Case Study: Welcome to the Hotel Catalonia, such a lovely place with AREC LS-200 stations!

Dear ADENA Partners, there are plenty of rooms at the Catalonia Hotels & Resorts any time of year, equipped with AREC LS-200 Media Stations! Thanks to the efforts of our distributor, AVIT Vision, and system integrator, Instronic, event spaces across all buildings of this hotel chain throughout Spain are undergoing a major technological transformation. Learn how a combined solution featuring AREC, AMX and Gude control and automation systems, Biamp audio DSPs, and other leading brands creates a comprehensive, efficient, and innovative setup for hotels in our latest case study.

Example of the meeting room

Catalonia Hotels & Resorts is one of the primary hotel chains in Spain, with 80 establishments across more than 25 different locations. It has a particularly strong presence in Barcelona, where it operates over 3000 rooms. The brand is one of the top choices in the Spanish market for hosting events. 

To maintain its reputation and the high standards customers expect, the hotel chain decided to modernise its event spaces. The goal was to enhance the technological capabilities of meeting rooms by equipping them with the best audiovisual solutions, incorporating advanced communication, audio, video, and lighting technologies. To achieve this, they turned to well-known AV experts — our distributor, AVIT Vision, and system integrator, Instronic. With technology provided by AVIT Vision, Instronic designed a comprehensive and scalable solution, with AREC Media Stations at its core, now implemented in all event rooms across the hotel chain.

LS-200 Media Station

The LS-200 Media Station was selected for live streaming and event recording. This two-channel device allows users to seamlessly combine multiple audio and video signals, recording and streaming them as complete videos. The station not only produces a fully composed video with user-generated overlay logos and background images, but also provides individual source recordings for post-editing and other purposes. Designed with the end user in mind, the LS-200 is extremely easy to operate and offers a wide range of control options, including support for customisable control solutions such as AMX, which was used in this case. HDMI matrices from AVPro Edge were integrated as video sources, enabling a variety of computers, cameras, and other devices to be combined and sent to the Media Stations, while Biamp TesiraForté DAN CI DSP units delivered pristine audio. Finally, Gude Systems products were used to automate all processes, reducing operational burdens, ensuring efficient resource use, and providing an uninterrupted experience for users.

AMX control system interface customised for the user

Example of the event room

Example of an auditorium

The resulting solution significantly enhanced the quality and technical capabilities of the Catalonia Hotels & Resorts event spaces, setting a new benchmark for others in the sector. 

Are you working on a meeting space yourself ? Discover how you can improve it with AREC today by contacting us at www.a-dena.com — we are always ready to assist you!

Case Study: The Human Lab records consumer feedback with AREC in the UK

Dear ADENA Partners, we are concluding the year with a case study featuring a unique facility called The Human Lab, based in the UK. Completed by our distributor, Tukans, and system integrator, Visually Connected Worldwide, the project demonstrates how companies can utilise AREC Media Stations to effectively create content and stream it with minimal user input and maximum security.

The Human Lab, managed by the Human Factors Centre consulting agency, is a specialised testing space for the medical and consumer industries. The lab comprises a viewing room and a respondent room, separated by a one-way mirror. The respondent room can be configured to replicate a wide range of environments: from a typical conference room with chairs and tables to an outdoor setting, complete with grass and landscape rocks. The room is also equipped with various technologies, such as eye-tracking systems, to help companies evaluate responses to products, their usability, and more.

Another invaluable technology required for such applications is AV recording. For a long time, the lab relied on a Hikvision NVR to provide recordings of testing sessions to companies. While the system consistently recorded events, it used an uncommon security format, making it difficult to share recordings with clients. This system also relied on Hikvision static security cameras, which lacked easy control of their pan and tilt positions — a feature that is essential for fully capturing the testing experience. Lastly, the system lacked streaming capabilities and was not designed for hybrid conferencing, thereby limiting The Human Lab’s ability to invite remote observers and promote its services.

The lab was looking to upgrade its system when the Visually Connected Worldwide team reached out. They assessed the requirements and contacted us shortly after. We arranged a meeting at short notice, discussed it thoroughly, and organised a proof-of-concept demonstration with the facility manager — all within the same week. After we addressed all questions and proposed ways to simplify the lab’s AV workflow, it was decided that AREC was indeed the right solution for the facility, and installation followed soon after. The system we proposed completely replaced the original hardware and improved it in every aspect.

To begin with, it was crucial for the lab to have backup recordings at all times and additional failsafes. One of the main reasons the facility relied on an NVR was its ability to record continuously every day. For this reason, we proposed replacing it with an LS-200 Media Station. The station recorded, streamed, mixed cameras, and created backups. It was the ideal choice, as it could record not only a mixed video feed from two cameras but also each camera's output individually, providing the user with all the necessary materials for post-editing, clip creation, and security purposes.

