Category: Tech Tips

Saving Time With Labeling

5/6/2019

A few weeks ago, we talked about signal flow and troubleshooting signal issues. As audio and video techs I’m sure many of us have spent far too much of our time tracing cables!! Often that is the only way to truly verify whether cables are plugged in correctly when you are having a signal flow issue. One way we at Lambda AV have tried to eliminate or greatly reduce tracing cables is a relatively simple process… Labeling the cables! Labeling the cables and having accurate documentation on where every cable is actually going can save you lots of time in your trouble shooting and in any future redesign projects!

As you can see in these pictures, we use a combination of labels and color-coded heat shrink to identify each cable and what connection they have. Check through your list and make sure each is connected where it is supposed to be.

Labeling along with good documentation, like you can see here can help you trace a cable in seconds instead of minutes or hours!

Using Equipment To It's Fullest

5/6/2019

One of the biggest things we like to push at Lambda Audio Visual is using your equipment to its fullest. Almost every piece of equipment we work with and sell is positioned not only fill your needs but to grow with you. Our tech tip this week is non-other than the equipment user Manual!
We affectionately speak of this amazing tool on our crews as our most important and knowledgeable crew member ‘El Manuel’ (of course we say it with an accent). “Have you checked with Manuel”, is a common day to day saying for us. This is because while our training's do a great job of getting teams started and helping to solve problems, it’s only when you dig in to what the manufacturer has designed the equipment for that you can fully understand it.

Every day at Lambda we are reading manuals on new pieces of equipment, learning about each of them to their fullest and we recommend you do the same! It may not be the most interesting piece of reading material, but it sure can help you out in a pinch.

So, you’re interested now, and you want to try our idea, but you threw away the box your equipment came in along with that precious little book of knowledge. Never fear, the internet is a treasure trove of manuals and information. Some of our favorites are
Black Magic Support with a constantly updated user manuals for all their products. We also love the Youtube resources for Obsidian control systems, formerly known as Martin Lighting. They have an expansive tutorial set online showing step by step how to become an expert with their products Obsidian Control Systems - YouTube. Yet another incredible catalog of resources is from Boxcast. The have a library of support and tutorials to help you troubleshoot in minutes.
Join us in educating yourselves on the products you own so you can use it to its fullest capability!

Multiple Outputs On Pro Presenter?

5/6/2019

One of the things we get asked about a lot is how to get a Pro Presenter to output 2 different things at the same time. We love Pro Presenter, but the simple answer is…it can’t…unless you get tricky. This is where the multi display controllers enter the scene!

These devices have been used for years to display content across projector blends or multiple screens. The most common devices used were the triple ead 2 Go and the more robust Datapath 4. There was a trend, especially in church worship spaces, around 5-7 years ago to display ultra-wide content and use multiple projectors to display on a single very wide screen or 3 screens to fill up blank wall and create a more engaging stage. This trend has mostly disappeared, but the idea behind it, we can repurpose!

These boxes worked by causing Pro Presenter to see a single extremely large monitor and then the box would divide this large signal into 2 or 3 displays. This worked because Pro Presenter saw only a single monitor, but a module add on would allow it internally to display different content in different areas.

This brings us to re-purposing. Most churches today want to create an engaging and interesting stream environment and to do this they need to be able to display lyric content and sermon notes along with video. In the room itself most commonly we want to use what is referred to as full screen content. This simply mean the video or lyrics will fill the projection screens so everyone in the room can easily see it. On a stream we need the same content but in the format of what is called a Lower Third so that viewers can see video from the room and lyric content at the same time. Most of the time this would require two computers and two operators, but this becomes a problem with budget and a small volunteer space. With Pro Presenter and a multi display controller we can cheat a little.

Notice in the pictures we setup Pro Presenter to display an ultra-wide screen with half showing full screen lyrics and half showing a Lower Third. These two sources are then fed into a video switcher and sent to the destinations they need to be at. Just like that you have the content you need for an in-room venue and a streaming venue being generated from a single operator and at the same time. Looking for other time and volunteer saving ways of utilizing equipment? Drop us a line and see if we can leverage some equipment to do the work for you!

