The ABCs of A-V FAQs: Part Deux

The ABCs of A-V FAQs:  Part Deux

 

Every industry has its own version of FAQs – & the Audio-Visual biz is no exception. Whether your organization is considering building a new – or upgrading a dated – Conference Room, Huddle Space, or Auditorium AV System – we’re sure you’ve got questions…& CAPTUS SYSTEMS has answers!

The first installment of our “ABCs of A-V FAQs” was so successful, that we decided to gather & share some more Frequently Asked Questions (& answers) with you…& here they are:

 

FAQs to Consider When Planning Your Next AV Collaboration Space Project

 

How can I join my Zoom Meeting with other platforms like Microsoft Teams or Cisco Webex?

For Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, and GoTo Meeting, customers need to configure a third-party interop service, such as Polycom’s RealConnect, Pexip, Webex CMR, or GTM’s InRoomLink. As long as the third-party host’s meeting invitation includes an SIP address for interop dialing, Zoom Rooms would then be able to access the third-party meeting details from the invitation that would allow the Zoom Room to generate a one-touch join button for the third-party meeting.

 

Would I be able to use some of my current equipment integrated with our new AV technology?

It depends. As long as you inform CAPTUS SYSTEMS beforehand, we can take inventory of your equipment in order to ascertain whether or not it would work with the new AV technology we would be incorporating into the design & engineering of your project.

 

How do your engineers determine the best Microphone System to use for my space?

Microphones are selected based on the architectural footprint & needs of the space. Do you want to see the mics on the table & have the ability to mute them? Do you not want them on the table, but still have the ability to mute them? It all depends on what you want. It also helps to know the number of people expected to be seated in the collaboration space & the acoustics in the room. All of these considerations combine to determine what type of audio equipment would be best for your project. Also taken into consideration is how the microphones will be used: Just for speaking or for presentations through a video system as well? Once all of these factors are calculated, we can properly integrate the microphones with the rest of the AV system.

 

How do your engineers determine the best Video System to use for my space?

We use calculators that are used based on the “farthest seat from the screen.” In the commercial design world, we base it on a spreadsheet. From a general standpoint, there’s a formula – the farthest seat from the screen divided by a factor of 6, gives us the minimum height of the best screen for your space. However, if a client only wants to use the display for text, that ratio changes to a factor of 8. Or, if a client has a requirement for high detail (like in medical facilities), that changes to a factor of 4.

 

Bottom line – we want to make sure that EVERYONE in the room is getting the optimal viewing experience.

 

How can the AV work I had done in New York (or anywhere) be duplicated EVERYWHERE?

An equipment inventory would be taken along with a review of any control devices, along with a review of drawings if they are available. If any of the equipment is deemed discontinued, replacement equipment will be specified to replace it, & the system would be designed accordingly. Of course, the client would be able to review any-and-all changes, so that the impact on budget & the system specifications would match-up as best as possible, before any installation would commence.

 

Our system keeps giving FEEDBACK – what are we doing wrong?

Generally speaking, this means that the microphone’s input sensitivity is set too high for the room, or as the industry terminology goes “is too hot.” This means that the mic is picking-up too much signal – whether it be room acoustical issues, speaker issues, or other audio devices. This creates a sound loop that eventually turns into the annoying tone we have all heard from time to time. Depending on the system, there are many different ways to solve these issues: Lowering the microphone sensitivity, changing the mics to a more “direct pick-up pattern,” adding acoustic echo cancellation with some form of digital processor (like the ones manufactured by companies like Biamp, QSC, Shure, Symetrix and Xilica), & lowering the volume of the speakers within the room. All of these fixes can all be helpful to varying degrees.

 

What’s the difference between VoIP vs. On-Trend VoIP?

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a technology describing a specific way that voice communications are made. In comparison, VoIP would be the alternative to POTS (Plain Old Telephone System).

 

When the industry speaks of “On-Trend” VoIP, they are usually referring to “the latest and greatest” ways that businesses are implementing VoIP, and how these trends are affecting the industry.

 

There are 2 main types of ways VoIP services can be implemented: They are either “On-Prem” or “Hosted.”

 

On-Prem (On Premise) VoIP is normally run on a system that is located inside an organization’s actual physical office space. This system can be managed by the company that owns the system.

 

Hosted VoIP is managed by a service such as Avaya, Zoom, RingCentral, ShoreTel, Cisco, or others. There are many companies that do this.

 

 

What is “Web RTC,” & why has it become so important?

Web RTC (Real-Time Communications) is an open framework for the web that enables RTC capabilities in the browser, via simple application programming interfaces.

 

 

 

Bottom Line: CAPTUS SYSTEMS enables our clients to EASILY operate & support

the technology we design & build.
 

