Core Brands and Autonomic Controls to Serve as MVP Co-Sponsors of 2015 D-Tools Design Awards Program

Two industry-leading custom installation solutions providers, Autonomic and Core Brands, today announced that they are joining forces to support industry-wide design best practices, serving as MVP (Manufacturer Vantage Point) Co-Sponsors of the 2015 D-Tools Design Awards Program. Through the sponsorship, the winner of the “Best Overall” category will receive an ELAN entertainment and control system with ELAN gHR200 remote and an Autonomic MMS-2A streaming media solution.

The annual D-Tools Design Awards Program puts the spotlight on the best project designs and greatest success stories that demonstrate D-Tools platform proficiency and the positive effects it has had on both workflow and ROI. Winning entries will be selected from a diverse group of D-Tools users. The winners will be announced at CEDIA Expo in Dallas, Texas.

“We are proud to co-sponsor this very important design awards program with Autonomic,” said Core Brands Director of Marketing Bill Hensley. “ELAN introduced the world to IP based, entertainment centric smart home automation.  Autonomic introduced the world's first cloud-based media server, making whole-house audio more intuitive, enjoyable and sophisticated for users while creating a profitable business model for custom integrators. And now that the ELAN control platform is completely compatible with Autonomic streaming media solutions, it makes perfect sense for our two companies to join together to support the best practices objectives of the D-Tools Design Awards Program.”

Autonomic CEO Michael de Nigris added, “We’re honored to partner with Core Brands in support of the D-Tools Design Awards Program. By providing the ‘Best Overall’ winner with a Mirage Music Player and an ELAN system controller, we’re giving them the opportunity to create an expandable whole-home automation system, beginning with a staple: whole-home audio.”

The ELAN entertainment and control system is a versatile controller and OSD extender that integrates seamlessly with a variety of systems, including the Mirage Music Player. The controller is robustly configured with 3 IR outputs, 1 IR input, 1 bi-directional RS-232 input, 1 sensor, 1 HDMI output (720p/1080p) and 1 audio output.  Its built-in WiFi enables all of its functions to be IP controlled, and PoE enabled, it uses dramatically less energy than conventional controllers.

The ELAN system features integration of up to 16 zones of security; 2 door locks; media that can control 1 AVR, 32 displays and an unlimited number of ELAN zones; as well as controls for lighting (24 devices and up to 24 custom g! keypads), climate (3 stats), video (3 IP cameras), irrigation (16 groups and 256 zones) — plus the ability to add on a virtually unlimited number of ELAN and Core Brands attachments.

The Mirage Music Player MMS-2A delivers pure, reference quality high-resolution audio via a USB output as well as two independently controlled streams to support a multi-room entertainment system as large as an astonishing 96 zones when paired with Mirage Digital Amplifiers. A new generation of the world’s first cloud-based media server, the MMS-2A will store, sync, schedule, blend and stream an entire music collection along with the most popular online streaming services. The MMS-2A also delivers all of the features that have become the hallmark of the Autonomic brand, including access to the most popular streaming services (PANDORA® internet radio, Rhapsody®, TuneIn Radio, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, Napster, Deezer and Spotify), iTunes synchronization, cloud synchronization enabling access to personal music collections across multiple locations, three onboard AirPlay receivers enabling guest computer/device streaming, and Autonomic’s exclusive TuneBridge™ technology (patent pending), making iteasier than ever to listen to, discover and explore the universe of music.

An ELAN g1 entertainment and control system, ELAN gHR200 remote and Autonomic Control MMS2A media solution will be on display at both Core Brands’ booth #4128 and Autonomic’s booth #3119.

Westin Long Beach Hotel Hosts Local Businesses and Events in High-Tech Meeting Space Protected by Furman

Competition is stiff among hotels that want to host events and corporate meetings for local businesses. To attract the event planners and meeting managers, the Westin Long Beach Hotel in Long Beach, California, recently transformed its large ballroom into a 4-room convertible space with divisible walls. To further enhance the space, the hotel turned to local integration firm Spinitar to incorporate the latest audio system and technology. According to Rudy Zavala, Associate Systems Designer at the firm, the goal of the installation came down to three things: simplicity, functionality and reliability.

