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Vol. 52 No. 8 August 21, 2006
AV FOR SYSTEMS INTEGRATORS, CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS
HOT PROPERTY
EXTENSIVE AV COMPLEMENTS
EXTENSIVE AV COMPLEMENTS
NAR’S ‘GREEN’ HQ.
NAR’S ‘GREEN’ HQ.
DIGITAL DOMINANCE
IN CONSOLES
ADVANTAGES AND
ADVANTAGES AND
MORE SOLUTIONS.
MORE SOLUTIONS.
FREEDOM TO FLY
SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES EXPANDS
CORPORATE HQ AV.
The lobby of the Southwest
The lobby of the Southwest
Airlines headquarters.
Airlines headquarters.
FREEDOM TO FLY
When Southwest Airlines (SWA) engaged The Whitlock Group to de-
BY SHONAN NORONHA first took flight, only one in four sign and build the AV/IT systems.
Americans had experienced air travel. Whitlock’s Dale Fulenchek was design
Southwest Airlines expands As the carrier celebrates its 35th year, engineer.
Southwest is widely credited with de-
corporate headquarters AV mocratizing air travel by offering both Corporate AV Expansion
affordable fares and a high level of New AV capabilities at SWA include
capabilities. customer service. a multipurpose 120-seat room named
Effective communications and train- Freedom Hall, equipped with Christie
ing have played a key role in the con- Digital projectors and Clarity Visual
tinued success of the company. So, flat-panel displays. Television produc-
when the airline recently expanded its tion tools include a 16'x11' motorized
headquarters in Dallas TX, it made a green screen and Macromedia
significant commitment to advanced DevNet Professional for Studio MX.
AV communications technology. Be- The Executive Boardroom was fully
cause sound is a critical factor, given renovated and features a 50-inch Sony
its airport location, the company plasma display, Christie Digital projec-
brought in Pelton Marsh Kinsella to tor, Peavey Nion digital sound pro-
make recommendations about acous- cessing and a ClearOne audio con-
tics and sound reinforcement, and ferencing system.
Shonan Noronha, EdD, an independent writer, producer and training consultant, is the author of three books and nu-
merous articles about television, AV, multimedia and music.
18 Sound & Communications www.soundandcommunications.com
Presentation upgrades also were
made in seven training rooms. En-
hancements included Peavey Nion
DSPs, QSC amps and Tannoy ceiling
speakers in each room.
The cafeteria and special events area
overlooking the Dallas Love Field run-
way was revamped and expanded. Re-
named The Landing, it is equipped
with two Christie Digital projectors,
110 JBL ceiling speakers, Tannoy
subwoofers, Shure wireless micro-
phones and an upgraded AMX control
system.
Freedom and Flexibility
The new Freedom Hall is used for
a variety of meetings, such as media
briefings, advertising campaign pre-
views and evaluations, corporate
board meetings and presentations,
executive training, as well as special The portable lectern features a portable rack and portable touchpanel. The room
events. “Basically, we wanted the new features tiered seating for 120, with 60 push-to-talk mics.
systems to provide for current appli-
cations, as well as to make the tech- Greater Flexibility inch Bobcat displays are positioned at
nology readily available for additional The Whitlock Group designed the the rear of the room facing the last
uses,” reported David Avedikian, tech- AV system in this area to provide rows. “This way, everyone in the room
nical project manager for SWA’s Dal- greater flexibility and significant new can easily view the content displayed
las campus. capabilities. They selected Christie on the screens.”
“If our CEO had to do a press con- Digital DS+60 single-chip DLP video Flexibility and ease-of-use also were
ference or web streaming meeting in projectors that deliver SXGA+ built into the presenter’s lectern. “The
the past, he would have to take sev- (1400x1050) native resolution and a lectern is ADA compliant,” noted Tay-
eral hours out of his busy day to get bright 6000 lumen image. “The lor. “It houses a rack on wheels that
prepared and drive to an outside me- Christie projectors are situated on can slide out and be used on the side
dia broadcast facility,” he added. “To- Draper Revelation mounts that use a by those who are wheelchair-bound.”
