Here’s a closer look at some of the AV news, products and projects you might have missed this week. We call it AV News to Know:
New AV Products
Christie Mystique Version 2.5 is Available for Multi-Projector Blended Canvases
Christie® announced the release of Version 2.5 of Christie Mystique™, an automated camera-based alignment software solution designed to simplify and automate the process of warping and blending multiple projectors into a single, seamless canvas.
With Version 2.5, Mystique Essentials and Pro Venue Editions offer two new features to improve overall image fidelity and uniformity in blended projector arrays when projecting on a flat or curved surface.
For installations where the projection surface is dirty, discolored or non-uniform, these visual imperfections can get in the way of projecting a great image.
Mystique’s new background compensation feature uses a color camera to detect large contrast differences on a screen or projection surface and makes automatic adjustments to compensate for surface an
omalies to provide a more uniform projected image, so the focus stays on the projected content, not the background quality.
Adjusting for color and brightness uniformity across projectors in an array to ensure the blend areas are not visible can be a challenging and time-consuming manual process, especially if using projectors of different ages.
With the new automated color and brightness uniformity feature, Mystique quickly makes the adjustments with a mouse click, with camera-based accuracy, to display one seamless image.
“Christie Mystique saves both set-up time and costs, while delivering freedom to project almost anywhere,” says Joel St-Denis, senior product manager, Christie. “Mystique takes the guesswork out of multi-projector systems, so that the focus is on delivering an amazing experience for audiences. It is an essential tool for anyone installing a blended projector array.”
Mystique is available in five editions, each designed to meet the needs of different applications: Mystique Lite, Essentials, Pro Venue, Premium and Large Scale Experience Editions.
Christie Mystique Version 2.5 is available for download now.
QSC Offers Meeting Room Solutions for Zoom Rooms
QSC announced new Meeting Room Solutions, which have been certified for use with Zoom Rooms. QSC has worked with Zoom Video Communications, Inc. and Q-SYS™ Ecosystem partner Sennheiser to create a solution that simplifies integration complexity and allows users to easily scale their Zoom Rooms deployment in high value spaces, while providing an intuitive and consistent user experience.
The QSC Meeting Room Solutions for Zoom Rooms centers around the Q-SYS Core 8 Flex processor, which uniquely combines audio, video and control capabilities into a single integrated appliance.
It also includes the QSC SPA Series two- and four-channel power amplifiers and the QSC AcousticDesign™ Series AD-C4T ceiling loudspeaker delivering unmatched sonic fidelity and ease of installation.
QSC and Sennheiser have also partnered to include the Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) microphone, which integrates with Q-SYS via a control plugin.
“Our new solutions, offered with Zoom and Sennheiser, make it easier than ever to integrate a Zoom Rooms system into high value spaces,” says Jason Moss, Vice President Alliances & Ecosystem, QSC. “Our system delivers a fully networked and managed AV&C infrastructure to Zoom Rooms via a single USB connection. Furthermore, with the software-based foundation of Q-SYS, users now have the flexibility to expand and manage their AV investment well into the future.”
“The QSC and Sennheiser partnership takes the guesswork out of integrating Q-SYS and the TCC2 into any high value Zoom Rooms space,” says Charlie Jones, Global Alliance & Partnership Manager at Sennheiser. “With the available TCC2 plugin for Q-SYS, admins can easily configure the TCC2 microphone within Q-SYS Designer Software and monitor and manage it in Q-SYS Reflect Enterprise Manager.”
“QSC has been a staple in our Zoom ProAV designs for years,” says Shane Springer, Solutions Architect with Zoom. “With this new certification, QSC brings complete solutions that work together by design to enable flex spaces, classrooms, boardrooms, all-hands spaces, lecture halls and more.”
Universal PropTech Signs Distribution Agreement to Sell Canaree Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Solution from Piera Systems
Universal PropTech Inc. has entered into a distribution agreement with Piera Systems Inc to market, sell and distribute its Canāree™ family of indoor air quality monitoring products in Canada and United States.
The Piera IAQ monitoring products use Intelligent Particle Sensors (IPS) along with algorithms and artificial intelligence to identify a range of particulate matter (PM) from Indoor Sources from 10 microns down to 0.1 microns.
“Universal PropTech is offering the ability for customers to monitor and identify sources of air pollution including viruses for a post-pandemic environment,” said Chris Hazelton, president & CEO of Universal PropTech Inc. “As industry grapples with new air quality standards going forward, we’ll be leading the way with indoor air quality monitoring at less than 1-micron levels.”
“Our ability to identify sources of indoor air pollution is a big differentiator compared to other indoor air quality monitoring solutions. The partnership with Universal PropTech allows us to directly connect our data with managing Building Automation Systems to sustain a positive air quality index for spaces,” said Vin Ratford, Chief Executive Officer, Piera Systems Inc.
