With attendance limited by Covid concerns in the US, and the rapid turnaround from ISE in Europe, this was never going to be a vintage InfoComm. Nonetheless, such is the pace of innovation in AV and UC at the moment, a second major AV event in a few weeks seemed justified.
As the meat and drink of the industry, innovation in display technology shows no sign of abating. LED is very much flavour of the month and InfoComm 2022 provided a platform for the launch of the first 0.7mm pixel pitch dvLED display by VOD Visual. Targeted at the indoor markets of corporate presentations, retail applications, home cinemas and NFT art displays, the new model is the latest addition to the manufacturer’s VIVID range of products and will be presented as a 62” solution for Full HD images. With a matte surface, 1200 nits brightness and a Rec.709 wide colour gamut, the display is ideal for high ambient light environments, delivering exceptional colour accuracy and razor-sharp motion imagery without any glare.
The VIVID is available in 0.7mm, 1mm, 1.25mm and 1.5mm pixel pitches. Due to its revolutionary design, pixel pitches can be updated and reduced by simply changing the modules, essentially highlighting the evolving capabilities ingrained into VIVID’s DNA.
Visitors to the show were also able to experience the VOD Visual EDGE range of products which comprises 55” cabinets to create a direct and seamless replacement for traditional LCD displays and scalable video walls. These were showcased as a 165” 1.8mm pixel pitch display and a 110” 1.2mm pixel pitch, both featuring Full HD resolution. The latest addition to the EDGE range, the EDGE CONNECT was also showcased as a 55” panel. This presents direct HDMI connectivity allowing users to connect standard video output devices like PCs and media players directly to the display, bypassing the need for send and receive cards or additional hardware. At four times the size of a standard cabinet, the lightweight EDGE displays are four times quicker to install, can be directly wall mounted and fit seamlessly together to create scalable configurations.
The VIVID range is said to comprise the world’s most advanced microLED displays, combining three ground-breaking LED manufacturing processes to deliver the greatest performance, colour contrast and energy efficiency. The new LED display is said to offer enhanced robustness and heat dissipation being cool to the touch. This combination is described as delivering impressive sustainability and green credentials, with energy consumption reduced by 30 percent.
SiliconCore on the floor
As an LED technology innovator with its of Common Cathode Technology, SiliconCore Technology naturally had its part to play in progress in LED on show at InfoComm The company launched what it describes as “the world’s first durable 1.2mm ultra-fine pixel pitch LED floor display”. The SiliconCore High Resolution Modular LED Floor with next generation LISA technology, is described as a breakthrough for the dvLED display industry, and the only durable 1.2mm floor available for fixed installation, requiring no separate overlay.
Viewers can walk directly on the 4′ x 7.4′ LED floor display that features a smooth non-reflective, durable, flat, water-resistant surface. The floor can handle weight-bearing loads up to 1000kg per square meter or 200lbs per square foot. The 4’ x 7.4’ LED floor display will be paired with a duplicate 90-degree angle wall. This combination along with creative content, is said to provide a more immersive experience. SiliconCore is partnering with high impact, video wall content creation specialist, Render Impact to create forced perspective 3D content to actively engage the attendees.
Featuring SiliconCore’s LISA technology, a proprietary LED encapsulation process, the display’s durability and contrast increases while maintaining the LED’s beneficial characteristics. This LISA enhancement offers serviceability at the modular level at greater resolutions. The LISA protection for the floor is like no other durability technology on the market and differs from other coating processes that can cause uniformity issues. Significantly reducing the fragility of fine-pitch LED displays, the technology leaves a flat, durable, uniform surface on the PCB, while preserving the 1200 nit brightness levels.
ZACH technology
The next level of SiliconCore’s ZACH technology shown at InfoComm can reach low light brightness down to 0.04 nits, as well as high frame rates of 120fps and refresh rates of 3840Hz with no motion blur and sustained brightness of 1200 nits. Superior contrast ratio, low power consumption, and low operating temperatures contribute to the display’s exceptional life-like image reproduction and 10-year lifespan. These technologies are described as unique to SiliconCore enable the display to achieve the highest-performance specifications on the market, beneficial for active 3D content and simulation applications.
SiliconCore believes this innovation will replace technologies such as LCD, large pixel pitch solutions or projection that are limited in brightness, size, and durability. The SiliconCore modular floor will provide a more realistic, sustainable, and longer-lasting floor display solution, opening new applications not possible before.
BrightSign and LG show integrated solution
BrightSign demonstrated a new integrated digital signage solution, jointly developed with LG Business Solutions. The new solution. which was shown on an impressive LG direct-view LED video wall. enables users to control and monitor their BrightSign-connected LG displays remotely via BrightSign’s BSN.cloud Control Cloud.
The demonstration of the new integrated solution showcased key functionality, including the ability to remotely power on/off, change inputs, adjust volume, monitor device health and adjust device configuration. Future updates also will allow viewing content in real time and capturing screenshots via BSN.cloud Control Cloud.