day, we can handle these meetings on moving mirror to project the images
campus, and that’s more efficient.” onto the Stewart screens,” said Craig Audio Peaks
A recent interview with CEO Gary Taylor, the account executive at One of the big challenges in the
Kelly brought in the MSNBC news Whitlock who had oversight responsi- Freedom Hall was locating space and
truck and crew, putting the Freedom bility for the project. “This way, the installing 40 Tannoy speakers and
Hall through its paces. “We were able projectors do not move at all and can other ceiling-mounted equipment.
to utilize the feature-set we had built be hidden completely when not in use.” Josh Wells, Whitlock’s project man-
into this room,” noted Avedikian with Taylor reported that, because the ager, reported that “previously, the
a sense of pride in his voice. Prior to room is very wide but not deep, the space was used as a warehouse and
building Freedom Hall, when a news visual display employs three Stewart the ceiling was already crammed with
truck rolled up, the crew would have Filmscreen front projection units at duct-work, conduit, lighting mounts
to snake a cable from outside the build- the front of the room. The center and the like. We had to find space to
ing down through hallways into SWA’s screen is motorized and can be re- locate the projector lifts and mount
Executive Boardroom. “Now we hold tracted when not in use. the Draper Revelations. We also
such media interviews in the Freedom In addition, two Clarity Visual 46- added a lot of speakers to an already
Hall because a news truck can plug inch Baycat LCD flat panel displays crowded space.”
directly into a panel on the side of the are mounted on the front wall, on ei- Audio engineering, installation and
building. We have the infrastructure ther side of the three front projection programming in the Freedom Hall
going from the side of the building into screens. A Clarity Visual 40-inch Bob- was complex due to the sophistication
the Freedom Hall. The cameras plug cat is set up as a “confidence” moni- and sheer number of systems that had
into the room and [the signal] is auto- tor for the presenter, on the front row to be integrated. Applications in this
matically routed to the truck.” of seating facing the lectern. Three 40- room range from press briefings to
August 2006 19
senior management training, making the technology 2 Grass Valley CameraMan CPT-
requirements extensive and varied. The hall’s 3012-A3DS 3 CCD general pan/tilt
complement of audio gear includes 60 Clockaudio camera systems
microphones (one for every two seats), Countryman 1 Grass Valley CameraMan
PVTVShotDirector joystick camera
gooseneck microphones, Listen Technologies as- controller
sisted listening systems, Renkus-Heinz program 1 SVS Mini 4-3 2x2 motorized
speakers, Clear-Com intercom audio conferencing drop-down camera ceiling
systems, a Peavey audio digital signal processor and mount/lift
QSC amplifiers, 1 Viewcast Niagara PowerStream
5225RW dual-channel Intel Xeno
Configuring 60 push-to-talk microphones to work rackmount streaming system w/
with Peavey software, Halo lighting and the Crestron digital AV inputs for high band
logic was no simple task. Whitlock’s Matt Horn- width streaming media applications
buckle, who worked on the programming, explained Program Audio
that the Crestron system was designed with the in- 4 MediaMatrix/Peavey N3 Nion DSPs
4 MediaMatrix/Peavey NIO-8ML
tent that, any time a mic button is pushed for more input card
than two seconds, the Peavey MediaMatrix Nion is 4 MediaMatrix/Peavey NIO-8O
instructed to turn the mic on and sends voltage to output cards
the mic from the Crestron to turn on the light. “This 1 QSC CX302 2-channel audio amp
lets the user know his mic is live,” Hornbuckle said. 1 QSC CX502 2-channel audio amp
3 Renkus-Heinz TRX61 150x60° horn-loaded 2-way passive full
“This logical function was tricky at first because ex- range speaker systems
tensive programming had to be done in both Peavey 2 Renkus-Heinz PNX112-SUB self-powered subwoofers
