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CASE STUDY: education CUNY Biamp Systems Beaverton, Oregon, USA www.biamp.com +1 503.641.7287 INTEGRATOR Working with Demetrios Iliou, CUNY Operations Manager, Information Technology Department, Monte Brothers co-directors Steve Minozzi and Bob Pelepako doubled the number of tabletop microphones – from 80 to 159. Each student now has access to his/her own microphone, providing a more comfortable learning environment for student and teacher alike. The change from analog to digital processing, using Biamp’s ® AudiaFLEX Digital Signal Platform, solved even more problems – from installation to maintenance and classroom control. For example, to shut off the table mics with the old system, the professor had to hit every mic button on a big analog panel. Even then, the students could override the system. Now, one “Table Mics Off” button on a simple panel controls power and access. Thanks to Audia digital signal processing and Audia software, maintenance and support are much faster and simpler. Changes can be made quickly without a long shutdown of the system – quite an advantage since the room is in use from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The microphones are laid out in zones, using AudiaEXPI units with CobraNet ® and 8 inputs per unit. If one unit goes down, the maintenance technician can disconnect the lines to the other inputs. Audia software will calibrate the system so that the professors’ mics and line level inputs still work. Any problems can be isolated and resolved. The system’s users are assured that key microphones will be working in less than half an hour. The Audia-based digital system also eliminates the old system’s plethora of cables, saving the crew time and hassles. The new digital system is as simple as having “a red cable, a blue cable and a green cable.” SOLUTION CHALLENGE Upgrade the once state-of-the-art sound system Monte Brothers had originally installed in 1991 in the main lecture hall of the City University of New York Law School at Queens College in Flushing, New York. Goal: improve intelligibility and ease of use while reducing maintenance downtime. Not only was the 10-year-old analog system becoming difficult to hear, but the 80 microphones originally installed averaged only one microphone per two students – a ratio that translated into usability problems. When students engaged in classroom discussion, they had to share the mics and often wouldn’t be heard, especially if two talked at once. Even worse, the analog installation had countered the feedback issue by putting very tight gates on the microphones. Students had to lean uncomfortably close to get their mouths within two or three inches of their microphone. And if students’ voices were too high-end, they might not be heard no matter how close they got. Monte Bros. Sound Systems, Inc. Headquartered in Dobbs Ferry, New York, the firm has over 30 years of experience specializing in the design and installation of high quality sound systems in worship spaces and other challenging environments. “This is a classic example of analog versus digital. Even people who are happy with their high-grade analog systems can hear the difference. Audia ® DSP cleans up the whole system.” - STEVE MINOZZI, MONTE BROTHERS, CO-DIRECTOR CUNY SCHOOL Of LAw GOES DIGITAL wITH A NEw LECTURE HALL AUDIO SYSTEm fROm mONTE BROTHERS. CUNY SCHOOL Of LAw AT QUEENS COLLEGE IN fLUSHING, NY.

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Page 1: CUNYc353616.r16.cf1.rackcdn.com/CUNY_Law_Article.pdfCUNY Biamp Systems Beaverton, Oregon, USA +1 503.641.7287 INTEGRATOR Working with Demetrios Iliou, CUNY Operations Manager, Information

CASE STUDY: education

CUNY

Biamp Systems Beaver ton , Oregon , USA w w w. b iamp.com +1 503 .6 41 .7287

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Working with Demetrios Iliou, CUNY Operations Manager, Information Technology Department,

Monte Brothers co-directors Steve Minozzi and Bob Pelepako doubled the number of tabletop microphones – from 80 to 159. Each student now has access to his/her own microphone, providing a more comfortable learning environment for student and teacher alike.

The change from analog to digital processing, using Biamp’s® AudiaFLEX Digital Signal Platform, solved even more problems – from installation to maintenance and classroom control.

For example, to shut off the table mics with the old system, the professor had to hit every mic button on a big analog panel. Even then, the students could override the system. Now, one “Table Mics Off” button on a simple panel controls power and access.

Thanks to Audia digital signal processing and Audia software, maintenance and support are much faster and simpler. Changes can be made quickly without a long shutdown of the system – quite an advantage since the room is in use from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The microphones are laid out in zones,

using AudiaEXPI units with CobraNet® and 8 inputs per unit. If one unit goes down, the maintenance technician can disconnect the lines to the other inputs. Audia software will calibrate the system so that the professors’ mics and line level inputs still work. Any problems can be isolated and resolved. The system’s users are assured that key microphones will be working in less than half an hour.

The Audia-based digital system also eliminates the old system’s plethora of cables, saving the crew time and hassles. The new digital system is as simple as having “a red cable, a blue cable and a green cable.”

SOLUTION

CHALLENGE

Upgrade the once state-of-the-art sound system Monte Brothers had originally installed in 1991 in the main lecture hall of the City University of New York Law School at Queens College in Flushing, New York. Goal: improve intelligibility and ease of use while reducing maintenance downtime.

Not only was the 10-year-old analog system becoming difficult to hear, but the 80 microphones originally installed averaged only one microphone per two students – a ratio that translated into usability problems. When students engaged in classroom discussion, they had to share the mics and often wouldn’t be heard, especially if two talked at once. Even worse, the analog installation had countered the feedback issue by putting very tight gates on the microphones. Students had to lean uncomfortably close to get their mouths within two or three inches of their microphone. And if students’ voices were too high-end, they might not be heard no matter how close they got.

Monte Bros. Sound Systems, Inc. Headquartered in Dobbs Ferry, New York, the firm has over

30 years of experience specializing in the design and installation of high quality

sound systems in worship spaces and other challenging environments.

“This is a classic example of analog versus digital. Even people who are happy with their high-grade analog systems can hear the difference. Audia® DSP cleans up the whole system.”

- STEVE MINOZZI, MONTE BROTHERS, CO-DIRECTOR

CUNY SCHOOL Of LAw GOES DIGITAL wITH A NEw LECTURE HALL AUDIO SYSTEm fROm mONTE BROTHERS.

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Page 2: CUNYc353616.r16.cf1.rackcdn.com/CUNY_Law_Article.pdfCUNY Biamp Systems Beaverton, Oregon, USA +1 503.641.7287 INTEGRATOR Working with Demetrios Iliou, CUNY Operations Manager, Information

Biamp Systems Beaver ton , Oregon , USA w w w. b iamp.com +1 503 .6 41 .7287

www.b iamp.com

CUNYCASE STUDY: education

CONCLUSIONS

The Audia-based networked media system is more efficient to install, operate and maintain. Monte Brothers and CUNY School of Law save time and resources. The system also simplifies classroom control and improves audio quality and ease of use. The result is a more efficient learning environment – and more profitable installation.

Monte Brothers upgraded the mics to Audio-Technica ES905/H hypercardioid condenser rigid-pipe

microphones. A combination of Audio-Technica‘s ESW-T214 wireless handheld microphones and AT899cW

lavaliere mics cover the professors as they move across the large blackboard at the front of the hall.

SYSTEm SPECIfICS

“With the power of Audia DSP, maintenance is so much faster. If there’s a problem with some of the mics, we can disconnect the lines to the inputs… The professors’ mics will still work, while we quickly resolve the situation.”

- STEVE MINOZZI, CO-DIRECTOR AT MONTE BROTHERS

SYSTEm COmPONENTS

AUDIA® SOfTwARE

1 AudiaFLEX unit

AudiaEXPI units with CobraNet® and 8 inputs per unit

159 Audia-Technica ES905/H hypercardioid condenser rigid- pipe mics

Audio-Technica ESW-T214 wireless handheld mics and AT899cW lavaliere mics