6 Pop Songs Great for Audio Demos
Worst DIY Installs Ever Part 7
10 Must-Have Products for Your Next Install
6 Amazing High-End Home TheatersAll Blog Entries
Friday, March 30, 2012
By Arlen Schweiger
We always hear about how remote monitoring is great for being able to make sure your kids get home safely from school, because you can check camera footage or unlock doors for them via smartphones.
But if your clients have teenagers, you can sell them on remote monitoring by sharing the story of David Rowe. He used an energy monitoring app to find out his daughter was throwing a New Year's Eve party at their house when it was supposed to be vacant for the night.
Rowe, an Australian who's in the telco business and shares thoughts on technology and sustainable energy on his blog, recently posted about the New Year's Eve experience (via The Atlantic). It could easily be a scene straight out of an '80s movie, only updated for the 2010s.
Rowe was out of town and his kids were staying away from home somewhere else in their hometown of Adelaide. The self-proclaimed "power-geek" wanted to check on how the 100-degree weather was affecting the power consumption back home that day.
Using the Flukso metering app on his Android phone, Rowe noticed a spike that roughly corresponded with the usual wattage consumed by his air conditioner, which was not turned…
But if your clients have teenagers, you can sell them on remote monitoring by sharing the story of David Rowe. He used an energy monitoring app to find out his daughter was throwing a New Year's Eve party at their house when it was supposed to be vacant for the night.
Rowe, an Australian who's in the telco business and shares thoughts on technology and sustainable energy on his blog, recently posted about the New Year's Eve experience (via The Atlantic). It could easily be a scene straight out of an '80s movie, only updated for the 2010s.
Rowe was out of town and his kids were staying away from home somewhere else in their hometown of Adelaide. The self-proclaimed "power-geek" wanted to check on how the 100-degree weather was affecting the power consumption back home that day.
Using the Flukso metering app on his Android phone, Rowe noticed a spike that roughly corresponded with the usual wattage consumed by his air conditioner, which was not turned…
Posted by Arlen Schweiger on 03/30 at 04:56 AM
Blogs, Home Automation and Control, Energy Management, (0) Comments, Permalink
Blogs, Home Automation and Control, Energy Management, (0) Comments, Permalink
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Paul Gilbert is one of the world’s best guitar players. But after years of exposing his hearing to dangerously high volume levels, he suffers from hearing loss. Gilbert’s message, which can be applied to installers, is to protect your hearing when exposed to high volume levels.
By Robert Archer
I recently wondered what happened to the loud home theaters that once seemed like the face of the custom installation market.
Reading a recent column in Premier Guitar written by well-respected guitar player Paul Gilbert, I realized there’s another side to the massive amount of volume these mega home theaters produce, and it isn’t good.
Gilbert openly discusses the hearing loss he now suffers from after years of listening to his walls of Marshall Amplifiers cranked to 11.
Half jokingly, he recommends a few things:
A good audio system can achieve a high level of volume and those volumes can be sneaky loud with content like movies or a favorite music playlist. With headphones and an iPhone, iPod or iPad, it’s also easy to play music…
Reading a recent column in Premier Guitar written by well-respected guitar player Paul Gilbert, I realized there’s another side to the massive amount of volume these mega home theaters produce, and it isn’t good.
Gilbert openly discusses the hearing loss he now suffers from after years of listening to his walls of Marshall Amplifiers cranked to 11.
Half jokingly, he recommends a few things:
- Don’t put your ears up against some 4x12 guitar cabinets over long periods of time
- Don’t listen to Rush with your headphones cranked up every night
- Don’t listen to your car stereo full blast every time you take a drive
- Don’t record and mix in a home studio if the room has not been designed for audio playback
- Musicians shouldn’t try to be Mr. Cool by not protecting their ears in situations such as live shows or anywhere else music is loud
A good audio system can achieve a high level of volume and those volumes can be sneaky loud with content like movies or a favorite music playlist. With headphones and an iPhone, iPod or iPad, it’s also easy to play music…
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
You don’t have to be an audio expert to enjoy the benefits of a loudspeaker, such as this Wilson Audio Alexandria.
By Robert Archer
Dealers, manufacturers and everyone in the consumer audio market have generally appreciated the passion of audiophiles. But there is another side to this unabashed enthusiasm: the elitist attitude and lack of respect sometimes directed towards product designers and recording engineers.