and Crestron in order for it to work correctly. This 2 Tannoy I6MP monitor powered speakers
logic is also capable of turning the room cameras to 1 TASCAM CD-A700 CD/cassette combo balanced outputs
the location of the mic being used.” Speech Reinforcement
2 beyerdynamic wireless lavalier transmitter/receiver/mics
2 beyerdynamic wireless handheld transmitter/receivers
1 ClearOne TH2 telephone interface
Equipment 1 ClearOne XAPNet interface
2 Clockaudio C 007E ambient sensing mics
60 Clockaudio C301E Halo portable mics w/desk stands
Presenter Lectern 1 HP J4813A#ABA 2524 Procurve network switch
2 Countryman M4HP5VS18EB ISOMAX 4 black mics 6 MediaMatrix/Peavey MM4 Out input cards
1 Extron RGB 109xi computer interface 18 MediaMatrix/Peavey MM AEC 4 echo cancellation cards
1 Extron MPX 423 A matrix presentation switcher 6 MediaMatrix/Peavey CAB 4n CobraNet audio bridges
1 Sony SLV-D560P DVD/VHS combo 3 MediaMatrix/Peavey CAB 16o CobraNet outputs
1 WolfVision VZ8Lite document camera 5 QSC CX108V 8-channel 70V audio amps
Video 40 Tannoy CMS60 ICT-30 ceiling-mounted speakers
1 Chief PDS-2270 dual swing-out mounts for Bobcat 40 Tannoy TTB 60 tile bridges
3 Chief PCM-2270 ceiling mounts for Bobcat 2 Whirlwind PressMite press breakout boxes
3 Christie Digital DS+60 DLP projectors w/2.5-4:1, Control
4.0-7.0:1 zoom lenses 1 Crestron TPS-6000 touchpanel for operator position
3 Clarity Visual Systems Bobcat 40" LCD monitor, 1 Crestron PRO2 control system
for presenter confidence, overflow 1 Crestron DTT-18 Dual Touch Annotation Control touchpanel for
2 Clarity Visual Systems Baycat 46" LCD monitor, lectern position
for overflow SRO repeater monitor 1 Crestron UPX-2 Universal Presentation Processor, displays 3
3 Draper Revelation ceiling mounts, model A w/plenum scalable windows
box, low voltage control 1 Crestron STX-1700CXPW 6" wireless touchpanel w/wall mount
1 Extron 24x12 S-video/stereo audio matrix switcher 1 Crestron QM-RMC Ethernet to RS-232 interface
MAV Plus 2412 SVA 1 Macromedia DevNet Professional for Studio MX
1 Extron 24x12 RGBHV/stereo audio matrix switcher 1 Vaddio StreamVIEW MPEG4 A/V network server
CrossPoint 450 Plus 2412 HVA 1 Vaddio WallVIEW 50i PTZ Hideaway wall camera w/motorized in-wall
3 Extron digital video scalers DVS204 camera lift system
3 Extron VSC 700 scan converters Misc.
10 Extron RGB 109xi computer interfaces 1 Clear-Com MS-232 Master 2-channel intercom
1 Stewart Filmscreen 60030 16x9 aspect ratio, 65"x116" 1 Clear-Com GM-9 gooseneck mic
motorized front-projection screen 3 Juice Goose JG8.0L power light rackmounts
2 Stewart Filmscreen 60028 16x9 aspect ratio, 65"x116" wall- 6 Kramer 401D video/S-video decoders
mounted front-projection screens 1 Listen Technologies LS-03-072 assisted listening system
1 Stewart Filmscreen 60031 112x162 motorized bluescreen 1 Marshall V-R44P quad 4" LCD display, rackmount
3 Viewsonic VP201b 20" LCD monitors 3 Middle Atlantic WRK-44-32LRD 44RU rack w/accessories
Videoconferencing/Videostreaming 1 Pioneer PRV-LX1/Dual dual DVD recorder/player
1 Accordent ACSS 0920 Capture Station software 1 PolyVision RoomWizard DTPRW01 meeting room monitor/software
1 Grass Valley CameraMan CPC-3012-A3DS 3 CCD Presenter 1 Sony SLV-D560P DVD/VHS combo
autoTRACK camera system List is edited from information supplied by The Whitlock Group.
22 Sound & Communications www.soundandcommunications.com
Video For All
Pelton Marsh Kinsella, LLC The Freedom Hall required three
Headquartered in Dallas, Pelton Marsh Kinsella, LLC (PMK), offers consulting and de- cameras for adequate coverage. Two
sign services in acoustics, audiovisual, CATV, broadcast telecommunication and security are hidden in the millwork facing the
systems. Acoustical consulting services cover all aspects of environmental, industrial and audience and one faces the presenter,
architectural acoustics, from design through construction administration and testing. in the wall at the back of the room.
