provides features such as conditional
logic and controller grouping, which are required in larger
more complex applications. Programmers are the individuals
in our industry that have the level of knowledge required for
these projects.
Our configurable control products
were embraced by the end-user
right from the start. First it was the
universities. Next, came corporate
and government customers and
finally K-12 schools.
GC Pro will be licensed to individuals who have achieved
Extron Control Specialist certification. To become Extron Control
Specialist Certified, you must be a programmer with previous
programming experience and be thoroughly trained on Extron
products and software. If a certified Extron Control Specialist
installer is not available for a project, then the reseller or
customer will have to contract for configuration services directly
with Extron for a fee, or be referred to a qualified independent
who has met the criteria for access to GC Pro.
Even though we are limiting access for GC Pro to qualified
individuals, customers will still benefit from using a configuring
approach. Systems will be deployed faster and can be modified
and supported without having to start from scratch.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

One thing is certain, Extron will continue to develop and
deliver control system products. There will come a day when
we will have a full line of control products that is the most
complete in our industry. That means configurable and fully
programmable solutions. Its what our customers are asking
for and were listening. Those products will be available to the
resellers and integrators willing to invest the time to learn and
support the Extron product line. I dont know any other way. If
the reseller cant support the product, then the responsibility
falls on us. Remember, I have a Satisfaction Guarantee which
says that if youre not satisfied, well do what it takes to make it
right! Those of you who know me know that isnt just an empty
promise. At Extron we stand behind our product 110%! That
includes configurable, advanced configurable, and when it comes,
programmable product support.
I accept that there are those resellers and consultants who
take a position against our approach to control systems. If
COmPAny nEwS
learn more at www.extron.com/flatfield
www.avsystemsdesign.com
Corner oFFICe
programming is where you make your money, then selling
programming is your job. What I dont accept is when a customer
demands our product and is then directed to a competitive
product by a reseller who enjoys the benefits of pricing and
support from Extron. If a reseller does not believe in a product or
support our customer then there is no reason for them to have
access to the product line. In the future not all resellers will have
access to TouchLink and MediaLink products.
This may be controversial, but like I said, I prefer to be
straight at all times. I encourage you to be the same way with
us. If you have asked for Extron products and your reseller or
consultant has tried to switch you to a different product, let
me know. Whether you are a reseller, consultant or end-user
customer, I would like to hear your thoughts! Write me back at
President@extron.com.
Andrew Edwards, President
Extron Patents
Flat Field Speaker
Technology
A patent has been granted to Extron
Electronics for its Flat Field Speaker
Technology. Flat Field is an Extron
exclusive loudspeaker technology that
ensures uniform delivery of audio content
to all listeners in a classroom, conference
room, or boardroom. It features a
proprietary speaker design that produces
even sound pressure levels over a sound
field much wider than a conventional
ceiling speaker. With this uniform sound
distribution, two Flat Field speakers
can deliver the same audio coverage
that would have required four or more
typical ceiling speakers. This technology
is available in the Extron FF 120, FF 120T,
and FF 220T ceiling tile speakers.
Corner oFFICe, CompanY neWS 7
 CompanY neWS
MultiSwitcher
Streamlines AV Design
When development of the Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Centre
(MCEC) was completed in 2009, it marked
the introduction of a new standard
of excellence in the local and global
world of convention hosting. Its the
first convention center in the world to
achieve the 6-Star Green Star Certified
environmental rating, the highest
level from the Green Building Council
of Australia.
A key requirement of the 700,000
square foot convention center was that
each of the 52 meeting rooms and the
5,550+ seat plenary had to incorporate
fully integrated audio visual facilities. Key
to the AV design was a signal switching
capability that would streamline the
connectivity between various video input
and output devices.
Fiber Backbone
at LA EOC
The Los Angeles Emergency Operations
Center is one of the most extensive city
emergency service facilities in the US,
providing coordination of police, fire,
and other emergency response teams
for approximately 3.8 million residents.
When the city began planning the AV
presentation system for its new $107
million facility, it turned to SPECTRUM
Integrated Technology Consulting Group
8 CompanY neWS
Rutledge Engineering,
based in Melbourne, was
the AV systems provider.
Rutledges National
Operations Manager,
Matthew Edgcumbe,
comments: We saw
that there would be
major difficulties with
matching the different
resolutions and aspect ratios of laptops
brought in by MCEC clients. By using
the Extron ISM 824 MultiSwitcher as
the central video routing device, they
were able to meet several key MCEC
requirements with a single device. The
first was versatility, with the switchers
ability to detect automatically the video
output specifications, such as resolution
and scan rate. The automatic signal
detection and internal scaling means
that clients have a significantly more
streamlined experience.
for the complete AV system design.
SPECTRUM ITC Group chose Extron
fiber optic and twisted pair products to
ensure reliable, high performance signal
transmission for the LA-EOC.
At the core of the AV system is a
Fiber Matrix 6400 fiber optic 6464
matrix switcher loaded with seven, hot-
swappable 88 fiber optic I/O boards
and a redundant power supply for added
system reliability. Extron DMS 3600 and
DMS 1600 DVI matrix switchers as well
as modular SMX System MultiMatrix
units support routing
operations for displays
in select spaces,
including the breakout
rooms. Various source
devices transmit analog
VGA and YUV signals,
which are converted
to DVI by Extron
Its very much a plug-and-play model,
says Michael Walsh, Director of Technical
Operations at MCEC. Having a device
that can take virtually any video input
signal and automatically scale it to our
projectors represents potential savings of
hundreds of hours every day.
Aside from the ISM 824s video
switching and scaling capabilities, other
benefits were the potential power saving
and additional reliability of having
one product performing the tasks of
multiple units.
photo CourteSY melbourne ConventIon & eXhIbItIon Centre (mCeC); ron baKer photoGraphY/SpeCtrum ItC Group (la eoC)
RGB-DVI 300 RGB to DVI scalers.
Extron DVI 201 and DVI 201 A D
twisted pair extenders transmit signals
for intermediate distances and
FOX 500 fiber optic extenders support
long haul transmissions.
For complex-wide and targeted
distribution of audio signals,
MAV Plus Audio matrix switchers
and a Matrix 12800 provide flexible
signal routing.
The LA-EOC is at the forefront of
technology with its AV system built on
an all-digital fiber optic backbone that
contributes to the distribution of 135 HD
channels, including over-the-air broadcast
feeds, 45 fiber feeds, 25 radio sources, 15
ATSC sources, ten satellite sources, ten
cable sources, and a variety of classified
camera sources. Up to 45 locales
throughout the complex receive and
display signals from these diverse sources.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 InduSTRy nEwS
leeD Credit for
AV System
Scott Walker, President/CEO of Atlanta,
GA-based Waveguide Consulting recently
achieved LEED credit for a pure AV
system. The system is programmed in
such a way that only the AV gear needed
powers up for a particular event. In audio
conference mode, for example, only the
Biamp DSP and Extron ENERGY STAR
amplifier power up, according to Walker.
In AV mode, only selected devices turn
on; everything else is turned off via a
power sequencer, so energy usage is
virtually zero when the system is off
and at a minimum when in use. Walker
estimated typical power usage over a five-
year period and demonstrated to LEED a
savings of 300,000 kilowatts.
Displayport
expected to grow
over 150%
Fueled by Apples adoption, the
DisplayPort digital display interface
standard is gaining rapid momentum
in 2011, with shipments in PC-related
equipment expected to rise by a triple-
digit percentage this year, according to
new IHS iSuppli research.
Global factory shipments of
DisplayPort-enabled PC equipment will
amount to 78.9 million units in 2011, up
154.6 percent from 31 million units in 2010.
photo CourteSY oF amD
The year will represent a peak period
of DisplayPort growth. Growth in 2011
will exceed the 2010 expansion of 136.5
percent and also outpace next years
www.avsystemsdesign.com
anticipated 137 percent increase. While
growth rates will taper off during the
following years, annual shipments of
DisplayPort-equipped devices will rise to
445.2 million units by 2014.
DisplayPort is being used in the
computing equipment market for devices
including mobile PCs, desktop PCs,
graphics cards, flat-panel monitors, and
business projectors.
Worldwide Forecast for
DisplayPort-Enabled Equipment
500 million
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Source: IHS iSuppli
infoComm names
Sustainability
officer
InfoComm International announced the
appointment of Allen Weidman to the
new position of Sustainability Officer.
Weidman brings more than 30 years
of association experience to InfoComm,
having worked with the Environmental
Protection Agency, U.S. Department of
Energy, U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, Consumer
Products Safety Commission, and a
number of other federal and state
regulatory agencies. He has developed,
integrated, and managed industry
coalitions on federal and international
environmental issues.
Prior to this appointment, Weidman
played an integral role in the development
of the U.S. Green Building Councils LEED
Certification Program and the American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
Conditioning Engineers Energy Standard
for Buildings and Ventilation for
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality standards.
As part of his responsibilities,
Weidman will oversee the associations
new STEP program, a new rating
system designed to assess the impact of
technologies in buildings. He will also
represent the association in coalitions
relating to integrated building technology
and create webinars and other resources
for InfoComm members.
uSB 3.0 Chips
for 2012
Both Intel and AMD will supply sample
chips for USB 3.0 this year, with
production expected in early 2012, two
years later than originally expected.
Official word should come in March,
when the USB Implementers Forum
meets in Amsterdam. To date, only two
host controllers have been certified and
shipped. Additional peripheral chips are
expected this year. Plan on seeing this
technology hitting a conference room
near you in the near future.
amD will support
uSb 3.0 directly with
Fusion chipsets.
9
 nOw ShIPPIng

TLP 1000 Series

10" tabletop touchlink touchpanels

The Extron TLP 1000MV and TLP 1000TV
are fully configurable 10" TouchLink
touchpanels featuring a sleek,
contemporary look and thin bezels
to complement any decor. The larger,
1024 600 resolution touchscreen surface
provides ample room for sophisticated
controls and graphics. An integrated
MTP twisted pair receiver accepts
tlp 1000mv
S-video or composite video and audio
input signals over standard CAT 5 cable.
Power over Ethernet PoE allows the
touchpanels to receive power via the
Ethernet connector, eliminating the need
for a local power supply. The TLP 1000MV
tlp 1000tv
mounts on a wall, lectern, or other flat
surface, while the TLP 1000TV sits on a
tabletop or on a VESA standard mount
with an optional adapter.
www.extron.com/tlp1000

DVS 510
hDCp-Compliant Scaling
presentation Switcher

The Extron DVS 510 is a 10 input, multi- presentation switcher for

format Presentation Scaling Switcher
that accepts and scales DVI, RGB, HDTV,
and standard definition signals to a
common, high resolution output rate.
The DVS 510 is HDCP-compliant and
features simultaneous DVI and two
analog RGB/YUV outputs. It is a true
professional environments,
DvS 510
with audio switching for
all video input sources, an
available 50 watt stereo including front panel control, Ethernet,
integrated amplifier, picture-in-picture, RS-232, and IR.
and glitch-free switching. The DVS
510 also offers flexible control options www.extron.com/dvs510

AVT 200HD includes Ethernet, RS-232,

professional atSC and
Cable tv hD tuner
The Extron AVT 200HD is a high
performance tuner for receiving ATSC
broadcast signals and delivers HDTV
video simultaneously on HDMI, RGBHV,
and YUV outputs. The AVT 200HD
USB, and IR remote
control capability. It
outputs PCM stereo audio
avt 200hD
or Dolby Digital with
simultaneous S/PDIF
and analog balanced and unbalanced standard definition video outputs.
stereo outputs. The AVT 200HD also
offers clear QAM cable TV decoding and www.extron.com/avt200hd

10 noW ShIppInG AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011


mlS 608 D
MLS 608 D
eight Input Switcher with proDSp
The Extron MLS 608 D Switchers are
simple-to-use, eight input, multi-format
switchers designed to integrate digital
and analog sources. All signals are
transmitted over CAT 5-type cable to
the included MTP/HDMI U R Twisted
Pair Receiver. The MLS 608 D Series
feature Extron ProDSP digital audio
Xpa 2002-100v
Xpa 2003C-100v
XPA 2002-100V and XPA 2003C-100V
two and three Channel power amplifiers for 100 volt Systems
The Extron XTRA Series XPA 2002-100V
and XPA 2003C-100V are 1U, convection-
cooled power amplifiers featuring a
100 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 0.1%
THD+N. The XPA 2002-100V delivers
two channels of 200 watts rms at 100
volts, while the XPA-2003C-100V Combo
Power Amplifier delivers two channels
of 200 watts into 4 ohms, plus 200 watts
at 100 volts. Both models are ENERGY
STAR qualified amplifiers with an Extron
exclusive, highly efficient, advanced
www.avsystemsdesign.com
processing, which provides an extensive
array of easy-to-use tools for audio
system setup and fine-tuning. The
MLS 608 D Series offers digital video
switching with four HDCP-compliant,
HDMI inputs, and analog video switching
with four universal inputs, including
an Extron Universal MTP Twisted
Pair input.
www.extron.com/mls608d
Class D amplifier design. They also
feature patented CDRS - Class D Ripple
Suppression technology, which provides
a smooth, clean audio waveform and
an improvement in signal fidelity over
conventional Class D amplifiers. Both
models are half the size of comparable
amplifiers, conserving rack space and
weighing only 9 lbs (4 kg) each.
www.extron.com/xpa2002 and
www.extron.com/xpa2003c
noW ShIppInG
IpCp 505
IPCP 505
Ip link Control processor
The Extron IPCP 505 is an IP Link
Control Processor designed to
support larger configurable control
systems. The IPCP 505 integrates
Ethernet connectivity into AV systems,
giving users the ability to remotely
control, monitor, and troubleshoot AV
equipment, including display devices
and switchers. It features a high
performance embedded Web server,
multiple bidirectional serial ports, relays,
and flex I/O ports, including Ethernet.
www.extron.com/ipcp505
lockIt
LockIt
hDmI Cable lacing bracket
LockIt is a cable lacing bracket for securing
HDMI cables to the host products input
and output connectors. LockIt reduces
stress on HDMI connectors and prevents
intermittent or complete signal loss due
to loose cable connections. Its compact
design allows for easy installation with
most HDMI cables and devices, including
in space constrained areas where the
HDMI connectors are stacked. The LockIt
lacing bracket comes with tie wraps and is
available in packages of 50.
www.extron.com/lockit
noW ShIppInG 11
 Fast and Easy Installation
with SpeedMount

SM 3 Full Range Speaker

The Extron SM 3 is a compact, flush mount speaker designed Key Features:
for fast installation with the Extron-exclusive SpeedMount Compact full-range speaker
System. Speed up your speaker installations with a concealed ExclusiveSp eedMount mounting system included with 0 and 10
mounting plates
speaker mount that can be installed during rough-in with speaker
8 ohm nominal impedance
cable terminated to the integrated wiring contacts. During final 3" (7.6 cm) full-range driver with a tuned bass reflex port
construction, simply slide the speaker onto the mount, and secure Frequency response: 75 Hz to 18 kHz
into place with a click that also connects the speaker to the 15 watts continuous pink noise, 30 watts continuous program
wiring contacts. The SM 3 delivers wide frequency response and Flush mount design with shallow profile
Speaker easily slides onto mount, connects to wiring contacts, and
wide coverage from a compact enclosure that optimizes voice
secures into place with a click
intelligibility and music reproduction. Complies with ADA requirements when used with 0 mounting plate
Hidden, toolless speaker release tab
Black or white high-impact enclosure

SpeedMount Mounting System

Concealed, toolless speaker mounting hardware simplifies and speeds up installation.

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3

Pull speaker wire. Attach plate to Simply slide
wall, stud, or speaker onto
electrical box plate.
and connect
speaker wire
to contacts on
plate.

0 and 10 mounting plates

www.extron.com/sm3

Every Project
Is a Demo
By Roy Hermanson
E very AV project we complete tells the world something about
the quality of work we do. In recent years, probably the most
visible AV projects to the public are digital signage applications.
For better or worse, digital signage could be considered a huge
advertisement for the professional AV industry. No doubt that a
lot of revenue is generated by the growing number of new digital
signage installations in airports, shopping malls, banks, and many
other public spaces.
Like many of you, a big part of my job is traveling a lot to
various project sites and training locations. On the road, its hard
to take off the AV Tech hat. While
traveling through an airport on a
recent trip, I noticed a nice display,
mounted very securely with a clear
image that looked very good. It
seemed like a decent install; that is,
until I got close and looked behind
it. Were all techies - this is what we
do, right?
This particular install included an
Extron MTP RL 15HD A Twisted Pair
Receiver. It was easily recognizable,
poorly dressed cables reflect on your work and your company.
since it was floating in mid-air, not
quite attached to anything other than
the cables it was connected to. The cables were kind of wound
and sort of taped in place. From about ten feet away, you could
see a cable loop hanging down, tempting the average teenager to
attempt a slam dunk through it with trash.
Who did the installation? Why was it installed this way? Didnt
they have the right tools to do the job properly? These were
unanswered questions for me, but it led to an assumption that
it probably wasnt even adjusted for optimum image quality. So
while the display worked, it certainly did not give the impression
that the person who installed it cared much about the quality of
his work.
We sometimes dont realize that the quality of every project
we do is a demo for future projects. Whether or not a logo or
company name is visible, owners talk, and referrals are made
or not made depending on the perceived quality of your work.
What does it take to do the job properly and make each
www.avsystemsdesign.com
StorIeS From the roaD
project a calling card for future jobs? It just takes a little time
and preparation.
First, pay attention to proper mounting of all electronic devices.
Most of the displays I see are installed either to a wall/ceiling
or pipe and appear to be done safely. However, any associated
devices, like the Extron Twisted Pair Receiver, can and should
be properly mounted. There are several different mounting kits
available, including versatile ZipClip kits, which make service easy
as well. Maybe the mounts were left out, or not even part of the
order. If your back is against the wall and you have to practice
Commando AV 101, at least use
some wire ties or tie wraps. Do
not use Velcro, since displays can
produce heat which weakens the
adhesive strength of the strips.
There should also be separate
attachment and mounting of the
different cables. Dont just wrap
everything together as there could
be interference between the different
cables and signals. Lines in the
video or a buzz in the audio are
not undocumented features in the
system you are installing.
Take the time to properly dress the cables. Learn how the cable
should be handled. Dont wrap it around your hands and wire-tie it
in the center. This can cause a bend radius thats too small for the
cable and it can affect the signal. You can feel how tight a cable
should be coiled. Since looks count, a uniform wrap for all visible
cables really adds to the professional appearance of your install.
Wire ties should be tight enough to hold the cable in place but
loose enough to be able to move any part of the cable in the wire
tie. You should have a few different sizes with you at all times.
And they should be black - not fluorescent orange!
Remember this: almost anyone can hang and wire the display.
Do you want to be known as Anyone?
roy hermanson is regional applications Specialist for extron electronics in the northeastern
uS. he works with extron resellers, providing training and support for their sales and
technical staff. With over 30 years experience in the av industry, roy was nSCas 2004
educator of the Year and InfoComm educator of the Year in 2005.
Column 13
 the pro perSpeCtIve
In the End,
Its Still Analog
By Bill Nattress, Associate Principal
with Shen Milsom & Wilke, LLC
I n the 1980s the audiovisual industry began the shift from
all analog systems to everything digital in one form or
another. During this time we experienced that selling a device
to our customers only solved half their problem; the devices
needed to be installed and very often integrated into a complete
solution that facilitated their communication needs. The
integrated solutions of today were born of that time, and what
a time it was.
Custom circuits, modified components, signal level
matching, and creative guesswork on how a system should
actually function to meet the needs of the customer were the
norm. New manufacturing companies emerged providing
solutions to interface, route, distribute, and control the signals
and environments that we needed to install. Then, when the
system was finished, the computer industry would release new
technologies that exceeded the capabilities of the installed
systems, and the customer had no choice but to pay to have it
changed. The evolution has continued through today. System
designers and integrators have experienced a whole new set of
challenges with the transition to digital signals. EDID, DRM,
HDMI, and VOIP are some of the hot acronyms that have
replaced ISDN, POTS, GPIO, and CRT.
So where are we today? Thankfully, the AV industry has
realized that convergence is no longer a buzzword but the
reality. We are converged with, on, and through the IP network.
Solutions have been around for years that extend the reach of
audio and video signals. Packets of audio, video, and control
data are flying around the Internet and consuming more
bandwidth than any other data stream imagined. However, our
industrys core requirement is still the same : facilitate the
communication needs of our customers.
The AV industry has a challenge, though, because we are
often too passionate about the perceived quality and purity of
the content presented. Audio is more forgiving to the rigors
of the analog to digital process. The human ear has begun to
accept, or tolerate, the effects of compression. Video signals
present a different challenge because the visual signal is
so important to human retention and understanding. By
designing and deploying solutions based on content type and
intended viewing, the needs of the customer can be met or
14 Column
exceeded while still leveraging the benefits of the technologies
available today.
Digital signage solutions are an excellent example. In a
one-to-many display environment the design can begin with a
computer signal being distributed via distribution amplifiers over
task-specific cabling. This model also works with composite video,
VGA, DVI, or HDMI signals. What is the cost of that task-specific
cable? How sustainable is it when technology advancements
surpass the capabilities of the infrastructure? Deploying this onto
an IP network expands the lifetime of that infrastructure while
transferring the costs from labor and cable to edge appliance
hardware and programming. New territories of income appear in
the post-installation time frame. No business can afford to miss
recurring and consistent revenue streams.
Is this the recommended solution for high resolution or intense
action content like sporting events? Its doubtful that anyone
wants to watch a compressed signal of car racing for any extended
length of time. To fulfill these needs, our focus needs to shift to
task-specific networks. The architecture of these networks, and
the components that support them, require as much engineering
effort as the environments in which they will be viewed. Design
decisions need to be made on IP transport types, switch
backplane speeds, quality of service (QoS), and mean time
between failure (MTBF), to name a few. The first thing we have
to realize is that this will probably not run on the customers
network. The separate AV network will be the norm, and it must
be designed with the customers defined network standards in
mind. AV professionals need to learn and fully understand the
nuances of network technologies.
But lets not forget our passion : high fidelity audio with a rock
solid image. This is what defines our industry. In the end, we are
still human beings. We do not yet have the direct connection
of the digital realm into our brains. The information that our
customers need to convey is ultimately going to be analog when
it hits our eyes and ears. By employing physics and best practices
learned over many decades, we will meet and exceed the needs
of our customers.
l. William nattress III, CtS-D, CtS-I, is an associate principal with Shen milsom & Wilke,
llC. he has been involved with the av industry for over 25 years as an installer, engineer,
programmer, consultant, and end user.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
Real-Time High Resolution AV Streaming Over IP
Dallas, TX Los Angeles, CA

IP
Network
Virtual
Switching

Extron VN-Matrix 200 Series Extron VN-Matrix 200 Series

RGB/DVI Over IP Encoder and Decoder RGB/DVI Over IP Encoder and Decoder

VN-Matrix Series
Extron VN-Matrix encoders and decoders enable real-time transmission of high resolution audio visual content, including RGB, DVI and
SDI/HD-SDI signals, across standard IP networks for live viewing, collaboration, storage, and playback. With the highly scalable VN-Matrix
system, you can turn your IP network into a virtual routing matrix switcher that is practically limitless in size and geographic reach.
VN-Matrix applies Extrons PURE3 Codec, a unique wavelet-based compression technology, that offers several key distinctive
advantages:

LOW LATENCY HIGH QUALITY LOW BIT RATES

Low delay or low latency delivery of audio Offers visually lossless picture quality for Advanced compression techniques yield
and video are essential to support natural, large projected images and high resolution very high quality images at low bit rates,
two-way communication, collaborative graphics. while error concealment provides immunity
interaction, or device control. to network errors.

www.extron.com/vnmatrix
 All of the classrooms in Kennesaw State universitys new Prillaman hall use a wide variety of digital AV technologies for teaching support.

