Mandeville Beer Garden Focuses On The Details With The ELAN Control System

Launching a restaurant is often a sink-or-swim moment. It’s stressful, exciting and demanding, so any help keeping things organized and flowing smoothly is essential. Just ask Rebekah Gelvin, the proud owner and operator of the new Mandeville Beer Garden in Sarasota, Florida. With 30 draught beers, 150 bottles and a classic beer garden-style food menu, the last thing the staff wants is to have to remember tricky procedures for operating TVs, stereos and other utilities on site.

As the city’s first-ever beer garden, Gelvin knew it might be popular, but was pleasantly surprised at the community’s overwhelming response. Luckily, she thought ahead and outfitted the establishment with advanced technologies designed to lighten the load for her and the staff, centered around an ELAN control system that automates the audio, video, lighting, surveillance cameras and HVAC.

“It’s nice not to worry about turning things on and off,” Gelvin said. “It might seem like a little detail, but there are hundreds of little details that we need to nail every day, so anything that checks a couple items off the list is a big help. As far as grand openings go, ours has been wildly successful, but that does mean that the staff can sometimes be racing around to keep every customer happy. In that environment, giving the bartenders the ability to change TV channels or turn up the music from their personal smartphones is a big help. It saves time and frustration, and even attracts the customers’ attention when they ask how we did that.”

Automating the utilities of the beer garden was a core consideration during construction, according to Mark van den Broek, owner of the Sarasota-based electronics integration firm Smarthouse Integration.

“Technology is basically a given for a modern bar or restaurant, and Rebekah knew that going in,” van den Broek said. “But where legacy owners might see TVs and speakers as the end-all be-all, she recognized that more could be done to simplify operations and free up staff to attend to customers quicker and more effectively. In addition, the energy savings can be considerable. For instance, the beer garden’s lights, TVs, and speakers all automatically turn on 30 minutes before opening and off 30 minutes and after closing. This eliminates the need for a worker to be responsible for these duties, and ensures that it always happens. Even if someone did turn on a light after closing, Rebekah can see that and turn it off using the ELAN g! mobile app on her smartphone or tablet.”

In addition to the automated on/off settings, van den Broek worked closely with Gelvin to create a smart lighting timeline that self-adjusts the lighting levels throughout the day to match ambient light. Combine that with an intelligent HVAC schedule, an integrated security system, 10 IP surveillance cameras and three separate zones of audio and video, and it’s clear the ELAN control system plays an essential role in the beer garden’s operations. It even gives the staff instant control over the beer garden’s functions through their mobile phones.

“Another thing we knew going in is that every customer wants WiFi. They want to take pictures, upload them, search for our beers on apps and be as connected as they are at home,” Gelvin added.

To satisfy this insatiable desire to be connected at all times, van den Broek installed Luxul networking equipment to provide a private network for the staff and a public network for customers. To keep customers informed of specials and restaurant info, two commercial LG display panels show special info and menus as well as TV programming through digital signage software.

The installation includes a variety of indoor and outdoor speakers from JBL and SpeakerCraft with Niles and Crown amplification, all distributed through the ELAN system. Each audio and video zone can be controlled independently from the ELAN mobile app or a 7-inch ELAN touchscreen mounted behind the bar. To keep all the equipment running smoothly and reliably, van den Broek utilized the Panamax MB4315-Pro Power Manager to deliver clean, consistent and protected power.

Growing Bank Makes the Most of its Office Space With ELAN g! - Controlled Convertible Conference Room

As a company grows, its technology infrastructure can get complicated quickly. At Franklin Synergy Bank’s new headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, the company is taking steps to keep things simple, starting with its recent installation of an ELAN g! control system.

Working with local integrator Audio Video Elements, Franklin Synergy Bank was able to maximize its real estate by creating an AV system that works double duty in a convertible conference room with a retractable divider. Thanks to the ingenuity of the integrator and the flexibility of the ELAN g! system, the room’s AV system can be operated easily whether it is utilized as a single large conference room with one media presentation, or as two smaller rooms with separate audio and video for each room.