This is hindering the growth of the audio market, and it couldn’t come at a worse time as consumer audio continues to transition to a world of convenience with downloads, portable devices and streaming services.
Vinyl is making a huge comeback, but its sales are minor compared to downloads, and the idea of sitting down and taking the time to spin records is too consuming for most people who are busy with kids, work and everything else life throws at them.
Audiophiles, with their passion, could act as spokespeople for the category. But instead of discussing the enjoyment that can be derived from listening to great music on quality components, they often spout off about the minutia of system tweaks and the quality of recordings.
The criticism of product designers is subtle, but comments like this on the quality of architectural speakers sums up their attitude: “In wall speakers are for those people who don't listen to MUSIC.”
The barbs towards musicians and recording engineers are much more pointed. Here’s a response to a Facebook post that talked about the quality of a particular recording: “You couldn't…
This is hindering the growth of the audio market, and it couldn’t come at a worse time as consumer audio continues to transition to a world of convenience with downloads, portable devices and streaming services.
Vinyl is making a huge comeback, but its sales are minor compared to downloads, and the idea of sitting down and taking the time to spin records is too consuming for most people who are busy with kids, work and everything else life throws at them.
Audiophiles, with their passion, could act as spokespeople for the category. But instead of discussing the enjoyment that can be derived from listening to great music on quality components, they often spout off about the minutia of system tweaks and the quality of recordings.
The criticism of product designers is subtle, but comments like this on the quality of architectural speakers sums up their attitude: “In wall speakers are for those people who don't listen to MUSIC.”
The barbs towards musicians and recording engineers are much more pointed. Here’s a response to a Facebook post that talked about the quality of a particular recording: “You couldn't…
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Tri-Phase Technologies’ owners Robert and Shanna Haecker, inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Joseph Hilliard
By Arlen Schweiger
Dear Indianapolis Colts fans: Sorry, our bad.
Here at CE Pro we would never want to be accused of a Sports Illustrated-like cover jinx by which a company we profile hits a rough patch soon thereafter. But we’re all sports nuts at the office, and jinxing a team rather than an integrator is fair game.
However, we can’t help but feel sorry for Indianapolis Colts fans after we jinxed them into a near-winless season and now the departure of the franchise’s savior, Peyton Manning.
It started out innocently enough. The CEDIA Expo was returning to Indianapolis last September after a five-year absence and we wanted to mark its return by profiling a local integrator for our September issue cover.
For those who may not know, we put together our editorial coverage a month to six weeks ahead of an issue’s printing. That’s just how it works so there’s enough time to have magazines print and ship … and obviously things can happen in the interim.
Like Manning injuring his neck and sitting out the 2011-12 season for the Colts (and we are glad to see him throwing the ball again).
How could I have predicted that when I wrote about consistently successful integration firm Tri-Phase Technologies of suburban Carmel, Ind., and kicked off the article with the analogy to the Colts’ run of success.
Both “franchises” started taking off around the same time in the late 1990s (when Manning was fresh…
Here at CE Pro we would never want to be accused of a Sports Illustrated-like cover jinx by which a company we profile hits a rough patch soon thereafter. But we’re all sports nuts at the office, and jinxing a team rather than an integrator is fair game.
However, we can’t help but feel sorry for Indianapolis Colts fans after we jinxed them into a near-winless season and now the departure of the franchise’s savior, Peyton Manning.
It started out innocently enough. The CEDIA Expo was returning to Indianapolis last September after a five-year absence and we wanted to mark its return by profiling a local integrator for our September issue cover.
For those who may not know, we put together our editorial coverage a month to six weeks ahead of an issue’s printing. That’s just how it works so there’s enough time to have magazines print and ship … and obviously things can happen in the interim.
Like Manning injuring his neck and sitting out the 2011-12 season for the Colts (and we are glad to see him throwing the ball again).
How could I have predicted that when I wrote about consistently successful integration firm Tri-Phase Technologies of suburban Carmel, Ind., and kicked off the article with the analogy to the Colts’ run of success.
Both “franchises” started taking off around the same time in the late 1990s (when Manning was fresh…
CEA’s Gary Shapiro hearts Mitt Romney (Image: Consumer Electronics Association)
By Julie Jacobson
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, hasn’t exactly “endorsed” Mitt Romney for president, but he’s a gushing supporter, CNNMoney reports.
