Show Reports

Many audio manufacturers and suppliers will lead you to believe that ‘A/V’ when applied to a trade show stands for All Video. Indeed, an audiovisual get together normally confirms that the A part is the poorer relation to the grander and somewhat ostentatious V. The screens, projectors, digital signage, switchers and control elements at a trade show mirror the bill of quantities tendered in houses of worship, convention centres, airports and hotels. BGM, voice evacuation and conferencing systems simply don’t carry the eye-catching flair of the video elements. More often than not the architect or consultant wants to tuck the audio equipment firmly out of sight despite demanding a high quality system for as little spend as possible. And so the real world perception is laid out in a similar fashion on a trade show floor.

InfoComm Asia is the growing child of the US trade show that has been in existence for some 70 years. Perhaps the resolution hasn’t been properly calibrated. The market in Asia is starting to show signs of outstripping the US, having already muscled past Europe, but InfoComm Asia is not depicting this image correctly.

The last biennial show was hosted in 2008 on two levels, whereas this year’s was laid out on one level across three halls of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). It didn’t really show burgeoning growth – just mild progress. A total of 340 exhibitors from 25 countries attended compared to 226 from 20 previously. Perhaps the booths were smaller, but the statistic was misleading. Systems integrators and suppliers come from as far as Australia and Saudi Arabia to attend InfoComm Asia, enticed by InfoComm’s rich mix of Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) courses together with a packed schedule of free seminars and workshops. These included a summit programme consisting of manufacturer presentations, InfoComm Academy seminars conducted by industry experts on technical issues as well as general market developments and industry-focused conferences with papers from professional users and integrators on specific applications.

Unfortunately the draw of the classroom seems stronger than the trade show floor, and so the HKCEC seemed eerily quiet in the halls further away from the main entrance, particularly on days two and three. Being an early developer, InfoComm Asia hasn’t yet matured into an established ‘must attend’ gathering. The show is held late in the year when marketing budgets are almost non-existent, so the attendance of primary manufacturers and suppliers is hit and miss. Furthermore, with Japex and InterBEE held in Jakarta and Tokyo respectively on the same dates, Hong Kong’s glittering lights seem somewhat dimmed.  As a result, the show floor wasn’t a one stop shop in the same manner as can definitely be seen at InfoComm in the US, or at ISE in Europe.

However, it was extremely well organised, laid out and hosted in what has become the hub of Asian business. Indeed, it could be argued that InfoComm Asia is the only true pan-Asian exhibition that can draw an international audience, unlike all other pretenders who play the pan Asian card but are more regional in nature.

Tele-presence, video and audio conferencing is bigger business than ever before as distance meeting and distance learning in boardrooms and training facilities is encouraged ahead of travelling. Of course, it’s not just greener – it’s a lot cheaper. Therefore, there was an extremely wide selection of solutions on offer this year. Taiden captured pole position at the front of Hall 1E and was highlighting its new innovative HCS-8300 and HCS-8310 multi-media congress touchscreen series, which is based on its Congress Matrix technology. Having travelled to Dubai, Las Vegas, Sydney, Amsterdam and London this year it was good to see the Shenzhen producer virtually on home soil. Taiden conferencing units have been extensively used in 2010 at international meetings such as the Guangzhou Asian Games, ANOC General Assembly in Mexico and IMF World Bank Annual Meeting. Therefore, its time travelling the globe in search for new customers has ensured that its products have followed suit, although in much greater numbers.

CY Communications was demonstrating its groundbreaking technologies – Polycom conferencing via a Yamaha PJP-50USB conferencing microphone system together with WOW Vision Veos wireless technology and Coneq acoustic power frequency response software. Director Eve Law explained the need to demonstrate the live system: ‘It’s much simpler to ask what users want in terms of conferencing and wireless technology before showing them the solution. With these branded technologies we can easily adapt them to users’ needs and create a real world example as to how it works.’ WOW Vision showed its latest standalone VEOS Ripple streaming solution for classroom recording via the Polycom HDX conferencing technology.

For over 10 years now, Beyerdynamic has been a pioneer in the conferencing world with its highly innovative MCS-D, MCW-D and Revoluto digital microphones, which were all out on show. In addition, the Stegos boundary microphone, Opus 600 wireless system and the new Classic Series of gooseneck microphones shared the booth with conferencing products together with new Votum three button keypads designed for parliamentary voting. ‘It will be available in 2011,’ commented international project manager Michael Pietschmann. ‘It’s a cost effective system, for which the Votum units can be used in standalone applications or combined with other conferencing equipment.’ The terminal devices are powered by PoE switches operating over a Cat-5 star topology.

Clockaudio has long been a regular exhibitor at InfoComm shows, and once again the company was keen to show the polished craftsmanship of its Integra series of boardroom microphones. Having heeded the advice of high brow customers over the years, the UK manufacturer continues to innovatively cater to their almost bespoke needs with models such as the C003E/ C004E through-desk omni /cardioid condenser and the C009E omnidirectional condenser microphones. Elegantly designed and fully functional, they were exhibited alongside Clockaudio’s wireless systems and other headworn, lavalier, shotgun and boundary microphones.

