AV SuperFriends

Recorded January 24, 2025

We're joined by Colin Birney who highlights how MSPs operate as a tier-two support system, providing expertise and assistance for institutions that may not have the resources to manage their AV systems effectively. This model allows for a more streamlined approach to troubleshooting and ensures that educational institutions can focus on their primary mission: teaching and learning.

The discussion also touches on the often amusing colloquial names given to various campus spaces. We all recount our experiences with confusing room names that can lead to miscommunication and frustration. With so many rooms named after donors or faculty members, it's easy to see how someone might struggle to locate the "Mitchell Room" when their ticket only says "Room 101."

All this and the news, too!

News article discussed: https://www.avinteractive.com/news/products/primeview-introduces-world-first-led-roll-up-display-21-01-2025/

Connect with Colin Birney and AV-MSP:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-birney/

https://av-msp.com

Educause HECVAT:

https://library.educause.edu/resources/2020/4/higher-education-community-vendor-assessment-toolkit

Alternate show titles:

• They don't tell you where their people are

• Tier 2 desk

• We don't really like to talk to end users

• Does it matter if your DSP was offline for 5 minutes?

• AV is IOT

• Not when it's inconvenient it's not…

• Just stop making wireless appliances

• Event insurance

• Depends on the class…

• The "What if?" game

• Buried under busy work

• Figure out what that thing is on your arm

• Buy 'em chicken tenders

• Designing for support

• Les Moore

We stream live every Friday at about 300p Eastern/1200p Pacific and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded January 10, 2025

In our first episode of the year, we launch a brand new series where we review some of our recent internal projects. Marc kicks it off with his project of an ambitious transformation of a residential-standard building into a modern collaborative space, complete with flexible meeting spaces for a mix of university staff and non-university guest users. Also news of the discontinuation of Crestron's DigitalMedia products (but not really) and consumer devices driving commercial AV.

Crestron's announcement: https://go.crestroninfo.com/webmail/767943/1926282682/f167ee3ceca170406bc12c4d7b1f96a64cd2029764e3a6dd248c7290118a0ac2

AI-suggested alternate show titles:

• War Room Woes

• Dirt Walls and Other Disasters

• The Great Crestron Conundrum

• MicroLED Madness

• Consumer AV: The New Frontier

• Teams Rooms: The Unexpected Solution

• From Residential to Revolutionary

Much better human-suggested alternate show titles:

• That hyphen is important

• It's not a house

• Buckets of use case

• Digital signage president

• Wow wall

• Leadership didn't want to spend a lot of money

• That's where all our stuff lives

• They're not fake; they're just stupid

• A lot of surface mounted garbage

• In need of some type of technology

• This sh*t never changes

• Little tiny sharpshooter groups

• Explore the rooms

We stream live every Friday at about 3:30 PM Eastern/12:30 PM Pacific, and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded December 13, 2025

Welcome to the future!

Join us as we review last year's predictions, with some hits and plenty of misses, and make bold new forecasts for the year ahead. From more Microsoft integration woes to the potential of all-in-one LED displays, there's plenty to discuss and debate.

AI-suggested Alternate show titles:

• Predictions, Pontifications, and Preposterous Proclamations

• The Future is Now, and It's Confusing

• Consultants, Cabling, and Crystal Balls

• AI: Under Every Couch Cushion

• The Year of the Kit

• More Microsoft, More Problems

• Infamous or Illustrious?

• The Digital Accessibility Act is Coming

• No More Network Islands

• USB-C: The Real Deal

• A Quarter Dozen Displays

• New Boss, New Challenges

Much better alternate show titles by humans:

• Man-dates

• Some trash that AI has done

• I would argue it's not there there

• Compute of the year

• Handy, but gross

• Everybody in IT agrees that's great

• Here comes the consultant

• We want to see it talk

• See everything within without

• Quarter dozen

We stream live every Friday at about 300p Eastern/1200p Pacific and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded December 6, 2024

Celebrate with us as we hit a milestone - Episode 100 of Off the Rails! This episode is packed with nostalgia, laughter, and a touch of chaos as we reminisce about our journey. Join Chris, Jamie, Marc, Larry, Justin, and special guest Rachel as they dive into their favorite moments and discuss when AV was truly the most AV.

We also explore the world of 4D movie experiences with Justin's hilarious recount of a wild ride at a Nashville theater. If you've ever wondered about the mysteries of AV, this episode is a must-listen.

Plus, don't miss our special announcements about the upcoming AV Christmas Carol live read!

Join us live every Friday and connect with us on social media for more AV insights and laughs.

And remember, your support keeps the AV SuperFriends rolling, so spread the word and enjoy the show!