To provide a "plan B" in case the user accidentally stops or forgets to start a recording, we set up a continuous stream to a private channel on a streaming platform. This stream operates automatically as soon as the Media Station is powered on and maintains a 48-hour buffer. The streaming platform restarts the stream automatically and stores streams for up to a week, allowing users ample time to download videos if needed. Since the LS-200 can handle two RTMP streams simultaneously, we also assisted the user in setting up a private YouTube channel, not only for failsafe streaming but also for promotional events and webinars.

Another failsafe mechanism we proposed was the UB-01 Recording Light. This accessory, designed specifically for Media Stations, allows the user to monitor the recording status of a connected Media Station and start or stop recording as needed. An additional feature of the UB-01 is its ability to duplicate the functionality of a USB port to which it is connected. For example, when connected to the front USB port of the LS-200, it enables the user to plug in a USB drive and save recordings not only to the primary storage but also to the external drive.

To further enhance user confidence, we proposed that the customer use ARECloud — our free cloud control solution. This platform allows users to add all their Media Stations, check previews, switch recording and streaming themes, monitor recording and streaming status, and schedule events. ARECloud can be accessed from any location with an Internet connection, making it highly convenient for users to control their Media Stations even when they are away from the lab.

Since most of the lab's customers use videoconferencing software and may need to connect from their offices, we proposed adding a RADA Bridge, an HDMI-to-USB converter. This device transforms the LS-200 into a webcam for Teams, Zoom, and other conferencing applications while also transmitting its audio. With the Bridge in place, remote attendees could observe the testing work and simulations as if they were physically present.

Lastly, the Media Station utilised two AVer network cameras as video sources and a Sennheiser ceiling microphone with a Dante Avio converter for audio. The LS-200’s VISCA-over-IP support allowed the lab to control the PTZ movement of the AVer cameras directly through the station’s web interface, the free AREC software, and the GUI on the station’s video output.

The abundance of new features and security measures helped The Human Lab significantly enhance its content creation and outreach capabilities. Is your company looking for a reliable recording and streaming solution to improve media production? Contact us at www.a-dena.com to arrange a demonstration and discover why AREC is exactly what you need!

Case Study: AREC, Sennheiser and QSC Turn One Room into Three for an Energy Major

Dear ADENA Partners, this month's case study highlights how a major energy and chemical products distributor in Chile uses AREC infrared tracking cameras to enhance their conferencing experience. The solution, created by our partner Videocorp, is centred around AREC CI-T10 IR tracking cameras and products from other brands, including Epson, Sennheiser, and QSC. Together, our brands enable the company to conduct up to three simultaneous conference calls in a highly modular room with ease.

The company is one of the main Chilean distributors of fuels, lubricants, and other chemical products used in the industrial, marine, aviation, land transportation, construction, and other sectors. With more than 100 years of experience, the company has business interests in other countries as well, such as Paraguay and the USA. Consequently, the company’s headquarters are always bustling with activity and meetings between the different divisions and partners. Sometimes, these meetings require multiple divisions of the company to be present, while at other times, multiple separate meetings need to take place simultaneously. Since the existing room arrangements did not accommodate these specifics, the company sought a solution. Our partner Videocorp delivered it using AREC IR tracking cameras and several other brands.

The devised solution fully resolved the company’s needs. They redesigned the meeting rooms to be modular: when multiple meetings are taking place, the rooms work independently, separated by foldable walls. If a meeting requires more attendees, the walls fold, and the rooms become one. To capture the presenters and ensure they are tracked, each room is outfitted with a CI-T10 IR tracking camera and an AM-600 IR positioner. The simplicity in configuration and usage of these cameras makes them an ideal fit for modular rooms. The cameras follow the positioners in their field of view. They do not require zone configuration, face registration, or other settings, typically required by AI tracking cameras, so their tracking is not affected by different room configurations. Moreover, since the cameras only follow the positioners, they are not distracted by hand gestures, other people in view, or other kinds of obstructions. Tracking can be turned on, off, or paused by pressing one button on a positioner, giving the presenter full control over the camera at all times.

The presenters’ audio is picked up by Sennheiser handheld microphones, while ceiling microphones are used for the audience members. The combined audio is sent into the conferencing software. Presenters’ content and conferencing software are displayed by Epson projectors. Audio, video, and other elements of the room are controlled by QSC devices. The company’s staff can control projector screens, microphone audio, operate cameras, manage conferencing software, and perform other operations from control panels installed in every room.

With the renovated and adapted meeting spaces, the company is now fully equipped to hold effective meetings regardless of the needs of the day. Would you like to know more about how AREC solutions can be used to enhance conferencing rooms? Contact us at www.a-dena.com and we will be happy to arrange a discussion with you.