March 18th, 2019

3/18/2019

As an audio visual guy, probably one of the things most people have noticed about me over the years besides my orange hat has been my backpack! My backpack carries all kinds of tools and survival bits I use when I’m traveling to spec jobs or run installs and shows. Over the years what I keep in it has changed, but the purpose is still the same, to have the essentials to survive on the road and not be a bottomless pit of AV mess. Since I get so many questions about what I carry around in my pack I wanted to share a few items with you.

The first item is my backpack itself. This is a North Face back pack really designed for day hikes. This is the second #northfacepack I have owned as an AV guy and the first one lasted over ten years. I love these packs because they have tons of storage compartments, are rugged enough for me to continually jam it under airplane seats and the bright colors help me find it when I set it down right next to wear I’m staging hahahaha. 😉

Inside my pack is the workhorse of Lambda Audio Visual my 2017 MacBook Pro. I have had several MacBook pro’s over the years, and I have been loving this one the best, so far. I use it to design spaces and systems as well as control and program AV systems. It is light weight and rugged being all aluminum. A lot of folks complain about USB-C but once I found the right set of adapters, I have begun to find it extremely versatile. I can plug anything including the power adapter into any port and I love that.

My #Anker charger is one of my favorite finds. With frequent stays in hotel rooms, VRBO's and just hanging around different conference halls and venues, I need a way to charge all my day to day stuff with ease. The#ANKER charger allows me to plug my phone, my watch and all kinds of other stuff in at the same time on a bedside table or desk and have one small plug that can plug into any outlet i run into. This brings me to some of the devices I love that charge via USB. This year at Christmas my wife bought a USB rechargeable flashlight for me; it's amazing. I am always needing flashlights while looking through AV systems and though I have owned several, they never got used more than my phone flashlight because the batteries were always dead. The USB on this flashlight allows me to top off the charge the night before I go and use it for at least a few days before I simply plug it back in.

Lots of folks notice my #bosch laser distance tool as the first piece they see on any job. A laser distance measuring unit allows quick measurements of a room with only the click of a button. It also performs verification and leveling of objects in the air. There are a variety of laser units ranging $50 - $300 in price. This is a new unit I just picked up to replace an older unit. Like my flashlight it is USB rechargeable, and as an upgraded feature, it also has a camera for those times when it is hard to see where the laser is pointing, and Bluetooth to record measurements on my phone. I simply couldn’t get through most days without a unit like this.

Not all my gear is about tech. Some of it is comfort for me. That is where my travel pillow and water bottle come in. This travel pillow I picked up in Houston Airport after an extended travel stay during a storm. I never owned one before, but Jolene of Any Screen Inc said I had to own one and now I understand why! This pillow is memory foam and compacts easily so anytime I need to catch a nap in an airport or truck it really does help me to rest. I can’t recommend enough picking one up to take care of yourself on the road. My water bottle is a #YETI bottle and was given to me by owner of Pixel Pro LED, Dave. It keeps my water ICE cold, which I love, all day long. I can put ice in the bottle in the morning and keep refilling it all day. I never have been good at staying hydrated, but doing so keeps me clear thinking and level headed wherever I am.

The last few items I have are based around keeping this backpack of mine organized. My lovely wife has helped me with this every year gifting me new ways to keep things organized. My first item is the#GridIT. It’s a flat 8x10 area covered in elastic straps. I use it to hold all my most commonly used adapters and cables for quick access. It stores upright in front of my laptop in my backpack and lets me easily grab what I need, and make sure I have it all when I leave a venue. The next pieces are these little zippered pouches from REI. I use each one to hold specific types of cables, or devices so my backpack does not become a giant pile of stuff inside. If I need my laptop power adapter I grab the bag with it, if I need my stash of USB cables I can quickly grab the bag with those, or the bag with coffee pods and my foam football.... These are extremely handy and allow me to even quickly unpack my backpack and re pack it when TSA decides they don’t like what they see.

