Posts byS. Kyle Davis

See and Hear the Truth at InfoComm 2018

June is just around the corner, which means InfoComm will be here before we know it. As one of biggest professional AV shows of the year, InfoComm is host to a variety of innovative technology solutions being displayed by hundreds of AV manufacturers and solutions providers, including HARMAN. This year, InfoComm will be in Las
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How to Address Web Conferencing in Large Conference Rooms

Recent advancements in web conferencing technology has opened up the ability for more, smaller huddle spaces to be able to provide quick and easy collaboration. This is something we’ve obviously discussed before. However, how do you provide that same quality, simple-to-use conferencing experience in a larger conference room space—without adding a lot of extra complexity
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At ISE 2018, HARMAN Professional Solutions Shows Off the Connected Enterprise

Earlier this month, HARMAN showcased its portfolio of industry-leading audio, video, lighting and control solutions at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 1018. ISE is the professional AV industry’s largest tradeshow, with a record-breaking 80,000+ visitors attending the show this year. According to ISE Managing Director Mike Blackman, this was a 10% increase over last year’s attendance.
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What Really Matters When Considering Video over IP

One of the biggest trends in the professional AV industry (and one of my personal favorite AV technologies) is networked AV, the ability to distribute audio and video signals over the IT network. This innovative approach allows for flexible, configurable and scalable installations that can easily be centrally controlled and managed, resulting in solutions with
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Designing Hybrid Distance Learning Classrooms

Distance learning has drastically shifted the way schools educate students. The internet has opened the availability of education to people anywhere in the world. All it takes is an internet connection to allow any student to connect with global classmates and join in the learning process. The possibilities of distance learning are endless, and universities
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Impressing Clients in the Boardroom

The executive boardroom is where decisions are made that affect the future of the company. Whether it’s a senior leadership meeting or a presentation to a top prospect or partner, the events that occur in the boardroom are some of the most important in the enterprise. It’s no surprise, then, that the entire boardroom space,
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Designing Effective Huddle Spaces

There’s a lot that goes into creating an optimal environment for today’s increasingly remote and collaborative workforce. People are a company’s greatest asset, and their ideas exist wherever the people are, with ideas forming when they work cooperatively together. For this modern workforce to achieve maximum potential, providing the tools to help them meet and
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TECH TALKS: Leveraging the Power of Built-In Speaker Tunings in Amplifiers

The basic technology behind an amplifier is really quite simple—it increases the voltage of a signal to match the power needs of a speaker. However, when you get into the details, it gets more complicated. There are a number of features available on amplifiers, and determining exactly what you need can be daunting. One feature,
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How to Manage AVL Systems, Part Two: Tools and Methods

Device monitoring and management are a vital part of any installed AV system. We’ve been taking a closer look at how management tools benefit AV and IT technicians in a variety of applications, talking with Michael Saadeh, Product Manager, Collaboration and Management Software from our Corporate, Education and Government group, and Bradford Benn, Senior Solutions
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How to Manage AVL Systems, Part One: Troubleshooting and Prevention

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as “set it and forget it” technology. Once you put physical devices in a real-world scenario, things happen that impact the system. Early computers were prone to literal bugs, and while things have certainly improved over the years, glitches can still happen. Security updates must be applied. Network connections
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TECH TALKS: The Importance of Aesthetics in AV

There are a lot of different factors to consider when you’re making a technology purchase, whether you’re getting something for yourself or selecting the right solution for a business application. Having the right technical capabilities is obviously important, as is the ease of use and ability for managing and monitoring it. However, aesthetics is one
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Design Requirements for Amps and Speakers, Part Three: Low vs. High Impedance

Welcome back to part three of our series on design considerations for amplifiers and speakers. This is part of a larger look at the various components in the audio, video and lighting (AVL) signal chain, where I’ve been detailing how each affects overall application design. I’ve addressed live and playback sources, as well as audio, video and LED video processing and distribution. When we moved
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TECH TALKS: Simplifying Global Deployment and Management of Large-Scale AV Installations

In our Tech Talks series, we speak with the industry professionals at HARMAN about the challenges people encounter with designing, deploying and managing AV systems. In today’s entry, I reached out to Justin Kennedy, Product Manager, Software Solutions at HARMAN Professional Solutions about the challenges that enterprise IT managers face when deploying AV equipment globally,
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Design Requirements for Amps and Speakers, Part Two: Installation Considerations

In our ongoing look at the audio, video and lighting (AVL) signal chain, I’ve been detailing how each section affects the overall application design. In previous posts, I looked at live and playback sources, audio, video and LED video processing, and distribution. When we moved on to design considerations for AVL outputs, I started with amplifiers and speakers in what will be a three-part sub-series.
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Design Requirements for Amps and Speakers, Part One: Form Factors and Coverage Patterns

Over the past several months, I have been covering the various parts of the audio, video and lighting (AVL) signal chain and detailing how they affect overall application design. So far, I’ve looked at design considerations for both live and playback sources, covered audio, video and LED video processing, and addressed distribution. Now, we’re moving on to the important design considerations for AVL outputs, starting with
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Integrating Audio, Video, Lighting and Control over the Network at InfoComm 2017