Going All-Digital for AV

At Kennesaw State university, a brand new, modern academic
building looks to the future with complete digital AV systems.
By Tim Schnabel

K
ennesaw State University,
located just outside Atlanta,
GA, addressed growing student
demand for its nursing academic program
which meant that only one in nine
qualified applicants could be accepted.
With much more instructional space
in the Health Sciences Building, the
with mobile computing devices including
laptops and tablets. On the AV side, the
staff at Kennesaws AV operations, known
as Audio Visual Technology Services,
photo CourteSY oF KenneSaW State unIverSItY

by adding a new, nearly 200,000 square-
foot building to its campus in 2009. The
Health Sciences Building, dedicated
as Prillaman Hall, houses the WellStar
School of Nursing and academic programs
relevant to health sciences and human
services. The previous facility for the
nursing school had space constraints,
school will now be able to accommodate
more students and increase the annual
graduation rate by over 25 percent.
Brand new construction offered an
opportunity to equip the facility with
current and leading IT and AV technologies
to better serve an increasingly tech-savvy
faculty and student community armed
equipped each classroom or learning
space with an audiovisual system to
handle these and other digital sources,
with all-HDMI routing from sources to
displays. Extron products serve several
pivotal roles in enabling consistent,
reliable HDMI signal transmission and
distribution for each of the systems, as well

16 CaSe StuDY AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011


as Ethernet-based, user-friendly system
control and audio playback.
All AV Systems go digital
Audio Visual Technology Services
decided that all AV systems in the new
building would be entirely based around
HDMI signal distribution. The decision
was based on the wide proliferation of
sources and displays with HDMI or DVI
ports, and a desire by faculty for high
quality presentations. There was also a
photo CourteSY oF KenneSaW State unIverSItY
practical reason to go all-digital; playback
of Blu-ray Disc and possibly future
media would require that AV systems
be HDCP-compliant. Furthermore, AV
staff had instituted a new campus-wide
policy ending support for some analog AV
sources in new systems, namely VCRs. As
Chris Lewis, Assistant Director of Audio
www.avsystemsdesign.com
Visual Technology Services, explains, We
basically made the announcement that the
digital age is here. We also wanted to go to
HDMI to be able to support future devices
down the road, including mobile devices
such as tablets.
Dedicated AV systems were going
to be required for individual teaching
spaces, including the standard 30-seat
classroom, larger classrooms with seating
for between 60 and 120 students, a 5,500
square-foot auditorium for 230 people,
seminar rooms, and several nursing
and science laboratories. There would
also be conference rooms to support
teleconference and distance learning
applications. The AV systems would be
self-contained with signal distribution
confined to each room. While most of the
systems were to utilize single projection
displays, the teleconference rooms would
use dual or single flat-panel displays, and
multiple flat-panel displays were to be
installed for the labs due to the segmented
nature of the room layouts.
Prillaman Hall houses some 60 total
spaces for instruction, of which about 85%
are the standard classrooms. The plan was
to equip about 40 rooms for AV in two
phases within a ten-month period. The
remaining spaces would eventually be
outfitted as budget allowed.
Like most other educational institutions,
the AV staff based their system design
decisions primarily on faculty input and
feedback from the use of other systems
elsewhere on campus. In addition to local
laptop connections, wireless microphones,
and document cameras, instructors have
requested the ability to annotate their
teaching sessions.
In addition to providing an all-digital
video infrastructure, each system design
also needed to include audio systems
with signal distribution, optimization, and
playback. The staff also had to provide
user-friendly control with intuitive system
functions easily accessible with a touch
of a button, so that not only an instructor,
but also any user renting a classroom for
an event can easily operate the AV system.
For the user control interface, the staff
specifically wanted touchscreens installed
in all rooms for a sleek, modern look and
feel that meets the universitys mandate to
outfit the new building with advanced AV
technologies and capabilities.
AV Integration Challenges
The project overall presented a significant
challenge in that the AV staff needed
to successfully have about 40 all-digital
AV systems up and running in the new
building. Further compounding the
challenge was that there was just a three-
month period to get the first 20 of these
systems installed and fully operational.
In addition to the need to become
comfortable and confident working with
digital video, there were some additional
challenges in each of the system designs.
The staff needed to find a way to support
instructor laptops lacking HDMI outputs
within an all-digital setup, and also ensure
that HDMI signals could reliably be sent
from the equipment in the lectern to the
display through walls, ceilings, and floors.
For most of the rooms, the AV
equipment was to reside in a 12U rack
within the lectern furniture. With power
management, Gigabit Ethernet switching,
and other third-party devices, there would
only be about 6U of space remaining
for AV switching, signal processing,
system control processing, and the audio
system, including the amplifiers. Cooling
is only to be provided by convection
through an open vent behind the rack.
The lectern furniture is a design that
has been standardized campus-wide,
precluding new millwork to accommodate
larger equipment racks. Some of the
larger rooms have systems housed in
equipment closets.
All of the teaching spaces needed
sound systems for voice reinforcement. The
larger rooms also required program audio
playback. Quality audio reproduction was
CaSe StuDY 17
 Concealed cabling paths
1 Large, open space with low ceiling
4 multiple AV devices located throughout room
3 Limited space for AV equipment
Kennesaw State universitys Design Challenges and Solutions
room FeAture DeSign ChAllenge
1 Large, open space Students are situated throughout the room, so
with low ceiling providing adequate room coverage for amplifying
the instructors voice requires a large of number
of speakers. this can be expensive and requires
considerable installation labor.
2 Concealed cabling Signals from the lectern need to travel to the
paths two projectors through conduit below the floor,
behind the wall, and above the ceiling. the cabling
distances preclude the use of hDmI cable due
to potential signal loss. hDmI cable can also be
difficult to pull through tight conduit spaces.
3 Limited space for the lectern provides for 12u of equipment rack
AV equipment space, but only 6u of space is available for av
devices after installing other necessary equipment
and allowing space for heat isolation.
4 multiple AV devices the av system has multiple inputs and outputs,
located throughout and an intuitive control interface is needed so a
room non-technical user can operate the system.
18 CaSe StuDY
2
Solution
use extron Flat Field ceiling speakers to deliver optimal
sound distribution with fewer speakers compared to
conventional technology. Flat Field speakers drop right
onto the ceiling tile grid without having cut circles into
the tiles, saving labor.
use hDmI extenders over Cat 5-type cable, which
optimizes digital video signals for long distance
transmission. the use of shielded Cat 6 cable further
optimizes performance with immunity to emI/rFI.
use extron Xtra Series amplifiers that are compact
photoS CourteSY oF KenneSaW State unIverSItY
and run cool. In this installation, two 200-watt
amplifiers, an av control processor, hDmI extender,
and audio DSp processor fit within 2u of rack space.
a common simplified GuI template design was used for
the extron touchlink touchpanels installed throughout
the building. this GuI was adapted for individual
rooms with various levels of system complexity, but
maintained a consistent look and feel.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 desired but also needed to be achievable
within time and budget constraints.
digital Video up and Running
Each of the rooms has at least two
displays, including the standard
classrooms with a single projector and
an interactive flat-panel display. Audio
Visual Technology Services initially
considered an HDMI routing solution from
a well-known competitor, but elected to
use Extron SMX 200 System MultiMatrix
modular matrix switchers installed with
SMX HDMI 88 and SMX Stereo Audio
88 matrix boards. This solution offers the
appropriate I/O size for the source and
display requirements of the systems while
accommodating future growth. It also
provides significant space savings for the
equipment rack in the lectern, allowing
two matrix switchers to fit within a single,
compact 2U enclosure.
The price of the SMX 200 satisfied the
universitys budget requirements and
enabled deployment in similar system
designs for all of the rooms. This in turn
helped Kennesaw AV staff speed up
system installation and setup, as well as
control system programming for each
teaching space.
Another key factor in the decision to
choose Extron HDMI matrix switching
was the built-in HDMI signal equalization
to help ensure reliable performance
when long cables are used. The signal
conditioning was an important feature in
the HDMI matrix switchers to ensure that
we could use run longer cables whenever
necessary, says Lewis.
The SMX 200 also turned out to
be an important tool in helping to
photo CourteSY oF KenneSaW State unIverSItY
debug two initial issues the AV staff
encountered when setting up their first
classroom system. After installing the
equipment, making the connections,
and programming the system, they ran
into a problem with HDCP compliance.
When sending a Blu-ray Disc output to
the displays, a full-screen green image
www.avsystemsdesign.com
limited rack space in the lectern presented challenges for both equipment cooling and multiple functionality.
was noticed on the interactive touch
display. This is a useful feature, called
HDCP Visual Confirmation, which is
built into the SMX 200 and Extron
HDMI and DVI Pro matrix switchers. It
provides immediate visual confirmation
that the connection to the display is
fine, but the display does not support
HDCP content. The touch display was not
HDCP compliant.
In the first installation, the staff also
noticed occasional delays or problems
seeing an image on the display following
an input source switch. Suspecting that
improper EDID communication might be
the cause, they investigated the issue by
using the SMX Control Program to check
the configuration of the matrix switcher.
Using Extrons EDID Minder feature, the
EDID was captured from the display and
communicated to the sources. Once they
had the SMX 200 properly managing EDID
communication throughout the system,
image display reliability improved.
However, once they worked out these
challenges in getting the first system
up and running, The rollout for the
remaining AV systems was pretty seamless,
and much like any other rollout weve
done in the past with analog video, says
Lewis. The green screen encounter
prompted a minor system design
and programming change which was
subsequently applied to the rest of the
systems in the new building.
To accommodate the only potential
analog video source in the system -- an
instructors laptop with VGA but no HDMI
output -- an RGB-HDMI 300 is installed
in each room to convert and scale analog
RGB computer-video to HDMI. While most
of the HDMI connections were within
the equipment racks, there were more
considerable distances to cover when
connecting from the matrix switcher to
the displays. Extron HDMI 201 Twisted
Pair Extenders were used to extend HDMI
signals over CAT 5 cable that would be
run into floors, walls, and ceilings. In the
Health Sciences Building, shielded CAT
6 cable was used throughout to improve
performance and ensure reliability.
Efficient Audio Systems
The AV system design for each room called
for voice reinforcement. Several ceiling
speakers typically are needed throughout
the room to ensure good sound
CaSe StuDY 19
 distribution to all students. However, the
large number of speakers necessary to
provide ample sound coverage increases
system cost. A cutout also has to be made
in the ceiling tile for each speaker, which
increases labor time. According to Robert
Archer, AV Installer with Audio Visual
Technology Services, The Extron FF 120T
Flat Field speaker design made our installs
much easier and faster since we didnt
have to cut out holes and mount speakers
into the ceilings, he remarks.
The FF 120T also turned out to be
more cost-effective since a pair of them
provides similar or better coverage than
four conventional ceiling speakers. The
rich sound coverage they produced was
certainly another influential factor in our
decision to use them, says Archer.
The Extron XPA 2001 Mono 70 V Power
Amplifier was chosen to drive the speakers.
The ENERGY STAR-qualified amplifier
delivers not only ample power for the
system, but also an energy and space-
efficient design with tangible benefits
for the AV installations in the Health
Science Building. The XPA 2001s compact
chassis, low heat generation, and the fact
that it could be cooled by convection
all make it ideal for the limited space in
the equipment racks within the lecterns.
The automatic standby mode is a plus
since the amplifiers can effectively self-
manage their power usage. The efficiency,
operational cost, and space considerations
all came into play in our decision to
use this amplifier in all of our systems,
says Lewis.
The larger classroom and auditorium
systems also include program audio
playback using Extron SI 28 Surface Mount
Speakers mounted on the front wall. These
are powered by Extron XPA 1002 Stereo
Power Amplifiers featuring the same form
factor and efficient design of the XPA 2001.
Speakers from another well-known
manufacturer were initially ordered for
the auditorium. After we listened to the
sound quality and coverage of the SI 28,
20 CaSe StuDY
Extron FF 120T speakers blend invisibly into the ceiling,
yet provide wide even coverage throughout the room.
we decided to install them and keep the
other speakers in storage, says Lewis.
Analog stereo audio outputs from all
sources are input into the 88 SMX stereo
audio matrix switcher board. Outputs
from the matrix, as well as from the
wireless microphone receiver are fed into
an Extron DMP 64 ProDSP Digital Matrix
Processor. Input signals in the DMP 64
are then routed to the outputs leading
to the power amplifiers for the FF 120T
and SI 28 speakers. The DMP 64 provided
the ability to set input and output levels
independently for voice reinforcement
and program audio playback. All of the
rooms in general have good acoustical
treatments from the carpeted floors,
suspended ceiling tiles, and on-wall
sound abatement panels, so that only
minor tonal and parametric equalization
adjustments were made to ear-tune the
audio systems.
Touchpanel Control Systems
The Kennesaw AV staff had previous
success installing and configuring
MediaLink Controllers. While these
products were ideal for university AV
installations in providing an intuitive,
tactile user control interface that could
be standardized from room to room,
there were greater objectives for the new
Prillaman Hall. The AV crew essentially
had a mandate from administration
and faculty to use the latest technology
when it came to AV. We chose the
TouchLink-based control systems partly
to simplify our system designs by using
the IP network, but it was really a desire
overall to use the state-of-the-art when
it came to AV for this new building,
he says.
According to Lewis, another motivation
behind using the TouchLink systems was
to be able to support possible system
enhancements down the line. Although
the MediaLink Controllers will do
everything we are asking these TouchLink
systems to do, we wanted to build in
some scalability to support future system
upgrades or expanded control capabilities,
says Lewis.
An Extron TLP 700MV TouchLink
Touchpanel is installed in each of the
teaching spaces. The touchpanel is
flush-mounted onto an elevated panel
above the working surface of the lectern
so that it can be conveniently accessed
by the instructor. The laboratory spaces
lacked lecterns, so the TLP 700MV was
mounted to the wall instead. An Extron
IPL T SFI244 Ethernet control processor
photo CourteSY oF KenneSaW State unIverSItY
is used in each room system to interface
with the source and display devices. For
the larger installations, additional Ethernet
control capability was added to support
additional devices or motorized shades.
After evaluating possible options for
creating and customizing the user GUI,
the staff decided to use Extrons standard
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 Although the MediaLink Controllers will do everything We would estimate that we saved about

we are asking these TouchLink systems to do, we wanted 50 percent in terms of time in going to
a configuration-based solution versus
to build in some scalability to support future system programming, says Lewis. He also states
upgrades or expanded control capabilities. that the Extron control system required
much less time for the AV technicians to
get acquainted with using them, which
University template since they considered top-notch, says Lewis. There is not even in turn helped the staff meet the tight
it well-designed and intuitive. Working a comparison with another manufacturer deadlines imposed by administration.
closely with Extron support staff, they when it comes to providing support after AV systems with IP-based control
customized the template to their needs, the purchase. require the management of multiple IP
keeping the interface as simple as possible Faculty response to the newly installed addresses and possibly additional network
for the instructors, and also consistent TouchLink touchpanels has been very drops. The Kennesaw AV team cooperated
throughout the building, even though the favorable. Our faculty immediately liked closely with the IT staff during the design
systems may vary somewhat. Learning, the new TouchLink systems and there of systems. The IT department participated
setting up, and configuring control was a very small learning curve, Lewis in the project by issuing IP addresses the
systems can be time-consuming. Lewis comments. We have yet to have a single AV staff needed, as well as a managed
and Archer cited the support services from complaint or trouble ticket regarding the Gigabit switch in each room to handle the
Extron as a major factor in the success user interface or controls. numerous network destinations for the
in setting up their touchpanel control Lewis and Archer assert that using the AV devices.
systems in a timely manner to meet their TouchLink control system over a more
deadlines. Bar none, I cant think of a traditional programming-based solution Future Plans for AV Capability
company that offers better service, adds saved the university money in purchasing and hdmI
Archer. The support we have received the equipment, as well as considerable The Kennesaw AV team successfully
for the TouchLink products has been time and effort setting up the systems. completed the rollout of about 40 AV

The TLP 700 mV touchpanels are

mounted on an elevated panel on
photo CourteSY oF KenneSaW State unIverSItY

each lectern, easily reachable by

the system user.

www.avsystemsdesign.com CaSe StuDY 21

 IR

RS-232 Extron
POWER LAN FLEX IR IPL T SFI244
Ethernet Control
12V
.5A MAX COM1 COM2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

TX RX TX RX S G S G S G S G

Interface
Analog Laptop Digital Laptop
Ethernet

PC
Extron TCP/IP
Document Network
Camera RGB RGB-HDMI 300 Ethernet
Blu-ray Player RGB to HDMI Scaler
POWER
12V RGB INPUT
0.5A MAX RS-232
HDMI OUTPUT
STANDBY/ON
PQLS HDMI OPEN/CLOSE FL OFF

USB Tx Rx
RGB - HDMI 300

Ethernet
DVI to HDMI Adapter HDMI

HDMI HDMI LIGHTS VIDEO

ON MUTE

DVI to HDMI
Extron
LIGHTS AUDIO
OFF MUTE

Adapter SCREEN
UP
MIC
MUTE

SCREEN
DOWN
AUTO
IMAGE

TLP 700MV
7" TouchLink
HELP FREEZE

Extron

Touchpanel

Audio Audio Audio Audio

REMOTE
Extron
SMX 200 Frame
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
RS232/RS422
with SMX 88 HDMI
RESET

5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8
and SMX 88 Audio
LINK
LAN

HDMI INPUTS ADDRESS HDMI OUTPUTS

ACT

L 1 R L 2 R L 3 R L 4 R L 5 R L 6 R L 7 R L 8 R L 1 R L 2 R L 3 R L 4 R L 5 R L 6 R L 7 R L 8 R
IN INPUTS OUTPUTS OUT
ADDRESS

100-240V , 50-60Hz
1.3A MAX.

Wireless
Microphone

HDMI

Audio Audio

1 MIC/LINE INPUTS 1 2 I/O

2 3 RS-232(1)
DMP 64
O
U Tx Rx
T 1 2 3 LAN
POWER HDMI 201 Tx POWER
MIC
+ 48V P
12V 4 5 6
4 5 6 U 3 4 RS-232(2) RESET
0.4A MAX HDMI INPUT RS-232
1 2 3
PASS THRU
T
4 5 6 S
12V Tx Rx
1.5A MAX
1 2 Tx Rx

Extron Extron Audio Audio

HDMI 201 Tx HDMI DMP 64
Transmitter Digital Matrix
SMART Processor
Podium

100-240V 1.3A, 50-60Hz

17TT
AUDIO/VIDEO
XPA 2001-70V
C US APPARATUS
LISTED
CLASS 2 WIRING
LEVEL HPF INPUTS REMOTE OUTPUT
10V 50 mA 70 V
80 Hz
LIMITER/ VOL/MUTE
L(MONO) R
PROTECT
SIGNAL
0 OFF
STANDBY

Extron
Audio
XPA 2001-70V
Power Amplifier

CAT 5
100-240V 1.3A, 50-60Hz
17TT XPA 1002
C US AUDIO/VIDEO
LISTED
APPARATUS CLASS 2 WIRING
LEVEL INPUTS REMOTE OUTPUT
HDMI 201 Rx 1 2 2

Extron
POWER 1 2 10V 50 mA 1
12V LIMITER/ 1 2
VOL/MUTE

0.4A MAX HDMI OUTPUT RS-232

PASS THRU
PROTECT
SIGNAL

FF 120T
0 0
STANDBY
1 2 Tx Rx

Extron Extron Plenum Flat Field

HDMI 201 Rx HDMI XPA 1002 Audio Audio Ceiling Speakers
Receiver Power
Amplifier

Extron
SI 28
Surface-mount
Projector Speakers

systems in the new building within faculty and presenters at every level of equipment with EDID Minder in future all-
the deadline. The staff is planning to technology knowledge. And the Flat Field digital AV system designs as well as digital
enhance the capabilities of the systems speakers offer fantastic intelligibility, fast upgrades to existing installations.
by incorporating audio and video installation, and excellent value.
recording, and is also testing the latest Based on the success in implementing
tim Schnabel is the Director of education programs - higher
tablet devices that instructors likely will all-HDMI switching in the Health Sciences education at extron electronics, and has been with the
want to use in the near-future. Lewis Building, and using Extron EDID Minder company since 2002. he provides the leadership for
extrons education vertical market team and programs,
says, Everything is working great. The as an important tool in getting the systems which supports Colleges and universities in the u.S. and
Canada. tim has over 20 years of experience working within
digital switching is reliable and the GUI up and running, Lewis says that he
the technology industry with large system projects in the
in the touchpanels is very intuitive for plans to specify Extron HDMI and DVI corporate and education marketplace.

22 CaSe StuDY AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

HDCP-Compliant Videowall Processing Systems
The Extron Quantum Series are videowall processing systems that deliver high performance and reliable multi-image presentations
in demanding, mission-critical environments. They feature high performance, dedicated graphics and video processing, plus
a high-speed video bus that maintains real-time performance under heavy source loads. Quantum Series processors can
simultaneously display hundreds of windows of high quality graphics and video, making them ideal for medium to large videowall
systems in environments including public spaces, corporate buildings, surveillance, visualization, and command and control.

Quantum Series
Key Features:
Card frame videowall processing system
Flexibility to support a variety of input and output configurations
High speed bus supports real-time video/graphic performance
Dual HDMI and DVI/RGB output cards support resolutions up to
1920x1200 and HDTV 1080p/60
Quantum Elite
Up to 128 video/graphic windows per dual output card
Scalable, Expandable Videowall Processing System
Input cards available for HDMI, DVI, RGB or HD component video,
and standard definition video
High quality image upscaling and downscaling
Supports digital and analog input signals up to 1920x1200 and
HDTV 1080p/60
Easy-to-use configuration and control software

Quantum Connect
Videowall Processing System

www.extron.com/quantum
 the videowall at the enfield public Safety Surveillance Center is a 26
array of Dlp cubes, controlled by an extron Quantum elite processor.

Eyes on the Roads

A streaming solution plays a critical role in monitoring
road construction projects in the united Kingdom.
By Karl Johnson

T
he Borough Councils of Greater that extend longer than their timeframe road construction permit program exists
CourteSY oF eleCtroSonIC ltD.

London have a duty to maintain
safe roadways that will support
efficient transportation and the economic
well-being of the metropolitan area.
Residents of Greater London are all too
familiar with seeing road work projects
expectations. (See sidebar, How Bad
is the Problem?) Facilitating timely
completion of road work projects is critical
to improving this situation as well as
the perception that London Councils are
providing reliable services to residents. A
for on-time completion by contractors, and
financial penalties can be issued if repair
work exceeds the contracted time. However,
establishing an effective method to
measure and monitor completion has been
a significant challenge for the Councils.