“One big ballroom is great if you want to host large receptions or conferences, but the ability to split the space into four smaller rooms offers the hotel greater revenue opportunities and opens access to smaller parties and budgets,” Zavala explained. “But it’s not as simple as just putting in some convertible walls. Separate rooms mean you need separate audio systems and control interfaces that can also function as a single unit when the room is fully open for a larger event. To do this we used QSC’s Core 500i network audio solution backed by the protection of a BlueBOLT-enabled Furman F1500-UPS to ensure smooth, effortless operation 365 days a year.”

Routing all the power through the Furman UPS boasts multiple advantages. Utilizing the BlueBOLT cloud-based power, energy and network management platform, the device enables Spintar to access the equipment at its power source from anywhere in the world using any Web-enabled device. In case of a locked-up device or system power issue, the integrators can do remote hard resets of the touch panels, amplifiers and network switcher, even the entire QSC system if needed, greatly reducing service calls. This provides efficiency for both the hotel and the integrator, saving them time, money and frustration.

Featuring Furman’s advanced Series Multi-Stage Protection (SMP) surge/spike protection circuit, Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS) and Linear Filtering Technology (LiFT), the F1500-UPS provides the hotel with professional-level protection, filtration and backup combined with features engineered specifically for the needs of A/V systems. Fully programmable, the unit features an intuitive LCD front panel interface, which displays valuable system and diagnostic information, such as battery time remaining based on current load and voltage input/output. Additionally, critical load management capabilities allow hotel employees to prioritize allocations of battery power to connected equipment while the unit’s programmable IR blasters provide safe shutdown of remotely based equipment.

“Easy-to-use is an all encompassing term,” Zavala concluded. “This means that guests must be able to walk in to the space and use the system right away, every time. Additionally, the hotel managers and staff should be able to operate the meeting rooms without worrying about complicated technology. The GUI we created for the audio system is a floorplan of the space, with each touch panel opening up to its section of the room, and all the other sections are available by simply flipping to the next page of the interface. This way presenters can quickly use the input panels to hook up a microphone, iPod, or video player to one section or the whole room, while setting volumes for each specific area.”

Best of all, the system is designed to be easy-to-use for the integrators themselves. Incorporating the Furman F1500-UPS into the system simplifies the configuration, ultimately saving Zavala and his team time and money through BlueBOLT remote power management.

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“Mixing-Console-Kings” Educate Customers in Interactive Demo Room Protected by Furman

When Dallas-based Sound Productions, renowned as the “Mixing-Console-Kings,” was designing its state-of-the-art demo room, the goal was simple: create a comfortable environment with an authentic live venue atmosphere. After just 90 days, the room was equipped and operational with some of the hottest sound, lighting and video products on the market, ready to be test driven by anyone who walked through the door. Everything was running smoothly, until it hit them: severe weather in the area could ultimately shut down the show. After little deliberation, they turned to Furman to protect their investment and keep all of the systems operating seamlessly. 

“Originally, we installed a power management system that we quickly lost confidence in. The system failed twice during brownouts, which were common this past spring due to unusually extreme weather in our area. Fortunately, the failures did not occur during business hours,” Sound Productions Vice President of Sales & Marketing Jeff Humphrey explained. “It was almost a year after opening the new facility when we finally decided to incorporate Furman products into the racks to deliver advanced surge protection and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) backup.”

The company installed the BlueBOLT-enabled Furman F1500-UPS, Furman P8 PRO-C and Furman M-8Lx power conditioners and a Furman voltage regulator into the racks of four live demo stations showcasing sound reinforcement, recording, contracting, and mobile DJ products. The room comes equipped with the top 10 hottest selling digital consoles, a complete QSC line array speaker system as well as five other major speaker brands, a broad range of lighting products and a full complement of mics and backline equipment to simulate a live sound environment. In the room’s FOH racks, four APB- DynaSonic MixSwitches are used in conjunction with two Presonus Central Stations which allow seamless switching while auditioning the various consoles and speaker systems, all of which is protected and conditioned by Furman. 