PMK solves noise and vibration problems related to mechanical systems, develops ar- Taylor explained that Southwest’s de-
chitectural solutions for sound isolation of adjacent spaces and provides design, model- sign criteria called for the ability to
ing and testing of the room acoustics in auditoriums. use the system with or without an
“We have no financial connection with the products we specify; therefore, we are able operator. “Grass Valley CameraMan’s
to provide totally objective design and construction administration services,” said David pan-tilt-zoom cameras have excellent
Marsh, president.
auto tracking capability. They work on
PMK has branch offices in Las Vegas, Miami Beach and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
a combination of radio and infrared
For more information, go to www.pmkconsultants.com.
frequencies, and can be controlled
through either a joystick controller or
the Crestron system.”
For streaming media output and stor-
age, Whitlock chose a ViewCast
Niagara encoder, with an Accordent
Capture Station to record and synchro-
nize audio, video and data. The room
also was equipped with a Pioneer LX1
dual DVD deck to record and make
DVD copies of any presentation. This
flexible setup allows anything that hap-
pens in the room to be recorded for ar-
chival purposes, for on-demand use or
for real-time distribution.
Behind the scenes, Extron S-video,
RGBHV and stereo audio switchers,
digital video scalers, scan converters
and computer interfaces were installed
to assure high-quality, reliable video
signal processing and distribution.
Easy Navigation
Ease of use for those who are AV-
challenged was a significant design
criterion throughout the expanded fa-
cilities. Whitlock programmed the
Crestron system in the Freedom Hall
so it could be operated easily from
three different locations, to control all
the media components in the room.
A small wireless STX-17OOC panel
at the front of the room lets a pre-
senter easily control the DVD, VCR,
document camera, laptop hookup and
cable TV from the lectern. “We also
provided controls to adjust send/re-
ceive levels on program, lectern mic,
wireless mic and audio conference,”
said Hornbuckle.
A Crestron UPX-2 controller located
on the lectern offers powerful signal
processing and embedded PC applica-
Circle 111 on Reader Response Card tions, as well as the capability to anno-
24 Sound & Communications www.soundandcommunications.com
This room is used for
video production. The
bluescreen, which
allows for the addition
of different
backgrounds in post
production, is lowered,
ready for use. The
control system
operates motorized
drapes and partitions.
tate over any of the sources selected. meetings, the Executive Boardroom gram speakers throughout the room.”
The Crestron TPS-6000 located in the now has a different function. Today, He explained that, “Balancing incom-
control room was programmed to give it is used primarily for internal meet- ing and outgoing volume with echo
the technician control of every device, ings held by the company’s executive canceling, while maintaining clarity,
and route any source to any display. leaders. According to Southwest’s proved to be very difficult. Whitlock
Avedikian, the Executive Boardroom and the systems’ manufacturers
Just a Touch Away was totally reconstructed and outfitted worked closely together on this issue,
A “Help” button was programmed on with a custom-built oval conference and were able to achieve the required
every touchpanel page. When pressed, room table that can seat 38 people. level of performance.”
it sends a signal to the technical per- The redesigned 60'x30' Boardroom
son “on call,” who can then take con- includes a Christie Digital projector Training Rooms
trol of the room systems from any with a 65"x116" Stewart projection Audiovisual capabilities were up-
internet-connected computer. The re- screen, a 50-inch Sony plasma display, graded in each of the seven Training
mote technician also can examine the plus versatile audio and signal input Rooms, which can be used separately
inside of the room through a Vaddio functionalities. or combined in various configurations.
hideaway camera and streamserver. Whitlock’s Taylor recalled that, at New gear included a Christie Digital
Custom pages on the TPS-6000 al- the very outset, Southwest president projector, 10 Tannoy ceiling speakers,
low the routing of CobraNet audio Colleen Barrett said that she wanted a Peavey MediaMatrix Nion DSP sys-
feeds throughout the Southwest facil- speech in this room to sound “as clear tem, six QSC amps and AMX control
ity. The routing pages allow the opera- as a doorbell.” With that mandate, and systems in each room.
tor to select any audio, video or given the large size of the room, a Whitlock’s Wells observed that the
RGBHV source in the system and Speech Lift system was installed so any Training Rooms are not located adja-
send them to any or all of the displays meeting participant could be heard cent to each other. “The Training
or recording devices. “These sources anywhere in the room. “We installed 24 Rooms are used for overflow seating
can also be sent to a broadcast feed Countryman mics in the bullnose of the from the Freedom Hall during large
located on the outside of the building, table, eight Radian ceiling speakers meetings, and the AV in the separate
as well as the video streaming device,” and a ClearOne audio conferencing Training Rooms has to be linked to
noted Hornbuckle. system,” said Taylor. “A Peavey each other and to the Freedom Hall.