24 CaSe StuDY AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011


Solution Options
Monitoring and managing the completion
of road work projects is not an easy task,
since they can be distributed broadly
across a borough. Deploying staff to
continually travel the road network
and observe traffic was not an efficient
investment in resources. Enfield is the
northernmost of Londons 32 boroughs
and is also one of its largest, home
to nearly 300,000 people. In 2009, the
Enfield Council realized that they needed
to pursue other solutions to monitor
contractor projects.
Existing traffic surveillance cameras
provided an opportunity to monitor
progress. Modern IP surveillance camera
www.avsystemsdesign.com
networks and over 10,000 legacy CCTV
broadband camera systems are already
installed in boroughs across Greater
London. In fact, surveillance cameras
are deployed more extensively in the
United Kingdom than any other country
in the world. They converge on a series
of police surveillance security centers.
This surveillance video is used by Police,
Councils, and Transportation services to
support public safety and dispatch services
and maintain orderly road transportation.
Datavilla Ltd., a Surrey, UK-based
communications services provider,
worked with Enfield Council to leverage
these existing surveillance systems for
monitoring roadwork.
Enfield Council operates a Public
Safety Surveillance Center that features
a control room with a 26 projection
videowall, installed by London, UK-
based AV integrator Electrosonic Ltd. in
2008. The videowall consists of an Extron
Quantum Elite videowall processor and
twelve, 50-inch Mitsubishi DLP projection
cubes, each with a resolution of 1024768.
The Quantum Elite processor manages 72
video inputs from a CCTV surveillance
system along with 6 more RGB inputs
presenting graphic map images and
multi-video displays presenting inputs
from a second, IP camera surveillance
system. These inputs can be presented on
the Surveillance Centers videowall in any
variety of window arrangements.
Datavillas solution was to provide
Enfields Traffic Management Center with
access to some of these camera views to
observe road work projects. Maintaining
the confidentiality of the video information
was critical for this application. For
security reasons, the Traffic Management
Center could not be permitted to simply
tap into the entire network of cameras.
Law enforcement and public safety staff at
the Surveillance Center needed to be able
to control the specific video information
delivered to the Traffic Management
Center. Extron VN-Matrix 200 Series
encoders and decoders were selected by
Datavilla to stream one output from the
Extron Quantum Elite videowall processor.
When appropriate, camera views valuable
to monitoring projects are positioned on
one output of the Quantum Elite processor,
which is set aside for sharing camera
information with the Traffic Management
Center. This capability to manage access
to only select camera views was critical to
complying with RIPA the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act which controls
how Bad Is the Problem?
the streets of london are continually
afflicted with a high number of road
repair projects. over 300,000 road
work projects are required each year,
which averages to almost four projects
per year on each of the 85,000
metropolitan streets. up to 36% of the
traffic delays in Greater london are
caused by road work projects. this
situation creates strain on the public
transportation system and an additional
drain on government finances. the
financial burden on londons economy
may be as great as 1 billion pounds
per year.
When repairs are required for
potholes and underground water
mains, or updates are necessary to
power or telecommunication systems,
traffic lanes must be shut down. lane
reduction limits traffic throughput for
multi-lane streets. repair work on
two lane streets may even require
alternating use of a single lane causing
significant backups. the delays caused
by road work projects is a source of
serious economic inefficiency. Stalled
traffic affects air quality, and becomes
a major nuisance to motorists.
additional bus service must be
scheduled to provide adequate service.
CaSe StuDY 25
 the use of surveillance technology by
local and national government agencies
in the United Kingdom. (See sidebar,
Regulatory Restrictions)
Datavilla has extensive experience
applying cameras and IP video encoders
into different networked surveillance
applications. After evaluating Extrons
VN-Matrix 200, they found it to be the
best product for capturing the output
from the Quantum Elite video processor.
Trevor Hizzard, Managing Director for
Datavilla says, What we really like is that
the VN-Matrix 200 unit directly interfaces
to DVI computer signals. VN-Matrix 200
has been specifically designed to interface
both video and a wide variety of
computer signals such as XGA, which support rates as low as 1 Mbps or 5 Mbps the image decoded at the Traffic Center
has a resolution of 1024768. We wanted or higher bit rates, such as 50 Mbps. Users maintains the same quality as the imagery
to preserve all the detail video or fine have a wide choice of parameters over the presented in the Surveillance Center. If
graphics for the Enfield Traffic Center as it compression and bit rate, allowing the required, VN-Matrix 200 decoding units
is presented by the videowall system at the streaming bandwidth to fit the available are capable of scaling the video streamed
Surveillance Center. network connection. The dedicated, to them to match the resolution of the
Datavilla organized a dedicated gigabit bandwidth available in this project projector or panel to which they are
network between the Surveillance Center allowed VN-Matrix to provide a quality interfaced, ensuring the best quality
and the Traffic Management Center. It is that exceeded requirements typical for an image is presented regardless of the
a Layer 2 Ethernet connection consisting application such as this. display used. PURE3 also provides very
of both copper and fiber optic gigabit The VN-Matrix 200 Series encoder low latency streaming video between
Ethernet transport. Bandwidth was not a applies Extrons PURE3 Codec, which encode and decode. No more than 100
limiting factor on this network, since they encodes the Quantum Elite output, ms is required to stream video between
were able to dedicate a single connection compresses the amount of information the two sites. This allows the staff in
just for video streaming. Even without required to stream the XGA signal over the borough Traffic Management Center
such bandwidth, it wouldnt have been a network, and outputs an IP stream. to collaborate in real time with the
a problem, since bit rate controls in the The PURE3 Codec provides visually Surveillance Center, if required. They can
VN-Matrix 200 unit allow video streams to lossless compression. This ensures that speak with each other over a telephone

Regulatory Restrictions
the regulation of Investigatory powers act, enacted in the year 2000 in the united Kingdom, allows government and local authorities to use
surveillance technology in the interest of public safety, to protect public health, and for the interest of economic well-being of the uK. but
it must be used responsibly and applied in a manner that is commensurate and proportional with the required purpose. public authorities
must ensure that surveillance video is handled in a responsible manner. the surveillance video cannot be used in a manner that is intrusive
CourteSY oF eleCtroSonIC ltD.

on personal liberties.
responsible use of existing traffic surveillance cameras requires that governmental services carefully manage use of information collected
using surveillance cameras. Simply making Ip surveillance video available to enfield Council traffic services for monitoring road work projects
across Ip networks would not be in compliance with rIpa legislation. preventing exposure of unnecessary surveillance footage to the enfield
traffic Center was an important requirement of the solution development for Datavilla ltd.

26 CaSe StuDY AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011


DLP Cube Videowall
Quantum Elite 615
Videowall Processor
72 CCTV
Video Inputs
4 Hi-res
IP Camera
Decoder PCs
Composite Video
DVI
Enfield Surveillance Center
the streaming solution includes both ethernet and fiber network transport between the Surveillance Center and the traffic management Center.
and be confident they are both looking at
the same information.
The path between the facilities crosses
several miles, so a fiber connection is
used in the transmission path. Copper to
optical gigabit Ethernet media converters
provide the means to convert between the
two transmission methods used in this
connection. When the IP stream reaches
the Enfield Traffic Management Center,
the VN-Matrix 200 Series decoder outputs
the video images and presents them on
a data/graphic projector, maintaining
the original XGA resolution from the
Quantum Elite processor.
This solution is very effective, says
Hizzard. All the visual detail presented
on the display in the Enfield Security
Surveillance Center is preserved using
VN-Matrix encoders and decoders. This
allows the Enfield Traffic Center to view
information clearly and have confidence
they are accurately observing the
current status of road work projects in
Enfield Borough.
www.avsystemsdesign.com
Enfield Roadwork Project Monitoring Solution
Enfield
Traffic Share
Screen
VNC 200 DVI-A
VN-Matrix Encoder
Fiber
2 Mapping Media
PCs Converter
Fiber
Ethernet
We could have used a standard IP
video encoder with a composite video
input supporting a 4CIF Common
Intermediate Format, a resolution
of 704576, explains Hizzard. But
converting the signal from an XGA
1024768 resolution to a video format
would reduce the amount of information
presented and the user would not have
the same visible information available.
VN-Matrix 200 units are designed to
interface DVI or RGB computer signals
typically output from computers and
video processors such as Quantum Elite
or Surveillance DVRs Digital Video
Recorders. VN-Matrix 200 preserves
the native resolution of the input as it
encodes the signal and streams it over
networks, allowing it to be decoded at
that same resolution.
Datavilla has evaluated VN-Matrix
for use in other applications and intends
to deploy it in similar projects. Hizzard
says, Weve evaluated VN-Matrix and
found it can also be used in wireless or
VNC 200 DVI-A
VN-Matrix Decoder
Media
Converter
Enfield Traffic Management Center
microwave transmission applications.
Wireless network connections can
experience signal transmission errors
due to noisy environments and multipath
distortion. The error concealment system
in VN-Matrix ensures delivery of a reliable
video picture even under conditions of
heavy packet loss. VN-Matrix provides
Datavilla with the flexibility to solve
similar streaming solutions where wired
network connections are not practical.
The Enfield Council has a public
duty to provide safe, reliable service
on the borough streets. Part of this
requires they ensure that road work
projects are completed on time. Extron
VN-Matrix 200 Video/Graphic codecs are
helping them fulfill this obligation. And
it has added one financial benefit in
that it has helped them collect fines for
schedule overruns.
Karl Johnson is Director of product marketing at extron
electronics for streaming technologies and videowall
processing systems. he worked at electrosonic for over 20
years, most recently as General manager of the electrosonic
product division.
CaSe StuDY 27
 Goal Driven Control
System Design
Enhancing the user experience by reducing control system complexity
By Derek Joncas
A
V designers, developers, and engineers are, by
nature, innovators. This penchant for innovation
is part of what drives them to bring the latest
technology to bear, and to leverage that technology
so their clients have the highest quality user experience when
interacting with their systems. Developers like to promote each
new system as custom or, at the very least, a new spin on an
old design. We set the expectation with our client that their new
system will be unique.
And in many respects it is.
Its tempting to let new technology drive the system design. As
manufacturers add more and more functionality into their products,
developers are lured by the challenge to design a system that can
control every function. But too much emphasis on innovation can
result in overly complex systems that are difficult to use.
A developers comfort level with technology is higher than the
average corporate executive or university professor. As a result,
developers can end up designing a control system that completely
baffles the user. Complexity can also increase when the developer
uses himself as a model user. This is an all too common practice
when schedules are tight. Rather than interviewing and observing
actual end users to truly understand their needs, developers
sometimes place themselves into the scene and ask, How would I
use this system? or What functionality would I want?
Its not that the developers viewpoint and technical knowledge
are unimportant. After all, developers must have a thorough
knowledge of the capabilities of the system. The ultimate
goal, however, is not a control system that fully exploits those
capabilities. Its to create a system that will meet the users needs,
and that the user will actually find useful. When usability is the
ultimate goal, the combination of technical knowledge and a
developers mindset can produce astounding results.
Putting Users First
Its interesting how my experience writing this article parallels
that of many AV control system users. I am using a PC with the
28 Cover StorY
latest Intel processor, docked to dual 19201080 LCD monitors.
Im using Microsoft Word 2007, which has more features and
capabilities than I could ever learn in a year of classes. But what
am I trying to do? I am typing a simple document that someone
else will format, pretty much as I did with the first computer I
bought over 20 years ago. Over those two decades, I could count
on two hands the times that I have done a mail merge or used
more than a couple of different fonts. But I do depend on several
key features, like spell check and grammar check, and the ability
to add bold or underline text for emphasis.
I understand why mass-marketed software applications need to
be loaded with features, but for my purposes, this article creation
system is much more complex than it needs to be. The simplest
word processing program and a small monitor would suffice. The
AV world is very similar. So many times, we design for edge
scenarios, contingency planning for every possible situation we
can envision. We design the system capabilities and the user
interfaces around the What if the client wants to scenarios
rather than focusing our attention on the What does the client
regularly do scenarios.
Designing better control systems relies on answering two key
questions. These will more clearly define what the control system
needs to do, and how to simplify the control systems overall
capabilities, thereby increasing the usability of the system and
giving the user a better experience.
The first question is: How does the end user regularly use the
system? This is where the old 80/20 rule comes into play. Eighty
percent of the time we only use 20% of the system capabilities.
Define what your client does 80% of the time.
Secondly, its important to ask, What are the critical functions
that rarely occur, but must function flawlessly? These features are
considered edge scenarios, but because of their critical nature
need to be present in the system with rock-solid functionality. A
good example of a critical but rarely-used function is tying the
systems audio mute into the Fire Alarm system. You hope this life
safety system is never needed and, for most customers, it never
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 will be; but when it is needed, it must operate flawlessly.
Too often we see specifications for control systems that state,
The control system shall control all controllable audio and video
equipment and must provide control for all functions available.
Is that realistic? Is it necessary? Does it serve the end users
best interests?
Create User Personas
Alan Cooper, widely recognized as the Father of Visual Basic,
is well-known for his role in humanizing technology. In his
1998 book, The Inmates Are Running the Asylum, Cooper
discusses the development of personas that represent the users
of a product or a piece of software. The personas are accurate
representations of the users of the product, but are not tied to
specific individuals. Cooper identifies the goals of each of the
personas and uses the goals to sharpen the focus of what the
product needs to ultimately do.
By using these developed personas, Cooper contends that you
can remove the individual preferences and pet features to drill
down and determine how the product needs to optimally function
for its intended user.
How many times have we seen AV projects driven by a single
individual at an organization and how he or she would like to
see a system operate? How many of those folks are still there?
Over time, theres a strong likelihood that the individual has been
promoted or has left the organization for one reason or another,
with the system abandoned because its too complex for the next
person to operate.
Clearly Define Goals
The traditional approach to control system design focuses almost
exclusively on the individual desires of a few key players. By using
Coopers techniques and developing user personas to identify
the common goals for the system, we can clarify the intent of a
customized control system.
Defining goals also allows us to simplify the system. Cooper
says that whatever your interface is, it would be better if there
were less of it. Less can mean much more than just the number of
pages or buttons. Think about the recently-discontinued Flip video
camera. Flips designers looked at typical consumer camcorders,
who used them, and how they were used. They quickly realized
that most functions werent being used, and that a significant
customer base was intimidated by even how to start the camera to
record video. In developing their user persona, the Flips designers
set the standard for developing an easy to understand user
interface. In an AV control system, users should naturally perceive
how to operate the most commonly used functions, such as power
on and off, source select, play, pause, and stop.
As AV professionals, we can become so comfortable interacting
30 Cover StorY
with new technology that we get defensive about our system
designs. We might find ourselves brushing away complaints
about a confusing interface by saying things like, Well, yes, but
if you just hold down this key and click on this, then it all works
together See?
We need to remember that our customers often view new
technology as threat to the way theyve always done things
and may not be all that eager to change the way they work.
How many times have you visited a client only to hear that
they have other AV systems, with and without control systems,
which are going unused because of usability or maintenance
issues? By understanding the goals of all of the participants, we
can add value to the whole AV system that creates a positive
experience for everyone, and leads to better relationships and
future business.
Let the Goals Dictate Innovation
Another aspect of system design that dramatically affects the
direction the design takes is the level of innovation that is
required by the project. Is the project highly conceptual and
groundbreaking, or is it an adaptation or revision to an existing
design? Or does the project fall somewhere in middle? The ways in
which we approach each of these project types may be completely
different. Different expectations are set within the development
team and with the client. Perhaps even different resources are
allocated or different people are selected for the job. Knowing the
level of innovation that the members of your team bring to the
table helps you identify the right people for the job.
By their nature, most creative people will strive to be
innovative in their approach to any problem. This is fine if the
job requires it, but if you are designing four or forty classrooms
all with similar utilization criteria, do you seek to find a unified
design or do you set out to design separate, unique systems?
You may say, A single unified design, of course. So, why not
use the same approach the next time you need to design a
conference room?
The level of innovation must fit the goals expressed by actual
users. Think about the age-old form follows function principle
of design. The principle is that the shape of a building or object
should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.
Successful designs, like that of the Airstream trailer, for instance,
follow this principle, while those that miss the mark, such as
the DeLorean sports car, age rapidly and are quickly abandoned.
If we bill and market our services as customized rather than
custom, we can ever so subtlety change the perception of what
we do. We can use tried and true modules and methods rather
than continually creating new processes and new designs. Often
the art is not in the innovation as much as it is the application
of experience.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 Introducing global Configurator Professional Software for Advanced Configuration
even in applications that are perfectly suited for a configuration solution,
system designers can sometimes encounter situations that challenge its
capabilities. Since the introduction of Global Configurator, there have been
power users pushing the limits of configuration to get it to do more than
it was originally designed to do. this year extron is introducing a new
configuration application that will combine the benefits of configuration with
some of the flexibility of programmable systems.
Global Configurator professional is the next generation configuration
software for larger, more sophisticated touchlink-based configurable control
systems. It provides an integrated environment for defining advanced av
control system functionality from an easy-to-use graphical user interface.
this new evolution in configurable control is so advanced that mastering it
will require the mindset and skills of a developer.
Global Configurator professional includes a new feature set that
provides enhanced flexibility when configuring advanced systems.
Conditional logic with Variables
enables advanced functionality using if and else statements
allows examination of conditions within a button action before
performing a task
helps in streamlining project creation by minimizing the need for
monitors and schedules
Control groups
allow control processors to be grouped together to work as one
large controller.
benefits advanced systems that require additional control ports
reduces the need for long rS-232 cable runs since a control
group can span several rooms
provides an opportunity for easy expansion of existing systems
Consider a Configurable Approach
Programmed control systems offer a great amount of flexibility in
creating a fully custom AV system that can be tailored to exactly
fit the unique needs of an individual client. This has traditionally
led developers to prefer a programmed approach for large AV
systems. However, the new advanced configuration tool from
Extron, Global Configurator Professional, Extrons, moves the
boundary lines a little further.
GC Pro significantly expands the types and complexities of
AV systems that can be controlled using a configurable approach.
Powerful new features, including conditional logic, combine
the best of both programming and configuration. GC Pro was
designed specifically to support more complex systems and
leverage the skills of a developer. Also, Global Configurator
Professional will be licensed only to individuals who have
achieved Extron Control Specialist certification. For more
details on certification and GC Pro licensing, contact an Extron
Support Representative.
Configurable control systems offer a wide range of benefits.
They save time, particularly for large installations with many
similar rooms. Consistency of the interface reduces the time
www.avsystemsdesign.com
Controller Templates
Creates an abstract representation of a controller
enables creation of a reusable baseline configuration
Changes made to a template are automatically duplicated to all
linked controllers
TouchLink for iPad and TouchLink for web
touchlink for Web is accessible from any Web browser that
supports microsoft Silverlight
touchlink for ipad is an av control system app designed for the
apple ipad
both versions support button tracking, keeping virtual and installed
touchpanels to stay in sync
required to educate users on system operation. Control system
changes take less time with configured systems which results
in lower costs for the end user. Configured systems also provide
a high level of system ownership & independence to end users,
avoiding the question of who owns the code.
The Ultimate Goal
Our ultimate goal, as AV systems designers, developers and
engineers, must be the complete satisfaction of the people who
use our systems. This is the value in what we, as AV professionals,
do for a living, and the return on investment that our clients
are looking for. We are constantly called on to walk a tightrope
between current and emerging technologies, and making
technology accessible to our clients. Control systems are the
bridge that makes tomorrows technologies accessible to our
clients today, but the consideration of our clients goals must
always be at the center of everything that we do.
Derek Joncas is manager of product marketing at extron electronics for control systems
hardware and software. he has worked in the av Industry since 1988, holding senior
engineering and management positions with companies focused on av integration, managed
services, broadcast, broadband data services and software development.
Cover StorY 31
 Control System Support
extron offers a wide range of resources available to help system developers and integrators create highly-functional, yet easy-
to-use control systems. below you will find a selection of these, but there are even more to be found on our Web site, or by
speaking with your extron Customer Support representative at 800.633.9876.
extron guide to graphical user interface Design
user interface guidelines, information mapping, color
considerations, ergonomics, and font choice
valuable reference for beginner and experienced designers,
learn the latest user interface design concepts and best practices
gui templates
ready-to-use templates allow streamlined development of GuI projects
templates for several popular applications, including single
and dual display, divisible room, multi-window, etc.
easily modified to create new pages
add icons, sound files, backgrounds from free extron GuI resource kits
extron Design resource Web page
www.extron.com/guiresources
GuI resources Web page hosts a variety of resources and tools to
help you create interface designs that balance function, style, and
ease-of-use, including:
extron Guide to Graphical user Interface Design
GuI reference Guides
FaQs and best practices
GuI Design themes
Software Downloads, Special Services, and more
32 Cover StorY
Control Systems Design guide
examines the practice and benefits of designing for control
provides an overview of control system design methodologies,
best practices, and the technologies involved.
Written for control system developers, and av technology
managers, but anyone in the av industry will find it useful.
provides detailed system designs and design scenarios
that range in complexity from simple classrooms to
sophisticated presentation environments.
global Configurator
easily configure a wide-range of extron
ethernet-enabled control products.
Intuitive interface is also powerful enough for large-scale resource
management for hundreds of av devices in multiple locations.
enhanced monitoring and scheduling allows easy
creation of schedules and monitors to observe specific
behaviors and plan activities on controlled devices.
Global Configurator professional includes new features for
enhanced flexibility when configuring advanced systems.
Control Systems Support hotline 800.633.9877
24/7 top tier support for all extron configurable control products
extron S3 Control experts are ready to help with system
design, technical troubleshooting, configuration assistance,
remote product or system diagnostics, repair/advance
replacement services, and general product support.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
Introducing Our New TLP 710 Series
New Design and Performance in a Smaller Size

TLP 710TV
7" widescreen high resolution touchscreen

TLP 1000TV 10" touchscreen

New TLP 710 Series 7" TouchLink Touchpanels

The new TLP 710 Series touchpanels incorporate the sleek look and feel of our TLP 1000 Series, but in a more compact form factor.
These new, fully configurable touchpanels feature a widescreen, high resolution display surrounded by an attractive thin bezel. Powerful
features, including PoE - Power over Ethernet and an integrated MTP Twisted Pair receiver, provide flexible connectivity options and
help streamline integration. The TLP 710MV mounts on a wall, lectern, or other flat surface, while the TLP 710TV is designed to sit on a
tabletop or install on a VESA mount. Both are ideal for a wide variety of applications requiring a compact wall mount or tabletop touchpanel
with enhanced connectivity and advanced control capabilities.