It’s no surprise Shapiro, an advocate for free markets and limited government, is supporting a Republican and fiscal conservative, especially one that is remotely tolerable to social liberals.
Shapiro’s book The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream, is critical towards modern-day Democratic-inspired policy.
In 2008, Shapiro and HP chief Meg Whitman launched a campaign called Tech Executives for Romney. That's the same year Shapiro bashed Lou Dobbs in a free-trade debate on CNN. Last month Shapiro hosted Romney at a CEA breakfast for tech CEOs, “introducing him glowingly before he spoke," CNN notes:
It’s no surprise Shapiro, an advocate for free markets and limited government, is supporting a Republican and fiscal conservative, especially one that is remotely tolerable to social liberals.
Shapiro’s book The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream, is critical towards modern-day Democratic-inspired policy.
In 2008, Shapiro and HP chief Meg Whitman launched a campaign called Tech Executives for Romney. That's the same year Shapiro bashed Lou Dobbs in a free-trade debate on CNN. Last month Shapiro hosted Romney at a CEA breakfast for tech CEOs, “introducing him glowingly before he spoke," CNN notes:
"He's the only business candidate," says Shapiro, ticking off reasons he thinks every other candidate will not grow an economy based on innovation. "I would guess about 90% of CEOs in America, in the tech industry, would support him," says Shapiro. "The ones that wouldn't are disagreeing maybe on social issues." …
Shapiro says Romney has the pulse of the tech industry. "CEOs can't say what they want because they have to worry about their customers," he says. "I find it amazing that no other association head is willing to stand up and say these things."
If you can read this, you’re not 46 years old.
By Julie Jacobson
Recently, I called Apple for a quick tech-support question on the iPad. They asked me for the serial number.
Where do I find that? I asked. On the flip side of the iPad.
So I flipped the iPad over and told the helpmate there were no numbers on the back.
To that, he said: It’s right at the bottom, very small.
Small?! Try infinitesimal. I’m 46 years old and still in denial about it so I typically don’t have cheater glasses or a magnifying glass close at hand. There was no way I could read that tiny number. It's not like the product didn't have enough real estate to imprint a readable number.
Fortunately, I didn’t need it for the simple question I had.
Now I need the MAC address on the back of the cable modem Time Warner Cable just installed (that’s a whole other story …). I’m not at the premises, so I asked my husband to read off the number.
No can do. The number is too small.
What is wrong with you product designers? We’re not getting any younger.
Read more "Slow News Day" stories on CEPro.com
Where do I find that? I asked. On the flip side of the iPad.
So I flipped the iPad over and told the helpmate there were no numbers on the back.
To that, he said: It’s right at the bottom, very small.
Small?! Try infinitesimal. I’m 46 years old and still in denial about it so I typically don’t have cheater glasses or a magnifying glass close at hand. There was no way I could read that tiny number. It's not like the product didn't have enough real estate to imprint a readable number.
Fortunately, I didn’t need it for the simple question I had.
Now I need the MAC address on the back of the cable modem Time Warner Cable just installed (that’s a whole other story …). I’m not at the premises, so I asked my husband to read off the number.
No can do. The number is too small.
What is wrong with you product designers? We’re not getting any younger.
Read more "Slow News Day" stories on CEPro.com
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
A boy with autism “speaks” during bar mitzvah with the help of an iPad. (Photo: Boston Globe)
By Julie Jacobson
A friend in the industry tells me of a home-control system he installed for an individual in the early stages of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Naturally, it reminded me of the story we did last year on the amazing ways technology is helping 20 Boston-area residents in the late stages of ALS and MS.
In the most recent case, the integrator wished the client would have recorded his voice when he still had it, in preparation for text-to-speech.
“Things move so fast,” he says. “I got involved when he [the client] was already having a hard time speaking clearly and we missed the opportunity to get his natural voice digitally recorded to get ready for text-to-talk.”
He adds that the client “put it off because it became a landmark on a scary journey that he desperately didn’t want to see.”
RELATED: Home Automation Brings Dignity, Independence to Residents with ALS
It reminded me of this excellent article in a recent issue of the Boston Globe: iPad gives boy a voice at his bar mitzvah.