Danish Interpretation Systems (DIS) continues to pioneer new software to integrate into its units and the one the company was demonstrating at InfoComm Asia was so current, it hadn’t put a name to the thin client conferencing solution. ‘It works via a server and the interface is customised according to the client’s needs,’ explained product manager Carsten Nielsen. Also on display was the IS6132 interpreter set, DC6120P and DC6190P conferencing units, and GM6622 shotguns in addition to another demonstration showing portable, programmable camera control via an iPod Touch player. Luckily the iPod didn’t disappear from the booth unlike one of the manufacturer’s screwed-in boundary microphones.

Sennheiser decided to take a less is more philosophy to its stand design. This narrowed down its product selection to those models that were designed for A/V applications, such as call centres (SH250 headsets), discussion areas (Audio Distribution Network gooseneck mics) and installations (MZH3015 gooseneck). In addition, the company exhibited a range of remarkably portable yet deceptively powerful K-Array loudspeaker solutions such as the KTL22C Tornado, KR100 and 200 Redline systems, KU36 subwoofer and KRS50 Kobra Bass.

Elsewhere, AKG CS5 conferencing units were present on the Harman Pro booth, whilst Taiwanese manufacturer BXB Communications demonstrated its UFO interpretation systems. ‘It’s been a good show for BXB,’ confirmed sales and marketing manager Diana Teng. ‘It’s our first time at InfoComm Asia and we expected bigger crowds, but we have met up with many of our distributors including one from Belguim.’

Brahler displayed a wide range of its products, highlighting its many solutions to A/V installer needs. These included the Automic digital conferencing system, Infracom infrared audio and language distribution system, Pro-Sys ICS conferencing units,ISO6001 simultaneous interpretation systems, and Digivote wireless audio response voting systems together with wired and wireless Digimic models. TOA also displayed its TS-770 and TS 900 conferencing units.

Microphones weren’t restricted to interpretation and conferencing systems however, as there was a number of other wired and wireless products on offer. TOA innovatively divided its booth into three sections for highlighting a selection of products specifically for use in multifunction rooms, conferencing rooms and school halls. The multifunction rooms utilised the AN-9001 ambient noise mic and Infrared 520 system together with an SR-H2S slim line array, M-9000 digital matrix mixer and DA-250 multi-channel amplifier. The conferencing rooms showcased a number of infrared products including the IR702, IR200, IR300 wireless models, while the school hall blended the F-1300 and F-2352 wide dispersion speakers, EM series microphones, M-633 digital stereo mixer and DA-series of digital amplifiers. In addition, Trantec S5.5 wireless mics, HX5A and SR-S4L line arrays, HS-1500 coaxial speakers and a D-901 digital mixer were displayed.

There was a good selection of BGM and voice evacuation components out on the show floor although some major brands were absent. Ateïs combines BGM and EVAC in its own systems and was demonstrating its technologies at the far end of hall 1B. The Messenger line arrays as installed in Hong Kong International Airport were given the centre of attention, while the Messenger Orbit active powered steerable powered arrays, ECS acoustic echo cancellation products, UAP (universal audio protection) and Diva 8 solutions attracted plenty of interest.

Australian Monitor opted for a simple approach, displaying its tiny Cafe series speakers, which helped to bring its A/V and Zone Revolution products to life. In addition, the new AMD series of amplifiers (AMD100, 200, 2100P, 2200P, 4100P and 4200P) were showcased together with IN400 /IN600 zone selectors, the DMA digital message announcer, Icon paging mic and an iPad loaded with an App for operating Revoluto. Top Plot International limited its booth to a range of Nexo loudspeakers including the second generation of PS8, PS10 and PS15 speakers combined with LS400, LS600 and RS18 subwoofers, together with Nexo NX amplifiers and a range of Klotz ais cables.

Harman has accelerated its activities exponentially in the Asian Pacific region since the 2008 show was staged, at which it didn’t exhibit. Its new headquarters in Kuala Lumpur has instigated a number of changes in the region and the company has particularly concentrated its efforts in China and India, which both have satellite offices in Shenzhen and Bangalore respectively. Therefore, the company put in a welcome appearance at this year’s show and exhibited a wide selection of new products from its brands, many of which were launched at the US InfoComm in June. 

Among them was the Soundcraft Si Compact digital console which rubbed shoulders with the Vi4, whilst the latest BSS London BLU break in (BIB) and break out (BOB) boxes were displayed with the BLU-100 series of conferencing processors with built-in Acoustic Echo Cancellation. In addition, AKG unveiled its PZM noise cancellation mics, while Crown exhibited the latest ComTech CT series of ultra lightweight amplifiers built on Drive Core Technology, plus the MacroTech, CDi and XLS amplifiers.