Key Features:
7" widescreen high resolution color
touchscreen
Full-Motion Video display supports preview
and monitoring applications
Integrated Ethernet port compatible with
IP Link control processors
Power over Ethernet allows the touchpanel
to receive power via the Ethernet connector
Built-in speaker provides audio for the full-
motion video preview and audible feedback
from button presses
Energy-saving features:
- Adjustable sleep timer puts touchpanel into
sleep mode
- Motion detector wakes touchpanel
TLP 710MV
7" Wall Mount TouchLink Touchpanel

www.extron.com/tlp710
 Selecting a Streaming Codec
Factors to consider when choosing the right
codec for your streaming application
By Karl Johnson

E
very day, video over IP technology reaches farther
into our professional and personal lives. As networks
expand and streaming technologies mature, we find
ourselves with greater access to information and an
improved ability to communicate using video. Some streaming
applications like videoconferencing have been commonplace in
AV systems for many years. New applications continue to emerge
every day, as streaming technologies provide new capabilities
or greater economy to existing applications. As the variety of
streaming products increases, AV professionals will be challenged
with the task of selecting the ideal streaming products and
compression codecs for their applications.
The term codec has several meanings. It is the combination
of two words, encoder and decoder. The word codec is used
as a generic name for a hardware or software-based product,
such as a videoconferencing codec, which encodes and
decodes video simultaneously. It is also used to describe the
analog-digital-analog conversion process. As we explore the

AVC
MPEG-4
THEORA
H.264
H.261

JPEG AVC-INTRA

VP8
VC-1

MPEG-2

H.263 DIRAC

34 Feature StorY AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

variety of codecs that are available for streaming AV media and
consider the rapid advancement of technology in this area, many
questions emerge, such as:
Why are there so many different codecs?
What are the pros and cons of these codecs?
Is there one codec that is ideal for every application?
What differences in technical performance exist between
codecs, and in what application environments might they
be important?
Standards based and proprietary codecs exist. When do
I use one versus the other?
Consumer and Business Use
Experiences at home with personal electronics or computers can
shape expectations in industrial applications. Its not uncommon
to hear customers express their frustration comparing a tried
and true office videoconferencing product with a similar
communication tool they use at home such as Skype. Ive heard
individuals say, Why is it that when Im at home, I can Skype
with my friends and see and hear them so clearly, yet when Im
in the office with all this expensive equipment, I get such poor
quality picture and sound?
A lot of factors can contribute to this experience. For starters,
the individual may be using a dated, standard-definition
videoconferencing system in the office. The system may use a
low bandwidth communication link that delivers a fraction of
the resolution that is available on the large, flat panel display
it is used with. At home they may be operating Skype in a
small application window on a moderately sized desktop flat
panel. The quality experienced at home is perceived to be higher
because the video is presented at a higher pixel density in an
application window that matches the streaming resolution. The
Skype video would also appear grainy and pixelated if it was
presented on a large flat panel. Streaming quality is often a
matter of perspective, and gauging good enough for a specific
application is important. Regardless of the specific conditions,
customers can have experiences at home that raise expectations
for the office.
Furthermore, applications used on a personal computer
at home will not support the same mission-critical reliability
or provide the security that industrial equipment must.
Industrial and consumer solutions are faced with a different set
of requirements.
The impact and excitement created from the rapid uptake of
tablet PCs and video communication on mobile phones is likely to
expand an expectation gap as users desire to connect professional
AV systems with the convenience of mobile computing devices
and intelligent mobile phones.
www.avsystemsdesign.com
Comparison of expectations for Industrial and
Consumer Communications applications
Industrial Consumer Relative Expectations
Convenience
Price Sensitivity
Mission critical availability
Network bandwidth abundance
Network quality of service
Network management and security
Low communication delay
Range of adjustments and controls
Asset management: Metadata, search tools
Scalability
Resolution and image quality
Simplicity of user interface
Low High
business applications require greater attention to a broader set of capabilities
than consumer ones, particularly reliability and security.
Codec Standards
Many codecs have been developed by international or industry
standards organizations. Some codecs have been developed by
independent organizations with intentions for use in open or
closed application environments. Of the codecs that have been
developed independently, some have made a transition from
proprietary to becoming a standard.
The most commonly known codecs have originated from
standards organizations. The Joint Photographic Experts
Group JPEG, developed the JPEG and JPEG2000 for still image
compression, and these have also been applied in motion video
applications. JPEG2000, the most recent standard, has been
adopted as the compression standard used in the digital cinema
industry for playback of motion pictures from hard disk players.
The Motion Picture Experts Group, or MPEG, of the
International Standardization Organization ISO developed
the first MPEG-1 codec. It continued with MPEG-2 to provide
increased image quality and support for high definition video.
MPEG-2 has been used in a wide range of products from DVDs,
cable and satellite distribution, as well as high quality broadcast
contribution applications.
The International Telecommunication Union - ITU
recommended the H.323 audiovisual communication protocols,
which included the H.261, H.263, and H.264 video codecs intended
for specific use in interactive videoconferencing applications used
on communication links such as ISDN, T1, E1, or the Internet.
The ITU and ISO came together to form the Joint Video Team
JVT and developed H.264, MPEG-4 Part 10, Advanced Video
Coding or AVC codec. More commonly referred to as H.264 these
Feature StorY 35
 days, this codec has replaced MPEG-2 as the most commonly Open and Closed Environments
used codec applied in new streaming media hardware encoders. Many streaming applications apply codecs in closed network
In the broadcast television industry, the Society of Motion systems or on managed connections where control exists over the
Picture and Television Engineers SMPTE and the European hardware or software used at the endpoints. Hardware encoding
Broadcasting Union EBU have a vested interest in defining and decoding solutions will use an electronic signal interface such
recommended platforms for broadcast video, interchange, and as HD-SDI, DVI, or other formats to transfer the media. If software
interoperability for transmission and production systems. They decoding is used, installation of plug-ins can be managed in the
recommend and define standards for their industry, and their closed system. Here, the initial concerns for the AV integrator are
decisions extend into other industries. interfacing the correct signal format to the encoder input and the
Both Microsoft and Panasonic have produced video codecs decoder output, and establishing and maintaining the required
independently, targeted at specific applications. Microsofts VC-1 communications link or network connection. Beyond that, the
was developed to support a more efficient and higher quality quality, bit rate requirements, and technical performance of the
compression of interlaced video, making it more attractive to codec are assessed individually for each project.
broadcast applications where use of interlaced video is common. Open network environments, such as the Internet or even large
VC-1 started as a proprietary codec, but was later established as enterprises, will have very large numbers of potential endpoints.
a standard by SMPTE. Microsoft has also applied the VC-1 codec Use of decoding hardware at every potential endpoint will not be
technology into the WMV3, WMVA, and WVC1 codecs used in
Windows Media Player. The Panasonic AVC-Intra codec is fully
compliant with the H.264 MPEG-4/AVC standard and SMPTE
electronic Image Signal Delivered
recommended practices. It is targeted for capturing production
from managed Decoder
quality 10-bit video collected in camcorders at bit rates typically
Production System
used in Electronic News Gathering applications. The format is
HD-SDI VIDEO VIDEO
HD-SDI
also used in storage and archive applications. Development of this or
DVI
codec aligns with the performance needs of related equipment Media
Exchange
that Panasonic manufactures: cameras, decks, and camcorders. Point
Live Media Encoder Transport Decoder
As you can see, both of these organizations developed a codec Collection
VIDEO
to fulfill targeted applications. One, VC-1 started as proprietary, DVI
Presentation
while the other, AVC-Intra is branded as unique, but is based System

on standards. As illustrated with these real world examples,

applications drive codec development. Streaming solutions using an electronic signal for media exchange.

CODECS AND THE DEVELOPER ORGANIZATION

Organization ISO ISO ISO and ITU ITU

Developer JPEG MPEG JVT H.323 Recommendation

Codecs

JPEG, JPEG 2000 MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 H.264, MPEG-4 Part 10/AVC H.261, H.262, H.264

36 Feature StorY AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 established by commercial organizations or coalitions. The most
video bitstream Delivered
dominant players establish de facto standards. Industry giants
in open environment
Decoding
such as Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, and Google each pursue different
on PC
product and technology paths to support their customers, and as
1001011011 VIDEO
HD-SDI
or Video Bitstream commercial organizations, they make investments in technology
DVI
Media
Flat Panel
for the purpose of establishing competitive barriers and achieving
Exchange
Display
Live Media Encoder Transport
Point financial objectives.
Collection VIDEO
In the PC streaming environment, a broader set of variables
1001011011
Video Bitstream must often be considered beyond the codec, including the
Decoder container format, transport method, media player, Digital Rights
Management, operating systems, and computing devices.
Streaming of video to unmanaged or unknown endpoints requires exchange of Today, Adobes Flash Player delivers the vast majority of
media as a video bitstream. online video. It uses a proprietary container format Flash Video
installed as a plug-in that is used in Web browsers for viewing
video on PCs. The ubiquity of Flash represents a competitive
practical, and supporting software at each endpoint may not be advantage for Adobe products, but many developer solutions
practical either. If we consider streaming to PCs or decoders that in the PC environment would prefer to use an open-source
are not managed, the media exchange for the streamed content technology rather than conform to the operational requirements
needs to be as a video bitstream. The endpoints must support of using Flash.
codecs, protocols, or applications that are compatible with the A great deal of attention has been paid to the very public
video bitstream. battle between Adobe and Apple concerning use of the Flash
Player on Apples iOS operating system used on iPhone and iPod
Codecs in the Computing Environment
Professional AV systems pull together and manage presentation of
media from three different environments 1) Telecommunications what is a de facto standard?
videoconferencing systems, 2) Video based on broadcast standards, a de facto standard is a product, specification, industry convention, or
and 3) PC originated media. The PC environment creates another method that has achieved dominant use in an industry based on market
forces. users, suppliers, and developers all follow the de facto standard
variable for the world of codecs. in order to conform to the solution environment. Defacto standards are
Standards in this environment are frequently established not established by standards bodies like ISo or Itu.
based on market forces and the strength, weakness, or ubiquity

Microsoft BBC Panasonic Xiph. Org Foundation Google

Microsoft BBC Research Panasonic Xiph. Org Foundation On2 Technologies

VC-1, SMPTE VC-1 Dirac, Dirac Pro SMPTE VC-2 AVC-Intra Theora VPx, VP6, VP8 (WebM)

NOTE: Google aquired On2 Technologies in 2010.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Feature StorY 37


what is a container format?
a container or wrapper format holds the encoded audio and video
media as well as certain information pertaining to the media such
as: the compression codec, number and types of streams, subtitles,
metadata, and sync information. a container is more important to media
playback files than live streamed content, but media streamed in the pC
environment must factor in the container and media player applications,
that are used to view them. examples of media container formats include:
Flv and F4v used with adobe Flash video, aSF and avI from microsoft,
Quicktime from apple, the mpeG-2 transport stream, and mp4 that is
based on ISos mpeG-4 part 12.
Touch. Adobe had been pursuing a programming environment
that crossed platforms and developed software that converted
Flash applications into native iPhone apps. Apple then changed
its developer agreement blocking Flash-derived apps. Adobe
chose to add support for Apples HTTP Live Streaming in Flash
Media Server and introduced this capability at the 2011 National
Association of Broadcasters Show, adapting to the restriction Apple
placed on their platform. Both Apple and Adobe pursued their
own interests in hopes of establishing a competitive advantage.
An industry battle such as this creates risks for customers
making investments in software platforms, applications, and
endpoint devices.
A great deal of news has also been generated over the past
year concerning use of codecs in HTML5 - the new Internet
browser standard. HTML5 represents the first opportunity to
add video embedded into the Web experience and workflow as
an object just like text or graphics. Members of the World Wide
Web Consortium HTML Working Group could not agree on a
common codec for use in HTML5. The ideal situation would be
for the group to select a single codec providing interoperability
for all endpoint applications. But this is not what occurred. A
whole series of codec choices have taken place. Initially Theora
and Ogg container, developed by Xiph.Org Foundation, appeared
to be the codec of choice. It was royalty free. H.264 was favored
by Microsoft and it provided strong compression performance.
Members such as Mozilla and Google could not agree to use
H.264 due to licensing requirements and in 2010, Google had
acquired On2 Technologies, developer of the WebM format. This
format includes the VP8 codec, and Google elected to use it with
their Chrome browser. Mozilla also chose to use WebM in Firefox,
as did Opera. VP8 has also been gaining greater use by YouTube.
In 2010, Microsoft announced Internet Explorer 9 support
for H.264 and a new Windows Media Player HTML5 Extension
for Chrome, allowing Windows 7 Chrome users to view H.264
encoded content. This means operating system suppliers can offer
H.264 plug-ins for use in browsers that dont support it. Likewise,
Google can offer plug-ins for WebM. Most recently, in May 2011,
38 Feature StorY
Microsoft, who has been committed to using H.264, purchased
Skype, which uses the VP8 codec.
Nearly all digital video that is delivered to end users is
developed as an end to end solution. Most of the concerns
about codec standards for video distribution are focused on the
development of content and delivery through connections across
the Internet, cable, satellite, or physical media. Even if the video
content is encoded with a standards based codec, it will likely use
a proprietary container, transport protocol, media player, or Digital
Rights Management scheme. In order to view standards-based
content, the endpoint device must use a browser based plug-in or
a mini application embedded into an appliance or other media
accessory device. Here, proprietary influence has been exerted by
the PC industry members, creating a barrier to the interoperability
that a standards-based codec is envisioned to deliver.
The standards war played out by PC industry giants creates
interesting news; however, this pursuit of competitive advantage
prohibits use of a single codec, and simple interoperability for
Internet streaming. It also demonstrates how popular video
streaming will be on PCs and other devices, and how critical
competitive barriers are to their future profitability.
That Standards Topic, Again
Standards are established by industry, national, or international
working groups. They can also be established by unofficial
consortiums or organizations. Standards are essential to
interoperability in communications technologies, particularly
one-to-many or many-to-many applications. Examples of
standards include:
IEEE 100BaseT Ethernet networking interface
NTSC or ATSC - Video broadcast standards
ITU H.323 Videoconferencing standard
Products that employ these standards are truly
interoperable. You plug an NTSC signal into a display with
a BNC connector labeled NTSC, and you get a video picture.
h.264 Profiles and Levels
the h.264 compression standard includes 17 profiles and 16 levels for
encoding video for different applications. each profile uses different
techniques with different complexity, requiring different processing power
from decoding devices. each level specifies the data rate and resolution.
Different profiles and levels can be used to target performance specific
to different classes of streaming applications. the h.264 compression
standard is used widely in many different streaming encoders; however,
the variety of profiles and levels available means it is important to select
devices applying a profile and level appropriate for the application, as well
as confirm that encoding and decoding device performance is matched.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
The same applies to Ethernet communications or the H.323
videoconferencing standard.
Codec standards typically apply to the data format and
the decoding, leaving opportunities for different product
implementations to optimize or simplify the encoding for a
specific application. Standards are not established for quality;
they are established with a priority to facilitate interoperability.
However, best solutions are solicited from the research
community and they make their way into the standard.
As discussed earlier, the AV industry uses broadcast video
standards every day, but there is also a vast array of connections,
resolutions, signal formats, digital rights management, and
encryption methods used by computer-video and consumer video
equipment, which are based on specifications or de facto standards.
As these are not ratified standards, the specifications for these
interfaces may not always be followed by manufacturers to a
degree that will deliver the interoperable performance a ratified
Extrons h.264 Streaming Technology
Sme 100
extrons h.264 Streaming technology A platform
Supporting the Broad requirements of AV Systems
In 2011, extron introduces the Sme 100 Streaming
media encoder, its first streaming product based on the
mpeG-4/avC h.264 compression standard. the Sme 100
interfaces commonly used DvI, rGb, and standard definition
and high definition video and audio, providing advanced
interfacing and signal processing features common to extron
signal processing products. It features the high quality scaling
technology found in many extron products and offers a wide
range of audio and video compression controls providing
the ability to stream at a variety of resolutions and frame
rates. the combination of compression and bit rate controls
and the flexibility to choose from a variety of streaming
protocols make the product flexible for use in a variety of
network environments.
www.avsystemsdesign.com
standard offers. Integration of this type of equipment represents
an ongoing challenge for AV manufacturers and integrators.
Standards based codecs are more likely to exploit the cost
curve of popular technology. For example, increased use of
MPEG-2 or H.264 codecs will create more suppliers, increasing
competition, resulting in a greater variety of products. The
combined effort of many users of the standard will also advance
and improve the capability of the technology over time. However,
use of standard codec does not guarantee interoperability
between products. The processing capability of the streaming
devices, transport protocols, or container formats used are often
proprietary. Compatibility between products may need to be
audited or proven in field tests.
Interoperability is highly desirable in applications with open,
unmanaged endpoints, with one-to-many or many-to-many
delivery paradigms or production workflows where the video
must be delivered as a digital file or bitstream in a common user
Selection of the h.264 standard as the codec for av
streaming products supports an open technology environment,
offering a high degree of interoperability and compatibility for
the Sme 100 with media servers as well as the flexibility to
decode live streams on hardware or software platforms.
the Sme 100 is used in Corporate, education,
Government, and other enterprise applications. It can be used
to stream av System sources to pCs for monitoring purposes.
presentations or videoconferences can be streamed to
desktop pCs or overflow rooms, extending the reach of av
systems. It can also be integrated with Streaming media
Servers or Content Delivery networks to provide scalable
distribution across an enterprise network or the Internet.
model Version Part no.
Sme 100 h.264 Streaming media encoder 60-1061-01
Feature StorY 39
 format. A natural conclusion may be to always select a standard.
However, arbitrarily selecting a commonly used codec because
it is a standard may or may not be the best choice for every
application due to technical or performance reasons.
Image Transforms and Codecs
Video codecs use one of two primary transforms. The Discrete
Cosine Transform DCT and the Discrete Wavelet Transform
DWT. These transforms convert the video data from a spatial
domain into a frequency domain where the image data may be
compressed more easily. Each transform has different strengths
and weaknesses. Use of DCT is partly traditional. Limited
computer processing power at the time of its creation made use of
the DCT desirable because it consumed minimal processing power.
The DWT is used in many applications but has seen broader use
with the advent of the JPEG2000 compression standard.
The DCT is used broadly in codecs employing temporal
compression, using data processed across a Group of Pictures
GOP. This includes codecs used to stream video on the Internet
such as: H.264, Theora, and VP8. These codecs achieve bit rates
below 10 and even 5 Mbps streaming high definition video, and
below 1 Mbps for standard definition video or lower resolutions,
such as 176 144, QCIF Quarter Common Intermediate Format.
The DWT on the other hand, provides very high efficiency in
still image compression for a more continuous or graceful image
output as compression ratios are increased on still frames.
Applied in JPEG2000, it has utility streaming high definition video
on networks that can support bit rates of 100 Mbps or higher,
maintaining very high image qualities and low encode-to-decode
latency below 100 ms.
dCT and dwT Comparison
dCT dwT
Spatial Compression efficiency moderate high
Degradation with increased Discrete Continuous
spatial compression
applied with temporal compression Common rare
using Gop
applied in low delay applications Common Common
Exceptions to this summary include : 1) four H.264 High profiles
using intra-compression, which can be applied to low delay
applications providing comparable qualities to JPEG2000, 2) the
Dirac codec, which includes a temporal compression applying a
Group of Pictures scheme, and 3) the PURE3 codec from Extron,
which uses the DWT, but offers a unique form of temporal
compression capable of achieving bit rates from 10 Mbps down
40 Feature StorY
to 1 Mbps with high resolution computer-video inputs in
certain applications.
Transform use in different Codecs
dCT dwT
JpeG, mpeG-1, mpeG-2, JpeG2000, Dirac, Dirac-
h.264, vp6, vp8, vC-1 pro, pure3
Proprietary Codecs
Proprietary codecs are used every day in industrial and consumer
applications. Situations that motivate development of a proprietary
codec include:
1. A developer or manufacturer has established user
requirements that cannot be fulfilled with available
standards. An investment is made to develop a codec
that fulfills a unique need. This is more likely to occur in
closed applications.
2. An organization maintains a degree of control over a
significant user group and produces a unique codec,
container format, or viewer application from which it can
manage the quality delivered to endpoints. This situation is
more likely to exist in broad use applications such as PCs.
3. A developer or manufacturer creates a codec to provide
a competitive advantage and barrier to entry for
alternative products.
4. A company creates a codec to avoid licensing fees or legal
risk associated with patents.
Enterprise applications with defined, manageable endpoints
are strong candidates to consider proprietary codecs. The delivery
interface, endpoints, economics, and expansion of the system can
be planned. Specific performance or quality requirements may be
based on bit rate targets or error resilience operating on certain
types of networks. They may be based on support for a specific
input or output signal format, resolution, or picture quality. They
may also be based on very low encoding and decoding delay,
below 100ms for instance.
When applied to enterprise applications, dedicated hardware
designed alongside a proprietary video codec can provide
superior performance relative to standards-based video codecs
that often rely on a blend of intellectual property or technology
from different suppliers. Proprietary encoding algorithms and
dedicated hardware can often be optimized and tailored to special
requirements found in unique applications. Standards-based
hardware and software applications may be fixed or preconfigured
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
for delivery of specific video content such as entertainment or
video teleconferencing at bandwidths targeted below 5 Mbps.
These low bandwidth solutions may not be suitable for the image
quality or low latency requirements of enterprise level applications
such as remote video contribution links, telemedicine, command
and control, surveillance, or simulation environments.
Proprietary codecs can also provide greater security when the
Extrons PuRE3 Codec
vnC 225 DvI
the pure3 Codec Fulfilling the most Challenging
Streaming requirements
the extron pure3 codec has been developed for customers
operating on private networks with real-time, mission-critical
applications. It has been developed to support the most
demanding image quality requirements streaming computer
or video inputs, including maintaining native source resolution
and frame rate for virtually any computer or video input up
to 19201200 or 1080p resolutions. visually lossless image
quality and 4:4:4 color quantization are retained ensuring that
video delivered to production systems or large projection
displays will not exhibit compression artifacts. the codec
supports use in real-time, interactive, collaborative applications
where dispersed participants can be confident they are acting
on identical visual information and bidirectional communication
will not be hampered by delay of any significance.
the pure3 codec provides highly efficient compression
and is intended for use on commonly used lan and Wan
infrastructures. an error concealment system in the pure3
codec makes it highly immune to network errors, preserving
high image quality even under conditions of heavy packet loss
without requiring additional delay or bandwidth used by error
correction technology.
the pure3 codec was developed because the performance
www.avsystemsdesign.com
technology platform is not easily accessible to the public at large.
The foundation for security in any communication application
starts with physical security, communications architecture and
network policies for authentication, and encryption. Use of a
proprietary codec provides opportunity for an additional layer
of protection, since the codec will not be easily accessible to
unintended users.
available from mpeG-2 or JpeG2000 technology was unable
to support this combination of demanding requirements.
JpeG2000 was capable of supporting the quality, but at high
bit rates; mpeG-2 supported more efficient bit rates but would
not maintain the quality with low encoding delays. the pure3
codec has been implemented in extrons vn matrix 225
codecs, which support rGb or DvI signals and digital audio,
and the vn matrix 300 codec, which supports SDI, hD-SDI,
and 3G-SDI video formats and embedded audio. vn-matrix
products employing the pure3 codec are in use by customers
in the following quality-critical applications:
video Contribution & Collaboration - For broadcast,
post-production, scientific, military, product design, and
oil/gas exploration
Control rooms - For broadcast, surveillance, and
command & control applications
training, education & Documentation - For visualization
and simulation environments
model Version Part no.
vnC 225 DvI Codec for DvI-I, audio/Keyboard/mouse 60-1118-02
vne 225 DvI encoder for DvI-I & Digital audio 60-1119-02
vnD 225 DvI Decoder for DvI-I & Digital audio 60-1120-02
Feature StorY 41
 A real-world example of vulnerability using an open standard
was experienced in 2008 when Iraqi insurgents used SkyGrabber,
an openly available $26 satellite snooping software program,
to intercept and monitor video from US Predator drones. A
proprietary codec would have made it considerably more difficult
for the insurgents to extract this information.
Network and User Environments
Its valuable to consider the network environment in which
your streaming product will be deployed. Lets examine three
network environments:
Private Private networks can be designed and
configured to support streaming traffic requirements.
Their performance can be measured and managed.
Where the network infrastructure is applied in shared
use data, voice, and video, greater attention will be made
of bandwidth use.
Public Streaming delivered across the Internet presents
more challenges as it is a publicly shared network. Limits
to Quality of Service QoS and available bandwidth at
endpoints limit the types of streaming applications which
can be served. Security is also a concern.
Virtual Private Networks or VPNs VPNs provide
encryption and greater security for connections crossing
the Internet.
Private, managed networks can be designed to support use
of codecs requiring bandwidths of 50 Mbps or higher. Public
networks or shared use private networks will typically have lower
bandwidth available, making streaming at bit rates below 5 Mbps
or lower desirable. Fewer guarantees for QoS on the Internet
may require error correction systems or transport and streaming
protocols designed to deliver reliable performance. For more
information concerning transport and streaming protocols, read
Different Methods for Streaming Media in the Spring 2011 issue
of AV Systems Design.
Deciding on a Codec Standards-Based
or Proprietary?
The discussion thus far has presented a broad set of topics
including a variety of codecs targeted at different applications
both proprietary and standards-based, open and closed systems,
different network environments, and summary performance
delivered by codecs using different transforms. Some streaming
applications require delivery of electronic signals to presentation
or production systems, and others require direct delivery of a
video bitstream to a PC or hardware decoders in open systems.
Finally, the PC world is currently subject to a dynamic playing
42 Feature StorY
field influenced by powerful organizations. Where codecs are
concerned, its clear that:
There are many codecs in use, some of which have
targeted different applications and requirements
Certain applications requiring interoperability for
communications or media exchange use codecs, which
have been ratified or endorsed into standards by official
standards bodies
Audiovisual applications must provide solutions for media
sources, which often do not offer a standard resolution,
interface, or interoperability
Use of a standard offers the opportunity to support many
endpoints through interoperability and transfer of digital
media in live streaming or production workflows
Proprietary solutions can offer unique performance and
potentially increased security
Plug-ins and conversion tools exist for many codecs and
proprietary container formats providing compatibility for
different decoding devices
A decision criteria for selecting a codec is presented on the
facing page. It considers: 1) the user and system environment,
2) exchange format, 3) delivery paradigm, 4) endpoints, and 5)
performance. This decision criteria is not absolute, but it provides
a guidepost for selecting a codec in a manner that avoids
over-simplified thinking, marketing hype, and the politics of
industrial markets.
how many could many-to-many be?
It could be thousands to millions of endpoints.
how many could few-to-few be?
It could be hundreds of endpoints.
A final word of wisdom - stay informed. The Joint Video Team
of ITU and ISO are currently working on the High Efficiency
Video Coding - HEVC as a successor to H.264. The goal is to
cut the bit rate of H.264 in half for low complexity applications.
Expect continued editorial discussion, white papers, and
promotion of different codecs in the future. Rapid growth and
advancements in both consumer and industrial streaming video
applications will continue to bring change and the emergence
of new codecs.
Karl Johnson is Director of product marketing at extron electronics for streaming
technologies and videowall processing systems. he worked at electrosonic for over 20 years,
most recently as General manager of the electrosonic product division.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 Endpoint device?
Exchange format?
Delivery paradigm?