Alternate show titles:

• Public spaces in which I'm willing to be wet

• Looks like a very dry movie

• Me and her ate our gummies

• I start observing things

• I made notes of things I observed

• Tubes hanging out of 'em

• You'll know when I start to get concerned

• I don't mind being a little moist

• There's no seatbelt

• Was that a calibration

• I'm worried about staying in the mf-ing chair

• She can't eat her popcorn

• When the horse happened

• My back hurt for a week

• I don't know if she's walking straight

• I'm pretty sure you'd puke

• 4D MTR

• It takes subtle indicators to fool your mind

• The weirdos who bought $5,000 Apple headsets

• I'm ready to scar my children permanently tonight!

• There's pain and there's pain

• Those AV carts are cute and all…

• Too good for a tube TV

• That experience was "meh"

• That was a terrible time in my life

• There's no mystery to that

• I wear pants and I don't touch my (volume) knob

• I will never live it down

We stream live on the first and third Friday every month and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded November 22, 2024

In this special holiday episode, we explore why we've all landed on AV Santa's naughty list this year. Jamie recounts a PTP clock fiasco, Marc reviews his overly ambitious Teams Rooms rollout, Larry finds himself recommending 21:9 displays, Justin grapples with direct view LED walls and network islands, and Chris rounds it off with tales of outdated equipment and missed opportunities in building renovations.

Be sure to join us for our live Christmas special on Friday, December 20th, at 3:30 PM Eastern/12:30 PM Pacific. Stay tuned on social media for more details!

Alternate show titles:

• AVoIP belongs on the enterprise

• PTP clocks are sneaky little bastards

• It's like teenagers in the 80s

• We just drove through fences

• Have y'all ever asked the question…

• That's what architects think

• When you do them, it's a bit of a cluster

• Every adapter under the sun

• They're really difficult to manage

• We all pooh-pooh it

• And then this morning happened…

• Sea level suites

• I haven't gone wackadoo yet

• Microscopes with microphones

• The Robin Hood of AV

We stream live on the first and third Friday every month and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Rate and review us on your favorite platform to help spread the word!

Recorded November 15, 2024

(Still AI slop that needs editing for coherence - cjd)

Can you feel the tension of an impending finale?

As we approach the century mark, we review the perils of product development to the disconnect between manufacturers and end users. Shaun shares his insider perspective on how manufacturers prioritize product ideas, the role of software in AV, and the importance of customer feedback in shaping the future of technology.

We also explore the pitfalls of one-size-fits-all design guides, the frustrations of dealing with outdated solutions, and the ever-present struggle of procurement versus integration.

AV NEWS: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-11-13-revolutionizing-how-educators-find-tech-solutions

Connect with Shaun Robinson:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunrobinson7/
• https://www.xilica.com
• [email protected]

AI-suggested alternate show titles:

• AV SuperFriends: The Penultimate Adventure
• Legacy Infrastructure and Other Myths
• Widget Fest: Where Adaptors Take the Stage
• Manufacturers vs. Reality: The Ultimate Showdown
• Procurement: The Real Battlefield
• Goggles Are the Future

Much better alternate show titles from humans:

• Unindated
• Where do you want it hung?
• We can't control it
• Idiots and monkeys with wrenches
• Look at me; I bought a TV
• Who they gonna call?
• We're edumacating people here
• Our service of choice
• Panja Cleanup Crew
• Let's assume that they have product managers
• Let's go make one of those but a little bit better
• Basket of widgets
• Spending millions of dollars making garbage
• It took too long and it's not a problem any more
• Before anyone knew how to spell QR code
• It didn't work… great
• Let's cook a new cake
• Ex-"tron" Rep
• Who the *F* are you talking to?
• Knowing thy client
• Things happen when I press buttons
• One brochure away from success
• Get in my white panel van

We stream live every Friday, and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded November 8, 2024

(Is it just me or are these AI-generated summaries getting worse?)

Join us to discuss the pros and cons of AV over IP encoders and the sunk cost fallacy of repurposing outdated AV equipment. We debate the practicality of multi-input encoders, the allure of HDBaseT cameras, and the inevitable obsolescence of technology. Are these AV solutions worth the investment, or is it time to move on?

The conversation meanders into the realm of aspect ratios, the future of ultra-wide displays, and the unexpected role of goggles in the AV landscape. Plus, we explore the potential of Gain Sharing POE and the pitfalls of overbuilt systems.

News article discussed (sorta): https://9to5mac.com/2024/11/04/tvos-18-2-aspect-ratio-apple-tv/

AI-generated alternate show titles:

• AV Over IP: The Switcher Saga
• Introduction and Panelist Introductions
• Aspect Ratios and Ultra-Wide Displays
• AV Over IP Encoders: Pros and Cons
• Sunk Cost Fallacy: Repurposing Old Equipment
• Gain Sharing POE: Innovation or Gimmick?
• Conclusion and Final Thoughts

AVSF-generated alternate show titles:

• Don't worry; it'll stretch
• I'm guilty of bringing this up
• MSRP is our motto
• We're like cereal boxes
• Possibly, maybe
• I want to see all the associated things
• Kit of box parts
• It just goes in
• Room for growth
• I don't get paychecks that way
• $100 doc cams that we put everywhere

We stream live (almost) every Friday at about 315p Eastern / 1215p Pacific, and listen to all episodes at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends ► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends ► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends ► Email: [email protected] ► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded October 30, 2024

(I'm still letting AI write this, but I have to edit it more and more recently - cjd)

It's time for a Thanksgiving special with the AV SuperFriends! We're discussing our favorite AV "side dishes"—those unsung heroes in AV systems that make everything work smoothly.

