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. 

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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.”

Furman Introduces Powerful M-8X AR Voltage Regulator to Protect Electronic Equipment

Live musicians, DJs, recording professionals, and system integrators know that every piece of equipment must function as expected. Recognizing the inherent instability of electric power, Furman, the leader in power conditioning since 1974, today introduced the new M-8x AR, an entry-level voltage regulator/power conditioner specially designed to provide stable voltage output and protect valuable gear. Providing nine regulated and conditioned outlets, this rack-mount voltage regulator is an affordable yet powerful choice for A/V professionals, musicians, and DJs. The introduction was made at Winter NAMM 2015 in Anaheim, California, Furman Booth #6745.

“With demand on the power grid stretched, we are seeing a higher rate of brownout and voltage sags, which can be disastrous in mission critical applications,” said John Benz, Director of Power and Accessories Products at Core Brands. “Furman is dedicated to providing unbeatable power products to serve audio video professionals. Our full line of voltage regulators and power conditioners ensure that any buyer can feel confident in their equipment’s protection, from entry-level setups to world-class audio rigs. The M-8x AR complements our Prestige Series of professional-grade voltage regulators and fills out our complete line of Merit Series entry-level power management solutions.”

The M-8x AR provides a stable 12A-15A, 120V output (±5V) from input voltage of 97V and 141V.  Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS) protects against dangerous sustained over/under voltage conditions.  Additionally, Extreme Current Shutdown (ECS) detects over-current conditions and shuts down the outlets before damage is done to the M-8x AR or your connected equipment. The ECS circuit has been designed to detect high speed and high-level currents and will ignore low speed / low current transients, such as amplifier inrush currents.  In fact, all internal components are specially designed to distinctly recognize damaging fluctuations from natural fluctuations, and therefore only react if there is danger to equipment or the unit itself. A three-color ‘in-regulation’ indicator provides quick assurance that power is being properly managed, in addition to the unit’s ‘Protection OK’ indicator.

Musicians and live sound professionals can easily monitor the M-8x AR’s input line voltage using the eight-element, two-color bar graph meter and feel confident thanks to the thermal circuit breaker that protects against overload. Weighing just 15 pounds, the regulator is a must-have for live performers and DJs looking to create a portable pro audio rig. Adding to the long list of attributes, the unit’s low noise toroidal autotransformer with low magnetic field leakage allows for close proximity to other delicate electronic equipment without fear of interference.

For peace of mind at a price that won’t break the bank, Furman M-8x AR is sure to become the first choice of top performers and A/V professionals everywhere. The M-8x AR will be available in February through certified Furman dealers at an MSRP of $599.

Furman Wants to Hear from Performers and Artists at NAMM 2015!

Calling all Furman customers!  If you have a story to tell about how Furman power management solutions helped to save the day for you on stage or in a club or studio, then be sure to come to the Furman booth (#6745) at Winter NAMM 2015 in Anaheim, California from January 22-25, 2015.

“We have a custom fitted video booth for Furman customers to make their own video testimonial about Furman solutions in general and how they specifically helped to save the day for them,” explained Rob Harris, who leads Furman’s Artist Relations.  “People tell us stories all the time, so we thought it would be fun to share these with everyone."

According to Harris, NAMM Show attendees who want to make their video testimonial should simply come to the booth during exhibit hours and register to record their video on the spot in the Furman video booth.  The first 200 people to share their video on social media can get a Furman Hero T-shirt and will be entered to win a Furman PL-8C. And, while they are at the booth, show attendees can check out the new Furman M-8X AR — an entry-level voltage regulator specially designed to mitigate all forms of power fluctuation while providing nine regulated and conditioned outlets for recording studios, DJs, live music applications and pro audio rigs.