Dan Smith, vice president of business development, LG Business Solutions USA, said, “We developed this solution in collaboration with BrightSign based on feedback from key customers that wanted the ability to conveniently manage content and devices across their entire digital signage network from a single interface. With this solution, digital signage is even easier to manage and operating costs are lower.”
Christie integrates
Integration was also the key message for Christie. In their InfoComm booth the company demonstrate a range of integrated solutions, including the new Griffyn 4K50-RGB projector. The company also introduced technology-previews of MicroTiles LED and Pandoras Box Version 8.6. These are designed to work together to create seamless and extraordinary shared experiences.
The Griffyn 4K50-RGB pure laser 50,000 lumen projector lit up a 20-foot screen in vibrant colour. Stacked 25,000 lumen M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors provided projection mapping of the Christie logo in conjunction with Pandoras Box Version 8. Additionally, the Inspire Series DWU960-iS projector, said to be one of the brightest fixed short throw projectors on the market, made its InfoComm debut. The DWU960-iS was shown in combination with Mystique Lite, which automatically blends up to three projectors with a push of a button.
Christie’s role in LED was also featured on their booth. Visitors were particularly interested in a technology preview of Christie’s MicroTiles LED in 0.75mm and 1mm pixel pitches, as well as a large display of MicroTiles LED in 1.25mm in a unique “shattered” configuration. Brompton Technology LED Processing Solutions Stand Out at InfoComm 2022
Video processing
Alongside new LED displays on show, InfoComm 2022 featured advanced in processing solutions. Brompton Technology showcased its LED processing solutions for live events, broadcast, and virtual production. Brompton’s Tessera LED processors, and accompanying Tessera software unlock new levels of visual performance from LED panels and provide greater creative flexibility to AV professionals.
During the show, Brompton was recognized with an InfoComm 2022 Best of Show Award in the AV Technology category, for its Tessera v3.3 software. This release introduced revolutionary new calibration features such as PureTone and Operating Modes, which enable rental companies and studios to have more flexibility and scalability with their stock, and also added support for the ACEScg colour gamut and the ability to display tracking markers for the Mo-Sys StarTracker camera tracking system.
InfoComm 2022 also coincided with the beta release of Brompton’s Tessera v3.4 software, which introduces Extended Bit Depth and Stacking features to further enhance image quality and drive new workflow efficiencies. Extended Bit Depth reproduces HDR content up to 10 times darker than previously possible, without compromising peak brightness for HDR highlights; while Stacking allows for multiple processors in a setup to be controlled together in unison, rather than having to apply adjustments to each processor individually.
The new features further enhance Tessera’s functionality, joining a feature lineup that includes Frame Remapping, which facilitates multi-camera virtual production shoots; ShutterSync, which lets users tune the LED refresh to the camera (instead of the other way around); 3D LUT, which provides the ability to live colour grade on the LED wall alongside integrations with Pomfort Livegrade and Assimilate LiveLooks; and the Hydra measurement system and Dynamic Calibration technology, which enable previously unattainable levels of brightness and colour saturation on LED panels.
Audio solutions
As in previous year, InfoComm featured a fair spread of solutions across the AV spectrum. In the audio space, Renkus-Heinz, presented an ambitious showcase of its product lines including the brand-new and award-winning PCX Series featuring Passive UniBeam technology. The PCX series is a range of passive columns that feature the implementation of UniBeam steering in the passive domain.
The UniBeam is implemented in a passive crossover network to address each driver with a uniquely designed passive filter network to generate a downward steered asymmetrical vertical lobe to deliver consistent coverage from the front of the room to back while being flush mounted on the wall. Available in three, weather-resistant sizes — PCX4, PCX8 and PCX16, all PCX Series models include 3-inch full-range drivers and have an ultra-sleek appearance for minimal architectural intrusion in any room.
Other ranges on show include the S Series that features an SA/SX28 subwoofer, a highly compact yet impressive subwoofer that allows for flexible and discreet placement in a variety of install and portable scenarios. In the C Series, the CA/CX121M 12-inch stage monitor serves not only as a monitor but is also an excellent choice for portable and installed PA functions.
The innovative design of the CA/CX121M results in maximum intelligibility and transparency in a highly capable and compact package. The multi award-winning ICC12/3 -RN & -RD1 lineup completes the Iconyx Compact Series portfolio – a line that was first launched as a response to integrators seeking coherent and steerable sound solutions in highly problematic acoustic spaces. The -RD1 models add improved interoperability and flexibility through Dante audio-over-IP functionality. Finally, the ICLive X is the most scalable, high output, steerable array system on the market. Featuring six 19-mm compression drivers coaxially mounted in front of two 8-inch woofers, the ICLiveX is extremely flexible and perfect for any live sound application.
