Video vs Audio
April 12, 2012
There is often a chill that runs up your spine when something is really well done. That happened for me the first time I heard the “THX chord” in a theater. It reinforced that audio gives us the emotion and
Focus on Technology: Audiovisual- A Quick-Start Guide to Video Conferencing Installation
December 1, 2011
Let’s assume you have just received the new video-conferencing-system-in-a-box that you ordered online from AcmeAV. The room it will be installed in is relatively small, seating 10 to 12 people. Before you start unpacking all those cables and reading that
Focus on Acoustics: An Update on the Design Impact of Acoustical Standards
December 1, 2011
At Thorburn Associates we keep an eye on many rating systems and standards that affect our work as acoustical consultants. These rating systems and standards are a way to help ensure that buildings will work for their intended purpose. The
The Elusive System Check Out
October 17, 2011
Increasingly, in both our home and work environments, we live in a world of automation. And, accordingly, our demands have risen just beyond the limits of reasonable expedemands ctation. Is it any wonder, then, that we frequently hear “What do
Focus on Lighting: Taking Control of Architectural Lighting
October 1, 2011
Architectural lighting should be designed to complement your needs and as your needs change throughout the day, your lighting should adapt accordingly. Lighting controls are the answer. Several options are available to help make your environment and your life more
Product Review: Printable Acoustic Cloth
December 1, 2010
Sometimes it seems like acoustics and aesthetics are at odds with one another. But some companies, such as Whisper Walls® are trying to bridge the gap. The company’s WhisperArt product offers varying sizes of sound-dampening panels with the ability to
Project Profile: Forsyth Detention Center Surveillance System
December 1, 2010
Since 1996 the Forsyth County Detention Center in North Carolina relied on eight cameras to help monitor the 800 detainees contained within eleven housing units. The system, while functional, only covered the most critical of areas. For example, the intake
Product Review: Christie MicroTiles™
October 1, 2010
Christie’s new MicroTiles may become the new standard in video walls. Unveiled over the last year at various trade shows and events, MicroTiles are small display units measuring roughly 12 inches x 16 inches x 10 inches. Each weighs about
Project Profile: Campbell University’s John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center
October 1, 2010
Students at Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, NC, were used to playing basketball in the cramped Carter Gym on campus, which held just shy of 1,000 spectators. In 2008, however, the school announced plans to build a new athletic
Focus on Technology: Visual Presentation Spaces, Part II Gauging Height, Width and Depth
October 1, 2010
Designing presentation facilities can be challenging, yet the basic principles are not difficult. In a previous blog post, we looked at how to determine the screen size for a presentation facility, taking into account the 4-6-8 rule that dictates the