As they gather for a virtual Thanksgiving dinner, the AV SuperFriends explore the role of HDMI extenders, button panels with built-in processors, and ever-useful IP-controlled power distribution. They also dive into the intricacies of network video decoders and the importance of networking with other institutions to share knowledge and ideas. Plus, they tackle the age-old debate of stuffing versus dressing and the best way to enjoy a Frosty with fries.

But it wouldn't be an AV SuperFriends episode without a bit of mayhem. With overproof rum, cigars, and a homemade crème brûlée flambe on the menu, things get a little heated—literally. Will Lisle's kitchen survive the festivities? Tune in to find out!

Connect with Lisle Waldron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lislew/

Alternate show titles:

• AV Side Dishes
• Proprietary bootleg weird versions
• I tend to not use the weird ones
• Here you go; good luck
• Off the top of my brain
• Shout out to you button panels out there
• If you want to redraw and copy my sh*t
• Chicken Noodley
• Soup in an IV bag
• Let's go pick your meat
• Granola bar soup
• That one is more Chinese than most
• Events that have a definite beginning and end
• There's no law there
• I am the law
• A brick of butter
• Sanity boxes
• The cornerstone of every nutritious breakfast
• Shove it up the butt of a bird
• Stuffing goes in the bird, dressing goes on the side
• Frosty was the first ice cream
• The T fell off because he was too drunk

We stream live every Friday, and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com ▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends ► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends ► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends ► Email: [email protected] ► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss Individual Twitter links: ► Chris Dechter: @cdechter ► Jamie Rinehart: @avsfjamie ► Marc Cholewczynski: @avdiplomat ► Larry Darling: @lsdarling1 ► Justin Rexing: @justinrexing Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded October 18, 2024

(Still written by the AI goon squad - cjd)

Get ready for a wild ride about projects and products that almost hit the mark but fell short, and the ever-present challenge of finding the perfect balance between seminar rooms and classrooms. We dive into topics like the future of smart glasses in classrooms, the pitfalls of hardware-based annotation devices, and the elusive middle ground between basic seminar rooms and full-fledged integrated systems. We also cover the challenges of commercial construction, and the ever-evolving world of digital signage and wireless sharing appliances.

Article discussed: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-10-10-if-smart-glasses-are-coming-what-will-that-mean-for-classrooms

Alternate show titles (written by AI):

• The Great Camera Conundrum

• The Seminar Room Dilemma

• Is that a Camera in Your Conference Room?

• Navigating the Seminar Room Jungle

• When Soundbars Aren't Enough



Better alternate show titles (written by AVSF):

• Glasses in our classes

• QM Elf

• It's still on doc cam to this day

• Have you ever driven off a cliff…

• Just buy a decoder and you guys make it work

We stream live every Friday, and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Individual Twitter links:

► Chris Dechter: @cdechter

► Jamie Rinehart: @avsfjamie

► Marc Cholewczynski: @avdiplomat

► Larry Darling: @lsdarling1

► Justin Rexing: @justinrexing

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

Recorded throughout October 2024

In our biggest production ever, we're proud to present AVSF: The Ghost in the Machine.

The AV SuperFriends are called upon to fix haunted classrooms on campus. Join the team as they venture into the heart of the haunting, battling against time and supernatural forces to uncover the secrets buried beneath the campus. With humor, teamwork, and a touch of the paranormal, this episode promises thrills, chills, spills, bills, and a few laughs along the way.

This was 3 months of work, 11,000 words, 45 pages, 12 speaking roles, a cast of your favorite AV nerds, 8 original songs, 30 minutes of original score, and 120 minutes of utter AV SuperFriends nonsense. Be sure to check out the version on YouTube with 20 images synced to the story to really get the full multimedia experience. It's a sequel to last year's special, but you don't have to be familiar with that episode to enjoy this one. What are we going to do next year to top it?

Directed by, written by, and songs and music by: Christopher Dechter

Editing by and soundscapes by: Marc Cholewczynski

Special appearances by:

• Chris Neto

• Britt Yenser

• Don Merritt

• Frank Alaimo

• Atkins Fleming

• Richard Mitchell

• Cameron Sofsky

We stream live on the first and third Friday every month and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Email: [email protected]

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support