Systems Integration Asia – April-May 2018

Systems providing video coding format such as H.264-encoded
stream that are compliant with protocols such as RTSP/RTMP/HLS are
finding its way into HoW.

With more engaging in performing arts, HoW today are gradually
incorporang professional stage lighng systems, parcularly with
LED fixtures, moving heads and lighng controllers. Though this is
really nothing new in the entertainment industry, it is actually a very
major shi in HoW requirements where stage lighng is rarely
included or even considered previously.

What in general are the AV challenges faced in a Houses of Worship
integraon and installaon?

Challenges and issues are usually easier managed when working on
new worship venues, as structural, infrastructural and power
requirements for AV can be communicated and coordinated with the
building designers during the early stages. It's working on exisng or
old construcons that are more challenging, as many were designed
and built without any provisions or consideraons for integrang
modern AV systems. Can't really blame anyone there since
professional AV wasn't a thing in the past for most HoW. I had the
opportunity to work on several worship venues that are gazeed by
the authories as historical monuments where most parts of the
interior have to be preserved and le untouched. Requests for
appropriate installaon locaons and infrastructure routes are oen
turned down, so inevitably some design changes and performance
compromises have to be made. Cost may be affected as well. The
long RT60 mes oen associated with these spaces also remained as
a result of the preservaon, albeit the need for shorter reverberaon
when worship styles have transited from tradional to modern
contemporary.

Specific to the Singapore and Malaysia market, has there been a
significant increase in the demand for higher quality AV in the
segment? If so which areas is the demand mainly for - audio, video,
lighng, broadcasng?

There is a fair share of increased demand for higher quality between
audio and video. These stem from evolving HoW program needs as
well as what leaders and members get exposed to from elsewhere.
Consumers today enjoy high quality video in everyday life, from
entertainment centres to within their own homes on their UHD TVs,
and even on their personal mobile devices, so naturally similar high
quality is expected in HoW systems. HD is the bare minimum today,
with plans to go 4K. This leads to a need to upgrade video capture
and display devices, switchers, infrastructure, etc. LED video wall
which is seeing a steady rise in popularity and demand in HoW
installaons have also gone from pixel pitch P6 down to P4, and even
P2.5 for projects with bigger budgets. The use of mulple larger and
higher resoluon video displays is increasingly common, fuelled by
the implementaon of advanced song display soware, image
magnificaon (IMAG), and environmental projecon.

From the very same exposure, HoW are looking into improving the
sound experience for their worshippers. Loudspeakers, in my opinion,
can bring about a big improvement in sound quality when compared
to the other devices in the audio chain, so HoW seeking beer sound
oen first focus on upgrading their loudspeaker systems before
looking into the other audio equipment.

Though professional stage lighng systems have seen a steady rise in

HoW implementaon over the last 10 years, it However remains the

least in demand by comparison. Budget plays a big part as well, as

HoW with limited budget, or are more tradional in seng will

mainly channel their funds more towards audio and video systems

rather than on stage lighng.

What are some of the key criteria one has to consider when

designing and integrang AV soluons in Houses of Worship?

Every HoW project is unique. What works for one project space may

not work or apply for another, so we cannot simply apply what I call

“soluon templates”. Even when they belong to the same HoW

denominaon, differences in requirements, preferences and issues

abound.

There are just so many consideraons. We have to consider the hall

shape, size, structural issues, sight lines, availability of space,

acouscs, ambient lighng, infrastructure suitability, power

requirements, and so forth. For operaons, we have to consider the

user experience and skill level, type and style of programs they

support, HoW much flexibility in changes are needed between

programs, etc. For the decision makers (who oen may not be the AV

operators), we have to consider HoW the AV affects the hall

aesthecs, whether it pose maintenance issues, HoW it's future

proofed against growing requirements at least for the next 5 years,

worshippers' expectaons, and very importantly, cost.

Any other comment?

Perhaps if I may offer offer some advice to HoW who are embarking

on AV upgrading projects -

Ÿ Work on a realisc budget. A budget based on exisng systems

done 10-20 years ago is usually way below what is needed for AV

systems today, as requirements back then were much lesser and

simpler. In addion, manpower cost that has risen substanally

over the years. HoWs are encouraged to visit recent projects of

similar scale to get a more accurate gauge of costs involved.

Ÿ When it comes to selecng AV systems –

Ÿ Find that balance in matching equipment and system design

to the users' capabilies, capacity, HoW programs, etc.

Ÿ Do not be too quick to jump onto market trends and new

technology bandwagons, as they may not always be

suitable.

Ÿ Always ensure that the desired equipment have good

aersales support in your region.

Ÿ Engage an independent AV & acousc consultant from the very

start of the project. It can actually save you money and headache

from potenal mistakes. I stress on the term “independent”

because a true and objecve consultant has no vested interest in

specific products, manufacturers, whatsoever, otherwise a bias

soluon will not protect the sole interest of the client.

Ÿ Finally, invest in user training, so it should be factored into the

budget as well. Training should not only touch on basic

equipment operaon but also on developing creave skills,

understanding signal flow, troubleshoong techniques, prevenve

maintenance measures, etc. all which are extremely crical for

producve and effecve support for programs.

Robert Soo can be contacted at cogentacous[email protected]

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