“Creating a single AV system that is easy to use in multiple configurations can be a challenge,” said Aaron Lawrence, owner of Audio video Elements, “but with the ELAN g! system nearly anything is possible. The final result is a multi-purpose room that converts from a large conference room with a singular AV system to two smaller rooms with two distinct AV systems, using all the same equipment and the same controls. Simplicity was extremely important for this project, and that extends all the way to the custom podium we designed that includes a 10-inch monitor so speakers can follow their presentations without having to turn around.” 

The room includes two identical projection systems with Optoma 1080p projectors and 132” motorized Draper projection screens that drop from the ceiling, along with six pairs of in-ceiling speakers and two Shure wireless microphones. Video can be displayed from permanently connected cable boxes, users’ laptops or a Blu-ray player. When the motorized divider is open, the full room can be controlled from a 7” ELAN touchpanel to the right of the projection screens, and when the divider is closed, that same touchpanel controls only the right side equipment, while a second 7” ELAN touchpanel adjacent to the left projection screen controls the left side equipment. Lawrence programmed the g! system so that this happens seamlessly, with no work required to switch between a single- or dual-room configuration. To add to the convertible nature of the room, the stage is hydraulic and can be lowered to ground level to increase floor space when required.

“We installed TVs and data infrastructure throughout the whole building, requiring more than 100 Cat5 runs, but the crown jewel is this conference room,” Lawrence said. “The versatility of this conference room will allow Franklin Synergy Bank to use it as they see fit, and to do so easily. Even though the technology is very advanced, it took less than 10 minutes to show employees how to use it.  That’s what’s so great about the ELAN g! system, that it can perform all these really powerful automation processes but is easy enough for a complete technophobe to operate.”

In addition to the ELAN touchpanels, several employees have access to the system through the ELAN g! mobile app on their smartphones. This way they can operate the system without getting up, if necessary. All of the equipment is housed is a separate room in a rack that is protected by a Panamax M4315PRO surge protector, ensuring smooth operation for years to come.

Camera Drones To Provide The Pro AV Industry With The Next Great Sales Opportunity

Dealers looking to capitalize on a $12-billion commercial sales opportunity that also promises to pull through additional sales of traditional AV and IT components should include camera drones into their 2015 product mix, according to Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. President & COO Kevin Kelly, who last week introduced the category to attendees of the 2014 Stampede Vendor Summit in Buffalo, New York.

“While drones are already a major success in markets around the world, the North American market presents the largest commercial sales opportunity in this new category. We believe that North American sales of camera drones are set to take off in 2015 as more and more vertical market end users come to realize the enormous benefits bring to their businesses,” Kelly said. “Over the next two years, as legislation is enacted to provide clarity to the marketplace, more companies in virtually every vertical market will utilize the exciting and convenient tools that camera drones have to offer.  Make no mistake about it.  Camera drones are no pie in the sky.  They represent a huge new opportunity for both our dealers and our manufacturer partners.  Camera drones can be sold to existing end user commercial customers and they will most definitely bring in new customers to the ProAV industry and that will benefit everyone.”

According to Kelly, camera drones are a strategic and cost-effective way to capture aerial photography in the form of digital video. The agricultural industry, for example, is an early adopter of drones to assist in their daily life. Camera drones offer farmers valuable data to determine irrigation needs and help plan harvesting. Covering expansive distances, camera drones enable the private use of technology on their own land. Collecting data via remote control saves the farmer time, as it essentially replaces the action of getting into a pick-up truck and traversing the land.

“The use of camera drones also proves to be more cost-effective overall, as farmers can more accurately determine the required levels and fertilizer use, eliminating waste,” Kelly added.

Beyond agricultural use, Kelly emphasized, first responders are also adopting drones as a means to monitor dangerous situations in real time. Law enforcement, local police, and firefighters will likely use aerial photography and cinematography to monitor potentially life-threatening situations like fires, floods, or traffic accidents. In case of a natural disaster, law enforcers may deploy multiple drones at once to assist in search-and-rescue initiatives. “This is a more effective way to search for missing people, or to warn others to stay away from dangerous areas,” Kelly said. “Drones promote immediate and ongoing awareness, so that first responders can safely and effectively monitor a situation.”