This year at InfoComm 2017, HARMAN Professional Solutions displayed the many ways audio, video, lighting and control (AVLC) technologies can come together to create innovative solutions for a variety of markets. One of the important capabilities HARMAN showed was distributing AV and control over the network, which offers the ability for more flexible, scalable and
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InfoComm 2017: Daily Updates

HARMAN Professional Solutions is coming to you from InfoComm 2017 in Orlando, FL! We’ll be at Booths 3201 and W222A from Wednesday, June 14 through Friday, June 16. If you’re at the show, please be sure to stop by and say hello! If not, you can still stay up to date on our new product announcements and all the
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Helping Public Areas Rise Above with Ambient Noise Compensation: Part Two – Effect Settings and Types

The ultimate goal of any public address system is to be heard. However, because the amount of underlying background noise in a retail store, restaurant, hotel or transportation space varies as people come and go, audio engineers find it difficult to set an appropriate volume level suitable for both peak and quiet times. While the
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Configuration vs. Programming and How to Keep Top Talent: Shaun Robinson on AVWeek Podcast

Our very own Shaun Robinson, VP, Corporate, Education and Government for HARMAN Professional Solutions, appeared on the 300th episode of AVNation’s AVWeek podcast. Hosted by Tim Albright, the weekly podcast covers the top AV news and information across the industry. Shaun is a regular guest on AVWeek, along with other thought leaders in the AV
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TECH TALKS: Why You Should Care About Networked AV Security

Welcome to another Tech Talk, where we speak with the experts at HARMAN about the ways technology solutions can solve customer problems. In today’s edition, we’re speaking with Doug Hall, Product Manager, Device Control for HARMAN Professional Solutions. I reached out to Doug to get his perspective on a very important topic that should not
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Helping Public Areas Rise Above with Ambient Noise Compensation: Part One – Microphone Coverage

One of the most basic needs for PA applications in public areas, such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels and transportation centers, is the need to adjust volume depending on the amount of noise in the space. As more people enter the space, the underlying background noise naturally increases. The problem is that the varying nature
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Get Ready for UBTech 2017

It’s almost time for UBTech 2017, the annual conference and tradeshow on higher education technology leadership. This show, which runs June 12–14 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, highlights emerging trends in IT and AV technologies, and their applications across campus to improve institutional and student success. You can find HARMAN Professional Solutions at
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Improving Guest Meeting Spaces in Hotels: Part Two – Collaboration Spaces

One of the top priorities for business travelers—and an increasing over-the-top revenue generator for hotels—is the availability of meeting space. To explain what’s driving these innovative spaces, I reached out to Michael Kurcab, Global Market Manager, Hospitality and Matt Ryan, Technology and Services Engineer, Enterprise for HARMAN Professional Solutions. In our previous article, we looked
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Sneak Peek of NAB 2017

The NAB Show is where global visionaries in broadcast, digital media, film, entertainment and more come to learn about the latest technology innovations to help create immersive digital content. HARMAN Professional Solutions will be there again this year, exhibiting the latest broadcast, production and live sound solutions by Studer, JBL Professional and AKG in Booth C146
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TECH TALKS: Church Video Distribution over the Internet (Part One: Online Streaming)

In our ongoing series, Tech Talks, we discuss technology solutions to common customer problems with some of the technical experts here at HARMAN Professional Solutions. In today’s edition, we’re speaking with Kaleb Plamondon, Manager, North America Sales Engineering. I reached out to Kaleb to discuss an important and challenging subject: how churches can distribute video
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PL+S 2017: Daily Updates

We are geared up and excited for Prolight + Sound (PL+S) 2017 in Frankfurt, Germany, where we’ll be all this week! We’ll be in Hall 4.0 at Stand F41 from Tuesday, April 4 through Friday, April 7 at the Messe Frankfurt Exhibition Center. If you’re at the show, please be sure to stop by and say hello!
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How Dynamics Effects Work

Of all of the audio processing effects, dynamics are some of the most important and most baffling. Part of this confusion is that it is often hard to hear dynamics effects unless they are used incorrectly. Dynamics effects adjust the volume of the sound automatically based on a set of variables that you can adjust.
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VIDEO PLAYLIST: Understanding the AVL Signal Chain

As those of you who follow the Insights blog know,  we’ve been reviewing the AVL signal chain and exploring the different elements it includes. The AVL signal chain looks at how audio and video signals go through audio, video and light processing, and then are sent through hardware and network-based distribution to various outputs. The entire
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TECH TALKS: The Importance of Industrial Design in Performance Lighting

In our “Tech Talk” series, we speak with the industry experts here at HARMAN Professional Solutions to get the inside scoop on AVL technology. Today, we’re speaking with Uffe Toft, Principal Industrial Designer, Lighting for HARMAN. Uffe graduated from the Aarhus School of Architecture with a Master’s Degree in Industrial Design before joining the Lego
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