AV SuperFriends

Recorded November 15, 2023

It's December, so it's time for a holiday wishlist! Each of us shares the AV device or service that we'd really like under the Christmas tree. Some of these are real products, others are slight variations on commonly available products, and one requires a time machine.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

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

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

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

► Email: [email protected]

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

Individual Twitter links:

► Chris Dechter: @cdechter

► Jamie Rinehart: @avsfjamie

► Marc Cholewycynzski: @avdiplomat

► Rachel Bradshaw: @tempurity

► Larry Darling: @lsdarling1

► Justin Rexing: @justinrexing

Recorded December 1, 2023

Our news comes from the Chronicle of Higher Education who now recognizes that teaching via lecture and teaching via active learning are not mutually exclusive nor diametrically opposed. Shocker! It's possible to effectively teach via lecture in an active learning classroom and engage students in active learning in a lecture hall. But we all knew that, didn't we?

Speaking of multi-use spaces, how are we designing and deploying our multi-purpose classrooms and event spaces? It's taken for granted that they're all terrible, but just play along, will you? We talk about wall sensors, single large systems vs. overflow feeds, wall sensors, moveable lecterns, wall sensors, and no Zoom for you, and everything in between. Also, just who is resetting these rooms between classes?

Finally, it's time yet again for the AVSF: Live! Holiday Spectacular. We hope you can join us on December 15th!

News story: https://www.chronicle.com/article/which-is-better-active-learning-or-lecture-its-not-so-simple Archive: https://archive.ph/MDU1l Study: https://link.springer.https://archive.ph/MDU1lcom/article/10.1007/s10648-023-09826-1

Alternate show titles:

• In 20,000 and 4 or whenever
• Research wormhole
• My little soapbox
• AV merit badges
• I enjoy designing around the BS
• It fits all of their needs
• Cameras and microphones and other bullcrap
• You said a couple of secret words
• Do they know that they're "they" in this scenario?
• Both can be true
• They are stupid and they are fun to design
• Do it twice

Join the AV SuperFriends LIVE on Dec 15 at 3p EST for a higher ed AV-themed Holiday Party! We will have live guests, a Santa's workshop photo exchange, and the official AVSFmas tree! It should be a great time of holiday cheer!

https://avsf.live

Recorded November 17, 2023

Our news article this week is really more of an opinion piece by a friend of the show and all around good guy, Steve Greenblatt of Control Concepts. He opines that maybe, just maybe, contractors shouldn't be chasing only profit margins, but providing solutions that customers will really appreciate. Blasphemy!

Then we're joined by Mike Pedersen from Iowa State University to talk about in-house integration. Mike shares his trials and tribulations of building an internal team from scratch and leading them to success. Mike's model at Iowa State is truly one to follow and he's a great resource on the process of standing up a team to tackle almost any AV integration project.

Finally, is there a series of new devices that have solved the USB-C connection conundrum? Someone try these and let us know!

Connect with Mike:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-pedersen-cts-d-cts-i-7477191/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ped1971

Attend ETC 2024 at Iowa State: https://www.etcollaborative.org

News article discussed: https://www.avnetwork.com/news/on-your-business-purpose-before-profit

Alternate show titles:

• I don't pay attention too much to my business
• Bulbs strewn about
• Who cares about cable labels?
• Wired with a shovel
• It was just spaghetti land
• AV archaeology
• Trust me, I'm here now
• Widgets and gizmos and tchotchkes

Recorded November 10, 2023

We start with an article written by a commercial integrator about commercial integrators in Commercial Integrator. While the points the raise are valid (for some), it raises the question as to who is the intended audience.

Then we're joined by Johanna Pierson from the Wentworth Institute of Technology to talk about how smaller schools do classroom AV, events, conference rooms, and everything in between (except printers). She shares her experiences with a small systems integrator who is a true partner with Johanna's team and how they've fostered a mutually beneficial relationship.