Personal computers or consumer devices Hardware decoding or managed PCs

Video bitstream, software decoding Electronic signal or software decoding
One-to-many or many-to-many One-to-one or few-to-few

Endpoint positions?
Performance?

A B C
Open computing environment Variable endpoints Defined endpoints
Defined endpoints
De facto or real standards Standard
Unique performance
performance Unique performance

STANDARDS-BASED PROPRIETARY

Open, Unmanaged Endpoints Closed, Managable Endpoints

A B C
Evaluate Standards-Based
use a Standards-Based Codec Codecs and Proprietary Codecs use a Proprietary Codec

For applications with: If the application is: a proprietary codec should be

1. an open network environment
delivering media to pCs or
consumer devices
2. the delivery paradigm is
one-to-many or many-to-many
a standards based codec should
be selected which originates from a
standards body such as ISo. however,
certain applications may target use of
endpoints that are restricted to use a
proprietary codec or container and media
players. best practice would be to not let
the endpoint device drive the technology
selection. a solution using a standards
based codec will offer a future that
includes greater interoperability with new
media systems and endpoint devices.
1. a closed system or the opportunity
exists to manage the endpoints
2. applied to a private or
managed connection
3. uses an electronic signal interface such
as hD-SDI or DvI, or decoder plug-ins
can be used on decoding devices
4. the delivery paradigm is
one-to-one or few-to-few
If endpoints are not managed or part
of a closed system and interoperability
is required, then a standards-based
codec is recommended. Compatibility
between encoders and decoders
must still be confirmed based on the
class of application served and use of
common protocols.
considered for applications that are:
1. Closed systems
2. reside on a private network or offer
the ability to manage endpoints
3. uses an electronic signal interface such
as hD-SDI, DvI, or decoder plug-ins
can be used on decoding devices
4. the delivery paradigm is
one-to-one or few-to-few
5. unique streaming performance
is required and is not available
from standards-based codecs
When security is an important
consideration, a proprietary codec
may contribute additional protection
for an application.

www.avsystemsdesign.com Feature StorY 43

 Resources for designing Streaming Systems

AV Streaming Design guide 2nd edition

AV Streaming over ip for the AV professional
av streaming technologies have been around for over a decade, yet only recently has video streaming found its way into the
professional av market. We designed the extron av Streaming Design Guide as an educational resource aimed at familiarizing
av professionals with the technologies, challenges, and potential applications of av over Ip streaming. Inside youll find
discussions on the differences between consumer and professional av streaming, as well as the quality expectations and
technologies associated with both. You will also find detailed system designs constructed from real-world applications utilizing
extron av streaming solutions.

Call your extron representative at 800.633.9876 for a copy.

training Course: Streaming technologies for your Applications

part of the School of emerging technologies
extron offers in-depth training programs on av streaming technologies and Ip networking topics essential to integrating
successful solutions, as part of the extron School of emerging technologies. this specific course examines compression system
standards and networking concepts relevant to streaming av signals over Ip networks. those who successfully complete the
course will come away with:

an understanding of various compression standards and how they are applied to different applications
Knowledge of compression and bit rate controls and how they affect bandwidth requirements
an understanding of network protocols applied in streaming solutions and the way It managers should approach network
management for streaming

For more information, visit www.extron.com/training or call 800.633.9876

44 Feature StorY AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 H.264 Encoder Designed for
Pro AV System Integration

Extron SME 100

The Extron SME 100 is not like any live streaming encoder on the market today. It is designed specifically to support a wide variety
of video formats required in pro AV applications, and features integrated switching with loop-throughs for easy integration into pro AV
systems. The SME 100 interfaces with DVI, RGB, HDTV, and standard definition sources, and employs standards-based H.264 / MPEG-4
AVC encoding to output an IP stream that can easily be decoded and viewed on desktop or laptop PCs. High performance Extron signal
processing scales and optimizes video input signals for the intended viewing application. The SME 100 is the pro AV integrators ideal
choice for delivering AV media over networks.

Key Features:
Streams DVI, RGB, HDTV, and video
signals with audio over IP networks
Standards-based H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
video compression
Integrated three-input AV switcher
Buffered input loop-throughs for video
and audio
Supports input signal resolutions up to
1920x1200, including HDTV 1080p/60
DVI, RGB, HDTV, and standard
definition video upscaling and
downscaling
Selectable streaming output resolutions
from 166x120 to 1024x768, and HDTV
720p/30 and 1080p/30
Adjustable encoder bit rate and quality

www.extron.com/sme100
 eXtron neW proDuCtS
at InFoComm 2011
extron at infoComm 2011
A roundup of news, activities, and new products featured
by Extron at InfoComm 2011 in Orlando
e xtron announced many new
developments at InfoComm 2011,
including new Global Configurator
professional software for advanced
configuration, the new Xtp Crosspoint
Systems for reliable integration of analog
and digital av sources, more than a
dozen new audio products in the largest
audio demo room at InfoComm, and
much more.
new global Configurator
professional Software for
Advanced Configuration
extron introduced Global Configurator
professional, next-generation configuration
software for larger, more sophisticated
touchlink-based configurable control
46 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011
systems. Global Configurator pro includes
powerful new features, such as Controller
Groups and conditional logic with local
variables, providing greater flexibility
for more elaborate control system
designs. Global Configurator professional
also enables touchlink for ipad, and
touchlink for Web, which allow users to
control their av system from an ipad or
laptop. For more information on extrons
approach to configurable control, see this
issues cover story on page 28.
Xtp Crosspoint Systems Debut
extron is launching the Xtp Crosspoint
Systems to deliver high performance
switching and transmission of a wide
range of video formats, including the
highest resolution DvI and hDmI signals.
the extreme bandwidth backplane
designed into the Xtp Crosspoint matrix
Switchers provides a truly future-ready
av integration solution. Intuitive control
software provides straightforward system
configuration without complicated
programming. these robust systems
deliver reliable and dependable switching
of video signals through eDID and hDCp
key management. With advanced 24/7
system monitoring and hot-swappable
modular components, the Xtp Crosspoint
is built for continuous, trouble-free
operation in the most critical applications.
also, the flexible design of these systems
enables easy integration of digital and
analog devices.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

largest Audio Demo room ever
more than a dozen technology displays
and hands-on working stations were
showcased in the audio Demo room,
the largest ever for extron at InfoComm.
audio technology experts demonstrated
extrons newest products, including
the new SF 228t two-Way SoundField
Ceiling tile Speakers, the Sm 3 Compact
Full-range Speaker with Speedmount,
the Dmp 44 lC Digital matrix processor,
and the mvC 121 plus three Input
Stereo mixer with DSp.
Quantum elite and Quantum Connect
now hDCp-Compliant
extrons new Quantum hDmI Input
and output Cards have added hDmI
connectivity and hDCp compliance to
the extron Quantum elite and Quantum
Connect videowall processing Systems.
each Quantum hDmI Input and
output Card supports resolutions up
to 19201200 and hDtv 1080p/60 for
presentation of hDCp-encrypted sources
on hDCp-compliant displays. the new
cards feature high performance scaling
technology to optimize real-time image
processing and ensure high quality image
presentation on the videowall displays.
Sme 100 Streaming media encoder
employs h.264 encoding
extron introduced the new Sme 100, a
live streaming media encoder, designed
specifically to support the wide variety
of video formats required in pro av
applications. It interfaces with DvI, rGb,
hDtv, and standard definition sources
and features a universal video input
with auto input format detection. It
also features integrated switching with
loop-throughs for simple integration
into pro av systems. the Sme 100
uses standards-based h.264 encoding
to output an Ip stream that can be
decoded easily and viewed on mobile
devices, desktop pCs, or laptop pCs.
www.avsystemsdesign.com
eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011
Andrew edwards honored with
pioneer of AV Award
InfoComm International honored extron
president and founder, andrew edwards,
with the prestigious adele De berri pioneers
of av award. the award is designed to
recognize individuals who have made
extraordinary contributions to the formation
of the av industry. over nearly three
decades, andrews vision and leadership
have made extron one of the leading
providers of innovative products, training, and customer support to the
professional av industry.
andrew was recognized for his dedication to customers, which he has
exhibited through the development of comprehensive training, industry
leading support and innovative products. his focus on the customer
has strengthened the av industry and made possible a higher quality of
presentation technology.
Extrons Virtual Tradeshow
Visit extrons Virtual tradeshow online
If you couldnt make it to InfoComm this year, or even if you could, you can
get an insiders look at our exciting new products and technologies. videos
and other materials can be accessed through an exclusive area of our Web
site at www.extron.com/virtualtradeshow
new products
presentations and product demo videos - See how they work in action
Guides, brochures, & other product information - one-click access to all
the important literature and product Web pages
Interviews with extron experts from the show floor - learn how the
products can address your real-world needs
eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011 47
 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011

Xtp Crosspoint Systems

A Completely Integrated Solution for digital
AV Switching and distribution

the extron Xtp Crosspoint is a flexible, reliable signal switching and distribution system that provides a
completely integrated solution for multiple digital and analog formats. Xtp Crosspoint matrix switchers
support local connectivity as well as extended transmission capability for sending high resolution video,
audio, rS-232, ethernet, and power up to 330 feet (100 m) over a single Cat 5-type cable. these
modular systems are expandable up to 1616 or 3232, and can be populated with input and output
boards for long distance transmission when paired with Xtp transmitters and receivers. I/o boards are
also available for direct hDmI, DvI, vGa, video, and audio connections to support local sources and
displays. the Xtp Crosspoint is hDCp compliant and delivers ultra-fast, highly reliable digital switching
with extron exclusive SpeedSwitch technology. Featuring advanced 24/7 system monitoring and
hot-swappable modular components, the Xtp Crosspoint is built for continuous, trouble-free operation
in the most critical applications.

www.extron.com/xtpcrosspoint for more information on Xtp Crosspoint Systems.

48 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011 AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011

Ethernet Extron
AV Control TLP 1000TV
Network 10" Tabletop
TouchLink
Touchpanel
Ethernet

Extron Extron
XTP T USW 103 IPCP 505
Long Distance Three Input XTP Switcher IP Link Control Processor
with Integrated XTP Transmitter 100-240V 50-60Hz COM1 COM2 COM3 COM7
House Network Switch
1 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 eBUS

POWER INPUTS SIG LINK XTP T USW 103

OVER XTP
12V
--A MAX AUDIO RS-232 IR CONTACT RS-232 +-+- TX RX TX RX TX RX TX RX RTS CTS S G S G S G S G +V D -S +S
LAN
PWR OUT = 12W
RESET SWITCHED 12VDC IR/SERIAL RELAY
40W MAX TOTAL
3 4 COM4 COM5 COM6 COM8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 FLEX I/O
1 2 3 XTP OUT ACT NET LINK Tx Rx Tx Rx 1 2 3 Tx Rx

5A MAX
+-+- TX RX TX RX TX RX TX RX RTS CTS S G S G S G S G 1 2 3 4

Flat Panel Display

Ethernet
IR
VGA
AUDIO

HDMI HDMI
COMPUTER

HDMI
Ethernet
Extron
Cable Cubby 600 POWER
SIG LINK
OVER XTP HDMI AUDIO
OUTPUTS
AUDIO
S/PDIF
RELAYS
XTP SR HDMI
REMOTE

with AAPs
12V

RS-232 IR Ethernet Ethernet

RS-232 IR ON 1 2 RS-232
--A MAX L R
RESET

XTP IN ACT LINK Tx Rx Tx Rx

OFF HDMI + +
NET Tx Rx

Extron
XTP SR HDMI
Long Distance XTP
Scaling Receiver

Flat Panel Display

Ethernet
Extron CAT 5-type Cable
XTP CP 4o DVI Pro

XTP CP 4o DVI Pro

XTP CP 4i DVI Pro

XTP CP 4i DVI Pro

RS-232
XTP CP 4o HDMI

XTP CP 4o HDMI
XTP CP 4i HDMI

XTP CP 4i HDMI

XTP CP 4o

XTP CP 4o
XTP CP 4i VGA

XTP CP 4i VGA

XTP T UWP 202

XTP CP 4o SA
XTP CP 4i

XTP CP 4i

IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN OUT
IN OUT
IN OUT
IN OUT
IN OUT OUT OUT
Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Long Distance Two

IR

IR
R

IR

IR
R

HDMI
RS-232

RS-232

RS-232

RS-232
Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx
L

Input XTP Transmitter

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx
IR

IR

IR

IR
R

R
IR/RS-232 OVER XTP

IR/RS-232 OVER XTP

IR/RS-232 OVER XTP

IR/RS-232 OVER XTP

RS-232

RS-232

RS-232

RS-232
Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx
L

Laptop
AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO
AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO
Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx
IR

IR

IR

IR
R

R
RS-232

RS-232

RS-232

RS-232
Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx
L

PWR HDCP HDMI PC

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx
IR

IR

IR

IR
R

HDMI
AUDIO INPUT LINK
HDMI INPUT
RS-232

RS-232

RS-232

RS-232

LINK
Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx

Tx Rx
L

LAN
COMPUTER IN
ACT
POWER
SIG LINK OUTPUTS XTP R HDMI
OVER XTP HDMI AUDIO AUDIO S/PDIF
NET 12V RELAYS
--A MAX RS-232 IR ON L R 1 2 RESET
NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK

Ethernet ACT LINK

XTP IN ACT
NET
LINK Tx Rx Tx Rx OFF HDMI + - + -
ACT

ACT

ACT

ACT

RESET

Extron
LINK

LINK

LINK

LINK

O
XTP

XTP

XTP

XTP

I
N U
T
SIG

SIG

SIG

SIG

P
P

XTP R HDMI
PWR

PWR

PWR

PWR

U
T U
NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK

S T
S

Long Distance XTP

ACT

ACT

ACT

ACT

Extron
LINK

LINK

LINK

LINK

Receiver for HDMI

XTP

XTP

XTP

XTP

AVT 200 HD
SIG

SIG

SIG

SIG
PWR

PWR

PWR

PWR
NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK

ATSC and HDTV Cable Tuner

ACT

ACT

ACT

ACT

HDMI with
LINK

LINK

LINK

LINK

Flat Panel Display

AVT 200HD

embedded audio
XTP

XTP

XTP

XTP

CHANNEL ATSC TUNER

ADJUST VOLUME
SIG

SIG

SIG

SIG

IR MENU NEXT
SDTV
EDTV
PWR

PWR

PWR

PWR

CONFIG HDTV 100-240V --A MAX

NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK

NET LINK
ACT

ACT

ACT

ACT
LINK

LINK

LINK

LINK

HDMI
XTP

XTP

XTP

XTP

50-60Hz
SIG

SIG

SIG

SIG
PWR

PWR

PWR

PWR
OUT

OUT

OUT

OUT

OUT

OUT

OUT
IN

IN

IN

IN

IN

IN

IN

IN

Ethernet
Blu-ray Extron
STANDBY/ON
PQLS HDMI OPEN/CLOSE FL OFF

IR
XTP CrossPoint 3200
Modular Digital Matrix Switcher
USB

HDMI

Stereo Audio
POWER
HDMI AUDIO
INPUTS AUDIO INPUT SIG LINK

12V AUDIO OVER XTP

--A MAX
ON ANALOG L R RS-232 IR RESET

HDMI LOOP-THRU OFF XTP T HDMI HDMI + + Tx Rx Tx Rx XTP OUT ACT

NET
LINK

Extron
XTP T HDMI
Long Distance XTP
Transmitter for HDMI

PC
Extron
SI 28
Surface Mount
Speakers
Ethernet
VGA
100-240V 1.3A, 50-60Hz
XTP T VGA 17TT XPA 1002
POWER UNIVERSAL LOOP-THRU
INPUTS OVER XTP SIG LINK C US AUDIO/VIDEO
12V AUDIO AUDIO
LISTED
APPARATUS CLASS 2 WIRING
--A MAX L R RS-232 IR RESET LEVEL INPUTS REMOTE OUTPUT
1 2 1 2
1 2 10V 50 mA
LIMITER/ 1 2
VOL/MUTE
+ + Tx Rx Tx Rx XTP OUT ACT LINK PROTECT
NET
SIGNAL

Extron
0 0
STANDBY

XTP T VGA Extron

Long Distance Universal XTP XPA 1002
Transmitter for VGA Stereo Power Amplifier

www.avsystemsdesign.com eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011 49

 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011

Xtp Crosspoint 1600 Series

modular digital matrix Switchers from 4x4
to 16x16 with SpeedSwitch Technology

the extron Xtp Crosspoint 1600 provides flexible, reliable

digital and analog video switching and distribution between
local and remote endpoints. this modular matrix switcher is
configurable from 4x4 up to 16x16 using a wide variety of
available input and output boards. It sends high-resolution
video, audio, rS-232, ethernet, and power up to 330 feet
(100 m) over a single Cat 5-type cable to remote Xtp
transmitters and receivers. the XtpCrosspoint1600 also
supports direct hDmI, DvI, vGa, video, and audio connections
to local sources and displays. the XtpCrosspoint System
delivers robust signal routing and reliability with ultra-fast
digital video switching and advanced system monitoring.

Xtp 1600 www.extron.com/xtp1600

Xtp Crosspoint 3200 Series

modular digital matrix Switchers from 4x4
to 32x32 with SpeedSwitch Technology

the extron Xtp Crosspoint 3200 provides flexible,

reliable digital and analog video switching and distribution
between local and remote endpoints. this modular
matrix switcher is configurable from 4x4 up to 32x32
using a wide variety of available input and output boards.
It sends high-resolution video, audio, rS-232, and
ethernet up to 330feet (100m) over a single Cat5-type
cable to remote Xtp transmitters and receivers. the
XtpCrosspoint3200 also supports direct hDmI, DvI,
vGa, video, and audio connections to local sources and
displays. the XtpCrosspoint System delivers robust
signal routing and reliability with ultra-fast digital video
switching and advanced system monitoring. Xtp 3200

www.extron.com/xtp3200

50 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011 AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011

Xtp t hDmI

Xtp t hDmi
Long distance XTP Transmitter for hdmI

the extron Xtp t hDmI is an Xtp transmitter that sends video, audio, bidirectional rS-232 and Ir, and ethernet up to 330feet (100m)
over a single Cat5-type cable. It is hDCp compliant, hDmI 1.3 compatible, and supports 1080p/60 Deep Color and 19201200 signals.
the transmitter also allows ethernet extension and insertion of bidirectional rS-232 and Ir for lan access and av device control. the
XtpthDmI transmitter works with the XtpCrosspoint System for signal distribution and long-distance transmission between remote
endpoints.

www.extron.com/xtpthdmi

Xtp r hDmI Xtp Sr hDmI

Xtp r hDmi Xtp Sr hDmi

Long distance XTP Receiver for hdmI Long distance XTP Scaling Receiver

the extron Xtp r hDmI is an Xtpreceiverthat acceptsvideo,
audio, bidirectional rS-232 and Ir, and ethernet up to 330feet
(100m) over a single Cat5-type cable. the receiver features
hDmI audio de-embedding with digital S/pDIF or analog stereo
audio outputs. It also allows ethernet extension and insertion
of bidirectional rS-232 and Ir for lan access and av device
control. the XtprhDmI receiverworks with the XtpCrosspoint
System for signal distribution and long-distance transmission
between remote endpoints.
the extron Xtp Sr hDmI is an Xtp receiver that scales hDmI,
DvI, rGb, hD component video, and standard definition video
to the optimal output resolution for the display. It accepts
video, audio, bidirectional rS-232 and Ir, and ethernet up to
330 feet (100 m) over a single Cat 5-type cable. the receiver
features hDmI audio de-embedding with digital S/pDIF or
analog stereo audio outputs, and allows ethernet extension and
insertion of bidirectional rS-232 and Ir for lan access and av
device control.

www.extron.com/xtprhdmi www.extron.com/xtpsrhdmi

www.avsystemsdesign.com eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011 51

 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011
Xtp t uWp 202
Xtp t uWp 202
Long distance Two Input XTP
Transmitter - decora wallplate
the Xtp t uWp 202 is a two-input transmitter for sending
hDmI or rGbhv video, audio, and ethernet up to 330 feet
(100 m) over a single Cat 5-type cable. It digitizes incoming
analog video for reliable display on a variety of output devices.
the transmitter is hDCp compliant, hDmI 1.3 compatible,
and supports 1080p/60 Deep Color and 19201200 signals.
It also allows ethernet extension for lan access.
www.extron.com/xtpuwp202
Xtp t uSW 103
Xtp t uSW 103
Long distance Three Input XTP Switcher
with Integrated XTP Transmitter
the Xtp t uSW 103 is a three-input switcher for sending hDmI
or rGbhv video, audio, control, and ethernet up to 330 feet
(100 m) over a single Cat 5-type cable. It is hDCp compliant,
hDmI 1.3 compatible, and supports 1080p/60 Deep Color and
19201200 signals. It digitizes incoming analog video for reliable
display on a variety of output devices. the transmitter also
allows ethernet extension and insertion of bidirectional rS-232
and Ir for lan access and av device control.
www.extron.com/xtptusw103
52 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011
Xtp t uWp 304
Xtp t uWp 304
Long distance Four Input XTP
Transmitter - decora wallplate
the Xtp t uWp 304 is a four-input transmitter for sending
hDmI or multi-format analog video, audio, and ethernet up
to 330 feet (100 m) over a single Cat 5-type cable. the
hCDp-compliant transmitter digitizes all incoming analog
formats and applies SD pro processing to deinterlace 480i
and 576i video signals for reliable display on a variety of
output devices.
www.extron.com/xtpuwp304
Xtp t vGa
Xtp t VgA
Long distance universal XTP Transmitter for VgA
the extron Xtp t vGa is a universal Xtp transmitter that sends
multi-format analog video, audio, control, and ethernet up to
330 feet (100 m) over a single Cat 5-type cable. It digitizes
all incoming analog formats and applies SD pro processing to
deinterlace 480i and 576i video signals for reliable display on a
variety of output devices. to simplify integration, the transmitter
features vGa loop-through for source monitoring. It also allows
ethernet extension and insertion of bidirectional rS-232 and Ir
for lan access and av device control.
www.extron.com/xtptvga
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011

tlp 710tv

tlp 710tV
7" Tabletop TouchLink Touchpanel

the extron tlp 710tv is a configurable 7" tabletop touchlink touchpanel featuring a contemporary, thin bezel design that
complements the aesthetics of any environment. an integrated mtp twisted pair receiver accepts S-video or composite video and
audio input signals over standard Cat 5 cable. power over ethernet - poe allows the touchpanel to receive power via the ethernet
connector instead of an attached power source. the tlp 710tv is ideal for a wide variety of applications that require a compact
tabletop or veSa mount touchpanel with flexible connectivity and advanced control capabilities.

www.extron.com/tlp710tv

tlp 710mv

tlp 710mV
7" wall mount TouchLink Touchpanel

the extron tlp 710mv is a configurable 7" wall mount touchlink touchpanel featuring a contemporary, thin bezel design that
complements the aesthetics of any environment. an integrated mtp twisted pair receiver accepts S-video or composite video and
audio input signals over standard Cat 5 cable. power over ethernet - poe allows the touchpanel to receive power via the ethernet
connector instead of an attached power source. the tlp 710mv is ideal for a wide variety of applications that require a compact,
wall mount touchpanel with flexible connectivity and advanced control capabilities.

www.extron.com/tlp710mv

www.avsystemsdesign.com eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011 53

 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011

Global Configurator professional

global Configurator professional

Advanced Configuration Software for AV Control Systems

Global Configurator professional is extrons next generation configuration software for larger,
more sophisticated touchlink-based configurable control systems. It provides an integrated
environment for defining advanced av control system functionality from an easy-to-use
graphical user interface. powerful features provide greater flexibility for more elaborate control Driver Configurator Support - allows
creation of user defined serial and
system designs.
ethernet drivers for devices that do
not already have drivers available.

enhanced Functionality With use of if Statements

Conditional logic allows advanced functionality by making if and else statements available. With the help of conditional logic, one
can easily set up operations that are dependent upon occurrence and non-occurrence of certain events. Conditional logic with local
variables also allows examination of conditions within the configured button actions before performing a task. this ultimately helps in
streamlining project creation by minimizing the need for monitors and schedules.