The last piece I will include is my #Tile devices. These handy Bluetooth locators I put not only on my keys, but in my suitcases and one in my backpack. They help to make sure I never lose track of all these great tools that keep me functioning on the road. What are the cool devices you keep with you? Do you use a backpack, side pack, or briefcase? Let us know in the comments on Instagram or Facebook!

Testing Your Equipment

3/18/2019

A few weeks back we talked about the “Lambda process” for turning your dreams of a new audio, video or lighting system into a reality. Part of that process is all about the gear testing that happens before the equipment ever gets to your location. After the gear has been ordered and has arrived in our shop, we set up all the equipment and each component in the shop just as it will be for the install. This ensures that when we arrive for the install, there aren’t any surprises and there won’t be “that one missing part.” Plus, we have an assurance that each piece of the gear we install will work for you leaving no questions of whether your new parts are faulty.

Nothing can be more frustrating than when you have a piece of gear and it doesn’t seem to be working properly, or even working at all! Here at Lambda AV one of our goals is to not just to help get your current system up and running, or even to replace the gear you already have. It’s to help you to know your system to the best of your ability! Often when you encounter problems in an audio, video or lighting system it can be daunting to try and diagnose where the issue is actually coming from. Often a quick check of signal flow and making sure all the cables are plugged in correctly can save you a lot of time and frustration! There are multiple different ways to go about checking your signal flow. I personally like to start at one end of the system and begin verifying each piece of equipment and cable is working correctly. A piece of gear like this Elite Core Cable Tester, can help you verify that all the cables are working properly. If something like testing gear feels a bit overwhelming to you, not to worry! We would love to schedule a time to do a training on your specific system and gear to help you get to know it better and know the best way to diagnose when equipment isn’t working right! From there, you will be better informed to make the decision to fix something or to plan for a replacement. If you have any questions about what our training's look like, you can check out our Article Here or contact us anytime!

Planning Time For Your Order

3/11/2019

Once you get your design finished it might feel like everything else will go quickly and you’ll have your new equipment in a matter of a few weeks, but, sadly, nothing is ever quite that simple. Even approving a simple replacement part has a whole process behind it. So, today’s tech tip is about timing your AV equipment orders to make sure you’ll get what you need when you need it.

Let me give you a glimpse into what happens behind the scenes here at Lambda!
Right: Looking so professional as we work on an order.

Once you approve your design and equipment order, we begin to put together part lists for each of our amazing distributors. Once the Purchase Orders are created, they
are sent to the vendors who check on each item for availability, processing time and if anything is back ordered. Once the order is processed, it is finally sent for shipment.

As soon as we receive all the items for your order we open and test each one to ensure we are installing quality products in your building! We want only the best for you! Once we know we have everything, that it is all working, we order the cabling, structuring and any special tools needed to install it all for you.

So, ordering equipment can be a big process and though we do our best to keep timing short for you, items can be back ordered or damaged in the mail or have multiple other problems. Some items are only made upon order, such as speakers, and are finely handcrafted for you and only you! Keeping these things in mind when you place your order will help you to plan ahead about your install and hopefully decrease the stress of wondering when you will receive your new equipment.

You might think it’s silly to place an order three months before you’ll need it, but it’s always better to be ahead rather than trying to rush or force something that might not be possible. So, if you are thinking about doing anything for Easter this year, now would be a great time to plan and talk with us about your ideas. We’ll be able to help you come up with a schedule and if what you are hoping for is possible to achieve in your time frame!

Lambda Design Services

2/19/2019

Here at Lambda Audio Visual we, like many of you, love to dream and try ideas with our company. One of the tips that we love to pass along is for you to visualize what it is you really would like to do and how you would like to communicate in your space. It's not just about what products you want to use, it's about creating the atmosphere to accomplish your goals and to create new dreams. That's why we are announcing a service we have been providing over the last year now as a tech tip available to all our customers!
Introducing Lambda Design Services. We know that it’s hard to make decisions based on a list of items, or even based on pictures of other rooms, buildings, and auditoriums.