Here, a young man with autism who utters only a few simple words like “mama” and “dada” was able to lend his personality to a bar mitzvah in which he pressed buttons on an iPad to initiate spoken words.
It’s a marvel! Are you using technology to its fullest?
Naturally, it reminded me of the story we did last year on the amazing ways technology is helping 20 Boston-area residents in the late stages of ALS and MS.
In the most recent case, the integrator wished the client would have recorded his voice when he still had it, in preparation for text-to-speech.
“Things move so fast,” he says. “I got involved when he [the client] was already having a hard time speaking clearly and we missed the opportunity to get his natural voice digitally recorded to get ready for text-to-talk.”
He adds that the client “put it off because it became a landmark on a scary journey that he desperately didn’t want to see.”
RELATED: Home Automation Brings Dignity, Independence to Residents with ALS
It reminded me of this excellent article in a recent issue of the Boston Globe: iPad gives boy a voice at his bar mitzvah.
Here, a young man with autism who utters only a few simple words like “mama” and “dada” was able to lend his personality to a bar mitzvah in which he pressed buttons on an iPad to initiate spoken words.
It’s a marvel! Are you using technology to its fullest?
Monday, March 05, 2012
By Jason Knott
There is no denying that integrators love to sell high-performance audio, but why doesn’t the same level of passion exist for high-end video?
The way I see it, there are two primary reasons for the difference. First, many dealers are former musicians who played in bands, mixed music and partook in other audiophile-like pursuits. So, logically, their love of music is paramount and thus audio selling takes priority.
Second, there are still tremendous margins to be had when reselling audio components and speakers. It’s not uncommon to hear about dealers upselling clients into a pair of $30,000 or even $100,000 floorstanding speakers that offer a mood-altering experience to 2-channel listening and home theater viewing. It makes sense for integrators to gravitate to these audio product lines that still offer the opportunity to earn huge markup dollars.
But just like in the audio category, there are heavyweight projectors on the market from $50,000 to $200,000 that bring clients an incredible viewing experience. Those same high-end units offer strong markup potential that make them just as profitable as audio equipment with high markup. Yet, you rarely hear the same upselling success stories on the video side of the business. Luxury video seems to be the redheaded stepchild when compared to high-performance audio. Why?
The way I see it, there are two primary reasons for the difference. First, many dealers are former musicians who played in bands, mixed music and partook in other audiophile-like pursuits. So, logically, their love of music is paramount and thus audio selling takes priority.
Second, there are still tremendous margins to be had when reselling audio components and speakers. It’s not uncommon to hear about dealers upselling clients into a pair of $30,000 or even $100,000 floorstanding speakers that offer a mood-altering experience to 2-channel listening and home theater viewing. It makes sense for integrators to gravitate to these audio product lines that still offer the opportunity to earn huge markup dollars.
But just like in the audio category, there are heavyweight projectors on the market from $50,000 to $200,000 that bring clients an incredible viewing experience. Those same high-end units offer strong markup potential that make them just as profitable as audio equipment with high markup. Yet, you rarely hear the same upselling success stories on the video side of the business. Luxury video seems to be the redheaded stepchild when compared to high-performance audio. Why?
How to Sell Luxury High-Performance Video
This free one-hour webinar will teach you how to implement a top-down, good/better/best or bottom-up sales technique for high-performance video. Also learn how to resurrect the art of the video demo with specific demo material to use. Download webinar
Is it because most dealers…
This free one-hour webinar will teach you how to implement a top-down, good/better/best or bottom-up sales technique for high-performance video. Also learn how to resurrect the art of the video demo with specific demo material to use. Download webinar
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
It wasn’t always this way. Check out the slideshow below on my retrofit from hell about seven years ago.
By Julie Jacobson
Oh what fun it is to mock structured wiring cabinets, equipment racks and entertainment centers that have lost their way!
But I’m willing to bet that half of CE Pros have wiring demons in their own closets.
Take mine, for example. The structured wiring was pristine when my integrator installed it six years ago.
The A/V rack was gorgeous, too, with everything beautifully labeled and organized and … working.
Since then, though, I’ve swapped out equipment, rearranged some things, completely shut down components, and switched from POTS to cable telephone, then to VoIP, then back to POTS.