Combining multiple Controllers for larger Control Systems

With GC pro, the controller groups feature allows control processors to be grouped together to work as one big controller. this feature
is required to serve the needs of advanced systems that require more control ports than any single control processor possesses.
Grouping the control processors will also reduce the need for long rS-232 cable runs as the group can span several rooms instead of
being limited to a single room. existing control systems benefit with this added feature as it affords an opportunity for easy expansion.

easy Duplication of Control System Configurations

the controller templates feature helps create a baseline configuration that can be reused to create identical control systems. In essence,
this feature creates an abstract representation of a controller. When a controller is linked to a template, it becomes an exact replica of
that abstract. any changes made to a template are automatically duplicated to all the controllers linked to it.

Create Additional point of Control for touchlink

Global Configurator professional enables virtual touchlink, which creates a additional point of
control for rooms with installed touchlink touchpanels. touchlink for Web is accessed from any
Web browser that supports microsoft Silverlight, and touchlink for ipad is an av control system
app designed for the apple ipad. both the Web and ipad versions support button tracking,
which tracks each button press to the touchpanel, allowing both virtual and installed touchpanels
to stay in sync. For touchlink for ipad, presenters can wirelessly control the av system using a Global Configurator professional
enables touchlink for ipad
Wi-Fi network.

www.extron.com/gcpro

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mlC 64 rS VC D
mediaLink Controller with Volume Control Knob - decora wallplate

the medialink mlC 64 rS vC D is an easy-to-use, two-gang keypad controller used

for controlling common av functions in single display applications such as classrooms
and meeting facilities. It features seven backlit soft touch buttons along with a volume
control knob. the mlC 64 rS vC D provides control capabilities for common av
functions including power and input switching, while also providing remote volume and
mute control of any extron power amplifier or mic preamplifier with a remote volume
control port. mlC 64 rS vC D

www.extron.com/mlc64rsvcd

medialink for ipad touchlink for ipad

medialink for ipad

iPad Control for mLC 104 IP Plus touchlink for ipad
and mLC 226 IP Controllers iPad Control for TouchLink Touchpanels

extrons medialink for ipad is an av control system app
designed for the apple ipad. medialink for ipad provides users
with a wireless additional point of control for rooms with an
installed ethernet-enabled medialink Controller. each button
press is tracked between the app and the controller, allowing
both to stay in sync. presenters can wirelessly control the av
system using a Wi-Fi network, allowing them the freedom to
move throughout the room. medialink for ipad will soon be
available for download at the apple itunes app store.
extrons touchlink for ipad is an av control system app
designed for the apple ipad. touchlink for ipad provides users
with a wireless additional point of control for rooms with an
installed touchlink touchpanel. each button press is tracked
between the app and the touchpanel, allowing both to stay in
sync. presenters can wirelessly control the av system using a
Wi-Fi network, allowing them the freedom to move throughout
a room. touchlink for ipad will soon be available for download
at the apple itunes app store.

www.extron.com/medialinkforipad www.extron.com/touchlinkforipad

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FoX Da8 plus

FoX DA8 plus

Configurable Eight Output Fiber Optic distribution Amplifier

the extron FoX Da8 plus is a configurable eight-output fiber optic distribution amplifier for long haul transmission of av and control
signals over fiber optic cabling. For maximum flexibility, it can be configured as a single 18 distribution amplifier, or as two 14 or
four 12 distribution amplifiers. Featuring high-speed, all digital signal transmission of pixel-perfect hDmI, DvI, rGb, hD component
video, S-video, composite video, multi-rate SDI, audio, and control signals, it is compatible with extron FoX Series products. output
reclocking and active signal splitting maintains signal integrity, transmitting output signals at original power levels. the FoX Da8 plus
includes integrator-friendly features such as rS-232 control, rack-mount capability, and the ability to mute one or more outputs.

www.extron.com/foxda8plus

FoX SW8

FoX SW8
Eight Input Fiber Optic Switcher

the extron FoX SW8 is an eight input fiber optic switcher for switching and long haul transmission of fiber optic av and rS-232
control signals over fiber optic cabling. It provides eight optical inputs and one buffered optical output with active switching and
reclocking for long-distance connectivity to FoX Series fiber optic extenders, distribution amplifiers, and matrix switchers. the switcher
features very high-speed, all-digital switching of hDmI, DvI, multi-rate SDI, rGbhv, hD component video, S-video, composite video,
audio, and control signals. Designed specifically for av systems, the FoX SW8 includes many integrator-friendly features such as
rS-232 control, output mute, and input loop-through for seven of the eight inputs.

www.extron.com/foxsw8

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FoXboX Sr hDmI

FoXBoX Sr hDmi
Fiber Optic Scaling Receiver for hdmI, Audio, and RS-232

the extron FoXboX Sr hDmI is a high performance fiber optic-to-hDmI scaling receiver for the FoX Series transmitters. It accepts
a fiber optic signal with hDCp-compliant hDmI, DvI, vGa, or component video, stereo audio, and rS-232 control from a FoX
Series transmitter, scaling the video to the optimal output resolution. engineered for reliability and exceptional high resolution image
performance, the FoX Sr hDmI supports resolutions up to 19201200, including hDtv 1080p/60. It also provides many integrator-
friendly features such as Key minder, audio de-embedding, auto Input memory, and internal test patterns. In addition, the compact,
low profile enclosure of the FoXboX Sr hDmI allows for discreet installation behind a flat-panel display.

www.extron.com/foxboxsrhdmi

FoX I/o 1616 hD-SDI FoX 3G I/o Sm p

FoX i/o 1616 hD-SDi
1616 multi-Rate SdI I/O Board for
the FOX matrix 14400/320x
the extron FoX I/o 1616 hD-SDI board is available as an
option for the FoX matrix 14400 and FoX matrix 320x modular
Fiber optic matrix Switchers, and enables connection to local
multi-rate SDI-equipped devices. this board offers a 1616
configuration for switching and distribution of multi-rate SDI
signals up to 2.97 Gbps, including SDI, hD-SDI, and 3G-SDI.
With this board, the FoX matrix switchers can be configured
as dedicated multi-rate SDI matrix switchers, or with a
combination of multi-rate SDI and fiber optic matrix switching.
the FoX I/o 1616 hD-SDI board is compliant with Smpte 259m,
292m, 424m, and Itu digital video standards.
FoX 3g i/o Sm p
Fiber Optic multi-Rate SdI I/O Board
for the FOX matrix Series
the extron FoX 3G I/o Sm p board is available as an option
for the FoX matrix Series modular fiber optic matrix switchers,
and enables the transmission and distribution of fiber optic
multi-rate SDI signals, including pathological signals, over
singlemode fiber optic cabling. the board offers an 88 or
1616 configuration for switching and distribution of multi-rate
SDI signals up to 2.97 Gbps, including SDI, hD-SDI, and 3G-SDI.
With the board, a FoX matrix switcher can be configured as a
dedicated multi-rate SDI matrix switcher, or with a combination
of multi-rate SDI and fiber optic matrix switching solutions. the
FoX 3G I/o Sm p board is compliant with Smpte 259m, 292m,
424m, rp 178, and rp 198 for pathological immunity, and Itu
digital video standards.

www.extron.com/foxio1616hdsdi www.extron.com/fox3giosmp

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Dtp hDmI 301 rx Dtp DvI 301 rx

Dtp hDmI 301 tx Dtp DvI 301 tx

Dtp hDmi 301 Dtp DVi 301

Long distance hdmI Twisted Pair Extender Long distance dVI Twisted Pair Extender

the extron Dtp hDmI 301 is a transmitter and receiver set for
long distance transmission of hDmI video, embedded audio,
plus bidirectional control signals over a single Cat 5-type
cable. For added flexibility and convenience, separate analog
stereo audio signals can also be transmitted on a second
twisted pair cable. It is hDmI 1.3 compatible and capable
of sending 1080p/60 Deep Color and 19201200 signals up
to 330 feet (100 meters). these integrator-friendly features,
combined with the compact enclosure sizes and remote
powering of either unit, make the Dtp hDmI 301 ideal for
extending video, multi-channel audio, and bidirectional control
in space-challenged environments.
the extron Dtp DvI 301 is a transmitter and receiver set for long
distance transmission of DvI-D video plus bidirectional rS-232
and Ir signals over a single Cat 5-type cable. In addition,
separate analog stereo audio signals can be transmitted on the
second twisted pair cable. It is capable of sending 19201200
and 1080p/60 Deep Color signals up to 330 feet (100 meters).
For added flexibility and convenience, the transmitter is equipped
with a buffered DvI loop-through output to support a local
computer monitor. these integrator-friendly features, combined
with the compact enclosure sizes and remote powering of
either unit, make the Dtp DvI 301 ideal for extending video and
bidirectional control in space-challenged environments.

www.extron.com/dtphdmi301 www.extron.com/dtpdvi301

hDmi 101 plus

hdmI Cable Equalizer

the extron hDmI 101 plus is an hDmI equalizer that offers a convenient, economical
solution for extending hDmI signals beyond the suggested 15 m (45 ft) distance limit for
hDmI cables. the hDmI 101 plus attaches to the end of a long hDmI cable run of up
to 200 ft at 1080p/60 with 8-bit color and 150 ft at 1080p/60 with 12-bit color when
used with extron hDmI pro Series cables. It automatically provides the necessary active
equalization to ensure optimal image quality with hDtv signals up to 1080p/60 and
high resolution computer-video signals up to 19201200. It is hDCp compliant, ensuring hDmI 101 plus

display of content-protected media and interoperability with other hDCp-compliant

devices. the hDmI 101 plus is ideal for permanent installations as well as temporary
applications with long hDmI cable runs.

www.extron.com/hdmi101plus

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DvS 605 DvS 605 aD

DVS 605
Five Input hdCP-Compliant Seamless Switching Scaler

the extron DvS 605 is a high performance video scaler that includes three hDmI inputs, two universal analog video inputs, and
simultaneous hDmI and analog high resolution outputs. the DvS 605 accepts a wide variety of video formats including hDmI with
hDCp, hDtv, rGb, and standard definition video. It features advanced extron video signal processing with 1080i deinterlacing, Deep
Color processing, and true seamless switching for professional-quality image presentations. Designed for professional av integration,
the DvS 605 offers flexible control options including ethernet, rS-232, uSb, and contact closure. the DvS 605 is available in models
with audio switching plus hDmI audio embedding/de-embedding, and also 3G-SDI/hD-SDI output with genlock.

www.extron.com/dvs605

mDp-vGa/6 mDp-DvI/6

mDp-hDmI/6 mDp-Dp/6

mDp Series
mini displayPort Adapter Cables

the extron mDp Series are active, one-way adapter cables for mini Displayport applications. they allow transmission of digital signals
from a dual-mode mini Displayport enabled source. built-in active circuitry converts Displayport into hDmI, single link DvI, or vGa
signals, depending on the model in use. eDID and hDCp information is passed through between source and display. the extron mDp
Series are ideal for cabling dual-mode mini Displayport enabled sources to digital or analog displays and projectors.

www.extron.com/mdp

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Sme 100 vnC 225 DvI

Sme 100 Vn-matrix 225 Series

h.264 Streaming media Encoder dVI & RgB Video Over IP Encoders & decoders

the extron Sme 100 is a live streaming media encoder that
interfaces with DvI, rGb, hDtv, and standard definition signals
for delivering media over Ip networks. It is designed specifically
for pro av applications and features an integrated three-input
switcher with audio, plus buffered loop-throughs for simplified
integration into av systems. the Sme 100 employs standards-
based h.264/mpeG-4 avC encoding, and outputs an Ip stream
that can easily be decoded and viewed on desktop or laptop
pCs. high performance extron signal processing scales and
optimizes video input signals for the intended viewing application.
encoding controls also provide adjustments for bit rate and
quality. by extending av signals over networks, the Sme 100
significantly expands av system capability.
the vn-matrix 225 Series provides real-time transmission of high
resolution audio visual content across standard Ip networks
for live viewing, collaboration, storage, and playback. the
vn-matrix 225 Series encodes video or graphics sources at
resolutions up to hD or WuXGa, streams the video and audio
over an Ip network, then decodes the content back to the
original source resolution. vn-matrix applies extrons pure3
Codec, a unique wavelet-based compression technology. the
vn-matrix 225 Series offers real-time performance and low
latency, making it ideal for remote collaborative and interactive
or control applications. It can be deployed in live event streaming
and high level collaboration in mission-critical applications with
the most demanding image quality requirements.

www.extron.com/sme100 www.extron.com/vnmatrix225

SmX uSB
uSB 2.0 matrix Switcher Boards

SmX uSb matrix boards are designed to route up to eight host Cpus to one
or more uSb peripheral devices, such as keyboards and mice. they support
SmX 44 uSb
data transfer rates up to 480 mbps and are compatible with uSb 2.0/1.1/1.0
specifications. host and peripheral emulation is provided on all ports for
reliable, problem-free boot up, even without a tie being made to a connected
device. Four integrated, two-port uSb hubs simplify integration in common
keyboard/mouse applications. each hub port supplies 5 volts, 500 ma power
for attached keyboards, mice, or other peripheral devices. SmX uSb matrix
SmX 88 uSb
boards are ideal for use in the creation of Kvm - keyboard, video, mouse
matrix applications when combined with available SmX DvI, hDmI, or vGa
matrix switching boards. they are available in two I/o sizes: 44 and 84.

www.extron.com/smxusb

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DSp Configurator Software Dmp 44 lC

Dmp 44 lC
digital matrix Processor

the extron Dmp 44 lC Digital matrix processor is a compact 44 audio matrix mixer featuring a digital signal processing platform
for audio signal routing and control. the Dmp 44 lC features four line level inputs and outputs, all balanced or unbalanced. It offers
several audio DSp tools for mixing, routing, and room optimization with quick and intuitive configuration using the DSp Configurator
Software. the Dmp 44 lC is ideal for presentation applications that require line level audio matrix mixing with DSp in a small form
factor.

www.extron.com/dmp44lc

DSp Configurator Software mvC 121 plus

mVC 121 plus

Three Input Stereo mixer with dSP

the extron mvC 121 plus is a compact, three input stereo audio mixer featuring a digital signal processing platform for audio signal
mixing and control. the mvC 121 plus features a stereo line level input and two mic/line level inputs with 48 volt phantom power
for condenser microphones, plus fixed and variable stereo line level outputs. It offers gain, filter, and tone processing with quick and
intuitive configuration using the DSp Configurator Software. the mvC 121 plus is ideal for presentation applications that require line
and microphone audio mixing with DSp in a small form factor.

www.extron.com/mvc121plus

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mpa 152 Sm 3

mpA 152
Stereo Power Amplifier -
15 watts Per Channel
the extron mpa 152 is an enerGY Star
qualified, integrated mini power amplifier featuring
an extron exclusive, highly efficient, advanced
Class D amplifier design. It also features patented
CDrS - Class D ripple Suppression technology
that provides a smooth, clean audio waveform and
an improvement in signal fidelity over conventional
Class D amplifier designs. the extron exclusive,
high efficiency design allows the amplifier to be
fanless and operate in environments with little or
no ventilation.
Sm 3
Compact Full-Range Speaker with Speedmount
the extron Sm 3 is a compact, fast-installing flush mount speaker featuring
the extron Speedmount System. the enclosure measures less than 4"
(10.2 cm) deep and is available in black and white. the 8 ohm speaker
features a 3" (7.6 cm) full-range driver and tuned bass port, a wide frequency
response of 75 hz to 18 khz, and a power rating of 15 watts continuous pink
noise, 30 watts continuous program capacity. Speedmount is an extron-
exclusive, concealed mounting system designed to speed up installation.
During rough-in, electrical contractors can install a 0 or 10 mounting
plate on the wall and terminate the speaker cable to the mounts integrated
wiring contacts. later, installers can slide the Sm 3 speaker onto the mount
and secure it into place with a click, while automatically connecting to
the wiring contacts on the mounting plate.

www.extron.com/mpa152 www.extron.com/sm3

pS 1220 and pS 1230

12V multi-port Replacement Power Supplies

the extron pS 1220 and pS 1230 12 volt replacement power Supplies have three
2-pole captive screw power ports and offer 2.0 amps and 3.0 amps across all
outputs with no per-port current limitations. these energy-efficient power supplies
meet the level v standard for energy efficiency, conserving energy and reducing
costs. they snap into the included ZipClip 200 mounting bracket for secure
mounting to rack rails, tables, or lecterns. the pS 1220 and pS 1230 also feature
pS 1230
a quarter-rack width, 1u enclosure with threaded inserts to mount the power
supply directly on extron rack shelves. they include one 6-foot DC cable with
pre-sliced ends and three DC connectors.

www.extron.com/ps

62 eXtron neW proDuCtS at InFoComm 2011 AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 The Industrys First Complete Family of
ENERGY STAR Qualified Amplifiers

Extron Power Amplifiers

Extron is proud to be the first manufacturer in the pro AV industry Key Features:
to offer a complete family of ENERGY STAR qualified power ENERGY STAR qualified
amplifiers. All Extron power amplifiers are ENERGY STAR qualified Draws less than 1 watt in standby mode
with automatic power-down and less than 1 watt of power draw in Professional grade signal-to-noise and THD performance
standby. They are energy efficient products that conserve energy Extron Patented CDRS - Class D Ripple Suppression
Convection cooled, fanless operation
and reduce costs, featuring an Extron exclusive, highly efficient,
Auto power-down with fast power-up
advanced Class D design.
Compact, space efficient enclosures

Extron power amplifiers are housed in compact, convection-cooled

enclosures and do not require fans for cooling, making them ideal
for installation in racks, lecterns, credenzas, and other locations
with limited space and ventilation. They are available in a wide Learn More About Extrons
variety of low and high power models from 30 watts to 800 watts
Energy Efficient Amplifiers
r ms total output, and are ideal for a wide range of mono, stereo,
www.extron.com/amplifiers
and multi-channel applications.

www.extron.com
 teCh
WatCh transparent lCD panels
Samsung electronics has begun mass production of
a 22-inch transparent lCD panel. the panels have a
contrast ratio of 500:1 with WSXGa+, or 1680 1050,
resolution. Compared with conventional lCD panels
that use a back light unit and have 5% transparency,
Samsungs transparent lCD panel boasts a transparency
rate of over 15%. a high transparency rate enables
visibility through the panel, as if one were looking
through a glass window. Since transparent lCD
panels utilize ambient light instead of a back light unit,
they consume 90% less electricity compared with a
conventional lCD panel, according to the company.
Connectivity in these early versions will include hDmI
and uSb.

www.samsung.com

SuperSpeed uSB
the uSb 3.0 specification was completed in late 2008, but
products with the new interface have been shipping only a little
over a year. the term SuperSpeed is used to distinguish uSb
3.0s speed upgrade and to be consistent with the low Speed/
Full Speed/high Speed nomenclature of previous versions of uSb.
uSb 3.0 performance features include:

higher transfer rates (up to 4.8Gbps)

Increased maximum bus power and increased device current
draw to better accommodate power-hungry devices
new power management features
Full-duplex data transfers and support for new transfer types
new connectors and cables for higher speed data transfer
while maintaining backward uSb 2.0 compatibility

uSb 3.0 achieves the much higher performance by way of a number of technical changes. the most obvious change is an
additional physical bus added in parallel with the existing uSb 2.0 bus. So where uSb 2.0 previously had 4 wires (power, ground, and
a pair for differential data), uSb 3.0 adds 4 more for two pairs of differential signals (receive and transmit) - for a combined total of 8
connections in the connectors and cabling.
also, the signaling method, while still host-directed, is now asynchronous instead of polling. uSb 3.0 utilizes a bidirectional data
interface rather than uSb 2.0s half-duplex arrangement, where data can only flow in one direction at a time.

www.usb.org

64 teCh WatCh AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 teCh WatCh

new i/o technology

You may have seen the new port with the thunderbolt icon on
the new apple macbook pro. Intels new thunderbolt is a high-
speed, dual-protocol I/o technology that significantly simplifies
the end-user experience by concurrently supporting data and
display connections over a single cable. Key features include:

Dual-channel 10 Gbps per port

bidirectional
Dual-protocol (pCI express and Displayport)
Compatible with existing Displayport devices
Daisy-chained devices
electrical or optical cables
low latency with highly accurate time synchronization
uses native protocol software drivers
power over cable for bus-powered devices

thunderbolt controllers interconnect a pC and other devices, transmitting and receiving packetized traffic for both pCIe and
Displayport protocols. thunderbolt technology works on data streams in both directions at the same time, so users get the benefit of
full bandwidth in both directions, over a single cable. With the two independent channels, a full 10 Gbps of bandwidth can be provided
for the first device, as well as additional downstream devices.

www.intel.com and www.apple.com

hybrid light projectors

twelve new data projectors have been introduced by Casio, equipped with Casios lamp-free, mercury-free laser & leD hybrid
light source. the new line-up, expected by mid-July 2011, contains two models of the new pro series and two Short throw models
especially for the education market.
Casios laser & leD hybrid technology combines a blue laser light and a fluorescent element to produce a green light. these are
combined along with the red light emitted by the leD, then projected through a Dlp chip and finally passed through the projection
lens to form the image. the result is up to 50% greater color spectrum compared to mercury-based light sources, and a lifespan of
about 20,000 hours with brightness levels up to 3500 anSI lumens. the leD & laser hybrid design also offers Instant off capability,
which means no cool down time.

