by Julie Jacobson

It may not seem hip today, but 15 years ago, this media room was the biggity bomb.

Desser Media Room

Commissioned by Ed Desser, then the president of NBA Television, the entertainment center features 18 tube TVs and a 108-inch projection screen.

“I bought a bunch of 19-inch TVs and stacked them on top of each other and thought it would be really interesting to see what — at the time — was on all three networks,” says Desser. “I liked it enough so I added some more. And I thought, if having six monitors on is good, well then, 19 has to be better.”

So Desser enlisted Electronics Design Group of Piscataway, N.J. EDG founder and president Bob Gullo recalls, “We worked with a cabinet maker, drawing sketches with pencils.” Today, EDG’s “sketches” are lifelike renderings.
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By Brent Butterworth

Everyone’s heard loud bass, but very few people have ever heard good bass. Good bass reproduction demands that every note in the bass range be reproduced evenly, with no notes emphasized. Fortunately, recent research has shown us for the first time a way to get even bass response in almost any room. The result is the most natural, accurate, and impactful bass reproduction that’s ever been achieved in the home.

Here’s the technical background: At bass frequencies (below about 200 Hz), a room acts as a resonator, much the way an empty Coke bottle does when you blow across the top. With certain notes, the room resonates, amplifying the note so it sticks out. Meanwhile, some other notes may disappear almost entirely.
Fixing this problem isn’t as simple as plugging in a graphic equalizer and adjusting a few knobs. That’s because the way the room affects the bass depends on where you are in the room. Move from one side of the couch to the other, and you’ll probably hear huge differences in the sound of the bass.
Harman International—parent company of numerous professional and consumer audio brands—recently devoted a great deal of research to finding ways to fix the bass problem. The solution they came up with is multiple subwoofers. Using two instead of one gives a big improvement. Using four instead of two gives an even bigger improvement. A Harman engineer gave me a full four-sub demo in my house a couple of years ago, and since then I’ve tried this trick with numerous subwoofers and it always delivers remarkably consistent bass response no matter where on my couch I sit.

Don’t let the thought of four subwoofers scare you. Instead of one big 15- or 18-inch model, you can use four small 10-inch models. And placement is easy: Just put the subs in the corners.

If you’re planning a new home theater or media room, talk with your installer about the merits of multiple subwoofers. If you equate bass with that annoying, boomy sound you hear when a hopped-up Honda Civic passes you, you’re in for a nice surprise.

By John Sciacca

It’s not often that you get the chance to listen to a true luminary and industry pioneer speak. Even less often when you get the opportunity to do it for free. But that’s exactly what’s being offered by Audyssey in their next Webinar, where you can hear the true Jedi Master of surround sound discuss “The History and Future of Surround Sound.”

For those unfamiliar with Tomlinson (Tom) Holman, his biography reads like the history of modern surround sound. He is credited for naming 5.1, the most commonly used surround speaker set-up today. He was also Chief Engineer at Lucasfilm where he developed a set of standards in 1982 for “Return of the Jedi.” The standards insured that theatrical playback matched what was heard in the mixing room and were called THX. In fact, he is often referred to as being the “T” and “H,” as in the “Tom Holman eXperiment.”

Holman also developed the world’s first 10.2 channel surround system – front left, top front left, front right, top front right, surround left, top surround left, surround right, top surround right, center, top center above the screen, and front and back subwoofers – which completely envelopes listeners.

In 2001, he won an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Achievement. And recently, he co-founded Audyssey, where he continues as Chief Scientist. Audyssey’s MultEQ technology is widely used for sophisticated room correction and equalization in many home theater receivers and processors. Most recently, Audyssey has introduced Dynamic Volume to tame wild swings between loud and soft passages, Dynamic EQ to deliver consistent bass response, tonal balance and surround levels regardless of volume level, and DSX which adds height and/or width channels. (See Brent Butterworth’s impression of DSX by clicking here: http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/newproducts/3250/first-listen-audyssey-dsx.html)

Holman is currently a professor of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California (USC), and his book Sound for Film and Television is considered required reading for any film majors. I’ve had the opportunity to hear Holman speak, and it is always incredibly entertaining and enlightening.

