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UI (User Interface) is all about the look and feel of a product from typography and color schemes to layouts making it visually appealing and intuitive for users like you. UX (User Experience) focuses on your overall journey, ensuring the product is functional, user-friendly, and accessible. While UI brings beauty, UX ensures it meets your needs and solves real problems together, they create products that truly resonate with people. The UI/UX at Cross and Crown worked well, but over time and usage, the church staff saw ways they wanted to use the control system differently based on their use case. So, when Cross and Crown reached out to us and asked to help enhance the user friendliness for their space, we were ready! We focused on adjusting UX while leaving UI the same. Cross and Crown was using a Symetrix Control system that would progress through presets on a dial wall plate. The sequential dial mechanism immediately switched presets with a turn, which presented challenges in precision and ease of use. Their goal was to streamline the process of selecting room modes, such as switching audio and video inputs or combining rooms, while reducing the risk of user errors.  To address these concerns, we reimagined the system to prioritize user-friendliness and adaptability. We pivoted from a sequential dial, only to be turned clockwise, to a system that would allow turning the dial both directions to pick the preset desired. We also added slight delays into the dial so no preset would be triggered unless a position was held for a couple seconds. Along with this we added a room reset position that only triggered after 5 seconds of selection to prevent accidental room resets. Another feature we added was an additional room reset that triggers on a schedule every night in case the system was left on overnight. This way the room would be reset to a standard and ensured the system was always ready for use each day!
These UX improvements transformed the Symetrix control system into a more user-friendly solution tailored to Cross and Crown’s needs. The revamped dial, with its added delays and bidirectional functionality, minimized accidental preset changes and simplified operation. These small changes delivered a seamless and efficient control experience that aligned perfectly with Cross and Crown’s vision for their space.
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 A user interface (UI) is the interaction between a human and machines. Think of the screen on your phone. It includes the visual elements, controls, and layout that allow users to use a device or software. A well-designed UI simplifies tasks by making it easy for users to navigate. UI should be a pleasant and efficient user experience. For Lambda AV a UI is an important part of our system design process. We build specific and custom UI for AV control systems including all the elements in the AV system to create a streamlined, easy to use application. So, if these are built custom for each client, why would you want to redesign a UI?
 The new BirdDog Keyboard has arrived! This control is an ideal tool for PTZ camera operators. It is designed with an ergonomic build and large screen displaying up to four cameras at once. The streamlined menu provides direct access to essentials like camera pairing. It easily integrates with any setup you might have and is packed with enhanced features to provide affordable solution for greater control and reliability.
An added feature includes a super-fine control mode. When it's time to fine-tune, just shift the camera joystick into 'fine-tune' mode, increasing the sensitivity of the joystick by 10x, making reframing shots on air more artistic flair than nail-biting scare. We have used BirdDog as a go to for PTZ cameras for years now, and we continue to be impressed by their dependability and control. Looking for a demo? Lambda loves showing off gear and systems! Reach out to [email protected] for a demo.  At Lambda Audio Visual we always want to make sure we spec the right tool for the job. As AV integrators it’s our job to take multiple tools and combine them into one functional, practical system. We love it when we find one great product suited for a specific task. This time that product was the Maxhub IFP or Integrated Flat Panel. This is a unique piece of equipment that we installed in a workspace and will continue to become very popular option for many businesses and collaborative community spaces!
When NAMI or the National Association On Mental Illness was moving into their new space they reached out to us for technical recommendations. They had a double meeting room with collapsible divider in the middle. They wanted this space to be functional for just about every type of meeting. Nami’s needs were a Zoom room, Microsoft teams, a white board, PowerPoint presentations, music, the list goes on and on. "Don't cross the streams. That would be bad." |
 | Lambda AV is in the middle of several large system control installs, so we wanted to let you in on a bit of the process and take a look at some of the gear we are using! We’ll highlight these projects more in-depth next month, but for now, let’s focus on an introduction to Visionary Solutions! Visionary Solutions builds incredible products and is our go-to solution for creating efficient system control solutions. First, let’s look at new models of Visionary Solutions E5100 and D5100 Encoder and Decoder! Now, this is a bit more advanced but could be extremely useful for many of you, so we wanted to be sure to take a moment and explain how these two little devices could bring some amazing changes to your av. |
With the growing demand for casting 4K video, professional AV designers and IT directors can use Visionary Solutions products as an alternative to conventional distribution systems such as video switchers. This can be even more useful if your building already has an existing IP network. Adding these encoders to your network is an elegant solution for distributing video throughout your building or conference rooms. Here’s how it works:
An encoder is easily connected to an AV signal source, such as a computer, through an HDMI cable. This then takes the signal from your computer and converts it to be transmitted over your existing network. This signal is sent through your infrastructure to any selected decoder in the building. The decoder then converts the signal back into an HDMI signal connected directly to a video display. This form of casting video produces visually lossless video. As if that wasn’t incredible enough, it is also easy to set up and control. Your video input can be sent to any decoder installed in your entire building! The signals are easily controlled with their Vision Lite software on a computer. Using this software, you will be able to choose which tv’s receive your video signal, including LED walls. Visionary’s products can be deployed on any industry-standard IP network. They can be used on existing enterprise IP networks or a physically separate private network to offload traffic. It’s that simple!