www.casio.com

www.avsystemsdesign.com teCh WatCh 65

 teChnICallY
SpeaKInG
Why use a 70.7 Volt
Speaker System?
By Pat Brown, President and
Co-owner of SynAudCon
a ny power amplifier will drive one
or two 8 ohm loudspeakers
without being excessively loaded. but
what about an application where
you need to drive 10, 100, or even
1,000 loudspeakers?
and what if those loudspeakers are
spread over a very large area, like an
airport, a factory, or around a race
track? there could literally be miles of
cable in some applications. thats a lot
of copper. and since there is so much
wire, is there a way to use a lighter
For systems with many loudspeakers, audio designers have taken a lesson from the power company.
66
gauge to save cost and reduce weight?
these are the exact problems faced
by the utility company in feeding power
to the houses in a neighborhood, power
that may be generated many miles from
town. this involves converting the power
from the source to higher voltage/lower
current with a step-up transformer,
running through miles of wire, and then
stepping it back down again at the load
with a step-down transformer.
rather than reinvent the wheel, the
audio pioneers decided to simply use
the tried and true methods of utility
power distribution.
but what voltage? With regard to
the wire gauge, the higher the better.
but if it is too high, there is a shock
hazard, and arcing at bad connections
could start fires. Conduit could solve
both problems, but conduit is expensive.
electrical codes in the 1940s permitted
up to 100 vDC without the need for
electrical conduit. Since audio is aC,
and the loudness and power produced
by an aC waveform depends on its
average, or rmS, value, the practical
question is What is the highest
rmS aC voltage that can fit within
a 100 vDC limit? Since the utility
company uses the sine wave for power
distribution, the audio industry decided
to do the same. When the peak of a
sine wave reaches 100 volts, the rmS
value is 70.710681 volts.
For simplicity, many audio
professionals shorten the calculated
70.710681 to 70.7, or even just 70 v.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

the level difference between 70.7 v
and 70 v is 20log(70.7/70) = 0.08 db,
which isnt even close to being audible.
For that reason, we can simply call it a
70 v system and still be correct.
here are some common misconcep-
tions about 70.7 v distribution systems:
1. there is 70.7 volts on the line at
all times.
2. the 70.7 volts is a carrier that the
audio is riding on.
3. You should be able to hook a
voltmeter across the line and
measure 70.7 volts during the
operation of the sound system.
all three of these myths are the result
of taking the power company analogy
too far. utility power uses a fixed aC
waveform of about 120 vrmS that is
always present at the electrical outlet.
You can connect a voltmeter to any outlet
to measure it. audio is a dynamic signal
that fluctuates with the program material.
It is not modulated on a carrier frequency,
like radio. the sine wave rating provides
a framework for the complex audio
signals of music and speech.
the Constant-Voltage interface
part of the confusion is due to the
choice of terms used to describe this
type of system. this is a constant-
voltage distribution system. the voltage
at the output of a component is not
affected by the load impedance. So
whatever measured voltage exists from
any type of signal - sine wave, square
wave, pink noise, music, etc. - that
voltage will be unaffected by changing
the load on the amplifier. In other words,
it doesnt matter if the amplifier is driving
one loudspeaker or one hundred, the
line voltage will be unaffected by the
number of loudspeakers on the line.
virtually all interfaces in a sound system
are constant-voltage it is unfortunate
that this term has become associated
www.avsystemsdesign.com
Figure 1
Power Distribution at Voice-coil Impedance
0.01
28V
3A
100W @ 8
AMPLIFIER
Voltage Current
uniquely with a means of distributing
signals to multiple loudspeakers.
the Concept
70.7 v systems are based on the power
equations, which determine how much
power, W, is generated from a voltage
across a load, or a current through a
load. For review, the equations are:
W = E2/R
W = IE
where e is the electromotive force in
volts, I is the current in amperes, and r
is the resistance in ohms.
Figure 1 shows how a typical
100 watt amplifier might be interfaced
to a loudspeaker. For simplicity, the
loudspeaker is represented as a fixed-
value resistance.
the amplifier can produce a voltage
of 28.3 vrmS and a current of 3 a. the
load impedance is 8 ohms. From the
power equations, the available power
from the source is 100 W, and the
power dissipated by the load is 100 W.
power available = 28.32/8 = 100 W
the very low impedance amplifier
output of 0.01 ohms drives the much
higher impedance 8 ohm loudspeaker.
this is a constant-voltage interface,
because the voltage across the
Speaker Wire
28V
3A
100W
8
Speaker Wire LOUDSPEAKER
Power Impedance
amplifiers output terminals does not
depend on whether the loudspeaker
is connected or not. the problem
with this interconnect method is that
due to the very low loop impedance
of the amplifier plus the loudspeaker,
the circuit is affected by the wire
resistance, since some of the voltage
is dropped across the wire rather
than the load. If the wire must be
long, the increased resistance reduces
the signal transfer between amplifier
and loudspeaker. It works just fine for
hooking one or two loudspeakers to a
single amplifier through a few meters
of cable.
A Solution from the utility Company
Following the example of the power
company using step-up/step-down
transformers, we can place many loads
on the line without excessive loading of
the source. So, two things have been
accomplished by using transformers
the wire losses have been reduced and
the number of loads that can be driven
has been increased.
the same method can be used
for audio signals. the amplifier output
signal is scaled to higher voltage /
lower current, effectively reducing the
lossy effects of the wire resistance. this
can be accomplished with an internal
step-up transformer, or the amplifier
can be designed to be transformerless
(see sidebar, transformerless amplifier
teChnICallY SpeaKInG 67
 Figure 2

Power Distribution Using Transformers

0.01
1:2.5
28V
3A
100W @ 8 100W @ 50
AMPLIFIER
Voltage Current
designs). the process is reversed
at the loudspeaker end with a step-
down transformer. See Figure 2. this
transformer also makes the loudspeakers
impedance much higher, allowing multiple
loudspeakers to be connected in parallel
to a single amplifier. See Figure 3.
A matter of perspective
perhaps a better choice of terms
would be high voltage distribution in
recognition of what is happening to the
amplifier signal, or high impedance
distribution in recognition of what
is happening to the loudspeakers
impedance. Constant-voltage is
correct, but not unique to this interface
in the signal chain. 70.7 volts refers
to an accepted distribution voltage
minimum impedance that the amplifier
Speaker Wire can drive using its 70.7 volt output,
2.5:1
and make sure that the line impedance
28V does not fall below this. this allows
70.7V
3A
1.4A 50 a service tech to measure the line
100W
impedance of a loudspeaker system
8
and select an amplifier that can safely
Speaker Wire LOUDSPEAKER drive it. this method is useful when
the number of loudspeakers and their
Power Impedance tap settings is not known, such as
in a large, multi-floor office building
or factory.
essential Facts:
1. 70.7 volts is the rmS value of
distribution transformers. the amplifier the largest sine wave that will fit
has a rated power. each loudspeaker through a 100 vDC supply. typical
has a selectable power tap. one need program material will have a much
only make sure that the total of the lower rmS voltage.
loudspeaker power taps on the line is 2. any voltage could be used all of
not higher than the rated sine wave the same equations apply. other
power of the amplifier. So, a 100 watt standard choices include 25 v,
amplifier could drive one hundred 1 watt 100 v, and 140 v all for sine waves.
taps, fifty 2 watt taps, or five 20 watt 3. If the voltage and impedance values
taps - or some combination that does are assumed to be fixed, then
not exceed 100 watts. calculating how many speakers can
alternately, one can look up the be connected to an amplifier can be
Figure 3
Power Distribution to Multiple Loudspeakers
0.01 Speaker Wire
1:2.5 25:1

(determined mainly by electrical code

2.8V
considerations), and describes what 28V 70.7V
0.36A
would be measured if a sine wave 3A 1.4A 2.5k 5k
1W
100W @ 8 100W @ 50
were used as the signal (like the power 8
company). Since we dont usually feed
sine waves to loudspeakers (except for AMPLIFIER LOUDSPEAKER

test purposes), the measured voltage

will vary. the typical value on the line 25:1

would be 100 volts (the peak value

2.8V
of the 70.7 volt sine wave) less 10 db
0.36A
for the program material crest factor 5k
1W
roughly 30 vrmS or so. also, if one 8
Voltage Current
assumes a sine wave signal and fixed
load impedances, the distribution can Power Impedance Speaker Wire LOUDSPEAKER

be simplified by considering only power

ratings hence the wattage taps on

68 teChnICallY SpeaKInG AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 teChnICallY SpeaKInG

done using power in lieu of voltage
and impedance. this makes it easier
to keep track of how the amplifier
is being loaded. Dont forget that
these power values are only true for
the rated voltages and impedances,
and may bear little resemblance
to the actual operating level of
the system.
4. this whole distribution scheme can
be described using a power model,
voltage model, or impedance model.
all three are included in Figures 1 to 3.
5. the impedance meter is the tool-
of-choice for troubleshooting such
systems, as it reveals the electrical
impedance of the line including
the effects of all loudspeakers,
transformers, and wire.
6. While we call them power amplifiers
it is more correct to consider the
amplifiers output voltage. this is for
the same reason that we refer to an
electrical outlet as being 120 v rather
than 1800 watts (which is 120 v at
15 a). the power depends on the
load, the voltage does not. a 70 v
amplifier may be rated at 10 W, 100
W, or even 1000 W, the difference
being how much power is available
for distribution to the loads. When the
amplifiers output voltage is scaled
to a higher value, so is the minimum
impedance that it can safely drive. For
instance, a 28 v at 8 ohm amplifier
becomes a 70.7 v at 50 ohm
amplifier with a step-up transformer,
according to the power equation
W = e2/r:
28.2 /8 = 100
2
70.72/50 = 100
When you see a terminal on an
amplifier labeled 70 v, the next
question is either how many watts
are available? or What is the
minimum impedance that it can drive?
7. these systems can be operated at
voltages other than their rated voltage.
For some installations, the installer
may decide to use the maximum tap
settings for all loudspeakers and then
operate the line at a lower voltage.
the drawback of this approach is that
since the line is not operating at rated
voltage, future expansion (adding
more loudspeakers) will require larger
transformer sizes than if the system
were operated at rated voltage.
8. the step-down transformers used in
the loudspeakers can saturate at low
frequencies and overload the amplifier.
a high pass filter placed ahead of the
amplifier can prevent this.
pat brown is president and co-owner of SynaudCon,
one of the av industrys most respected audio
education resources.

Extron EnERgy STAR Qualified 70/100 Volt Amplifiers Feature Transformerless designs

extron enerGY Star qualified high impedance amplifiers are purpose built for high voltage output, and include the
mpa 401, Xpa 2001, Xpa 2002-70/100v, and Xpa 2003C-70/100v. this is accomplished by employing high voltage
power rails inside the amplifier to drive the moSFet output transistors, running at a higher amplitude than in typical high
impedance output amplifiers or amplifiers that provide both low and high impedance outputs. this eliminates the need
for an internal step up transformer. Designing an amplifier without the step up transformer provides lower total harmonic
distortion, better overall frequency response, and allows a smaller enclosure to be used while reducing amplifier weight.

www.extron.com/poweramps for more info on extron power amplifiers.

www.avsystemsdesign.com teChnICallY SpeaKInG 69

 DeSIGn
Forum
Certifying your
Fiber optic
infrastructure
Verification is the key to
superior performance.
By Andrew Evans
m ost of us have designed and
deployed copper-based av
systems. Were familiar with the
components, the workflow, and whats
required to commission the system
in order to deliver a fully functional,
zero-defect product.
but for some applications, fiber
optic signal transmission offers clear
advantages. assuming you start with
high quality equipment and acquire the
appropriate training, success or failure
all comes down to infrastructure.
With a well-designed and
implemented infrastructure, youll be able
to avoid problems, and your customer
will enjoy all of the benefits that fiber
has to offer.
its All About Certification
testing during the installation phase of
the project can save time and headaches.
In an ideal situation, you would test
the entire length of fiber optic cable for
continuity prior to installing it. after the
fiber has been installed, you would then
test for proper connector installation.
the final step would be to certify the
fiber optic cable. Certification refers to
a formalized process to ensure that
the cable infrastructure adheres to the
relevant standards for performance
and quality installation.
Certification is outlined by various
70 DeSIGn Forum
governing bodies. one of the more
common ones that we encounter is
the tIa/eIa-568-b standard. this
covers general information on planning,
installing, and verifying structured cabling,
whether copper or optical, in commercial
environments. Section 3 pertains to
optical infrastructures. Insertion loss is
the sole performance parameter that can
be influenced by the installation of the
fiber optic cable. tier 1 testing involves
the use of a calibrated light source and a
power meter. this allows us to determine
with relative accuracy the insertion
loss of the permanent links. the two
components of insertion loss in a system
are losses that occur at the connector
interface and attenuation through the
actual fiber optic cable due to absorption
and scattering of the light.
Safety First
Just because you cant see the light
emitted by the laser doesnt mean there
isnt any. the primary wavelengths of
fiber optic equipment operate outside of
the visible spectrum of light. even if you
are using a visual fault locator, or vFl,
operating near 635 nm, which looks like
a red light, it still isnt healthy to stare
into it. many of these devices are Class
2 laser products and can damage your
eyes. never look into the path or point
a laser at another persons eyes. never
launch a vFl into active equipment or
microscope. also, if youre working with a
partner, make sure that you communicate
with each other. avoid connecting active
equipment to a fiber that your partner
might be working on. additionally, you
will want to make sure that you arent
connecting a vFl to the fiber that is
connected to active equipment. there is
a potential for damaging the electronics.
test tools of the trade
In order to test the power of a fiber
optic link or determine the amount of
loss incurred on a fiber optic link, you
will need some specialized equipment.
Connecting a vFl to the fiber and
seeing the laser light being emitted on
the far side isnt enough. this will only
identify the fiber you are connected to
and prove optical continuity. Keep in
mind that many fiber cables are labeled
such that the a labeled connector is
matched to the b labeled connector
on the far end. this is to comply with
nomenclature outlined in tIa/eIa-568-b.1
for connections made at work areas and
centralized cross-connect areas.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 DeSIGn Forum

there are two items that make up
a functional set of test equipment for
measuring insertion loss of a permanent
link. the first item is a power meter. this
device is calibrated to detect specific
wavelengths of light and report the
intensity of the light in either db or mW
values. most power meters work across
a broad range of wavelengths, from
850 nm up to 1550 nm. Were going to
focus on the 850 nm wavelength and the
testing of multimode fiber optic links. the
principles applied here will transfer to the
testing of singlemode fiber optic links.
the second item is a calibrated light
source. Some light sources are designed
to only operate at either singlemode
or multimode wavelengths, but some
devices like the extron light Source will
accommodate both.
reference quality jumpers should
be used for testing optical fibers. they
should be two meters long and have the
same core size as the link you intend to
test. Depending on the connectors of the
test equipment and the connectors of the
link under test, you might need to adjust
your testing method and use a hybrid
reference cable that has different style
connectors at each end.
tIa and ISo standards dictate the use
of a mandrel if youre testing multimode
fiber optic cables and you are using
an leD light source. the mandrel is
used to remove the higher order modes
from the launch cable, which leads to
more consistent test results. It should
be installed six inches from the light
not need a mandrel.
When testing the permanently
installed fiber link, you will measure the
insertion loss of all connectors, fiber
cabling, splices, and adapters, not the
patch cables.
ready, Set, test
When setting up your power meter
and light source for permanent link
loss testing, turn on the light source
to let it stabilize. this could take a few
minutes, particularly if it was being
stored in a cold environment like a
work truck overnight. Failure to allow
the light source to stabilize will lead to
faulty measurements. the next step is
to determine which method you will use
for connecting the test equipment to the
fiber optic link. You can choose between
the one, two, or three jumper methods
outlined in the following pages. tIa calls
for the use of the one jumper method,
and most equipment manufacturers
are assuming this testing method when
writing their specifications. all three
methods are acceptable, but you must
document the method chosen in order
to provide an accurate set of certification
data. prior to connecting your launch
cable, you will need to clean all of
the connectors. this should be done
whenever you mate any two fiber optic
Mandrel
(for Multimode)
connectors. Failure to do so could result
in dust or other contaminants impacting
the transmission of light. It is also a good
idea to periodically inspect the condition
of your reference cables for pits, cracks,
and other wear using an inspection
microscope. If you are using the two
or three jumper method for testing, you
will also want to use a high quality
coupler. If you are using a basic plastic
bodied coupler with bronze alignment
sleeves, you could experience poor
core alignment that would manifest as
higher insertion loss. It is recommended
that you use a coupler with a ceramic
alignment sleeve for your testing.
Single jumper testing requires that
your light source, power meter, and
link under test all have the same style
fiber connector. It is the preferred
method for tIa based testing and leads
to slightly more accurate results. Your
launch cable with mandrel is attached
to the light source and then connected
to the power meter. You then establish
the 0db reference point on your power
meter - see Figure 1. once youve done
that, disconnect the fiber cable from the
power meter, but dont disconnect the
launch cable from the light source; doing
so will negate your reference point and
lead to errors in measurement. now
that you have established your reference

source and have five smooth wraps of

fiber optic cable around it. Depending
on the diameter of your launch cable, a b
you will need to select the appropriate 850nm 1300nm
9V

1310nm 1550nm

size mandrel. If you are using 50/125m FLS 101

FIBER LIGHT SOURCE
WAVE ID

fiber with an outer jacket diameter of

Set

dB
850nm 1310nm Ref
dBm
1300nm 1550nm

MM SM

Extron FPM 101

FIBER POWER METER

2mm, you would need a mandrel that

Tone

POWER

Fiber Optic POWER

Light Source Power Meter

is 23mm in diameter. If your reference
launch cable is 3mm, you would need a
22mm diameter mandrel. When testing Figure 1. Reference configuration for single-jumper testing.
singlemode fiber optic cables, you do

www.avsystemsdesign.com DeSIGn Forum 71

 Mandrel
(for Multimode)

b x y c
one of the easiest to conduct in the field.
It also allows for a mismatch in connector
LC to LC Link under Test LC to LC
Coupling Coupling types between the test equipment and
a d
the fiber plant. Setting up the light source
9V

for a two cable configuration is the same

850nm 1300nm 1310nm 1550nm

FLS 101 WAVE ID

FIBER LIGHT SOURCE

850nm 1310nm
dB
dBm
Set

Ref
as outlined above for the single cable
1300nm 1550nm

method. Instead of connecting the light

MM SM

Extron FPM 101

FIBER POWER METER
Tone

POWER

Fiber Optic POWER

Light Source Power Meter source to the power meter, you will use
a high quality coupler to connect your
Link Loss = Lbx + L xy + Lyc launch cable to another high quality
cable that will function as the receive
cable - see Figure 3. this receive cable
Figure 2. Configuration for single-jumper testing. is then connected to the power meter. at
this point, you can establish your 0 db
reference point. to test the permanent
link, you would separate the launch and
value, connect the light source to the link indicate higher loss values. If your receive cables at the coupler and connect
under test and connect your power meter reference cable shows a loss higher than them to the link under test - see Figure 4.
to the far side of the link - see Figure 2. 0.5 db, you should clean the connector three jumper testing is similar in
the single cable method is also helpful and re-test. If it still exceeds 0.5 db, configuration to the two jumper method
for verifying the quality of your reference you will need to discard that cable and outlined above. the launch cable
cables or troubleshooting patch cables. use a higher quality launch cable that has configuration is the same. however,
the power meter is less susceptible to acceptable loss values. instead of connecting it to the receive
loss caused by a poor connector due two jumper cable testing allows for cable with a coupler, you will use that
to the relatively large detector area. by more flexibility in the testing of the fiber coupler to connect it to a third cable -
changing the direction of the cable infrastructure. It also will measure an see Figure 5. the other side of this third
connections to the equipment, you extra connection point in the link, so cable will use a coupler to connect to the
can identify which connector is bad. you will get slightly higher insertion loss receive cable of the power meter. You
When the bad connector is mated to values. this method isnt the preferred will need to ensure that this intermediate
the light source, the power meter will option according to tIa standards, but is cable is of known quality. once the

Mandrel Mandrel
(for Multimode) (for Multimode)

b c b x y c

LC to LC LC to LC Link under Test LC to LC

Coupling Coupling Coupling
a d a d
9V 9V

850nm 1300nm 1310nm 1550nm 850nm 1300nm 1310nm 1550nm

FLS 101 WAVE ID FLS 101 WAVE ID

FIBER LIGHT SOURCE FIBER LIGHT SOURCE

Set Set

dB dB
850nm 1310nm Ref 850nm 1310nm Ref
dBm dBm
1300nm 1550nm 1300nm 1550nm

MM SM MM SM

Extron FPM 101 Extron FPM 101

FIBER POWER METER FIBER POWER METER
Tone Tone

POWER

Fiber Optic POWER

POWER

Fiber Optic POWER

Light Source Power Meter Light Source Power Meter

Link Loss = Lbx + L xy + Lyc - Lbc

Figure 3. Reference configuration for 2-jumper testing. Figure 4. Configuration for 2-jumper testing.

72 DeSIGn Forum AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011

 DeSIGn Forum

reference value is set, this intermediate other debris on the connector end-face, permanent link loss results
cable is substituted for the link under test it could have been dislodged during Calculated link loss budget
- see Figure 6. Doing so will provide you testing and it would appear that you
with a relative insertion loss measurement. have increased your optical power. the now that the link loss measurements
this is the method outlined by the other option is poor core alignment of have been recorded, you will be able
ISo/IeC 11801 standard but it also has your reference leads. the lack of good to compare them to the calculated link
the highest variability in the results. the core alignment is the reason that ceramic loss budget. this will determine if the
advantage to this method is that it allows based couplers are recommended. they permanent link passes or fails in its
the testing of various connector types; offer a higher degree of precision than ability to support the intended design.
including ones that cant be directly the bronze alignment sleeves. If you had
coupled like mtp or mt-rJ. poor core alignment when the reference andrew evans is manager of product marketing, Fiber
optic Systems for extron electronics. before joining
regardless of the method you use, value was set and then got a better extron, he spent ten years as a design engineer
supporting av systems for corporate and government
evaluate the results. the insertion loss alignment during the connection to the
end users, including flight line monitoring systems for the
must be less than the optical budget link under test, you would again have united States air Force.

required by the equipment. It should what appears to be an increase in optical

also take into account a safety margin. If power through the link.
there is no safety margin or headroom to complete the tier 1 testing of your visit the Featured media section at
in the permanent link, you run the risk fiber plant, you need to document your www.extron.com/fiberkit to see these
videos on extrons Fiber optic products:
of exceeding the optical budget in the results. record the following:
Fiber termination kit - a demonstration of
future. this could happen when an Date the testing occurred
how to terminate fiber optic bulk cable using
optical fiber is broken and a splice must names of the technicians the extron Fiber optic termination Kit.
be used during the repair process. a performing the tests Fiber optic test Set - a demonstration of
the extron Fiber optic test Set described in
typical safety margin is 3db above the Details of the test equipment,
this article.
optical budget of the equipment. If you including manufacturer, model,
notice that some of your measurements and serial number
have actually gained optical power, you Center wavelengths and spectral
are most likely experiencing one of two widths of the light source
issues. the first option is contaminants Fiber optic cable type
on the fiber connectors. If your reference Direction of the test and
value was set with dirt, oil, or some endpoint locations

Mandrel Mandrel
(for Multimode) (for Multimode)

b c d e b x y e

LC to LC Intermediate Cable LC to LC LC to LC Link under Test LC to LC

Coupling of Known Quality Coupling Coupling Coupling
a f a f
9V 9V

850nm 1300nm 1310nm 1550nm 850nm 1300nm 1310nm 1550nm

FLS 101 WAVE ID FLS 101 WAVE ID

FIBER LIGHT SOURCE FIBER LIGHT SOURCE

Set Set

dB dB
850nm 1310nm Ref 850nm 1310nm Ref
dBm dBm
1300nm 1550nm 1300nm 1550nm

MM SM MM SM

Extron FPM 101 Extron FPM 101

FIBER POWER METER FIBER POWER METER
Tone Tone

POWER

Fiber Optic POWER

POWER

Fiber Optic POWER

Light Source Power Meter Light Source Power Meter

Link Loss = Lbx + L xy + Lye - (Lbc + Lde)

Figure 5. Reference configuration for 3-jumper testing. Figure 6. Configuration for 3-jumper testing.

www.avsystemsdesign.com DeSIGn Forum 73

 High Resolution Video Scaling
for Fiber Optic Systems

Extron FOXBOX SR HDMI

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

Key Features: Simplifies integration of multiple sources to multiple displays

Accepts fiber optic signals from FOX Series transmitters to provide
Blu-ray Laptop Computer
scaled HDMI video, stereo audio, and RS-232 control signals 1080p
STANDBY/ON
PQLS HDMI OPEN/CLOSE FL OFF

1280x800 1920x1200
USB

HDMI VGA DVI

Upscales/Downscales HDMI, DVI, RGB, and YUV video for optimized POWER
12V
RGB INPUT
AUDIO RS-232
POWER
12V DVI-D INPUT AUDIO RS-232

display of high resolution computer-video signals

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

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

12V RS-232
LINK

LINK

1.0 A MAX OVER FIBER ALARM

Tx Rx Tx Rx
AUDIO
AUDIO

LINK

LINK
LINK

LINK

TEMP
TEMP

OVER
OVER

RGB

DVI

Tx Rx 1 2 CONFIG CONFIG
HDMI INPUT AUDIO INPUT OPTICAL

Provides selectable output resolutions up to 1920x1200, including Extron

Extron
FOXBOX Tx VGA OPTICAL

Extron
FOXBOX Tx DVI Plus OPTICAL

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

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

FIBER OPTIC ADDRESS FIBER OPTIC

RESET

Key Minder continuously authenticates HDCP-compliant input and

LINK
LAN

ACT

output devices to ensure quick and reliable switching in professional

AV environments 100-240V , 50-60Hz
1.3A MAX.