Kris Landrum, Engineer & Sales Team Member at Sound Productions

“Going into this project, we were very careful in the design,” Humphrey continued. “We wanted the demo room to operate seamlessly, and be an active tool for our sales team and clients rather than a constant work-in-progress hindrance I’ve seen in so many other facilities. I have witnessed many failed demos; you walk into a room and only half of the equipment is patched or even operational. We wanted to change that typical experience and set expectations higher, so we built a system that does not require any patching or un-patching. It takes little effort to test any given product, in any configuration even down to a specific component.”

This system set-up is extremely beneficial since Sound Productions allows customers to come in and demo products during normal business hours. With this policy, they need to make sure everything is working 100 percent of the time. “My right-hand-man, Kris Landrum (pictured above), arrives early every morning to run all of the diagnostics, prior to opening our doors,” Humphrey added. “He ensures everything is fully operational before he settles into his sales position, so customers can walk in at any given time to see, touch and hear the exact equipment they want at a time that is convenient for them.”

Additionally, since the system is running through the BlueBOLT-enabled Furman f1500-UPS, the Sound Productions team can monitor their system through the cloud-based power, energy, and network management platform from anywhere in the world. BlueBoLT allows them to remotely reboot connected equipment in order to address a myriad of common system issues, so Landrum can fix menial system disruptions prior to walking through the demo room’s door. “We’ve successfully used the BlueBOLT function on mobile devices and local computers and found it to be seamless and very intuitive,” Humphrey stated. 

Sound Productions’ value-add business model doesn’t stop with daily demos. The company offers free monthly educational workshops with content based on new technology, industry trends and customer demand. Workshops and lectures are presented by leading manufacturer representatives and industry professionals such as Ken “Pooch” Van Druten, Bo Brinck and legendary FOH engineer, Buford Jones to name just a few. “Educating customers is our mission; educated customers buy with confidence. They purchase the right gear for their given applications and are happier in the long-run,” Humphrey concluded. “Our new facility and the workshops we offer provide a one of a kind experience for our customers.”

Niles Auriel Multi-Room Audio Controller Provides Homeowner With Simple First Step Toward Whole-Home Automation

Like a lot of homeowners, Robert Burghart stepped into home automation as he would into unknown waters – one toe at a time. In his previous home, he started small with a basic control system but quickly learned the limits of his choice when he couldn’t connect his Sonos system and his surveillance cameras. So when he moved in to a larger home, he knew his previous control system wouldn’t cut it. His electronics integrator, Joe Abramo of Custom Automated Solutions, told him that a six-source six-zone Niles Auriel multi-room audio controller would let him use his Sonos Connect as a streaming source so he wouldn’t have to keep the Sonos system entirely separate. When Abramo described how Auriel also would integrate the Burghart’s home theater and their NAS drive with some 900 GB of their own music—and provide an easy upgrade path to automate the whole home with an ELAN entertainment and control system—his client was sold.

“With the Niles and ELAN systems in Robert’s new home, there really are no limits,” Abramo explained. “Before automating his entire home, Robert wanted to start small, so we only installed the theater and audio controls, where Niles’ Auriel system really shines. He became acclimated to the system extremely quickly and was enthusiastic about scaling up with ELAN. We’ve already integrated his climate controls, security, surveillance cameras, TV and video, lighting, garage doors and driveway gates since the initial installation.”

Working on a time crunch, the initial audio system was just as easy to install as it is to use. “Just a week prior to the homeowner’s move-in date, we began the installation process of the Niles Auriel system,” Abramo continued. “It literally took 30 minutes to install and 5 minutes to program right from my iPad. Auriel is probably the easiest whole-home audio solution to install currently on the market. That helped get the system up and running quickly, and cut down on the man-hours and installation cost. For subsequent installations, I’m confident anyone on my staff will be able to program the Auriel system.”

ELAN was the perfect choice to integrate all of the systems, especially the audio. “We have a guest house and a racecar garage, and I can control that alarm system separately from the main home,” Burghart explained. “The best thing about the ELAN system is that everything is on one app that I can access anywhere in the world. We have it set up so the climate controls use less power when we arm the security system upon leaving the house. Then, I can turn it back to my desired level before I leave work, so it’s ready when I get there. That’s really important in the hot Arizona climate. I’ve also used the app while away to open the gate and garage doors for repairmen and even to check the cameras. I can even check in on the dog when no one is home!”