 | What does this mean for you? It means you can stream live video from your anyone presenting in any room in the building all with the touch of a button! It nearly eliminates the need for complicated, expensive video switchers and makes it easy for one person to use and control. This system even has the option of using the Wallplate encoder. This in-wall box can be easily mounted on a wall, tabletop, lectern, or floor box, enabling visitors to directly plug in their computers. In an instant, your AV team can take that signal and cast it to the main screens or other parts of the building where the presentation needs to be seen. The possibilities of sharing video to any screen you need are almost endless! Once programed for your needs, this system is so simple and extremely cost-effective! Especially if you already have a network in your building. Remember all those frustrating times you were trying to share your speakers’ video in a lobby or an overflow room? Say goodbye to those frustrations! By using your existing IP network, you can cast your video seamlessly, with an inexpensive, and easy to control product! |
We can’t wait to highlight several projects where Visionary solutions has made a big difference in usability, but in the meantime, if you think this sounds like a solution that you could use in your space, we would love to chat with you and answer any questions you might have! You can reach us at [email protected]
ProPresenter is a powerful software tool that benefits individuals and organizations involved in multimedia presentations. One of the advantages of using ProPresenter is its intuitive and user-friendly interface, which allows users to create stunning and dynamic presentations with ease. The software offers a wide range of features, including advanced video and audio playback capabilities, real-time editing, and seamless integration with other multimedia devices. ProPresenter also excels in its ability to handle complex multi-screen setups, making it an ideal choice for large events and productions. Furthermore, ProPresenter's robust media management system enables users to organize and access their files efficiently, ensuring smooth and hassle-free presentations. With its vast array of features and flexibility, ProPresenter allows users to deliver visually engaging and impactful presentations, making it an indispensable tool!
So, how do you begin to access the full power of using ProPresenter? A great place to start, whether you are a beginner or more advanced, is to dive into the free ProPresentor Tutorials! That’s right! ProPresentor offers an entire library of tutorials ranging from beginner basics training to advanced configurations for a pro look!
Ready to take your ProPresentor to the next level? Check out the samples below or follow the link to access the Entire Training Library!
Lambda AV have done just a few projector installs… ;) We’ve even written a few projection articles on choosing the right projector or screen and even the nerdy things about how projection works. We get a lot of questions on projection not just on choosing what projector to use but mounting recommendations for that projector model. Choosing a projector and its various pieces is a bit of an art form, but specifically based on the task it will be used for and the place it will be installed.
It truly is a great feeling when the time comes for the first event for one of our customers after an install. It is the culmination of weeks, months, and sometimes even years of planning and work; not just for Lambda, but for the group themselves.
Cross and Crown Church has worked with us for many years now and has been faithfully planning, saving, and dreaming about what this day might look like. On January 1st, 2023, we got to see that vision come to life. A well finished project is what we got to see for Cross and Crown (C&C). It is our firm belief that technology should not distract and should instead contribute to upholding the primary mission of the organization and its events. With C&C we got to see some serious fun and excitement as the church settled in to their first Sunday and look forward to future day to day events. Let’s look at how this build came together and how it fit C&C and their vision for the future.
In building C&C design, technology selection was a key piece. The church had communicated a desire for new systems and flexibility but did not want a system that felt overbearing and in need of skilled operators or one that was over the top in look and feel. They didn’t want a system that would take over the look of the church but blended with them. In each request, we were careful to select technology that would uphold these goals.
The phone began to ring and when I, Ryan, looked the caller ID read WJFW-TV in Rhinelander Wisconsin. I assumed it would be a scam call but answered anyway. On the other end, Marty and Walt from WJFW-TV were calling to discuss a previous article we wrote on an early PTZ camera design. The system they owned was a similar version to what we wrote about many years ago. When they saw how much we liked the system, they wanted to ask how we got it to work so well. I laughed, “We didn’t!"
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