I had a good talk this afternoon with Ron Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing, at the Adtec Digital booth. Ron has to be one of the most well-traveled people in the business. Among many other places, he’s been to Europe and seen the way they have embraced digital signage and its huge array of applications there. It appears that in this field, as in others, the U.S. had better have its act together to keep up. The people there have taken a very practical approach and from what Ron tells me, they have gotten a good government-private partnership going to clear obstacles and maintain a very competitive position. While a lot of companies have struggled or gone under completely, Adtec has not only survived but thrived with a good take on the pulse of the industry worldwide. For instance, Adtec has developed applications that really put the often overlooked concept of metadata to work in the real world environment. Machine-generated and human-authored metadata appear to have been used effectively by Adtec in their latest products. It was a real pleasure listening to Ron’s take on the state of this fast moving and dynamic business.

Press release

MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems, a provider of fiber-optic-based video and audio transport solutions for broadcast and pro AV applications, is introducing the SilverBullet Mini 3G HD/SDI fiber-optic link at InfoComm 09 (Booth 4629). This two-part transceiver/receiver solution, designed for the transmission of SDI and HD-SDI TV signals over a single-mode fiber optic cable, maintains the signal quality that broadcasters demand—5Mbps to 3Gbps. At just 3in. in length, this cost-effective solution is ideal for a wide variety of pro AV and broadcast applications, including video production and editing, ENG, sports teleproduction, field production, remote camera links, cross-campus production, pre-fibered venues, and courtesy feeds. Read on at The Briefing Room

More InfoComm 09 news from The Briefing Room

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Panasonic‘s newest jumbo plasma screen—this time, an 85in. professional display showcased in a variety of applications at the Panasonic booth (4441).

While admiring it, I met with Jim Noecker, director of Systems Sales Engineering for Panasonic, who talked me through the display’s merits (50 percent brigher than the monster 103in. Panasonic display, NeoPDP energy-efficient technology, and so on). Among the most cool, and yet disconcerting aspects of the screen, is that it can display a person at their true height when turned vertically (and Panasonic has technology for doing just that). Jim also discussed the company’s very interesting “LCD versus Plasma” demo room display (the Panasonic point, shared by many, is that high-quality plasmas are better for professional displays), and the industry’s moves toward energy efficiency in these different types of displays (lead out, for instance, was easy because it only involved changing solder ingredients in circuitry), and many other interesting things on the mega-display front.

—MG

Partners Brian McCormick and Sean O’Malley, owners since 2007 of Stewart Audio, were eager to discuss this afternoon the fundamental remaking of their company over the past two years. The company still serves its original live-sound amplifier clients, but the new owners, who bought Stewart after lengthy stints in the semiconductor industry, decided to “re-engineer the company and seek new markets,” according to O’Malley.

Thus, today at InfoComm 09, they debuted the company’s new portable (palm-sized) power amps—the AV25 (2-channel Class D amp at 35W and 25W) that weighs less than .5lbs. and is plenum-rated, and other versions of similar size and different power capabilities. Both men say the technology is aimed at the education market—new for Stewart—and is the first of many upcoming moves into new vertical markets. O’Malley suggests that in a difficult economy, the education market is particularly ripe, at least for a certain period of time, as bond and TARP funds for modest infrastructure upgrades begin to circulate in major districts. more…

Press release

At InfoComm 09 Booth #6321, Revolabs announced that three premier providers of conferencing technology products for education and business collaboration have certified Revolabs as a partner in their value-added solution programs. Read on at The Briefing Room

More InfoComm 09 news from The Briefing Room

Bosch brands Midas and Klark Teknik announced at a booth press conference that effective July 1, Midas Consoles North America has been appointed as the exclusive distribution channel for Midas and Klark Teknik in the U.S. and Canada. Based in the Los Angeles-area, Midas Consoles North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of JAM Industries.
The move gives Midas and Klark Teknik direct control of its U.S. distribution channel as it markets the XL8 and PRO6 digital systems in the U.S. market. Midas’ David McNutt said that the existing Midas rep force in North America would be retained. more…

As wonderful as HDMI has been so far, one of its real weak points has been the inability for it to span any serious distance. At InfoComm this morning, Frank Jachetta of MultiDyne introduced the company’s new HDMI-ONE, which takes HDMI video and sound up to distances of 1000 meters on multimode fiber while HDCP data stays intact. Frank also showed the new SilverBullet 3G Fiber Link, an economical solution for taking SDI and HD-SDI signals for a long ride on single-mode fiber. Also on hand from MultiDyne was the new HDSDI Repeater/Transport and HDSDI Fan Out DA with HDMI and Audio monitoring.

The comedian walked onstage and began telling a few jokes, to the crowd’s amusement. Of course, they knew he was actually in London and the curiosity about how the transmission was being accomplished was evident. But then the performer began interacting with individual members of the audience and the demo really got interesting. The holographic detail was very convincing and there was no noticeable latency. The comedian was followed by a guitarist singing a song and it appeared that he could have walked right into the crowd and thrown down a hat for contibutions. The show was arranged to demo the Masergy IP-linked holographic transmission technology that shows real promise in specific applications. There was no fading, blinking, or miscolored image, and the 3D performers’ ability to naturally interact with the InfoComm crowd really sold the idea. It was fun participating in the Musion transatlantic 3D holographic telepresence demo.

Press release

Ashly Audio is celebrating its 35th Birthday at InfoComm. Central to the history of Ashly Audio is Billy Thompson, the maverick engineer who, in 1974, inspired the five owner/operators of a struggling live sound company to redirect their talents toward the production of live sound equipment. It was Thompson’s passion for designing and building processors and amplifiers of unparalleled functionality, musicality, and reliability that cemented Ashly’s enduring reputation in both the fixed installation and live sound markets. And it was Thompson’s prescience that moved Ashly to the forefront of the digital revolution, where its current array of network-ready products provide solutions of power, reliability, and economy for the modern integrator. Read on at The Briefing Room

More InfoComm 09 news from The Briefing Room

First let me say: Bosch is a PA company (well they make them among other things) and yet amplification was conspicuously absent from their booth press conference this morning. So I’ll be candid—I couldn’t hear a lot of it. Certainly visually it was fairly dramatic for a tradeshow—with a backdrop of the Midas Mixers, how could it not be?

Normally I would just wait until I could check up on everything, but I got the impression this was an important and timely announcement so I’ll just share what I can. (update: our reporter Dan Daley has better hearing so get more from him here).

John Oakley, the UK-based managing director of Midas Consoles (and Klark Teknik) stood next to Lynn Martin, of Canada-based JAM Industries. This little bit of theater represents the alliance of two class operations to form Midas Consoles North America (and I could have heard the name wrong). Point being, the formidable Midas will now be distributed in North America by the formidable JAM.