O'Brien Hall Classroom AV

Basic operation: Simple Sharing tab

AV control diagram

Click image to enlarge in new tab

This is the screen that shows on system startup.  To project the PC or laptop, simply select either under "select a source" and it will be displayed on all room screens.  Mic and speaker volumes will be red if muted. See more info on sources below.


Advanced sharing tab

Advanced sharing screen

This tab allows you to map different sources to different destination screens.

First tap the source you want to show on certain screens, then tap the blue text on the destination screens on the room diagram.  Repeat until you have the room configured as you like. 

The X button turns that screen off, providing a convenient duplication of the display controls tab.

You will need to specify which source the audio is coming from by mapping the source to the Room Audio square

The sources are described below.

Podium PC Primary

The LEFT podium PC monitor.  This may not be the monitor with the desktop icons as that can be changed in Windows settings. You can drag windows from the left or right (primary or secondary) screens just as you can with a dual-monitor setup in your office.

Podium PC Secondary

The RIGHT podium PC screen. With Advanced Sharing, you can control what is shown on which screen by dragging windows between the screens. For instance you may want to show an Excel sheet on some screens, while keeping your PowerPoint displayed on others, and you can map the classroom screens accordingly.

Laptop

The HDMI laptop input.  It is possible to send your laptop to some screens, and the podium PC to others.  The HDMI cable must be connected to your laptop to project.  The USB cable is only for the purposes of connecting the room cameras to your laptop.

Document Camera

The EPSON document camera is located in a drawer on the right of the podium.  Use the controls on the document camera itself to turn it on or off, to zoom, or focus etc.

Wireless Presentation

The wireless presentation button selects the Crestron AirMedia system for a wireless connection to the classroom displays from laptops, tablets or mobile phones.  AirMedia requires an app running on your device.

Get ready: Download AirMedia for Windows or Mac (the deployable or guest apps both work). For iOS or Android search the App Store for AirMedia.
Entering the displayed IP address in your browser will also download the client.

After launching the app enter the IP address shown on the screen to start the connection, then the 4 digit code. If you have connected before it may detect the address and just ask you for a code.

Wall-moounted tracking camera(s)

The wall-mounted cameras are connected to the podium PC or laptop as a USB connection.  If you connect the USB cable to your laptop, the camera system is no longer available to the podium PC.

Any app such as Teams or Zoom will recognize the camera system as an available camera and microphone.  When using a laptop you will need to change the device settings in Teams or zoom to tell it to use the room system rather than the internal camera and mic.

You can choose automatic presenter tracking, a preset scene, or set the camera angle and zoom manually.  If you find a camera angle you like, you can save it by holding one of the open Preset # buttons for a few seconds, but be aware this may be over-written by other users.

Presenter tracking works via the camera itself making its best guest at who the presenter is, and following them.  It works best when your students are seated and you are walking around the room; within certain limits it will try to follow you.  The camera may not be physically able to reach all corners of the room.

If student groups are presenting or others are standing or moving around the room, it is best to select "tracking off" and set the camera angle with a preset or manually with the pan and zoom controls.

Audio is picked up automatically through ceiling-mounted microphones that are capable of hearing the entire room.

Camera control panel

Conference Controls tab

The device that connects the cameras to the PC or laptop also has the ability to capture the computer's screen.  The Picture in Picture (PIP) buttons in Conference Controls allow you to turn this on or off, to choose from a few arrangements and to swap the images.  You can also do screen sharing like normal via Teams or Zoom, in which case you would want to turn the PIP off here.  However it may be nice to use this feature if teaching in a hybrid setting with some students online, or if you are recording outside of Teams.

Cable TV

There is a cable TV feed to every classroom.  You can map cable broadcasts to individual screens here as well, then use the Cable TV controls tab to select the channel.

Microphones

Every room is equipped with a lavaliere microphone for voice amplification within the room.  Place the microphone pack tightly back into the charger so it recharges, a light will come on showing it is charging. The lavaliere microphones are mixed in to the audio for the camera system as well, however it is not necessary to use them for remote guests to hear you.  The ceiling mounted mics work great for most cases. Microphone volume / sensitivity is controlled through the mic button / slider on the blue bar on the Crestron display.

Whiteboard Camera

Logitech Scribe cameras provide a video input into the podium PC much like a webcam.  You can select this camera in Teams, or if you just want to display it over the projector, you can launch the Camera app, press the switch camera button if the camera is showing the classroom view, and the maximize the window. Please be aware the cameras are not able to capture the entire whiteboard width in some rooms.  Use a fresh, black marker for best results. The whiteboard cameras cannot be accessed directly via the Crestron panel, they need to work through the PC.

Combine Rooms

The "combine rooms" button under advanced sharing will be found in our three rooms with divider walls.  Normally the sides operate separately.  When using the entire large space you can combine to control all screens from one podium.

One side is permanently set as the "master" podium in combined mode, as listed below:

150: B side, east.   |    226: A side, west    |   436: A side, east   

When in combined mode, the podium on the other non-master side is not usable, nor are the cameras on that side of the room.  The Crestron panel will display a message telling you to use the other side.

When finished in Combined mode, on the master side you must set it back to Divided mode.  This will shut down both systems and release the other podium  to normal operation.