ADENA Hack: How to bundle AREC Media Stations with third-party products for conference rooms?

In our previous post, we looked at several ideas of how you could bundle AREC products to achieve the best results. But what about products from other manufacturers? Let’s focus on that this time, using LS-410 in a conference room as an example from our side.

The LS-410 is the perfect example to describe these ideas, thanks to its many interfaces. Starting from the front panel, there are 2 USB ports that can be used for all kinds of devices. For instance, to export your videos or record directly on a flash drive, plug it into either of these ports. To easily control key features of the Media Station, you can connect a USB numeric keypad that is supplied with the station or use any other keypad. Connect a computer mouse with USB, or an interactive display with a USB and HDMI from the back panel, to use the station’s GUI. You could also use these ports to connect a camera or a microphone to capture audio and video.

Every standard conferencing AV hardware can be connected to the LS-410. For example, you could start by adding a hardware videoconferencing processor, like a Yealink MCore Pro Mini-PC, Poly G7500, or Avaya C190. This will let you record and stream conferences on the Media Station, mix them with other sources, and display them through any of the station’s outputs. 

And what better to mix these conferences with than a wireless content-sharing system, like Barco Clickshare or Mersive Solstice, letting every attendee beam their work without worrying about cabling? The station’s loop-through output will make sure that this content is visible to all, and you can output it in the highest quality on a big display, like the Clevertouch Impact Max 2. 

Add the remaining video sources by USB or network - LS-410 can work with 4 video sources simultaneously, allowing you to add multiple PTZ and ePTZ cameras from AREC or other manufacturers to capture every meeting participant.

The station’s support for Dante Audio makes it simple to connect professional audio inputs like Shure MXA920, while an array of balanced and unbalanced line/mic inputs ensures easy setup with analog microphones, like RADA Duo.

Finish the solution by personalising it for the user - add a controller, such as Q-Sys Core 510i, and show commands for all devices on its compact screen accessory, TSC-101-G3.

And that is just one of the many ways you can deploy LS-410 in conference rooms. You could also use the station as a webcam for any conference system through NDI|HX, HDMI-to-USB converters such as our RADA Bridge, or through the same and other videoconferencing hardware from brands like Yealink, Poly, and Avaya.

The Media Stations improve conferencing results greatly through their ease of use. You can add video sources, arrange them into premade or custom layouts, and combine these layouts with your graphics: corporate logos, backgrounds, images, links, QR codes, and so on. All of that works plug-and-play style and does not rely on any particular conferencing platform.

There is a lot more you can combine with AREC stations and numerous other applications where they shine. Stay tuned for the next ADENA Hack to read about bundle ideas for the education sector, and contact us at www.a-dena.com to find out more about our solutions!

ADENA Hack: How to use a network camera to send microphone audio in Media Stations?

AREC Media Stations can capture audio from network sources using AAC-LC audio coding standard. Depending on the model of the station, this is available for RTMP, RTP, and sometimes RTSP network sources. Which network sources can be used with audio is described in the datasheet of each Media Station.

Particularly for the LS-US2, network may be the preferable way of connecting audio sources, as there are no 3.5mm line or mic inputs on the device. The station supports audio via all of its network protocols: RTP, RTMP, RTSP, and NDI|HX in the LS-US2N version, and you can watch the video below for an example of how this connection can be established, using RADA Duo and A-PC01 PanoCam as examples.

If you would like to know more about connecting audio from network sources to AREC, contact us at www.a-dena.com and we will be happy to discuss it with you.

ADENA Hack: How to use RADA Duo microphones with AREC and other devices?

The RADA DUO is a wireless microphone system comprising two transmitters and one receiver. Both transmitters can operate simultaneously using UHF radio frequencies and maintain effectiveness at distances of up to 50 metres from the receiver. One of DUO's distinctive features is its compatibility with various devices. DUO sets include standard 3.5mm TRRS and TRS cables, a 3.5mm to USB Type-C cable, a USB Type-C to Type-A adapter, a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter, and additional accessories like a phone mount, making DUO sets easy to set up in any scenario.

There are several ways to use DUO with AREC Media Stations, and the choice depends entirely on the station model you possess. For instance, on stations like LS-2, LS-200, and others with 3.5mm Line inputs, you can connect DUO using the provided 3.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRRS cable. Simply plug it into the monitoring output of the DUO receiver on one end and the Line input of the Media Station on the other. When configuring the audio, keep in mind that you can adjust the volume level both through the DUO system and through the Media Stations. While DUO transmitters and receivers have dedicated buttons for this purpose, volume adjustment on Media Stations can be accomplished in various ways, including through the 'Administrator' web page. To access it, navigate to 'Media I/O' -> 'Audio' subpage.

For stations without 3.5mm inputs, you can use the USB cable instead. Connect the 3.5mm TRRS to USB Type-C cable to the receiver's "monitoring" output, attach the USB Type-C to Type-A adapter, and then connect it to any of your AREC station's USB ports. On most models (e.g., LS-300), DUO will be automatically recognized when connected in this manner. However, on others, such as LS-860, you may need to select it from the list of audio devices first.

To connect DUO to other devices, refer to the datasheet or user manual of the device to determine the appropriate cable. Typically, you'll need a 3.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRS cable for DSLR cameras, USB Type-A or Type-C for computers, a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter for musical instruments and amplifiers, and the 3.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRRS cable for all other standard connections where a stereo signal is used.