Having access to every function from a single app was a major selling point for Burghart. With his old system, he would have to use separate apps to access his sound and security systems. This became a hassle very quickly since he was using both every day. Now, everything has the same control scheme through the ELAN g! app, making the entire system incredibly simple. According to Burghart, even his 4-year-old daughter can use it.

“She really only needs it to turn on the movie Frozen, but she can do it,” he joked. “Just as all other youngsters today, she learns technology very quickly. After always wanting our phones and tablets, we ended up giving her an old iPad. Now, she loves going into the cameras and seeing herself on the screen.”

But all of this electronics wizardry isn’t what he praises most. If you ask him what the most essential aspect of his installation was, he’ll tell you it’s the human element.

“The key is having a good AV/security expert you can trust,” he said. “Joe showed me things I never knew existed, and it really opened my eyes to all the possibilities of home automation. I used to be someone who went to Costco for security cameras and Best Buy for a Sonos system, but having Joe put everything together the right way and show me how much more can be done was a home-altering moment. He was referred to me by a friend, and now he’s worked with four or five of our friends because he really knows what he’s doing and provides great service whenever we have any trouble.”

Some special additions to the system include a strobe effect on some of the lights if there is a security incident so police can quickly identify the correct house, a timer so the gate closes after a few minutes of inactivity, an event trigger so the lights automatically turn on when they disarm the security system after entering the home, and a theater favorite where the lights dim as soon as you select a source and the video starts playing.

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Core Brands Smart Technologies Afford Wounded Veteran Independent Living in New Smart Home

A wounded soldier’s return to civilian life may be one of the hardest life transitions in the modern age. Today, the Gary Sinise Foundation, with the support of Core Brands, other technology manufacturers, and on-site contractors, unveiled the latest in a series of specially adapted custom “Smart Homes” built through the Foundation’s R.I.S.E. Program, specifically to make everyday home life as easy as possible for severely wounded vets. 

Rusty Lee Dunagan always felt he would join the Army, and after the attacks on September 11, 2001 his resolve only grew stronger. In 2006 he enlisted and was stationed in Afghanistan. On September 21, 2010, Dunagan, who was 30 at the time, was training a group of soldiers on patrol when he encountered a roadside IED, causing him to lose both legs and his left arm. Today, after more than 30 surgeries, Dunagan and his family moved into a new Edmond, Oklahoma home that will give Rusty all the independence and comfort modern technologies and design can provide.

“In July of 2012, we received an email from Rusty’s Aunt, Susan Porter, sharing Rusty’s story and his rehabilitation process,” Gary Sinise Foundation Executive Director Judith Otter explained. “After speaking with Susan, Rusty, and his wife, Angie, we knew that we wanted to help this family heal and provide them with the home that they deserve.”

The home was built with Rusty’s mobility at the forefront of the design. “As the 23rd surviving triple amputee, Rusty needed a home that allowed him maximum mobility in his wheelchair,” Otter continued. “Due to the nature of his injuries, Rusty does not use prosthetics, so this was the key component for helping Rusty regain his independence.”

The Gary Sinise Foundation relied on individual, corporate, non-profit donors, in-kind sponsors, and the local community’s support to make this project a reality. “I worked closely with the Gary Sinise Foundation and an incredibly supportive group of manufacturers, builders, designers and contractors who donated their time, their skills and their products to make this home a reality and give Rusty as much control over his home life as possible,” said Joel Berrettini of IT and Media Solutions, who installed much of the life-simplifying electronics in the Dunagan’s new home. “The main way the family experiences these technologies is through the ELAN control system that allows them to control their lighting, heating, TV, music, security and door locks from touch panels mounted throughout the home, ELAN remotes, even their iPad.”

With everything in the home custom-considered for Dunagan’s use, it looks a bit different than your average Oklahoma home. The doorways in this single-floor residence are all four feet wide and are completely flat to making moving from room to room easy. The kitchen island and some countertops are up to 10 inches lower than standard, the master bathroom has a vanity with room underneath for his wheelchair to get up close, and the wheel-in shower has a tiled bench so he can get in and out completely on his own. But according to Dunagan, even the little things take some getting used to.

