Indian River State College (IRSC), a state school in Florida, focuses on making higher education accessible to all through the Promise program, which allows eligible students to earn a degree completely free of charge. Though a small state school by Florida standards, IRSC maintains an expansive footprint of hundreds of learning spaces across multiple campuses.
For years, IRSC says it used Revolabs microphones in their classrooms. While the system worked for lecture capture — which was critical for nursing departments that needed eight-hour courses recordings — the faculty expectations changed dramatically after COVID-19. “People would go into a room with a microphone, and assume it connects to Teams and Zoom. But it didn’t — it was just for lecture capture,” recalls Azzam Abdur-Rahman, technology projects and procurement manager at IRSC.
Abdur-Rahman and his team says they needed audio that could flow to multiple destinations such as conferencing platforms; however, the system wasn’t designed for that. Although the team could jump through the hoops to make the microphone talk to the computer, the Revolabs had other shortcomings and practical challenges that made seeking an alternative the more attractive option.
The team says they needed a solution that didn’t have cumbersome pairing or where the charging setup didn’t eat up all the power outlets by requiring different plugs for different models. Moreover, they needed a robust setup that didn’t constantly need a support ticket. So, when Abdur-Rahman’s former supervisor reached out to a community of higher ed AV professionals looking for recommendations on a new microphone system, the response was nearly unanimous: try Catchbox.
IRSC on Bringing in Catchbox
IRSC started with an earlier Catchbox system with one XLR input covering both Cube and Clip. The team installed three units in different environments: a computer science classroom and two nursing classrooms. Here, the team received overwhelmingly positive feedback from early adopter instructors. “After that, almost everyone we gave it to fell in love with those,” shares Abdur-Rahman.
Moreover, Catchbox solved the exact problems plaguing their Revolabs setup, says the team at IRSC. For instance, the USB connectivity meant microphones automatically showed up for Teams and Zoom calls. The Catchbox solution also ensured seamless pairing and elegant charging — the team could connect to either the in-classroom PC or a docking station if it was a BYOD space, using minimal outlets.
Rollout of Catchbox Systems Across IRSC Campus
IRSC says it began rolling out Catchbox systems across their campuses, deploying Clips and Cubes based on room needs and instructor preferences. Nursing classrooms with hybrid components also got the full Plus system with Cubes for audience question while other spaces got Clips for instructor audio. All in all, this flexibility allowed Abdur-Rahman and his team to configure each room appropriately without being locked into one-size-fits-all solutions. “The Clip and the Hub itself are maybe my favorite AV products I’ve ever gotten to work with,” he emphasizes.
For IRSC, the system’s reliability extends beyond just connectivity. The extended battery life is crucial for nursing instructors teaching eight-hour courses. The Phoenix inputs that replaced XLRs made installation dramatically easier. Additionally, the DSP functions meant IRSC didn’t need to purchase separate Crestron amplifiers, saving significant money. The sturdiness of the microphones also meant the AV team can rest easy, while the Clip and Hub are proving equally durable, says the team.
Today, IRSC has deployed Catchbox systems across dozens of its classrooms, with ongoing expansion as rooms get upgraded and new projects come online.
How Heckler Enhanced ADA compliance and Modular Design
IRSC reveals that its previously existing lecterns presented their own challenges — they were old, non-ADA compliant and designed for an outdated view of classroom systems. Instructors also often lacked adjustable height options. “We have nursing professors who need ADA compliant equipment; others are simply short and aren’t served well by high lecterns. The reason we wanted to move toward Heckler was the adjustability and the flexibility,” explains Abdur-Rahman.
According to the team, Heckler’s 4U and 6U desks solved multiple problems simultaneously. The adjustable height made rooms ADA compliant and the modular design meant IRSC could move away from requiring massive 12U rack spaces. Instead, they could fit all components into a compact solution. Moreover, the Catchbox inserts made integration seamless.
IRSC says it currently has four Heckler desks installed, with plans for more. According to the team, the instructor who uses them most frequently — an electrical engineering professor fascinated by Catchbox — particularly appreciates no longer being tethered to a fixed-height desk. Now, the instructor can adjust the Heckler to standing height, walk over, grab the Clip from its charging dock mounted in the Catchbox insert and move freely around the room.
IRSC thus proclaims that as it continues upgrading rooms, the goal is straightforward: to fit a Heckler lectern into the budget.
IRSC Praises Reliable Higher Ed Installation by Heckler and Catchbox
Courtesy / Catchbox
All in all, Catchbox and Heckler have emerged as a welcome addition to IRSC’s many spaces, with students, faculty and staff alike expressing their appreciation for improving the learning and teaching experiences.
Beyond elevating classroom audio, the team has found the additional features such as the range alarm and visual customization very appealing. For example, the former helps alert lecturers and prevents them walking off campus with the microphone still on them, whereas the latter has proven to be an invaluable branding opportunity as the logo features prominently on the Cube.
Abdur-Rahman also praises Catchbox’s support, contrasting it to previous experiences, when AV teams have to often manage technical issues on their own. He remarks, “[Catchbox teams] are super easy to contact. And on the rare occasion we do have an issue, we hear back on the next day with a solution.”