The Webinar is being held on Friday, December 18th, from 11 AM to 1 PM PST. To reserve your spot, sign up now by clicking this link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/424560306?utm_source=Audyssey+Master+List&utm_campaign=b30e8ec3df-emailblast20091119&utm_medium=email

Author Sciacca with Han

by John Sciacca

Like every male born around 1970, Star Wars was a cultural, life-shaping event for me. I can remember seeing the original, Episode IV, in a small theater in Carmel, California. Since Return of the Jedi came out in 1983, I have seen every Wars film in the theater on opening day. I’ve purchased the movies on every format possible: Beta, VHS, Laser Disc and DVD. I’ve even visited Lucas Ranch, THX and ILM a few times. I believe this all qualifies me as a fan.

This past weekend, I enjoyed an entirely different Star Wars experience in the form of Star Wars in Concert. This was such a terrific blending of music, film, lasers and spectacle that I thought I would share my experience in hopes of convincing readers to seek out a show near them.

The Concert brings together the 86-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and a giant high-def LED screen, measuring some 60-feet wide by 30-feet tall, for a 2-hour performance of music spanning all six films. Far from detracting from the orchestra, the video is a perfect accompaniment, like watching a giant live, orchestral music video. The pacing and timing of the images to the score was even approved by John Williams.

The show opens with the THX “Deep Note,” a sound so familiar to home theater fans, and then goes into the 20th Century Fox fanfare. After a pregnant pause, the huge, opening notes of the Star Wars main theme burst from the orchestra, along with the title scrawl on the giant HD screen. Hearing and watching the music played live by such a huge, talented orchestra was phenomenal, giving me chills multiple times throughout the evening. Seeing the dozens of violinists and cellists sawing away in perfect sync to produce music that is so thoroughly entrenched in our zeitgeist was absolutely thrilling.

C3PO, Anthony Daniels

The performance is interspersed with live narration by Anthony “C3PO” Daniels who sets up each movement. His delivery is slightly over-the-top, but Daniels is one of only two cast members that were in all 6 films (the other was R2-D2, Kenny Baker), so it was a treat to see and hear him in person.

While every piece was terrific, and every favorite number was included, one of my favorites was “The Duel of the Fates” from Episode I. This featured the full choir backing the intense musical arrangement, along with well-timed pyrotechnics. Other high points included “The Imperial March” and “The Victory Song,” which concluded the evening.

Also on hand are quite a few original costumes and props from the films including Yoda, Vader, Han in carbonite, and Chewbacca.

The crowd was packed with fans of all ages, from very young – many kids under 5 – to quite old. And, if you feel the urge to go dressed as your favorite Jedi, Sith, Bounty Hunter or other, you will be in good company. Highly recommended! Performance dates and venues can be found here: starwarsinconcert.com

by Bob Gullo

Due Diligence

What you need know BEFORE selecting your Electronic Systems Integrator

Most would agree that there are salient elements to look for when selecting a firm. What are the most important elements to you in the selection process?

While there is a litany of questions to ask, the following questions represent the key points to consider when selecting a firm.

Visit the Facility

Getting to know the company you are considering.  There are several things one should consider during the introductory “getting to know you” phase.  One way to get a good read on a prospective firm is to visit their operation.  The mission of this trip is to learn about their business processes; how they manage their projects from start to completion to servicing their clients afterward.  Here are a few fact finding questions to ask.

1. Ask to see and review technical drawings and schematics of a project of similar size and scope. They should include wiring schematics, rack elevations and connection diagrams.
2. Ask to see the production facility. What you want to see is Equipment Racks under construction and being tested. Is the wiring neat and organized?
3. Ask if they have programmers on staff, not outsourced. Ask to see their certifications from the vendors. Ask to meet with a programmer to review a current project of similar size and scope of yours.
4. Who Manages the Project?  Do they have a business Process to manage projects?  Ask to see it.
5. Who services the Project? Meet the Service Manager; he will be one of the most important people you know after the project is complete.