“I was left-handed,” Dunagan said, “so when I was doing rehabilitation I was almost starting from scratch with my right hand. I’m a righty shooter and I used a computer mouse with my right hand, but not much else. I spent time each day in rehab writing out of a textbook just like I did in grade school, and it was really important to me. As of this January I’m working for a local Oklahoma Congressman as his military liaison, attending functions on his behalf and handling a lot of veterans affairs, which keeps me busy. It’s good to be working and helping other vets acclimate to civilian life and get their deserved medical care and benefits.” 

To minimize obstacles in the new home, builder Jim Bowers designed it with six exterior doors, four to the backyard and two to the front. Dunagan and the family can get to the backyard from the master bedroom, the great room, a hallway near the main living area, and the kids play room. All six of these doors, plus the interior garage door, have Qwikset electronic door locks that automatically lock and can be accessed through the ELAN system, and can send alerts to the owners by email or text message when a door is opened. 

Dunagan continued, “Adapting to civilian life is challenging, because you lose some of the camaraderie, structure and support the military provides, so any little thing that makes our lives easier and gives me more time to spend with the family, or not worrying about the house, is a big bonus. Plus, now that I work with the Congressman I get to be involved in a lot of military events again, so I’m thrilled to be able to contribute as a member of the community.”“The first thing I did when the Gary Sinise Foundation told me the home would have smart home tech was check it out on YouTube,” Dunagan said. “My wife and I were amazed at what modern technology can do in homes, and it was even more surprising in person. Something like electronic door locks is a huge deal, because it means I don’t have to go check each door at night to make sure the house is safe. I can just open the app, and if any doors aren’t locked, I can lock them wirelessly from anywhere.”

If Dunagan wants to see what his kids are doing while he’s at work, he can view the five-acre property on the ELAN mobile app thanks to eight outdoor surveillance cameras and an Interlogix Concord4 security system. Berrettini actually took the covers off the cameras because they were white and stood out so much, and hand painted them to match the home’s exterior brick. The final safety measure in the home is a first for the Gary Sinise Foundation – a safe room designed to withstand Oklahoma’s notorious tornadoes. Built completely from concrete and connected to the home’s generator and ELAN system, this room provides the family an escape from the elements in the most dire situations.

“We wanted to ensure that Rusty had maximum mobility and independence when he was home,” Gary Sinise Foundation Senior Construction Project Manager Scott Schaeperkoetter stated. “In order to do this, we had to properly identify each adaptation that needed to be included in the home. For example, there is a possibility of extreme weather in Oklahoma, so we had to make sure that all of the necessary safety precautions were taken and that they were all accessible to Rusty.”

Berrettini added, “Another challenge we faced was the remote location of the home. That’s why a generator was an absolute necessity, and why we chose to install satellite TV and satellite internet service for the family. This way they have the knowledge that they will always have power and always be connected, no matter what the weather or circumstances might be. There are little things like this that we take for granted, and out here in Oklahoma some extra things have to be considered.”

With three Lutron thermostats, 67 light switches and nearly 30 motorized QMotion window shades throughout the home, the family can customize their environment to be the most comfortable at any given time. Programmed schedules provide a daily balance of lighting and heating, while any room or light can be adjusted with just a few taps in the ELAN mobile app. This convenient control scheme extends to the home’s four TVs and multi-room audio system as well. Even when the family is in the backyard, Dunagan can use his iPad to play his favorite music on the outdoor audio system while he monitors the yard’s sprinkler system through the app to ensure his lawn gets enough water. 

The backyard will be a haven of sorts for Dunagan, with two ponds that will be stocked with fish and a large swath of area for his kids to grow up in the great outdoors. The five kids will inhabit three bedrooms, with the oldest in her own room, the two middle-aged boys sharing a room and the two youngest sharing a room. Everyone can use the audio and video components of the ELAN system, and it’s easy enough for even the 5-year-old to choose his movies and music.

“A big part of what we do at the Gary Sinise Foundation is raise awareness for the issues that our servicemen and women face while engaging communities to support their hometown heroes,” Otter concluded. “We were so thrilled with the incredible support from the local Edmond community and thankful that many national partners, such as Core Brands, provided key technology to help us complete this project. Rusty now has as much independence as possible in his home, which is a huge success for everyone involved.”  

To download hi-res images, click here.