May 2009 - Sound & Communications

NSCA Names Business Awards WinnersNSCA announced winners of its 2009 Excellence in BusinessAwards: Copp Systems Integrator received the Strategic Advancementaward; Sharp’s Audio Visual is being honored for its MarketingStrategies; Halco Life Safety Systems is recognized for Project Development;Verrex Corp. is being honored for its Growth Strategies;and Safeguard Security and Communications is the recipient of theRecurring Revenue award.“Business owners and managers are all evaluating ways to run theircompanies more smoothly and cut costs,” explained Ray Bailey,President of Lone Star Communications and Business and LeadershipConference planning committee member. “These companiesexemplify the strategies needed to ensure a growing and stablebusiness during tough economic times.”Systems integrators who demonstrated successful business strategieswere selected to receive the Excellence in Business Awardsfrom self- or peer-nominated applications. Award winners receivedone complimentary admission to the NSCA Business and LeadershipConference, sponsored by InfoComm International, held in February inPhoenix AZ, as well as recognition during the opening ceremonies.Crestron Joins EMerge AllianceCrestron has become a member of the EMerge Alliance to contributeits expertise in delivering fully integrated solutions that manageand control disparate building systems. Creating a new standard forintegrating commercial building infrastructures, power, controls anda broad range of systems on a common platform is a central missionof EMerge. Developing this new commercial technology standard willhelp lay the foundation for future innovations in energy-efficient andindividually controllable devices, such as LED lighting.Today’s workplace is dominated by fixed wiring, which can make upgradesand retrofits complicated. The demand for more flexible powerdistribution and device control solutions has focused the Alliance onthe adoption of low-voltage DC power, which simplifies the installationof lighting fixtures and other devices. A safer and more flexible solutionthan line-voltage AC, DC power is suited for integration into the ceilingplane, enabling facility managers to arrange and rearrange lighting,sensors, actuators and other devices without rewiring.“The commercial marketplace continues to recognize the importanceof going green, and it’s a process that requires sophisticated systemsintegration,” said Crestron’s Director of Business Development, SteveSamson. “We are pleased to be part of an initiative that endorsesintegrated technologies that maximize opportunities to conserve energyand promote sustainability in commercial building interiors.”Chadron State College Deploys CommunityChadron State College’s athletic facilities have been given a longanticipatedupdate, with new sound systems installed at the school’sSoftball Field and Don Beebe Stadium at Elliot Field. Rapid City SDbasedHaggerty’s Audio Video designed and installed the systems,both centered around Community Professional R-Series loudspeakers.According to Haggerty’s Steve Foudray, the facilities had beensorely in need of audio improvements.“The stadium had several issues, each reinforcing the other,” he remarked.“The system itself was underpowered—just a few old hornsand a single 100 watt amp—so it was low fidelity and distorted tobegin with. The horns were also mounted on the scoreboards at oneend of the field, so there was a time delay between the announcerand the horns. And the horns were directly across from the largegymnasium building, so there was an echo problem, as well.” DaleGrant, Chadron State’s Vice President for Administration, confirmedthat the old systems left the college wanting.The Haggerty’s team of Foudray, Mike Moore and Dan Haggertyreplaced the 40-year-old horns with four Community R.5 full-range,two-way loudspeakers covering the bleacher seating, and a pair ofR1-94 long-throw systems for the end zones. “We created a verticalarray with four R.5 subwoofers and an R.5HP on a custom bracket,”stated Foudray. “It keeps the SPL of the bleachers under control,and fills the entire field.” The systems are powered by Electro-VoiceCPS Series amplifiers, with Rane DSP providing system processing.At the school’s softball field, three R.5COAX two-way systems aredriven by a Crown XTI 1000. Both systems were designed usingEASE and tuned using Smaart.McCann Integrates Maimonides Medical CenterAt almost 100 years old, Maimonides Medical Center remains a vitaland thriving non-profit, non-sectarian hospital. It is the pre-eminenttreatment facility and academic medical center in the borough ofBrooklyn NY. As a “teaching” hospital, instruction takes place throughoutthe facility. At its heart is the 350-seat Schreiber Auditorium,equipped with an assortment of instructional multimedia resources.Maimonides Medical Center hired McCann Systems, Edison NJ, todesign and integrate its high-end AV presentation auditorium.The AV system consists of four Bose Panaray speaker systems,two Bose MB-12 subwoofers built into custom niches, a ChristieDigital DS6k projector accompanied by a Da-Lite 220-inch motorizedscreen, and a custom low profile Marshall lectern. The auditoriumOops!In our March 2009 review of the recent ISE, “AV Takes Global Stage,” byR. David Read, our mention of AVI-SPL incorrectly listed the company’sname as AVI/SPL. Also, Chad Gillenwater’s correct title with AVI-SPLis Vice Chairman.In “Exploring the Depths,” by R. David Read, also in March, the 12 Sony4K SXR-S110 SXRD projectors were purchased. The related copy shouldhave read: “In an act of corporate philanthropy, Sony donated a projectorto support the engineering and testing of the design to enable segmentsof the Pitcairn documentary to be screened on 12 high-bay walls aroundthe perimeter of the hall simultaneously. The installed equipment tookthe form of 12 Sony 4K SXR-S110 SXRD projectors....”Also in March: In “Ballpark Frank,” by Jim Stokes, the statement, “Mc-Cann introduced 550 Sony Bravia flat screens, offering high-definitionimagery over IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) distribution,” is incorrect.According to Joseph Fusaro, McCann Systems Project Manager,McCann did not introduce or install any TVs in the stadium. “We wereresponsible for integrating the control of the TV’s in our spaces.”Our apologies for any confusion.84 Sound & Communications For more information about these companies, go to www.bluebookonline.net www.soundandcommunications.com