With that said, we want to help you see what your room can look like based on your dreams and ideas. Take a look at some of the ideas we have put together over the last year. There are so many wonderful ways to show content with one regular size screen, two screens, an ultra-wide screen or even with a combination of screens and LED walls. Try us out, ask us to put together some views of your space, all we need is some measurements. Usually there is an additional cost involved, but because we want you to use the service and get benefit from it, any payed cost for Design is a 100% discount from services, installation, or products ordered based on the Design drawn up for you by Lambda. Try this out and try some fun new ideas, colored lighting, interesting screen sizes and shapes, or LED wall. Let us help you design your dreams and make them come true!

Spike Tape

2/11/2019

The above picture may just look like colored tape but it is one of our owner’s @ryandrby favorite tools of trade. We call it spike tape. Spike tape is thin strips of Gaffers tape in bright reflective colors.
You might remember Gaffers tape from a previous article we did last year. It's commonly used on stages for taping down cables as it does not leave a residue and tears easily like light fabric. Spike tape is named differently because it is used to “spike” or mark a position or item and stand out rather than blend in like black gaffers tape. It’s especially useful for marking the edges of stairs in dark areas, mic stand positions on stage as well as labeling items like control surfaces and cables. It stands out, is easy to work with and easy to write on with a marker or sharpie.
Pick yourself up some to throw in your kit of day to day tech resources. We love to pick up the multi packs on amazon that come with 4 bright colors from our friends at Tape Ninja!

More Cable Options? Check Out the Cable that Can Do It All!

2/11/2019

A few articles ago we talked about HDMI cables and the drawback of only being able to run them 25ft or so. We also talked about how you can use SDI to get HD video signal over a long distance. But that isn’t all we have to tell you! There is a third option for you to consider!
This signal is a new comer on the video scene and is called HDBaseT. This signal was first created in 2010 and can be used for the transmission of ultra-high-definition video, audio, Ethernet, control, USB and even up to 100W of power! All of this is over a single cable! It’s the Mary Poppins of cables!

HDBaseT uses Cat6a cable, but because of all the different functions it can be used for, it uses specialized connectors. These look identical to a standard RJ45 connector but be warned! Because HDBaseT carries power as well, if you plug it into a standard RJ45 jack you can severely damage that piece of equipment! If you are unsure, its always better to ask rather than risk your equipment.

HDBaseT can be run up to 328ft giving far more flexibility in running video signal. This cable is also extreamly convenient in instances when paired with a piece of HDBaseT equipped gear. The PTZ camera, for instance, would usually require up to 3-4 cables for signal, power, and control, but with an HDBaseT connection you only need one! Think about all the money that could be saved by only running one wire connection. Not to mention the amount of time running cable through walls and ceilings. If you have a hard to reach place or a tangle of cables attached to that old equipment, it could be worth your time and money looking for an HDBaseT piece of equipment as a replacement and running one cable instead.

Knowing Your Cable-- Video Cable Part 2

2/5/2019

Continueing our series of articles on cableing, this week we are talking about Serial Digital Interface (SDI). SDI is a video signal used to send uncompressed, un-encrypted digital video signals. It can also include embedded audio. SDI signal was first standardized in 1989. Since then the standard SDI signal has upgraded to HD-SDI (1080i/720p), 3G SDI (1080p), 6G SDI (4k @30hz), and 12G SDI (4k @60hz).

The longer distance you are trying to run the signal or the higher the quality signal you are trying to achieve, will require a higher specification of cable and BNC connector. Now, just upgrading the cabling in your system will not necessarily give you a higher SDI signal! An important thing to keep in mind is that to be able to produce a signal such as 12G SDI video, every single component in that system must support that as well! So, you may have the right camera and cable, but if your video switcher can only receive HD-SDI, that will be the highest quality you will be able to use.
We recommend, especially when building a new system or revamping an old system, to make sure the core components, like a switcher or a video router, is at the final desired SDI signal level. Then you can begin to upgrade the components going in and out of the system as your budget allows. If you aren't sure about your system's SDI ability, don't hesitate to ask! That's what we're here for!