Article discussed: https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/experience-matters-hidden-costs-of-not-working-with-av-systems-integrators

Connect with Johanna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanna-p-a6ab7816b/

Alternate show titles:

• Everyone loves printers

• I brought my bolt cutters

• Dragging the university into the modern era

• Warm analog video

• I don't take no for an answer if it's a stupid answer

• Flowers… and AV

• I'm not the budget

• I want them to go on with their lives

Recorded October 27, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

If you recall, last year we accidentally set fire to Marc's house while trying to deep fry a turkey. This year we all went to Jamie's house where Larry volunteered to smoke the turkey overnight, which turned out great! While enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, we each shared our thoughts on some AV turkeys– that is, products or services that don't quite live up to their promises. Marc hates network switches, Larry thinks perhaps we're overusing ceiling microphone arrays, Justin is skeptical of too many devices based on Android that will become security concerns in the future, Chris likes the concept but hates the execution of wi-fi group microphone apps, and Jamie has given up on fiber-based extenders.

PS: always get the full coverage for your rental car.

Recorded October 18, 2023

AI is all the rage, so we're going to discuss AI. We start with a discussion of Biamp's new AI-derived DSP processing and we're joined by Richard Mitchell of Biamp. We then expand the discussion to broader topics of AI-powered (or at least AI-branded) AV from cameras to microphones to control systems to digital signage.

Finally, what about all these spaces that someone else did on the cheap an now we're asked to "fix" them?

News: https://www.biamp.com/company/newsletters/2023/october-component

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-mitchell-41972a8/

Alternate show titles:

• It's distracting because you can't see them
• I'm a little dubious
• Notch that shit out
• Get rid of the clap, not the clapping
• That's penicillin
• Physics reducer
• Bring back some of the BS
• Good, better, best, and raw
• Crowns or Crayons
• Go ahead and take a picture of my mug
• It's hard and you made it in a nice little package
• The AI Purge
• The Easy Button
• Don't engage!

Recorded October 12, 2023

It's our second annual Halloween Spooktacular! This year, we went all out with a fully-produced audio drama from an original script. Who knew we could do an AV-themed horror story? This was probably the most work we've ever put into a show and has been two months in the making. We had a blast making it and hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We're proud to present AV SuperFriends: The Haunted Hospital

Written by Christopher Dechter

Edited by Marc Cholewczynski

Starring Marc Cholewczynski, Larry Darling, Christopher Dechter, Justin Rexing, and Jamie Rinehart

Recorded Sept 15, 2023

(Part 2 of 2)

Rather than discuss whatever the topic is this month, we decided to challenge ourselves to collaboratively determine how capable of a basic classroom we can put together. Focusing on the capabilities, not the stuff, and given the scenario of a general purpose classroom, about 30 students, single display, and collaboration/hybrid capable, we hashed out just how we'd each approach the system with the ultimate goal of how low we can go. Or, more accurately, how low are we comfortable going and still considering it a fully supportable system.

This discussion lasted almost an hour, so we split it into two episodes.

Alternate show titles

• We all have those closets

• Sometimes I'm forced to do things I don't want to do

• There's way more money in Oregon than Kentucky, y'all

• The buttons are razored off

• The clocks on those things get funky

• Do you have a clapper?

• If you hear it in the room, you hear it in Zoom (but not well)

• Just focus on the V

• Monitored by Putin or something

Recorded Sept 15, 2023

(Part 1 of 2)

Rather than discuss whatever the topic is this month, we decided to challenge ourselves to collaboratively determine how capable of a basic classroom we can put together. Focusing on the capabilities, not the stuff, and given the scenario of a general purpose classroom, about 30 students, single display, and collaboration/hybrid capable, we hashed out just how we'd each approach the system with the ultimate goal of how low we can go. Or, more accurately, how low are we comfortable going and still considering it a fully supportable system.

This discussion lasted almost an hour, so we split it into two episodes.

Alternate show titles

• We all have those closets

• Sometimes I'm forced to do things I don't want to do

• There's way more money in Oregon than Kentucky, y'all

• The buttons are razored off

• The clocks on those things get funky

• Do you have a clapper?

• If you hear it in the room, you hear it in Zoom (but not well)

• Just focus on the V

• Monitored by Putin or something