Nureva broadens its range
Nureva Inc., best known for its innovations in advanced audio-conferencing solutions, announced the extension of its device management platform to include remote monitoring of third-party cameras. This new functionality in Nureva Console allows IT managers to monitor both the status of their Nureva audio devices and third-party cameras from a single cloud-based platform, to ensure the devices are functioning properly in their meeting rooms and classrooms.
Traditional audio solutions require multiple applications to manage different products in the room, creating complexity and inefficiencies associated with application switching. With Nureva Console, included with the purchase of every Nureva system, it’s easy to monitor the audio and video experience in every space, from anywhere, regardless of the camera manufacturer. IT managers get the benefit of simplified device management combined with the freedom to select the best audio and camera products for their spaces. Nureva Console automatically detects a USB camera and prompts the Nureva Console account admin to add it as a monitored device. Admins can then see device details locally, monitor their readiness status and know when a device needs attention.
Adding support for third-party cameras is part of a broader Nureva strategy to work with leading camera companies on unique integration opportunities made possible by the company’s patented Microphone Mist technology. This technology fills a room with thousands of virtual microphones that deliver full-room pickup in a system that is simple to install, deploy and manage. Third-party camera monitoring will be released as a feature in Nureva Console in August 2022 at no additional charge for Nureva customers.
Collaboration
As at the recent ISE show, collaboration and AV networks featured strongly at InfoComm 2022. Lightware Visual Engineering highlighted a diverse range of new and enhanced professional AV solutions at InfoComm 2022. From its Taurus universal matrix switchers to UBEX AV-over-IP devices and more, the Lightware technologies. Lightware also announced the official opening of its new global training facility, the Lightware Discovery Center, based in Las Vegas. “The professional AV/IT landscape is constantly changing, with an increasing emphasis on network connectivity, remote access and interactive collaboration,” said Gergely Vida, CEO at Lightware Visual Engineering. “Attendees will experience our latest technology innovations and comprehensive solutions designed for every application, requirement and budget as well as our commitment to training and support for the A/V industry.”
UBEX is an AV-over-IP device that delivers pixel-accurate 4K60 video in real-time with Dolby Atmos capabilities for enhanced immersive experiences in live events, eSports or XR screen applications. Key features include pixel accurate delivery allowing uncompressed 4K60 4:4:4 video signals, ultra-low latency as low as 0.01 ms and versatile operations combining a receiver, transmitter and transceiver in one box.
On show, UBEX units can be connected to create a complex network through standard Ethernet switches with virtually unlimited numbers of endpoints while providing enhanced redundancy. The UBEX system includes a double-scaling feature that halves the number of endpoints needed for videowalls and allows the UBEX system to function as a single device for this purpose. VINX is a compact yet powerful device that offers a wide-range of features from HDCP to remote powering to Smart Bandwith Management allowing users to optimize signal management and AV system performance.
The 1G VINX device family, the “little brother” to UBEX, is also growing with the addition of a new wallplate that makes installation even easier and more convenient. Lightware is also adding a password-protected login function to VINX devices, requiring end-users and integrators to use a password to configure their devices for added protection against unauthorized access.
AV networks
Lightware highlighted its efforts to tackle the common challenges of meeting rooms and collaboration environments, demonstrating its ongoing integrations with Cisco combined with the Taurus UCX universal matrix switcher series. The Taurus platform combines USB-C technology with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) capabilities, allowing users to easily share their content, switch hosts and control their meeting room, directly from their own laptop. Users can connect to their choice of videoconferencing software: Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Webex
The recent Taurus firmware version 1.4 allows devices to send basic Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) commands directly through their HDMI outputs, switch devices on/off, control volume or switch between input ports. This eliminates the need to use serial ports to control end-point devices, giving users and integrators easier control and streamlining system installation and configuration. Lightware’s Cisco integration brings ease and simplicity into the control of rooms and meeting spaces powered by Cisco Webex Room Devices, while also empowering the Cisco Touch 10 and Room Navigator with additional features.
Emerging technologies
As with previous shows. InfoComm 2022 introduced new and emerging technologies to the AV mainstream. Leading manufacturer of innovative professional 3D audio technology Holoplot announced at the show that its innovative X1 Matrix Array loudspeaker won the “Best in Show” award at InfoComm 2022. Hundreds of industry professionals attended Holoplot’s packed demos to see (and hear) what’s possible with a Matrix Array, arguably the biggest leap forward in pro audio since line array, and evaluate its use for conferences, multipurpose venues, theme parks, immersive installations and more.
This enthusiasm proved that the whirlwind of two major trade shows in the last two months have clearly demonstrated is that the value of meeting customers, partners and colleagues in person cannot be underestimated. Attending both events for all exhibitors and visitors came with a degree of risk. We are not out of the Covid pandemic woods yet, as the rise in cases during both events showed. The risk was offset by the huge benefits of face-to-face interactions, displaying new products to a live and receptive audience, and sharing a beer with friends.
