A few months ago Studio Spectrum had the privilege of working with the team at KIPP LA Schools to provide them with AV design and installation services. After a few meetings, we heard the dreams that the staff and team at KIPP LA Schools had for their facility and most importantly, their students. Studio Spectrum was really excited to work together in achieving their goals. The KIPP LA team identified the need to support current technology in the realm of audio, video, and lighting in a few of their classrooms and in their performing arts center. KIPP LA schools shortly after, selected Studio Spectrum as their trusted audio, video, and lighting specialist to get the “dream” done!
Studio Spectrum’s goal was to provide a flexible and easy to use system. We included a Crestron touch screen control system that gave the user two main functions/modes: a “production mode” and a “presentation mode”. The “production mode” preset option is a manual mode for school performances. This mode enabled the user to use the Yamaha QL5 and Lighting control manually. The second mode was a “presentation mode” to allow teachers running power-point presentation with the use of projectors, screens, microphones, and additional input sources without use of additional operators. This was all powered by a Crestron control system – the solution to get the job done!
As many of you know, before providing the functionality and fulfilling the goals of a project, wiring different locations come with its challenges. In our case, we encountered fire breaks throughout the desired cable paths. Our solution was to install surface conduit in some locations and reroute cable paths in other locations to avoid fire breaks. We were able to complete the job with very little viewable surface conduit as a request of the client.
This leads us to another challenge we faced: mounting lights and projectors on a truss and dealing with limited ceiling height, space, and weight distribution, while ensuring no disruption to the audience’s view to the stage area. After some research and reviewing drawings, we found an area on a wall directly above the stage area that was structurally built to handle the weight of the truss and allotted us space to position the lights and projector out of the site of the audience.
Lastly, there was the mounting of the front zone speakers. The goal is always to mount speakers in front of the stage area or at least in front of the future talking heads on stage to avoid feedback, but in this situation we had to use the walls available to us which was to the side of the stage area. The solution to ensure no feedback from the microphone was to EQ and cut all of the problematic frequencies in the system.
Although, the equipment may have looked intimidating with buttons and lights everywhere, the client’s goals were now just “one button press away”. With a system that was user friendly, flexible, and enhanced the quality of their audio and video presentations and productions, Studio Spectrum was able to not only to support but enhance their current technology. For KIPP LA – “Dream Accomplished”!
Learn more about the products and services featured in this spotlight:
From elementary classrooms to college campuses, the right audio/video installation can take your learning environment to the next level.
From design of the system, project management, high quality installation services, training and follow up support…we are there every step of the way.
Crestron touch screens are fully-customizable with easy-to-use controls, live streaming video, and advanced navigation of digital media servers and other devices.
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