I still have a 400-disc Sony CD changer and Escient TuneBase Pro MK-1 music management system occupying 9 rack spaces. I unplugged the whole rack a few years ago.
Now I’m moving across the country. My original Crestron integrator Drew Wiatrak from Sensation Design Group is the happy recipient of my nine-year-old home automation gear that occupies another 20 or so rack spaces. He has a charitable cause that he’s working on.
SnapAV is filling the gaps in my rack with shelves and drawers and blanks.
RELATED: Julie Jacobson’s Install: The Retrofit from Hell
Local security and home automation integrator Webco will be cleaning up the mess I’ve made of my structured wiring. The technician assures me it’s not as bad as it looks. At least everything is labeled.
Meanwhile,…
But I’m willing to bet that half of CE Pros have wiring demons in their own closets.
Take mine, for example. The structured wiring was pristine when my integrator installed it six years ago.
The A/V rack was gorgeous, too, with everything beautifully labeled and organized and … working.
Since then, though, I’ve swapped out equipment, rearranged some things, completely shut down components, and switched from POTS to cable telephone, then to VoIP, then back to POTS.
I still have a 400-disc Sony CD changer and Escient TuneBase Pro MK-1 music management system occupying 9 rack spaces. I unplugged the whole rack a few years ago.
Now I’m moving across the country. My original Crestron integrator Drew Wiatrak from Sensation Design Group is the happy recipient of my nine-year-old home automation gear that occupies another 20 or so rack spaces. He has a charitable cause that he’s working on.
SnapAV is filling the gaps in my rack with shelves and drawers and blanks.
RELATED: Julie Jacobson’s Install: The Retrofit from Hell
Local security and home automation integrator Webco will be cleaning up the mess I’ve made of my structured wiring. The technician assures me it’s not as bad as it looks. At least everything is labeled.
Meanwhile,…
Posted by Julie Jacobson on 02/29 at 06:28 AM
News, Blogs, Additional, Neat-O!, Wire and Cable, Structured Wiring, (6) Comments, Permalink
News, Blogs, Additional, Neat-O!, Wire and Cable, Structured Wiring, (6) Comments, Permalink
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Apple’s Mastered for iTunes allegedly replicates a CD quality level digital audio file. But British mastering engineer Ian Shepherd says it doesn’t.
By Robert Archer
Since the rumors of Apple’s interest in high resolution audio downloads first surfaced in late 2011, a growing number of people have become interested in the topic.
Apple very quietly bypassed the music industry record labels' participation in any such high-resolution download project by launching its Mastered for iTunes initiative.
A number of tech-enthusiast websites did notice the launch of the initiative however and shortly thereafter started to report on this potentially huge music development.
In response, members of the music recording industry have begun to look at Mastered for iTunes to see if it holds any true potential to solve the problem of low-resolution files overshadowing better quality products. Bobby Owsinski, a L.A.-based recording engineer recently outlined the professional music community factions that pit those who believe a separate master file must be used for iTunes versus those who feel the status quo is just fine.
Owsinski also outlines Apple’s mastering guideline recommendations that include:
Apple very quietly bypassed the music industry record labels' participation in any such high-resolution download project by launching its Mastered for iTunes initiative.
A number of tech-enthusiast websites did notice the launch of the initiative however and shortly thereafter started to report on this potentially huge music development.
In response, members of the music recording industry have begun to look at Mastered for iTunes to see if it holds any true potential to solve the problem of low-resolution files overshadowing better quality products. Bobby Owsinski, a L.A.-based recording engineer recently outlined the professional music community factions that pit those who believe a separate master file must be used for iTunes versus those who feel the status quo is just fine.
Owsinski also outlines Apple’s mastering guideline recommendations that include:
- Always use the highest resolution file available (24-bit/96kHz, if it’s available)
- Apple recommends to mastering engineers not to compress a track. Owsinski says there’s a feature called Sound Check in iTunes that lets users hear all of their music files at the same level. He says a highly compressed track will actually sound less impactful because of the Sound Check technology.
- Moving beyond some of the technical aspects of mastering he adds that compressing is becoming less relevant because file storage is becoming less of an issue for consumers. This is why…
Posted by Robert Archer on 02/28 at 08:13 AM
Blogs, Audio, Video, Digital Media, (21) Comments, Permalink
Blogs, Audio, Video, Digital Media, (21) Comments, Permalink
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