 

Yeah. We’ve Got This!

Every industry has its own version of FAQs – & the Audio-Visual biz is no exception. Whether your organization is considering building a new – or upgrading a dated – Conference Room, Huddle Space, or Auditorium AV System – we’re sure you’ve got questions…& CAPTUS SYSTEMS has answers!

The first installment of our “ABCs of A-V FAQs” was so successful, that we decided to gather & share some more Frequently Asked Questions (& answers) with you…& here they are:

 

FAQs to Consider When Planning Your Next AV Collaboration Space Project

 

How can I join my Zoom Meeting with other platforms like Microsoft Teams or Cisco Webex?

For Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, and GoTo Meeting, customers need to configure a third-party interop service, such as Polycom’s RealConnect, Pexip, Webex CMR, or GTM’s InRoomLink. As long as the third-party host’s meeting invitation includes an SIP address for interop dialing, Zoom Rooms would then be able to access the third-party meeting details from the invitation that would allow the Zoom Room to generate a one-touch join button for the third-party meeting.

 

Would I be able to use some of my current equipment integrated with our new AV technology?

It depends. As long as you inform CAPTUS SYSTEMS beforehand, we can take inventory of your equipment in order to ascertain whether or not it would work with the new AV technology we would be incorporating into the design & engineering of your project.

 

How do your engineers determine the best Microphone System to use for my space?

Microphones are selected based on the architectural footprint & needs of the space. Do you want to see the mics on the table & have the ability to mute them? Do you not want them on the table, but still have the ability to mute them? It all depends on what you want. It also helps to know the number of people expected to be seated in the collaboration space & the acoustics in the room. All of these considerations combine to determine what type of audio equipment would be best for your project. Also taken into consideration is how the microphones will be used: Just for speaking or for presentations through a video system as well? Once all of these factors are calculated, we can properly integrate the microphones with the rest of the AV system.

 

How do your engineers determine the best Video System to use for my space?

We use calculators that are used based on the “farthest seat from the screen.” In the commercial design world, we base it on a spreadsheet. From a general standpoint, there’s a formula – the farthest seat from the screen divided by a factor of 6, gives us the minimum height of the best screen for your space. However, if a client only wants to use the display for text, that ratio changes to a factor of 8. Or, if a client has a requirement for high detail (like in medical facilities), that changes to a factor of 4.

 

Bottom line – we want to make sure that EVERYONE in the room is getting the optimal viewing experience.

 

How can the AV work I had done in New York (or anywhere) be duplicated EVERYWHERE?

An equipment inventory would be taken along with a review of any control devices, along with a review of drawings if they are available. If any of the equipment is deemed discontinued, replacement equipment will be specified to replace it, & the system would be designed accordingly. Of course, the client would be able to review any-and-all changes, so that the impact on budget & the system specifications would match-up as best as possible, before any installation would commence.

 

Our system keeps giving FEEDBACK – what are we doing wrong?

Generally speaking, this means that the microphone’s input sensitivity is set too high for the room, or as the industry terminology goes “is too hot.” This means that the mic is picking-up too much signal – whether it be room acoustical issues, speaker issues, or other audio devices. This creates a sound loop that eventually turns into the annoying tone we have all heard from time to time. Depending on the system, there are many different ways to solve these issues: Lowering the microphone sensitivity, changing the mics to a more “direct pick-up pattern,” adding acoustic echo cancellation with some form of digital processor (like the ones manufactured by companies like Biamp, QSC, Shure, Symetrix and Xilica), & lowering the volume of the speakers within the room. All of these fixes can all be helpful to varying degrees.

 

What’s the difference between VoIP vs. On-Trend VoIP?

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a technology describing a specific way that voice communications are made. In comparison, VoIP would be the alternative to POTS (Plain Old Telephone System).

 

When the industry speaks of “On-Trend” VoIP, they are usually referring to “the latest and greatest” ways that businesses are implementing VoIP, and how these trends are affecting the industry.

 

There are 2 main types of ways VoIP services can be implemented: They are either “On-Prem” or “Hosted.”

 

On-Prem (On Premise) VoIP is normally run on a system that is located inside an organization’s actual physical office space. This system can be managed by the company that owns the system.

 

Hosted VoIP is managed by a service such as Avaya, Zoom, RingCentral, ShoreTel, Cisco, or others. There are many companies that do this.

 

 

What is “Web RTC,” & why has it become so important?

Web RTC (Real-Time Communications) is an open framework for the web that enables RTC capabilities in the browser, via simple application programming interfaces.

 

 

 

Bottom Line: CAPTUS SYSTEMS enables our clients to EASILY operate & support

the technology we design & build.
 

 

Yeah. We’ve Got This!