Control System Integrators

What Role do Control Systems Play in an AV Setup?

Control systems are the brains of the operation, linking components together and ensuring they operate within configured parameters.

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Versatile Control System Installation for Any Environment

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Elevate Your Video Calls

Streamline AV equipment, ensuring seamless presentations and interactive learning experiences.

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Corporate Environments

Enhance communication, making meetings and presentations more efficient and engaging.

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Auditoriums

Orchestrate immersive audio and visuals, transforming events into memorable experiences.

What Are Some of the Best Control Systems Available?

Among control system manufacturers on the market, these are some of the most respected:

Creston monitors set up in a control center — Crestron is the control king of the AV industry. It has the most expansive control system product lineup around, including both control interfaces and processors. Take the CP4, CP4N and newest VC-4 control system, for example. Its feature list is exhaustive and impossible to put in a single page, but there are some highlights. For one, the CP3 is built on IP technology, so it offers superior networking capabilities. Its high-speed Ethernet connectivity means IP-controllable devices can be easily integrated into the control system. Crestron's XPanel feature also leverages this connectivity, allowing users to turn any laptop or desktop into a Crestron touchscreen for device control purposes.

Control system integration is scaled up further with the Crestron XiO Cloud. Once in the cloud, Crestron control systems can be remotely managed, allowing users to schedule, monitor and control entire rooms from a single location.

Perhaps most impressive, Crestron control systems are designed with a modular programming architecture, allowing tech personnel to run device-specific programs for various room features, including security, lighting and the like. Each program's function is optimized, and each program can be modified without affecting any other. As a result, it's extremely simple to upgrade and scale up Crestron control systems.

A control room set up with Extron control systems — Extron is another manufacturer of control systems, and like Crestron, it develops both control processors and interfaces. Though Extron's control processors are an excellent choice for many AV applications, its control interfaces are particularly impressive.

The IP Link Pro series is its standout touchscreen control product, and the TLP 1725MG or TG is a favorite among AV professionals. It's one of the largest touchscreen control interfaces on the market, with a 17-inch build and the ability to output 1920x1080 resolution. It can be wall-mounted or on a tabletop, and it's an edge-to-edge touchscreen, so maximum screen real estate is available for control purposes.

It offers video preview inputs at high definition and can take HDCP-compliant video from Extron XTP devices and HDMI. The TLP 1725MG is powered and networked using a single Ethernet cable and is easy to network using standard infrastructure. It is intended for use with component-heavy AV solutions and can take on a range of sources with little burden. Its sleek design and aesthetic mean it can blend into any setting while providing a professional, sophisticated look.

A large amount of monitors mounted on the wall of a control center — The AMX brand is under the Harman label, and both are major names in the A/V industry. AMX is one of Harman's most prolific brands and is particularly accomplished in device control and management.

AMX manufactures a complete line of control system processors, prioritizing scalability and security in a compact package. Among its control system processors, the NX-4200 merits close attention, as it is laden with plenty of features. It is a versatile piece of control equipment, suitable for education, professional and government applications.

The NX-4200 is designed with a flexible architecture that allows for future upgrading and is designed around IP. Further, the NX-4200 is built with a redundant power source for additional reliability and extra security features. One of those security features is cryptographic support, adhering to FIPS 140-2, a government computing security standard developed for protecting sensitive data. Unsurprisingly, this makes AMX control systems ideal for applications that demand maximum protection from possible intrusion.

The Key Role of Control System Installation in AV Solutions

Control systems are essential for AV solutions, improving operations, enhancing user experience, and boosting reliability across industries.

Linking components
Remote management
Seamless operation
Simple user interface
Enhanced user experience
Energy efficient

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Extron logo

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Aviall Achieves Seamless Training Excellence

Aviall, a prominent multinational aerospace manufacturing company, faced the challenge of outfitting a versatile training room that demanded quick and easy configuration for various purposes. The result? An accessible and seamlessly controlled training environment, empowering Aviall to effortlessly deliver high-quality, on-the-fly training materials across diverse subjects.

Read the Aviall Case Study Here

Components of an AV Control System

Control systems consist of a couple of components. The primary component is the control system box, which contains a processor and numerous ports and indicator lights, allowing for a quick status check. Though this component is the system's engine, it isn't something that most people will interact with. In fact, it should only be handled by a knowledgeable professional. What users will interact with is the control system's interface, which usually comes in the form of a touch screen, though it can also be a set of switches. The touch screen is placed in an area that is easily accessible, often mounted to the wall or installed on a desk.

Control system interfaces are extremely flexible and designed to fit into any setting. In a meeting room, a classroom, a lecture hall, a performance hall, or a council chamber, control system interfaces can be effective and intuitive even while remaining unobtrusive.

Control System Installation for Seamless AV Solutions

As control systems are sophisticated pieces of AV technology, there are only a few manufacturers that design and develop them. These are AV specialists who are well-known among integrators for their reliable and flexible technologies.

The swift rise of integrated AV solutions now demands the use of effective control systems. Even the most established companies in the space have only been designing control systems for a few decades. But though the technology may be relatively new, it's still reliable and easy to use.

Control systems are the lynchpin of any AV solution, so they should be prioritized when setting up AV components. Given their importance and intricate involvement with the network, it is highly recommended that a trusted AV integrator assist with both the selection and installation.

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