Educators are also adopting drones to enhance security efforts, Kelly asserts. For example, higher education facilities such as universities are purchasing multiple drones to act as an extension of their campus security systems. “Drones provide more accurate and widespread coverage, and will help security offers to keep University students safe,” Kelly said. “K-12 environments are bound to follow, maximizing the security in schools across the country.”

According to Kelly, once an end-user decides to purchase a camera drone, dealers have an opportunity to work with them on developing their content transmission and storage, along with the various monitors, drone pilot controls required to pilot the drone.

“It all adds up to selling a small, or large, command and control solution with every drone as well as video content editing and storage equipment,” Kelly emphasized. “With numerous camera, content transmission, and command and control options, dealers will have the opportunity to specify unique solutions that provide meaningful solutions to end-users and profits to the dealership.”

Core Brands Now Shipping the New Auriel Audio Controller

The Niles MRC-6430 simplifies whole home audio with an expandable six-source, six-zone audio controller running the new Niles Auriel™ software. 

Core Brands, a Nortek company (NASDAQ: NTK) and a leader in connected home entertainment, announced today it is now shipping the much anticipated Niles Auriel™ MRC-6430 whole-home audio controller. The next-generation, easy-to-install, and easier to enjoy MRC-6430 puts up to six distinct music sources at the user’s fingertips and lets them easily play different music in up to six rooms.

Powered by the new Niles Auriel software and app, the MRC-6430 is the first-in-its-class multi-room audio chassis that integrates multi-room audio and home theater control in a way that is both simple for the installer to set up and easy for the homeowner to enjoy. 

“We’re making multi-room audio simpler than ever to install and use,” Yann Connan, Core Brands’ Director, Audio Segment, said today. “The number one concern for buyers is that multi-room audio controllers are complicated, so we developed the Auriel software platform to show them just how accessible it can be. With any smartphone, tablet or computer running Auriel, users can quickly select what source they want to play and in which rooms they want it to play. Of course, we had the system integrators in mind as well, and have been getting great responses from those who have experienced the Auriel demo on the Core Brands Summer Tour. Auriel delivers the flexibility to include both IP and IR controlled devices, complete GUI generation and six routable IR outputs for external component control. Auriel is wizard-based to reduce installation and set-up time to a fraction of other multi-room systems.”

The Niles MRC-6430 multi-room audio controller delivers its amazing sound throughout the home using an intuitive user interface consistent across smartphones, tablets and personal computers. The MRC-6430 makes it possible to listen to any source, in any room, at any time – even if someone is already listening to something different in another room. This means mom and dad can relax with smooth jazz in the kitchen while guests enjoy classic rock in the living room and the kids sing along to top 40 hits in the backyard, and each group can change their own volume and skip tracks right from their smartphone.

Driven by Auriel and using TCP/IP, the MRC-6430 operates with virtually zero latency and is ready for future expansion into lighting control, remote management and HVAC control. That’s because Auriel is based on Core Brands’ ELAN Control Platform. Auriel leverages the ELAN g! interface to deliver its seamless control consistently across all interfaces. The advanced digital amplifier delivers 240 watts of total system power, 60 watts per zone. System configuration takes just minutes via a tablet, Windows or Mac computer, and each zone features its own bass, treble and volume setting that can be adjusted from the Auriel interface. 

The MRC-6430 can then be managed from a variety of mobile devices such as the iPhone®, iPad® and Android® phones & tablets to Windows® or Mac® computers. Users can not only control the audio but display metadata such as playlists and album art—even station information. The intuitive interface renders identically across devices enabling simple and convenient control by all.

The set-up is integrator-friendly. Through the Auriel wizard and a tablet or PC, the installer is whisked through simple decisions that quickly configure the system for sources, zone preferences, user interface customization & home theater control.  For larger homes, two MRC-6430s can be paired to create a six-source, 12-zone system. Additionally, all zones are equipped with fixed or variable pre-outs for all zones, making it easy to add power and volume with Niles System Integration Amplifiers®.  With an optional Niles DBI-2 interface, homeowners can also route their doorbell through the system, which temporarily mutes music so that the doorbell can be clearly heard in every room.

Once again, Niles has redefined whole-home audio with the Niles Auriel MRC-6430.