December 2005
Features
Top Technology Products of 2005
By Jack Kontney
What’s the next big thing? New products are brought to market at an ever-increasing pace. We see them at trade shows; we see them advertised. And, as your caretakers of industry news…
Technology Showcase:
Video Test Equipment
By Jay Ankeney
When Vladimir Zworykin demonstrated RCA’s fledgling television system at the New York World’s Fair in 1939, setting up the display equipment to satisfy the engineers was truly a cutting-edge technological challenge…
Technology Showcase:
Line Array Loudspeakers
By Daniel Keller
Browsing most speaker manufacturers’ current offerings, it’s hard to imagine that as recently as a decade ago, line arrays were a relatively uncommon commodity in the world of live sound. Although the technology has been around for quite a while (described in Harry F. Olson’s “Acoustical Engineering” in 1957), only in the last few years has everyone and his mother seemingly jumped on the line-array…
Installation Profile:
Standout Integration
By Jack Kontney
Every installation presents its own problems. Some are predictable, some not. Customer requirements may prove challenging, or physical anomalies in a facility may prevent tried-and-true designs from being implemented. But finding ways to provide solutions that meet user needs through creative application of technology keeps this industry interesting…
Reviews
TOA HX-5B/FB-120B
By John McJunkin
TOA Electronics continues to deliver quality products of all stripes. Even if the company isn’t on your short list of speaker manufacturers in terms of name recognition, you’ll want to be aware of its new HX-5/FB-120 combination. This high-quality package consists of a subwoofer, the FB-120 ($692)…
Avocent Emerge WMS1000
By Jeff Sauer
In last month’s Sound & Video Contractor I reviewed ViewSonic’s Media Gateway WMG120 and Media Adapter WMA100. That combination sends video and audio…
Columns
The Year in Review
By Mark Johnson
Well, here’s another one under our belts. 2005 has come and gone in the seeming blink of an eye. The year was marked by incremental innovation, the natural…
Picture This: 2005 In Review
By Jeff Sauer
As we turn the last page on the 2005 calendar, it’s an appropriate time to reflect on what’s occurred over the last year and to plan ahead for next year. In the video and display industries, that means taking stock of the new products and trends that have emerged during 2005 and what potential…
Associations Focus: Education a Hot Topic
The 10th annual Jason Perlman Golf Tournament will be held at Rhodes Ranch Golf Course in Las Vegas on March…
Management Perspectives:
Marketing Strategy
By Don Kreski
Marketing planning is a lost art in the AV industry. Many contractors don’t know where to start. I asked three AV integrators how they plan their marketing programs. Their answers may help you understand how you can get better results…
POV: Future Consideration
As a regular contributor to Sound & Video Contractor, InfoComm International has enjoyed a unique opportunity to reach out to the industry at large with…
Departments
The Buzz: Install of the Month:
Jubilee Auditoriums
By Jack Kontney
In 1955, to mark the 50th birthday of the province of Alberta in a memorable and lasting way, the Alberta government constructed two identical auditoriums—one in Edmonton and another in Calgary. Completed in 1957…
The Buzz: Newsmakers
Leitch has hired Paul Keller to serve as product manager for its Videotek test and measurement product line. David Penn has joined Audio Visual Innovations…
The Buzz: 20 Years Ago in
Sound & Video Contractor
By Mark Johnson
The cover feature 20 years ago this month was The Effects of AC Line Disturbances, a piece contributed by Jerry Whitaker, who pulled double duty as Sound & Video Contractor‘s RF Technology editor and the editor of Broadcast Engineering at the time.
Ron Williamson contributed “DMMs Accessories and Features,” which provided some good information on how to use digital multimeters for electrical measurements and how to best accessorize your DMM for extended measurement capabilities…
The Buzz: Contractor’s Web Watch
Boston Acoustics’ new website, dubbed Your Sound Solution, offers consumer-centric features divided into three distinct areas: Home Products, Mobile Audio,…
The Buzz: Upcoming Events
January 2006 4 HDTV Business Conference Las Vegas www.hdtv-bc.com; 9-13 Macworld Conference and Expo San Francisco www.macworldexpo.com; 19-22 NAMM Show Anaheim,…
What’s New
What’s New: Audio Technology
By Laura Dixon
The MXL 604 dual capsule instrument miking system consists of a pressure gradient microphone with an interchangeable omnidirectional capsule and a cardioid condenser. It features…
What’s New: Video Technology
By Laura Dixon
BenQ’s FP202W 20in. widescreen LCD monitor offers enhanced image quality with an 8ms response time, a 16801050 resolution, and a 600:1 contrast…
What’s New: Security Technology
By Laura Dixon
GE Security’s new IFS EtherNav D7608 managed Ethernet switcher features up to nine optical 10/100 FX fast Ethernet…