In connection with the non-exclusive distribution agreement with Piera, the company will distribute Canāree™ IAQ monitoring systems that detect temperature, air pressure, humidity, carbon dioxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (“VOCs”) and PM 0.1 to PM 10. Canāree™ devices are low-cost units designed to work under normal operation for up to eight years and are included as a part of its Piera’s SenseiAQ software to integrate data into building automation systems.
The Canāree™ device has been tested and certified for PM <1.0, <2.5 and < 10.0 by the KETI (Korean Electronics Technology Institute). To-date, it is the only sensor to pass these tests for PM <1.
The company has purchased a number of units and will be integrating the data from the Canāree IAQ units through the company’s building automation systems, adding another layer of oversight in addition to comfort management and energy efficiency objectives. The Company has identified a number of customers to pilot units including a multi-rink arena complex, a car dealership showroom and a commercial office client.
According to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is ranked as one of top 5 environmental risks to public health and there have been numerous studies linking Indoor Air Quality to illness. According to World Health Organization 91 % of the world’s population are living where air quality exceeds WHO guidelines of 10 ug/m3 (mass concentration) [ii].
The Company’s IAQ products and ongoing service offering provides facility users and stakeholders greater visibility into their Air Quality Index, as determined by the EPA.
Universal PropTech strives to offer a one-stop-shop for customers to allow them to identify air quality issues in a timely manner, resolve them with air purification equipment and mechanical services, and provide visibility to their stakeholders.
Audio Visual Projects
Historic Scottish Rite Theatre Adds Syva Sound System
The Scottish Rite Theatre—aka the “Scotty”—was built in 1925 as a Masonic cathedral. Recently, the Gothic-styled building underwent a $5 million-plus renovation and now offers downtown Peoria, IL a high-quality performance and event venue using L-Acoustics Syva sound system.
The Scotty encompasses an 800-seat theater, a lower-level ballroom with capacity for 300 people, and more than 10,000 feet of usable space, as well as a full basement kitchen and banquet facility. An L-Acoustics Syva sound system was installed in the auditorium earlier this year by the Chicago office of integrator, Creative Technology.
“Syva was the perfect solution for audio reinforcement at the Scotty,” says Greg Moore, Installations Project Manager for Creative Technology. “It had to sound great, which it does, but it also had to disappear. The aesthetics of this project were of paramount importance to the client. We were able to essentially camouflage the Syva, which we ordered in white from L-Acoustics, by installing them in the fluted trim around the sides of the proscenium.”
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People and Places
USIS AudioVisual Systems joins USAV Membership
USIS AudioVisual has joined USAV Group. USIS AV is a national design/build/service firm delivering solutions for a built and digital environment’s AV technology stack.
“USIS AV is a top-notch organization is highly decorated and accredited within our industry with over eighty years of expertise and will bring a lot of value to USAV,” said Patrick Whipkey, Director of USAV. “They are multifaceted with AV, security, electrical and so much more. The USIS team fits well within the USAV network, and we look forward to collaborating and growing their presence within the group.”
USIS AV is best known for its cross-functional design/build solutions for audio visual, IT & communications infrastructure/structured cabling and physical security & access control, which the firm sees as an essential approach to today’s digital and built environment tech stack.
They bring to the USAV group additional coverage from the east coast to the west coast with their headquarter office in New York.
“To be a good company we must also be a good peer in our industry; joining USAV gives us another opportunity to do that,” said Theresa Hahn, VP of Market Development at USIS AV. “We recognize the importance alliances can play in shaping the future. Connecting with other thought-leaders, challenging our own best practices and perhaps inspiring others, accessing top-class technology & solutions partners and leveraging groundwork by other USAV members, is exciting and we are grateful to be a part.ATS
ATS Automation, Inc Acquires WayPoint Systems, Inc
ATS Automation Inc, a smart building controls provider for the greater Pacific Northwest, has acquired WayPoint Systems, Inc, headquartered in Roswell, GA. The purchase will enable ATS to grow in the Southeast region of the U.S. and provide increased capabilities and support for national account clients.
With the acquisition, ATS will add WayPoint Systems to its family of facility solution providers under the new name, ATS Waypoint, Inc.
“We are excited to be adding ATS Waypoint to the ATS family,” said Josh Cales, president of ATS Automation, Inc. “By combining the strengths of each company, we will increase our ability to provide integrated smart facility solutions, both locally in the Atlanta region and for our national account clients.”
The acquisition highlights ATS’s mission to be the leader in building technologies by providing preferred and best-in-class people, engineered solutions, service support, and products in all the markets they serve.
“Adding WayPoint to our business incorporates an established and skilled team of facility engineering professionals based in the Southeast to our already impressive roster in the Pacific Northwest. We will be able to grow our business and continue to remain independent in an increasingly consolidated sector,” said Brian Allen, CEO of ATS Automation.
ATS serves clients in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, Eastern Oregon, and the greater Atlanta Metro market.