Extron
HDMI audio de-embedding provides a balanced or unbalanced analog SMX 200 Frame POWER
12V
Tx Rx
HDMI AUDIO
OUTPUTS
AUDIO
LINK

LINK

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

stereo output signal

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

Tx Rx OUTPUTS
Extron
FOXBOX SR HDMI
POWER
12V HDMI AUDIO AUDIO
LINK

LINK

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

Extron
Compatible with Extron FOX Series HDMI, DVI Plus, DVI, VGA, and Fiber Optic
OPTICAL FOXBOX SR HDMI OFF HDMI Tx Rx 1 2 Tx Rx

FOXBOX SR HDMI
Scaling Receiver
VGA/YUV transmitters, distribution amplifiers, matrix switchers, and Fiber Optic
Scaling Receiver
switchers Flat Panel
Flat Panel Display
Display 1368x768
1080p DVI
HDMI

www.extron.com/foxboxsrhdmi
hIDDen
GemS
DataViewer
Terminal Emulation Software

By dave Pincek

t heres no question that laptops

have become an indispensable
tool for av designers and integrators.
with additional features to make coding
for device control easier. Dataviewer can
utilize any serial port, whether rS-232,
code display only. It is used as an
alternative or in parallel with aSCII. aSCII
characters below 20 are translated to
If youve upgraded yours in the last ethernet, or uSb (extron products more discernable hex characters. aSCII
several years, youve probably noticed only), to connect and communicate to hex translation is always in real-time
some things missing things we used with a device, making it a perfect so commands are immediately viewable.
to depend on for many av projects. tool for sending and monitoring serial programmable shortcut keys save
among them are serial ports and the aSCII or hex device commands. keystrokes and provide the ability to
Windows program that many use for Dataviewer has many features, but consistently and easily repeat individual
av control system troubleshooting: here are five key features youre sure to commands or a series of commands
hyperterminal. hyperterminal is find valuable. assigned to each of twenty function keys.
not included with Windows vista hex support and character this provides automation of routinely
or Windows 7. If you recently lost mapping provides an option to aSCII used functions and eliminates typing
hyperterminal, you can replace it
easily by downloading Dataviewer,
extrons free enhanced terminal
emulation Software. even if youre
still using hyperterminal, you should
consider using Dataviewer instead.
When extron first started expanding
on the idea of configurable control
systems, a team of programmers created
a vast database of av equipment device
drivers as well as configuration tools.
out of necessity, the team also created
Dataviewer as an internal tool to speed
up and streamline the driver creation
process. Few realized what a powerful
tool they had created. once it became
apparent that this could provide benefits
beyond our own internal purposes, the
decision was made to clean it up and
release it as an extron software product.
In its current version 2.1, you can think of
Dataviewer as hyperterminal on steroids.
It does everything hyperterminal did,

www.avsystemsdesign.com hIDDen GemS 75

 hIDDen GemS
longer commands during troubleshooting
or testing. each shortcut key can
include up to 255 characters of either
aSCII or hex code. Depending on the
device, these shortcut keys can also
define macros for compatibility with
systems that may require special key or
command sequences.
time stamping of commands and
responses. Combined with the four-view
window, commands and their responses
are simultaneously shown in both aSCII
and hex with the time the command
was sent and the time the response
was received, down to the millisecond.
Since commands are always echoed
in the response window in real-time,
the screens provide a way to easily
the laSt WorD
Continued from page 80, did you Enjoy the Analog Sunset?
environment. this is the sticking point
for those attempting to design and
install av systems. metaphorically, its
the equivalent of waking to a fogged-
in morning rather than a vivid sunrise.
Determining the best direction of travel is
challenging. Implementing digital media
in this content protection environment
is difficult. exacerbating the difficulties
are manufacturers that capitalize on
the analog sunset to create fear within
the av industry. thats great for sales,
but not the best tack in support of our
industry. though the analog sunset is
upon us, av designers will continue
to encounter analog applications that
need support. and av designers need
support, not threats. Im proud that our
company is built on a customer support
and training philosophy. We consider
that aspect of product development first
76 hIDDen GemS, the laSt WorD
sync up and compare commands
with their response times as an aid
in troubleshooting. using the optional
DvC-3 Data view Communications
Cable, Dataviewer can analyze serial
communications between a controller
and connected device in real-time.
Scripting is a powerful component
used by extrons support network
to verify device protocol or to
author a custom protocol. Scripts
are saved to text files which may
be launched from the Dataviewer
Send Script File command located
in the tools menu. Combined
with logging, scripting is useful to
troubleshoot communications problems
between both extron and non-extron
before introducing new technology to the
industry. Customers should not be beta
testing products.
realistically, technological trends
occur over a relatively long time. In my
own research, new hardware technology
requires about ten years for full market
acceptance and twenty years before
considered commonplace. Im reminded
about something earl nightingale said
in a management-training course.
paraphrasing, he advised that the market
would not readily accept incremental
product change that was more than
ten percent new. extron is not about
hype and technological threats. this is
why Im excited for you to see our new
Xtp digital product line. It creates an
environment with the right mix of digital
and analog support.
From an engineering perspective,
controllers and connected devices.
logging of commands and
responses for troubleshooting, creating
a device history, or simply to document
communications for later reference
becomes a simple one-step process
using Dataviewer. both commands and
responses can be recorded either with
or without time stamps. the saved
log is a small text file easily viewable
using any text editor. the time-frame
for recording is only limited by hard
drive capacity.
DataViewer can be downloaded free
of charge at www.extron.com/dataviewer.
Dave pincek is vice president of product Development at
extron electronics.
digital interfacing and distribution are
becoming the norm. though analog
is winding down, technology evolves
and the focus will drift to the next big
thing. already, there is considerable
development and marketing targeted at
consumers for the direct downloading
of entertainment content. by the time
dust settles around the analog sunset
associated with disc players, downloaded
content will likely destine the players
themselves to a fairly early sunset. there
is one thing for sure the sun is always
setting somewhere at any given moment.
For more details on the analog
Sunset, see extrons white paper,
analog Sunset Demystified at
www.extron.com/analogsunset.
Steve Somers is vice president of engineering at
extron electronics.
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 HDCP Compliant
Scaling Presentation Switcher

DVS 510 SA

Extron DVS 510

The Extron DVS 510 is an HDCP compliant Scaling Presentation Switcher that accepts HDMI Compatible
and scales DVI/HDMI, computer RGB, HDTV, and standard definition signals to a common, The DVS 510 DVI inputs and output are HDCP
compliant and compatible with HDMI, enabling
high resolution output rate. The DVS 510 is a true presentation switcher for professional support of Blu-ray Disc and other copy-
protected sources. DVI ports enable secure,
environments, featuring simultaneous DVI and two analog RGB/YUV outputs, audio switching locked connections in professional installations
while maintaining full signal compatibility with
for all video input sources, an available 50 watt stereo integrated amplifier, and glitch-free HDMI, including audio and CEC.
switching. The DVS 510 serves as the ideal centerpiece in many systems for integrating a wide Blu-ray Player
Laptop
variety of AV sources and displays. HDMI Output
HDMI Output

Key Features: Laptop with

HDMI Output

HDCP compliant
Extron
Integrates DVI/HDMI, RGB, HDTV, video, and audio sources into HDMI DVI-D
Series Cable
presentation systems Extron
HDMI DVI-D
10 multi-format inputs including two HDCP compliant DVI inputs Series Cable
DVI Input
RGB, HDTV, and video scaling
AMPLIFIED OUTPUT

A
1 3 5 U L R
D
V RGB/Y, B-Y, R-Y V RGB/Y, B-Y, R-Y A 1 3 5 7 9
VID YC I PREAMP
I I U
O
D D D
E E I
O
O O O L R L R L R L R L R L R
U
RGB/Y, B-Y, R-Y DVI-D T
100-240V 50/60 Hz I O I
P
N U N 2 4 6 8 10 LINE
U
P T P
T
U P U
T U T
VID YC RGB/Y, B-Y, R-Y DVI-I DVI-I L R L R L R L R L R L R
T
2 4 6 7/8 9/10

Simultaneous DVI and analog RGB / component video outputs

3A MAX RESET
RS-232 LAN

Extron DVI Output

DVS 510 SA
EDID Minder Digital Video Scaler Extron
HDMI DVI-D
Series Cable
PIP - Picture-in-Picture
HDMI Input
Glitch-free switching with a cut or fade to black transition between
video inputs
HDMI Input
Power Save Mode
Audio switching and output volume control
Available 50 watt stereo power amplifier model with 25 watts rms
per channel into 4 or 8 ohms
Flat Panel Display with Speakers

www.extron.com/dvs510
 eDuCatIon
Central
extron Control
System Certification
a new certification is being offered
by extron for av professionals
who install advanced control systems.
the extron Control Specialist - eCS
certification is designed to recognize
individuals who successfully deploy and
support advanced control systems. It is
built on extrons popular av associate
and Control associate certifications,
which include intensive training on
av technologies, products, software
and applications.
global Configurator professional
the launch of the new extron Control
Specialist certification coincides with
the introduction of extrons new
control system configuration platform,
Global Configurator professional.
GC pro will only be available to
individuals who have achieved eCS
level certification.
GC pro includes advanced features
such as conditional logic and controller
grouping. While still providing the benefits
of configuration, GC pro offers much
Extron Configurable Control Training and Certification Path
AV Associate - AVA
Video Fundamentals
Audio Fundamentals
Control and Networking Fundamentals
Extron Products and Tools
78 eDuCatIon Central
of the power and capability previously
reserved for fully programmed control
systems. as a result, proper set up and
configuration of advanced applications
with GC pro requires the expertise
and skills of individuals who have
the experience with these systems,
namely programmers.
new eCS training
new training is available to prepare
individuals to successfully complete the
eCS proficiency exam. this eCS training
will focus on raising the skill levels of av
industry programmers and eCa certified
individuals by providing education on:
Graphic user Interface design principles,
enterprise management through extrons
Global viewer enterprise software, and
system configuration utilizing GC pro and
GuI Configurator software.
Extron Control Associate - ECA
Video Fundamentals
Audio Fundamentals
Control and Networking Fundamentals
Extron Products and Tools
obtaining eCS Certification
obtaining an eCS certification is a
linear path, much like other extron
certifications. It begins with av associate
certification, followed by extron Control
associate certification. the next step is
to demonstrate competency in control
system configuration through extrons
eCS configurable control training course
and exam.
extron training, education and
certification programs are designed to
equip system integrators with the skills to
install and support extron products, with
the ultimate goal of complete customer
satisfaction.
to enroll in any of extrons
certification and training programs,
contact your extron Customer Support
representative at (800) 633-9876 or
go to www.extron.com/training.
Extron Control Specialist - ECS
Advanced Control System Concepts
User Interface Best Practices
GUI Configurator Layouts from Scratch
Configuration of GlobalViewer Enterprise
Global Configurator Professional Software
NEW COURSE:
Extron Control Specialist - ECS
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 N
O
W
H
Extron has great IR

CompanY
IN
G
career opportunities!

eventS
extron uSa and emea are seeking qualified
applicants for a variety of career opportunities in
Sales, technical Support, and product Support.
as an industry leader, extron is committed
to maintaining the outstanding level of quality
services our customers expect. We strive to
continually provide Service, Support, and Solutions
to our customers: dealers, consultants, and
av professionals. our customers are our most
important asset, and our employees are essential
2011 Extron Institute to maintaining that asset. We seek individuals who
can help us grow and who desire to achieve a
SChool loCAtion DAte rewarding career in a technical environment.

Digital av the netherlands June 20 Sales & marketing

applications engineer - CA, NC
av Signal transmission the netherlands June 21 Consultant applications engineer
audio technology the netherlands June 22 Director of marketing
educational market Developer
Configurable Control Systems for higher education (in Dutch) the netherlands June 27-28 Integration Support Specialist - CA, NC, Texas
av technologies for System Designers Dubai, uae July 3-4 marketing Communications manager
marketing Communications Writer
av Digital av (in Chinese) beijing, China July 6 product marketing manager
Software applications engineer - CA, NC
av Signal transmission (in Chinese) beijing, China July 7 tradeshow logistics manager
technologies for System Designers Dubai, uae July 10-11
Engineering
School of emerging technologies Chicago, Il July 11-13 aC - DC power electronics Design engineer
Configurable Control Systems Chicago, Il July 14 applications Developer
audio power electronics technician
Configurable Control Systems for higher education Chicago, Il July 15 audio repair technician
Configurable Control Systems anaheim, Ca July 20 battery-powered Systems Design engineer
Compiler Developer
School of emerging technologies anaheim, Ca July 20-22 DC - DC power electronics Design engineer
Design engineer
av technologies for System Designers anaheim, Ca July 21-22 Digital hardware Design engineer - CA, NC
Configurable Control Systems for higher education raleigh, nC July 26 DSp engineer
embedded linux engineer, Jr - CA, NC, NJ
Digital av (in Chinese) Shenzhen, China July 27 embedded linux engineer, Sr - CA, NC, NJ
School of emerging technologies raleigh, nC July 27-29 embedded Software engineer
engineering project manager - CA, NC
av Signal transmission (in Chinese) Shenzhen, China July 28 engineering trainer
av technologies for higher education anaheim, Ca aug. 1-2 product Support engineer
Software build engineer
Configurable Control Systems for higher education anaheim, Ca aug. 3 Software Development manager
Software engineering project lead
av technologies for System Designers (in Chinese) Shanghai, China aug. 10-11 video hardware engineer
av technologies for System Designers (in Chinese) nanjing, China aug. 24-25 video processing algorithm engineer
School of emerging technologies bangalore, India Sep. 6-8 Product development
av technologies for System Designers (in Chinese) Jinan, China Sep. 7-8 applications engineer - Audio
applications engineer - Mechanical
Configurable Control Systems bangalore, India Sep. 9 Control System product manager
Configurable Control Systems Dubai, uae Sep. 11-12 applications engineer - Software Products
applications engineer - Software Project
Configurable Control Systems (in Japanese) osaka, Japan Sep. 13-14 Management
Software applications engineer
Configurable Control Systems raleigh, nC Sep. 14
Configurable Control Systems Dubai, uae Sep. 14-15 Sales - Europe
account manager - Scandinavia
av technologies for System Designers (in Japanese) osaka, Japan Sep. 15-16 technical account manager - Switzerland
av technologies for System Designers raleigh, nC Sep. 15-16 technical account manager - Scandinavia
technical account manager - France, Belgium
engineered System technologies - Consultants Washington DC Sep. 15-16 and Luxembourg
Configurable Control Systems anaheim, Ca Sep. 21 technical Sales manager - France
technical Sales manager - Italy
av technologies for System Designers (in Chinese) Xian, China Sep. 21-22 technical account manager - Northern Europe
Control applications engineer
School of emerging technologies anaheim, Ca Sep. 21-23 Customer Support
av technologies for System Designers anaheim, Ca Sep. 22-23 System Design engineer
applications engineer

marketing - Europe
technical trainer
2011 Tradeshows marketing Communication manager - europe

ShoW loCAtion DAte Engineering - Europe

Software Development engineer - UK (Dartford)
Integrate expo Sydney, australia aug. 30-Sep. 1 hardware Development engineer - UK (Dartford)
IbC amsterdam, netherlands Sep. 9-13 product Development
applications engineer
Gitex Dubai, uae oct. 9-13 application Software
Integrated Systems russia moscow, russia nov. 8-10
Inter bee tokyo, Japan nov. 16-18 For a complete list of current career opportunities
worldwide, please see our Web site at
http://www.extron.com/jobs

extron, avtrac, Cable Cubby, eDID minder, Flat Field, Globalviewer, Ip link, Key minder, medialink, pure3, System Integrator and extron uSA
vn-matrix are registered trademarks of rGb Systems, Incorporated. 1230 South lewis Street
S3 Service Support Solutions is a registered service mark of rGb Systems, Incorporated. anaheim, Ca 92805
aap, auto-Image, CDrS - Class D ripple Suppression, Crosspoint, eDID manager, SIS - Simple Instruction Set, Speedmount, emaIl: jobs@extron.com
SpeedSwitch, touchlink, Quantum, Xtra, and ZipClip are trademarks of extron electronics.
eoe m/F/v/D
all other trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
2011 extron electronics.

www.avsystemsdesign.com CompanY eventS 79

 the laSt WorD
Did you enjoy the
Analog Sunset?
By Steve Somers
S unset is used to describe
the end of life for someone or
something and, in most cases, carries
the connotation of elegance and
gracefulness. Ive seen many beautiful
sunsets, but Ive probably missed more
than Ive seen. Witnessing the sunset
requires reasonably good timing as it
lasts for a short while, then its gone.
to continue the metaphor, a period of
darkness follows each sunset only to be
followed by a brilliant sunrise ushering
forth a new day. except when I wake up
in a fog.
Sunsets normally rustle up a vivid,
colorful picture in my mind. and, you
might say the situation with the analog
sunset has its vivid details and colorful
aspects. the analog sunset refers, in
80 the laSt WorD
part, to the advanced access Content
System or aaCS license mandate for
elimination of the analog video output
function on blu-ray Disc players by
the end of 2013. meanwhile, there are
limitations placed on analog delivery of
high definition content during this recent
adoption period of digital interfaces
within home entertainment products.
Your experience with this mandate will
be mixed depending on whether you are
using an older or newer disc player that
is playing an older or newer disc.
Depending on whom you talk with,
the analog sunset is a beautiful thing, or
not. Its the classic example of the glass
is half full or the glass is half empty
perspective. engineers see the glass
as being designed to the incorrect size.
but wait. though funny - and engineers
Can be funny - such an orthogonal
viewpoint could apply here. how? the
stressfulness within the transition from
analog to digital interfaces and systems
is not about losing analog in favor of
digital. I love digital, and I believe we all
love digital. Its the best thing to happen
since duct tape. the stress relates to the
management of content protection in a
system environment where the protection
scheme was not designed to support av
system deployment larger than a single
disc player connected to a single display.
the glass is the incorrect size.
Content protection currently has
two facets. the aaCS system provides
digital rights management from within the
digital disc media. Coding in the aaCS
can control how a disc player delivers
content, including whether there will be
analog output from analog-equipped
players. the physical interface, or hDmI,
incorporates high Definition Content
protection, or hDCp, to manage the form
and control of electrical data from one
box to another.
entertainment content providers
are happy with the content protection
scheme, more or less. providers focus
on thwarting digital piracy. I believe
everyone can agree that content
providers should receive their due
rewards, but the mechanics of the
existing hDCp protection system are
nearly unworkable in a distributed av
Continued on page 76
AV SyStemS DeSign Summer 2011
 Digital Switching Simplified

MLS 608 D MTP/HDMI U R

Eight Input Switcher with ProDSP Twisted Pair Receiver

Extron MLS 608 D

The Extron MLS 608 D switcher is an easy-to-use, eight input switcher designed to integrate digital and analog sources for a single
display. It transmits HDCP-compliant HDMI and analog video plus audio and RS-232 signals over CAT 5-type cabling to the included
MTP/HDMI U R twisted pair receiver. EDID Minder ensures that the display receives the appropriate image resolution from the varied
sources. To further simplify integration, the switcher provides ProDSP for digital audio processing, including mixing, ducking, feedback
suppression, and audio de-embedding. The MLS 608 D is a complete switching solution for HDCP-compliant HDMI and analog video
plus audio and control signals.

Key Features:
Capable of switching between multiple digital and analog inputs
Selected inputs, including control, are distributed over CAT 5-type
cables to included receiver
Optimized system performance with ProDSP audio signal
processing
EDIDM inder ensures that all sources power up properly and
reliably output content for display
HDMI audio de-embedding
HDCP-compliant switching and long distance transmission of
HDCP encrypted content
Integrated stereo or mono 70 volt power amplifier and non-
amplifier models available
Compatible with Extron TouchLink Touchpanels and MediaLink
Control Panels

www.extron.com/mls608d
 High Performance. Reliable. Flexible.
Digital That Works.
XTP CROSSPOINT MATRIX SWITCHERS

XTP CP 1600 XTP CP 3200

XTP TRANSMITTERS XTP RECEIVERS

XTP T HDMI XTP T UWP 202 XTP T UWP 304 XTP R HDMI

XTP T VGA XTP T USW 103 XTP SR HDMI

XTP CrossPoint Systems

The Extron XTP CrossPoint is a flexible, reliable signal switching and distribution system that provides a completely integrated solution
for multiple digital and analog formats. XTP CrossPoint matrix switchers support local connectivity as well as extended transmission
capability for sending high resolution video, audio, RS-232, Ethernet, and power up to 330 feet (100 m) over a single CAT 5-type cable.

Easy to Set Up Reliable

XTP CrossPoint Systems can easily be set up and configured out
of the box to save you time and money. Intuitive control software
provides straightforward system configuration without complicated
programming.
Performance
XTP CrossPoint Systems deliver extremely high switching and
transmission performance to support a wide range of video
formats, including the highest resolution DVI and HDMI signals.
The high data-rate digital backplane provides a truly future-ready
AV integration solution.
XTP CrossPoint Systems deliver robust system reliability and
dependable switching of video signals through EDID and HDCP
key management. Featuring advanced 24/7 system monitoring and
hot-swappable modular components, XTP CrossPoint Systems
are built for continuous, trouble-free operation in the most critical
applications.
Flexible System Designs
XTP CrossPoint Systems let you easily integrate digital and analog
devices into your system design. Connect and switch between local
devices, or extend to remote locations up to 330 feet away using
just a single CAT 5-type cable that carries, video, audio, RS-232 or
IR control, Ethernet, and power.

www.extron.com/xtpcrosspoint
gOAL dRIVEn COnTROL SySTEm dESIgn Summer 2011