Challenging Light

We were recently contacted by our client to show a video inside a tent.  We made sure to find out when the event would take place.  It was during the day.  Because of this there would be a lot of outside light from the sun coming in.  Even if the weather is overcast the sun will still wash out the image from a projector.  This, combined with the limited space, meant a projector and screen wasn't a viable option. 

The best alternative option was a very large LED display.  We had to verify that the corner it would be placed in had tent walls.  This was to avoid distracting glare.  Once the client assured us that there would be tent walls we felt comfortable with the solution we offered.

From the discussions with our client we knew where to place the large display.  Once placed, we adjusted the height and angle of it to give the best view for everyone in the audience.  Looking at the display from various seats helped us make these adjustments.  After some further tweaking and making sure the client was happy with the placement we were ready to go.   The event went smoothly and the video received a loud applause.  This made all the planning and adjustments worth it.

One Last Thing:  When doing an event inside a tent make sure you have power no further than 100 feet away.  Going more than 100 feet with an extension cord may cause you to lose voltage.  

Here's a link where you can learn more about our company:  http://www.iavnj.com

Using a Microphone

Using a microphone correctly is invaluable to the effectiveness of a presentation.  It may sound simple but when using a handheld microphone it is important to speak into it properly.  Holding it about 4 inches in front of your mouth is ideal.  If you hold it too close the sound will be distorted and if you hold it too far the sound will be faint.  If the microphone is attached to a gooseneck on a podium, be sure to lower or raise the gooseneck so that the microphone is level with your mouth.  Taking a couple seconds to do this before you start speaking will make a world of difference in the clarity of your presentation.   Also, remember to turn your microphone off when leaving the podium or the room.  You don’t want unneeded side talk coming out of the sound system.

Handheld microphones produce a full, loud sound when used correctly.  Some people need to have their hands free though.  This is when a lavaliere microphone comes in handy.  It is important to make sure that the lav is clipped on the front of your shirt not too far below your neck.  It should be facing upwards as well.  The lavaliere mic should be placed on you at least 15 minutes before the presentation is set to start.  Once speaking it’s essential not to hit the microphone which will cause loud scratching or popping sounds. 

Last but not least, it is vital to avoid feedback.  This can be done by staying away from speakers when using a microphone.  Walking in front of a speaker will create an endless loop of sound that results in the very unpleasant noise known as feedback.  It is also important to turn all the volumes down before powering up equipment and raising them slowly to the desired level.  Raising the volume quickly can result in feedback as well.  I hope these tips help your next presentation come across loud and clear.

Here’s a link where you can learn more about our company: http://www.iavnj.com

Updated Network

We recently updated our network to a ISP (Internet Service Provider) that uses fiber optics.  The reason for doing this was the extra bandwidth we would receive by upgrading.    Bandwidth determines the amount of data that can be sent and received through the network.  The more bandwidth there is, the more data that can be relayed.  This is important because we have two Video Conference rooms.  Because of the extra bandwidth we can now have two sessions occurring at the same time via IP without any worries.  Client’s can also connect to our Wi-Fi during the Video Conference in case they need to access the internet without any problems. 

We also decided to order a bundle of static IP addresses.  This means that each of our Video Conference units have their own assigned IP address which allows them to now receive calls simultaneously.  Being able to both receive and make calls at the same time gives us flexibility.  That was the main purpose of the upgrade, to make us flexible with a network more than up to the task of handling our busy Video Conference division.

Here's a link where you can learn more about our Video Conference division 

http://iavnj.com/videoconferencing.php

Video Conference Rooms

In an effort to enhance our Video Conference Rooms, we recently updated them.  Our main focus was to create a warmer environment for our guests.  After looking through various colors for the walls we chose a medium blue.  It was important to use flat paint because glossy paint would reflect too much light to the video conference camera. 

Our Video Conference System is connected to three monitors in the large room for good visibility to all.  We decided to update the middle monitor to a 52’’ LCD LED TV.  We placed this on a credenza.  Once we had the monitor in place, we felt it was not high enough.  To solve this problem we built a custom platform and wrapped it in black fabric to give it a finished look. 

Another solution was needed to get the camera to rest on top of the LED TV so we built a custom bracket.  We painted the bracket a flat black which made it blend in with the monitor.  Once our Video Conference equipment was back in both rooms we carefully selected framed paintings and pictures to hang in them.  They added that necessary extra touch of warmth and also created points of interests in the rooms. 

 Although it would have been easier to paint each room and change nothing else, we tried to step into our guests’ shoes.  This allowed us to think about each choice and create rooms that are comfortable, warm, and inviting.  Here’s a link to our website where you can check out our rooms. 
http://iavnj.com/videoconferencing.php

Thanks for taking the time to read this.   On the next blog I’ll talk about our new IP network.