JBL has enjoyed much success under ACE’s distribution channels during the past decade and can point to a huge catalogue of prestigious applications utilising its speaker systems. ‘Unfortunately, many production companies dismiss VerTec and the larger systems as they associate the brand with the installed sound speakers such as the Control ceiling speakers,’ lamented ACE’s Ben Lui. ‘However, once they have properly listened to the PD, AE and VT series, they change their mindset.’ For higher SPL requirements, the baby VerTec VT4886 / 4883 system was present together with the AM7212 and AC2210 speakers, while for installed sound applications, the stylishly curved Control CRV speakers caught the eye together with the CBT column and Control  29 / 60 series.

Meyer Sound can point to many spectacular successes in Macao, where the top theatrical productions specify the manufacturer’s systems. Like many other exhibitors, the company gave attendees a tailored selection from its entire catalogue and simply brought out the compact Mina line array, CAL column array and D-Mitri digital audio platform. In addition, Meyer Sound’s executive director of digital products John McMahon outlined the emerging AVB audio/video bridging networking standards in an ‘Audio/Video Bridging (AVB): the future of standards-based A/V networking’ InfoComm seminar.

Two prominent Chinese manufacturers travelled the short distance from GuangDong Province to exhibit at the trade show. PAL / C-Mark showed a selection of its digital networking, loudspeaker and amplification products, highlighting the new PAL SU active series of plastic coaxial loudspeakers and the C-Mark DSP1200 two channel amplifiers. ‘We’ve met quite a few system integrators involved in big infrastructure projects in the Asian Pacific region, so it’s good that we exhibited,’ confirmed sales manager Brock Lan. SAE has also done a fair share of travelling this year and was present in Hong Kong showing the new GB series of class AB amplifiers. ‘We’ve met quite a lot of friends here, but also some new people who are interested in using our products for BGM, karaoke and in meeting rooms,’ offered general manager Bill Lee.

Tom Lee Engineering was adjacent to sister company CY Communications and highlighted Duran Audio’s Axys three way system, with an emphasis on the B215DIFF dual 15-inch subwoofer, which is a beam steered model. ‘I don’t think my potential customers really understand the technical aspects or the name so I simply tell them to stand in front of the speaker and then to listen to it from the side,’ commented CEO John Lee, with a grin. ‘Then they understand. We offer solutions according to the application and the budget – we don’t force products on them that they do not need.’ In addition, Lobo column speakers were also highlighted on the booth.

Architectural Audio displayed a single MediaMatrix Nion 6 processor and an AMX 8CN 8-channel automiser with a Cobranet interface. Ian Stott explained the rationale. ‘We’ve had good end-user conversations with hotel chains and such like. In this sort of environment you can concentrate on promoting your technology quite easily rather than trying to promote endless products and technologies.’

Stardraw Control is distributed in China by AAPL and Rob Robinson travelled from the UK to promote its software solutions. ‘It’s been a quiet show, but it’s been good to come. Asian manufacturers are slowly coming round to our technology and how they can use it. It takes time.’ His colleague David Snipp was absent, presumably enjoying himself in Macao.

InfoComm Asia 2010 blended internationally recognised brands with emerging Asian brands, all of whom brought new A/V innovations for a variety of applications. Crestron’s DigitalMedia was a magnet for many attendees. It is a complete HD A/V distribution system that allows virtually any mix of A/V sources to be distributed through an installation from a rack. Christie MicroTiles has exploded this year and the digital canvas is having an enormous impact in buildings, out-of-home advertising, command and control video walls and event production. Extron, Jupiter Systems, Kramer and Magenta Research were all very much present on large booths showing their matrix switchers and processors for high resolution computer-video and stereo audio routing. Oray, Lighthouse Technologies, dnp denmark and VTRON provided the LED display systems and large format screens, whilst DPI and projectiondesign showed off their latest high performance projectors for home and eCinemas. Screens ranged from Da Lite’s large format motorised models to Goo’s DIY kits. Finally, Barco, Lighthouse Technologies, Liantronics and VTRON illuminated visitors with their LED screens and display solutions.

InfoComm doesn’t need to promote the enormous potential of the Asian Pacific region to manufacturers in Europe and North America – they already manufacture here and have mature distribution networks who are growing their sales on an annual basis. The organisation’s agenda must now be to prioritise a larger audience coming to the HKCEC, and its Indian road show earlier in the year demonstrated that it is being pro-active. However, the biennial nature of this show is an odd choice and many attendees and exhibitors alike were unhappy that there won’t be a show in Hong Kong next year. Beijing hosts InfoComm China in mid-April next year – a few days after the Pro Light & Sound exhibition in Beijing and just a month before the established Palm China exhibition. The organisers have probably conceded drawing any type of international audience as a result, which is a shame as InfoComm Asia ticks just about every LED box.

www.infocomm-china.com