The project had a tight schedule for uninstalling the old system, replacing the conduit, laying the wiring, installing, configuring and programming the new equipment, and getting the system up and running.
Extron
Colegio de México, A.C., also known as ColMex, is a higher education and research institution in the social sciences and humanities, located in Mexico City. In order to keep up with the ever-changing teaching and technology methods, ColMex embarked on a general set-up of AV systems for areas such as the Coordination of Computer Services and the Digital Education Program (PRED). The PRED is an audiovisual and multimedia development unit, whose function is to bring to the public digital and interactive productions, among others, academic interviews, videos, short courses and massive online courses complete.
A fundamental objective of the project was to update the AV system of the Alfonso Reyes divisible auditorium with a fully automated digital installation in which video with 4K resolution could be projected. In addition, it had to be easy to upgrade in the future, without the need to lay a new cabling infrastructure. In order to achieve this high degree of versatility in the design, Asesores y Consultores en Tecnología S.A. de CV, of the ACT Group, installed Extron's XTP Systems®, gateways for Wireless collaboration of the ShareLink® 250 series, SMP 111, which are multimedia H.264 processors for single-channel transmission, as well as a centralized control system of the Pro series.
"ACT and the university team carried out a rigorous evaluation process of the solutions offered by the main manufacturers of AV equipment. Extron's XTP Systems, with its Pro series control system, achieved the best combination of products, performance and flexibility for ColMex's divisible auditorium," recalled César Centeno Arriaga, ACT Group engineer.
Divisible auditorium and AV needs
Each side of the divisible auditorium features three display devices: an HD projection system, a 48" flat screen and a support monitor for speakers. Additional 55", 48" and 32" screens were installed, along with monitors in the two lobbies located before the event center and in the shared control room.
System requirements included AV connectivity for digital devices, support for HDMI resolution, the 3G-SDI standard and wireless transmissions, as well as video scaling of resolutions up to 4K. Content from HDMI sources would be converted to 3G-SDI to be processed by Two NewTek TriCaster TC1 production systems. Two separate video conferencing systems and a 12-microphone audio system would also be part of the facility. To support the PRED program, ColMex wanted to have the possibility to transmit and record sessions simultaneously, in addition, the switching system had to be easy to control regardless of the configuration of the room.
Exceptionally reliable and fast switching between the various source signals was essential , as was a secure and encrypted facility. The best solution was to install a comprehensive and integrated AV system. XTP systems allow the convergence of different AV formats and protocols.
ACT and the university jointly chose Extron's XTP II CrossPoint 3200 digital switching modular array. Its integrated technologies and modular design offered compatibility with a wide range of source signal formats along with stereo audio routing and two-way control. The ability of the XTP II platform to support data rate requirements for 8K video formats also impressed ColMex.
The size was set to 24x24 with a combination of HDMI, 3G-SDI and twisted pair input and output cards for local and remote signal distribution. "The modular design and hot-swappable components of the CrossPoint XTP II switched modular array make it easy to maintain, and the 50 Gbps circuit board will allow us to keep the system core in place when we upgrade sources and displays in the future," says Centeno.
An Extron XTP CP 4i 3G-SDI input board is compatible with both TriCaster systems. XTP CP twisted pair input and output cards are compatible with connected devices and transmit content to Christie® D13WU-HS DLP projectors and other display devices.
To power TriCaster production systems, two Extron DSC HD-3G A scalers convert HDMI to 3G-SDI. HDMI signals are also sent to Extron's two SMP 111 streaming media processors to meet the PRED's requirement to transmit/record content streams and video conferencing simultaneously. For wireless routing, an Extron ShareLink 200 N gateway is assigned to each room.
The modular design and 50 Gbps digital circuit board of the XTP II CrossPoint modular switching matrix, together with its SpeedSwitch technology and other included technologies, allowed to achieve an optimal solution compatible with the wide variety of types of digital signal used in ColMex.
Signal extension within the auditorium
Fourteen Decorator 101 4K 101 4K Wall Plate transmitters allow the extension of the HDMI signal through the XTP switching matrix from the PTZ cameras and computers on the stage and from the back and sides of each divisible space. Wall plates also provide support for any connected source. Microphone connection is achieved by combining Mounting Frames from an Extron CPM101 gang with MAAP modules.
An Extron XTP SR HD 4K receiver installed on each projector stand scales content to the projector's native 1920x1200 resolution, and its built-in relays simplify projection screen control. Since scaling was not necessary for the speakers' support monitors or for the various screens located in the lobbies, an Extron XTP R HD 4K receiver was installed with each.
ACT replaced the existing infrastructure with Extron XTP DTP 24 and STP20 cabling to ensure signal quality and preserve the long stretches from the control room to the farthest end points. Among the devices, and to allow AV connection, the design includes mounting of Extron HDMI Ultra and HDMI Pro cables.
Remote control of space
Thanks to the Extron Pro Series control system, all AV sources and display devices are monitored and controlled from the central control room and also from a remote location. A 10" desktop TouchLink touchscreen, TLP Pro 1022T allocated on either side of the divisible space shares a rackmount IPCP Pro 550 IP Link control processor with the switching array. Touch screens and the processor communicate via Ethernet. The secondary checkpoints are two Apple® iPad® tablets and the wireless system.
Two of the control processor's eight RS 232 ports allow projector management and its eight relays allow a technician in the control room to operate the projector mounts. This, combined with the screen control through the relays of the XTP climbing receiver, significantly speeds up the configuration of the room. The remaining RS 232 and bidirectional control ports, four Flex I/O® connectors and the port for connecting an eBUS® button panel are reserved for future system expansion.
Programmable control
Global Scripter was used to retrieve and enable different system operating modes, depending on room settings. The control system is programmed to monitor a sensor on the divisible wall. When the wall is open, the room is in combo mode and signals from the fountain can be routed to one or more screens. When the wall is closed, each side has independent control of its designated sources and devices.
This function has a positive effect on the use of the audio system and each videoconferenc codec. The audio DSP is configured to retrieve presets for each operating mode, and allows you to control audio levels as needed. VOIP mode is also controlled through the Extron control system. Global Scripter also allows the control of two digital recorders, one assigned to each side of the divisible space.
Results
The project had a tight schedule for uninstalling the old system, replacing the conduit, laying the wiring, installing, configuring and programming the new equipment, and getting the system up and running. ColMex technical support staff also received training on how to use the system and troubleshoot problems during this period.
Two situations affected system integration. During installation, the auditorium had to be used for a conference that had been reserved before the system upgrade. ACT managed to provide temporary functions for the AV systems, which allowed the event to take place as scheduled. The second obstacle was quite unique.
The campus was affected by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that shook Mexico City during the installation. After extensive testing, ACT confirmed that both the new AV system and the cabling infrastructure had withstood the 20 seconds of violent shaking without appreciable damage and only needed to be replaced by a few connectors and some problems in the network needed to be corrected. Even with these eventualities, the numerous features of XTP and the easy-to-use Pro Series control system made it possible to complete the entire project in 13 weeks.
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