Financial Stability & Longevity

1. Run a D&B report. Make sure the firm has no law suits, liens, and IRS or State Tax problems. Do they pay their bills on time?  Do they have high credit limits?  Larger projects require larger credit lines.
2. Ask permission to contact their Banker.  Does the firm have financial strength?  I would ask to see their balances across all accounts, loans payable and lines of credit.  In this economy you can’t be too careful.
3. Ask for a reference of similar size and scope for a Project that was installed MORE THAN 5 YEARS AGO.   Of course, get recent references too, but older references are a good source to evaluate the company’s service.

Technical Prowess

1. Ask to see MORE THAN ONE PROJECT, of similar size and scope. Everyone gets lucky with a Home Run in their career, I’ve made my living focused on Larger, Complex projects.
2. Inspect the racks, the wiring closets and “head-ends”.  Are they neat and serviceable?
3. Review the Touchpanel pages; can you operate them without asking for instruction? Are they intuitive?
4. Has the firm won any nationally accredited technical awards for their work?
5. Has the firm been recognized for their technical prowess from the vendors they’re representing?

Multi-zone audio and video in this home were of the utmost importance to our client.

Hear how the transition from his previous “mom-and-pop” installer led him to experience

the “EDG Difference”.

Welcome to Electronics Design Group’s new blog. We’ll be using this space to talk about anything and everything related to custom electronics integration  and  design. We — and our guest bloggers — will be offering opinions of industry news, observations on exciting new technologies, thoughts of our philosophy about doing business in today’s evolving digital world, and more. Please feel free to add your comments to any post; your opinions matter to us and we welcome the dialogue.

This first post is a good time to discuss what we do here at EDG, because it’s not as obvious as it seems. On the surface, we’re a pretty high-tech operation, and could define our business as something like this: “The design and integration of custom home theater, wholehouse audio/video, lighting, and home automation control systems in residential and commercial applications.” Pretty geeky stuff, for sure, and it’s true that our day-to-day here is largely consumed in working closely with trade partners like architects and interior designers identifying our clients’ needs, creating engineering diagrams, ordering parts, and constructing the elaborate systems for which we’ve won so many CEDIA Lifestyle and industry magazine awards. Then, like any other enterprise, we’ve got the ongoing job of promoting ourselves and making sure that there’s always another project lined up so we can thrive and provide a secure professional environment for the 50 or so employees who rely on us.

But all of this misses the real point about why we continue to succeed in what is arguably the most difficult economic environment in our company’s 22-year history. That part can be best explained not so much in what we do, but in why our clients hire us. They do so because they’ve come to realize the import in their daily lives of the systems we design and implement. They recognize, though not always consciously, that there is an emotional element to using custom electronics that derives from the power of the technology to entertain them, to shift their mood at the touch of a button, to assure their physical comfort, to protect and secure their persons and property. And, above all, to simplify their lives so that these benefits can be seamlessly enjoyed at will. Few trades involved in building a custom home have the same power to so dramatically enhance — or foul up — the ongoing lifestyle of the homeowner. While our successes are great, so is our responsibility, and we take it very seriously. That commitment to our clients is what’s separated EDG from its competition since the very beginning.

So if we crow a bit when we win an award, or receive another testimonial or referral from a happy client, its not just because we’re proud that we’ve successfully maneuvered all these elements into place one more time. It’s also because we know we’ve given a very real gift to the families that have placed their trust in us, one that will last their tenure in their home. Unlike with some other businesses, our clients touch what we do every single day, and it makes for pretty gratifying work. Now, granted, this isn’t the only reason we do what we do. But it’s one of the best.

Bob Gullo is the President and founder of Electronics Design Group