Networked scheduling of the Free- MediaMatrix Nion DSP unit was pro- We achieve that through CobraNet
dom Hall is achieved using two grammed to mix and amplify speech so from the Peavey.”
PolyVision RoomWizards along with the that, the further you get from an at- The old Training Rooms lacked ap-
airline’s MS Outlook Enterprise calen- tendee, the more of that person’s voice propriate mic and speaker systems.
dar system. The RoomWizard displays comes out of the speakers.” Southwest’s Avedikian reported that,
are mounted outside the main entrances According to Avedikian, “The only “We took the opportunity to add some
and show the room’s schedule with major challenge was the boardroom much-needed control, audio and dis-
times, dates, topics and meeting host. audio conference system. There are play features. We wanted to go to a
about 24 mics embedded in the con- touchpanel system, remove the CRT
Executive Boardroom ference table, and an ambient ceiling- monitors from each room, add speak-
Once the focal point of high-profile mounted mic in addition to the pro- ers and re-wire the entire system. In
26 Sound & Communications www.soundandcommunications.com
doing so, we were able to eliminate an went from pushbuttons to an up- First-Class Job
entire rack full of equipment, giving us graded AMX LCD touchpanel, which Upon completion of system installa-
more space in the communication gives us a lot more flexibility in our tion and training, Southwest Airlines
closet. We were also able to add func- switching options.” Almost doubling contracted with The Whitlock Group
tionality previously unavailable from the number of speakers, The Whitlock to provide ongoing service and sup-
the pushbutton-style wall plates.” Group installed 110 JBL ceiling units port, including preventive mainte-
and 10 Tannoy subwoofers. With the nance, additional training and pro-
A Smooth Landing addition of a Peavey MediaMatrix gramming updates. Southwest’s corpo-
The Landing is a big, open space Nion DSP unit, QSC amps and Shure rate AV expansion embodied a com-
intended for use as a cafeteria, a party wireless microphones, the room was bination of high technology and cus-
area for flight attendant graduation ready for prime time. “We also added tomer-friendly, cost-effective system
ceremonies, wedding receptions and two more projectors and made a spe- design.
other large functions. Avedikian re- cific zone for party-like situations,” “As the low-fare leader in the US,
calls, “We rewired everything, and said Avedikian. we at Southwest Airlines do every-
thing in our power to keep costs
down while maintaining a high-
quality, customer-friendly opera-
tion,” Avedikian said. “The Whitlock
Group was very conscious of our
goal to keep fares low and offered us
cost-saving options on every aspect
of the project.” A steady focus on
users’ needs and a desire to deploy
the most cost-effective and future-
proofed solutions enabled The
Whitlock Group and Southwest
Airlines to deploy a first-class
system on a business-class budget.■
The Whitlock Group
Founded in 1955, The Whitlock Group is a
full-service integration firm focused on the de-
sign, procurement, engineering, installation
and service of professional audiovisual,
videoconferencing, streaming, pro-video and
broadcast solutions. The company offers turn-
key solutions for corporations, military and
government agencies, educational facilities,
churches and healthcare organizations.
With more than 300 employees in 23 loca-
tions across the US, The Whitlock Group has
the expertise and experience to deliver com-
plete solutions that seamlessly integrate the
audio, video, display and system controls nec-
essary for the creation of unique and compel-
ling multimedia solutions.
In only six years, The Whitlock Group’s Dal-
las office has earned a position as the largest
audio/video systems integrator in North Texas,
based on annual revenues. “Our staff of 52 is
Used with permission of comprised mostly of technical people, with 32
Testa Communications from engineers/technicians and 8 programmers,”
reported Craig Taylor, the account executive
the August 2006 issue of responsible for the Southwest Airlines project.
Sound & Communications The Dallas team delivered a first-class job and
magazine. For more secured an ongoing service contract from
information, please go to: Southwest Airlines.
www.soundandcommunications.com For information, go to www.whitlock.com.
28 Sound & Communications 114 on Reader Response Card
Circle www.soundandcommunications.com
